Person Page - 1

     James Neil Forster II was born on 29 September 1960 at Norwood Hospital, Norwood, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA.¹ He received (an unknown value) from Northeastern University, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA.² He died on 22 December 2018 at 209 South Street, Foxborough, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA, at age 58.³

     James Long Abbs Forster was born on 22 April 1911 at 34 Humber St., Chopwell Blaydon, County Durham, England.^3,4,5 He lived on 26 December 1932 at 23 Caroline St., Jarrow, County Durham, England.⁶ He married Frances Ann Maplethorpe Wick Stephen, daughter of Neil Stephen and Mabel Jemima Wick, on 26 December 1932 at Christ Church, Jarrow, County Durham, England.⁷ James Long Abbs Forster began military service between 1939 and 1945 with the Royal Navy (England.) He and Frances Ann Maplethorpe Wick Forster immigrated in 1964 to Foxborough, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA. James Long Abbs Forster was issued United States Social Security number 017-40-7092 at Massachusetts, USA.⁴ He was admitted to membership as a Mason in the St. Alban's Lodge at Foxborough, Norfolk County, Massachusetts on 12 June 1967.⁸ He died on 16 August 1979 at Norwood, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA, at age 68.^5,4,9 He was buried circa 20 August 1979 at Rock Hill Cemetary, Foxborough, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA.⁵

     Frances Ann Maplethorpe Wick Stephen was born on 15 June 1911 at 41 Ellison Street, Jarrow, County Durham, England.^3,4 She married James Long Abbs Forster, son of Robert Ernest Forster and Martha Edith Abbs, on 26 December 1932 at Christ Church, Jarrow, County Durham, England.⁵ Frances Ann Maplethorpe Wick Stephen lived on 26 December 1932 at Park Road, Jarrow, County Durham, England.⁶

Many years later, Frances recalled the following about her wedding day:


She and James Long Abbs Forster immigrated in 1964 to Foxborough, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA. Frances Ann Maplethorpe Wick Stephen was issued United States Social Security number 014-42-1657 at Massachusetts, USA.⁴ She was a greenhouse proprietor in 1964 at Foxborough, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA. She died on 31 March 2003 at Foxborough, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA, at age 91.^4,8 She was buried in April 2003 at Foxborough, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA.

     Neil Stephen was born between 22 August 1879 and 23 August 1879 at Jarrow, County Durham, England.^3,4,5 He appeared on the England Census of 1901 as a boarder in the home of Thomas and Harriet Dodds at Elswick, Newcastle Upon Tyne, County Durham, England.⁶ He lived on 26 June 1910 at 18 Potter Street, Jarrow, County Durham, England. He married Mabel Jemima Wick, daughter of Benjamin Loose Wick and Frances Ann Maplethorpe, on 26 June 1910 at Christ Church, Jarrow Grange, County Durham, England.⁷ Neil Stephen was a laborer in steelworks/furniture carryman.⁸ He died on 19 July 1929 at Royal Victoria Infirmary, Jarrow, County Durham, England.⁹

     Mabel Jemima Wick was born on 11 February 1883 at 18 Napier St., Jarrow, County Durham, England.^4,5 She married Neil Stephen on 26 June 1910 at Christ Church, Jarrow Grange, County Durham, England.⁶ Mabel Jemima Wick died on 14 December 1950 at 85 Beam Avenue, Dagenham, Essex, England, at age 67.⁷ She was buried circa 16 December 1950 at Jarrow, County Durham, England. near bus stop behind Robin Hood Primrose/Jarrow.

     Benjamin Loose Stephen was born on 14 November 1916 at 33 Clyde St., Jarrow, County Durham, England.¹ He was a water tender in the Merchant Navy on 26 January 1944 aboard the S.S. Fort Bellingham.² He died on 26 January 1944 aboard the S.S. Fort Bellingham at age 27; which was sunk by a German torpedo off the coast of Norway.^3,2 The S.S. Fort Bellingham was sunk off the coast of Norway by a torpedo fired from a German submarine during WWII. According to official reports, Benjamin Stephen was one of only two men killed in the boiler room when the torpedo struck the ship. The remainder of the men who died in the incident were lost adrift at sea. Benjamin's memory is honored by an engraving on the Tower Hill Memorial, London, England.

     Benjamin Loose Wick was born on 7 December 1846 at Wells next-the-Sea, Norfolk, England.^5,6,7,8

     Benjamin Loose Wick was a boy on several Royal Navy vessels between December 1860 and September 1864.^9,1,2,10,11 He was listed as a Roman Catholic on his Royal Navy service certificates; however, family tradition holds that this was a ruse to avoid Anglican Sunday mass aboard ship.^12,13 He appeared on the England Census of 1861, enumerated among the crew on H.M.S. Cornwallis, Hull, Yorkshire, England. Benjamin is listed as a Boy 2 Class aboard the 60-gun ship which was located off the coast of Hull on the morning of 7 April 1861.¹⁴
Research note: According to the U.K. National Archives website, boys aged 14-17 who joined the Royal Navy after 1853 had to sign an engagement to serve 10 years, from the age of 18. There was also the option of serving further engagements, towards the 20 years required for a pension..¹⁵


     Benjamin Loose Wick began military service on 1 October 1864 at England as a ten-year volunteer in the Royal Navy.^16,13 He was described as 5 foot, 6 inches tall with dark brown hair, grey eyes, a swarthy complexion and no wounds, scars or marks on 1 October 1864.¹⁶ Between 24 March 1870 and 21 January 1874, Benjamin Loose Wick was stationed aboard H.M.S. Clio as an Able Seaman . Internet sources indicate that the H.M.S. Clio was in Australia during this period, so it is likely that Benjamin served in Australia at this time.^17,12,13 He ended military service on 20 November 1874 at England; Royal Navy.¹⁶ He served as an able seaman aboard the S.S. Waldridge between 15 May 1875 and 3 January 1876.^18,19

     Benjamin Loose Wick married Frances Ann Maplethorpe, daughter of Wheatley Maplethorpe and Margaret Griffin, on 3 November 1875 at Jarrow Grange, County Durham, England.^10,20 Benjamin Loose Wick lived on 11 February 1883 at 18 Napier St., Jarrow, County Durham, England.¹ He died on 12 July 1884 at 12 Napier Street, Jarrow, County Durham, England, at age 37; Witnessed by C or A Applegate.^21,22

     Frances Ann Maplethorpe was born illegitimate on 19 February 1852 at Saint Anns Ford, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, England.^5,6,7,8 She married Benjamin Loose Wick, son of Robert Wick and Elizabeth Loose, on 3 November 1875 at Jarrow Grange, County Durham, England.^9,10 Frances Ann Maplethorpe lived between 11 February 1883 and 11 February 1886 at 18 Napier St., Jarrow, County Durham, England. She married Thomas Youlden on 9 December 1886 at Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, South Shields, County Durham, England.¹¹ According to Mable Jemima Wick, Frances was hired help at Morpeth Castle; it was said she was sent out to get the game and cleaned the maggots off of the animal. Frances appeared in the 1901 England Census at 41 Ellison Street, Jarrow, County Durham, England, as the wife of Thomas Youlden.¹² Frances Ann Youlden died on 20 January 1910 at 41 Ellison Street, Jarrow, Durham, Tyne and Wear, England, at age 57.^13,14

     Thomas Youlden was born circa 1855 at Tavistock, Devonshire, England.^1,2 He was a labourer in December 1886.³ He lived in December 1886 at 15 Holly St., Jarrow, County Durham, England. He married Frances Ann Maplethorpe, daughter of Wheatley Maplethorpe and Margaret Griffin, on 9 December 1886 at Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, South Shields, County Durham, England.⁴
Thomas appears in the 1901 England Census as the head of a household at 41 Ellison Street, Jarrow, County Durham, England, together with his wife, Frances Ann Youlden. Others enumerated in the household included Mabel Jemima Wick, Robert Wick and William Youlden.¹

     William Youlden married Rose (?) William Youlden was born circa 1894 at Jarrow, County Durham, England.¹

     Robert Wick was born circa 1879 at Jarrow, County Durham, England.¹ He was a laborer in the shipyard in 1901 at Jarrow, County Durham, England.¹ He married Mary McNeany between April 1910 and June 1910 at Durham, Tyne and Wear, England.²

     Her birth was registered in the quarter ended in September 1876 in the an unknown place Registration District, England.^1,2 Ethel Margaret Wick married Joseph Lamb on 9 December 1898 at South Shields District, Durham, Tyne and Wear, England.³ Ethel appeared in the 1901 England Census at 73 James Street, Jarrow, County Durham, England, as the wife of Joseph Lamb.⁴ The Lambs owned the first silent movie-house in Jarrow. They had no children, and it was said Ethel used to buy clothing for a little girl that used to frequent the theatre with her mum. Then she inquired to the mother about adopting the little girl and remarked she would only do it if there were papers properly drawn up by a lawyer. And so the Lambs did adopt the little girl nicknamed "Jimmie".⁵ In 1910, the Lambs had another theater built in Ashington and named it "The Buffalo Picture Palace"; so named because it was the main meeting hall for the Independent Order of Buffalos before the conversion. The theater was on Station Road in the Hurst Section of Ashington.^6,5 Her death was registered in the quarter ended in March 1933 in the South Shields Registration District.⁷

     Joseph Lamb was born circa 1875 at Jarrow, County Durham, England.¹ He married Ethel Margaret Wick, daughter of Benjamin Loose Wick and Frances Ann Maplethorpe, on 9 December 1898 at South Shields District, Durham, Tyne and Wear, England.²
Joseph appears in the 1901 England Census as the head of a household at 73 James Street, Jarrow, County Durham, England, together with his wife, Ethel Margaret Lamb.³
The Lambs owned the first silent movie-house in Jarrow. They had no children, and it was said Ethel used to buy clothing for a little girl that used to frequent the theatre with her mum. Then she inquired to the mother about adopting the little girl and remarked she would only do it if there were papers properly drawn up by a lawyer. And so the Lambs did adopt the little girl nicknamed "Jimmie". She would have been about 10 years older than Frances Ann Maplethorpe Stephen.⁴ In 1910, the Lambs had another theater built in Ashington and named it "The Buffalo Picture Palace"; so named because it was the main meeting hall for the Independent Order of Buffalos before the conversion. The theater was on Station Road in the Hurst Section of Ashington.^5,4 Joseph Lamb was a theater manager of the Buffalo Theater in 1911 at Ashington, Northumberland, England.⁶

     Her birth was registered in the quarter ended in September 1901 in the Easington Registration District, England.^2,1 Jemimah Adelaide Johnson was adopted; by Joseph and Ethel Margaret Lamb.^1,3

     Wheatley Maplethorpe was born circa February 1827 at South Kyme, Lincolnshire, England.^3,4,5 In the England census on 30 March 1851, Wheatley Maplethorpe was enumerated in the household of Wardell Wilkin at St. Peters, West Lynn, Norfolk, England. Wheatley was identified as a lodger in the household.³ He was a labourer in May 1852 at Kings Lynn, Norfolk, England.^6,7,8 He married Margaret Griffin, daughter of Absalom Griffin and Jemima Dye, on 22 May 1852 at Register's Office, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, England.^9,10,8 Wheatley Maplethorpe may have been unable to read or write, as he signed his marriage certificate by mark.⁶      He emigrated in July 1852 from Liverpool, Lancashire, England, aboard the Lousiana bound for New York, New York, USA.¹¹ He arrived in port on 14 July 1852 at New York, New York, USA.¹¹ He executed a Will circa 15 February 1856 at Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, USA.¹² He may have died between 6 April 1856 and 7 April 1856 at Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, USA.¹³ He was possibly buried at a grave marked "Wm. Maplethorpe born Lincolnshire, England, died April 6, 1856, Aged 28 years" after 6 April 1856 at Forest Home Cemetery, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, USA.¹⁴ Wheatley Maplethorpe's Will was proved at Probate Office, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, USA, on 16 May 1856.¹⁵

     Margaret Griffin was born circa July 1816 at Wighton, Norfolk, England.^1,2,3,4 She married Wheatley Maplethorpe, son of Dickinson Maplethorpe and Frances Wakefield, on 22 May 1852 at Register's Office, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, England.^5,6,7 Margaret Griffin was a shop keeper in 1861.⁸ She appeared on the England Census of 1861 at High Street, Wells next-the-Sea, Norfolk, England.² She died on 5 May 1880 at Wells next-the-Sea, Norfolk, England; Harriet Laxton was present at death.^9,10 She was buried on 8 May 1880 at Polka Road Cemetery, Wells next-the-Sea, Norfolk, England. Her grave is at row 5, grave number 34 and depth 6 feet. There is no gravestone at the plot.¹¹

     Martha Edith Abbs was born on 8 July 1886 at 15 Durham Street, Langley Park Colliery, County Durham, England.^4,5,6,7 She was a general servant in the home of George Burn in 1901 at Langley Park, Esh, County Durham, England.⁵ She married Robert Ernest Forster on 30 May 1908 at Church of All Saints, Langley Park, County Durham, England.⁸ Martha Edith Abbs died circa 1966 at England. It was said that Suzanna Abbs, Martha's sister, practically raised Martha after the death of their mother. Also said that Hannah and Harry Sanderson of Consett were her neice and nephew. Also, Peggy, Nancy Walter, Edna, Joyce were all Kidmans or related to Kidmans which in turn were relations of the Abbs. Also "Charltons" were mentioned as being possible relations. Aunt Florrie Abbs/Verna Abbs of Nevill's Cross were relations in Chester-le-Street.     

     Robert Ernest Forster was born on 3 August 1882 at Sunderland, County Durham, England.^2,3 He lived in May 1908 at 3 DeArey St, Langley Park, County Durham, England.⁴ He married Martha Edith Abbs, daughter of James Long Abbs and Martha Ramsay, on 30 May 1908 at Church of All Saints, Langley Park, County Durham, England.⁵ Robert Ernest Forster died circa 1958 at Stepney, London, England.⁶ He was buried at The Chase-Roneo Corner, Romford, Essex, England.⁷

     Rose (?) married William Youlden, son of Thomas Youlden and Frances Ann Maplethorpe.

     Martha Ramsay was born on 7 September 1854 at Wylam Engine, Northumberland, England.^4,5,6,7 She married James Long Abbs, son of Joseph Abbs and Eliza Long, on 28 April 1873 at Gateshead District Register's Office, County Durham Tyne and Wear, England.^8,9 Martha appeared in the 1891 England Census at 15 Durham Street, Langley Park, County Durham, England, as the wife of James Long Abbs.¹⁰ Martha Abbs died on 1 June 1898 at Langley Park, County Durham, England, at age 43; Her death certificate lists John R. Abbs, son, as the informant; however, I have not found record of any such offspring. This may be an erroneous reference to James R. Abbs.^11,12,13

     Albert Litchford was born in 1944.

     William Ronald Bernard Godfrey was born on 28 October 1927 at Leytonstone, Essex, England.¹ He died on 13 March 2014 at Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA, at age 86.^1,2

     Ronald Ramsay Forster was born between January 1923 and March 1923 at County Durham, England.¹ He married Theresa A. Brennan between July 1952 and September 1952 at Essex, Romford, England.³

     James Long Abbs was born on 2 September 1853 at Runton, Norfolk, England.^3,4,5,6 He appeared on the England Census of 1871 at Railway Cottages, Barmston, County Durham, England.⁷ He married Martha Ramsay, daughter of John Ramsay and Martha Hope, on 28 April 1873 at Gateshead District Register's Office, County Durham Tyne and Wear, England.^8,9 James Long Abbs was a coal miner between 1886 and 1910 at Langley Park Colliery, Esh, County Durham, England.^{10,11,12,13,14}
James appears in the 1891 England Census as the head of a household at 15 Durham Street, Langley Park, County Durham, England, together with his wife, Martha Abbs. Others enumerated in the household included Joseph Abbs, Martha Edith Abbs, Alfred Abbs, Janet Abbs and John Ramsey Abbs.¹¹
James Long Abbs died on 2 May 1910 at 1 Bow Street, Thornley, County Durham, England, at age 56.^13,15

     Robin Wick died at age twenty-one of pneumonia. He was born at England.

     Nancy Wick died very young. She was born at England.

     Joseph Abbs was born circa 1874 at Washington, County Durham, England.¹ He married Susannah Sykes, daughter of James Sykes and Ann (?), between July 1897 and July 1897 at County Durham, England.² Joseph Abbs was a coal miner in 1901 at Esh, County Durham, England.³
Joseph appears in the 1901 England Census as the head of a household at 56 Front Street, Esh, County Durham, England, together with his wife, Susannah Abbs.³

     Alfred Abbs was born between October 1883 and December 1883 at Langley Park, County Durham, England.^2,3 He married Hannah Ellwood between January 1906 and March 1906 at Gateshead District, Durham, Tyne and Wear, England.⁴ Alfred Abbs was a banksman - above ground (banksmen regulated the number of miners going into the cage for descent into the coal mine pits) in 1911 at Thornley Colliery, County Durham, England.⁵
Alfred appears in the 1911 England Census as the head of a household at 4 Coopers Terrace, Thornley Colliery, County Durham, England, together with his wife, Hannah Abbs.⁵
Alfred Abbs died between April 1959 and June 1959 at Co. Durham, England.⁶

     Susanna Abbs married an unknown person at Langley Park, County Durham, England. It was said that Susanna Abbs or her husband, Joseph Bird, were related to Leslie Charlton. Suzanna Abbs raised Martha Edith Abbs after the death of their mother. She was born in 1880.

     Elizabeth Abbs was born.