Edward Henniker (spelt Henecar on his marriage banns) and Ann Russel married on the 9th July 1792 in Little Chart, Kent. Ann appears to have come from a rather large family by the name of Russel (or Russell), who lived at least for part of their lives in Pluckley, Kent. Pluckley is a town which is only a few kilometres from Little Chart, and also Westwell, so it does seem people certainly did not travel far in those days. The town of Pluckley has the fame of being the town where much of the television series, the Darling Buds of May was filmed.
Pluckley has the reputation as being the “most haunted village in England” and there are many sites and stories on the internet that have stories of sightings.
Ann Russels’ father was Robert Russel born 1718 died 1793 and her mother was Jemima Cullen born 1719 and died 1803. and they had nine children.
Robert Russell married Jemima Cullen in Pluckley in 1743 and he was baptised an adult there 2 years later in 1745.
He was legally settled by virtue of a settlement certificate (issued 1745 & 1749) to Little Chart though this is unqualified by examination so I don’t know for sure if he was born in Little Chart, or that his residence was due to occcupation or previous marriage.
When Edward and Ann married they went on to have a number of children, and in particular Thomas Henniker, who emigrated to South Australia, and was the father of James Heneker (spelt this way once the Henniker’s arrived in Australia). James of course was my great great grandfather, James was born back in Westwell, Kent in 1826, before the family decided to emigrate. I often wonder if Edward and Ann were still alive to see their son and his wife Jemima Willis off on their great adventure, to a place settled ,only 3 years previously? Because of the difficulty in tracing records back past 1837, it has become difficult for me to be sure which Edward or Ann I am looking at in Parish records, but I will continue to search, and one day I may be lucky.
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