Sittingbourne Genealogical Records

Sittingbourne Birth & Baptism Records

England & Wales Birth Index (1837-2006)

An index to births registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of birth certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Sittingbourne Baptism Records (1562-1893)

A searchable database containing transcriptions of the baptism registers of Sittingbourne. These records may help trace a family as far back as 1562.

Kent Baptism Transcripts (1538-1874)

Over 130,000 extracted baptism from 207 parishes in Kent. The names of those involved can be searched via an index and are connected to images of the transcription notebooks.

Kent Bishop's Transcripts (1560-1911)

Browsable images of summaries of registers of baptisms, marriages and burials.

Kent Parish Registers (1538-1911)

Browsable images of registers the recorded baptisms, marriages and burials in Kent. Names are not indexed.

Sittingbourne Marriage & Divorce Records

England & Wales Marriage Index (1837-2008)

An index to marriages registered throughout England & Wales. This is the only national marriage index that allows you to search by both spouse's names. Provides a reference to order copies of marriage certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Sittingbourne Marriage Records (1563-1902)

A searchable database containing a transcription of the marriage registers of Sittingbourne. These records may help trace a family as far back as 1563.

Kent Marriage Transcripts (1538-1874)

Over 55,000 extracted marriages from 207 parishes in Kent. The names of those involved can be searched via an index and are connected to images of the transcription notebooks.

Canterbury Diocese Marriage Licences (1751-1837)

Abstracts of marriages licences granted by the Diocese of Canterbury. These records can contain more details than marriage records, including details such as age, occupation, residence and names of parents or guardians.

Vicar General’s Office Marriage Licences (1600-1679)

Abstracts of marriage licences granted by the Vicar-General in London. These licences could be used to marry in any church in the Province of Canterbury.

Sittingbourne Death & Burial Records

England & Wales Death Index (1837-2006)

An index to deaths registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of death certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Sittingbourne Burial Records (1562-1922)

A searchable transcript of burials in the churchyard of Sittingbourne. These records essentially record deaths in and around Sittingbourne between 1562 and 1922.

Kent Burial Transcripts (1538-1874)

Over 100,000 extracted burials from the registers of 207 parishes in Kent. The names of those involved can be searched via an index and are connected to images of the transcription notebooks.

Kent Bishop's Transcripts (1560-1911)

Browsable images of summaries of registers of baptisms, marriages and burials.

Kent Parish Registers (1538-1911)

Browsable images of registers the recorded baptisms, marriages and burials in Kent. Names are not indexed.

Sittingbourne Census & Population Lists

1939 Register (1939)

An index to and digital images of records that detail 40 million civilians in England and Wales. Records list name, date of birth, address, marital status, occupation and details of trade or profession.

England, Wales, IoM & Channel Islands 1911 Census (1911)

The 1911 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.

Kent Hearth Tax (1664)

A transcription of records naming those who had taxes levied against them for the privilege of owning a hearth.

Kent Register of Electors (1570-1907)

Browsable images of Kent electoral rolls poll books, which list those eligible to vote as well as lists of freemen, apprentices, burgess records and militia musters.

1901 British Census (1901)

The 1901 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.

Newspapers Covering Sittingbourne

Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald (1867-1904)

Local news; notices of births, marriages and deaths; business notices; details on the proceedings of public institutions; adverts and a rich tapestry of other local information from the Whitstable district. Every line of text from the newspaper can be searched and images of the original pages viewed.

Kent & Sussex Courier (1873-1939)

A conservative-oriented newspaper reporting on local news, births, marriages and deaths in the two counties.

Kent & Sussex Courier (1873-1950)

A record of births, marriages, deaths, legal, political, organisation and other news from the counties of Kent and Sussex. Original pages of the newspaper can be viewed and located by a full text search.

Kentish Chronicle (1859-1867)

A regional paper including news from the Kent area, legal & governmental proceedings, family announcements, business notices, advertisements and more.

Maidstone Telegraph (1859-1870)

The county paper of Kent, containing news by locale, adverts and family announcements.

Sittingbourne Wills & Probate Records

England & Wales National Probate Calendar (1858-1966)

Searchable index and original images of over 12.5 million probates and administrations granted by civil registries. Entries usually include the testator's name, date of death, date of probate and registry. Names of relations may be given.

Wills & Admons at Canterbury Probate Registry (1396-1650)

An index to probates and administrations held at Canterbury Probate Registry. Contains details on the testator, type of grant, residence, occupation and reference to order the original.

Tyler's Index to Kent Wills (1460-1882)

Abstracts and references to 10,000s of wills and probate documents, primarily from East Kent.

Diocese of Rochester Wills and Probate (1662-1784)

Browsable images of inventories. Also includes freeman papers for Queenborough.

Archdeaconry of Rochester Wills and Probate (1635-1857)

Browsable images of administrations, inventories and wills.

Sittingbourne Immigration & Travel Records

Prisoners Transported from Kent (1851-1852)

A small list of convicts transported to the colonies.

Passenger Lists Leaving UK (1890-1960)

A name index connected to original images of passenger lists recording people travelling from Britain to destinations outside Europe. Records may detail a passenger's age or date of birth, residence, occupation, destination and more.

UK Incoming Passenger Lists (1878-1960)

A full index of passenger lists for vessels arriving in the UK linked to original images. Does not include lists from vessels sailing from European ports. Early entries can be brief, but later entries may include dates of births, occupations, home addresses and more. Useful for documenting immigration.

Victoria Assisted & Unassisted Passenger Lists (1839-1923)

An index to and images of documents recording over 1.65 million passengers who arrived in Victoria, Australia, including passengers whose voyage was paid for by others.

Alien Arrivals in England (1810-1869)

Details on over 600,000 non-British citizens arriving in England. Often includes age and professions. Useful for discerning the origin of immigrants.

Sittingbourne Military Records

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment (1914-1920)

A great deal of information relating to the regiment, including a thorough history, biographical details, photographs, information on honours etc.

West Kent Queen's Own Yeomanry (1794-1909)

A general history of the yeomanry, including extracts from original records

Victoria County History of Kent, Vol. 3 (43-1900)

A volume from the most respected work concerning English history. It covers military history, country houses, industry, roads and a transcription of Domesday entries relating to Kent.

QORWKR Battalion Orders (1914-1916)

A finding aid for records detailing orders relating to ordinary rank men in the Royal West Kent Regiment.

Kent Voluntary Aid Detachments (1914-1918)

Details of voluntary aid workers in Kent during WWI.

Kentish Prison Hulk Registers (1811-1843)

Registers recording details of around 9,000 prisoners held in ships stationed in Kent. Records describe a convict's name, age, place of birth, physical description, offence, conviction, sentence, discharge and conduct report.

Kent Workhouse Records (1777-1911)

Over 70,000 browsable pages detailing the administration of poor law unions in Kent. Records contain details on births, marriages & deaths; punishments; admissions and discharges and more.

Kent Quarter Sessions Index (1657-1804)

A name index to 1,000s of people mentioned in legal records relating to crime and administration. The records include settlements, removals and bastardy orders.

Kent Quarter Sessions & Court Files (1558-1899)

Legal records covering a variety of issues from land to bastardy.

Act Books of the Archbishops of Canterbury (1663-1859)

An index to names and places mentioned in act books of the Province of Canterbury. It records various licences and conferments, such as marriage and physician licences.

Sittingbourne Taxation Records

Kent Land Tax Assessments (1660-1832)

A series of transcripts recording tax owed on land in select Kent parishes.

Poll Book for the County of Kent (1832)

A list of those who voted in the election, stating their residence and for who they voted.

Kent Hearth Tax (1664)

A transcription of records naming those who had taxes levied against them for the privilege of owning a hearth.

Kent Land Tax Assessments (1689-1832)

Browsable images of registers that record owners and occupiers of land. Useful for tracing succession of freehold and tenancies.

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Sittingbourne Land & Property Records

Kent Land Tax Assessments (1660-1832)

A series of transcripts recording tax owed on land in select Kent parishes.

Poll Book for the County of Kent (1832)

A list of those who voted in the election, stating their residence and for who they voted.

Kent Land Tax Assessments (1689-1832)

Browsable images of registers that record owners and occupiers of land. Useful for tracing succession of freehold and tenancies.

Kent Register of Electors (1570-1907)

Browsable images of Kent electoral rolls poll books, which list those eligible to vote as well as lists of freemen, apprentices, burgess records and militia musters.

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Sittingbourne Directories & Gazetteers

Pike's Weald of Kent & Romney Marsh Directory (1884-1885)

A gazetteer and directory of part of Kent.

Kelly's Directory of Kent (1938)

A directory of settlements in Kent detailing their history, agriculture, topography, economy and leading commercial, professional and private residents.

Kelly's Directory of Kent (1938)

An exhaustive gazetteer, containing details of settlement's history, governance, churches, postal services, public institutions and more. Also contains lists of residents with their occupation and address.

Kelly's Directory of Kent (1934)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key contemporary and historical facts. Each place has a list of residents and businesses. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions.

Kelly's Directory of Kent (1930)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key contemporary and historical facts. Each place has a list of residents and businesses. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions.

Sittingbourne Cemeteries

Kent Monumental Inscriptions (1500-1920)

Transcriptions of thousands of memorials and headstones found in Kent.

Kent Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Kent's most illustrious church monuments, often featuring effigies, medieval inscriptions and heraldic devices.

Deceased Online (1629-Present)

Images of millions of pages from cemetery and crematoria registers, photographs of memorials, cemetery plans and more. Records can be search by a name index.

Billion Graves (1200-Present)

Photographs and transcriptions of millions of gravestones from cemeteries around the world.

Mausolea and Monuments (1500-Present)

Profiles of several hundred mausolea found in the British Isles.

Sittingbourne Obituaries

iAnnounce Obituaries (2006-Present)

The UKs largest repository of obituaries, containing millions of searchable notices.

United Kingdom and Ireland Obituary Collection (1882-Present)

A growing collection currently containing over 425,000 abstracts of obituaries with reference to the location of the full obituary.

Quakers Annual Monitor (1847-1848)

A collection of 364 obituaries of Quakers from the British Isles. The volume was published in 1849 and includes obituaries of those who died in late 1847 through 1848.

Musgrave's Obituaries (1421-1800)

This transcribed and searchable work by Sir William Musgrave contains 10,000s of brief obituaries. The work is a reference point for other works containing information on an individual.

British Medical Journal (1849-Present)

A text index and digital images of all editions of a journal containing medical articles and obituaries of medical practitioners.

Sittingbourne Histories & Books

History & Topographical Survey of Kent (1189-1801)

A sprawling work containing a detailed history of the county and each parish.

Victoria County History: Kent (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

Victoria County History of Kent, Vol. 3 (43-1900)

A volume from the most respected work concerning English history. It covers military history, country houses, industry, roads and a transcription of Domesday entries relating to Kent.

Kent Church Photographs (1890-Present)

Photographs and images of churches in Kent.

Kent Church Photographs (1851-Present)

Photographs of parish churches in Hampshire, with architectural details and extracts from the 1851 ecclesiastical census.

Sittingbourne School & Education Records

National School Admission & Log Books (1870-1914)

A name index connected to digital images of registers recording millions of children educated in schools operated by the National Society for Promoting Religious Education. Records contain a variety of information including genealogical details, education history, illnesses, exam result, fathers occupation and more.

Teacher's Registration Council Registers (1870-1948)

A name index linked to original images of registers recording the education and careers of teachers in England & Wales.

Oxford University Alumni (1500-1886)

A name index linked to original images of short biographies for over 120,000 Oxford University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Cambridge University Alumni (1261-1900)

A transcript of a vast scholarly work briefly chronicling the heritage, education and careers of over 150,000 Cambridge University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Cambridge Alumni Database (1198-1910)

A searchable database containing over 90,000 note-form biographies for students of Cambridge University.

Sittingbourne Occupation & Business Records

Canterbury Teaching and Medical Licences (1568-1646)

A calendar to licences granted by Diocese of Canterbury to teachers, physicians and apothecaries.

Smuggling in Kent (1697-1830)

Articles detailing several smuggling gangs that operated in the county.

Smuggling on the South East Coast (1675-1871)

An introduction to smuggling in on the east coast of England, with details of the act in various regions.

Smuggling on the East Coast (1600-1892)

An introduction to smuggling on the east coast of England, with details of the act in various regions.

Kent Pub Histories (1820-Present)

Histories of Kent pubs, with photographs and lists of owners or operators.

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Sittingbourne

Victoria County History: Kent (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

Pedigrees of Kent Families (1066-1840)

Hand-draw genealogical charts covering Kent's gentry. Includes descriptions of coats of arms.

Tyler's Kent Families (1500-1900)

A collection of pedigrees, family notes and historical extracts relating to Kent and its families.

British & Irish Royal & Noble Genealogies (491-1603)

Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Sittingbourne Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

Victoria County History: Kent (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

Pedigrees of Kent Families (1066-1840)

Hand-draw genealogical charts covering Kent's gentry. Includes descriptions of coats of arms.

Kent Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Kent's most illustrious church monuments, often featuring effigies, medieval inscriptions and heraldic devices.

British & Irish Royal & Noble Genealogies (491-1603)

Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Sittingbourne Church Records

Kent Parish Register Transcripts (1538-1874)

Over 180,000 extracted entries from the registers of 207 parishes in Kent. The names of those involved can be searched via an index and are connected to images of the transcription notebooks.

Visitations of the Archdeacon of Canterbury (1557-1679)

Extracts relating to the ecclesiastical history of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury.

Kent Church Photographs (1851-Present)

Photographs of parish churches in Hampshire, with architectural details and extracts from the 1851 ecclesiastical census.

Kent Bishop's Transcripts (1560-1911)

Browsable images of summaries of registers of baptisms, marriages and burials.

Kent Parish Registers (1538-1911)

Browsable images of registers the recorded baptisms, marriages and burials in Kent. Names are not indexed.

Biographical Directories Covering Sittingbourne

Debrett's Peerage (1923)

A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1902)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1885)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Crockford's Clerical Directories (1868-1914)

Brief biographies of Anglican clergy in the UK.

The Concise Dictionary of National Biography (1654-1930)

A directory containing lengthy biographies of noted British figures. The work took over two decades to compile. Biographies can be searched by name and are linked to images of the original publication.

Sittingbourne Maps

Maps of Kent (1522-1922)

Digital images of maps covering the county.

UK Popular Edition Maps (1919-1926)

Detailed maps covering much of the UK. They depict forests, mountains, larger farms, roads, railroads, towns, and more.

Ordnance Survey 1:10 Maps (1840-1890)

Maps showing settlements, features and some buildings in mainland Britain.

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Parish Maps of Britain (1832)

Maps of parishes in England, Scotland and Wales. They are useful in determining which parish records may be relevant to your research.

Sittingbourne Reference Works

England Research Guide (1538-Present)

A beginner’s guide to researching ancestry in England.

Parish Register Abstract (1538-1812)

Compiled in 1831, this book details the coverage and condition of parish registers in England & Wales.

Building History Research Guide (1066-Present)

A comprehensive guide to researching the history of buildings in the British Isles.

Surname Origins (1790-1911)

A service that provides advanced and custom surname maps for the British Isles and the US.

British Family Mottoes (1189-Present)

A dictionary of around 9,000 mottoes for British families who had right to bear arms.

Historical Description

Sittingbourne is seven miles from Faversham, consists principally of one long and wide street, which contains several good inns for the accommodation of travellers. "The inhabitants," says Hasted, "boast much of John Northwood, Esq. of Northwood, having entertained King Henry V. in his triumphant return from France, in the year 1420, at the Red-Lion Inn in this town; and though the entertainment was plentiful, and befitting his royal guest, yet such was the difference of times, that the whole expense of it amounted to no more than 9s. 9d. wine being then sold at twopence per pint, and other articles in proportion." The church is large and handsome, and had in it several ancient monuments; among which was that of Sir Richard Lovelace, Marshal of Calais, in the reign of Henry VIII. richly inlaid with brass; but this, with many others, was injured by a fire that burnt the inside and roof of the church in 1762. Lewis Theobald, a laborious editor of Shakspeare, was a native of Sittingbourne. His father, Peter Theobald, was an attorney of the place.

Topography of Great Britain (1829) by George Alexander Cooke

SITTINGBOURNE, situated on the former Watling Street, the Roman and modern high road from London to Dover; 39 miles from London, 10 south-east from Rochester, 7 west from Faversham and 16 west from Canterbury, with a station on the main line of the South Eastern and Chatham railway between them, whence a branch line runs over the Swale into the isle of Sheppy and through Queenborough to Sheerness. It is in the North Eastern division of the county, Milton hundred and union, lathe of Scray, Faversham petty sessional division, Sittingbourne county court district, rural deanery of Sittingbourne, archdeaconry of Maidstone and diocese of Canterbury.

Sittingbourne principally consists of one long street and is approached on the north side by a navigable creek of the Swale, leading up to Crown Quay, from which corn, wool, bricks and large quantities of material for the repair of the metropolitan roads are exported: there is a wide level road through the marshes to Sheerness: the town received from Queen Elizabeth two charters, by which it was incorporated and acquired the right of electing a municipal body and sending representatives to Parliament, as well as that of holding a weekly market and two fairs; but the two former privileges were never exercised. The town is now governed under the “Local Government Act, 1894” (56 & 57 Vict. c. 73), by an Urban District Council of nine members, which takes the place of a Local Board, formed in 1863. It is supplied with water from works at Keycol Hill, completed in 1870 and the property of the District Council; the capacity of reservoirs are respectively 300,000 and 147,000 gallons: the town is lighted with gas from works in Murston, by a company formed in 1877.

The church of St. Michael is of flint and stone in the Early English and later styles and has a western tower containing a clock and 8 bells: there are several stained windows and some monuments. In 1873 the church was restored and reseated at a cost of nearly £3,000: there are 620 sittings. The register of baptisms dates from the year 1561, marriages from 1562 and burials from 1571. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £183, with 1 ½ acres of glebe and residence, in the gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and held since 1898 by the Rev. Thomas Godfrey Law Lushington M.A. of Jesus College, Cambridge, and surrogate.

Holy Trinity is an ecclesiastical parish, formed March 19, 1869. The church is of Kentish rag and Bath stone, in the Early English style and has a tower with one bell: there are 640 sittings, of which half are free. The register dates from the year 1869. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £225, with residence, in the gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and held since 1892 by the Rev. Hargreave Edward Trimmer M.A. of Keble College, Oxford.

The Catholic church in West street, dedicated to the Sacred Heart, erected in 1892, is a plain edifice of brick and will seat 150.

There is a Baptist chapel, built in 1866, with 750 sittings, a Congregational, erected in 1841, seating 500, also Primitive Methodist, Bible Christian and Wesleyan chapels.

The Cemetery of 6 acres contains two mortuary chapels and is under the control of a Burial Board of 9 members.

The Town Hall, erected in 1859, and originally the Corn Exchange, was purchased in 1878 by the old Local Board, enlarged, and a board room and offices provided: the hall will hold 600 persons, and has an illuminated clock.

The Masonic Hall, in Albany road, built in 1889, is a plain structure of brick, containing a meeting hall and club room.

Foresters’ Hall, East street, erected in 1892, is an edifice of brick, with stone dressings, it is licensed for theatrical performances, dancing, conceits and will hold 700 persons.

The Public Free Library in Crescent street, was established in 1888, under the “Public Libraries’ Act, 1885” (18 & 19 Vict. c. 70): the library consists of 5,000 volumes, presented by the now extinct Sittingbourne and Milton Book Society.

The Public Baths and Gymnasium in The Butts, were built in 1896 by public subscription, at a cost of £1,500.

The “Bull” is the principal hotel.

The A Squadron of the Royal East Kent (Duke of Connaught’s Own) imperial Yeomanry (Mounted Rifles), and the E Company of the 1st Volunteer Battalion.

The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), have their headquarters in the town.

A corn market is held weekly on fridays, from 3 to 5 o’clock, at the Town Hall, and cattle sales, conducted by Mr. F. A. Bensted, are held every alternate monday in the Bull hotel meadow.

The trade here is derived chiefly from the manufacture and transit of bricks and cement (nearly 6,000 hands being employed in these two industries), the market, the supply of the neighbouring district, the shipping of corn, and import of coals. There are also corn mills: the extensive paper mills of Edward Lloyd Limited are partly in this and partly in Milton parish.

The poor have £4 10s. yearly, arising from land, and five seames (10 bushels) of boiling peas, in value about £12, are given yearly by the churchwardens to the poor on Christmas day.

A public recreation ground of 10 acres was laid out in 1880 by the late Local Board.

The area of Sittingbourne is 995 acres of land, 3 of water, 3 of tidal water and 19 of foreshore; rateable value, £30,801; the population in 1871 was 6,148, in 1881 7,856, in 1891 8,502, and in 1901 was 8,943.

The population of the ecclesiastical parishes in 1901 was:-St. Michael (parish church), 4,932 and Holy Trinity, 4,011.

Petty Sessions are held at the Police court each monday at 10 o’clock; the magistrates also attend fridays, at 10 a.m.

The following places are included in the Petty Sessional division:-Bapchild, Bobbing, Bredgar, Borden, Eastchurch, Emley, Harty, Halstow the Lower, Hartlip, Iwade, Kingsdown, Laysdown, Milstead, Milton near Sittingbourne, Minster in Sheppey, Murston, Newington next Sittingbourne, Rainham, Rodmersham, Sittingbourne, Tunstall & Upchurch.

PLACES OF WORSHIP, with times of Services

St. Michael’s Church, High street, Rev. Thomas Godfrey Law Lushington M.A. vicar; 8 & 11 a.m.. & 3 or 3.30 & 6.30 p.m.; daily at 8 & 8.30 p.m.

Mission room, Canterbury road, 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.30 p.m.

Holy Trinity, Dover street, Rev. Hargreave Edward Trimmer M.A. vicar; 8 & 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. & fri. 11 a.m.; daily, 10 a.m. & 5.30 p.m.

Sacred Heart, Catholic, West street, Rev. Eugene O’Sullivan; 8 & 10 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; daily, 7.30 a.m.; fri. 7.30 p.m.

Baptist, High street west, Rev. John Doubleday; 10.45 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.30 p.m.

Mission room, Bayford street, 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; thurs. 7.30 p.m.

Bible Christians, East street, Rev. Wm. Henry Gregory, minister; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; wed. 7 p.m.

Congregational (Free Church), High street, Rev. John Preece Rawlings, minister; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.30 p.m.

Primitive Methodist, Shakespeare road, Rev. Thomas G. Dyke; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; thurs. 7.30 p.m.

Wesleyan, High street, Rev. Wm. Rapson (supt.) & Rev. Arthur Clay Lywood; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.15 p.m.

Salvation Army Barracks, Shortlands road.

SCHOOLS

St. Michaels National, The Butts, built in 1847, & enlarged in 1892, for 580; average attendance, 215 boys, 215 girls & 130 infants.

St. Michael’s National (infants), Canterbury road, built in 1883, for 200 children; average attendance, 180.

Holy Trinity National, built in 1871 & enlarged in 1872, & again 1892 & 1893, for 600; average attendance, 180 boys, 180 girls & 170 infants.

Infants’ Pembury street, for 120 children; average attendance, 95.

Wesleyan (mixed), built in 1834, & enlarged 1873, for 430 children.

MILTON, in Aylesford lathe, rural deanery of Sittingbourne, archdeaconry of Maidstone and diocese of Canterbury, is a parish and head of a union and hundred. A court leet is also held yearly for the appointment of two high constables. The sanitary arrangements of the parish are under the management of the Milton Urban District Council of twelve members, created by the “Local Government Act, 1894” (56 & 57 Vict. c. 73), which supersedes a board of improvement Commissioners, created by 1 Vict. c. 20. The district is divided into three wards. The town is supplied with water from works at Keycol hill and has a complete system of drainage, and is lighted with gas from works belonging to the District Council. The church of Holy Trinity, north of the town and partly surrounded with very fine trees, is an ancient building of flint and rough stone, chiefly in the Decorated style, and has an embattled western tower of unusually large dimensions, containing 5 bells, dated 1681; on the wall is a brass to Thomas Alefe and Margaret, his wife, 1529: there are marble tablets to the Woollett family, a floor stone to the Rev. John Yates, 21 years vicar of this parish, d. 26 Sept. 1826, and memorials to the Cockin, Creed, Romney, Chapman, Dyne and Finche and other families, and a brass with the effigy of a knight: the church affords 800 sittings. The register of baptisms and burials dates from the year 1538; marriages from 1622. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £232, with residence, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, and held since 1900 by the Rev. Thomas Thomas Lucius Morgan, of Corpus Christi college, Cambridge. St. Paul’s chapel of ease is a structure of brick, overgrown with ivy, and consisting of chancel, nave of five bays, aisles, and a western doorway; the church possesses an alms dish presented by the Rev. W. Heygate, April 21, 1826, and said to have once belonged to the Cathedral of Worms: there are 500 sittings, of which 150 are free. St. Mary’s Church, Park road, erected in 1901, is a structure of red brick in the Gothic style of the 13th century: it consists at present only of chancel, vestries, and a portion of the nave and aisle: the Rev. Sidney B. Ritso M.A. has been curate in charge since 1889. Here is a Congregational chapel, built in 1793, and has 500 sittings; also Primitive Methodist chapel. The Town Hall, in High street, is a structure of brick, with a large clock projecting from the front of the building; the hall contains committee and anterooms and one for meetings and concerts &c. The court hall, in High street, is an ancient building used for the manor courts, which are held annually. St. Thomas’s almshouses in the Butts, erected in 1860, under a benefaction left in 1601 by Thomas Bradbury gent, of Milton, are for seven poor widows; Miss Hinde’s, in Cross street, are for 4 poor persons. A sum of £20, the interest on several charities, is distributed yearly to the poor at Christmas in bread and money. The market once held on Saturday, has been discontinued. The oyster fishery used to be carried on here; the produce was sent to the London market. At Chalkwell, in this parish, is a large tanyard. Lloyd’s Limited very extensive paper mills are partly in this parish; and there are several brick fields. Between 1869 and 1872 Roman leaden coffins, urns, and glass vessels were discovered near Bexhill. This place was “ancient demesne,” having been held by the Crown in the time of the Confessor, and the manor was subsequently held in dower by the Queens of England. Wenman Aubrey Wvkeham-Musgrave esq. of Thame Park, Oxon, is lord of the manor, Lord Harris G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E. the trustees of the late William Whitehead Gascoyne esq. J.P. of Bapchild Court (d. 1897), Gerge Webb esq. and the trustees of Miss Hinde are the chief landowners. The area is 2,553 acres of land, 6 of water, 12 of tidal water and 41 of foreshore; rateable value, £25,259; the population in 1901 was 7,056, which includes 15 officers and 282 inmates in the workhouse.

The population of the wards in 1901 was: Central, 2,747; North 1,418; South 2,921.

MILTON UNION

Board day, Wednesday, at the Board room, at 11 am.

Milton Union includes the greater part of the hundred of Milton, consisting of the following parishes:-Bapchild, Bobbing, Borden, Bredgar, Hartlip, Iwade, Kingsdown, Lower Halstow, Milstead, Milton, Murston, Newington, Rainham, Rodmersham, Sittingbourne, Tong, Tunstall & Upchurch. The population of the union in 1901 was 28,190; area, 31,827 acres; rateable value in 1902, £136,567.

The workhouse, & structure of brick, was erected in 1835, for 380 inmates.

PLACES OF WORSHIP, with times of Services

Holy Trinity & St. Paul’s Chapel of Rase, Rev. Thomas Thomas Lucius Morgan, vicar; Rev. Roland Genet Stafford B.A. curate; 11 a.m. & 3 & 6.30 p.m.

St. Mary’s, Park road, Rev. Sidney Baker Ritso M.A. curate in charge; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Congregational, Rev. Albert Ernest Snashall A.T.S.; 10.45 am & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.15 p.m.

Primitive Methodist, Rev. Thomas G. Dyke; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.30 p.m.

SCHOOLS

A School Board of 5 members was formed 28 Oct. 1875; William: James Harris, 76 High street, Sittingbourne, clerk to the board; Edward Knowles, High street, attendance officer.

Board (boys), built in 1848, for 770 boys, girls & infants; average attendance, 350 boys, 320 girls, 81 1st standard & 85 infants.

Grovehurst (mixed), built for 70 children; average attendance, 45.

St. Pauls (infants), built in 1873, for 70 children; average attendance, 57.

Kelly's Directory of Kent (1903)

Most Common Surnames in Sittingbourne

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in Milton Hundred
1Smith1131:700.77%1
2Thomas841:944.13%37
3Brown701:1121.19%2
4Williams641:1231.74%9
5Baker531:1491.03%4
6Taylor521:1510.97%3
7Hills451:1752.13%34
8Young431:1831.66%20
9Jarrett391:2025.19%188
9Rossiter391:20228.26%1,206
11Harris371:2131.03%10
12Kemp351:2251.98%52
12Wiles351:2258.27%380
12Sellen351:22517.33%871
15Sage341:23210.76%553
15Croucher341:2324.93%209
15Spice341:2329.69%481
18Allen331:2391.32%23
19Clark321:2460.99%13
19Chapman321:2461.06%14
19Millen321:2469.30%497
22Johnson311:2540.93%12
23Bennett291:2711.52%42
23Collins291:2711.10%17
25Martin281:2810.56%6
26Turner271:2920.91%15
26Shrubshall271:29267.50%3,324
28Cooper261:3031.01%21
28Marsh261:3031.18%30
28Hubbard261:3034.77%278
31Lee251:3151.64%70
31Gibson251:3153.22%175
31Payne251:3151.51%59
34Foster241:3281.64%79
34Rose241:3282.12%114
34Mears241:32812.90%935
34Goatham241:32830.38%1,950
38Ellis231:3421.59%80
38Russell231:3420.88%19
38Wills231:3426.05%447
41Anderson221:3581.78%99
41Stone221:3581.66%90
41Nicholls221:3582.87%180
41Savage221:3584.55%321
41Mount221:3585.25%383
41Glandfield221:358100.00%5,251
47Hall211:3750.96%31
47Mitchell211:3751.32%63
47Fisher211:3751.96%122
47Read211:3751.95%121
47Coleman211:3751.98%125
47Gee211:37514.19%1,131
53Wood201:3940.39%5
53Bailey201:3941.11%46
53Summers201:3945.04%417
53Phipps201:3946.78%588
53Blackman201:3942.67%190
53Trowell201:39410.10%886
59Butler191:4141.28%75
59Cole191:4141.41%88
59Dean191:4142.93%230
59Masters191:4143.37%270
59Austen191:4141.65%109
59Pretty191:41430.65%2,383
59Goodhew191:4145.43%482
66Jackson181:4371.17%67
66Cox181:4371.02%53
66Frost181:4373.70%316
66Horton181:4371.88%137
66Burley181:43710.78%1,020
66Copping181:43717.65%1,555
66Shrubsall181:43718.75%1,638
66Milway181:43736.73%2,842
74Walker171:4630.96%51
74Moore171:4630.78%33
74Cook171:4630.69%24
74Harvey171:4631.26%87
74Grant171:4632.13%169
74Andrews171:4630.95%49
74Day171:4630.95%48
74Britten171:46322.97%2,053
74Brenchley171:4633.53%324
74Goldfinch171:4634.87%484
84Roberts161:4920.82%40
84Hawkins161:4921.37%107
84Reeves161:4921.28%98
84Waters161:4921.18%85
84Simmonds161:4922.45%229
84Goldsmith161:4921.77%143
84Coward161:49216.84%1,650
84Hampshire161:49211.19%1,175
84Winch161:4926.90%779
84Tong161:4926.06%655
84Crayford161:49211.68%1,212
84Swinyard161:49240.00%3,324
96King151:5250.43%11
96Hunt151:5250.98%68
96Rogers151:5250.86%55
96Pearce151:5251.36%118
96Elliott151:5251.39%120
96Higgins151:5252.11%201
96Austin151:5251.22%101
96Carpenter151:5251.97%182
96Tyler151:5252.40%242
96Drake151:5254.81%557
96Batchelor151:5253.16%328
96Gates151:5254.34%493
96Hooker151:5252.64%264
96Turk151:5258.43%973
96Broadbridge151:52515.79%1,650
96Bottle151:5257.11%842
96Crayden151:52534.88%3,140
113Watson141:5620.84%58
113Ward141:5620.76%45
113Stevens141:5620.62%29
113Brooks141:5621.14%100
113Berry141:5622.33%254
113Bishop141:5621.07%91
113Whitehead141:5621.38%128
113Barrett141:5621.78%171
113Banks141:5621.92%198
113French141:5621.41%131
113Little141:5624.64%573
113Reeve141:5625.20%642
113Bean141:5622.67%291
113Attwood141:5624.17%514
113Snelling141:5625.67%718
113Thacker141:56222.95%2,406
113Kite141:5626.31%808
113Irons141:56215.38%1,719
113Mantle141:5625.17%636
113Hollands141:5621.83%181
113Jury141:5624.28%533
113Port141:5626.31%808
113Wyles141:5628.97%1,083
113Dorrell141:56221.21%2,268
113Kemsley141:5624.61%570
113Rate141:56253.85%4,646
113Gawler141:56246.67%4,158
113Gouge141:56226.42%2,676
141Jones131:6060.31%7
141Robinson131:6060.72%47
141Lewis131:6060.86%72
141Carter131:6060.62%36
141Barnes131:6060.82%62
141Long131:6061.41%140
141Hancock131:6063.30%423
141Bartlett131:6062.07%240
141Houghton131:6068.97%1,155
141Daniels131:6062.57%301
141Rouse131:6065.80%804
141Champion131:6064.63%614
141Kennett131:6061.78%196
141Buss131:6063.52%461
141Sills131:60613.40%1,622
141Bones131:60614.13%1,708
141Brightman131:60616.67%1,967
141Filmer131:6063.18%397
141Keel131:60626.53%2,842
141Saywell131:60611.21%1,396
141Furner131:60624.07%2,637
141Hinge131:60618.57%2,157
141Fever131:6069.70%1,234
141Edmed131:60612.62%1,542
141Towne131:60661.90%5,415
141Elfick131:60630.23%3,140
141Gorf131:60672.22%6,047
168Thompson121:6560.61%41
168Hughes121:6560.82%78
168Phillips121:6560.68%50
168Richards121:6560.93%93
168Sutton121:6560.88%84
168Hobbs121:6561.80%220
168Pollard121:6563.55%509
168Forster121:6565.53%827
168Monk121:6563.18%452
168Sampson121:6565.17%779
168Bushell121:6561.88%236
168Russel121:65614.29%1,853
168Ashdown121:6561.59%184
168Hadlow121:6562.94%398
168Boulding121:65612.00%1,591
168Prentis121:65625.53%2,923
168Neves121:65620.34%2,465
168Feakins121:65613.19%1,719
168Trinkown121:656100.00%8,042
187Green111:7160.48%28
187Morris111:7160.72%69
187Mills111:7160.55%38
187Freeman111:7161.56%203
187Gilbert111:7160.81%86
187Willis111:7161.36%167
187Jarvis111:7160.98%115
187Hurst111:7163.30%518
187Peters111:7161.91%260
187Randall111:7161.77%243
187Gardiner111:7164.25%667
187Bower111:71611.58%1,650
187Weller111:7161.35%164
187Reece111:71615.94%2,183
187Reader111:7162.08%285
187Tidy111:7165.12%832
187Warnes111:71650.00%5,251
187Couchman111:7161.81%249
187Champ111:7168.53%1,267
187Pudney111:71617.46%2,350
187Hinkley111:7165.70%907
187Hickmott111:7162.93%454
187Tumber111:7166.75%1,046
187Gambell111:71619.64%2,567
187Woodhurst111:71668.75%6,630
187Iddenden111:71619.30%2,530
187Streetfield111:71642.31%4,646
187Lindrige111:716100.00%8,577