Martha Kevan

Was a builder and carpenter, according to www.pask.org.uk – also below details:

“Oliver made a will dated 11 November 1825 in Curtain Road, St. Leonard, Shoreditch, London, The will is 7 pages long, and very difficult to read. It names his executors as Joseph Dorling, Nathaniel Kevan and Samuel Fosdike Bridges. There is mention of several properties including 114 & 115 Curtain Road (Shoreditch) - the road still exists today. In the will he states " I wished to be buried in my family grave in Bunhill Fields Burial Ground in the City Road in a plain but ..." There is mention of 114 & 115 Curtain Road, his daughter Ann English DORLING wife of Joseph DORLING (who was living at 114 Curtain Road), and his daughter Phoebe Kevan, wife of Nathaniel Kevan, his daughter Martha BRIDGE, wife of Samuel Fosdike BRIDGE, his daughter Elizabeth PASK, spinster. He refers to his sons Oliver and Henry, and Edward, who at that time were under twenty-one. Also his daughters Mary and Emma PASK (also under the age of twenty-one). Also his nephews John DORLING and Daniel DORLING. 

“The transcript of the first page reads: 

“This is the last Will and testament of Mr Oliver Pask of the Curtain Road in the parish of Saint Leonard Shoreditch in the county of Middlesex [ ] being of sound mind memory and understanding provided by God for the same do make and constitute this as and for my last Will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say) I desire to be buried in my family grave in Bunhill Fields Burial ground in the City Road in a plain but decent manner which I leave entirely to the discretion of my dear wife and Executors [ ] [ ] and As to such worldly estate and effects that God of his goodness has bestowed upon me after the payment of all my just and lawful debts and the expense of my ffuneral and expenses attending upon proving of this my Will I dispose thereof as follows I give devise and bequeath unto my daughter Ann English Dorling wife of Joseph Dorling my ffreehold messuages or tenements with the [*appurshonanns/appurtenants] also unto being situate lying and being No 114 in the Curtain Road and now being in the occupation of my said daughter and also all those my three ffreehold messuages or tenements with their respective *appurshenanns situate lying and being in Batemans Row Curtain Road aforesaid No 2 and 3 now in the tenance(y) or occupation of James Winnitt Mr McDonald widow and [Shirldurk??] to hold the same and to receive the rents issue and profits arising thereforward in perpetuity the same in good and tenantable repair for her own and use and benefit for and during the term of her natural life the same not to be subject or liable to the debts [ ] or engagements of her present or after taken husbands and her [receipt??] at all times not withstanding [condition?] to be good and effectual discharges for the same and from after her decease I order and direct that the said ffreehold and leasehold estates be as soon as conveniently disposed of by my Trustees and Executors or the survivor or survivors of them either by public auction or private contract that may be most advantageous and the money or monies so arising there from after deducting all necessary expenses attending the same I give and bequeath the same unto and amongst all and every the child and children of my said daughter which shall be living at the time of her death share and share alike and if but one to such [one/are] only child the issue or issues of any deceased child or children to take their parents share for his or her absolute use and benefit and in case my said daughter should die without leaving any child or children or the issue of any deceased child her surviving then the same to sink into and form part of the residue of my estate I give devise and bequeath unto my daughter Phoebe Kevan wife of Nathaniel Kevan my ffreehold messuages or tenements situate lying AND BEING No 2 East Street Ffinsbury [Market?] now in the occupation of [Clark?] and also all those leasehold messuages and tenements situate and being on the east side in Suffolk Place Batemans Row aforesaid No 2 and 3 in the occupation of [Jewin?] [Eannes/Eaves/Eassau?] and William [Remmington or **Rivvington] with the *appurshonanns there unto respectively belonging to hold the same and to receive the rents issue and profits arising therefrom after keeping the same in good and tenantable repair for her own absolute use and benefit for and during the term of her natural life the same in no way to be subject or liable for the debts [ ] or engagements of her present or any after taken husband and [ ] [ ] all times notwithstanding [condition?] to be good and effectual discharge for the same and from and after the decease of my said daughter Phoebe Kevan I order and direct that the said ffreeholds and leasehold estate be as soon as conveniently disposed of by my Trustees and Executors or the survivor or survivors of them either by public auction or private contract as may seem most advantageous and the money so arising therefrom after deducting all and every expense attending the same I give and bequeath the same unto and amongst all and every the child and children of my said daughter which shall be living at the time of her [death/decease] equally share and share alike and if but one [to/be] such [an/are] child the issue and issue - Kindly transcribed by Colleen Morrison November 2004.15 

“Oliver was buried in 1826 in Bunhill Fields Burial Grounds, London.15,16,17 His estate was probated on 5 January 1827 at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, London; Probate was granted to his executors Joseph Dorling, Nathaniel Kevan and Samuel Fosdyke Bridge.15”

Taken from the National Archives:

“MS 11936/511/1082275  28 October 1828

“These documents are held at London Metropolitan Archives

“Contents: 

“Insured: Elizabeth Kevan 12 Magdalen Street Bermondsey gent

“Other property or occupiers: 4 - 6 Suffolk Place Batemans Row Curtain Road”

“Nathaniel Kevan married Phebe Pask in 1819 in the presence of Sam’l Kevan, Peter Kevan, Oliver Pask and Elizabeth Pask. After the death of Phebe, Nathaniel married her sister Elizabeth in 1828. Oliver was rememberd in his will - see probate record attached. He was originally a slater, see attached Pigot’s directory for 1839 and census for 1841 but became a collector for the gas company and was wealthy enough to leave £450 at his death in 1862, a not small sum of money at the time.

I have not yet been able to establish his relationship with Peter Kevan, slater of Bermondsey and witness to his first marriage, nor have I been able to find any more details on Samuel. However, Nathaniel and Peter lived next door to each other in Southwark, 11 and 12 Magdalen Street and held properties in the area. There was a definite connection in these with a Samuel. There is also record of a James Kevan, born around the same time as Peter and Nathaniel but I have not found a definite connection.

From the National Archives (from London Metropolitan Archives): 

“MS 11936/507/1054739  25 January 1827 ... Insured: Nathaniel Kevan 12 Magdalen Street Bermondsey Joseph Dorling and Samuel Bridge exors in trust. Other property or occupiers: 116 Curtain Road”

“MS 11936/511/1082274  28 October 1828 ... [Nathaniel Kevan only] Other property or occupiers: 1 - 3 Suffolk Street Batemans Row Curtain Road.

Probate records show Nathaniel leaving effects under £600. He lived at 147 Great-Cambridge Street Hackney Road but late of 31 Shrubland Grove Dalston., proved by Eliza Kevan of 31 Shrubland Grove, Widow the Relict the sole Executrix.

Birth record in non-conformist records at ancestry.

Christined 31.5.1818 Old church, St Pancras

Probate, Personal Estate £255 1s. 9d. Eliza of 10 Tudor Road, Hackney was proved by Nathaniel Kevan, collector of Rates the Son the sole Executor.

Nathaniel Kevan of 38 Blenheim Road, Deal, Probate London 31 December to Caroline Parsons (wife of Robert Henry Parsons). Effects £2777 8s 8d.

“Ebenezer, Nathaniel, Phoebe and Phyllis Kevan were all cousins of Thomas Bearman 111 on his mother's side and Nathaniel, in particular, was a life-long friend of his. In 1881 the Kevanfamily was living at 10, Tudor Road, Hackney, London next door to the Bearmans, where 20 years later, the Middlemiss family were living.

“Nathaniel Kevan (1844/45 - ?) settled at Deal, where he had a house in Blenheim Road. He became a well-known f igure in the town and can be seen on many old photographs taken on the beach, the pier or the Parade. He married his cook , Elizabeth (1841/42 - ?) who, I understand, was a shy person and always kept very much in the background. They had just one daughter, Caroline, generally known as Doris, who married but I never heard whether she had any children. The sisters Phoebe and Phyllis lived in the Blenheim Road house for many years after Nathaniel died.

“They also were a well-known sight in Deal - two old ladies in black, always together. The interior of their house was, in the 30s, still a cosy Victoriana museum, with big aspidistras and knick-knacks. Phoebe (1852/53- 1939) was an upright lady with a strong, somewhat gaunt face, a deep voice and a precise way of speaking. She appeared to be the dominant sister; Phyllis(1857/58- ?) was a round-faced, more compliant sort of person.”

Dr Frank Middlemiss’s online notes

Probate for Phebe Kevan of 38 Blenheim-road, Deal, spinster died 19 January 1939 Probate London 6 March to Phillis Catherine Kevan spinster. Effects £257 1s 11d

“Ebenezer, Nathaniel, Phoebe and Phyllis Kevan were all cousins of Thomas Bearman 111 on his mother's side and Nathaniel, in particular, was a life-long friend of his. In 1881 the Kevanfamily was living at 10, Tudor Road, Hackney, London next door to the Bearmans, where 20 years later, the Middlemiss family were living.

“Nathaniel Kevan (1844/45 - ?) settled at Deal, where he had a house in Blenheim Road. He became a well-known f igure in the town and can be seen on many old photographs taken on the beach, the pier or the Parade. He married his cook , Elizabeth (1841/42 - ?) who, I understand, was a shy person and always kept very much in the background. They had just one daughter, Caroline, generally known as Doris, who married but I never heard whether she had any children. The sisters Phoebe and Phyllis lived in the Blenheim Road house for many years after Nathaniel died.

“They also were a well-known sight in Deal - two old ladies in black, always together. The interior of their house was, in the 30s, still a cosy Victoriana museum, with big aspidistras and knick-knacks. Phoebe (1852/53- 1939) was an upright lady with a strong, somewhat gaunt face, a deep voice and a precise way of speaking. She appeared to be the dominant sister; Phyllis(1857/58- ?) was a round-faced, more compliant sort of person.”

Dr Frank Middlemiss’s online notes 

“Ebenezer, Nathaniel, Phoebe and Phyllis Kevan were all cousins of Thomas Bearman 111 on his mother's side and Nathaniel, in particular, was a life-long friend of his. In 1881 the Kevanfamily was living at 10, Tudor Road, Hackney, London next door to the Bearmans, where 20 years later, the Middlemiss family were living.

“Nathaniel Kevan (1844/45 - ?) settled at Deal, where he had a house in Blenheim Road. He became a well-known figure in the town and can be seen on many old photographs taken on the beach, the pier or the Parade. He married his cook, Elizabeth (1841/42 - ?) who, I understand, was a shy person and always kept very much in the background. They had just one daughter, Caroline, generally known as Doris, who married but I never heard whether she had any children. The sisters Phoebe and Phyllis lived in the Blenheim Road house for many years after Nathaniel died.

“They also were a well-known sight in Deal - two old ladies in black, always together. The interior of their house was, in the 30s, still a cosy Victoriana museum, with big aspidistras and knick-knacks. Phoebe (1852/53- 1939) was an upright lady with a strong, somewhat gaunt face, a deep voice and a precise way of speaking. She appeared to be the dominant sister; Phyllis(1857/58- ?) was a round-faced, more compliant sort of person.”

Dr Frank Middlemiss’s online notes

Ebenezer of 32 Sellons-avenue Willesden, probate London 25 October to Elizabeth Mary Kevan widow. Effects £1987 11s 10d

<p>“Ebenezer, Nathaniel, Phoebe and Phyllis Kevan were all cousins of Thomas Bearman 111 on his mother's side and Nathaniel, in particular, was a life-long friend of his. In 1881 the Kevanfamily was living at 10, Tudor Road, Hackney, London next door to the Bearmans, where 20 years later, the Middlemiss family were living.</p>

<p>“Nathaniel Kevan (1844/45 - ?) settled at Deal, where he had a house in Blenheim Road. He became a well-known f igure in the town and can be seen on many old photographs taken on the beach, the pier or the Parade. He married his cook , Elizabeth (1841/42 - ?) who, I understand, was a shy person and always kept very much in the background. They had just one daughter, Caroline, generally known as Doris, who married but I never heard whether she had any children. The sisters Phoebe and Phyllis lived in the Blenheim Road house for many years after Nathaniel died.</p>

<p>“They also were a well-known sight in Deal - two old ladies in black, always together. The interior of their house was, in the 30s, still a cosy Victoriana museum, with big aspidistras and knick-knacks. Phoebe (1852/53- 1939) was an upright lady with a strong, somewhat gaunt face, a deep voice and a precise way of speaking. She appeared to be the dominant sister; Phyllis(1857/58- ?) was a round-faced, more compliant sort of person.”</p>

<p><a href="http://www.sredburn.free-online.co.uk/bearman/bearman02_2008.html" target="_blank">Dr Frank Middlemiss’s online notes</a></p>

Possibly died in 1873 Hackney. Freebmd have record, but no age to confirm it was him. Cannot find Josiah after this date.

Frederick Kevan was admitted to Shap Street School, Hackney on 7th Dec 1885 aged 8