John James Kevan

Previously married to somebody called Love

“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.

Martha appears in the census records of 1861 with her new husband. It appears that they may have had one child, Alfred James who was born in 1858 and died same year. No sign of her in subsequent censuses. There is a BMD death in 1862 of Martha Box in Camberwell so I presume this is her

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