Matthew on the beach at beautiful Lulworth Cove, in Dorset.

MARIA MONTGOMERY - JAMES BARBER

A delightful story unfolded when we received an email from Michael Streeter of Eastbourne, East Sussex. After many years seeking links, Michael happened to find our web page and has added marvellous data to this family story. I will copy most of what he has posted to me, despite some of it being repeated. I think it will be necessary to keep it all together... Quote from Michael's document.

JOHN MONTGOMERY born 24th September 1810 at Halifax, Nova Scotia. John married 14th May 1832 at Stoke Damerel, Devon and died 14th April 1899 at West Wittering.His occupation was Coastguard R.N. (John was noted as a British Subject on 1881 Census, while at 33 Collingwood Road, Portsea.)

JOHN MONTGOMERY was 5'6", complexion brown, hair black, eyes greyish hazel and he had a wen on the right temple. This information is recorded on his records, kept at the Public Record Office in Kew U.K. He first went to sea as an apprentice in 1822 and served nine years in the Royal Navy. His last vessel was HMS 'Forte 38'. The figure refers to the number of guns it carried. The vessel was commissioned at Woolwich in 1814 and BU 1844.

John married in Stoke Damerel, Devon in 1832. In 1897 the name was changed from Stoke Damerel to Devonport. John married JANE DOWN a spinster of Stoke Damerel - witnesses being Michael Berry and George Nettle. The Coastguard records for the Eastbourne area at Eastbourne library show that John Montgomery was Coastguard/Boatman at Cuckmere Haven Coastguard Station from 1833 - 1844. He appears to have also been stationed at Bletchington, Seaford at the same time. Because these two stations are next to each other, it is probable that he worked at both.

In the 1841 Census for Eastbourne he is listed as John Montgomery age 30, Coastguard, N (N = not born locally). [This information was extracted and put into the Coastguard records at Eastbourne Library and his family are not included]

In the 1851 Census for West Lulworth the family are listed :-

John Montgomery age 41, born Halifax, N.S.

Jane Montgomery age 36 born Devonport.

Mary Jane Montgomery age 10 born Seaford.

Catherine Montgomery age 8 born Seaford.

Maria Montgomery age 6 born Seaford.

John Hutchins Montgomery age 4 born Seaford

William Henry Montgomery age 2 born Seaford.

Elizabeth Montgomery age 63 born Berwick on Tweed. (This Elizabeth we believe, could well be John's mother)

In the 1861 Census for West Wittering the family are listed ;-

John Montgomery age 50, Commissioned Coastguard/Boatman, born Halifax, N.S.

Jane Montgomery age 46, born Devon.

John Hutchins Montgomery age 14 born Seaford.

Elizabeth Montgomery age 9 born Lulworth.

Abigail Montgomery age 6 born West Wittering.

In the 1881 Census for Portsea, Hampshire;-

John Montgomery, Widower, age 70, b.Halifax, N.S. Naval Pensioner. Address 33 Collingwood Road, Portsea.

[The family of Jane Montgomery (nee Down) wife of John Montgomery, remain a mystery. On the I.G.I. there is a Jane Down born 1814 to Thomas and Jane Down in Stoke Damerel. I feel this is the right one, but stand to be corrected - Thelma]

JOHN & JANE MONTGOMERY had issue of nine.

Thomas Down Montgomery - married Celia Ann Skates

Mary Jane Montgomery - married George Jeram

Catherine Montgomery - married William Smith

Maria Montgomery - married James Barber

John Hutchins Montgomery - married Amy Barber

William Henry Montgomery - unknown

Abigail Montgomery - married James McGregor

Rosa Montgomery - died young

Elizabeth Montgomery - married William Redman

1. Family lines of Thomas Down Montgomery are on page one of this web site.

2. Mary Jane Montgomery (as supplied by Michael Streeter). Mary was born 7th August 1840 at Seaford, East Sussex and christened 6th September 1840 in the Parish Church at Seaford, Sussex. Mary married in the Parish Church West Wittering on 9th May 1864 to GEORGE JERRAM (Jeram) a butcher, born Portsmouth 1839. At the time of 1881 census they are living at 5 Albert Road, Portsea, Hampshire with their eight children, all born Portsea. Emma Jeram age 16; Mary R.Jeram age 14; George J.Jeram age 11; Edward Jeram age 7; Frederick Jeram age 6; Rosa Jeram age 4; Thomas Jeram age 2; Bessie Jeram age 6 mths. There is also listed Edward Montgomery age 7 born Southampton, Hampshire.

3. Catherine Montgomery was born 23rd August 1842 at Seaford, East Sussex and christened at the Parish Church in Seaford on 18th September 1842. Catherine married William Smith born 1835 at Bognor Regis, West Sussex (Coastguard) and listed on the 1881 Census - Hastings St.Mary in the Castle, East Sussex. They are living at Government House Coastguard Station and William is noted as a Chief Officer of Coastguard. Issue of ten. John J.Smith age 20, Printer, born West Wittering, W.Sussex; William F.Smith age 18, Carpenter, born Pagham, W.Sussex; Elizabeth Smith age 14, born Pagham, W.Sussex; Louisa M.Smith age 12, born West Wittering; Henry G.Smith age 10 born West Wittering; Emily K.Smith age 7 born West Wittering; Amy E. Smith age 5 born Hastings, East Sussex; Walter C.Smith age 3 born Hastings, East Sussex; Horace Smith age 1 born Hastings, East Sussex; Ellen Smith age 1 month, born Hastings, E.Sussex.

4. Maria Montgomery was born 17th July 1844 at Seaford. Maria married 14th March 1870 at Parish Church, West Wittering to JAMES BARBER bachelor, age 33, Coastguardsman. At the time of his marriage, he was resident at in Whitby, Yorkshire. Witnesses were John Montgomery (father/brother) and Elizabeth Montgomery (possibly grandmother but more likely sister Elizabeth -Michael). [Beautiful Whitby..Thelma.] JAMES BARBER was a Sussex man. He was born in West Wittering in 1837 to CORNELIUS BARBER, a labourer, born West Wittering 1798. Maria and James had issue of five :- Jane Elizabeth Barber born 1871 Whitby Yorkshire. I believe she never married In 1901 she was employed as a cook in Chichester, West Sussex and later lived in Worthing, West Sussex. She was always referred to as Aunt Jin; Mary Ann Barber born 1873 Whitby, Yorkshire. This is grandmother of Michael Streeter, who compiled this history. (See Page 7 of this web site); Ellen Maria Barber born 1874, Flamborough, Yorkshire; Bertha Kate Barber born 1875, Hornsea, Yorkshire; James M.Barber born 1881, Aldbrough, Yorkshire.

6. William Henry Montgomery was born at Seaford 28th January 1849 and christened at Parish Church Seaford 25th March 1849. There is a death of William Montgomery in Stoke Damerel in 1850. (this has yet to be confirmed).

7. Abigail Ann Montgomery married James McGregor. (The story of Abigail Ann 'nee Montgomery' is on Page 3 of this web site. Joan Colman of Sydney supplied this data).

8. Rosa Montgomery. Rosa was born 2st March 1857 at West Wittering and died March quarter 1857 Westhampnett (Vol 2b Page 187.)

9. Elizabeth Montgomery was christened 30th July 1854. (Elizabeth married William Redman. See the story of the Redman Family on Page 4 of this web site.)

We SLEEP but the LOOM of LIFE never stops And the PATTERN that was WEAVING when the SUN went DOWN is WEAVING when it gets up TOMORROW