1837

Charles Dewen was born in St. Georges, Kennington, London, on 25th January 1837 to Honey and Mary Millett. He was Christened at St Mary’s Newington on 19th February 1837.  At the age of 4, Charles was still living at 2 St Georges Place, St Georges Rd, Lambeth. This is an area he knew well and to where he would later return, but at the age of 6 years, he and his family moved to Liverpool where his father had taken up work. In 1847, aged just 10, Charles tragically lost his father due to typhus. His widowed mother remarried 3 years later on the 30th of May 1850 and the family moved to Conchan on the Isle of Man. Charles was listed as a student at King Williams College, Isle of Man (illustrated above). He was registered as an entrant in September 1848 but left the following year mid-summer 1849. In the 1851 census, Charle’s siblings, Ellen, Walter H., Henry M and Honey Millett Jr. were all residing in the Isle of Man at 18 Derby Square, Douglas. However, now 14 years of age, the census shows that Charles was residing with his grandfather, Richard Oke Millett, at the family home of Penpol, in Hayle, Cornwall. We are unsure what he did for the next 8 years until his marriage on 28th May 1859, to Frances Edith Turner at the parish church in St Paul, Covent Garden, London. Frances was born in London. After his education, Charles had found work in London. He was employed by London and Westminster Bank at their Lambeth Branch at 91 Westminster Bridge Road as a bank clerk, close to where he had lived as a young boy. By 1881 Charles had been promoted to branch bank manager, a position he retained until his retirement. The branch is no longer there. Children: Charles owned a yacht, May Queen, a 28-foot cutter built in 1876, whilst he was resident at The Poplars. He was treasurer of the Lambeth Pension Society. Residences: Charles died on 2nd August 1911 at Hampton Wick and is buried in Teddington Cemetery. Probate London 23 August to Frances Edith Millett (widow).Effects £3,793 16s 6d Note: I have just started to research the name “Dewen” as it is such an unusual one. Interestingly, the name crops up a few times in and around Marazion. At present I can only assume Charles’ parents had  heard or knew the name back in Cornwall. [1] https://www.thepeerage.com/p8577.htm#i85770