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FAMILY MEMBERS ARRANGED IN DATE ORDER

To earlier Hassell family members

1816 - 1895 RUTH ANNE ADAMS (nee HASSELL)

Ruth Anne Adams, around 1885.

Born; 1816. Sometimes referred to as "of Blackboys".
Parents; Stephen Hassell (1784-1857) tailor & draper of Waldron = Susannah Bray (1786-18??) his first wife, married in 1805.

Married; Isaac Adams (1819-1892) Shopkeeper (saddlery, then fish), on 28 January 1844 at St.Paul's, Deptford.
Children; Ruth Anne (1844-1869), Calvin John Deane (1845-1925), Caleb Luther (1848-1932), Stephen (185?-185?), Mary (185?-185?), Isaac (1854-1937), Mary (c1857-1928).
Died; 15 February 1895
In a brief death notice of her sister Charlotte (Ellen I.Gilbert's newspaper cuttings album Page 140) in February 1895 she is described as "Mrs.Adams, widow of the late Mr.Isaac Adams of Brooklyn House" (Eastbourne).
From Robert Morris's diary 15 February 1895; "Mrs.Adams (Brooklyn House) died this morning."

1819 - 1892 ISAAC ADAMS

Born; 1819 Framfield.
Parents; John Adams (c1780-18??) of Framfield = Mrs.John Dean (widow). John Adams was a Yeoman of England. He was given a stone Yeoman's cottage and land at Framfield when he retired.

Married; Ruth Anne Hassell (1816-1895) on 28 January 1844 at St.Paul's, Deptford.
Children; Ruth Anne (1844-1869), Calvin John Deane (1845-1925), Caleb Luther (1848-1932), Stephen (185?-185?), Mary (185?-185?), Isaac (1854-1937), Mary (c1857-1928).
Shopkeeper of Blackboys. According to a letter to Charlotte Gilbert from his grand-daughter, Ella Dowley (nee Gorringe), in January 1972; "Grandma's name was Ruth and she used to talk about Blackboys. I never heard where Grandpa Adams came from. Muriel thinks he had something to do with leather - probably a saddler but, being a good businessman, saw that Eastbourne was growing, went there and started the fish shop in Seaside Road, and lived over it till his eldest son, Calvin, was married, when he bought his house in Brooklyn Terrace and later the one next door, which he left to our mother (Mary Gorringe, nee Adams) who passed them on to Win and Muriel."

'Brooklyn Terrace' was in the Upperton area of Eastbourne, probably what is now called Watts Lane, or somewhere near it.

In March 1972 Ella also wrote; "Isaac was apprenticed to a saddler but did not care for that work. He married Ruth Anne Hassell and had a shop in Worthing where Calvin and Luther were born. Then they moved to Brighton and, when Luther was 10, they moved to Eastbourne. Calvin and Luther went to a boarding school in Lewes." (That was Lewes Grammar School, opposite St.Anne's Church, where Sussex expert Mark Anthony Lower was the master.)

From a newspaper cutting dated 1897, written by James Berry Morris as part of an obituary for the wealthy Eastbourne businessman Charles Simmons; "After being in business a great many years at Seaside, he transferred his headquarters to Lewes Place, Seaside. The move came about in this way. The houses from the Prince of Wales Inn to Susans Road were built by Messrs. E Morris and Son. The late Mr Isaac Adams bought these premises now occupied by his sons. One of these houses (No.3) was offered to Mr.Simmons for £1000. In the first instance he declined it. Soon afterwards however, he heard that another firm of butchers would take the corner premises now occupied by Mrs Lethbridge. Mr.Simmons immediately communicated with the owners and purchased the house offered to him for £1000. Subsequently he acquired the one next door (No.2) for £1500, and he thus secured a very spacious shop in the very best position for such a business."

In a brief death notice of her sister Charlotte (Ellen I.Gilbert's newspaper cuttings album Page 140) in February 1895, Isaac's wife Ruth is described as "Mrs. Adams, widow of the late Mr Isaac Adams of Brooklyn House" (Eastbourne).

Died; 30 December 1892 aged 73.

1844 - 1869 RUTH ANNE "NANCY" BAWDEN (nee ADAMS)

Born; 1844.
Parents; Isaac Adams (1819-1892) = Ruth Anne Hassell (1816-1895)

Married; Samuel Carriage Bawden (1840-1890), solicitor, Christmas 1867.
Children; Mabel Ruth Bawden (1868-1916) died in Lewes on 16 February 1916, aged 49.
Died; 1 September 1869, aged 25 years.

1845 - 1925 CALVIN JOHN DEAN ADAMS

Born; 1845, Worthing.
Parents; Isaac Adams (1819-1892) = Ruth Anne Hassell (1816-1895)

Married; Elizabeth Peerless, daughter of a farmer from Horsted Keynes.
Children; Marian Louise (1871-19??) who married Joseph Soddy on 14 January 1896 (according to Tom Soddy).
Note that this date conflicts with an entry in Robert Morris's diary for 8 January 1896 whch says; "One of Calvin Adams's daughters married to Joe Soddy at Trinity Church" (Eastbourne).
Lizzy Mabel "Lily" (1873-??) unmarried.
Kate Ruth (1875-1956) unmarried.
Edith Emma (1877-1937) (married Joseph Soddy, two children, Gordon and Kenneth)
Gertrude Mary (1879-1961) married Edward 'Ted' Olney, went to Canada, farming, had five children.
Clifford Luther (1881-1947) married Ruby Hartley, no children.
Frederick Peerless (1885-1977) married Bessie May Turner in 1915 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada. She claimed descent from Sir Francis Drake. Children; Stanley Oscar (1919-?), Lionel Frederick (1923-?), Hugh Clifford Peerless (1926-?).

Moved from Worthing to Brighton around 1848, and then to Eastbourne around 1856.
Living in Eastbourne at the 1921 Census.
In January 2002 Gary Adams (born 1949) from Canada sent me the following from an Eastbourne newspaper, presumably in 1925;

"DIRECTOR OF THE PIER COMPANY"
"We have to record the death of Mr Calvin Adams which occurred in the early hours of yesterday (Friday), in the nursing home in Hyde-Gardens, wither he had been taken a fortnight ago and operated on for appendicitis. He was just 80 years. Mr Calvin John Deane Adams was the eldest of three sons of the late Mr Isaac Adams, his two brothers being Mr Luther Adams, "Dakota", 97 Enys Road, who has a seat on the Town Council for some years, and Mr Isaac Adams, now residing at Brighton. They were all associated with the well-known firm of Adams Brothers, Fishmongers and Poulterers, Terminus Road, within the last few months moved to Grove Road."
"Mr Isaac Adams, the father, started business in 1856. On his death the brothers, who had all been brought up to the business, continued it until the retirement of Mr Luther Adams in 1895; Mr Calvin and Mr Isaac remaining on for about 10 years longer when, with the name Adams Brothers perpetuated, Mr. C. J. Matthews took it over. Coming from Calvinistic parents, as is indicated by the fact that the names of the brothers were one Biblical, and the others identified with the two great reformers, Calvin and Luther. The deceased gentleman had been a member of Cavendish Place Chapel, and latterly of the Grove Road Chapel, of which Mr Henry Popham is pastor. Mr Popham will conduct the funeral at Ocklynge on Monday. This will be of a very quiet character, as at the request of the deceased, who is survived by a widow, five daughters and two sons, mourning will not be worn and there will be no flowers."
"INTERESTED IN THE PIER"
"Up to the time of his illness, Mr. Calvin Adams had carried his years lightly; no one would have suspected his being an octogenarian. He was genial and cheerful in disposition, but though taking a deep interest in the affairs of the town, he never took any share in its practical or political activities - with one exception, that as a director of the Pier Company. He had held shares for over 40 years and had acted as a deputy chairman to the late Alderman Simmons. In one other capacity did Mr Calvin Adams occasionally act, namely as judge at local poultry shows."

Gary added; "The shop mentioned in the newspaper, The Adams Brothers Fishmonger and Poulterers business, applied for a royal patent as purveyors to the Prince of Wales. The Prince died before the grant was given but they did have the patent. Our family still has the letter from the Prince's Secretary, edged in black."

Died; 28 August 1925, aged 80.

1848 - 1932 CALEB LUTHER ADAMS

Luther Adams, around 1880.

Born: 1848, Worthing.
Parents; Isaac Adams (1819-1892) = Ruth Anne Hassell (1816-1895)
Usually known as 'Luther'.

Old Isaac Adams had founded a fishmongers and poulterers shop in 1856 in Worthing, later moving to Brighton, and finally (around 1860) to Terminus Road, Eastbourne. His sons Calvin, Luther and Isaac were all brought up in the business, taking over the firm when their father died in 1892. It was then renamed Adams Brothers.

Calvin and Luther went to a boarding school in Lewes - Lewes Grammar School, opposite St.Anne's Church, where Sussex expert Mark Anthony Lower was the master. Luther was the founder of the Eastbourne Bicycle Club in 1877, and a friend of William Gilbert (1823-1874), and William's nephew David Gilbert (1861-1902), who was also a member of the Bicycle Club. In 1877 Luther and David Gilbert and another member of the Eastbourne Bicycle Club made a fortnight's cycling expedition to France, embarking at Newhaven on 25 May, and riding on 'penny-farthings' from Dieppe to Rouen, Nantes, Paris and Amiens, only making use of the railway twice. David kept a diary of the trip, as did Luther, and the latter's account was published in the June Eastbourne Standard. A copy of his article is held in H.R.Gilbert's records.

Married; Edith Skinner, daughter of a farmer from Petworth, Sussex.
Children; reputed to have adopted a daughter Iris in 1900. But note Robert Morris's diary entry for 5 June 1899;
"Hear that Luther Adams has arranged to adopt the posthumous(?) daughter of the Captain of the ill-fated 'Stella'" Charlotte Gilbert has written against this entry "This was not so. C.J.G. 1973"

Councillor in Eastbourne for some years. Robert Morris's diary 25 November 1898; "Luther Adams again defeated for East Ward bye-election." (Eastbourne).

Living in Eastbourne at the 1921 Census. Certainly from 1925 onwards Luther and Edith lived for at 'Dakota', 97 Enys Road, Eastbourne. He died in 1932 but the Eastbourne 'Blue Book' for 1933-34 shows for Enys Road "97 (Dakota) Adams, Mrs.".

More information about 'Dakota', 97 Enys Road, Eastbourne.

185? - 185? STEPHEN ADAMS

Parents; Isaac Adams (1819-1892) = Ruth Anne Hassell (1816-1895)
Died as an infant.

185? -185? MARY ADAMS

Parents; Isaac Adams (1819-1892) = Ruth Anne Hassell (1816-1895)
Died as an infant.

1854 - 1937 ISAAC ADAMS

Born; 22 April 1854, Brighton.
Parents; Isaac Adams (1819-1892) = Ruth Anne Hassell (1816-1895)

Married: Emma Marshall, from Norfolk.
Children;
Reginald; went to Egypt, married Evelyn, had three sons.
Letitia; married George Samuel Banfield, 4 children, Joyce, Barbara, Basil, Peter.
Beatrice; married Charlie Lloyd, gun-maker of Lewes, one daughter, Joan.
Percy; married Ethel Pratt, two children, Derick, and Patricia who went to New Zealand.
Sidney; RAF officer in World War One, married twice, no children.

Living in Preston, Brighton at the 1921 Census.
Died; April 1937.

1857 - 1928 MARY "POLLY" GORRINGE (nee ADAMS)

Born; 1857, Eastbourne.
Parents; Isaac Adams (1819-1892) = Ruth Anne Hassell (1816-1895)

Married; Frank James Gorringe (c1850-19??) of Eastbourne. They met at Cavendish Place Chapel.
Children;
Ella Mildred (c1880-197?); of Sanderstead. Married Arthur Edward Dowley in 1908. The Dowleys were from Whitechapel. Four children; Nancy, Paul, David, Roger. Ella lived to more than 90 years of age.
Winifred "Win" (c1885-19??); unmarried.
Edward Clifton (c1885-1918); Head cashier of Westminster Bank, Oxford. In the 1914-18 war he was a Captain in the Royal Sussex Regiment. Died of wounds leading his men in September 1918 and was awarded the Military Cross.
Frank Clifton (c1890-19??); 'a war hero'. "Came over" with the 1st Canadian Battalion in WW1 (according to Iris Adams in 1978, which presumably means that he had previously emigrated to Canada). Iris said "..fighting at Ypres, Sailant, Hill 60 etc. and was in the first gas attack of the war, being at one end of the line, only six escaped. Afterwards he became a Captain in the RAF and brought down 12 German planes. He won the Distinguished Flying Cross and the DSO with Bar, went to Buckingham Palace and was decorated by King George V. After the war he went to Kenya farming." Two children, Peter, Audrey Evans (Lechlade).
Muriel (c1890-197?); unmarried, of Sanderstead. Lived to be over 80.
Kenneth (c1890-19??); married, one daughter, Betty.

Frank was described in 1904 as being of Laughton, and in 1908 as being of 22 High Street, Lewes, and Laughton Place (a moated manor farm), Shortgate.
From a local paper, regarding the death of Frank's father Joseph; "died on a Thursday in May 1904, aged 81, at his home, 'Kilncombe', Upperton Road, Eastbourne. Member of old local board, board of guardians (nearly 50 years), and rural district councillor (of which he had been chairman). Was a member of the first borough council for a few years and was succeeded as representative of West Ward by his son, Frank J Gorringe, who also followed him as tenant of Meads Farm.

He may be the Frank Gorringe referred to in these entries from the (Uckfield) diary of Robert Morris;
3 November 1908; "Mrs Gorringe spent the day at 'Ryderswells'."
6 November 1908; "Frank Gorringe has been fined 5 Shillings for drunkenness at Lewes."
20 March 1911; "Mrs Gilbert to Barcombe to see Mrs Soddy, who is staying with Mrs Frank Gorringe."
15 September 1911; "Alice with Mrs Gilbert and Ellen to visit Mrs Frank Gorringe at Barcombe this evening."
9 April 1912; "I have heard that Frank Gorringe has punched his wife."

Living in Eastbourne at the 1921 Census.
Died; 4 August 1928, aged 71.

To later Hassell family members