Robert Surry; coastguard/Pevensey to Bexhill area

[bmanson]

I am looking for the Robert SURRY, coastguardsman, and family who seemed to have been centred in the Hastings-Rye-Pevensey-Folkestone area from about 1842 through to about 1903.
From coastguard records he was promoted 20 Jul 1859 from Rye to Pevensey station (where he should be, and perhaps the family, on the 1861 census). Removed and promoted 29 May 1862 Martello Tower #27, near St. Mary's Bay until 31 Mar 1864 (27 Tower station) as chief boatman.
We know one daughter (Mary Anne) was married in St. Mary's in the Marsh in December 1862.
Then again back to the Hastings/Bexhill area about 1868 on.

However we haven't located the family on the 1861 census (where Robert should have been located near Pevensey), or the 1871 census despite knowing approximately where the husband was posted.

From the 1851 census:
Reg. District: Hastings Union Sub-District: All Saints: #3 Barley Lane.
Robert Surry, 34 Boatman CoastGuard Service Ess Tollesbury
Mary Ann wife, 34 Sfk Wrentham Sfk
Robert William son 10 Scholar Sfk Wrentham
Mary Ann dau 8 Scholar Ssx Hastings
Frederick James son 6 Scholar Ssx Hastings
Sophia dau 4 “ “
Elizabeth Ann dau 2 “ “
WIlliam Wright, father-in-law, wid, 70 Sfk Bury St. Edmunds

For the 1881 census the family was at No.2 Croft Terrace, Hastings St Clement, SSX

We have located Robert and Mary Anne on the 1891 census in Hastings. Robert died in Hastings in 1896; Mary Anne died in Hastings in 1903. However, we would certainly be happy to establish the family on particularly the 1861 census in order to ascertain fully the numbe 4 “ “
Elizabeth Ann dau 2 “ “
WIlliam Wright, father-in-law, wid, 70 Sfk Bury St. Edmunds

For the 1881 census the family was at No.2 Croft Terrace, Hastings St Clement, SSX

We have located Robert and Mary Anne on the 1891 census in Hastings. Robert died in Hastings in 1896; Mary Anne died in Hastings in 1903. However, we would certainly be happy to establish the family on particularly the 1861 census in order to ascertain fully the number of children.

[Cliff Jones]

I have found Richard and family at the Bexhill coast guard station/

Robert SURRY, head, aged 54, born Tollesbury, Sussex, chief petty officer, coast guard.
Mary Ann SURRY, wife, aged 54, born Wrentham, Suffolk,
Elizabeth A. surry, daughter, aged 22, born Hastings, Sussex, assistant teacher at St Marks school
Maria SURRY, daughter, aged 18, born Hastings, Sussex
Emma C. SURRY, ageed 12, born Hastings, Sussex, student

Details of crew members at this station will be posted later in coastguards Forum.

regards
Cliff Jones
Auckland
New Zealand

[bmanson]

Thank you VERY much for the 1871 census. Great! :)

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi there bmanson

Reading your search for Coastguard ancestors along the Sussex Coastline reminded me that I had done a university paper on the 'Migration Patterns of the Coastguard'

You can find it on my archive web site '1066 Genealogy'

www.rootschat.com/history/hastings/

Just type SURRY in the little box at the top right of the screen - it will indicate its location

It may give you some more background information

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi there Cliff

Have just been looking through the 1861 census for Sussex and in particular Pevensey, especially Tower 56 and the Coastguard Cottages; but as yet have not been able to pinpoint your Robert Surry.

I will now try to follow the coast back towards Bexhill to see if I can pick up any of the other towers.

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi again to bmanson

Have spent some considerable time trawling along the South Coast trying to find all the Martello Towers and the Coast guard Stations and cottages in the 1861 census for Sussex.

I located Towers 48 and 49, 52 through to 60 and 62 through to 70 without any success I am afraid - and it is very surprising how many of the coastguard cottges were unoccupied.

So I went through them all again, a bit more slowly this time and found the following:-

Between No 54 Martello Tower and 53 Martello Tower we have the Pevensey Sluices - some 21 houses of which 10 are unoccupied; and in one of the occupied houses is the following family

RG9/ 563/ Folio 14/ Page 2 - Pevensey Sluices
SURRY Robert, Head, Marr, 44, Chief Boatsman in Coastguard, born Tollesbury, Essex
........ Mary Ann, Wife, Marr, 44, born Wrenthem, Suffolk
........ Mary Ann, Dau, Unm, 18, Milliner & Dress Maker, born Hastings
........ Sophie, Dau, Unm, 13, Scholar, born Hastings
........ Elizabeth A, Dau, Unm, 12, Scholar, born Hastings
........ Maria, Dau, Unm, 8, born Fairlight
........ Emma, Dau, Unm, 2, born Hastings

Of those 11 occupied houses, only 5 of them Coastguard Personell in them, others are occupied by Ag Lab, Surveyor, Railway Worker, Bricklayer, Shoemaker etc - so it looks like the coastguard was in decline with several empty towers and cottages.

[bmanson]

Wow! Thank you VERY much for your time and efforts. This is wonderful.

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi there Cliff

happy to oblige.

If I can help you further at anytime with Sussex Ancestors - please feel free to contact me through this forum, or through my Archive web site listed with my signature below

Chris