Above photo circa 1910. Kindly supplied by John Hopperton.

From Jackson's Oxford Journal, (Oxford, England),Saturday, July 27, 1816.

DEATH.

Mr. Gibbs, formerly of the "Fountain Tavern," Gravesend, afterwards of the "Canteen," in Tilbury Fort, in which he accumulated some property. He then took a public house in Gravesend, in which being unsuccessful, it took such an effect upon his mind as to deprive him of his senses, in which situation he died.

Burials St Peter & St Paul, Milton next Gravesend. 1846-1864.

20 Jan 1847 Thomas Hodgskin, Fountain Tavern aged 56.

Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser, 03 September 1870.

Sudden death.

An inquest was held at the Town Hall, on Friday afternoon, before E. A. Hilder, Esq., Borough Coroner, touching the death of William Upton, age 42.

The first witness examined was Annie Hales, barmaid at the "Fountain Hotel." She stated that deceased have been for some time employed as pot man at the hotel. On the previous night, at about half-past nine, deceased came in looking very ill. He sat down in the parlour, and she sent him some brandy but he could not take it. The landlord (Mr. R. O. Davis), and a man named Thomas West, went to the deceased and a medical man was sent for, and came shortly afterwards. Deceased expired about half an hour afterwards. He was perfectly sober at the time, and had complained of a pain in the chest early in the evening.

Mr. Joshua Lever, assistant to Dr. Russell, stated that he was sent for shortly after ten o'clock, and immediately went to the "Fountain" and saw the deceased. He was then alive but could not speak, and he expired about a quarter of an hour after witnesses arrival.

Witness was of the opinion that the cause of death was disease of the heart.

The jury returned a verdict of "death from natural causes."

From an email received 15 December 2022.

I have been researching my relatives the Vousdens of Goudhurst, Kent.

In 1821 Elizabeth Vousden (1797-1839) married Thomas Hodgskin (1791-1847) who later was the Licensed Victualler of the Fountain Tavern in Milton next Gravesend.

They had two sons, both dying young, and four daughters all of whom were legatees of his will.

I have just finished transcribing the will, proved in 1847, which set up a trust for the maintenance, education and an eventual equal share in the proceeds of his will on each daughter attaining the age of 21. The trustees were his brother John Hodgkin, ("Queen's Head," Brompton) and Samual Bryans both also licensed victuallers.

Thomas Hodgskin also held the leases of tenements Nos. 1 to 12 Rural Vale, Northfleet. I have located this street on the 1911 OS map south of the London Road, and Rosherville Gardens, and looking at Google Maps they are still going strong!

Your site mentions the death of Elizabeth, Mrs. Hodgskin, in 1839. The 1841 Census includes not only Thomas and his four daughters, Ann Down, Mary, Harriett and Elizabeth, but also a Sarah Hodgskin age 35. A further search of the records showed that Thomas married secondly a widow, Sarah Mason, whose father Samuel Salisbury was also a licensed victualler. However she was not mentioned in the will.

Roger Purcell.