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Robert FENN
1866 - 1926 (~ 60 years)
Has 2 ancestors and 36 descendants in this family tree.
Set As Default Person 
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Name Robert FENN Relationship 
with Teresa Ann GOATHAM Born Jun Q 1866 Thorpe, Norfolk, England 
- About 1866 in Norwich, according to the 1901 census; just shown as Norfolk in 1911.
The birth registration index does not have a Robert Fenn born around the right time in Norwich, but I think the following is this Robert,
GRO ref: Fenn, Robert q2 1866 Blofield RD 4b 190; GRO online index shows mother's maiden name as Firman
The western side of the RD is near Norwich, and where someone was far from their birthplace the name of a nearby town or city was often given in a census return. In addition, the father's name (Elijah, not a common name) of the Robert with the above birth registration matches that of the father of this Robert.
In addition, the family had moved to Kent by 1871, and were all shown in the census that year as born Thorpe, a parish neighbouring Norwich (and unusually split between the two RDs of Norwich and Blofield, according to the 1851 map of RDs)
Gender Male Residence From 1871 Cemetery Road, Deal, Kent, England - The Fenn family appear to have moved from Norfolk to Kent between 1867 and 1871, as the youngest daughter present was shown to have been born in Norfolk
Occupation 1891 London, England Omnibus conductor - At the time of his marriage. Was resident in Kilburn so presumably working near here.
Occupation From 1901 to 1911 Faversham, Kent, England Bill poster Occupation From 1901 Faversham, Kent, England Fireman - In acknowledgements following his wife's death he particularly thanked the Faversham Fire Brigade for their kindness.
Occupation From 1901 to 1926 Faversham, Kent, England Town Crier - The Faversham News of 23 Mar 1901 records the appointment of Robert as Town Crier. It says 'for the year', he was reappointed in Nov. 1901 and thereafter re-appointments are noted in November of subsequenty years. Appointment for the following year recorded in the Faversham News to at least 1916.
He was also recorded as Town Crier in the cemetery burial records, suggesting he continued in the role until then.
Whilst these days town criers generally dress in eighteenth century attire, including a tricorn hat and a coat, most often red but in Faversham's case a mustard yellow, it seems that neither uniform nor salary was provided for Robert, at least in 1901, as The Faversham News (16 Nov 1901, p.2, col. 2):
"Mr. Robert Fenn was re-appointed Town Crier. His application for a uniform and small salary made some time back was considered and it was resolved to give neither."
(from a report of a Town Council meeting)
There seems to be far more about his appointments than his activity but the latter is occasionally mentioned in the papers. An item about the Cottage Hospital "Pound Day" held on 24 Jun 1919 ends:
"The committee are most grateful to all the givers, also to the Boy Scouts and Girl Guilds who assisted in making the day known by distributing the leaflets, and to Mr Robert Fenn, the town crier, for his voluntary services in "crying" the town at mid-day and thus perhaps jogging the memories of many."
(The Faversham News, 28 June 1919, p.3, col. 5)
Occupation From 1911 to 1920 Special Constable - Local paper shows he was sworn in in 1911 and 1919 at least.
Occupation From Dec 1920 Rats Officer - Robert excelled in catching rats, securing no less than 72 on the Sunday before a competition for a prize offered by the Town Council. (It is not clear from the article who won the prize, or if Robert competed - he would have had to have kept the rats alive until the Thursday evening).
(reported in The Faversham Mercury and North-East Kent Journal, 4 Sep 1920, p.5, col. 3)
His adeptness presumably led to his appointment shortly after his as the town's Rat Officer. He was described as the 'new Rat Officer' in an item in The East Kent Gazette (8 Jan 1921, p.8, col. 6) which comments on his haul over the previous month, suggesting he was appointed to the office about Dec. 1920.
Died Dec Q 1926 Faversham Reg Dist, Kent, England - GRO ref: Fenn, Robert q4 1926 Faversham RD 2a 1212 aged 60
Buried 23 Dec 1926 The Cemetery, Love Lane, Faversham, Kent, England - From the cemetery burial records on KFHS CD 02/07
Shows FENN, Robert, aged 60, of Faversham, burial ref: A-046, Town crier
Siblings4 sisters Patriarch & Matriarch 
Elijah FENN, b. Abt 1835, d. Dec Q 1889, Canterbury, Kent, England (Age ~ 54 years) (Father) 
Rachel FIRMAN, b. Abt 1837, Thorpe, Norfolk, England, d. Jun Q 1909, Bridge Reg Dist, Kent, England (Age ~ 72 years) (Mother) Person ID I6692 All | England: Kent Group (in Go(a)tham One-Name Study), All in the Goatham / Gotham One-Name Study , The descendants (and other halves) of Charles Goatham and Sybilla née Hunt, The descendants (and other halves) of George Goatham and Ann née Winch, The descendants (and other halves) of John Prior and Amy née Reynolds, The descendants (and other halves) of Richard Whitehead and Mary née Grigsby Last Modified 19 Feb 2022
Father Elijah FENN, b. Abt 1835, d. Dec Q 1889, Canterbury, Kent, England (Age ~ 54 years) Mother Rachel FIRMAN, b. Abt 1837, Thorpe, Norfolk, England , d. Jun Q 1909, Bridge Reg Dist, Kent, England (Age ~ 72 years) Married 2 Jul 1860 St. Andrew’s Church, Thorpe, Norfolk, England - GRO ref: Fenn, Elijah to Firman, Rachel q3 1860 Blofield RD 4b 325Details from PR entry transcribed data on FamilySearch, viewed 3 Sep 2021)
Family ID F3769 Family Group Page | Family Chart
Family Nellie GOATHAM, b. Sep Q 1869, Faversham Reg Dist, Kent, England , d. 20 Sep 1919, 9, Orchard Place, Faversham, Kent, England (Age ~ 50 years) Married 21 Jul 1891 St. Mary’s Church, Kilburn, London, England - GRO ref: Goatham, Nellie to Fenn, Robert q3 1891 Hampstead RD 1a 1352
Both were described as of 149 Belsize Road when they married.
Witnesses were Nellie's parents, Amos and Emma Goatham
(I have copy of PR entry)
GRO online index checked, 1889-1913; no births of other children of this marriage found.
Children8 children Last Modified 7 Feb 2022 Family ID F3768 Family Group Page | Family Chart
- About 1866 in Norwich, according to the 1901 census; just shown as Norfolk in 1911.
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Event Map Click to hide 
Born - Jun Q 1866 - Thorpe, Norfolk, England 
Occupation - Omnibus conductor - 1891 - London, England 
Child - Dorothy Edith FENN - Mar Q 1892 - Faversham, Kent, England Child - Daisy Emma FENN - 7 Jan 1892 - Faversham, Kent, England Child - Sydney Robert FENN - 3 Oct 1894 - Faversham, Kent, England Child - Blanche Lilian FENN - 3 Apr 1896 - Faversham, Kent, England Child - Harold Charles FENN - 25 Apr 1898 - Faversham, Kent, England Child - Winifred Nellie FENN - Dec Q 1899 - Faversham, Kent, England Occupation - Bill poster - From 1901 to 1911 - Faversham, Kent, England Occupation - Fireman - From 1901 - Faversham, Kent, England Occupation - Town Crier - From 1901 to 1926 - Faversham, Kent, England Child - Edward Offer FENN - 18 Jun 1903 - Faversham, Kent, England Child - Kathleen Mabel FENN - 21 Aug 1905 - Faversham, Kent, England 
Died - Dec Q 1926 - Faversham Reg Dist, Kent, England 
Buried - 23 Dec 1926 - The Cemetery, Love Lane, Faversham, Kent, England = Link to Google Earth (if installed; see link below to install) Pin Legend 
