1790 Directory

Extracts for the County of Kent

Source: The Universal British Directory

ISLE OF SHEPPY

        The Island of Sheppey is encompassed by the East and West Swale,two branches of the Medway

which here fall into the Thames  and has had its name from the sheep formally kept on it. Which were

remarkable both for their numbers and the fineness of their fleece. The Danes landed here twice and

plundered it and once wintered their ships in it. Also in the reign of Edward the Confessor,

Earl GODWIN landed on this island.The commonest way to get across   is by the Kings Ferry

where a cable of about 140 fathoms being fastened at each end across the water, serves to get

over the boat by hand. On the main side of the ferry is a small stone building which will hold nine

or ten persons this is said to be to have been erected by one George FOX who staying once there

 for a long while in the cold waiting for the ferry boat and being much affected with it built this place

 to shelter others from the like inconvenience.
Sheerness which guards the entrance into the river at the point of the Isle of Sheppy is a regular

fortification and has such a line of heavy cannon commanding the mouth of the river that no fleet

of man of war could attempt to pass by without hazarding being torn to pieces. It is not only a

 fortress but a good town with several streets in it and inhabitants of several sorts but chiefly much

 whose business obliges them to reside there.

The officers of the ordnance have here an office they being obliged to be at the this place many

days together, especially at time of war when the rendezvous of the fleet is at the Nore to see to the

furnishing every ship with military stores as need requires and to cheque the officers of the ships in their

 demands for stores, etc. Here also is yard for building ships, with a dock intended chiefly for repairing

ships that may meet with any sudden accident. This yard was built many years since the fort. In making

some alterations at Sheerness anno. 1760 a ball was found that weighted 64 pounds, supposed to have

 been fired by the Dutch in their attempt on the Royal Navy in this river on the 22 June 1667

KELLY'S DIRECTORY 1851

Isle of Sheppey, Kent

 Sheerness

Originally published as part of the Kelly’s 1851 Directory of Kent

SHEERNESS

BRYANT, Rev. George, Cheyney Rock House

KIRKBY, Rev John, Church Terrace

TRADERS

ALDRIDGE Edward, Linen draper & clothier, High St, Mile Town

ALLEN Charles, ‘Prince Regent’, High Street, Blue Town

ALLEN George, butcher, Chapel Street, Blue Town

ALLEN Thomas, ‘Horse & Groom’, Kent Street, Blue Town

AMNER James, shopkeeper, Hope Street, Mile Town

AMNER John, ‘British Queen’, Hope Street, Mile Town

ANSELL James, pork butcher, High Street, Mile Town

ATKINSON Mrs ‘Shipwrights’ Arms’, High St, Mile Town

ATTWATER James Thomas, auctioneer, appraiser & agent to

 the Sun fire & life office, High St, Mile 

Town

ATTWATER William, upholsterer, Hope St, Mile Town

BAKER Edwin, boot & shoe maker, West St, Blue Town

BAKER William, ‘Crown’, High St, Mile Town

BAKER Wm, Chas. Boot & shoe maker, Union St, Blue Town

BALLARD John, ‘Druids’ Arms’, High St, Blue Town

BARLING Edward, army & navy tailor & hatter, Edward St, Banks’ Town

BARNABY John, grocer, Hope St, Mile Town

BARNARD Frederick, watchmaker & silversmith & agent 

to the Norwich fire & life office, High St, Mile 

Town

BARREN Henry John, hoyman, Ebenezer Place, Mile town

BASTARD Thomas, corn dealer, High St, Mile Town

BATCHELDOR Henry P, stationer, High St, Blue Town

BENNETT John, cabinet ma & upholsterer, Chapel St, Mile Town

BENNETT William, pork butcher, High St, Mile Town

BENSTEAD Robert James, beer retailer, West St, Blue Town

BERRY Mrs Elizabeth, straw bonnet ma, High St, Mile Town

BILBE Henry, butcher, High St, Mile Town

BILBY Thomas, greengrocer, Charles St, Blue Town

BIRCH Thomas, shoemaker, High St, Blue Town

BLACKLEY Stephen, plumber & painter, Union St, Blue Town

BLACKMAN Mrs butcher, Chapel St, Mile Town

BLAKE & CORNER, grocers, High St, Mile Town

BONNEY Edward, joiner, High St, Mile Town

BOOTY John, marine store dealer & carrier, King St, Blue Town

BOX Thomas, grocer, Union St, Blue Town

BRETT Henry, timber merchant, Hope St, Mile Town

BRIGHTMAN Richard, general agent, superintendent of gas works 

& agent to the West of England fire & 

life & Eagle life offices, High St, Mile Town

BRIMSDEN John, agent to the Kent Mutual fire & life

 insurance office, Union St, Blue Town

BRISLEY Abraham, Wellington Commercial Inn High St, Mile Town

BRISLEY George, pipe maker, Hope St, Mile Town

BRISLEY John, beer retailer, High St, Blue Town

BRISLEY William, carpenter, Short St, Mile Town

BROWN Aaron, baker, Chapel St, Blue Town

BROWN Aaron, jun., fruiterer & potato salesman, High St, Blue Town

BROWN Josiah, shopkeeper, Charles St, Blue Town

BROWNING William, butcher, High St, Mile Town

BURLINGTON John, upholsterer & undertaker, High St, Mile Town

CHARLTON John, baker, Short St, Mile Town

CHEESEMAN Alfred, butcher, High St, Blue Town

CHEESEMAN Alfred jun, butcher, High St, Mile Town

CHITTENDEN Mrs Elizabeth, clothier, Victory St, Mile Town

CHURCH Miss Martha, milliner, High St, Mile Town

CLACKETT John, beer retailer, High St, Mile Town

CLARK Richard, Hambly, ironmonger & leather cutter, High St, Blue Town

CLARKSON George, Bell & Lion Inn, High St, Mile Town

CLAYTON John, plumber, glazier & painter, High St, Blue Town

COATES James, hairdresser, High St, Blue Town

COBBY John ‘White Horse’, High St, Blue Town

COLE John, stationer, printer & agent to the Globe Insurance, 

Union St, Blue Town

COLLEY Edward, carpenter, High St, Mile Town

COODY Mrs Elizabeth ‘King’s Head’, West St, Blue Town

COURT John, builder, surveyor, appraiser, undertaker & stone mason,

 Hope St, Mile Town

CURRY Lawrence, beer retailer, High St, Mile Town

DANE Mrs Mary Ann, confectioner & straw bonnet maker, 

High St, Mile Town

DANN Mrs Ann, poulterer, Chapel St, Blue Town

DARTON George Hy, shopkeeper, West St, Blue Town

DENNIS Henry, blacksmith, Union St, Blue Town

DICKSON Charles, linen draper, Edward St, Banks Town

DODD Robert, Builder, High St, Mile Town

DODD Thomas, toy dealer, High St, Blue Town

DUTNALL Thomas Wm, beer retailer, West St, Blue Town

DUTNALL William, ‘Lord Nelson’, West St, Blue Town

EDGCOMBE William, vice-consul for foreign powers, 

shipping & custom house agent & agent to the 

Alfred Life, Clerical, Medical & London insurance

 companies, West St 

EDMEADES Robert, solicitor, clerk to board of guardians, 

to local board of health & to commissioners of 

pier, High St, Mile Town

EDWARDS the Misses, ladies’ school, Edward St, Banks Town

ELLIOTT George, grocer, coal dealer & registrar of marriages,

 High St, Mile Town

ELLIS Miss Mary, clothier, Chapel St, Blue Town

FEAKINS William Hy, fruiterer, High St, Mile Town

FELKIN Edward, bookseller, stationer, berlin wool and 

fancy depot, house agent & accountant, secretary to

 savings bank, agent to the Kent Fire & Life Insurance,

 to English Widows’ Fund co.’s, agent for the 

‘Maidstone Journal’ & general news agent, agent to the 

Christian Knowledge Society & post office receiving house,

 High St, Mile Town

FELTON Thomas, brewer, High St, Mile Town

FELTON Wm, baker & corn dealer, Crescent, Banks Town

FIELD Henry, butcher, Hope St, Mile Town

FIFE George, chemist & druggist, High St, Mile Town

FILMER George, butcher, Charles St, Blue Town

FILMER Thomas, butcher, High St, Blue Town

FILMER William, butcher, High St, Blue Town

FLYNN John, beer retailer, Chapel St, Mile Town

FRANKLIN Joseph, wood & coal dealer, Rose St, Mile Town

FRANKS Thomas, grocer & corn dealer, High St, Mile Town

FRAY Mrs Ann Frances, fruiterer, High St, Mile Town

FRENCH Edward John, tallow chandler, High St, Blue Town

FRENCH William, baker & beer retailer, Hope St, Mile Town

FRENCH William, carpenter, Hope St, Mile Town

GARRETT Miss Sophia, milliner, High St, Mile Town

GOLDUP Henry, general dealer, West St, Blue Town

GRAY Frederick C, surgeon, Edward St, Banks Town

GREEN William S, dyer, Victory St, Mile Town

GREENSTREET Charles, hairdresser, High St, Mile Town

GREENSTREET Thomas, baker, High St, Mile Town

GREGORY James A, Fountain Hotel & Commercial Inn, 

West St, Blue Town

FRIFFITHS Edwd, tea & coffee house & beer retailer, 

High St, Blue Town

GYTON Jas, army & navy tailor & clothier, High St, Blue Town

HAMMOND Wm, ‘Waterman’s Arms’, Union St, Blue Town

HARE Stephen, plumber & glazier, High St, Mile Town

HARLOW George, dairyman, High St, Blue Town

HARRIS William, shopkeeper, Kent St, Blue Town

HAVARD James, Ship tavern & agent to the Steam-boat company, 

West St, Blue Town

HAYES Mrs Joannah, ‘Swan’ High St, Blue Town

HEAD John, ‘Duke of Clarence’ High St, Blue Town

HEARN Thomas, baker, High St, Mile Town

HEATH Mrs Charlotte, hairdresser, High St, Mile Town

HERBERT James, bookseller & stationer, High St, Blue Town

HOGBEN George, grocer, High St Mile Town

HOGBEN George, linendraper, silk mercer, haberdasher,

 hosier & glover, High St, Mile Town

HOGBEN Mrs, berlin wool depot, High St, Mile Town

HOGBEN Stephen, job master, Union St, Blue Town

HOLLICK Samuel, dairyman, High St, Mile Town

HOLMES Miss Susannah, milliner & straw hat maker, High St, 

Mile Town

HOLMES William, boot & shoe maker, High St, Blue Town

HONNEYSETT Henry, ‘Jolly Sailers’, High St, Mile Town

HOOKER & Son, solicitors, Edward St, Banks Town

HOOKER Edward, clerk to the Sheerness Well Co & agent to the

 Church of England & Star Insurance Co’s, Edward St, Banks Town

HOOKER Samuel, baker, Chapel St, Mile Town

HOOKER Stern, tailor, High St, Mile Town

HOWLETT John, fruiterer, High St, Mile Town

HUNT William, pipe maker, High St, Mile Town

HUSSON James, hardware dealer & stationer, High St, Mile Town

IGGULDEN James, butcher, High St, Mile Town

JACKSON Francis, baker, High St, Blue Town

JACKSON George, job master, High St, Mile Town

JACKSON Joseph, beer retailer, High St, Mile Town

JACOBS Asher & Hy, clothiers, West St, Mile Town

JACOBS Asher & Hy, pawnbrokers, High St, Blue Town

JACOBS Jacob, clothier, High St, Blue Town

JACOBS Miss Phoebe, toy dealer, High St, Blue Town

JARDINE James Bell, surgeon, Union St, Blue Town

JESSOP Charles, wood merchant, Union St, Blue Town

JOHNSON Charles, baker, High St, Mile Town

JOHNSON James B, grocer & provision dealer, High St, Blue Town

JOHNSON William, boot & shoe maker, Chapel St, Mile Town

KEDDELL & Cullen, surgeons, High St, Mile Town

KEDDELL John Staples,, Crescent Banks Town

KEYS Thomas, shipwright & boat builder, Union St, Blue Town

KIMBER Robert, baker, High St, Mile Town

KING George, boot & shoe maker, High St, Mile Town

KING William, clothier, High St, Mile Town

KIRTON William, chemist, Union St, Blue Town

KITT William, tailor, Chapel St, Blue Town

KNEWSTUB William, postmaster, High St, Blue Town

LAMPARD Henry, brazier, High St, Mile Town

LARGE George, bootmaker, Ebenezer Place, Mile Town

LEDDELL James, hatter, Chapel St, Blue Town

LEDDELL James, jun, furniture broker, High St, Blue Town

LEFTLY George, boot & shoe maker, High St, Mile Town

LEVY Henry L, tobacconist, High St, Mile Town

LEVY Isaac, clothier, union St, Blue Town

LEVY Isaac, tobacconist & fruiterer, High St, Blue Town

LEVY John, outfitter, High St, Blue Town

MANTLE James, cabinet maker, High St, Mile Town

MARKS Christopher B, grocer & china dir, High St, Mile Town

MASTERS George, beer retailer, Hope St, Mile Town

MILES William, wood & coal merchant, Hope St, Mile Town

MILLENER James, Victory Tavern, Victory St, Mile Town

MONK John, grocer, Union St, Blue Town

MOORE Robert, blacksmith, Union St, Blue Town

MUNN William, watchmaker, High St, Mile Town

MURRAY John, carpenter & builder, Rose St, Mile Town

MURTON Alfred, shopkeeper, High St, Blue Town

NEEDHAM William, pawnbroker, Hope St, Mile Town

NEWBY Mrs, milliner, Chapel St, Blue Town

NORTON John, excise officer, West St, Blue Town

PACKER William, toy dealer, High St, Mile Town

PALMER Charles S, confectioner, West St, Blue Town

PALMER George Shrubsole, confectioner, High St, Blue Town

PELLATT John, tailor, Durham Place, Mile Town

PENMAN Edwin, coffee house, Chapel St, Blue Town

PENMAN Henry, beer retailer, High St, Mile Town

PESKETT James, ‘Carpenters’ Arms’, Hope St, Mile Town

PHILLIPS William, town carrier, High St, Mile Town

PHILMER Robert, butcher, High St, Mile Town

POLLARD George, shopkeeper, Kent St, Blue Town

POLLARD John, coal & timber merchant, West St, Blue Town

POLSON Charles, chemist & druggist & agent to the National 

Mercantile fire & life insurance, High St, 

Mile Town

POTTS William, linen draper, High St, Blue Town

RAYNER William, baker, High St, Mile Town

REED John & Edwin Danl, linen drapers, High St, Blue Town

REED Mrs Elizabeth, straw bonnet maker, High St, Mile Town

RIGG Mrs Carlne, mstrss, of Ntnl schl. Edward St, Banks Town

RIGG Thomas M, mstr of Ntnl. Schl, Edward St, Banks Town

ROBINSON James, schoolmaster & agent to the Liverpool fire 

& life offices & county of Kent Friendly 

Assurance Society, Chapel St, Mile Town

RUSSELL Michael, upholsterer, High St, Mile Town

SAFFERY Stephen Wm, chemist & oil & clrmn,  High St, Mile Town

SANSUM George, beer retailer & shoemaker, Rose St, Mile Town

SANSUM Joseph, boot & shoe maker, High St, Mile Town

SAVERY Thomas, boot & shoe maker, High St, Blue Town

SCALES Thomas, leather seller, Victory St, Mile Town

SELFE Francis, watch maker & jeweller, High St, Mile Town

SHRUBSALL Edwin, ‘Old Jolly Sailor’, West St, Blue Town

SHRUBSALL Squire, boot & shoe maker, Chapel St, Blue Town

SHRUBSOLE Lewis, grocer & provision mer., High St, Blue Town

SHRUBSOLE William, corn factor & hoyman, High St, Mile Town

SMITH Benjamin, Britannia Commercial Inn & wine & spirit merchant,

 High St, Mile Town

SMITH John, ironmonger, High St, Blue Town

SMITH William, fishmonger, Chapel St, Blue Town

SMITH William, registrar of births & deaths for Minster district,

 West St, Blue Town

SMITHSON John Thomas, Royal Hotel & wine & spirit merchant, 

Edward St, Banks Town

SPAIN Cornelius, grocer, Hope St, Mile Town

SPAIN Thomas, grocer & agent to the Farmers’ & General 

Insurance company, High St, Mile Town

STRIDE Edward, surgeon, High St, Blue Town

STROUD John, ‘Crown & Anchor’, Pier

STTELY Thomas, stone mason & builder & rate collector, 

Hope St, Mile Town

STATELY William, carpenter, Hope St, Mile Town

SWIFT Thomas, baker, Ebenezer Place, Mile Town

TAYLOR James, baker, Chapel St, Blue Town

TAYLOR John Edward, butcher, High St, Blue Town

TEMPLE Henry, linen draper, high St, Blue Town

TONG Alfred, ‘Anchor & Hope’, High St, Blue Town

TOWNSEND Isaac, leather cutter, High St, Mile Town

TUCKER John W, beer retailer, High St, Mile Town

TYLER Thomas, boot & shoe maker, High St, Blue Town

VANDEPEER Thomas, corn dealer, High St, Mile Town

VENABLE Mrs Ann, agent to the Royal Exchange insurance company,

 High St, Mile Town

WAGHORN William, grocer, Chapel St, Blue Town

WARD William Lewis, surgeon, Crescent, Banks town

WATSON Mrs Elizabeth, stay maker, High St, Blue Town

WATSON Stephen, blacksmith, Victory St, Mile Town

WAUGH William, linen draper, High St, Mile Town

WEEKS Mrs Charlotte, beer retailer, Chapel St, Mile Town

WEST James, baker & shopkeeper, New Wood St, Mile Town

WESTLAKE George, principal coast officer, High St, Blue Town

WHITE Alfred, shopkeeper, High St, Mile Town

WHITE Mrs Frances, carpenter & undertaker, Hope St, Mile Town

WICKENDEN James, butcher, Hope St, Mile Town

WIFF Mrs Sarah Walker, ‘Sun’ Chapel St, Mile Town

WINDER Charles, ‘Royal George’, High St, Blue Town

WISE Thomas Pilcher, boot & shoe maker, High St, Mile Town

WOOD George, grocer, Durham Place, Mile Town

WOOD Matthew, firewood & coal merchant, Rose St, Mile Town

WOODHARDS Nathaniel, ‘Hit or Miss’, Chapel St, Blue Town

POST OFFICE - William KNEWSTUB, postmaster, ‘High St, Blue Town.

  Money orders are granted & paid at this office.  Letters from 

Sittingbourne arrive daily ¼ to 6 am, & ½ pas 5 pm; dispatched 

8 pm & 9 

am.  Box closes at 7, but letters may be posted till 10 min to

 8 with an extra stamp.  Receiving house at Edward FELKIN’s,

 High St, Mile Town

INSURANCE AGENTS -

Alfred Life, Clerical & Medical Life, London Fire & Life & Marine,

 William EDGECOMBE West St, 

Blue Town

Atlas Fire & Life William HOLMES

Church of England Fire & Life Edward HOOKER

County of Kent Friendly Assurance Society, James ROBINSON, 

Chapel St, Mile Town

Crown Life, Lewis SHRUBSOLE, High St, Blue Town

Eagle Life & West of England Fire & Life, Richard BRIGHTMAN,

 High St, Mile Town

English & Scottish Law Life, James WARD

English Widows’ Fund & General Life, Edward FELKIN, High St, Mile Town

Farmer’s & General Fire & Life, Thomas SPAIN, High St, Mile Town

Globe National Provident Institution, John COLE, jun

Kent Fire & Life, Edward FELKIN

Kent Mutual Fire & Life, John BRIMSDEN, Union St, Blue Town

Life Association of Scotland, Edward William Henry FELKIN, High St, 

Mile Town

Liverpool & London Fire & Life, James ROBINSON, Chapel St, Mile Town

Merchants & Tradesmen’s, William Edward FELKIN, High St, Mile Town

Norwich Union Fire & Life, Frederick BARNARD, High St, Mile Town

Protestant Dissenters’ Fire & Life, John GORHAM, High St, Mile Town

Royal Exchange, Mrs Ann VENABLE, High St, Mile Town

Star Life, E HOOKER

Sun Fire & Life, James Thos ATTWATER, High St, Mile Town

LAW & OTHER OFFICERS -

Superintendent Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages for 

Sheppey Union, Robert EDMEADES, esq, 

High St, Mile Town

Registrar of Births & Deaths, Wm SMITH, Blue Town

Registrar of Marriages, George ELLIOTT, High St, Mile Town

Vice Consul for Foreign Powers & c. Wm EDGCOMBE, esq, West St,

 Blue Town

Clerk to Commissioners of Pier, to Local Board of Health & to

 Board of Guardians, Robert EDMEADES, 

esq, High St, Mile Town

Clerk to Sheerness Well Company, Edward HOOKER, Edward St, Banks Town

Storekeeper to Droits of Admiralty, George JACKSON, High St, Mile Town

High Bailiff of County Court, William EDCOMBE

Clerk, Thomas PATTEN, Blue Town

PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS:-

Dockyard, Hon Geo ELLIOTT, C.B. Commander-in-chief; Capt GREVILLE, 

flag captain; Lieut McGREGOR, flag lieutenant; David PRICE, esq. 

captain superintendent; J A SMITH, esq sec to Admiral; 

Jonathan AYLEN, esq. master attendant; Samuel READ, esq master 

shipwright; Thos BALDOCK esq. 

storekeeper, W L FREEMAN, store receiver, James WILSON M.D surgeon;

 Rev John KIRKBY, chaplain, 

John PARMINTER, esq. chief clerk; Joseph LARGE, assistant master

 shipwright; Charles POPE, assistant master attendant; 

Henry MORGAN, esq. treasurer’s clerk; Lieut Edward RAMSEY,

 director of police; George BLAXLAND, esq. civil engineer

Customs, John NORTON, excise officer, Blue Town, George WESTLAKE, 

principal coast officer, High St, Blue Town County Court, Blue Town,

 William EDGCOMBE, high bailiff; Thomas PATTEN, clerk Gas Works, 

Mile Town, Richard BRIGHTMAN, superintendent Economical Bakehouse,

 Short St, Mile Town, James DUFF, sec; John CHARLTON, baker

 Sheppey Union House, Richard MURTON, master; Mrs MURTON, matron

Savings’ Bank, High St, Mile Town, Edward FELTON, actuary

PLACES OF WORSHIP: 

Catholic Chapel, Britannia St, Mile Town

Baptist Chapel, Sun St

Wesleyan Chapel, Hope St, Mile Town

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bethel Chapel Sunday, Bell & Lion St, Mile Town

Trinity Church National, Thomas M RIGG, master, 

Mrs Caroline RIGG, mistress

CONVEYANCE - Vans for passengers & goods to Sittingbourne, 

calling at Queenborough; F PRATTEN, from the Fountain Hotel, 

every morn (sun. ex) at 9ATER CONVEYANCE TO LONDON- William 

SHRUBSOLE & Thomas C REED’s hoys, every Sat; 

Henry John Barren’s hoys, every Wed.