On 2nd February 1845, a marriage was held in the parish church of St Georges in Middlesex, after banns. The groom was John Lafling, a bachelor of full age (actually 25) and a sawyer living at 6 William Street and the son of William Lafling, a carpenter. The bride was Rebecca Smith, a spinster of full age living at 6 Cannon Street and the daughter of William Smith, a sawyer. The witnesses were William Henry Hagon & Elizabeth Lafling and Rebecca was the only one not to sign.

They had at least five children. Ann Elizabeth Lafling was born in the first quarter of 1846 and Rebecca Lafling was born in the last quarter of 1849, both in Poplar. Then they moved to Stepney, where William Henry Lafling was born in the last quarter of 1851 and Jane Lafling was born in the last quarter of 1853. Finally Sarah Laflin was born in Bermondsey in the last quarter of 1858.

In 1861 they were living at 35 Salisbury Lane, Bermondsey with their daughter Rebecca and "John Lapling" was working as a sawyer. John's birthplace was given as "Dunnington, Essex" while his wife had been born in Limehouse and his eleven-year-old daughter in Poplar.

In 1871 they were living at 16 Ravensbourne Street, Greenwich and John was still working as a sawyer. His birthplace was now given as "Manningtree, Essex" and his wife had been born in Limehouse. With them were four of their children, all unmarried. Ann Lafling (aged 24) was working as a machinist and had been born in Bromley-by-Bow. Jane Lafling (aged 17) had been born in Poplar. Sarah Lafling (aged 12) was still at school and had been born in Rotherhithe. William Lafling (aged 19) was working as a hammerman and had been born in Limehouse.

John Lafling, age 53, died in the Greenwich area in the last quarter of 1872.

In the first quarter of 1875, Ann Elizabeth Lafling and John Kay were married in the Woolwich area and their son William John Kay was born in the Islington area in the first quarter of 1876.

In the third quarter of 1879, Rebecca Lafling and Henry Thomas Hart were married in the Greenwich area and their son Gilbert Henry Hart was born there in the third quarter of 1880.

In 1881, John's widow Rebecca Lafting was living at 31 Milton Court Road, Deptford. With her were two of her daughters, both of whom gave Poplar as their birthplace. Annie E. Kay was working as a forewoman (manager) while Mary A. Lafting was working as a domestic servant. The remaing member of the household was her five-year-old grandson William J.Kay who was at school.

In 1881, Henry and Rebecca Hart were living at 21 Bedford Road, Greenwich and Henry was working as a gardener. With them was their baby son, Gilbert Hy Hart, who had been born in Blackheath.

Over the next ten years, three more grandchildren were born. Lily Rebecca Hart in the last quarter of 1882 and Mildred Sarah Kay in the first quarter of 1888, both in the Greenwich area. Ethel Annie Kay was born in Croydon in the first quarter of 1886.

In 1891, Rebecca Lafling, widow, was living at 14 Knowles Hill Crescent, Lewisham. With her were her son William Henry Lafling (aged 37 and born in Poplar) who was working as a blacksmith. The other member of the household was said to be a nephew called William Kay Lafling. He was probably her grandson William John Kay. He was aged 15 and working as a grocer's assistant and had been born in Islington.

In 1891, Henry and Rebecca Hart were living at 30 Knowles Hill Crescent and Henry was still working as a gardener. With them were their two children, Gilbert aged 10 and Lily aged 8 - both were at school and had been born in Blackheath.

In 1891, Ann E.Kay was living at 11 Belmont Terrace, Bideford, Devon and working as manageress of a collar factory. With her was her five-year-old daughter Ethel A. Kay who had been born in Croydon. Her husband John Kay has not been found in any census so far.

Her sister Jane seems to have married Alfred Lane because in 1891, Alfred and Jane Lane were living in 22 Britannia Street, St Pancras and Alfred was working as a glass cutter. With them was their three-year-old niece Mildred Kay, who had been born in Charlton.

In 1901, Rebecca Lafling was a pauper living in the Lewisham Workhouse and noted to be stone deaf, which probably explains why some of her details were not recorded correctly. Rebecca Lafling died in the third quarter of 1901 in Lewisham and her age was given as 72.

In 1901, William H Lafting, a blacksmith engineer born in Bow, was married and living at 78 Bradgate Road, Lewisham. His wife Annie had been born in Camberwell, Surrey and they had an eleven-year-old daughter Doris M. Lafling who had been born in East Dulwich. The nearest marriage was that of William Henry Lafting and Annie Eliza Blyth in Norwich in the last quarter of 1896 and no entry has been found for Doris' birth.

In 1901, Annie Kay, widow, was living at 92 Bradgate Road, Lewisham and working as a sick nurse. With her were two daughters, Ethel A.Kay aged15, who was working as a draper's assistant, and Mildred Kay aged 13. Lily Hart, aged 18 and working as a housemaid, was also living there.

Sources for this section.

Civil Registration Indexes available online from FreeBMD.
Civil Registration Indexes and Census Data available online from Findmypast.
private communication from Brenda Marns.

Page maintained by Susan Laflin. Last updated in December 2007.