James Hubert ²

  General Notes:

There is no firm evidence for James and Ann being the parents of James George Hubert but from IGI we find that most of James George's children including son James Hubert b.1816 were baptised at St Marys Battersea as were William, Sophie and Samuel Hubert children of James and Ann. James would be a logical name for ason of James and Ann especially with James the first son of the next generation. The names William, Samuel and Ann are also common to both families. There is one other candidate set of parents on IGI being Richard and Elizabeth parents of Thomas baptised at St Marys 1801. The most likely seems James and Ann so we will go with them for now.

[2008 Aug - The National Archives UK has an insurance policy document in the name of James Hubert barge builder and coals dealer -- it seems that James George at about 19 or 20 may have been too young so maybe this policy was his father's - a litle more evidence for establishing the connection]

[2010 Jan - I have found burial records for James Hubert 1834 and Ann Hubert 1836 both at St Mary, Battersea. These seem almost certainly to be this James and Ann Hubert. There is also a marriage for a James Hubert and Ann Hopkins in 1784 which fits with their ages but suggests there may be some children missing. Henry and Ann seem likely names for two of these. There is an Ann Hopkins b 1764 in Richmond who is the only possibility on IGI. Her father was John so that may give us another missing child's name.]

Whoever the parents turn out to be, St Marys was central to the lives of the early Huberts. Here is a description from http://www.southwark.anglican.org/parishes/011br_a.htm

"The present church was built between 1775 and 1777 to the designs of a local architect Joseph Dixon, on the site of a previous church which may have existed since 800; and follows a similar ground line to the building presumably demolished in 1774/5. Considerable reconstruction and repairs were carried out in 1878 and also in 1938, with further repairs and alterations in 1956 and 1977/8. The crypt which was used for burials until 1854, was re-arranged with the lead covered coffins laid on either side of the crypt and covered in concrete in 1875, with the coffin plates removed, some of which are displayed on the columns and walls the north side of which is now known as the main hall. The crypt was converted in 1977/8 to provide the present main and small hall spaces, with choir vestry/meeting room, kitchen, boiler room and toilets. The organ was rebuilt with a new English oak case in 1991, reusing much of the original 18th and 19th century pipe work, by Saxon Aldred. The belfry contains 8 bells, comprising 6 recast from bells of the previous church and two new ones, installed when the church was completed in 1777, were re-hung in 1938.

The church is Georgian in style and consists of an apsidal sanctuary at the east end; a nave, which is divided into north and south aisles with narthex and central area, by columns supporting a gallery around the north, west and south sides, entered at both ends through doorways which are placed on either side of a central west tower, via north and south stairways from entrance halls and doorways set in a Doric columned neo-classical portico. A vaulted crypt extending under the whole of the ground floor provides main and small hall areas, with a choir vestry/meeting room, kitchen, boiler room and toilets. The crypt is entered from the main church via a staircase in the north west corner and has separate external doorways on the north and east sides. The tower has seven levels, providing:- a store at crypt level, with a small internal staircase connected to the vestry, which is level with the nave; a bell ringing chamber at gallery level, with a bell rope and storage area over, followed in sequence by the bell chamber, clock chamber and turret surmounted by a small spire.

The church site is enclosed by stone capped brick walls, surmounted by wrought iron railings to the river and Battersea Church Road frontages, with the eastern boundary enclosed by a high rendered brick wall. Residential barges are moored to the river wall with access via the churchyard."
⁵

  Chronology:

He worked as an Apprentice Ship Wright to John Adams for 7 years on 17 Apr 1777 and resided at London. ⁶
(father Henry Hubert, Coal Merch't deceased)

He worked as a Lighter Builder in 1790 and resided at Surrey. ⁷

He worked as a Lighter Builder in 1791 and resided at Surrey. ⁸

He worked as a Barge Builder and Coal merchant in 1794 and resided at Nine Elms. ⁹ (partner with brother Thomas and mention of other properties including Hubert's Wharf, Abingdon Street and Newman's yard which may have been near Great Castle Street)

He worked as a Barge builder and Coal Merchant from 1796 to 1800 and resided at Nine Elms, Vauxhall. ¹⁰ (with brothers Thomas and Samuel)

MISC: took on Shipwright apprentice William Points, 1799, London. ¹¹

MISC: took on apprentice Shipwright Henry Carne, 13 Jun 1808, Surrey?. ¹²
(father of Henry was William Carne of Nine Elms, Sawyer)

He worked as a Barge Builder in 1811 and resided at Nine Elms, Lambeth. ¹³

He worked as a Barge builder and dealer in coals on 20 Oct 1813 and resided at Nine Elms Vauxhall. ¹⁴

He worked as a Barge master in 1819 and resided at Nine Elms. ¹⁵

He worked as a Barge-builder and Coal-mercht in 1829 and resided at Nine Elms, Vauxhall. ¹⁶

He resided in 1834 in Nine Elms. ¹⁷

James married Ann Hopkins on 23 May 1784 in St Mary at Lambeth.¹ (Ann Hopkins was born Cal 1764, died in 1836 ¹⁸ and was buried on 9 May 1836 in Saint Mary, Battersea.)

  Marriage Notes:

(Both of this parish, bachelor/spinster, Witnesses Jame Ray, James Singleton & Phebe Ray - James Singleton appears as a witness for other marriages so may be a church official)