John Vincent junior

Clarence House, 50 Lower Street

Occupation: Schoolmaster

1843 Tithe Map those areas marked by red dots are owned by John Vincent jnr.

John Vincent jnr. Was the fourth of the nine children born to John Vincent sen., the Minister of Deal’s Congregational Church, and his first wife, Elizabeth Thompson. John didn’t follow his father into the church but became a teacher. Where he trained we don’t know but by the time of his marriage in 1833, to Mary Brudenell, he was a Schoolmaster. It looks as if John purchased Clarence House in 1834. It was already being run as a Boarding School for boys by Thomas Reaks at the time.

Kentish Gazette – Tuesday 15 April 1834

Pigot’s Directory of 1840 tells us that he was running a Gentlemens Boarding School at Clarence House, in Lower Street,  though the 1841 census only gives the name of one pupil maybe he was the only one boarding at that time. The Tithe Map and Schedule of 1843 informs us that he was both owner and occupier of 50 Lower Street and the surrounding gardens. By 1851 he has thirteen boarding pupils and we assume other day pupils too including his two youngest sons Samuel and Wilberforce.

Not much more is known about John Vincent as he sadly died on 25 May 1851 of consumption (tuberculosis). He left a will but this is not available online. His obituary in the South Eastern Gazette marks him out as a man held in high esteem.

South Eastern Gazette – Tuesday 03 June 1851

Mary stayed in Deal at least until around 1861. At the time that years census was taken, she is listed as a Schoolmasters Widow and a visitor at 183 Lower Street the home of John Bayly the Grocer and Tallow Chandler .John’s wife had recently given birth so Mary could have been helping during that time.

It looks as if the enumerator got a little confused when taking or when transcribing the details for Clarence House, which was still Mary’s home. Martha and Wilberforce, the last two Vincent children living at home, are there but are listed as the children of John S Pembrooke. To add to the confusion modern transcribers have also made an error with the Vincent surname transcribing that as Benceal! This John is a Trinity Cinque Ports Pilot and could be lodging with the Vincents and even a friend of Martha’s future husband James Richard Apps. Sadly John S Pembrooke died in 1862 following a collision at sea with a large barque, just off Dover.
By 1871 Mary is living with her eldest son Robert in Hitchen, Hertfordshire. She died the following year on 13 May 1872. Probate records on Ancestry tell us she left just under £5 to her family.

From the South Eastern Gazette – Tuesday 27 December 1853 giving more names of the students of Clarence House Academy and their achievements.

Sources and further reading:
Deal Tithe Map & Schedule
Newspaper image © The British Library Board. All rights reserved.
With thanks to The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)