Timeline
1912-09-12 Born Haviker Street, Yalding, Maidstone(Spitzbrook or Brandenbury Farm?) to Edward Deacon and Elizabeth Coomber
1921-06-19 Census, living Vine Cottage, Bethersden Road, Smarden, with mum dad and family
1937-08-07 Married Kathleen Mabel Avis at The Methodist Chapel, Groombridge, Withyham, East Sussex
1939-09-29 Census, living Court Lodge Farm, Aylesford, Malling, with brother John Herbert and his family
1940-08-18 Son Michael Sidney Deacon born at Colesdane, Harrietsham, Hollingbourn, Kent
1942-05-27 Daughter Sylvia Ann Deacon born at Staggs Farm Cottages, East Malling, Kent
1946-12-23 Son Anthony Ernest Deacon born at 70 Longfellow Road, Worcester Park
1952-06-24 Daughter Gillian Rosemary Deacon born at 118 Stoneleigh Avenue, Worcester Park, Surrey
1960-03-19 Daughter Beverley Jane Deacon born at Epsom Hospital, Surrey
1978-12-14 Died 38 Hevers Avenue, Horley, Surrey
1978-12-21 Cremation at Surrey and Sussex Crematorium. Ashes scattered area DP/101
Notes:
According to his marriage certificate, he lived at Curds Cottage, Markbeech, near Edenbridge, and his occupation was 'cowman'.The witnesses at his wedding to Kathleen were J. D. Richards (Kathleens sister Evelyns husband, John Daniel Richards, giving Kathleen away instead of her father who she had paid to keep away), and L. F. Shonfeld(believed to have been Ernests best man. See the attached photo of the Groombridge Home Guard - Louis Frederick Shonfeld is believed to be second from the left in the back row). Evelyns son Christopher confirms that it is his father in the wedding photo on the left at the back, and Gerry Robson of Groombridge confirms that it is Lou Shonfeld partly hidden at the back on the right-hand side).Ernests father, Edward Deacon, had died on 7th May 1937, and Ernest was the informant.See the entry for Rostherne on the attached map.Kathleen was in service here as a cook, joined by Ernest as a chauffeur after their marriage in August 1937. See the attached newspaper article of their wedding. The owner of the house was Patrick W. Rucker, who was a captain in the army and was killed on 20th May 1940 in France. It is believed that he asked Ernest to go to war with him as his valet, and that Ernest had refused to go, and had afterwards thought himself to have had a lucky escape when his the captain was killed so early on in the war. Pages relating to the death of Patrick Rucker are attached to Ernest's record and can be viewed from his tree.25/6/2011 viewed Kellys Directory for Kent from 1913 at Maidstone Records Office, at farmers in Collier Street (the village that Haviker Street is in). Through a process of deduction, ie farms listed but not in Haviker Street, I believe that Ernest was born at one of the following 2 farms, still in existence today in Haviker Street. Brandenbury was owned by George Manwaring and William Tassell, farmers and hop growers. Spitzbrook was owned by Harry Thwaites Manwaring, landowner, hop and fruit grower. See attached papers for Ernests war record. In the 1921 census, Ernest's family, including his father Edward, were employed by Mr C G S Freedland, of Fuller Farm, Smarden, St Michael's being the parish church. See attached sheets about where Ernest, Kathleen and family lived over the years.
