REUBEN JOHN SEWELL
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Born: 6th March 1884, Billericay, Essex.
Died: 22nd September 1914; age 30; drowned in the North Sea when H.M.S. Hogue was torpedoed and sunk.
Occupation: Labourer.
Enlistment Details: Location: Chatham; Occupation: Labourer. Signed up for 12 years – 6th March 1902. Height: 5ft 5ins – height at 18 years – 5ft 6 ins, fresh complexion, brown eyes & brown hair. Red spot on the back of the neck.
Service:
Northampton – Boy 2nd Class – 8th July 1901
Northampton – Boy 1st Class – 7th October 1901 – 21st October 1901
Cleopatra – Boy 1st Class – 22nd October 1901 – 20th December 1901
Pembroke – Boy 1st Class – 21st December – 1901 – 13th January 1902
Grafton – Boy 1st Class – 14th January 1902
Grafton – Ordinary Seaman – 6th March 1902
Grafton – Able Seaman – 18th May 1904 – 22nd August 1904 – 7 days in Cell
Grafton – Able Seaman – 30th August 1904 – 31st March 1905
Pembroke I – Able Seaman – 1st April 1905 – 23rd August 1905
Kent – Able Seaman – 24th August 1905 – 11th November 1907
Amphitrite – Able Seaman – 12th November 1907 – 24th December 1907
Pembroke – Able Seaman – 25th December 1907 – 17th February 1908
Cochrane – Able Seaman – 18th February 1908 – 31st March 1909
Berwick – Able Seaman – 1st April 1909
Berwick – Leading Seaman – 20th October 1910 – 15th May 1911
Pembroke – leading Seaman – 16th May 1911 – 4th March 1912
Africa – Leading Seaman – 5th March 1912 – 14th April 1914
Pembroke I – 15th April 1914
Pembroke I – 1st May 1914 – 28th July 1914
Hogue – 29th July 1914 – 22nd September 1914.
Character – Very Good.
Rank: Petty Officer; Service Number: 215836(ch)
Regiment: H.M.S. ‘Hogue’ Royal Navy.
Memorial Reference:
1.
Chatham,
Kent.
Relatives Notified & Address: Hordle Street, Harwich, Essex.
CENSUS
1891 Dunmow Lane, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire.
Reuben was 7 years old and living with his parents and siblings.
Edward May Sewell, 55, Dealer and Traveller, born Halstead, Essex.
Harriet Sarah Sewell, 37, born Haverhill, Suffolk.
Maud D. Sewell, 16, born Romford, Essex.
Arthur S. W. Sewell, 14, born Essex.
Bertie Charles Sewell, 13, born Romford, Essex.
Rhoda Susannah Sewell, 10, born Romford, Essex.
Mark Luke Sewell, 8, born Billericay, Essex.
Benjamin Leonard Sewell, 5, born Vange, Essex.
Decimus Reginald Sewell, 8 months, born Syleham, Suffolk.
1901 24, Gibbons Street, Ipswich.
Reuben was 17 years old, a Worker – Iron Foundry. He was living with his parents & brothers.
Edward, 65, a Traveller in Patent Goods – own account.
Harriet, 47.
Mark, 18, a Milliner’s Light Porter.
Benjamin, 15, a Butcher.
Lionel Isaac Sewell, 13, a Worker at a Toy Shop, born Waldringfield, Suffolk.
Decimus, 10.
Claude Frederick Sewell, 6, born Beaumont, Essex.
Reuben’s father changed his name from PERCY MAY SEWELL to EDWARD MAY SEWELL after a bigamy case at the Old Bailey in 1871.
22nd September 1914
The three ships Cressy, Abourkir and the Hogue were on patrol without an escort, seeking shelter from bad weather off Ostend, steaming 2,000 yards apart at 10 knots. German U-boat U-9, commanded by Kapitanleutnant Otto Weddigen, spotted the ships and lined up for an attack. U-9 fired one torpedo at 06:20 at Aboukir, which struck her on the starboard side. She began listing and capsized around 06:55,
Hogue was struck by two torpedoes around 06:55 and capsized ten minutes after being torpedoed and sank at 07:15. HMS Cressy had spotted U-9 attempting to ram the submarine.U-9 fired two torpedoes from its stern tubes on escaping Cressy, but only one hit. U-9 had to manoeuvre to bring her bow around with her last torpedo and fired it at a range of about 550 yards at 07:30. The torpedo struck on the port side and ruptured several boilers, scalding to death the men in the compartment. HMS Cressy took on a heavy list and then capsized, sinking at 07:55. At 08:30, small fishing craft, Dutch and British trawlers, picked up survivors. 837 men were rescued and 62 officers. From the three ships, it is estimated that 1,397 enlisted men were lost, 560 of those lost were from HMS Cressy.
……
The professional career of PERCY MAY SEWELL/EDWARD MAY SEWELL
Sun and Central Press – Saturday, 25th February 1871 – POLYGAMY – At the Greenwich Police Court, Percy May Sewell, aged 34, described as a commission agent, was charged with intermarrying with Ann Girdlestone and Mary Penny, his first wife, Elizabeth Sewell, being alive at the time. The second and third wives, both respectable-looking young women, were in court.
Kentish Mercury – Saturday, 4th March 1871 – THE MAN WITH THREE WIVES – Percy May Sewell, of Avenue Road, Lewisham, remanded upon a charge of intermarrying with two young women, his first wife being then alive. P.S. Tafey, 13 P, said that on the 23rd February, the second wife came to him and said she wished to give the prisoner into custody on a charge of bigamy, and by arrangement, he met her at the Lewisham Station, where they saw the prisoner while he was about to proceed by train to London. He was taken into custody when he said he knew all about it. He produced three marriage certificates.
A married lady named Sophia Stanley proved that the prisoner took apartments in her house for the first wife, and she resided there about six months, but he slept there very seldom. There were three children belonging to the first wife.
Sarah Girdlestone Hill, proved she was an attesting witness to the marriage of the second wife, her sister, who had one child.
Amelia Lucy Penny proved her marriage with the prisoner, and she lived with him until he was taken into custody.
These witnesses were bound over to attend at the next Old Bailey Sessions, and the prisoner was further remanded for a week.
Kentish Independent – Saturday, 18th March 1871 – GREENWICH – COMMITTAL OF A MAN FOR MARRYING THREE WIVES – At the Greenwich Police Court, on Saturday, 18th March, Percy May Sewell, described as a commission agent, of Avenue Road, Lewisham, was charged with feloniously intermarrying with Ann Girdlestone Currie, and Amelia Lucy Penny, his first wife, Elizabeth Sivyer, being then and still living. Mr. Popham attended to watch the case on the part of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children. The three wives were present in court, all being very respectably connected. From the evidence taken, it appeared that on the 8th March 1853, the prisoner was married by licence at the church of St. Dunstan-in-the-West to Elizabeth Sivyer, and there had been three children, the issue of this marriage. The second marriage, also by licence, took place at Kennington Church, Surrey, on the 24th October 1865, and there had been one child, the issue of this marriage. In July of last year, the prisoner formed the acquaintance of Amelia Lucy Penny, of Plumstead, to whom he represented himself as a single man, and they were married at Woolwich parish church on the 17th November last.
Percy May Sewell was committed for trial.
At the Central Criminal Court, on the 5th April 1871, Percy May Sewell pleaded Guilty to charges of bigamy and was sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment at the House of Correction, Maidstone.
Greenock Advertiser – Saturday, 8th April 1871 – Percy May Sewell, a romantically named and too fascinating London stockbroker, got off rather cheaply on Tuesday on conviction of being very much married. He was sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court, for having contracted matrimonial engagements with two ladies while his lawful wife was yet alive.
On the 4th April 1878, at Westminster, Middlesex, 43 year old Percy May Sewell was found Guilty of obtaining monies by False Pretences (the sum of 42s., the monies of John Hinch, and the sum of £1 13s. 6d., the monies of James Cowland). Percy Sewell was imprisoned for ten calendar months at Cold Bath Fields Prison.
On the 23rd November 1889, at the Castle of Norwich, Norfolk, Edward May Sewell was tried for committing False Pretences. This time, he was acquitted.
On the 10th April 1893, at Colchester, Essex, 60 year old Edward May Sewell was found Guilty of obtaining £1 10s. by false pretences from Stephen Hayward Gasson, with intent to defraud, at Colchester, on the 13th July 1892. Edward Sewell was imprisoned for six calendar months’ hard labour.
On the 20th May 1896, at Chelmsford, Essex, 64 year old Edward May Sewell was found Guilty of obtaining £1 and 10s. by false pretences from Mary Ann Cooke, with intent to defraud, at Clacton-on-Sea, on the 28th May 1895. Edward Sewell was imprisoned for eighteen months’ hard labour.
At the same court hearing, Edward Sewell was found Not Guilty and acquitted of obtaining £1 10s. by false pretences from Caroline Smith, with intent to defraud, at Walton, on the 27th June 1895.
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