NOTE :- Abraham (b1792) appears to have married twice, the second time to Matilda Larkin, previously living with him in 1841 registered as Lodger This is not unusual in those times. families were very large and children were often moved in with relations or near neighbours who could help with their upbringing. Census 1841 Abram Cant 45 Matilda Larkin 25 Hannah Cant 13 William Cant b1830 aged 11 (our Explorer) Joseph Cant 9 Elizabeth Larkin 3 Eliza Larkin 2 Infant Larkin 1 Mo Census 1851 Abram Cant 60 Matilda Larkin 30..............see notes below on Matilda and the Larkin Children Betsey Larkin 16 James Larkin 6 Mary Ann Larkin 4 Henry Larkin 2 George Larkin 9m In 1841 William Snr(1792) was living at Smythies Farm whilst his son William (1830) was residing at Josselyns Farm further along the road Abrahams died in 1859 NOTE: Abraham (son b1815) during the 1871 Census he was at Smythies Farm with Elizabeth 20 (housekeeper) and Arthur 13 (labourer) Elizabeth and Arthur were most probably his children His occupation now shown as Miller. This is feasible as there were two flour mills in Mount Bures Census 1841 Abram Cant 25 Lucy Cant 25 Walter Cant 5 Zachariah Cant 3 William Cant 2 Census 1861 Abraham Cant 45 Lucy his wife now deceased James Cant 18 Harriett Cant 14 Jonathan Cant 11 Elizabeth Cant 10 Arthur Cant Abraham (1815) married Lucy Bull ( the Bull family were publicans at the Thatchers Arms) having 9 children Lucy died in 1850, it looks as though Abraham married again to Charlotte Fenner and by the following year conceived a daughter Elizabeth in 1851 By the time of the next census in 1881, he was 66 and living on his own as widower at Dowlands Road. This is the same location of Smythies Farm Abraham died in 1887 NOTE: James ( son of Abraham, b1815) Census 1901 James Cant 58 living at Meadow Cottage, Lower Rd. Ann Cant (nee Theobald b1845, Bures St Mary) age 56 "Meadow Cottage" could be todays property known as "Long Gardens" ( see previous page) James was still there in 1911 Alice Cant 18 Frederick Cant 12 Ethel Cant 9 Amy White 9

NOTE
ELIZABETH CANT

Abraham Cant Snr b1702 married Elizabeth Roberts in 1813
Elizabeth died in 1836, however her last child Isaac was not registered until 1838
Was this a birth date or possibly a late christening date

NOTE
NATHAN LARKIN
Appears to be the first wife of Matilda around 1836
No further details found

NOTE
MATILDA ? (b 1821 at Wivenhoe)
(Lorkin, Larkin, Lukin and Lucking were also common names in Mount Bures dating back to the 1500`s. The mispelling was usually down to the enumerator when recording names)

1838:- We know that Matilda at some time was maried to Nathan Larkin, but no dates seem to have been recorded.
Taken from the records of Mount Bures Baptisims 1838 list
One child: Elizabeth Nathan Larkin ( b1836 d1864)
So with Elizabeths middle name "Nathan" can we assume Matilda was married to a Nathan Larkin circa 1836/8

1841: Matilda Larkin listed living as lodger with Abraham snr(1792).
But with these children

But why do the children have their mothers name ?
They do not appear in the 1851 Census, so where did they go
Where they the children of Nathan Larkin ?

1851: Matilda (age 30)again listed as lodger with William

But why do the children have theri mothers name ?
I can find no record of William ever marrying Matilda

1859 Abraham Died

1861: Two years later Matilda Cant aged 48 Widow, moves out of Smythies Farm to live with her daughter Elizabeth,
Address " The Cottage" Mount Bures - to vague an address to locate

1871 Matilda (age 60) and daughter Sophie both now living with William Smith age 67, a blacksmith
Matilda listed as Housekeeper
Didnt stay long with Wiiliam and the family, after her daughter dies in 1864

1881 Matilda (age 73) still with William Smith but no further record of Sophie
Matilda listed as Housekeeper

===============================

Update Oct 2013
Elizabeth Cant 1851* Married James Warren 1876

Elizabeth Cant Born 1851* and Arthur Cant Born 1858 there Mother Charlotte Cant(Fenner)1829 and
father Arbraham Cant 1819 is the brother of William Cant 1830 the Explorer.

Courtesy of Yvonne Cross Haydon, Essex

Acknowledgment to Lynne Langford descendant of Wiiliam Cant in WA.
Updated 1/6/07
Acknowledgment to Liane Satie descendant of Wiiliam Cant in Australia
Updated 29/01/2013
Email:- hamstersmurf@iprimus.com.au
Acknowledgment of Yvonne Cross Haydon, Essex update 20/10/2013