1831

Born

In the Parish of Penshurst, Kent

c 1855

Married

 

1859

Birth of a son

Timothy in the Parish of Penshurst, Kent

1861

Birth of a son

John in the Parish of Penshurst, Kent

1862

Birth of a son

Harry in the Parish of Penshurst, Kent

1865

Birth of a daughter

Fanny in the Parish of Penshurst, Kent

1876

Birth of a daughter

Bertha in the Parish of Chiddingstone, Kent

1878

Birth of a daughter

Edith in the Parish of Chiddingstone, Kent

3^rd April 1881

Census

At Causeway Cottage in the Parish of Chiddingstone, Kent; John Duke, M, Head, married, age 50, born Penshurst, Kent, employs 72 men and 1 boy; occupation: maker of cricket bats and balls

 

The Tonbridge area was the principle place in the country where cricket bats and balls were made and the Duke family of Penshurst and Chiddingstone employed at one time about 100 people. More detail can be found in “Quilt Winders and Pod Shavers” by Hugh Barty-King. The maps of Tonbridge and Southborough showing the location of the bat and ball factories, indicate what a large part of the local economy it was before over the years they slowly consolidated. The “Duke ball” is still used in Test matches in this country although it is no longer made by Dukes, and L J Nicolls cricket bats is now Gray-Nicolls International.