Hampshire Lockes

Last updated on 25/02/2023

This is my page about the Locke ancestors who lived in Hampshire, England.

Who were they?

My father – Leslie Locke – was born in Andover, Hampshire, and lived most of his life in Portsmouth where he was in the Royal Navy.

I have traced my ancestors back a long way. To the 17th century, in fact.

Charity Locke was born in 1792 or 1796. Charity was born in Abbotts Ann, near Andover. She died in Andover in 1876, aged 84. She married William Locke in 1820 when she was 24. Her maiden name was Charity Clark. There is an entry for Charity Lock in the census of 1871 when she and Thomas were living in Smannell, a village near Andover. Charity’s age was given as 78.

Joseph Locke was my great-grandfather. He was born in 1868 in the village of Little London, near Smannel, in Hampshire. He was the son of Thomas Locke, a shoemaker, of Andover. He lived at 25a Adelaid Road, Andover, at the time his son – my father – was born in 1904. Joseph was married on 16th March 1903, age 35, at Andover. His spouse was Agnes Florence (nee Snook) aged 27. Agnes was born on 6th December 1876 in Redenham. She died in 1956. She was the only grandparent I can remember meeting when I was a young child. Joseph worked as a bricklayer when he was living in Little London, in 1901.

Victorian Era

In the census of 1891, Joseph is recorded as living in Little London, near Andover, aged 22, working as an agricultural labourer. With him was the head of the household Elizabeth Locke, a widow, aged 62, born in Monxton. Also living with them, as a lodger, was Blanch Locke, aged 4, from Brixton in London.

The census of 1881 shows Agnes F Snook, aged 5, living with her parents George Snook and Jane in the parish of Fyfield. In the same household was her brother George S Snook aged 10, Frederick W. Snook, aged 8, Eliza J Snook aged 13, Annie J Snook aged 14 and Ada K Snook aged 3.

The SNOOK family

My grandmother was born Agnes Snook. Agnes Locke (nee Snook) and her daughter Ivy Doris in Fareham in the 1950s

Thomas Locke, the shoe-maker, was born in 1828. His children were Esther, Rose (born 1857), Elizabeth, William and Joseph.  Thomas was christened at Smannell, near Andover, in 1828. He was the son of William and Charity Lock(e). The name Lock was sometimes spelt, in very old records, – without the E at the end – and most of these ancestors would have been unable to read or write their own name. Thomas married in 1853 at the age of 25. His marriage took place at Andover Parish. His spouse was Elizabeth Applegate, also aged 25, the daughter of Paul and Sarah Applegate.  Thomas is known to have lived in Little London, Monxton, Mitchener Bottom and Andover (the town.) Thomas died in 1881.

Paul Applegate (born 1794) married Sarah Oliver (born 1795)  in 1820. Their daughter Elizabeth Applegate, became a Locke when she married Thomas Locke in 1853. They were the parents of Joseph Locke who was the father of Leslie Locke, my father.

Read about one of the most significant events in the life of Leslie Locke.