Photograph of Ruth HODGES (nee MERCER) & her husband Albert James Hodges (born 12th Jan 1857, Hollingbourne) (died 7th Jan 1933). Albert grew up in a local workhouse, which he only left, when an Aunt took him out with his sister Mary Ann to help her. Mary Ann had to hold a taper for her Aunt to see, to finish sewing, which she took in, to earn money. I am not sure, which Aunt took them in and this is one family mystery still to solve. Albert's first job to earn a few coppers for his Aunt, was as a mobile scarecrow being employed to scare the birds in fields, he had to start work at 6:00am finishing about 6:00pm. He was probably employed in "rook-starving", which I have seen described as, "employing boys to hide in the hedges and when the birds alighted, dashing out making as much noise as possible, with wooden clappers, banging tins ect.". He was often, so tired that he used to fall asleep in the fields. Eventually he was apprenticed to a blacksmith, who he said was a very sincere and punctual man. Albert's brother William was not so fortunate, tragically dying after falling into a ditch in a drunken stupor.

Ruth MERCER (b. 11 Nov 1857 d. 22 March 1960 aged 102) In this photo, which looks as if it was taken in the early 1900's Ruth is wearing the badge of the Cambridgeshire Regiment. This was not her husband's regiment since a photo of him taken around the same time shows him wearing a lapel badge of the Royal Kent Buffs. So the badge is currently a mystery. Ruth taught her husband Albert to read and write. They joined the Methodist Church and Temperance Society, which encouraged him to give up his daily glass of beer. None of Ruth HODGES (nee MERCER)'s children were given any middle names, because, she said that the surname was quite enough, Ruth's mother Mary Ann MERCER (nee MILHAM) was a National School Misstress, who ran a "Dame School" in the 1881 census she lived in Guston Village, so may have taught in the Village school.

Albert HODGES (sitting) with his sons Albert HODGES and James HODGES, the medals worn are unknown except for the medal worn by Albert HODGES snr. (sitting), during World War I, he was a Special Constable wiith the Kent Constabulary and the medal was awarded to all who served in some capacity. Albert James HODGES (born 12th January 1857, Hollingbourne, died. 7th January 1933, in Victoria Hospital, Deal, buried in Deal Cemetry) married Ruth MERCER (born 11th November 1857 died 22nd March 1960 aged 102) on 15th February 1879 at Lenham Parish Church.witnesses at he marriage were Henry HENNEKER, & Caroline Hughes HENNEKER (nee MILHAM). (Notes 1) in 1881, census living at 6 Tufton Road, Ashford. 2) Ruth taught him to read and write. 3) Albert died after an emergency operation for a burst duodenal ulcer children Thomas HODGES (born 22 April 1881, died 19 September 1965 in St. Mary's Hospital Etchinghill ) Albert HODGES Marion HODGES (died 3 October 1906, aged 19) married Arthur P. HENNIKER Ruth HODGES (lived Sittingbourne died aged 34) Rachel HODGES Kate (Kathlyn) HODGES Elizabeth HODGES (b. 9 March 1894 Sellindge, Hythe, Kent, d. 30 Oct 1989) William HODGES (d. infancy aged 5 weeks) Mabel HODGES (d. infancy 13 months old, of whooping cough) James HODGES

Ruth HODGES nee MERCER was the first person in our family, to receive a 100th Birthday telegram from Queen Elizabeth II, on 11th November 1957. Attending the celebration were the Mayor and Mayoress of Folkestone, her daughters Rachel and Elizabeth and Rachel's husband Robert Cochrane. At the time of her death aged 102, in 1960, she was the oldest person living in Folkestone. She was a member of the Methodist Church for over 70 years, and was a regular worshipper at St. Andrew's Methodist Church, Cheriton.