Thomas and Martha were my great grand parents. Thomas was also my 1st.cousin 4 times removed, and Martha was also my 2nd.cousin twice removed. This occurs because Martha was Thomas`s 1st.cousin once removed, in other words he married his cousin`s (John Ludlow) daughter. This is quite legal, in fact first cousins are allowed to marry, and cousins once removed are even further apart genetically.

This relationship between Thomas & Martha caused a lot of confusion for me as I could not find their marriage. I eventually sent for my grandfather Albert`s birth certificate which confirmed that Martha`s maiden name was also Ludlow. Another obstruction to my search was the fact that Martha`s baptised name was actually "HARRIET" Martha, obviously called Martha to avoid confusion with her mother who was also a Harriet. This seems quite pointless though because a younger sister of Martha was also called Harriet.

Thomas was born at Darenth in 1830, and was baptised there on 14/3/1830. He was the eighth child of nine to John Ludlow & Frances Bevan, having four brothers and four sisters.

In the 1841 census he lived at Green Street Green, and was still there in the 1861 census aged 31 working as an agricultural labourer. By this time he was married to Martha and had three sons. He also had a lodger living with him called Charles Cardel from Southfleet. In 1871 the census has him living at Pinden Lane, Pinden. By this time he had eight sons, although three had died. By 1881 he was living at No.2 Ships Cottages beside the SHIP public house, with another two sons Albert and George, this gave him seven living sons. In the 1891 census he was still at Ships Cottages. He now had staying with him his nephew Henry Stevens aged 17, and his niece Elsie J Stevens aged 12 from Brill, Bucks.

Thomas died on 12/4/1908, and was buried at Stone Cemetery, St. James Lane. He was interred in his wife`s grave. Grave No.3720.

Martha Was born at darenth in 1834, and was baptised there on 30/11/1834. She was the daughter of John Ludlow & Harriet Treadwell, and she had three brothers and three sisters.

In the 1841 census she lived at Lanesend, and was known as Martha aged 5. (Her baptised name of Harriet Martha was obviously quickly dropped). By 1851 she was living at "The White Hart" public house, and worked as a bar-maid. Her father being the licensed Victualler. The rest of the census years she was living with her husband Thomas.

Martha died on 29/9/1904, and was interred in grave No.3720 at Stone Cemetery, St.James Lane.

I have never been able to find a marriage date for Thomas & Martha,but I can only assume that they married before their first child, who was born in 1856, so they possibly married early in 1855.
(This marriage has now been found, they were married at St.Botolphs Northfleet on 17/11/1855).

First born was Alfred, who was baptised on 8th.January 1856 at St.Margarets Darenth. I have no record of a marriage for Alfred, & only have census info up to 1881. In 1861 he was a scolar living at Green Street Green; in 1871 he was an agricultural labourer living at Pinden Lane Pinden, age 15.; in 1881 he lived at No.2 Ships Cottages still living with his parents. He was my great uncle.I have no more information for him.

Second born was Frederick, who was baptised at St.Margarets on 8th.February 1858. Census returns for 1861/71/81 were same as for Alfred. In 1891 he lived at Green Street Green With his wife. He was then an agricultural labourer aged 33. He married c1889 aged 31 to Mary ?? probably at Southfleet.

Walter was next on the scene, he was baptised at St.Margarets on 17th.June 1860. Census returns for 1861/71 were the same as for Alfred. In 1881 he lived at Grubb Street, a servant/agricultural labourer aged 20. In 1891 he lived at Mile End Green Cottages, Horton Kirby.

He married abt 1894 to Elizabeth Jane ?? . He was living at 40 Watchgate,Lanes End when he died, and was buried at St.Mary Magdelene Longfield on 16th.July 1940.

Walter was one of the famous cricketing Ludlows, and was knicknamed "SHARPER".