Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
RYDE SOCIAL HERITAGE GROUP
Based at Ryde Cemetery Heritage & Learning Centre. Preserving, documenting and promoting the social history of Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
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The General and the Servant Girl

Fallen Woman

The Lind Estate map of Ryde Town 1819 shows that the whole of the Eastern end of Ryde beach had come into the possession of General Arabin and on the shoreline there were a number of very small dwellings and cottages.

Very little at present is known about General Arabin. He does not appear to be buried at Ryde or on the Island and unfortunately is not found in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. A General William John Arabin (1750-1828) was a rather scandalous gentleman who lived in Surrey but so far we have not found a link to him having business on the Isle of Wight.

All that has come to light is a reference in the Newchurch parish records. There is a baptism recorded on the 27 December 1820 of Thomas Arabin born five days earlier. The mother is given as Jane Kemp (Servant) and the father is Arabin of Ryde (General).

 

Source: Extracts from ‘A History of Solent Court’ – Patrick Nott Collection RSHG Archive
Picture source: ‘The Fallen Woman’ victorianweb.org