Barling, Charles

Singer

Collection date: Sept 1908

Area: Kent

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Charles Barling at Ruckinge: age 81, 2 songs ‘Lord Thomas and Fair Eleanor’ and ‘Kind Sir, I am too young’ (FT1930-31) on 23 Sept 1908. Ruckinge is a mile or so E of Ham Street, where Sharp had been collecting from James Beale and others on the same day:

Charles Barling was baptised at Ruckinge on 20/1/1828, eldest son of William Barling, agricultural labourer, and his wife Mary. He married Lydia Knowlden at Romney Marsh in October qr 1851 (ref 5 663) They had 10 children, losing 3 in infancy. Charles worked as an agricultural labourer all his life at Ruckinge. The 1911 census showed him living at The Corner, Ruckinge with his wife and two adult children (ref RG14/4276 schedule 28).

Charles Barling was buried at St Mary Magdalene church, Ruckinge on 22 January 1917 (I am grateful to Andy Turner for this information).