Ann Phoebe Hopkins was brought up in Canterbury, inland from the Kent coast. So the life she experienced in Margate after she married Alfred Burnett Emptage, a mariner and lifeboat man, was quite different from anything she had experienced previously or could even have imagined.
The Bravery of Two Emptage Brothers
Two brothers each saved the life of a child in separate incidents at Margate jetty
Presentation of medals
Six members of the Emptage family took part in the rescue attempt of the crew of the Northern Belle in January 1857. Two lost their lives and three received medals at an earlier event. Now it was Alfred Emptage’s turn to receive his medal at a ceremony where special mention was made of his bravery.
Charged with stealing biscuits
South Eastern Gazette 28th October 1856.
Petty Sessions, Monday 27th October.
Albert John Emptage and John Martin, two lads under ten years old, were charged by the owners of the “Ondine” fishing lugger, with stealing a quantity of biscuits from that vessel.
Alfred Burnett Emptage
Alfred’s father and grandfather were mariners, as were his six brothers. Together with three of his brothers, he took part in saving the crew of the Northern Belle. They were considered heroes and received a medals. But Alfred was to die a difficult death, aged just 45, in a mental asylum.