Thomas Kent married Mary Wilson in 1787 and the couple had nine children, some dying in childhood; John was the eighth born.
[1][2][3] John Kent married a white woman, Mary from Longtown, and settled on Botchergate Street, first recorded in the 1841 national census.
[1] Police officers being drunk on duty was a common occurrence in the 19th century, as clean drinking water in the city was a rarity.
Owing to new policy, introduced by a new Chief Constable, to severely punish officers drunk on duty, Kent was instructed to attend a watch committee.
At the age of 78, he was recorded as being employed as an attendant in the service of the London and North Western Railway Companies, specifically working in the waiting rooms at Citadel station.
[4][1] Actor and comedian Lenny Henry has become interested in the story of John Kent, researching original documents at the Carlisle branch of Cumbria Archives and featuring in an item presented by Philippa Gregory on the BBC North East edition of 'Inside Out' on 27 February 2017 and the BBC North West edition of the same programme on 6 March 2017.