I've mentioned Martha Fair before, how she was married as a minor to John Tweddle and then later 'took up' with Bryan Stratford but I haven't been able to make much progress with her family. I knew her parents were William Fair and Ann Jackson and it seems that they must have died before the 1841 census so I have only the parish records to go on. I did order a death certificate for a William Fair who died in 1840 but when this arrived it was a William Fair who died aged 82 so too old to be the one I was looking for; his occupation is noted as 'gardiner' which rings a lot of bells now.
I hadn't paid much attention to Martha's first marriage since it isn't in my direct line but, having seen the parish record in Durham, I see how foolish that was! The marriage certificate from the parish church at Bishopwearmouth (now a part of Sunderland) lists Martha as 'minor, spinster, of Crow Tree Lane; father, William Fair, butcher. One of the witnesses is Robert Fair. The marriage took place in 1840 so I looked for Robert in the 1841 census and found: Robert Fair, 27, gardiner at Church Lane, Holmeside Cottages. An entry in Pigot's Directory in 1834 under Gardeners and Seedsmen has Fair, Robert of Crow Tree Lane, Bishopwearmouth. I think they are one and the same and that Robert is an uncle to Martha.
Further research suggests that Robert's father is Colling (sometimes Colin) Fair who in turn is the son of Robert Fair and Jane Colling. I've yet to confirm that Colling is also the father of my William but I think that is going to have to wait till my next visit to Durham Record Office.
The remaining question is who is the William Fair who died in 1840? Is he another relative?
Tuesday, 20 November 2018
Tuesday, 16 October 2018
Day 2 Durham Record Office
I set off earlier to allow a little more time today; it's easy enough to get into Durham but the traffic really builds up after 3pm and it takes longer to get away.
Today I've been checking up on Brown baptisms in Washington, County Durham which has helped with the families of Richard and Mary Brown (in my own family tree) and the children of Ralph and Jane Brown (which includes Burdett Lambton Brown). I've confirmed more details for the Fair family (which I'll write up in a separate post) which has suggested a clue as to why my great grandmother, Hannah Tweddle might have been born in Hull.
Doesn't sound like much but trawling through microfilms is very time consuming.
I've spent much of the evening transferring all this to Ancestry but I still have to work out what I need to do tomorrow, my last day. I'm hoping to include Memorial Inscriptions but we'll see what happens.
Today I've been checking up on Brown baptisms in Washington, County Durham which has helped with the families of Richard and Mary Brown (in my own family tree) and the children of Ralph and Jane Brown (which includes Burdett Lambton Brown). I've confirmed more details for the Fair family (which I'll write up in a separate post) which has suggested a clue as to why my great grandmother, Hannah Tweddle might have been born in Hull.
Doesn't sound like much but trawling through microfilms is very time consuming.
I've spent much of the evening transferring all this to Ancestry but I still have to work out what I need to do tomorrow, my last day. I'm hoping to include Memorial Inscriptions but we'll see what happens.
Day 1 Durham Record Office
I'm staying in Wolsingham which is about half an hour's drive from Durham and using the new park and ride service. It's been really good; there's a bus every ten minutes from the parking area into the City - it costs nothing to park and £2 for the return bus service which easily beats the cost of parking in the city. There's a stop just outside County Hall (not to be confused with City Hall) and one just over the road for the return so it's all very simple.
Once at County Hall, again, it's all straightforward; check in at the Helpdesk (they're all friendly here) and the Record Office is close by. There's a cafeteria where you can get a hot meal, sandwich or take in a packed lunch (which is what I've done) and there's a microwave if you need to heat something up. Brilliant!
Today I've been checking up on marriages in St Helen Auckland for the Little and Brown families. This has been really useful as I've been able to confirm most of them; still need to find a marriage for Robert Little and Ann Rodham - I can see the banns, but not the marriage. Will have another look before I finish up.
Interestingly, I've found the marriage for Mary Little and John Moses (1846); at some point they went off to Shuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Not the only Littles who went there so I must take time to write up more of the Little family in the USA.
Hannah Little married John Hodgson in 1848; a son, Robert was born in 1862 and there's some fascinating research to come on him I think. It appears that he went off to the USA as a joiner and returned as 'an American physician and surgeon'. Could that be right?
More to do tomorrow!
Sunday, 14 October 2018
Second Research Trip 2018
This time I'm in Weardale, Co Durham. I'm going to check up on records at Durham Record Office with regard to the Brown and Little side of the maternal family tree. The Browns, I've mentioned before but I've neglected the Littles. Sarah Little married Thomas Lumsdon Brown on 15 Sept 1859 in Darlington but both families lived in St Helen Auckland, close by Bishop Auckland.
I'm eager to learn more about the Little family who moved over to County Durham from Cumberland in the late 1830s. I think they moved 'en famille', so probably 12 family members made the trek across the north Pennines to St Helen's Auckland/West Auckland. They worked in the Durham coalfield but I don't know at this point whether any of then were involved in mining in Cumberland. William Little (Sarah's father) is listed as a labourer in the 1841 census (in County Durham) and in later censuses as a cartman.
Anyway, tomorrow, I'm off to the Records Office in the city of Durham to check up on the parish records in St Helen Auckland. I'll also be checking other County Durham records for the Stratford family, the Russells and the Fairs of Stockton-on-Tees. Lots to do!!
I'm eager to learn more about the Little family who moved over to County Durham from Cumberland in the late 1830s. I think they moved 'en famille', so probably 12 family members made the trek across the north Pennines to St Helen's Auckland/West Auckland. They worked in the Durham coalfield but I don't know at this point whether any of then were involved in mining in Cumberland. William Little (Sarah's father) is listed as a labourer in the 1841 census (in County Durham) and in later censuses as a cartman.
Anyway, tomorrow, I'm off to the Records Office in the city of Durham to check up on the parish records in St Helen Auckland. I'll also be checking other County Durham records for the Stratford family, the Russells and the Fairs of Stockton-on-Tees. Lots to do!!
Sunday, 17 June 2018
Research Trip 2018 (6)
Today's the day I start to make my way home; I'm heading back southwards and eastwards to Lincolnshire (I came northwards and westwards) so I'm taking the A44 towards Leominster to start. This will take me very near to New Radnor.
Why New Radnor? Well, I've been aware that Sarah Mantle Lewis, my great grandmother, while she lived in Llandewi Ystradenny, had an illegitimate child, Ethel. Ethel's birth certifcate doesn't name the father but the birth took place at the Smith Shop where Richard Jones was the blacksmith. Known alternatively as Ethel Lewis and later, Ethel Jones, she spent much of her life 'in service'. As I knew her birth date, I was able to find her in the 1939 Register in New Radnor. I've also obtained a copy of her will. I'd checked the MIs for New Radnor at Powys Archives and so I was able to 'visit'.
St Mary's Church in New Radnor looks rather forlorn - I wonder how large the current congregation is as it doesn't look very used. Still, it's kept open for visitors and that's a good thing.
Great Aunt Ethel's grave is quite a long way from the church itself but a rose has been planted on it and it does look cared for. Her will has given me some clues as to other relatives as she bequeathed sums to three sets of great nieces and nephews. Robert Jones and John Jones (who I believe to be the sons of her brother Walter Jones, the younger brother of my grandfather Pryce), Bryan Thomas and Janet Thomas (the son and daughter of Florence Mantle - the daughter of Edward Davies Mantle, the child of my great great grandmother, Eliza Rees - I'm not exactly sure of the relationship here but Edward Davies Mantle was the half brother of Sarah Mantle Lewis) and Mervyn Hart and Christine Hart (I've yet to work out the relationship for this set).
So, having paid my respects to Great Aunt Ethel I continued my journey; through Leominster and off towards Ludlow to stop at Berrington Hall, a National Trust property. I thoroughly enjoyed this stop; the house is unprepossessing on the outside but well proportioned on the inside.
There was a fascinating 'event' taking place: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/berrington-hall/features/a-dress-with-a-tale . In brief, an 18th century dress belonging to the mistress of Berrington had been found at auction and it was being studied and preserved when I visited. The conservator was on the premises and came to talk to a few us visitors about the dress and how it had been made, the material etc etc. It was fascinating - silk fabric (probably produced in Spitalfields) with gold thread (not silver gilt and so still as bright as when it was made). They hope to preserve the original and make a plain duplicate to have more understanding of how court mantuas were made and worn.
I ended the day at Hinckley, Leicestershire. Onward to Bosworth Field tomorrow!
Why New Radnor? Well, I've been aware that Sarah Mantle Lewis, my great grandmother, while she lived in Llandewi Ystradenny, had an illegitimate child, Ethel. Ethel's birth certifcate doesn't name the father but the birth took place at the Smith Shop where Richard Jones was the blacksmith. Known alternatively as Ethel Lewis and later, Ethel Jones, she spent much of her life 'in service'. As I knew her birth date, I was able to find her in the 1939 Register in New Radnor. I've also obtained a copy of her will. I'd checked the MIs for New Radnor at Powys Archives and so I was able to 'visit'.
Great Aunt Ethel's grave is quite a long way from the church itself but a rose has been planted on it and it does look cared for. Her will has given me some clues as to other relatives as she bequeathed sums to three sets of great nieces and nephews. Robert Jones and John Jones (who I believe to be the sons of her brother Walter Jones, the younger brother of my grandfather Pryce), Bryan Thomas and Janet Thomas (the son and daughter of Florence Mantle - the daughter of Edward Davies Mantle, the child of my great great grandmother, Eliza Rees - I'm not exactly sure of the relationship here but Edward Davies Mantle was the half brother of Sarah Mantle Lewis) and Mervyn Hart and Christine Hart (I've yet to work out the relationship for this set).
So, having paid my respects to Great Aunt Ethel I continued my journey; through Leominster and off towards Ludlow to stop at Berrington Hall, a National Trust property. I thoroughly enjoyed this stop; the house is unprepossessing on the outside but well proportioned on the inside.
There was a fascinating 'event' taking place: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/berrington-hall/features/a-dress-with-a-tale . In brief, an 18th century dress belonging to the mistress of Berrington had been found at auction and it was being studied and preserved when I visited. The conservator was on the premises and came to talk to a few us visitors about the dress and how it had been made, the material etc etc. It was fascinating - silk fabric (probably produced in Spitalfields) with gold thread (not silver gilt and so still as bright as when it was made). They hope to preserve the original and make a plain duplicate to have more understanding of how court mantuas were made and worn.
I ended the day at Hinckley, Leicestershire. Onward to Bosworth Field tomorrow!
Research Trip 2018 (5)
The morning was set aside to visit a friend (from my days as the non-residential administrator at St Michael's Theological College,Cardiff) in Newbridge-on-Wye but I managed to drop into a church on the way! This time it was St Gwrthwl's, Llanwrthwl - where 3x great grandfather, James Price was baptised on 10 Sept 1786.
I think this has to be my favourite church of the ones I've visited on this trip. The church gate is incredibly stiff and I couldn't open it from the outside. Fortunately, there are steps!
It's a little more precarious on the downward side! I loved the interior of this church; it's carpeted throughout and I was particularly taken with the natural stone of the west end wall.
Tucked away down there are tea and coffee making facilities for the many walkers that pass through the village. Judging by the comment in the visitors' book, it's much appreciated. I did manage to push open the gate from the church side which saved climbing back over the wall!
Onto Powys Archives which is now located on the Ddole Road Industrial Estate; purpose built facilities for the preservation of the archives. Could I find it? I knew it was Unit 29 but the road markings leave a lot to be desired. The sign that read 'Units 23 and upward' was badly worn and impossible to read from the road. Anyway, I found it eventually and was made welcome.
I confined myself mainly to the parish records that aren't available on findmypast; Llanbister and Llananno which are available as scanned copies (so no having to struggle with microfilm!) in the office. I've verified some baptisms for the Woodside, Llananno Joneses and some Reeses and realised I had driven past Great Meadows, the address given for Sarah Mantle and Richard Benbo (for the baptism of Richard, Sarah and John Benbo in 1867 although this is awkward because Richard Benbo married Adeliza Mantle and died in 1862!) on the mini-adventure!
I've also gleaned more information from the records for Llanbadarn Fynydd for the family of great uncle James Jones which brings me a bit more up-to-date with them.
I think the most interesting things on this visit were the Memorial Inscriptions and we have to be grateful to volunteers who record the position of, and details on, headstones in church yards.
Firstly, I decided to check the details for 3x great grandfather, Edward Thomas. Born in Welshpool in 1808, Edward lived to the ripe old age of 93, dying in 1903 in Newtown. I'd seen his burial record in the parish register some years before. It's really interesting as the minister had noted, in the margin: "used to tell everybody in his latter days that he had committed a 'great crime'. When asked what the event was, he would reply, 'too old to work' ".
I knew he had a headstone at St David's Church, Newtown but had never found it so I wanted to re-check the details. Here's what is noted: "337 - composite headstone with slate plaque and urn. Urn: In memory of M Morris from friends and neighbours. Headstone: In loving memory of Edward Thomas, aged 93 years. Buried 22 Jan 1903. Also of Margaret Morris, granddaughter of the above. Died 30 Oct 1946 aged 67. "Fell from a railway compartment at Forden Station on to the rails and received severe injuries which proved fatal. Rest in Peace".
I'd seen an entry for a Margaret Morris of about the right age in the 1939 Register at the Public Assistance Institution at Forden; a member of staff who was a seamstress and wondered whether it could be her. I would need to order a death certificate to confirm but it seemed very likely now.
I also found out something else but I'm going to leave that until tomorrow...
I think this has to be my favourite church of the ones I've visited on this trip. The church gate is incredibly stiff and I couldn't open it from the outside. Fortunately, there are steps!
It's a little more precarious on the downward side! I loved the interior of this church; it's carpeted throughout and I was particularly taken with the natural stone of the west end wall.
Tucked away down there are tea and coffee making facilities for the many walkers that pass through the village. Judging by the comment in the visitors' book, it's much appreciated. I did manage to push open the gate from the church side which saved climbing back over the wall!
Onto Powys Archives which is now located on the Ddole Road Industrial Estate; purpose built facilities for the preservation of the archives. Could I find it? I knew it was Unit 29 but the road markings leave a lot to be desired. The sign that read 'Units 23 and upward' was badly worn and impossible to read from the road. Anyway, I found it eventually and was made welcome.
I confined myself mainly to the parish records that aren't available on findmypast; Llanbister and Llananno which are available as scanned copies (so no having to struggle with microfilm!) in the office. I've verified some baptisms for the Woodside, Llananno Joneses and some Reeses and realised I had driven past Great Meadows, the address given for Sarah Mantle and Richard Benbo (for the baptism of Richard, Sarah and John Benbo in 1867 although this is awkward because Richard Benbo married Adeliza Mantle and died in 1862!) on the mini-adventure!
I've also gleaned more information from the records for Llanbadarn Fynydd for the family of great uncle James Jones which brings me a bit more up-to-date with them.
I think the most interesting things on this visit were the Memorial Inscriptions and we have to be grateful to volunteers who record the position of, and details on, headstones in church yards.
Firstly, I decided to check the details for 3x great grandfather, Edward Thomas. Born in Welshpool in 1808, Edward lived to the ripe old age of 93, dying in 1903 in Newtown. I'd seen his burial record in the parish register some years before. It's really interesting as the minister had noted, in the margin: "used to tell everybody in his latter days that he had committed a 'great crime'. When asked what the event was, he would reply, 'too old to work' ".
I knew he had a headstone at St David's Church, Newtown but had never found it so I wanted to re-check the details. Here's what is noted: "337 - composite headstone with slate plaque and urn. Urn: In memory of M Morris from friends and neighbours. Headstone: In loving memory of Edward Thomas, aged 93 years. Buried 22 Jan 1903. Also of Margaret Morris, granddaughter of the above. Died 30 Oct 1946 aged 67. "Fell from a railway compartment at Forden Station on to the rails and received severe injuries which proved fatal. Rest in Peace".
I'd seen an entry for a Margaret Morris of about the right age in the 1939 Register at the Public Assistance Institution at Forden; a member of staff who was a seamstress and wondered whether it could be her. I would need to order a death certificate to confirm but it seemed very likely now.
I also found out something else but I'm going to leave that until tomorrow...
Friday, 8 June 2018
Research Trip 2018 (4)
Today I had planned to visit Newtown's (in Powys) Textile Museum as I'd never been before and many of my family were involved in various aspects of the trade: woolsorter, wool stapler, hand loom weaver, weaver, tailoress etc. I thought I had correctly noted the opening days but no - I got there and it was closed. Ho hum - another visit in the future?
All was not lost as, on another glorious day, I had dropped into the churches in the villages along the A483 where family members had lived in years gone by.
I started at Llanbister where my grandfather, Pryce Jones was born in 1899; I've been to Llanbister before and taken pictures of the war memorial where Pryce's elder brother, Thomas Jones is commemorated. He died in France in 1917 and has no known grave so is commemorated at Tyne Cot. I've tried to get into the church before and found it locked (or so I thought) but on this day, being rather blessed, I arrived about the same time as the curate (who explained that the church is usually open but the door is particularly stiff). It's a huge church (the cathedral of the Ithon Valley), has steps up to the front door, steps to the main body of the church, steps up to the altar. It also, most unusually, has a baptistry!
On to Llananno, the parish church for the Joneses when they were the blacksmiths at Woodside, which has the most beautiful rood screen (most of these were destroyed at the Reformation)
Llananno is set very close to the Ithon River which you can hear as you approach ther church - a welcome change to the noise of the A483!
The next parish church is Llanbadarn Fynyddd where Richard and Eliza Mantle are buried (the headstone is right next to the church entrance) as well as Richard Jones and his first wife, Mary Crowther.
On the long drop down into Newtown, I stopped off at St Paul's Church, Dolfor to take a photo of the church there - sadly, it wasn't open so I've yet to see inside. The smithy, where Timothy Jones was the smith and where his widow, Hannah married the next smith, James Mills is just opposite the church. James and Hannah are buried here (Timothy is buried at Llandinam for reasons I have yet to discover).
On the way back to Rhayader, I decided I'd have a mini-adventure and take the back road to Abbey Cwmhir. This was the birthplace f 3x great granny Sarah Richards who married the Richard Mantle born in 1787 (much like the Joneses, the Mantles favoured the name Richard and there are several of them). Adventure it was! It's pretty much a single tracked road with few passing places. Indeed at one point I had to reverse a long way to find room for a tractor to pass.
The church at Abbey Cwmhir was much embellished by the local landowners, the Phillips family; a little too much for my taste
Back to Rhayader and just enough time to work out what I should be looking at when I visit Powys Archives in Llandrindod Wells tomorrow.
All was not lost as, on another glorious day, I had dropped into the churches in the villages along the A483 where family members had lived in years gone by.
I started at Llanbister where my grandfather, Pryce Jones was born in 1899; I've been to Llanbister before and taken pictures of the war memorial where Pryce's elder brother, Thomas Jones is commemorated. He died in France in 1917 and has no known grave so is commemorated at Tyne Cot. I've tried to get into the church before and found it locked (or so I thought) but on this day, being rather blessed, I arrived about the same time as the curate (who explained that the church is usually open but the door is particularly stiff). It's a huge church (the cathedral of the Ithon Valley), has steps up to the front door, steps to the main body of the church, steps up to the altar. It also, most unusually, has a baptistry!
On to Llananno, the parish church for the Joneses when they were the blacksmiths at Woodside, which has the most beautiful rood screen (most of these were destroyed at the Reformation)
Llananno is set very close to the Ithon River which you can hear as you approach ther church - a welcome change to the noise of the A483!
The next parish church is Llanbadarn Fynyddd where Richard and Eliza Mantle are buried (the headstone is right next to the church entrance) as well as Richard Jones and his first wife, Mary Crowther.
On the long drop down into Newtown, I stopped off at St Paul's Church, Dolfor to take a photo of the church there - sadly, it wasn't open so I've yet to see inside. The smithy, where Timothy Jones was the smith and where his widow, Hannah married the next smith, James Mills is just opposite the church. James and Hannah are buried here (Timothy is buried at Llandinam for reasons I have yet to discover).
On the way back to Rhayader, I decided I'd have a mini-adventure and take the back road to Abbey Cwmhir. This was the birthplace f 3x great granny Sarah Richards who married the Richard Mantle born in 1787 (much like the Joneses, the Mantles favoured the name Richard and there are several of them). Adventure it was! It's pretty much a single tracked road with few passing places. Indeed at one point I had to reverse a long way to find room for a tractor to pass.
The church at Abbey Cwmhir was much embellished by the local landowners, the Phillips family; a little too much for my taste
Back to Rhayader and just enough time to work out what I should be looking at when I visit Powys Archives in Llandrindod Wells tomorrow.
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