The Family Now in Historian our 41st year June 2014 Volume 41 No.1

Wedding Day 1899 (see page 5)

Inside this Issue Through the Divorce Courts… • Mormon pioneers • Heraldic Myths & Abuses PLUS: Around the groups • Book Reviews • Your Letters • Members Interests • Research Room

Journal of the Hampshire Genealogical Society Hampshire Genealogical Society Registered Charity 284744 HGS OFFICE , 52 Northern Road, Cosham, Portsmouth PO6 3DP Telephone: 023 9238 7000 Email: [email protected] Websites: www.hgs-online.org.uk or http://www.hgs-familyhistory.com

PRESIDENT Miss Judy Kimber

CHAIRMAN PROJECTS Dolina Clarke Eileen Davies, 22 Portobello Grove, Email: [email protected] Portchester, Fareham, Hants PO16 8HU BOOKSTALL Tel: (023) 9237 3925 Chris Pavey Email: Email: [email protected] [email protected] MEMBERS’ INTERESTS SECRETARY Email: [email protected] Mrs Sheila Brine 25 Willowside, Lovedean, WEBMASTER Waterlooville, Hants PO8 9AQ John Collyer, Tel: ( 023) 9257 0642 Email: [email protected] Email: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND TRUSTEES: [email protected] Sheila Brine TREASURER Dolina Clarke Ann-Marie Shearer Eileen Davies 64 Sovereign Crescent Gwen Newland Fareham, Chris Pavey Hants PO14 4LU Lin Penny Email: Paul Pinhorne [email protected] Ann-Marie Shearer Ken Smallbone MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Keith Turner Gwen Newland Angela Winteridge 52 Northern Road, Cosham, GROUP ORGANISERS – See Group Reports Pages Portsmouth PO6 3DP Tel: (023) 9238 7000 Email: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION RATES: ALL MEMBERS £15 EDITOR Members may now pay by Credit Card Ken Smallbone at our website. 110 St Peter’s Road, , Hants RG22 6TG This journal is designed and laid out by Tel: (01256) 355590 Email: Acadia PR & Design [email protected] Telephone 023 8052 8254 Email: [email protected] The Contents Hampshire

Editorial – Ken Smallbone 2 Family Feature article – D-Day 6/6/44 3 Searchers compiled by Lesley Bull 4 Historian Found compiled by Lesley Bull 8 June 2014 How old? Who? by Colin macey 9 Civil Registration Part 3: Deaths Registration by Ken Smallbone 10 Page 7 Hampshire Parishes and their Registration Districts – Part 3 14 Book reviews 17 Changes & Consequences by Ken Smallbone 18 Through the Divorce Courts…1. Roy Montgomery 20 Through the Divorce Courts…2. by Ken Smallbone 22 Dear Editor – Your Letters 24 Just a word – Tunic by Ken Smallbone 28 Surnames appearing in this issue 29 Mormon pioneers Deadline by Julia Robson 30 Material for possible inclusion in the September 2014 HGS News 33 Family Historian should be received strictly by 4th July. Members’ surname interests 35 All contributions are, however, appreciated as early as Luke Bull, Chimney Sweep possible. by Lesley Bull 38 Disclaimer In a “Nutshell” – Part 2 The Hampshire Family Historian is the official publication by Sheila Brine 41 of the Hampshire Genealogical Society. Historical hogs – Nora Stanton Blatch Material is copyright of the Society and may not be by Ken Smallbone 42 reproduced without written permission. The Hampshire Heraldic Myths & Abuses Genealogical Society does not accept responsibility for by Ken Smallbone 45 personal views expressed in this publication, or in any Page 30 articles. Submission of material The editor welcomes articles, family trees (typed in black, A4 with 1” margins) letters, items, comments, and especially family photographs or illustrations to accompany them. Please enclose SAE for photo return. Items can be submitted by e-mail to [email protected] with your Surname and “New HFH Article” on the subject line or by post (letter or CD in Word format). The HGS reserve the right to reproduce submissions in publicity materials and on the society News from Record Offices/Libraries 48 website. Local Group Programmes 57 Please, ALWAYS include a telephone contact — Forthcoming events 75 (it will not be printed if you clearly state this) and your HGS Publications 76 membership number PLUS full postal home address - particularly when sending Emails.

1 Editorial Welcome…

The party’s over – the cake and wine have in divorce disappeared – and it will be another ten courts (p years before HGS celebrates another 20); milestone, and I’m predicting that it will America’s still be around when that happens, first female although some of us may not be. In the civil meantime, the country will have to go engineer (p through World War 1 again (but not 42) and physically, thankfully) and experience prominent many other anniversaries along the way activist, who that had occurred in years with multiples certainly caused controversy; and ‘popular’ of 10 or 100 during the next decade. We’ll abuses of heraldry (p 45). Otherwise, without probably have to deal with the after- controversy, there are also very interesting effects of Waterloo (200 years), the ’15 articles about local Mormons and their Jacobite Rebellion (300), the Battle of journey to Utah (p 31) and chimney sweeps of Hastings (950), and many more. This year three generations in Victorian (p 38), alone will be the 300th since the while ‘Nutshell’ reveals more tales about local Hanoverian Succession and the 700th boys being caught up in the Great War (p 41). anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn As a regular feature, ‘In Days of Yore’ deals (both of which tie in ‘coincidentally’ with this time with death certificates and the vote for Scottish Independence in registration (p 10). September) - as well as the 100th Of course, the Hampshire Historian would not anniversary of the start of WW1. be complete without Searchers, Members’ Furthermore, D-Day happened 70 years Surnames Interests, the report from ago this June (see facing page) and Hampshire Record Office, the various HGS Arnhem the same in September. Groups’ reports – plus many other helpful and Anniversaries can often cause controversies, informative features that are regularly or and fairly controversial items of different singularly published within its pages. I wish to kinds can be seen among the pages in this acknowledge and thank everybody who has current journal. We have, for example: the contributed such vital elements, large and postponement of the vote on the Constitution small, to this current journal. I can assure you that you saw (but probably didn’t read) last that your work is very much appreciated. Long March (p 34); the age of a possible may you continue in good health and also centenarian in the 18th century (p 9); changes prosper. implemented by leading online genealogical Ken Smallbone sites (p 18); varied actions that can take place Editor

2 Feature article D-Day 6/6/44 – Hampshire 70 Years Ago

In 1944 thousands of Allied troops were accurate knowledge of the terrain and preparing to take part in the biggest communication links would prove vital for the military operations in history - the invading troops. liberation of mainland Europe, starting From 1943, thousands worked on the secret with amphibious landings on the beaches construction of Mulberry Harbours at the of Normandy in Nazi-occupied France. In George V dry-dock and other locations around the run up to D-Day, Hampshire and the the South. They were designed to float over to South Coast was a hive of military activity, France, allowing more troops and supplies to with countless civilians also working to be landed. prepare and supply the invasion force. HMS Cricket was the secret training base at On 6 June 1944 the Allies landed around Bursledon for the flotilla of landing craft 156,000 troops in Normandy. As well as taking men, tanks and supplies across the British and American troops, there were Channel from Warsash and Hamble . personnel from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Southwick House and nearby Fort Southwick Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, the became the operational headquarters of Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and General Eisenhower, and co-ordinated all the Poland. Allied casualties on D-Day alone are planning for Operation Overlord . There was a estimated at 10,000, including 2,500 dead, giant map to plot all the movements of the while more than 425,000 Allied and German hundreds of craft taking part. troops were killed, wounded or went missing Opened in 1863, the Royal Victoria Hospital at during the Battle of Normandy. Netley was the country’s first and largest Communities across Hampshire played their purpose-built military hospital. In 1944 US part in the build-up to the invasion - from the forces took it over to prepare for D-Day. biggest cities and military bases to the 68,000 casualties (including 10,000 Germans) quietest of country villages. were treated following the landings. The The was the ideal environment remains of hundreds of Commonwealth for camouflaging men and equipment. Elite soldiers killed during the campaign to liberate agents trained around the Beaulieu estate. Europe are buried in the nearby Netley There were also twelve airfields on the flat Military . forest heathland, from where aerial support Depots like Priddy's Hard in Gosport were for the invasion departed. Allied aircraft flew central to supplying the D-Day fleet with the 14,674 sorties on D-Day, and 127 were lost. 20,000 tons of ammunition needed. Vehicles Southampton was chosen as the chief supply and tank-landing ships embarked from six and troop movement centre for the American 'hards' (areas of beach concreted over to army. All spare open space was used to house speed up the loading process). As home to the the soldiers. Hundreds of landing craft were Royal Navy, Portsmouth was full of Allied assembled in the city's Western Docks. servicemen in the run-up to June 1944. Soldiers practised urban warfare on the city's Extracted from bomb-damaged streets. Up-to-date maps of http://www.bbc.co.uk/hampshire/content/ northern France and Belgium were drawn up articles/2009/01/27/d_day_65_feature.shtml and printed in the Ordnance Survey office, as

3 Searchers

Searche Compiled by Lesley Bull

If you would like your request to be included in reply will not be made except through this this section, please submit a b rief, but journal. Photographs and illustrations are specific, email or letter of enquiry or send a gladly accepted: - (300 dpi resolution jpegs by 'Word' based article with relevant names (and email attachment or on CD are welcome) or particularly your own name and address) laser colour photocopies (never ordinary ones) detailed in B LOCK CAPITALS to Mrs L. Bull, or black and white original pictures. All can 'Wychwynd', Cove Road, Fleet, Hampshire, be returned if you request it and supply an GU51 2RT. SAE. If sending original photographs through the post, please use a protective board Kindly a lways advise a telephone number envelope. E MAIL: for any possible contact, and unless you state [email protected] and please clearly that you object, any e-mail or always quote a f ull postal address for those telephone number given will be printed. without computers. If this is not done, your Please be patient as acknowledgement or request may well be disregarded.

Abbreviations used: b = born, b ap = baptised, b d = buried, c . = circa, C = Century, d. = died, m rd = married. Members are reminded that these pages are compiled from letters etc. that may have been written months beforehand, so postal addresses should always be checked for up to date changes.

Ruth Wright, 1624 County Rd. 620, Searching for Apsley, Ontario, Canada K0L 1A0 Email: [email protected] HUNTLEY marriage (Member 6407)

According to the Kimpton Parish Registers, DAVIS ". I've been unable to find a marriage for Thomas & Mary HUNTLEY had five children: this couple. Thomas was born in 1768 in Amy, William, Phillip (who was my ancestor), Collingbourne Kingston, Wiltshire according to David and Susannah. They were baptised in the 1851 census for Kimpton, but I can't find a Kimpton between 1789 and 1799. The Parish marriage there either. Any advice on where to Registers clearly state that Mary is "nee go next would be appreciated.

4 Searchers

Pat Staniforth, Darnall, Whitby Road, Robin Hood's Bay, Whitby, YO22 4PE Can you identify these people? Email: [email protected] (Member 8797)

My paternal grandmother was Ada Agnes row may be Ada's Aunt Jane DAVIS , at whose EMBER , born 1874 in Southampton; she home in Bournemouth Ada and Henry spent married Henry COX at Shirley St. James in their honeymoon. Henry's mother is 1899. The wedding photo was taken at her conspicuous by her absence, and I don't think parents’ home in Shirley Park Road, and he had any other relations who might have shows her parents, James and Caroline Ember been there. So, who is the lady between Ted (left), her brothers Ted and Jim (in the back and Jim (both unmarried) and the girl in front row), her sisters Alice and Caroline (back row, of her? Had they been told not to smile? And right), and her sister Eva (next to the bride). I don't you just love those hats?! THINK the lady at the right end of the front I should be most grateful if anyone can help.

Have your Query published in the journal? Send to [email protected]

5 Searchers

John Wright, 25 Eagle Drive, Welton, Lincoln, LN2 3LP WRIGHT family Tel: 01673 860857 Email: john@ johnwright28.wanadoo.co.uk( Memb 8181)

My 2 x great grandfather Charles WRIGHT and grandchildren must have been living in was born in Northampton in 1833. He married Portsmouth as I was growing up. John married Sarah POWELL in Northampton in 1857 and Mary Ann JENKINS in 1884 and they had six they had two children born there, William children: Ellen Louisa 1884, John William Powell Wright in 1858 and Charles Wright in 1886, Florence May 1889, Lily 1891, Ada 1893 1859. Charles died aged 6 in 1866. The family and Alfred George 1902. moved to Southampton, probably in 1861. Percy Wright married Ellen Frances FOSTER Sarah was still living in Northampton in 1893 and they had two children: Edith Ellen according to the 1861 census but I can’t find born 1893 and James Percy born 1896. Charles. In 1871 they are all living in Broad Elizabeth Elms Wright married twice. She Street, Southampton, and Charles was married John BLAKE in 1888 and had five working as a cordwainer. They had three more children: John born 1890, Elizabeth born children, all born in Southampton, John Elms 1891, Amelia born 1893, Rose Sarah born Wright 1863, Percy Wright 1866 and Elizabeth 1896 and Frederick Ernest born 1897. After Elms Wright 1869. By 1881 the family had John died in 1904 Elizabeth married George moved to Portsmouth and remained there up William EASTWOOD in 1907 and had a to the 1911 census. further two children: George born 1908 and William Powell Wright married Ellen Love Henry J born 1910. TALL in 1879 and they had four children: Ellen I can come forward another generation for Louisa born 1880, William John born 1884, most of the people mentioned above but don’t Percy born 1885 and Edward born 1887. want to take up too much space or over My great grandfather was John Elms Wright. I complicate things. If anyone recognises any of grew up in Portsmouth but until I started to the names mentioned I would be pleased to research the family history I had no idea that hear from them and exchange family he had brothers and a sister whose children information.

Mrs Heather Redman, Where were these 43 Street, Botley, Southampton photographs taken? SO30 2EB Tel: 01489 781851 (Member 5764)

These photographs (opposite) were taken by the pub. Another has an LSWR railway wagon my grandfather John NEALE , probably 1900- in the background. We had always thought the 1905. He worked at Guards outfitters in coastal area to be Bucklers Hard but this has and we think the occasion(s) would been disproved. have been a staff outing and therefore not too I would love to hear from anyone who can far from Romsey. One shows the sign 'Strongs suggest the place/places these might have of Romsey' but frustratingly not the name of been taken.

6 Searchers

7 Searchers Foun d

Lesley’s Success Story for June: in the Southampton Registration District in Len Ruffell has reported success in the hunt 1904. The one I needed was daughter of Abraham Jones (both my grandfather and for three sisters - Eliza Ann, Jane and Louisa - great-grandfather had the same name), and I with the surname JONES following his query sought the help of the Southampton Registrar in Searchers HFH Vol 40 No 4, March 2014. to make sure I obtained the correct certificate. They were living in Southampton at the When it arrived, I discovered that on 23 March beginning of the 20th Century and his 1904 Jane Jones married Charles Frederick grandfather, Abraham Jones, was their CURTIS , a 37-year-old widower, at brother. Southampton Register Office. She died a year Len writes: “HGS member, Angela Winteridge, later in 1905, aged 25. found an Eliza Ann Jones on the 1911 Census Finding the third sister, Louisa, was difficult living at 28 Richmond Street with the family of because the last information I had about her George and Eliza HULL . However, at 65 she was on the 1901 Census. She was then 20, was over 20 years too old but the Relationship unmarried and employed as a "general to Head of Household described her as "Wife's domestic" for Richard GRIFFIN , caterer, at mother". That meant that her daughter, Eliza 156 Above Bar. I searched the GRO Marriage Hull, had previously been Eliza Ann Jones. I index and she did not appear to have married. had wondered if the missing Eliza might have I found the prospect of ploughing through all married, but finding no entry on the GRO the Louisa Joneses in the Deaths Index index, concluded she remained a spinster. daunting. Fortunately, HGS member Gordon Now it was clear that she had acquired a Soper took up the challenge for me. After "common law" husband by the name of George diligent research of Southampton deaths in William Hull in 1897. He was a stevedore for the index, he concluded there was only one the White Star Shipping Company , and likely Louisa Jones of the right age. I obtained together they had five children. Sadly, only the certificate. It confirmed that Louisa died of one, George, survived to adulthood, and a look pulmonary tuberculosis on 14 November at FreeBMD revealed that Eliza Ann Hull died 1907, aged 25. The informant was the in 1914, aged 44. aforementioned Eliza Ann Hull, sister, present The second missing Jones sister was Jane. at the death. The problem was that there are more than a I wish there had been a happier ending to my few possible Jane Joneses on the GRO search. That was not to be, but, at least, I feel Marriage Index. Eventually, I narrowed it down those three "missing" sisters of my to the two most likely, both of whom married grandfather have at last been laid to rest.”

8 Member’s article How old? Who?

Anyone who has dug into the early parish (page 4):- registers for Minstead will know that they SALISBURY Feb 17. start with a transcript made in 1792. That “Lately died at Lyndhurst, in the New Forest, transcript, made by the rector and James Macey who was christened the day King churchwardens, clearly has many errors. Charles the Second was crowned; he retained In the transcribers' defence, however, the his health and sense 'till within a fortnight of records must have already been in a mess his death." for them to have attempted the task. Now, to save you diving for your history My family were active in Minstead in the books, Charles II was crowned on 23 April 1700s, and offered little help to the future family historian since they followed the usual 1661 - making James 105 years of age! habit of naming the first-born son after the So, what do we believe of all this? The father. At one stage I was trying to untangle newspaper report is contemporary, so, I have three Moses Maceys, all alive at the same to believe they reported what they were told. time. Its date ties in with the transcript date – One snippet I found years ago was a burial on although I accept that the transcript could be 4 January 1766 of Thomas MACEY , in error. My research indicates that Maceys "supposed to be 105 years of age". At the time were living in the Emery Down area - close to I thought the most likely explanation was that Lyndhurst, but still in the parish of Minstead. someone had wondered about the age of the It is surely unlikely in a thinly populated parish old man, had asked the churchwarden or clerk that two men claimed to have lived to 105 and to find an appropriate baptism, and that they died about the same date. The Lyndhurst found a baptism of Thomas's father - which registers seem reasonably well kept, and have would have added 20 years or so to his real no appropriate burial. age. Although Minstead's registers are in a So, I am opting for the name of the old man to mess, there is a rich source of detail in the be James. But was he 105, still retaining his Churchwardens' Accounts, Overseers of the health and senses? There is longevity in the Poor records, and manorial rolls. Having family – my father was 103 at death - but I considered all things, I judged that this think much more likely that someone had lost Thomas was not in the tenuous line I had a generation, and James was around 85. plotted for my family, so did no more. Until ... I would be happy to hear from anyone with Using the online miracle of the British links to Macey/Malie and/or Marshman/ Newspapers Archive, I have recently been Mershman in Minstead before 1770. trying to add to my knowledge of the ancestors. Searching for Macey in all Colin Macey (Member # 9521) newspapers, 1700-1799, inclusive, I found Sunny Bank, Heath Ride, Wokingham, this little gem in the Bath Chronicle & Weekly Berkshire RG40 3QN Gazette on Thursday 20 February 1766 [email protected]

9 In days of yore Civil Registration Part 3:

Births and deaths are natural events, came into being on 1 July 1837. Particular unlike marriages, and can sometimes records of the dates of death were extremely raise the question of why do we require a rare before the certification period. Burial legal document – a certificate – to records, the most prominent alternatives, authorise the existence or non-existence were made solely for the disposal of the body, of a person. It is purely the case of the and not to identify when life actually ceased to person being here or not being here – be, although we can reasonably assume a date although it has to be accepted that the of death days or weeks before the actual absence of a record of a person does not interment. Even nonconformist groups necessarily point to his or her death. recorded burials in preference to deaths, in Obviously, this creates the problem that many the main. Within official records, only family historians feel is often too familiar. The Inquisitiones Post Mortem (IPMs) would state absence of a death record could merely the actual date of death of the tenant-in-chief indicate that a certain person had simply left or other occupier of royal lands, and this was the country at one stage – or, to make it more in order to preserve the monarch’s right of awkward, had changed his or her name, and guardianship if the heir was proved to be a remained here. If you wish to disappear, then minor or incapacitated, and thus a ward of all you have to do is change your name and court. However, IPMs, along with the other move. instruments maintaining the monarch’s feudal So, the latter cases could well be reasons why rights, were abolished under the agreements the search for the death of an ancestor might bringing about the Restoration of the fail, despite the time and effort being Monarchy in 1660. expended on the quest. Furthermore, we have For ordinary folk, it made no difference, the disadvantage of not knowing when the anyway. Dates of death were rarely recorded, death might have occurred. A birth or and burials continued to suggest, but not marriage can often be calculated within a accurately state, when death occurred. fairly short time-frame, but a death can Occasionally, though, the cause of death or the happen at any time after the last known marital condition of the deceased was found record of the person’s existence. He or she in a parish register. Fortunately, since 1858, could have even attained the age of 100 or when probate came under the civil more, thus forever widening the field of registration process, dates and places of research. Nevertheless, we are lucky to be death have been recorded in the calendars of living in the age of computerised indexes, the National Probate Index (now available on which can make the job much easier. All too Ancestry ). If the researcher is content with often, back in the pre-online days, many just these facts – and not with cause of death family historians did not even bother to look – then it would save the cost of a certificate. for deaths, simply because of the length of Obviously, such an advantage can only be time and possible misadventures and black dependent upon the ancestor having left a will holes into which such research could wholly or had sufficient estate to require disintegrate. administration, which document alone would We are dealing here with the registration of possibly provide a treasure-trove of deaths in England and Wales, which was quite information about the family. a novel idea at the time when civil registration For the modern researcher, the record of

10 In days of yore Deaths Registration

Death certificate: Crown Copyright. By kind permission of the Controller of HMSO

death will at the very least complete the which the death took place. biography of the ancestor. More information, The body of the certificate was divided into such as the contents of a will or place of ten columns comprising, first of all, the burial or obituary, obviously makes for more certificate number, then followed by (1) date interesting reading. The objective of any and place of death, (2) name and surname of family history research must surely be the the deceased, (3) gender, (4) age, (5) production of a complete written record to be occupation, (6) cause of death, (7) the handed down to future generations. So, signature or mark, description and residence although quite often ignored because of its of the informant, (8) the date when the death additional expense and lack of genealogical was registered, and (9) the signature of the content, the death certificate can nonetheless registrar. provide a means of extending one’s knowledge Sometimes the name of the dead woman’s of the ancestor. husband was given, as well, possibly under Death certificates 1837-1969 ‘occupation’, if not under her own name. For a In England and Wales the layout of the death legitimate child under school-leaving age, the certificate remained the same between 1837 father’s name should have been included. and 1969, that is, for almost 132 years. Each In addition, there might have been a coroner’s document was headed with the name of the inquest for the deceased. This would be registration district, under which was given recorded under (6), above. the year and the sub-district and county in

11 In days of yore

Unfortunately, surviving coroners’ records are informant’s own interpretation. Even the few and far between. All such records earlier deceased’s own children did not always know than 1875 are preserved, but later ones that, their parent’s correct age. by law, had been kept for fifteen years were Furthermore, from 1984 the indexes ceased to then systematically destroyed on the orders of be bound in quarterly volumes, but now the Home Office, which dictated that only became annual compilations instead. those relating to treasure trove, and others Changes in deaths legislation deemed to be in the public interest, should be transferred to a specified local archive office. The Births & Deaths Act, 1874, required that Hence, the only remaining source for an deaths be registered within five days of their inquest, in most cases, would be the local occurrence - instead of eight days, as under newspaper report – often a much more previous legislation. Naturally, there would be detailed account than one would find in any no such limitation if a coroner was involved. official record! Furthermore, the same Act of Parliament Deaths registration indexes introduced medical certification in respect of the cause of death. This naturally required a Until 1866 births, marriages and deaths doctor or a medical graduate to certify the indexes were in manuscript form, which often death, and, if nothing more, it meant that makes it difficult for researchers to be able to there was now an expert to witness the read the handwriting, thus causing natural incident, whereas previously there was problems that would hamper accurate research. In 1866 printed or typed indexes sometimes none other than the informant. It appeared. From that point onwards inaccurate meant that deaths had to be registered official transcriptions or curious spellings can because of the presence, even after the event, normally be the only factors to lead the of the expert witness. Hence, we can safely researcher down the wrong path if the entry say that suspicious deaths could be was recorded in the index. minimised. It is often speculated that many deaths were not even reported before the In that same year (1866) the GRO indexes 1874 Act came into force. Such legislation was began to include ages at death. This was a needed to make the registration of deaths major improvement, and much welcomed by universally enforced. family historians, as they could now begin to determine more closely their correct ancestor Until the 1874 Act entering the cause of death – well, at least discern between an adult and was not even a legal requirement, although an infant. However, it must be stressed that death certification had been partly inspired ages could often be inaccurate, as the through pressure from the medical and information was not supplied by the deceased, insurance professions in 1836. Registrars had who would have been the most knowledgeable simply asked for a medical statement from the of his or her own age. So, a certain amount of informant, and were often content with caution ought to be maintained about items receiving popular – and possibly wrong - dealing with ages. causes of death to enter into their registers. Over 100 years later – for the June Quarter of The Births & Deaths Registration Act, 1926, 1969 – came the next step in changes to legislated that a registrar’s certificate or a deaths indexes. From that quarter onwards coroner’s order would be required for the they began to show the date of birth of the burial or cremation of a deceased person, deceased instead of his or her age. Once which came into force in 1927. again, though, such data may not always be Under the same legislation was introduced the correct, and could be dependent upon the registration of stillbirths. Yet, the causes of

12 In days of yore deaths of stillborn were not added to the The information given in the year 1855 only is registers until 1960. even much more extensive. Under the last Labour government there was Irish civil registration commenced on 1 an attempt to minimise the data being January 1864. For Northern Ireland death produced on an official death certificate, so as certificates are of a similar format to those for to state merely name and date, and very little England and Wales. more. Furthermore, the new process was HGS publications of deaths intended to be adopted for registrations under 100 years old – which would naturally have The current Hampshire burial CD ends in been a retrograde step, as less information 1841. HGS has also produced a number of would be available in future if such action was Monumental Inscriptions transcriptions, most permitted. The motive for the proposed new of which are still on microfiche, but a few are legislation was not made entirely clear, but now on CD, with the intention to transfer more was suspected to have been in order to hide parishes onto CD or DVD, as time and energy ‘cause of death’ (which would be omitted from will permit. Several of the MIs include ages or certificates under this scheme), particularly at even birth dates, so may even be more helpful a time when Aids was still quite prevalent as a to the family historian than parish register cause. It is not known if this was the extracts. Have a look at what we have to offer undisclosed reason, but, naturally, it was in this sphere: visit our website and search for widely suspected. Consequently, the intended HGS Publications. legislation failed under a flurry of protests, especially from family history representatives, Ken Smallbone (Editor) who saw this as a major assault on their References: beloved pastime. Sources include: http://en/wikipedia.org; Death certificates since 1969 Terrick FitzHugh, The Dictionary of Genealogy On 1 April 1969 the format of the death (5th Edition, revised by Susan Lumas, A & C certificate changed – from landscape to Black, London, 1998), pp 125, 255; Colin D portrait version. In the process, more details Rogers, The Family Tree Detective (2nd were added to the document: the maiden Edition, Manchester University Press, 1989), surname, if a woman who had married; the pp 120-22; John Richardson, The Local usual address of the deceased; and the date Historian’s Encyclopedia (2nd Edition, and place of birth of the deceased. These Historical Publications, New Barnet, 1986), additions were obviously made to satisfy the p 71; needs of family historians. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry. From 1 April 1982 the mother’s name, as well com/~framland/acts/1926Act.htm as the father’s, has to be entered for a child who had died under school-leaving age. Scotland and Northern Ireland CORRECTION: In the last journal, under the Civil registration in Scotland dates from 1 article on ‘Birth Registrations’ (p 251), it was January 1855. In addition to the information stated that “In 1969 the format of birth given on English and Welsh death certificates, certificates changed – from portrait to those for Scotland include the name, surname landscape version”. This was incorrect, of and rank or occupation of the deceased’s course. It should have obviously read the father; the maiden name of the deceased’s opposite: see under Letters (p26 ) in this mother; and the qualification of the informant. current journal.

13 Registration Districts

Hampshire Parishes and their Registration Districts (excluding the ) – Part 3

LITCHFIELD: 1837-1932 - 1932 >Litchfield & Woodcott LITCHFIELD & WOODCOTT: (from Litchfield, & Woodcott) Kingsclere 1932; Kingsclere & Whitchurch 1932-2000; Hampshire North 2001-08; Hampshire 2008> : Stockbridge 1837-1932; Romsey & Stockbridge 1932-74; Romsey 1974-2008; Hampshire 2008> LITTLETON: Winchester 1837-2008; Hampshire 2008> : Romsey 1837-1932; Romsey & Stockbridge 1932-74; Romsey 1974-2008; Hampshire 2008> LONG SUTTON: Farnham 1837-46; Farnborough 1846-69; 1869-1932; Aldershot 1932-74; North East Hampshire 1974-2008; Hampshire 2008> : Andover 1837-2008; Hampshire 2008> : Stockbridge 1837-1932; Romsey & Stockbridge 1932-74; Andover 1974-2008; Hampshire 2008> LYMINGTON: Lymington 1837-1932; New Forest 1932-79 - 1979 >Hordle, Lymington & Pennington, , New Milton LYMINGTON & PENNINGTON: (from “unparished area” of Lymington) New Forest 1979-2008; Hampshire 2008> LYNDHURST: New Forest 1837-2008; Hampshire 2008> : Basingstoke 1837-1932 - 1932 >Mapledurwell & MAPLEDURWELL & UP NATELY: (from Andwell, Mapledurwell & Up Nately) Basingstoke 1932-2000; Hampshire North 2001-08; Hampshire 2008> MARCHWOOD: (from Eling) New Forest 1894-2008; Hampshire 2008> MARTIN: From Wiltshire 1895 - Fordingbridge 1895-1932; Christchurch 1932-74; Ringwood & Fordingbridge 1974-99; New Forest 1999-2008; Hampshire 2008> MARTYR WORTHY: Winchester 1837-1932 - 1932 >Itchen Valley MATTINGLEY: Hartley Wintney 1837-1932; Aldershot 1932-74; North East Hampshire 1974-2008; Hampshire 2008> MEDSTEAD: Alton 1837-2008; Hampshire 2008> MELCHET PARK: From Wiltshire 1895 - Romsey 1895-1932 - 1932 >Melchet Park & MELCHET PARK & PLAITFORD: (from separate parishes) Romsey 1932; Romsey & Stockbridge 1932-74; Romsey 1974-2008; Hampshire 2008> : Droxford 1837-1932 - 1932 >Corhampton & Meonstoke MICHELDEVER: Winchester 1837-2008; Hampshire 2008> : Romsey 1837-1932; Romsey & Stockbridge 1932-74; Romsey 1974-2008; Hampshire 2008> MILFORD: Lymington 1837-1911 - 1911 >Milford on Sea, Pennington MILFORD ON SEA: (from Milford) Lymington 1911-32 - 1932 >Lymington MILFORD ON SEA: (from “unparished area” of Lymington) New Forest 1979-2008; Hampshire 2008> MILLAND: Winchester 1837-1932 - 1932 >Winchester MILLBROOK: South Stoneham 1837-1927; 1927-32; Romsey & Stockbridge 1932-54 - 1954 >Eling, Southampton MILTON: Lymington 1837-1932 - 1932 >Lymington MINSTEAD: New Forest 1837-2008; Hampshire 2008> : Basingstoke 1837-2000; Hampshire North 2001-08; Hampshire 2008>

14 Registration Districts

MONXTON: Andover 1837-2008; Hampshire 2008> MORESTEAD: Winchester 1837-1932 - 1932 >Owslebury : Bradfield, Berks 1837-79; Basingstoke 1879-2000; Hampshire North 2001-08; Hampshire 2008> : Romsey 1837-1932; Romsey & Stockbridge 1932-74; Romsey 1974-2008; Hampshire 2008> : Basingstoke 1837-1932 - 1932 >Hook, Newnham NEATHAM: Alton 1837-1932 - 1932 >Alton, Binsted, Froyle : Stockbridge 1837-1932; Romsey & Stockbridge 1932-74; Andover 1837-2008; Hampshire 2008> NETLEY MARSH: (from Eling) New Forest 1894-2008; Hampshire 2008> : Alresford 1837-1932; Winchester 1932-2008; Hampshire 2008> NEW MILTON: (from “unparished area” of Lymington) New Forest 1979-2008; Hampshire 2008> NEWNHAM: Basingstoke 1837-2000; Hampshire North 2001-08; Hampshire 2008> NEWTON VALENCE: Alton 1837-2008; Hampshire 2008> NEWTOWN: Newbury, Berks 1837-95; Kingsclere 1895-1932; Kingsclere & Whitchurch 1932-2000; Hampshire North 2001-08; Hampshire 2008> NO MANS LAND: Hampshire 2008> NORTH AMBERSHAM: Midhurst, Sussex 1837-44 – 1844 >to Sussex NORTH BADDESLEY: 1837-38; Winchester 1838-1932; Romsey & Stockbridge 1932-74; Romsey 1974-2008; Hampshire 2008> NORTH CHARFORD: Fordingbridge 1837-1932 – 1932 >Breamore, Hale NORTH HAVANT: (from Havant) Havant 1902-1932 - 1932 >Havant, Rowlands Castle NORTH HAYLING: Havant 1837-1932 - 1932 >Havant NORTH STONEHAM: South Stoneham 1837-1927; Eastleigh 1927-32 - 1932 >Chilworth, Eastleigh : Basingstoke 1837-2000; Hampshire North 2001-08; Hampshire 2008> NORTHINGTON: Alresford 1837-1932; Winchester 1932-2008; Hampshire 2008> : Romsey 1837-1932 - 1932 >Nursling & NURSLING & ROWNHAMS: (from separate parishes) Romsey 1932; Romsey & Stockbridge 1932-74; Romsey 1974-2008; Hampshire 2008> NUTLEY: Basingstoke 1837-2000; Hampshire North 2001-08; Hampshire 2008> OAKLEY: Basingstoke 1837-2000; Hampshire North 2001-08; Hampshire 2008> : Hartley Wintney 1837-1932; Aldershot 1932-74; North East Hampshire 1974-2008; Hampshire 2008> OLD ALRESFORD: Alresford 1837-1932; Winchester 1932-2008; Hampshire 2008> : (previously Basing) Basingstoke 1981-2000; Hampshire North 2001-08; Hampshire 2008> OLIVERS BATTERY: (from Compton) Winchester 1956-2008; Hampshire 2008> : Hursley 1837-38; Winchester 1838-2008; Hampshire 2008> : Stockbridge 1837-1932; Romsey & Stockbridge 1932-74; Andover 1974-2008; Hampshire 2008> OVERTON: Whitchurch 1837-1932; Kingsclere & Whitchurch 1932-2000; Hampshire North 2001-08; Hampshire 2008> OVINGTON: Alresford 1837-1932 - 1932 >Itchen Stoke & Ovington OWSLEBURY: Winchester 1837-2008; Hampshire 2008> : Basingstoke 1837-2000; Hampshire North 2001-08; Hampshire 2008> PENNINGTON: (from Milford) Lymington 1911-32 - 1932 >Lymington : Andover 1837-2008; Hampshire 2008> PENTON MEWSEY: Andover 1837-2008; Hampshire 2008>

15 Registration Districts

PETERSFIELD: Petersfield 1837-2008; Hampshire 2008> PLAITFORD: From Wiltshire 1895 - Romsey 1895-1932 - 1932 >Melchet Park & Plaitford POKESDOWN: (from Christchurch) Christchurch 1894-1902 - 1902 >Bournemouth POPHAM: Basingstoke 1837-2000; Hampshire North 2001-08; Hampshire 2008> PORTCHESTER: Fareham 1837-1932 - 1932 >Fareham, Portsmouth PORTSEA: Portsea Island 1837-1900 - 1900 >Portsmouth PORTSMOUTH: Portsea Island 1837-1900; Portsmouth 1900> PORTSWOOD: (from South Stoneham) South Stoneham 1894-1909; Southampton 1909-12 - 1912 >Southampton : Basingstoke 1837-2000; Hampshire North 2001-08; Hampshire 2008> PRIORS DEAN: Petersfield 1837-1932 - 1932 >Colemore & Priors Dean PRIVETT: Petersfield 1837-1932 - 1932 >Froxfield : Andover 1837-2008; Hampshire 2008> RHINEFIELD: Lymington 1837-1932; New Forest 1932-2008; Hampshire 2008> RINGWOOD: Ringwood 1837-1932; Christchurch 1932-74; Ringwood & Fordingbridge 1974-99; New Forest 1999-2008; Hampshire 2008> ROCKBOURNE: Fordingbridge 1837-1932; Christchurch 1932-74; Ringwood & Fordingbridge 1974-99; New Forest 1999-2008; Hampshire 2008> ROGATE: Midhurst, Sussex 1837-44 – 1844 >to Sussex ROMSEY: (previously Romsey Infra) Romsey 1974-2008; Hampshire 2008> : Romsey 1837-1932; Romsey & Stockbridge 1932-74; Romsey 1974-2008; Hampshire 2008> ROMSEY INFRA: Romsey 1837-1932; Romsey & Stockbridge 1932-74 - 1974 >Romsey ROPLEY: Alresford 1837-1932; Alton 1932-2008; Hampshire 2008> : Hartley Wintney 1837-1932; Aldershot 1932-74; North East Hampshire 1974-2008; Hampshire 2008> ROWLANDS CASTLE: (from Bedhampton, Blendworth, Chalton, Havant, Idsworth & Warblington) Petersfield 1932-2008; Hampshire 2008> ROWNER: Fareham 1837-1932 - 1932 >Alverstoke ROWNHAMS: (from North Baddesley, Nursling & Romsey Extra) Romsey 1897-1932 - 1932 >Nursling & Rownhams ST BARTHOLOMEW HYDE: Winchester 1837-1902 - 1902 >Winchester ST FAITH: Winchester 1837-94 - 1894 >St Faith Within, St Faith Without ST FAITH WITHIN: (from St Faith within Winchester Municipal ) Winchester 1894-1902 – 1902 >Winchester ST FAITH WITHOUT: (from rural part of St Faith) Winchester 1894-1900 - 1900 >Compton, St Faith Within ST JOHN: Southampton 1837-1912 - 1912 >Southampton ST JOHN: Winchester 1837-1902 - 1902 >Winchester ST LAWRENCE: Southampton 1837-1912 - 1912 >Southampton ST LAWRENCE: Winchester 1837-1902 - 1902 >Winchester ST LEONARDS & ST IVES: (from Hurn & Ringwood) Ringwood 1932; Christchurch 1932-74; Ringwood & Fordingbridge 1974 – 1974 >to Dorset To be continued in the next journal

16 Book review River Gardens Lynda Kiss WordPlay Publishing (www.wordplay-publishing.com) Paperback, £5.99 or £3.12 (Kindle edition, Amazon) 120 pages with photographs and other illustrations ISBN 13: 978-1495270819 ISBN 10:1495270815

This is a history of a community, and thus comprises snippets of several family stories within its pages. Hence, not a genealogical book, but rather more, it encompasses the lives and events of three and more generations of individual families living in the houses and streets of the River Gardens Estate at Sunbury-on-Thames from the 1930s and up until practically the present day. These were families at war and at peace, within a close proximity of London, each attempting to cope with different situations, but coming together as a single family (Lynda’s own family) and the Kiss community. family (her in-laws), but also many others, This book is a work of non-fiction based on including: Appleby, Baird, Baker, Beavan, the life experiences and recollections of the Britten, Butcher, Chapman, Crabb, Cramp, author (HGS member Lynda Kiss) and of Dearman, Gardener, Gridley, Inseal, Keep, others who have collaborated in its writing. It Kemp, Miles, Morris, Muir, Norman, Oestal, is partly family history, partly social history – Richards, Wiley, and we follow them into their the stories of those who had survived and of homes and workplaces. This is a study that those who did not fare so well. It also will undoubtedly interest the social historian. embraces life as seen from the point of view It is enough to say that this story could be of children growing up in the aftermath of a amplified by other similar stories throughout destructive war, and, to a degree, suggests many communities in this country, while, at how that war had affected their childhoods, the same time, being as it is centred upon their relationships with their parents, and Sunbury and River Gardens, it certainly perhaps even their adult lives, as well. Lynda remains unique in its own way. It is therefore discusses in great detail the various worlds of worth reading, and it ought to encourage the play, school and work during those formative writing of other similar local community years. histories. In this book we encounter not only the Ross Review by the Editor

17 Member’s article Changes & Consequences

By the time that you read this article a the new Ancestry “all results” search data on particular situation might have changed, offer is that some of the more useful either for better or for worse, although at information has been pushed further back the time of writing it does seem to down the line, so that such items as “personal suggest that the latter may well be the pedigrees” (some being rather dubious) have result. taken up premium space in the listings. While This article concerns the changes made over encouraging novices to copy lineages (some of recent months by both Ancestry and which must be wholly incorrect) on to their FindMyPast (FMP) - and reactions that they own pedigrees, it certainly does not help them had caused from among their respective to use their own initiative and independent customers/clients. It was not long ago when research. The advice in the past had always FamilySearch decided to update its website, been not to publicise your own family tree and perhaps it was this that had inspired unless you can absolutely prove it to be true. Ancestry to do the same - so as not to be Under constant exploitation from commercial technologically left behind by a ‘rival’, and to online businesses nowadays I would hardly show that it was ready to continue its position believe that this advice now generally suffices. in the modern “genealogical stakes” race. For Nevertheless, the bulk of criticism of the new a time Ancestry allowed its customers a changes is specifically aimed at FMP – choice between its “old system” of research bringing forth such comments as: “Surely the and its newly updated version, but in March new Find My Past must be an April Fool's Day (after posting several advanced warnings) it joke?” (John Wintrip); “It seems so inflexible dropped the “old version”, leaving its and have wasted a lot of time today” (Tracey customers with no choice at all but to adopt Horrell); “But the new FMP interface is a the new system – which immediately caused nightmare - I can't believe they think it is an offence in some quarters. At around the same improvement” (Antony Marr); “The results are time FMP was promising a much improved all over the place - I don't want suggestions of updated version, as well – but when it was irrelevant material they think I may be launched they did not give their customers any interested in” (Lynne Cleaver); “I have had choice at all. It was case of take it or leave it! another nightmare day today trying to work on And what was actually left following the FMP and it is still awful” (Lisa Dunbar). As an launch was a huge amount of animosity! explanation for its new policy, Chris Paton The general excuse given behind the changes explained “The purpose behind the new FMP is that the old systems could suddenly no site was to create a single platform that would longer cope with the increased data now host all the various worldwide based flooding on to the websites. I can often databases (there are four different FMP sites wonder, though, how much of the new worldwide), rather than the previous set-up of material is actually of use to the majority of different records sets on different databases”. researchers. In order to make substantial However, it had ended up as an unmitigated profits commercial companies have to disaster, with several of its customers constantly drag the depths of research threatening to abandon FMP altogether. As sources in order to try to outdo the efforts of Ellen Collier stated: “I used to like FMP for its their rivals. From what I have experienced of simplicity and accuracy. I appreciate that as

18 Member’s article – A Natural Law Often Ignored the database grows, it's harder to keep it same programmers. Certainly, in all three simple, but I think FMP have (at least cases I find that none of the changes have temporarily) lost one of its main selling been for the better but, then, it seems to me points”. there is a dichotomy between what Such animosity has naturally led to promises genealogists and family historians want and from FMP to rectify the situation and to what IT people want to give them”. He could improve the website as quickly as possible. well be right! It would seem to be the case Rosemary Morgan reported: “Having spent the here. weekend at the Guild of One Name Studies Finally, we have certain hopeful assurances conference, where there were huge numbers from people like Peter Calver of Lost Cousins of members who were "up in arms" about the that the new systems are here to stay and will new FMP site, and listened to an excellent not revert back to the old versions. He presentation by Myko Clelland, I do believe suggests that the problems with FMP remain that they are listening and trying to fix all the with basic searches only, and, in order to get "mistakes" as fast as they can. I know it may the best out of the sources, one has to pick be "too little too late", but they appear to have one or more of the various data sets and realised that they should have done more follow it through. It is all explained in one of advance testing”. Unfortunately, not everybody his newsletters has been convinced by such apparent (see http://www.lostcousins.com/newsletters/ contrition. Gill Blanchard’s response is “I do easter14news.htm). It seems to be a case of not have any great faith that FMP will sort out merely getting used to the new systems, in his the problems with the new site any time soon view – or would that merely be wishful ...”. Ray Stockdill even adds to the thinking? Time will surely tell. controversy: “What does occur to me is that Ken Smallbone , Editor Ancestry, FMP and FamilySearch have all (The various comments above come from changed their displays and search engines at LinkedIn/UK Professional Researchers in more or less the same time and I can't help Genealogy, Family & Local History – March & wondering whether they're all employing the April 2014)

HGS VACANCIES Publicity Officer; Assistants for Research Room, Office and Bookstall; Volunteers for Website (technical or proofreading/editing/articles) For more information and all the latest news visit www.hgs-online.org.uk

19 Member’s article Through the Divorce Courts…

It is often assumed that divorce 100 years January 1900, and continuing through to 9 or more ago was a relatively rare April when decree nisi was granted, and then occurrence, and then it tended to be only decree absolute on 29 October that year. the rich who could afford it. Or was it? These documents also confirmed that they Reading through the April 1900 issues of had a daughter, Alicia Maud Turtle, born 24 the Hampshire Telegraph, there were two November 1894 (who was not mentioned in divorce cases reported that month the newspaper), and that she was to remain involving Portsmouth women. Following with her mother. A copy of Emma’s statement up on these two reports created an also gave details of the marriage, and that opportunity to see what details - other afterwards they had lived at the Bull’s Head . It than what had appeared in the newspaper also confirmed that Emma had been deserted - could be found. for two years or more, and that her husband One of the reports in the 14 April issue was then lived with another woman, whose name where Mrs Emma Mary Turtle of Southsea was unknown, but who posed as his wife. had sued for divorce from her husband H Consequently, he had committed adultery with Turtle, who, at that time, was a potman living this woman at 78 Camden Grove, North in Camberwell, Surrey. They had been married Peckham, Surrey, as well as at other in St James’s church on 21 August 1892, but addresses. At the time of the petition Emma it was not long before her husband had was living at 55 Brompton Road, Portsmouth. deserted her and, apparently, went to live in As well as the statements, another important her mother’s house. Later, they met up again document in the minutes was a copy of their and decided to start living together. In 1894 marriage certificate. This confirmed that they were at the Bull’s Head public house in St Emma Mary MUSSELL married Henry Vincent Street, Portsmouth, when the husband Wymond Victor TURTLE , a 26-year-old hotel demanded money and made threats of manager living at 44 Bedford Street. At that violence against Emma in order to get it. At time Emma was 21, and living at 18 that time she had £14, which he took, and Malthouse Road. Henry’s father was also immediately left the area. Some time later she called Henry, and Emma’s father was George discovered that he was living in Camberwell Mussell, a deceased carpenter, RN. with another woman, and so, presumably, it These details enabled me to look at the 1871 was this that prompted the divorce petition census and find Emma living with her parents, and subsequent dissolution of the marriage. George and Elizabeth Mussell, at 76 Queen With Emma Turtle being a relatively rare Street, Portsea. They were then living with name, I put it into an Ancestry search to see George’s widowed mother, Mary Mussell, aged what would appear - and was quite surprised 72, head of the household, a licensed to see indexes of the names appearing in the victualler. Rather surprisingly, there is no Divorce Court minutes. These pages reveal far baptism for Emma in the HGS Baptism Index, more information than had appeared in the but there are for three of her siblings, who local paper. The divorce petition was filed on 6 were baptised between 1868 and 1874 in St December 1899, with proceedings starting in Mary’s church in Kingston. It would appear

20 Member’s article 1. A Marriage Dissolved that her baptism failed to get into the church and, at the age of 66, her birth would have register. Ten years later Emma and her been in 1894. She was not a widow at that siblings - Elizabeth, Kate and James - were time, and so a search for the death of Victor in living with their widowed mother in Malthouse the GRO index found one possibility in Victor Lane, her father’s death being recorded in the George Barlow, born 26 December 1892, who March Quarter of 1881 in the GRO index. In died in Basingstoke RD in 1982. Victor was 1891 Emma was a dressmaker, still living with born at Pamber, and was certainly still living her mother at 18 Malthouse Lane. there in 1911. Yet, so far there is no direct After the divorce, presumably Emma wanted evidence that he was the widower of Alicia to cut all ties with the Turtle name because in Maude. the 1901 census she was recorded again as What of Henry Turtle? In 1901 he may have Emma Mary Mussell, and was a visitor in the been the Henry W Turtle, aged 35 and house of John and Jane Williams at 90 Havant unmarried, who called himself an Army Road, Portsea. A year later she married again, this time to Alfred SMITH , with their marriage pensioner, living with his parents Henry and being recorded in the December Quarter of Ellen at 29 Surrey Street, Portsmouth. Ten 1902. In 1911 they were living - with their son years later, though, he appeared as Henry Alfred, aged 7 - at 95 Nelson Avenue, North Wymond Victor Turtle with his wife Harriet End. Emma probably stayed in Portsmouth for Jane, living at 72 Hayles Buildings, Elliott’s the whole of her life because she died there on Row, Southwark. By then they had two 6 September 1947. The date of her death was daughters and a son, and, according to the recorded in the National Probate Index (NPI), census, had been married for 14 years, which also showed that her address was 57 although I’ve failed to find the marriage Montgomerie Road, Southsea, and that she record. actually died in Nazareth Hospital, Lawrence Footnote: Emma’s name also appears in Road, Portsmouth. several family trees published in Ancestry, but I couldn’t find her daughter, Alicia, on the 1901 there may be a salutary lesson to be learnt census, but in 1911 she appeared as Maude here: Not to take all that is written down at Mussell, a servant in the house of Ralph face value. In several of the trees her birth is William Brown at Elmer Farm, Middleton, given as 24 April 1871, but when the 1871 Bognor, Sussex. She next appeared as Alicia census was taken on 2 April, she was already Mary Turtle when she married Victor G three months old. Another tree gives the GRO BARLOW in Wycombe Registration District registration for her death as being in the (RD), Buckinghamshire. However, she seemed March Quarter of 1948 on the Isle of Wight, to have returned to Hampshire because there but details in the NPI show that she died on 6 is an entry in the NPI for an Alicia Maude Barlow, otherwise Maude Alicia, otherwise September in Portsmouth. Alicia Maud, who died on 7 December 1960 at Roy Montgomery (Member # 3759) Cadly Sims Lane, Mortimer West End. The 102 Sunnymead Drive, Waterloovolle, Hants GRO entry named her as Maude A Barlow, PO7 6BX [email protected]

21 Member’s article Through the Divorce Courts…

We are naturally accustomed to the belief represented in court by Lewis & Lewis of 10- that the Divorce Courts would solely be 12 Ely Place, Holborn, London EC. However, involved in the termination of marriages. this was not a divorce petition, but a petition This is even illustrated in Roy for “the Restitution of Conjugal Rights”. On 10 Montgomery’s very interesting article that November the solicitors, on their client’s precedes this one. However, with my behalf, further filed an affidavit of service with recent research of families in Victorian a citation annexed, along with an affidavit of Basingstoke, I have come across another – search for appearance. Five days later the but less-known – function of the divorce petitioner set down the cause and filed the judges, which may interest readers: a certificate. function that probably saved a few Ann Madeline Fraser of Langley, in Liss, marriages, instead of making them Hampshire, by her oath, stated that, after their extinct. It is something of which I had not marriage, she and her husband lived and been aware until now. cohabited at The Grosvenor Hotel and The Gordon Colquhoun FRASER (1866-1952) Midland Grand Hotel, both in London; that they married his cousin Anne Madeline COLVIN had no issue; and that her husband had (1874-?1913) in the Register Office on Portsea refused and still refused to live and cohabit Island on Tuesday 20 December 1898. Gordon with her or to render her conjugal rights. She was a lieutenant in the Royal Navy, attached to prayed that his Lordship would be pleased to HMS Vernon , and the younger son of the decree a restitution of conjugal rights to the Reverend Simon James Gordon Fraser (1826- petitioner from the said respondent, and that 1905), HM Inspector of Schools for Wiltshire, she would have such “further and other relief and his late wife Marion Worsley (née Colvin) in the premises as to which his Lordship Fraser (1841-1869), formerly of Bramblys seemed meet”. House, Basingstoke. Anne Madeline was born A copy of Mrs Fraser’s letter to her husband - at Allahabad, the daughter of Dr Sir Walter which she had written at 17 New Cavendish Mytton Colvin (1847-1908), barrister-at-law Street, Portland Place, London W, on 17 and advocate for the High Court of Judicature October 1899 - was produced in evidence. She in the North-West Provinces of India, and his wrote: “I am very unhappy at the present state wife Anne (née MONEY ) Colvin (1850-1935). of things. I have not seen you for six weeks. Within a fortnight following his marriage, Neither have you written to me and I cannot Gordon was promoted to the rank of continue to lead a life which makes me commander on 31 December 1899. So, these miserable. I want to live with you as your wife, were obviously “well-heeled” wealthy families, and I hope you will see that it is your duty to very much of the kind that one would expect to provide me with a home and to live with me. see being involved in the divorce courts at Please let me know when I may come to you some time or other in those days. and what arrangements you will make.” Gordon and Anne Madeline had only been This letter, it was declared, was sent by married for ten months when Anne filed a registered post and addressed to Gordon petition against her husband in the High Court Colquhoun Fraser at HMS Vernon in of Justice (Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Portsmouth. HMS Vernon was a shore Division) on 27 October 1899, and was establishment (or “stone frigate”) of the Royal 22 Member’s article 2. A Marriage Saved

Navy that was established on 26 April 1876 as Florence Mace, a nurse, aged 31. Gordon was the Royal Navy’s Torpedo Branch. The torpedo then aged 47, and his wife was 36. The school ships that made up Vernon had been presence of the nurse seems to be quite situated in Portchester Creek since 1895. Mrs ominous, though. There is no record of Anne Fraser maintained that she received no reply Madeline’s death in England and Wales. This from her husband, and therefore ten days after would suggest that she had most likely died sending her letter, she commenced her abroad, and, as there appear to be no later petition. records of Gordon’s voyages, we may possibly On 12 January 1900 the judge, the Right conduce that his wife had expired in warmer Honourable Sir John Gorell Barnes, sitting at climes, perhaps even in the Canary Islands, as the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand, had early as 1913 or 1914. The voyage might have now taken the oral evidence of the petitioner, been purely for the purpose of hopeful and, by this time, the respondent had not even convalescence for her, which possibly failed. appeared to defend the suit. Having heard We know that her husband later served in the Counsel thereon, the judge pronounced, by his war effort - such could have been made more Final Decree, that the petitioner had feasible because he was alone. sufficiently proved the contents of her petition Gordon Colquhoun Fraser married, as his and that Anne Madeline Fraser and Gordon second wife, Claire Gertrude GRIERSON Colquhoun Fraser “were and are lawful (1891-1973), in St Giles’s registration district, Husband and Wife”. He ordered that the London, in 1925. She was Irish, from Dublin, husband “do within fourteen days from the and was living in Chelsea in 1922. Gordon service of this Order on him return home to Colquhoun Fraser died in Devon in the autumn the said Petitioner and render to her conjugal of 1952, aged 86. rights, and within a like time file in the Divorce I have little doubt that some readers might Registry a certificate that he has so done”. The have already viewed divorce court records for respondent was then charged with the costs of ‘the restitution of conjugal rights’, which, in the action on the behalf of the petitioner. the event, ought to have ensured that the This action appears to have been successful. marriage survived, rather than ending it - but, Having now resolved their differences early in as already mentioned, I have not been aware their marriage, it is pleasing to note that the of them. Perhaps letters will be forthcoming to couple remained together, albeit childless, mention variations of this theme. Yet, I cannot until “death did them part”, it would appear. In but help thinking that Anne Madeline had 1911 they were living together at received helpful advice on this matter from a 99 Portsdown Road, Maida Vale, London, with familiar source. It has to be considered that two servants. Gordon was now retired from her father was a famous barrister with obvious the Royal Navy, having attained the rank of important connections. Perhaps she was captain. Although retired, he did serve as a luckier than most in similar circumstances, reservist in the First World War, and received giving some truth to the saying that “it’s not the British War Medal for his pains. what you know, but who you know”. On 17 November 1913 the couple set sail from Ken Smallbone , Editor Liverpool, headed for Las Palmas in the Sources: Extracted from records on Canary Islands. They were accompanied by Ancestry.com and findmypast.com 23 Letters Dear Editor…

Hello Ken, Whilst browsing the web trying to find out about the history of Winchester City Council (1905-1941 period), and without much success, I found this pdf on Winchester Police. It has many names, so worth others knowing about it. http://hampshireconstabularyhistory.org.uk/ wp-content/uploads/2010/06/ Early-History-of-Winchester-City-Police8.pdf I myself would like to know who William SCOREY 1832-1834 was, but there are too many Williams in Hampshire at the time, but it makes a change from too many Richard SCOREYs around Minstead in the 1740s! Regards, Stephen Steere (Member # 10651) 1 Nicolson Road, Orpington, Kent BR5 4EH [email protected]

Dear Ken, I have just read the March edition of the Hampshire Family Historian (Vol 40/4) and noticed that on pages 273 and 314 there are references to ships which had floundered. Your word processor’s auto correct function must have been over zealous as the word should have been foundered. Laurence Mack (Member # 11240) 15 Belvoir Close, Fareham, Hants PO16 0PJ [email protected]

Editor: Thank you, Laurence. I don’t use auto-correct function because of the problems it causes. I have no naval connections, and thus am not really aware of the difference between the two words. This was how the word was presented in both the separate articles, so I have to take their words for the word. Nevertheless, thank you for pointing out the difference. I’ll probably be aware of it in future.

24 Letters

Dear Ken I saw a couple of items in the December 2013 journal (Vol 40/3) that I didn’t understand, and I am hoping that you might explain what they are. On page 209, in the last paragraph on that page, in the news from Hampshire Record Office, it says: “such as the conversion of arable land to pasture and the decline in demand for underwood”. What is underwood, please? The next query is on page 225, Southampton Group report, last paragraph says: “an afternoon visit to the village hall at Woodgreen. The walls are covered in paintings of a mixture of paraffin wax and turpentine”! Whatever does this mean? Does it mean that the paintings are done by using the two items? Sounds very odd if this is what has been used. Must smell awful! Hope you can help. Yours sincerely Linda Atkins (Member # 3692) 76 Burhill Road, Hersham, Surrey KT12 4JF Editor: Thank you, Linda. “Underwood” refers to the small trees and bushes (underbrush) that grow among the large trees in woodland or forest, and can sometimes even amount to a coppice. Anne Lawrence (Southampton Group) quotes from the literature given at Woodgreen: “The artists used two methods. Over the East Wall, the entrance wall and a small area on another wall, they stretched canvas, doubly primed, as a foundation. On the remaining surfaces they painted directly onto the plaster with a mixture of paraffin wax and turpentine.” Anne comments that one assumes they must have mixed a variety of colours with the paraffin wax and turpentine, and that it probably did smell to start with. She thoroughly recommends readers to visit Woodgreen village hall (near Fordingbridge) and see the paintings for themselves, if they can, as the display is really amazing!

Dear Sir, I think that the publication # 66 by Roy Montgomery, listed on page 316 of the last Journal (Vol 40/4, March 2014) should be Binsted (near Alton), and not Binstead, as the latter is on the Isle of Wight. Thank you. Yours Jane Hurst (Member # 6392) Organiser, Alton HGS Group (see under Local Group Programmes) Editor: Thank you, Jane. Point taken. Unfortunately, it doesn’t help when publications such as the AA Road Atlas and Phillimore’s Atlas & Index of Parish Registers insist on the ‘-stead’ spelling.

25 Letters

Dear Ken, Referring to your article in the current “Historian” (Vol 40/4, March 2014), I think there are two possible errors: Firstly, a “short” birth certificate was around in 1933, when I was born, and well before 1947! It was no more than a free receipt with bare details, but was considered legal and acceptable. The full certificate cost (I think) 3s 6d (17½p), so the short one was made to do when money was difficult. That my own (full) certificate was only issued in 1944, when I was 11 and needed it to go to grammar school, was because my family only had the short one and had to relinquish it when needed. The other matter was saying the format was changed in 1969 “from portrait to landscape” version. I’m no expert on computer-speak, but I believe “landscape” is wide and shallow and “portrait” is high and nearly square (A4) – so the reverse of what is said above! My 1944 birth certificate is certainly wide-and-shallow! All the best, Sincerely (Mrs) Stella Bond (Member # 2570) 6 Hyde Close, Winchester SO23 7DT Editor: Thank you, Stella. You are absolutely right about the difference between ‘portrait’ and ‘landscape’. I was horrified to discover (via your letter) that I had written completely the opposite in the published journal, particularly as it was stated correctly in my notes. Therefore, I apologise to our readers for my gross error here. I had read this particular article over and over several times, but still missed the obvious mistake (a ‘senior moment’, I suppose). As for your other comment, I must say I am quite confused. I have never seen what you describe as your 1933 “short” certificate, and, because of later legislation, I can only think it must have been regarded as nothing more than a “receipt”, as you mention. I cannot see that it was ever accepted as being legal, as the 1947 Act clearly introduced the short certificate. ‘An Act to provide for an additional type of birth certificate’ was passed in Parliament on 11 March 1947. It stated (under S 1 (2)): “ … that no certificate issued under this section shall include any particulars except the name, surname, sex and date of birth and such other particulars, if any, as may be prescribed, not being particulars relating to parentage or adoption. This Act may be cited as the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1947, and shall be construed as one with the Births and Deaths Registration Acts, 1836 to 1929, and those Acts and this Act may be cited together as the Births and Deaths Registration Acts, 1836 to 1947.” For a full transcription of the 1947 Act, see http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~framland/acts/1947Act.htm This Act, which did not extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland, came into force on 1 January 1948. It was further confirmed by the Births and Deaths Registration Act of 1953 and subsequent Acts of Parliament of similar titles.

26 Letters

Dear Editor Long Life. This picture of Cecil RUFFELL was taken at Whangarei, New Zealand, at a party to celebrate his 99th birthday. Cecil was born in New Zealand on 19 February 1915, but his grandfather, Harry Ruffell, who went to Nelson in the middle of the 19th Century, was born at Minstead, New Forest, on 18 January 1822. That means that just three generations - father, son and grandson - cover a staggering 192 years. Is it the result of a healthy life style in a pleasant climate, or is long life in the genes? I do not put great reliance on ancient parish registers, but it makes you think when Peter Ruffell, an earlier ancestor of Cecil, was recorded as "aged 100" when buried at Bradley in 1729. Looking at more recent blood relations, my grandfather's cousin, Mrs Ada BRICKWOOD , was 103 when she died at Alton in 1999. Her sister, Mrs Evelyn PINK , was buried at East Tisted in 1991, aged 98. Surely, at least some of that longevity must be inherited. I hope so! Yours sincerely Len Ruffell (Member # 616) 21 Abbots Ann Road, Harestock, Winchester SO22 6ND [email protected]

27 Letters/Just a word

Dear Ken A point of interest regarding your article on birth certificates in the latest Historian (Vol 40/4, March 2014): Column 1 of a birth certificate, as you rightly say, if including a time of day, indicates a multiple birth. However, there are exceptions to this right on our doorstep. During my searches for my PASSINGHAM tribe, who arrived in Portsmouth in the 1700s from Medstead, I discovered some apparent multiple births because of a time on a birth cert. What was confusing were several births around the same time, all in the Portsmouth area; some multiple, some not. I asked Portsmouth Register Office about this, quite expecting to be told that some of these were because the info had not been sent to the Registrar General’s Office, so did not appear in the indexes. Hampshire is well known for this, as you know! The answer was even odder – The Register Office checked on this and found, for some reason, that, for a period of several years, all birth entries had a time! Unfortunately, I lost their reply during a hard-drive crash (before I understood about external backups), but think the period was either about 1870–80 or around the 1850s. I have looked at my family tree and the certs, but cannot work out exactly which were the relevant ones. I am delighted the Historian maintains its high standard of interest. Regards Roy Passingham (Member # 7278) 9 Basingbourne Road, Fleet, Hants GU52 9TE [email protected] Just a word … or two The Evolution of the Tunic – a matter of language

In medieval times and even much earlier, as most people know, the TUNIC was the prominent form of male apparel, either over or below other clothing. As it was universally worn, it was known by different names in different languages. The word itself came from Latin tunica , which, in turn, developed from the root tan , ‘to stretch’. The Anglo-Saxons and Danes had an almost similar word for this type of garment: Anglo-Saxon sc- was almost invariably rendered as sk- in Norse languages, while sc- before an ‘e’, ‘i’ or ‘y’ in Anglo-Saxon was pronounced as sh- . Thus, in Anglo-Saxon the word for ‘tunic’ was scyrte (pronounced shirt) and in Old Danish it was skyrta . When the tunic was eventually replaced in the modern era, the top half took the Anglo-Saxon name (shirt) and the bottom half that of the Danish-Norse (skirt). Similarly, the Anglo-Saxon word for ‘boat’ was scip (pronounced ship), giving us the modern name, while the Norse word skipja gave us the name of the man who commanded it – the skipper – and also the metal boat-shaped container. The Editor

28 Surnames I am my own grandpa

Many, many years ago when I was twenty For if he was my uncle, then that also made three him brother I got married to a widow, who was pretty as To the widow’s grown-up daughter, who, of could be. course, was my step-mother. This widow had a grown-up daughter, who had Father’s wife then had a son, who kept them hair of red. on the run, My father fell in love with her, and soon the And he became my grandson, for he was my two were wed. daughter’s son. This made my dad my son-in-law and changed My wife is now my mother’s mother, and it my very life, makes me blue My daughter was my mother, for she was my Because, although she is my wife, she’s my father’s wife. grandmother, too. To complicate the matter worse, although it If my wife is my grandmother, then I am her brought me joy, grandchild, I soon became the father of a bouncing baby And every time I think of it, it simply drives boy. me wild My little baby then became a brother-in-law to For now I have become the strangest case you dad, ever saw, And so became my uncle, though it made me As the husband of my grandmother, I am my very sad. own grandpa. (Author unknown)

Some of the surnames featured in this issue

ANDERSON CURTIS HILLS MUSSELL SAUMAREZ ASQUITH DANKS HULL NEALE SCOTT ATKINSON DAVIS HUMPHRIES NEWMAN SMITH BARLOW DE FOREST HUNTLEY PARKINSON SPARSHOTT BARNEY DOE JAMES PASSINGHAM BARR EASTWOOD JENKINS PATTER STACY BIDDLECOMBE EMBER JONES PENFOLD STANLEY BLAKE FOSTER KEMMISH PEYTON TALL BRICKWOOD FOWLER KNEATH PINK TURTLE BULL FRASER LANGRISH PORTAL WEARE BURN FROUD LAWRENCE POTTER WEARN BURROW GODDARD LUKER POWELL COLVIN GRIERSON MACEY RICHARDS WILKEY CORNWALLIS GRIFFIN MAN RUFFELL WILKINSON COX HARMSWORTH MONEY RUSSELL WRIGHT

29 Member’s article Mormon pioneers…

I was led to the incredible pioneering story of some of my ancestors when emigration records showed that one of my relative’s children had the unusual middle name of ‘Golconda’. I learnt later that children born at sea were often named after the ship on which they were born. A further search revealed the story of the Mormon pioneers amongst my ancestors. Charles KEMMISH , my 3x great-grand-uncle, and his family had become one of nearly 50,000 Mormon emigrants from Great Britain to Salt Lake City in America. Charles was born in Portsmouth in 1814 to John Kemmish of Anfield and Sarah GODDARD of Portsmouth. Charles and his older brother, Richard (my 3x great- grandfather), were basket-makers in Portsea. Charles married Elizabeth WILKEY , and they had several children, including Elizabeth, born 1837. Charles Kemmish The Mormons - now known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) - grew died, and four babies were born (but one rapidly in Great Britain from 1840, becoming died). One of the babies was Eliza Golconda, particularly effective at converting new born to Elizabeth Kemmish at the height of the members from working-class areas of larger storm, according to her sister-in-law’s journal. towns. LDS records show that Charles joined As a midwife and mother, I can’t begin to the church on 7 September 1844. imagine how terrifying that would have been. On 23 January 1853 Charles and Elizabeth left The trek to Salt Lake City, Utah, was arduous, Liverpool on the ship Golconda with their six with between 4,500 and 5,000 dying during children, aged between 2 and 16 years, and their journeys from 1846 to 1869, but Elizabeth being heavily pregnant. Along with emigration was safer for Mormons than for them were two of Elizabeth’s brothers and many others, due to the Church providing their families – John and Ann Gregory Wilkey, additional financial support, provisions, advice and Samuel and Ann Whitehead Wilkey. and assistance from departure to the arrival The Golconda carried 321 Mormons, presided at their destination. The Passengers Act, 1852, over by Elder Jacob Gates. They arrived in provided a number of supplies on board ship, New Orleans 62 days later on 26 March 1853. but additional arrangements were made by During the crossing a major storm had the Church for passengers to stay on board wrecked their three topmasts, two emigrants prior to departure, so as to avoid having the costs and dangers of lodging in the port.

30 Member’s article from Portsmouth to the American Prairie

Sites along the Mormon Trail

Most converts were supported by loans from river, which was even more dangerous, but the LDS Perpetual Emigration Fund, which meant a longer wagon journey. They stayed at enabled poor families to emigrate in search of Keokuk camp for six weeks, making a better life. An experienced elder organised preparations, and then set off across the on-board duties, exercise, amusements and plains with Brother Joseph Young as their worship for each group on the journey. leader. Mormon pioneers shared similar Cleanliness, order and discipline while on experiences with others travelling west: the board ship were maintained by a steward. drudgery of walking hundreds of miles, After arriving in New Orleans, the journey suffocating dust, violent thunderstorms, mud, continued for more than 1,000 miles by temperature extremes, bad water, poor steamer up the Mississippi to St Louis. The forage, sickness, and death. Ann Wilkey wrote river had dangerous ‘snags’ that could cause in her journal that a lady died after falling boats to sink rapidly if hit, but the group made from a moving wagon and being run over by a it through safely. wheel. Another woman died from From St Louis they moved by ox-wagon train consumption. to the main camp at Keokuk, 200 miles north Ann also told of her husband and Charles in Iowa. This avoided the trip up the Missouri going to the town of Laramie for

31 Member’s article

provisions. The men crossed the mountains, then got lost and fell into a cactus bed in the dark. Eventually, they found a camp of friendly Indians to help them. Their families thought they had been eaten by wolves or killed by Indians, and spent a night of terror, eventually having to leave with the wagon train in the morning. Elizabeth kept a lookout and later spotted the two men, who had managed to catch up with them again. A Mormon emigrant family They often met local Indians in war-paint, who were sometimes subsequently decided to leave Goshen, and given sacks of flour as a peace offering. They ended up in Freemont County, Iowa, where were tired after walking all day, as they could they stayed for three years, showing up on the not ride in the wagons. They ran out of food census of 1860. They had two more children, ten days out of Salt Lake City, but were met by and eventually settled on a farm in Union teams from the city with provisions, who Township, Harrison County, Iowa, where helped them along. Those already there took Charles lived until his death in 1896. them into their homes to give them time to The great news for genealogists is that the rest and recover before starting their own LDS Genealogy Services can provide a wealth settlement. of records, including personal diaries and American census and LDS records show that journals of their emigration stories. This has Charles and Elizabeth settled in Goshen, helped to make the story of Charles and his where he initially continued to work as a family so detailed, with so much more to tell basket-maker. The family story is that he also than can be included here. brought wheat to sell to the US soldiers, which Julia Robson (Member # 13817) was frowned upon by the Mormons. The family [email protected] ; 01256 763561 Need help with your research? All requests for research assistance to the HGS Research Room. Telephone: 023 9238 7000 or Email: [email protected]

32 HGS News

HGS Research Centre Bookstall 52 Northern Road, Cosham, Portsmouth PO6 3DB Dates Open Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9.30 a.m. - 12.30pm 21 Jun Wiltshire FHS Open Day, Open Tuesday & Thursday Trowbridge 9.30 a.m. - 12.30pm & 1.30 - 4.30p.m . No appointment is necessary, but if a member specifically wants 27 Sept Bristol and to use the Find My Past website or wants to guarantee the use of Avon FHS a computer, then a booking should be made via telephone (023 Open Day, 9238 7000) or email ([email protected]). Bristol Diary Dates out of County Wiltshire FHS Family History Day Civic Centre, Trowbridge BA14 8AH Saturday 21 June 2014 – 10.00 am to 3.30 pm Devon FHS Summer Special Torquay Boys’ Grammar School, Shiphay Manor Drive, Torquay TQ2 7DZ Saturday 12 July 2014 – 9.45 am to 4.15 pm Buckinghamshire FHS Open Day The Grange School, Wendover Way, Aylesbury HP21 7NH Saturday 26 July 2014 – 10.00 am to 4.00 pm Essex Society For FH 40th Anniversary The Holiday Inn, Basildon “Dig for the past, look to the future” conference Friday to Sunday, 29-31 August 2014 FFHS General Meeting, Autumn 2014 Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ Saturday 20 September 2014 – commencing at 1.30 pm promptly Bristol & Avon FHS Open Day UWE Exhibition & Conference Centre, University of West of England, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS34 8QZ Saturday 27 September 2014 – 10.00 am to 4.00 pm HGS Open Day Hampshire Genealogical Society’s Open Day will be at the new venue of Everest Community Academy, Oxford Way, Popley, Basingstoke, on Sunday 12 October 2014 from 10 am to 4 pm . Admission is FREE . Many stands will be available, along with research help facilities and bookstalls. There will also be free talks in the tiered lecture hall and a special appearance of a Great War historian, author and researcher. For further details visit the HGS website or Facebook:HGS Hampshire Genealogical Society’s Family History Page – Events.

33 HGS News Family History – Proposed New Using The Internet Constitution

With some regret, it has to be announced In the last journal we sent a copy of the that the abovementioned course at the proposed new Constitution to all Omega Centre in Portsmouth had been members. cancelled through a lack of a sufficient It was intended that this new document would number of subscribers. be presented to the membership attending the Future courses of a similar nature naturally AGM and, hopefully, would have been agreed. hang in the balance, and could thus only be However, there has been some disagreement considered if there were enough interest and with it, and, as a democratic society, we are support in them. It may even be possible to discussing the points further, and hope to consider a different location if enough present it to the membership at a Special students would warrant the revival of the AGM at the HGS Open Day in October. Should course. Contact:- this happen, then details will be printed in the By email – [email protected] September journal. By post – Anthony Trice, 8 The Oaks, Fleet, Dolina Clarke Hampshire GU51 4HQ Chairman

FAREWELL With the deepest regret we wish to inform readers of the deaths of the following HGS members:- Mrs D E Argent (Member # 8277), 39 Berkeley Close, Rochester, Kent, sadly passed away in January this year Mrs M K Cook (Member # 4777), Gate Farm House, Gipping, Stowmarket, Suffolk Mr Brian Peter Farnham (Member # 838), 143 Teg Down Meads, Winchester, Hants, sadly passed away on 23 September 2013 Mr Kenneth N Green (Member # 13188), Heath View, Meerut Road, Brockenhurst, Hants Ms Shelagh K Hart (Member # 13408), 6 Merlin Mead, Gabriel Park, , Basingstoke, Hants, sadly passed away on 18 February this year

34 Members’ Surname Interests Database Members’ Surname Interests Database

Please continue to check the members N. B. Changes to email addresses will no interests webpage at http://www.hgs- longer be noted in the journal as many are familyhistory.com/research-resources/me already obsolete when published. Please mbers-interests/ for latest details and contact the HGS Office for a member's current service updates that will be announced details if you encounter problems there first. But please remember to inform the Members’ interests are published quarterly in Membership Secretary this journal. There is a restriction in each ([email protected]) of any journal of publishing a maximum of 15 entries changes to either your current email or per person to keep the journal to a home address. manageable size. Such a constraint does not The section on the following pages is arranged apply to the database, however, so it is alphabetically by surname, then area and possible to add further interests - within place name. Once you have located an entry in reason! which you are interested, note the number on Updates to your surname interests can be the right hand side of the column and turn to made online by following the examples on the the end of the section. page or by post. It is also possible to remove Simply look up the number, which will give the redundant entries, and this is encouraged - name and address of the person who deletions are not notified in the journal; they submitted the information. simply won't remain in the database. Updates Notes (‘1900’ given as example of ‘date’): should be BLOCK printed and submitted in the 1900 + = after that date; format used in the following section or as pre 1900 = before that date; shown on the form on members interests c1900 = circa (about) that date webpage. The county Chapman Codes are (+/- 5 yrs); published at least once in any yearly HFH C20 = xx th. Century; volume and should be used when submitting parish a = area around parish interests, e.g. HAM for Hampshire etc. Remember that your addresses are your Please note that addresses published in this contact point, so keep them up to date. section refer only to members who have If communicating by post remember that submitted their interests. an SAE is essential these days, as not All queries concerning this section should also everyone has email. Please note that HGS be sent to the HGS office (address on inside cannot guarantee a response to any front cover). enquiry made of a member.

35 Members’ Surname Interests Database

Aldridge HAM Wonston 1740-1800 3196 Figgance HAM Vernham Dean1700-1820 3196 Allen HAM Portsea All 2670 Figgins HAM Vernham Dean1700-1820 3196 Babey HAM Bramshaw All 7859 Fisher HAM Bainbridge HAM Any 1875+ 8842 1590-1650 3196 Barter HAM Hurstbourne Priors Fisher HAM 1790-1860 3196 1600-1680 3196 Fisher HAM Wonston 1790-1860 3196 Baxter CUL Any Pre1826 6651 Fisher HAM Stoke Charity 1850-1900 3196 Baxter LND Any 1770-1900 6651 Fisher HAM Lymington a Pre1891 7859 Bennett HAM Chilworth All 7859 Fleming HAM Portsea Portsmouth Biddlecombe Any New Forest All 7880 1770-1999 11113 Bishop HAM Winchester 1790-190011113 Freeborn HAM Wonston 1650-1710 3196 Bolton HAM Portchester 1750-1850 8862 Gibbs HAM Tufton 1740-1780 3196 Bolton HAM Portsmouth 1824-1921 8862 Grunsell HAM Hunton 1750-1780 3196 Brann KEN Wittersham All 7859 Guyat HAM a Pre1803 8924 Brewer HAM Petersfield 1750-190012333 Haines KEN Tenterden a All 7859 Brewer HAM Portsmouth 1750-1900 12333 Harding HAM 1670-1730 3196 Bridle HAM Petersfield 1750-1900 12333 Harris HAM Whitchurch 1740-1820 3196 Brockway SXW Funtington a All 7859 Hawkins HAM Wonston 1660-1800 3196 Brown OXF Cowley All 7859 Hearn(e) HAM Hurstbourne Priors Bullen HAM Gosport 1800-2000 9551 1600-1680 3196 Bullen HAM Portsmouth 1800-2000 9551 Hollis HAM Andover 1680-1730 3196 Carter SFK Badwell Ash 1800-1850 8862 Isron HAM St Mary Bourne Casey OXF Cowley All 7859 1630-1740 3196 Chapman HAM Longstock 1715-1780 3196 Issarne HAM St Mary Bourne Chapman HAM Wherwell 1715-1780 3196 1630-1740 3196 Clark HAM Bishops Waltham a Izron HAM Bullington 1720-1760 3196 1750-1900 6651 Jennings HAM Church Oakley1660-1740 3196 Cohn NBL Any 1850+ 8842 Jerome HAM Portsmouth 1700-1930 8862 Cole HAM Amport 1700-1750 3196 Jerome IOW Portsmouth 1700-1930 8862 Cole HAM Micheldever 1770-1850 3196 Kent HAM Wallop a Pre1820 8924 Cole HAM East Stratton 1780-1850 3196 Lambird HAM Winchester 1750-1900 11113 Coleman HAM Portsmouth 1790-1850 8862 Lenham HAM Alresford 1500-1790 9551 Coles HAM Micheldever 1770-1850 3196 Light SRY Kingston a All 7859 Coltham KEN Canterbury All 7859 Lobb DEV Torquay Pre1843 7859 Cooper HAM Whitchurch 1750-1840 3196 Lobb HAM Any 1843+ 7859 Craft(s) HAM Basingstoke 1630-1750 3196 Lovell HAM Steventon 1650-1760 3196 Craft(s) HAM Whitchurch 1740-1790 3196 Martin HAM 1590-1620 3196 Craft(s) HAM Overton 1750-1800 3196 Mintram Any Any All 8772 Crate HAM Basingstoke 1630-1750 3196 Mintrem Any Any All 8772 Crate HAM Hunton 1770-1840 3196 Mintrim Any Any All 8772 Crate HAM Stoke Charity 1800-1880 3196 Mintrom Any Any All 8772 Cratt HAM Whitchurch 1740-1790 3196 Mintrum Any Any All 8772 Crimmins HAM Any 1850-2013 13302 MissellbrookHAM Overton 1670-1730 3196 Croft(s) HAM Basingstoke 1630-1750 3196 Morley HAM Boldre a All 7859 Croft(s) HAM Whitchurch 1740-1790 3196 Muckleston Any Any All 7880 Croft(s) HAM Overton 1750-1800 3196 Murley HAM Boldre a All 7859 Dempster HAM Alverstoke 1700-1850 11113 New HAM Vernham Dean1750-1830 3196 Dempster HAM Portsea 1700-1900 11113 Oliver HAM New Forest All 7859 Derby HAM Wonston 1790-1860 3196 Parsons HAM Bursledon 1760-1900 6651 Dickinson KEN Canterbury a All 7859 Parsons HAM Portsmouth 1760-1900 6651 Downton HAM Portsmouth 1830-1939 8862 Parsons HAM Southampton 1760-1900 6651 Estron HAM St Mary Bourne Peckham HAM Chilworth All 7859 1720-1760 3196 Porter HAM East Wellow All 7859

36 Members’ Surname Interests Database

Prior HAM Bishops Waltham a Smith HAM Alresford All 7859 1650-1900 6651 Sydmonton 1590-1620 3196 Rampton HAM Dean a 1690-1730 3196 Spinner HAM Portsea 1790-1870 11113 Rampton HAM Overton a 1690-1800 3196 Spragg HAM Longstock 1720-1750 3196 Rampton HAM Whitchurch 1800-1900 3196 Steel HAM Thruxton a 1733-1867 8924 Raven LND City a Pre1826 6651 Steel HAM Longstock a Pre1730 8924 Ray HAM Wonston 1750-1820 3196 Steel WIL Milford a Pre1832 8924 Ray HAM Bullington 1750-1850 3196 Stubbs HAM Bishop's Waltham a All 8842 Ray HAM St Mary Bourne Swinburn CUL Any Pre1826 6651 1790-1850 3196 Swinburn NBL Any Pre1826 6651 Reeks HAM Portsea 1700-1850 11113 Rex HAM Portsea 1700-1850 11113 Trigwell Any Any All 8772 Reynolds HAM Wonston 1700-1850 3196 Webb HAM Overton 1700-1810 3196 Richards DOR Any 1700-1900 6651 West HAM Portsmouth 1800-1900 8862 Rogers HAM Portchester 1750-1850 8862 Whale HAM Church Oakley1630-1740 3196 Rowe HAM Bullington 1770-1830 3196 White HAM Wherwell 1789-1850 3196 Rowe HAM Boldre Pre1900 7859 Wilkins HAM Laverstoke 1620-1740 3196 Saunders HAM Wonston 1750-1800 3196 Williams HAM 1740-1850 3196 Scarratt HAM Any 1750-1800 8862 Winslett Any Any All 8772 Scarratt IOW Any 1750-1800 8862 Wyatt HAM Hythe a Pre1850 13241 Searle HAM Faccombe 1740-1850 3196 Young HAM Portsmouth 1830-1970 8862 Contributors’ addresses Please note that the addresses listed here relate only to the member numbers in the preceding sections. Addresses of members who have published interests previously will not be published here but can be found on the interests CD or in previous Journals. 2670 Mr K Allen, 14 Ellingham Road, CHESSINGTON, Surrey, KT9 2JA, UK e: [email protected] 3196 Ms E Garside, 13 Woko Street, WOONGARRAH, NSW, 2259, AUSTRALIA e: [email protected] 6651 Mr F Wagstaff, Viaduct Cottage, Dunkerton, BATH, Somerset, BA2 8BG, UK e: [email protected] 7859 Mrs J Facey, Heathfield, Rownhams Lane, Rownhams, SOUTHAMPTON, Hants, SO16 8AP, UK e: [email protected] 7880 Mr B D Muckleston, 4 Greenfields Close, Testwood, Totton, SOUTHAMPTON, Hants, SO40 3NE, UK e: [email protected] 8772 Mrs W J Mintrum, Dunollie, Rattery, SOUTH BRENT, Devon, TQ10 9LF, UK e: [email protected] 8842 Mrs S E Rowbotham, 222 Gloucester Road, CHELTENHAM, Glos, GL51 8NR, UK e: [email protected] 8862 Mrs K Gallagher, 81 Milford Road, Pennington, LYMINGTON, Hants, SO41 8DN, UK e: [email protected] 8924 Miss M J Steele, Elms Bungalow, Longwall, Littlemore, OXFORD, Oxon, OX4 4PG, UK e: [email protected] 9551 Mrs J & Mr L J Timns, 23 Ha'penny Dell, Crookhorn, WATERLOOVILLE, Hants, PO7 5RQ, UK e: [email protected] 11113 Mrs S Dennis, 4 Grange Road, CRAWLEY DOWN, West Sussex, RH10 4ST, UK e: [email protected] 12333 Mr P Tyler, 12 Meadow Way, Great Paxton, ST NEOTS, Cambs, PE19 6RR, UK e: [email protected] 13241 Mr M G Wyatt, 737 Colborne Street, BRANTFORD, Ontario, N3S 3R9, CANADA e: [email protected] 13302 Mr S & Mrs C Frampton, Sandhem, Uplands Road, Denmead, WATERLOOVILLE, Hants, PO7 6HE, UK e: [email protected]

37 Member’s article Luke Bull, Chimney Sweep

When I first started researching my Boys could be wedged in chimneys with their husband’s BULL family tree, neither of us knees jammed against their shins; there were thought I’d get very far with his tent- many deaths caused by accidents, including dwelling hawkers and chimney sweeps, suffocation from fallen soot; they exhibited gypsy ancestors. We hadn’t realised how stunted and deformed growth; and rarely well the Bull family has been researched washed. Sometimes, to encourage them to back to his 5 x great-grandparents climb faster or higher up a chimney, master William Bull and Rosamund ANDERSON – sweeps would light a fire in the grate. and, with a bit less certainty, to Stephen Chimney sweeps’ cancer was the first Bull (born c1690) and Jane, Grahame’s 8 industrially related cancer to be found. x great-grandparents. Luke and Ann had twelve children before Ann Almost to a man they were chimney sweeps, died in 1836. Luke married a second time in and a lot of information has been gleaned May 1837. The Salisbury and Winchester about three generations of Luke Bulls, Journal reported his marriage to Esther chimney sweeps in Andover. The first of the HUMPHRIES , a hawker with 14 children of three, Luke Bull, was born about 1787, her own, making them mother and father to baptised in Bramley in 1790, and married Ann 26 children. The newspaper reported: “Luke JAMES in 1811 at Hurstbourne Priors. He is Bull is one of the very few in that occupation Grahame’s 4th great-grand-uncle. (chimney sweep) who have borne for many From about 1775 there was increasing years a religious character, his integrity and concern for the welfare of the chimney moral character are unimpeachable.” sweeps’ apprentices - sometimes boys as Luke died at in 1862, having been young as four - who climbed hot flues that blind for over twelve years. His son Luke was could be as narrow as nine inches square. In not such a fine upstanding member of the 1788 an Act of Parliament had raised the community: he was a bit of a rogue. Born at minimum age of sweepers’ apprentices to Bradford-on-Avon in 1818, he already had a eight years. From around 1803 there was an criminal record for stealing - for which he was alternative method of brushing chimneys, but imprisoned for three months - before he sweeps resisted the change, preferring married Elizabeth DOE at Church Oakley in climbing boys to the new ‘Humane Sweeping June 1838. He was often in trouble for being Machine’. The Chimney Sweepers Act of 1834 drunk and disorderly. On one occasion he was outlawed the apprenticing of boys under the summonsed for drunkenness, furiously driving age of ten, and a further Act in 1840 raised a horse and ill-using it, and for assaulting and the minimum age to 16, but, as with all the resisting the police in the execution of their previous legislation, this was largely ignored duty. The Hampshire Advertiser describes the by chimney sweeps and their customers. An shocking event in full. 1817 report to Parliament had stated that The family were settled in Andover - all of climbing boys suffered from general neglect. their twelve children were born there - and in

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1871 they were in New Street, with Luke employing five men. The publication of Charles Kingsley’s Water Babies in 1863 brought the public’s attention to the plight of the climbing boys. In the same year Luke gave evidence to the Children’s Employment Commission, prior to the 1864 Act that prohibited any person under the age of 21 being compelled or knowingly allowed to ascend a chimney. In his evidence Luke argued the point for the use of boys to sweep chimneys. He said he had been a sweep for nearly 40 years, did the sweeping in most of the best houses and travelled as much as 30 miles to do so. He said he was glad of the introduction of the machine, but believed it was not possible to do without boys entirely. If chimneys are bigger than 18 inches square - of which there were many in his Luke 1818-1883 neighbourhood - the brush needed to sweep it would be too heavy to carry about. The authorised by the police to carry on their chimneys themselves could be swept by the business in the district. By licensing sweeps machine, but some had pots and cowls with the police finally had the means to enforce arms sloping upwards or downwards, and legislation, and the practice of sending boys bars across the bottom that must be cleaned, up chimneys was ended. but a machine would not do it. Sometimes a Elizabeth died in 1876, and Luke married chimney might have been large enough for a Harriet RICHARDS from Freshwater in 1877. man, but the trap to the grate so small that Luke died in 1883, and Harriet went to live in only a boy could get through it. He stated: Aldershot with two of her grandchildren. In his “The law makers, Lords or Commons either, will, Luke stated that the executors were to will never make a law which would entirely sell his stock in trade and the goodwill of his prevent the use of climbing boys … The law is business, set aside an amount for his wife and not now enforced … as the work can be done expenses, and all the remainder was to be so early in the morning it will be almost divided equally between his children. impossible to prevent using boys, for who can Luke and Elizabeth’s ninth child Luke had know of it?” been born in February 1857. He learned his How wrong he was. In 1875 the Chimney trade of chimney sweeping by being carried Sweepers Act required chimney sweeps to be around on his father’s back as he went

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about his work, and had to get inside chimneys and signal from the top that the flues were clean. On the 1881 census Luke was in New Street, Andover, employing four sweeps. He married Sophia DAVIS the following year, but the couple did not have any children. It appears from newspaper advertisements of the time that Luke and his brother Job fell out. After his father’s death, Job put a notice in the paper saying he “was at home working with him (his father) for two years, having purchased the STOCK-IN-TRADE and Goodwill of his late Father’s Business, solicits the patronage of the Nobility, Clergy and Public generally … J.B. wishes to inform the public Luke 1857-1934 that he has no connection with any other firm secured a contract to carry the mails for the trading in the name of Bull’. Job stayed in New Government to various places around Street, and Luke moved his business to East Andover. The article said that, on his death, he Street, although the pair served alongside left 34 properties in the district, the rental of each other for several years in the Andover which brought an income of £800 a year. Job Fire Brigade. had died in 1919, and Luke’s money was left Luke’s house in East Street bore a plaque:- to his sisters, their children and the children ‘LUKE BULL LIVES HERE of his deceased brothers. Attends to orders far and near Three generations of chimney sweeps, the first With his brush, scraper and machine, two of which, within the space of 100 years He’ll sweep your chimney very clean, and after several ineffectual Acts of And if it ever should take fire, Parliament, saw the use of climbing boys in He’ll put it out at your desire’ chimney sweeping go from the accepted practice to being outlawed. When Luke died in 1934 he left the considerable sum of £7,625 6s 7d. A I am deeply indebted to all the Bull family newspaper article headed ‘Luke did a dirty job researchers who have shared their findings but had a tidy bit of cash’ said that he with me, too many to mention here. Thank inherited £100 when his father died and set you. out to double it. When he’d achieved that, to Lesley Bull (Member # 9365) treble it, and so on. As well as his sweeping Wychwynd, Cove Road, Fleet, Hants GU51 2RT business, Luke was a horse dealer and had - [email protected]

40 Member’s article In a “Nutshell” – Part 2

Here are a few more snippets from the he had had the best of luck so far, except for ‘Nutshell’:- one day when he nearly had his wrist blown The autumn 1916 edition had a sketch of a off - a sniper got him. It broke a wristwatch to cartoon by Will SCOTT , entitled ‘A Loos End’. smithereens! It is amazing what the boys did whilst at war – G W POTTER on HMS Elizabeth , May 1916, it was something that I assume could take said how pleased all were able to get to their minds off other things. services, although the little chapel on board There was an announcement that Corporal was not nearly big enough. Fred BURROW of the 15th Hampshire In summer 1916 Sniper Henry LANGRISH Regiment, BEF, had been awarded the Military sent word that they had a celebration at 8 am Medal for distinguished service in the field. It in the carpenters’ shop in Salonica with 24 is hardly necessary to say that the Military officers and the Brigadier. Signallers Percy Medal is the equivalent in the ranks to the RUSSELL and Bill DANKS were also there Military Cross for officers. In a letter home and wished to be remembered. Fred said that the ribbon was pinned to his In August 1916 there was a camp for the coat by the General, and he was given a card, Scouts Group at Singleton and they were which stated “I wish to place on record my entertained by Mr Leveson Gower. Baden- appreciation of your coolness in consolidating Powell inspected them in the Vicarage Garden the third objective and remaining there 48 before they left for home. He remarked that hours, till relieved, under heavy fire”. they were a smart troop. There were several notices of marriages, A note that Percy PENFOLD , a Kut prisoner, including George PARKINSON to Miss B was at Adana in Asia Minor. Bert BURN WEARN in the parish church; also George mentioned that he had been promoted to FOWLER to Miss Lucy WILKINSON on 23 warrant rank, now attached to HMS Liverpool , October. and was presented with a sword by the ship’s Gunner G ATKINSON (28437) of the 20th company of M24. Charles KNEATH met with Reserve Battery got his overseas kit and was an accident in France and had not yet returned at RAF Woolwich, and would be going to the to the Front. Front shortly. Since the previous article I have had some Harry PATTER of the 33rd Division Signals enquiries from our members, and was very Company, RE, BEF, reported that whilst having pleased to let them have more information a game of ‘footer’ the Huns sent over a 77 about the members of their family. If any of the shrapnel and it fell in a nearby field, giving names mentioned have a connection, please do them a bit of a fright, but as soon as they had not hesitate to get in touch. dug up the nosecap and nearly had a fight over Sheila Brine , Secretary, HGS ownership, they finished the game! Harry said (Member # 7627)

41 Historical Hogs

Nora Stanton Blatch (1883-1971) – America’s

On 5 November 1902 the Indiana Weekly Nora Blatch was educated in the United States Messenger announced: “Miss Blatch is of from 1897, and studied Latin and striking appearance. She is a tall, mathematics at the Horace Mann School in handsome brunette, with a carriage and New York, returning to England in the manner which command attention. She is summers (she continued to spend summers in a social favourite, and is always an England up until 1906). In 1901 she entered expected and welcome guest to all the Arts course at Cornell University, and in functions given by the Town and Town and the following year became the first woman to Gown … She is recognised as one of the be accepted to the University’s Civil brightest girls of her class, and her Engineering course. Her parents moved to the examination papers received United States in 1902, settling at New York, to commendatory marks … Having chosen be with their daughter. In 1904 Nora also engineering as her course, Miss Blatch demonstrated her athletic abilities when she will be compelled to don an apron and swam both Lakes Seneca and Cayuga during a works in the shops with the men, while at period of two weeks. all lectures and recitations all of the Having graduated from Cornell in 1905, Nora audience except herself will be masculine was accepted as a junior member of the …” Nora Blatch, an Englishwoman, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), attended Cornell University, in Ithaca, New the first woman to be admitted there, and York, graduating in 1905 as the first began work for the American Bridge Company woman to earn a degree in any type of (1905-06) and afterwards the New York City engineering in the United States – her Board of Water Supply. It was reported that degree was actually in civil engineering. she had previously received an offer from the Nora Stanton Blatch was born at The Mount in Chinese government to become a member of Hawkfield Lane, just off Winchester Road, the country’s corps of engineers, but she Basingstoke, on Sunday 30 September 1883. turned down that offer in favour of a position She was the elder – but only surviving – child with the American Bridge Company. Around of William Henry and Harriett Eaton ( née this time the Board of Water Supply of New Stanton) Blatch. Her father was a brewer, and York City was starting the ‘Great Aqueduct’ his father (William Henry Blatch senior) was a from the Catskill Mountains to New York. Only partner in May’s Brewery in the town until his the best civil engineers were being accepted death in 1892, and had been the Mayor of by examination. Nora passed easily and Basingstoke for the year 1880-81. Nora’s worked on “the greatest water project ever mother was a lecturer and writer, a British undertaken”. Partly because of this, it would subject born in the United States. Her mother appear, she was accepted as a naturalised (Elizabeth Smith Cady Stanton), in turn, was a American citizen on 2 April 1906. leading figure in women’s rights in the United Following the examples set by her mother and States, and Harriett was naturally influenced grandmother, she also became active in the by her, following deeply in Elizabeth Cady’s growing women’s suffrage movement. She footsteps in her views, which she then once said that she had chosen civil transferred to her daughter Nora. engineering as her major because it was the

42 Historical Hogs

The famous, not-so-famous & downright First Female Civil Engineer infamous - Hampshire Celebrities of Yesteryear most male-dominated field she could find. She quit her job with the Board of Water Supply to enrol for courses in electricity and mathematics at Columbia University, so that she could work as a laboratory assistant to Lee DE FOREST , of “wireless telegraph and telephone fame”, the inventor of the radio vacuum (triode electron) tube and the Audion piano. They were engaged on 12 February 1908, soon after Lee’s divorce, and two days later - on St Valentine’s Day – they married at Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut. The couple combined their European honeymoon with marketing radio equipment that De Forest had developed. Nora then helped to manage her husband’s company in New Jersey. Unfortunately, the couple separated after only a year of marriage, due largely to De Forest’s insistence that Nora quit her profession to become a conventional housewife. He had learned to deal with her activism, but her active work in his lab made him increasingly uneasy, particularly as his wife wanted to supervise operations at his capacitor factory. The couple began to argue frequently, and, although pregnant, Nora moved out of their home. Shortly afterwards, in June 1909, she gave birth to their daughter (Harriett Stanton De Forest). After returning to New York, she went to work as an assistant engineer and chief draughtsman at the Radley Steel Construction Company, and divorced Lee De Forest in 1911. In 1912 Nora started work for the New York Public Service Commission as an assistant engineer. In 1914 she began working part-time as an architect and developer on Long Island. In later years she was employed by the Public Works Administration in Connecticut and Rhode Island as an architect, engineering inspector and structural- Nora Barney, 1921

43 Historical Hogs steel designer. In 1916 she gained notoriety when she filed a lawsuit against the ASCE, which had terminated her membership when her age passed the limit for junior status (at 32). Unfortunately, she failed to win reinstatement through the court, and, consequently, no women joined the Society until 1927. In addition to her work in civil engineering, Nora devoted much of her time to the women’s suffrage movement. She had founded a suffrage club while at Cornell University, and then campaigned heavily for the cause in New York between 1909 and 1917. She became the President of the Women’s Political Union in Three generations of female activists (Nora Blatch, 1915, succeeding her mother in that role, and Elizabeth Cady, Harriett Stanton), 1890 edited Women’s Political World . She subsequently participated in the efforts of the 1950 she was investigated by the House National Women’s Party for a federal Equal Committee on Un-American Activities because Rights Amendment. of her activism and membership in the In 1919 Nora married Morgan BARNEY , a Congress of American Women. Nora Barney marine architect. They had a daughter and a did not cease in her struggle for women’s son (Rhoda and John), and moved to rights and continued in her real estate Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1923, business right up until her death. She died of a where Nora became a real estate developer, stroke at her home in Greenwich on Monday an enterprise in which both her inheritance 18 January 1971, aged 87. from her father’s death (in 1915) and her civil Ken Smallbone, Editor engineering training proved helpful. She and Sources: wikpedia.com ; Encyclopedia her family eventually lived in a house of her Britannica online ; IEEE Global History own design. Network ; Public Historian (Suzanne Fischer: Although successful in business, Nora History of Technology) ; Judy Barrett Litoff & remained politically active and continued to Judith McDonnell (editors), European work for equal rights for women and for world Immigrant Women in the United States (Judith peace. In 1944 she wrote World Peace through McDonnell, ‘Nora Stanton Blatch Barney’), a People’s Parliament , advocating a world 1994 ; Censuses for Basingstoke and New York government truly representative of the people. ; various records of the Blatch family (as part She also produced several pamphlets, of the author’s research into Basingstoke including Women as Human Beings (1946). In families) YOUR stories and features to: [email protected]

44 Member’s article Heraldic Myths & Abuses

Having now been forced to use the new place of, or in addition to, the wreath. version of Ancestry , I feel that I am Mantling is a protective cloth affixed to the further frustrated by being immediately helmet – on a coat-of-arms it is depicted as confronted at times with a few dodgy flowing from beneath the crest. Mantling is ‘Matching persons (from family trees)’ believed to have originated in the Holy Land, features, and then afterwards by false being worn by crusading knights to absorb the claims to heraldic coats-of-arms. I had heat. preferred to use the old Ancestry model, The crest and its components were rarely which allowed me to undertake research worn in battle. They were designed more for completely under my own volition, the jousting lists, as an effective way of without being pestered with having to further identifying the knight. In the midst of unavoidably view others’ versions of battle there was a need for much easier ways pedigrees – some of which have proved to to indicate friend from foe. be extremely dubious. The coat-of-arms (and not the “crest”) is the What is equally as bad, as far as I am term now invariably used to mean the concerned, is the number of false claims to conventional representation in pictorial form coats-of-arms that appear on the first pages of the principal armorial bearings to which an of the new version of Ancestry. From what I’ve armiger is entitled. The shield is the essential seen to date, the online genealogical world and central element, and was originally seems to be quite full of people supposedly deemed to be solely the “coat-of-arms” - but descended from knightly or aristocratic now this term also includes at least the ancestors – leaving me with the question: helmet, wreath and mantling on top of the where are all the descendants from purely shield, as well. In more complicated armorial common people? These heraldic claims must bearings there may be the addition of amount to pure fallacy in many, or even most, supporters, a motto and a mound upon which cases. the shield and supporters stand. The type of First of all, we see that such items are helmet itself portrays the rank of the bearer of erroneously called “crests”. That certainly arms – whether a gentleman or esquire, shows ignorance in the subject. A crest is the knight or baronet, peer of the realm, or device that sits on top of the helmet, and is monarch. purely decorative. It is mounted on the helmet Hence, the crest and coat are two different and so depicted on a coat-of-arms, together things altogether. with the wreath (or crest coronet) and There is no such thing as a “family coat-of- mantling, all of which are now considered to arms”. This is a myth perpetrated by be components of the crest in British armory. marketers who aim to sell their wares to A wreath is a band of twisted strands worn unsuspecting customers that like to be about the helmet as a decoration, or to flattered with thoughts of some kind of conceal the base of the crest (where the latter grandeur or improbable links to the gentry, was laced or bolted to the tournament helm). aristocracy or royalty. A coat-of-arms was A crest coronet is an ornamental circlet in granted to a particular person and his

45 Member’s article

(rarely her) direct descendants, especially in traced back to the original grantee – with the male line (as women did not wear helmets evidence of the grant being registered with the and fight in battles or tournaments – however, College of Arms, or, alternatively, to a Heralds’ they could pass on the armorial bearings if Visitation pedigree that denotes the officially they were heiresses). If the male issue failed approved use of a coat-of-arms. If such then the only daughter became the full cannot be proved, then there is no right to be heiress, and could then pass her father’s arms maintained for bearing those arms. However, to her sons, provided only that her husband one can always approach the heralds for a was also an armiger (that is, permitted to personal grant of arms – a highly expensive bear a coat-of-arms). In this case the two luxury – so that one’s descendants could designs (husband’s and wife’s father’s) would inherit the device. be placed on a “quartered” shield – the shield In the past (particularly during the Tudor and would be divided into four with the two Stuart periods) such unproven or false claims designs alternating. If more than one daughter would have been “disclaimed” and the had survived, then the sisters became joint perpetrator denounced through a heiresses and could pass their father’s arms proclamation being nailed to the door of the to their sons in like manner as above. parish church. It was deemed illegal to claim a In order to be able to confirm one’s right to a coat-of-arms to which a person was not certain coat-of-arms the family tree has to be entitled. However, the last time that the Court

46 Member’s article

of Chivalry (in the College of Arms) sat to produce some very beautiful designs that are determine a suspected breach of heraldic code at the heart of our heritage and which enhance was in 1954, after an absence of 217 years, the artistry of our churches and other yet it was considered that the Court’s sudden historical buildings. The subject requires a reappearance in session showed that it still great deal of study. It is, nevertheless, a existed. Nevertheless, heraldic abuses serious system of genealogy, which should not continue and even increase because of a be abused in the way it is nowadays (even general lack of observance and through the though it had often been abused in the past, ignorance of the rules that had practically we are supposed to be more intelligent and sustained the system during its long history educated nowadays). Heraldry must be safe- that stretches back almost 1,000 years. guarded, nurtured to the extent that it remains Pure ignorance of the rules of heraldry pure and truthful, or otherwise there will be obviously exaggerates such abuses as “family little reason for it to exist, other than for coats-of-arms”. The marketers of items that creating pretty pictures. display and encourage this fallacy now flourish The only way it can possibly be demeaned is with impunity on the internet. It is through utter ignorance of what it is and what undoubtedly a very profitable industry, as it stands for. It may not personally relate to us, evidenced by the number of false claims being for most of us are not armigerous, but it is shown on Ancestry and other similar sites. definitely part of our heritage – our history – Such dubious businesses would not be able to and must be respected as such, instead of succeed if it were not for the gullible who being constantly abused. If it were studied seem to have little time for accurate history more, then it would be better understood and and genealogy, and are merely out to impress its meaning will become much clearer – and it others with their “assumed ancestry”. would then be less abused. If it is the matter Furthermore, such businesses are also aided that it is outdated and holds little significance by having at hand a very convenient source in publications such as Burke’s General Armory in our modern world (as some may consider), (1884) and General Armory Two (1974), which then perhaps somebody could explain why so can be found in most libraries. Although these many people falsely claim that they have a books were intended to record coats granted right to a certain coat-of-arms, and that many to individuals, they had unfortunately listed seem to like to advertise their claims on such them under single surnames, and, in the websites as Ancestry . process, had helped to create the myth of Ken Smallbone, Editor “family coats-of-arms”, from which Further Reading: A New Dictionary of Heraldty unscrupulous merchants had since taken (ed Stephen Friar, 1987); Terrick FitzHugh, The advantage. Dictionary of Genealogy (5th Edition, revised Heraldry can be a deeply fascinating subject, by Susan Lumas, 1998); Thomas Woodcock & with its history, rituals, procedure and John Martin Robinson, The Oxford Guide to terminology, while the artwork itself can Heraldry (1990)

47 Records offices Hampshire Record Office

Sussex Street, Winchester, New opening hours are: - Hampshire SO23 8TH Monday to Wednesday, 9am-5pm Telephone: (01962) 846154 Thursday, 9am-7pm Fax: (01962) 878681 Email: [email protected] Friday, 9am-5pm www.hants.gov.uk/archives Saturday. 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month Records offices surrounding Hampshire Please telephone in advance of visiting a record office to ensure they are open.

Berkshire Record Office 9 Coley Avenue, Reading RG1 6AF (0118 901 5132; [email protected]; http://www.berkshirerecordoffice.org.uk Tue, Wed 9 am – 5 pm; Thu 9 am – 9 pm; Fri 9 am – 4.30 pm

Dorset History Centre Bridport Road, Dorchester DT1 1RP (01305 250550; [email protected]; http://www.dorsetforyou.com/archives) Tue to Fri 9 am – 5 pm; Sat (1st and 3rd of each month) 9 am – 4.30 pm.

Isle of Wight Record Office 26 Hillside, Newport PO30 2EB (01983 823820; [email protected]) Mon, Wed to Fri 9 am - 12.30 pm and 1 pm to 5 pm.

Surrey History Centre 130 Goldsworth Road, Woking GU21 1ND (01483 518737; [email protected]; http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/surreyhistoryservice) Tue, Fri 9.30 am – 5 pm; Wed 10.15 am – 5 pm; Thu 9.30 pm – 7.30 pm; Sat 9.30 am – 4 pm.

West Sussex Record Office 3 Orchard Street, Chichester PO19 1DD (01243 753602; [email protected]; http://www.westsussex.gov.uk) Mon to Wed & Fri 9.15 am – 4.45 pm; Thu 9.15 am – 7.30 pm; Sat 9.15 am – 4.30 pm.

Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre Cocklebury Road, Chippenham SN15 3QN (01249-705500; [email protected]; http://www.wshc.eu) Tue to Fri 9.30 am – 5.30 pm; Sat 9.30 am – 5.00 pm.

48 Records offices The National Archives (TNA)

The National Archives Bourne Ave, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU. Tel: +44 (0) 20 8876 3444. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk Opening Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 9am to 7pm Wednesday/Friday/Saturday 9am to 5pm Free parking Portsmouth History Centre

Portsmouth History Centre Opening Hours: Norrish Central Library, Guildhall Square Monday and Friday: 9.30am to 5pm Portsmouth Tuesday, Wednesday and Hampshire PO1 2DX Thursday: 9.30am to 6pm Telephone number: 023 9268 8046 Saturday: 10am to 3.30pm Fax number: 023 9283 9855

Southampton City Archives

Southampton City Archives Civic Centre, Southampton SO14 7LY Phone: 023-8083-2251 Fax: 023-8085-2156 Email: [email protected] Opening Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 10 am to 4 pm

49 News from the Hampshire Record Office

News from Archives and Local Studies at Hampshire

Forthcoming events Petersfield and North Stoneham). Exhibitions Please contact me if you would be interested in hosting an exhibition. Exhibitions consisting Hampshire Record Office of smaller individually-laminated copies with ‘150, Not Out’, 3 May – 11 July 2014. 150 explanatory text cover themes that include years of Hampshire County Cricket Club Starting your family history, family history (presented by HCCC) sources, Hampshire and the Women’s In Search of Alfred the Great and Land Army, Hampshire’s food heritage. In some cases an accompanying DVD of archive Reuniting the Stones of Hyde Abbey, 19 film footage is available. July – 21 August and 27 August – 16 October 2014. Two exhibitions presented by the Lunchtime lectures Hyde900 group (Free, donations welcomed; no need to book) Libraries at Fleet, Romsey and Ringwood Last Thursday of each month, 1.15-1.45pm. An exhibition featuring material held at HRO 26 June. ‘ 150, Not Out’: Hampshire County relating to the First World War will be touring Cricket, 1863-2013 – by Dr David Allen (Hon Fleet, Romsey and Ringwood libraries during Archivist, HCC) 2014. 31 July: Hampshire’s Foreign Secretary: Sir We are always pleased to hear from local Edward Grey – by Piers Burton-Page organisations that would like to host 28 August: Fashion on Film: Real clothes in exhibitions we have produced. the collections of Wessex Film & Sound Archive – by Zoe Viney We have exhibitions - mainly in the form of A0-sized flexible vinyl panels or free-standing 25 September: I n Search of Alfred the Great pull-up banners - featuring reproductions of – by the Hyde900 Group material from the archives with explanatory Family History for Beginners text. Topics covered by recent exhibitions that £12 per person each session. Booking essential are now available for loan include The Showpeople of Hampshire, the family Practical advice and help in starting your histories of some Hampshire heroes, family history research - Discover the main sources available and how to use them - sources for local history, Hampshire and Access material on microfiche/film with staff the census, the Winchester Bishopric on hand to answer any questions - All you Estate pipe rolls, Hampshire’s garden need to know to begin researching your family history, 2,000 years of record-keeping, tree Hampshire and the slave trade, Hampshire diaries, Hampshire and the Olympics, The 5 June, 2.00-4.00 pm – Please contact us for Queen and Hampshire, children’s writer subsequent dates Ursula Moray Williams (links with (You only need to attend one session)

50 News from the Hampshire Record Office

Record Office

Local and family history of local government in 1974 have been workshops catalogued as 123M96/DBC1-DBC51, and the later volumes as 141A13/A1-A30. We already £12 per person each session. Booking essential held the records of the Borough’s Monday 9 June (2.00-4.00 pm). Their Names predecessors, Gosport Town Trustees (1763- liveth for Evermore: Researching war 1877), Alverstoke Local Board (1878-1885), memorials Alverstoke (later Gosport and Alverstoke) The Archive Ambassador training District Urban Sanitary Authority (1886-1894), scheme and Gosport and Alverstoke Urban District Sign up today and help us preserve Council (1895-1922), all catalogued under the Hampshire’s heritage - £18 per person, reference 123M96, so we now have a booking essential continuous series of minutes covering 240 years of the town’s history - a wonderful Wednesdays 9 July, 10 September and 19 resource, not only for local historians, but also November (10.00 am - 3.30 pm). Training in for family historians, because you may find an archive preservation/conservation, ancestor serving as a councillor or official, cataloguing, digitisation and film and sound submitting a building control plan or a archives petroleum licence application, or even You only need to attend one session tendering to provide local services. *** For booking any of the above items, Shoes for a Basingstoke girl telephone 01962 846154 *** A small deposit of additional records of the For more information about events, please visit pre-1974 Basingstoke Borough Council www.hants.gov.uk/whatson-hro or ring includes some administrative records from the 01962 846154 . To receive our monthly e- 18th and 19th centuries. Of particular interest newsletter , which provides regular updates is a set of sheets of paper, probably late 17th- about events, activities and archive news, century in date, labelled ‘The booke of please go to www.hants.gov.uk/rh/mailinglist – Accompts of the Colectors of the poore at then enter your details and select ‘Archives’ Basingstoke’ (148M71/1/10/4). It gives the from the pick-list. names of many townspeople who were helped, Recent additions to the often just recording names and amounts - holdings typically between 6d and 1s, but sometimes providing more details - as in entries for Two hundred years of Gosport history payments to ‘Chris. Watts for Entertaining Local authority minute books make up an travellers’, ‘Goody Green for keeping Stockers important part of our holdings, and we were child’, ‘Robt Merryfield for 1 pr shoes for the very pleased to add to them the minute books Wid[ow] Knights girle’ and ‘Mr Henry Barfoot for Gosport Borough Council covering 1922- for a Cordiall for a Strange woman’, and ‘for 2003. The volumes prior to the reorganisation reedeeming Jon. Randalls Ax from Mr Princes’.

51 News from the Hampshire Record Office

41A13/A1 – Wickham cricket team, 1911 A deed signed in Australia The inn yards of Andover A small group of mid 19th-century title deeds Visiting a town or village where some of your to Pound Cottage, West Street, Odiham ancestors lived can help to give you an insight (16A14), begins with an abstract of title (a into their lives, but if they lived in the centre detailed summary of earlier deeds) of Richard of a town you may find few buildings left that Peskett, a victualler who had left Odiham for they would have known. Andover is one of the Farnham by 1848. The abstract takes the towns that saw major changes as a result of story of the property back to 1812 when the London Overspill developments in the 1960s. site was sold for £32 by Michael Hawkins and Some interesting insights into how the town his brother John, yeomen living in Eversley centre used to look, and how it has changed, and Cove respectively, to Henry Hellis, an are provided by a set of scrapbooks containing Odiham carpenter. At the time the land was news-cuttings about the developments and described as having been enclosed from the papers relating to the Anti-Overspill campaign manorial waste by Michael and John’s father (including a short diary of protest events) James Hawkins over 30 years earlier. It seems collected by Martin Boyett, an architecture that Henry Hellis built the cottage before student living in Andover at the time selling it to Richard Peskett for £90. The last (137A13). Mr Boyett’s dissertation, produced deed in the group, dating from 1878, is a in 1967 (137A13/3), is particularly interesting, much-travelled document, as it had to be and includes photographs of many of the signed and attested in Melbourne ‘in the buildings then existing. Among them are Colony of Victoria’, Australia by George numerous views of the coaching inn yards Hewett, stepson of the late William Judd who leading off the High Street, West Street and had bought it in 1848. Bridge Street. It is always good to receive

52 News from the Hampshire Record Office illustrations of such rarely-photographed parts restrictions apply to some of the more recent of a town. records). The album (18M89/21/14), which Cricketers dates from around the opening of the 20th century, was presented to the Society by its Women’s Institute scrapbooks often give sometime President H Barrow Simonds, and detailed insights not only into the WI’s contains photographs of trustees, directors, activities, but also into the history, wildlife, branch chairmen (in many cases, local clergy buildings and people in a village, and this is or gentry) and agents, with an index especially true of those compiled for a identifying their names and roles. One of our competition in the early 1950s. We hold these volunteers has now added the names and for many Hampshire WIs, and we are always positions to our online catalogue entry. The delighted when we receive further examples. photograph reproduced here shows Mr S The latest to arrive come from Wickham WI, Stevens, the Vice-Chairman for and they include two scrapbooks from c1951 Winchester. Enclosed in the album is a (41A13/A1-A2), as well as later albums. The scrapbooks include some much earlier photographs of Wickham people and places, such as the 1911 cricket team reproduced here on the left. Friendly Society officials Our other illustrations are taken from an album of photographs contained within the archives of the Hampshire and General Friendly Society. The Society was founded in 1824 as a medical assurance society for the benefit of members who paid into and drew from the common fund, supplemented in 1867 with a deposit system combining sickness assurance with a personal savings scheme. It is a good example of a ‘county society’, founded and subsequently managed by honorary members predominantly drawn from the county’s gentry and clergy. With the introduction of the National Insurance Act (1911) the Society established a section for state benefits, and in 1946 there were 46,906 voluntary members and 33,800 in the state section. The records (18M89) form one of the most comprehensive archives of a friendly society in the UK, providing information both 18M89/21/14 about individual members and about the role – Mr S Stevens, Vice-Chairman for Winchester of the society in the county and beyond, over Branch its existence of more than 150 years (access

53 News from the Hampshire Record Office

18M89/21/14 – Hampshire & General Friendly Society officers & staff, early 20th century large group photograph of, presumably, the forerunner of the Yellow Pages – from March Society’s officers and staff, a portion of which 1940, described as covering the Southampton, is reproduced here - in this case numbers Portsmouth and Bournemouth districts, and have been written on the photograph, but, actually covering the area between Weymouth, unfortunately, the identifying key does not Andover, Chichester and Ventnor. However, it appear to have been preserved with the print. only covers the first part of the alphabet, from Local Studies Collection: some Account book manufacturers to Hotels (384.6 new books and pamphlets pamphlets). Recently-published books featuring old Directories are a good source of information photographs include Hayling Island by John about local businesses, and we have recently Rowlands and Christchurch Then & Now by added to our collection of telephone John Needham (both published by The History directories a classified business directory –

54 News from the Hampshire Record Office

Press, 2013, shelved at 942.2795 and might be particularly useful if you are studying 942.3900222 respectively). The latter also your relatives’ military service 100 years ago includes modern equivalent views for is a 2013 reprint of Arthur Banks’s A Military comparison. Photographs, along with Atlas of the First World War (Pen and Sword), reproductions of track plans and 1930 originally published in 1975, and containing timetables, are also a feature of Main Line to maps of the locations of numerous the West: The Southern Railway Route between engagements (940.4). Finally, a lighter note is Basingstoke & Exeter: Part Four: The Branch provided by Sporting Ancestors: Tracing your Lines by John Nicholas and George Reeve Family’s Athletic Past by Keith Gregson (The (Irwell Press Ltd, 2013) (385.094227), which History Press, 2012) (929.1072041). includes sections relating to the lines between The Hampshire Tax List of 1327 Hurstbourne and Fullerton Junction, and Andover and Redbridge, the Basingstoke and How long have the surnames you are Alton Light Railway, and the branch line researching been current in Hampshire? You running from the main line west of may find some clues in the latest volume in Basingstoke to Park Prewett Hospital. the Hampshire Record Series. The Hampshire Tax List of 1327 , edited by Patrick Mitchell-Fox The life of a Hampshire farmer is presented in and Mark Page, has just been published, and Eileen Sullivan’s two books about her husband copies are available now from Hampshire Dave: The Sheep’s in the Meadow… Hopefully! Record Office. Dating from more than 500 and Have You Any Wool? (Woodfield years before the first census in which names Publishing, 2008 and 2013) (B/SUL), featuring were routinely recorded, over 200 years Aldershot and Ash, where Mr and Mrs Sullivan before the first parish registers, and well grew up, and , where they before the first manorial records for many have lived for over 40 years, also covering Mr manors, the 1327 tax list names about 7,980 Sullivan’s work in sheep-faming and his role individuals, listed under nearly 500 places in as pastor in Gospel Halls. the county, including the Isle of Wight, who If family photographs have been passed down paid sums ranging from 6¼d to at least £2. to you, they can give a wonderfully vivid Unlike many early sources that concentrate on impression of past generations of your family baronial and knightly families, it includes – but working out the date and context of an many of the upper and middling peasants, as unidentified photograph can be a challenge. only those with fewer than 10s of goods, Tracing your Ancestors through Family including livestock, merchandise and some Photographs: A Complete Guide for Local and household goods, were exempt. Family Historians by Jayne Shrimpton (Pen This edition has a full name index, including and Sword, 2014) (929.3) contains detailed English translations of the many surnames information about the clues provided by that appear in Latin forms in the text, such as costume, the format and style of a Faber for Smith and Bercarius for Shepherd. photograph, and so on. On a similar but more For family historians this makes it an instant specific theme, Dating Old Army Photographs way to discover places where a particular by Robert Pols (The Family History surname was in use at this time, and Partnership, 2011) (929.342) will be especially occasionally family relationships are given, as helpful if you are dealing with unidentified in the case of Elena, described as the relict photographs of soldiers. Another book that

55 News from the Hampshire Record Office of Geoffrey de Kyngbrigge, in Michelmersh. been abolished by Parliament the year before Local historians will find it a mine of the surveys were carried out, and such information about the names of local people valuations were drawn up across the country and about their relative wealth. Also apparent to ascertain the value of lands belonging both is the rich range of surnames in medieval to bishops and to deans and chapters. The Hampshire, including nuanced names inspired bishops, and their lands, were reinstated after by farming, such as variations on Eweherd the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. and Lambherd as well as the very common Particularly gratifying, and especially useful Shepherd, and unusual names such as Isabella for family historians, has been the completion Gobithewatere, which sounds like a direction of the catalogue for the fine books, with their to her house, and Thomas Eatbread. Other accompanying indexes (11M59/C3 and C4). surnames give clues to features in the local These records are among the most useful in landscape such as orchards, bridges and the collection, but were previously listed in a mills. You can buy a copy in person at piecemeal way, with some volumes overlooked Hampshire Record Office for £15.00; completely. Copyhold tenure predominated alternatively, you can send a cheque made across the bishopric estates until the 19th payable to Hampshire County Council for century, and was not finally extinguished until £16.50, including p&p, to HRO (address 1922. A copyhold tenant was virtually a below). freeholder in the post-medieval period, but Opening up the Bishopric Estate archives could not sell or bequeath his property directly Our nine-month project to catalogue the to another party. Instead, at each change of Winchester Bishopric collection (11M59), tenancy, the holding was surrendered to the funded through the National Cataloguing lord of the manor, who, in turn, admitted the Grants Programme, is now nearing new tenant. By 1540, details of such completion. This collection comprises the admissions, and the entry fines paid by records of the immense estates held for many incoming tenants, were recorded in the fine centuries by the Bishops of Winchester, books. The books are written in an including around 30 manors in Hampshire and abbreviated form of Latin (English from 1733), a similar number elsewhere. and cover the period from 1508 to 1951, with Adrienne Allen, who has been undertaking this few gaps, making it possible for the descent of project, reports that one of the most enjoyable individual properties within the bishopric tasks so far has been working on the surveys estates to be traced over a period of several (11M59/A1): an excellent series of centuries. Finally, around 880 bundles of court topographical surveys, detailed valuations – papers and surrenders (11M59/C6 and C7) some with decorative maps and plans – are now all itemised on the online catalogue. tenants’ rent rolls and books of manorial David Rymill customs has emerged, dating from 1332 Contact details: through to c1926. Among the records in this Hampshire Record Office, series was a set of surveys authorised by Sussex Street, Winchester, Hants SO23 8TH Parliament in 1647, comprising detailed Telephone: (01962) 846154; valuations of the Bishop of Winchester’s lands Fax: (01962) 878681 which were ‘to be sold for the use of the Email: [email protected] Common Wealth’. The English episcopacy had www.hants.gov.uk/archives

56 HGS Groups

HGS Groups 2014

6 3

2 1

12 4 14 13 5 10 11 7 8 9

1. Alton 9. New Milton & Christchurch 2. Andover () (Highcliffe) 3. Basingstoke 10. Portsmouth (Cosham) 4. Fair Oak 11. Ringwood 5. Fareham 12. Romsey 6. Fleet & Farnborough (Fleet) 13. Southampton (Bitterne) 7. Gosport 14. Waltham Chase 8. New Forest (Brockenhurst)

57 Local Group Programmes

Contact: Alton Jane Hurst – 82, The Butts, Alton, Hants GU34 1RD Meetings are held monthly on the second Monday at Tel 01420 86701 7.30 p.m. in All Saints Church Hall, Queens Road, Email: [email protected] Alton. If anyone attending our evenings wishes to take advantage of the fully operational hearing loop installed in the hall would they let Jane Hurst know beforehand so that it can be switched on.

Jane Hurst reports:- (January) Members’ Evening: Come & share your problems & successes. This is an evening wherein members can discuss their research problems; where answers could sometimes be provided or at least aired; and also where the successful have the opportunity to let others know of their triumphs. It is therefore a time to display a variation of themes and topics, making it an interesting evening. (February) Members’ Evening: Annual meeting & family photographs. During this evening we discussed the coming year’s programme, and then sorted through family photographs that members had brought to the meeting. (March) Jane Fox – Dating old photographs. This talk was given to the Fareham HGS Group in March 2013, and had been reported in HFH Vol 40/1 (June 2013), wherein Carol Russell gave a very detailed report. As implied here, Jane gave us extremely useful tips in dating those old photos that had often aroused our curiosity. April & May meetings to be reported in the next journal. Future dates are:-

9 June Church & parish sources Jane Hurst 14 July Come & share your problems & successes 8 September To be announced (see the HGS Website)

For all the latest news visit www.hgs-online.org.uk or www.hgs-familyhistory.com

58 Local Group Programmes

Contact: Andover Jim Duncan , 14 Witan Close Andover Meetings are held on the second Thursday, Hampshire, SP10 5NL. September to July, commencing 7.30p.m. at The Tel 01264 356238, Email: Fairground Hall, Weyhill, Andover SP11 0QN [email protected]

Jim Duncan reports:- (January) Open Forum / An audience with… Following on from our success in 2013 with SHARING, we set members a new theme for 2014: COMMUNICATION (“It’s good to talk”). The Open Forum again provided members with a platform to discuss various family history matters. Items included occupations; RAF records from WW2; back to basics; projects for 2014 (burial index 1842-65); and our WW1 special meeting in August. As part of theme 2014 we have added a series of ‘Audiences with’ to the members’ evenings. To set the scene, we invited former HGS chairman, and experienced researcher, Len Ruffell as our guest, and were allowed to delve into his research through a series of questions posed to him by Stephanie Cox. Len spoke of his early days: researching; registers; card indexes; how certain things had an influence on his research over the years; discoveries; living ancestors; cherished items – and, finally, what will happen to his research in the future. (February) Mark Pitchforth (HRO) – House history. Mark spoke about house history and the available resources needed to uncover the information on both the house and who lived there. He covered various documents that are available. Many of the sources were familiar - maps, electoral rolls, directories and wills - but some were specific to the house itself: land registry, schedules of listed buildings, inventories, house and land brochures. He also covered land tax assessments, enclosure awards, tax and rate books, rent rolls and manorial records as other valuable sources that will assist the researcher. Although the talk was based on what is available at Hampshire Record Office, his message was: “Locate the house, and then contact the county record office as they will have similar information stored within their archival material”. (March) Open Forum / Maggie Eltham – An evening with … Penal transportation. Three of the group took lead roles after Open Forum. An interesting audience with Stephanie Cox (interviewed by Rodney Whale), who gave us an insight into her experiences from the early days of her family history research: How modern technology has opened up the world to her research; her thoughts on what is going to happen with it. The transcription team are taking on four more parishes: Thruxton, , Kimpton and Weyhill (Burials 1842-65). A presentation from Maggie Eltham on researching convicts in your family, and penal transportation. With overcrowding in Britain’s prison system and the new world opening up, transportation was deemed to be the best solution. After its initial introduction and two Penal Servitude Acts (1853, 1857), this form of punishment was slowly phased out, and finally ceased in 1868.

59 Local Group Programmes

April & May meetings to be reported in the next journal. Future dates are:-

12 June Tithes & apportionments Les Mitchinson 10 July Members’ Evening: Open Forum / An audience with… Crime reports Margaret Bowman 5 August Special Meeting: 100 years’ remembrance – Start of WW1 (Note: This is Tuesday) 11 September Tracing your Welsh ancestors Sue Hamer

Contact: Basingstoke Lin Penny, 39 Barn Lane, Oakley RG23 7HT Meetings commence at 7. 30 p.m. and are held on the Telephone: 01256 780947 fourth Wednesday every month (except August and e-mail: December) at St Michael’s Church Cottage Hall, [email protected] Church Street.

Lin Penny reports:- (January) Members’ 10-minute presentations: An interesting family object. A variety of items were shown: a Victorian ruler (round and not flat); a bull’s nose ring; a metronome (c1815); a Vernon’s Pools checker stick; a china shaving mug; a small Royal Derby soup ladle; a wooden money-box (1876), an apprentice piece, needing the knack to open!; a large ornament; a CBE scroll; a watch presented to a grandfather on being called up in 1915. Other items were: a collection of war medals; a ‘Good Conduct’ school medal (1872); a small wooden chair carved from a crashed plane’s propeller; a necklace bearing the words ‘September Discernment’, the member seeking ideas for this inscription. Finally, extracts from diaries, 1939-40, were read out, sparking a conversation about an evacuee’s experiences. All are extremely precious items to those who own them. (February) John Avery – Cholera in Britain. Cholera (from ‘Gutter Drain’, discharge of fluids) arrived in Britain in 1831 and peaked in 1848/49 (‘the killer years’). The disease spread quickly through families, streets and villages, and death could occur within four hours of taking infected food or fluids. Caused by bacteria, it spread in many ways, but - despite rumour - it was much safer to drink alcohol than water, and had nothing to do with prostitutes! Parish registrars occasionally noted a cholera outbreak in the area. When finding a batch of family deaths around this time, we must consider that cholera might be the culprit. Deaths due to this disease were often not recorded on death certificates, although the cause can occasionally be seen on individual gravestones. With so many daily losses, the dead were often hurriedly buried in communal pits.

60 Local Group Programmes

Sue Wright reports:- (March) Members’ 10-minute presentations: My criminal ancestors. Jane Hussey opened the meeting with her story of Amos NEWMAN and his life as a bastard’s father in Box, Wiltshire, to his imprisonment and eventual death from fever in Gloucester gaol (1826). This was followed by Mary Burton’s intriguing tale of the murder of gambler, Mr WEARE , by three fellow gamblers in 1824. This cautionary tale ended with the execution of one of the perpetrators, the transportation of another and the release of the third, only for him to end up being hanged for horse-theft. Peter McNulty followed with another execution - this time of John SPARSHOTT hanged in 1835 at Horsham for committing “an abominable offence” - possibly homosexuality. Peter HARMSWORTH ’s tale of his ancestor, Richard, raised a question. He was sentenced to three months’ hard labour for stealing numerous bushels of wheat and grain in 1819. Yet, how were the goods carted away, and where were they stored? Denise Luker told the other side of the story by relating how her ancestors, Thomas and Richard LUKER , lived their lives as policeman at the end of the nineteenth-century. David Bloomfield told the poignant story of May, who murdered her abusive husband in 1927, was sent to Broadmoor as a criminal lunatic, and died there aged 47 years. Finally, Ken Smallbone ended the evening with his story of James POTTER , who suffered for his faith in the mid seventeenth-century. Having being sent to prison five times, this literate and articulate man ended up pleading the cases of fellow Quakers at the Assizes. April & May meetings to be reported in the next journal. Future dates are:-

25 June Parish relief letters John Hurley 23 July Visit to Hampshire Record Office 27 August Our WW1 Anniversary Event Special speaker 24 September English folklore Heather Sheeley

Contact: Fair Oak Keith Turner, 13 Archers Rd, Eastleigh, Hants SO50 9AQ. Meetings are held at 8pm on the second Tuesday monthly at St Thomas’ Church Hall (attached to the Tel 02380 611730 church) Mortimers Lane. Doors open approx 7.30pm Email: [email protected]

Keith Turner reports:- (January) Maureen Goss – ‘A wretched & wasteful life’. Maureen’s grandfather’s brother Henry Edward BARR (1887-1916) had been estranged from the remainder of his family, so initial information was scarce. Maureen pieced together a story from Page Green School, Tottenham; working at Messrs Flatton & Company (boots); a failed move to Birmingham, before entering Dr. Barnardo’s ‘Ever- Open Door’. After emigrating to Canada in 1903, Henry

61 Local Group Programmes worked as a farmhand in Tuckersmith Township, Clinton, Ontario. He joined up at the start of the war, eventually arriving in France. He was wounded in the leg, but rejoined his unit six months later. He died of wounds received at the battle of Courcelette, September 1916, and is buried at Puchevillers, north-east of Amiens. Much of the research was undertaken before the internet, which Maureen considered a bonus, as personal touches from her contacts added so much to the story. Dr. Barnardo’s records particularly provided rich detail, including Henry’s first photo. Sandra Naish reports:- (February) Members’ Evening. With the HGS bookstall in attendance, members gathered together to scrutinise 18 photographs taken of those present when they were aged five and under. It proved very difficult to look at a picture of a bonny baby or toddler, and guess which member in the room was that child. Indeed, the highest score achieved was about five. Although invited to submit scanned photographs beforehand, Mike Hobbs brought his portable FlipPal scanner to accommodate those who came with individual photographs on the night. He kindly gave a demonstration of his new device, including its ability to stitch together numerous separate scans - especially useful for large photographs or, in this case, posters on the wall. (March) Beverley Walker – Heir hunters. Beverly was employed at St Catherine's House (GRO), but in 1991 began working for Total Research, a company specialising in probate research and tracing missing beneficiaries. She was always given the more complicated cases - usually work through solicitors, and no correspondence with beneficiaries until the estate was finally resolved. Such cases frequently took years. In extremely difficult cases the NHS could pass on letters to a possible heir’s current address. Second cousins, or other blood relatives not directly descended from the deceased’s grandparents, were not entitled to share in the estate. Astonishingly, my neighbour has been contacted twice for two separate estates by Fraser & Fraser. Bob Barratt knocked on my door with a cameraman to enquire what I knew about my neighbour’s family, yet had no interest when I offered a VINEY pedigree put together to see if my neighbour's ancestors linked with my paternal grandmother's Wiltshire family of that surname. The moral is to make a legal will - your money will go to the government if you have no immediate family. April & May meetings to be reported in the next journal. Future dates are:-

10 June Summer outing: Guided walk of the Hamble Eric Reid 8 July The romance of the letter box Tony Cross 12 August Romsey & royalty Phoebe Merrick 9 Sept ‘Weak of body but of sound & disposing mind’ Colin Moretti

62 Local Group Programmes

Contact: Fareham Jane Painter. Tel 01329 835367. Meetings are normally held from 7.15 p.m. to 9.30 Email: [email protected] p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the Wallington Village Hall, Broadcut, Fareham.

Carol Russell reports:- (January) Members’ Evening: Displaying, storing & presenting records. There is a wide variety of preferred record-keeping within the group and we were given a lot of food for thought. One member keeps a beautifully presented paper file on each individual, with photos, certificates, newspaper clippings, each containing the source of the information. Another uses a spreadsheet with all the data, sorted by alphabetical surname, including maiden names of females. In an accompanying A4 file, 10-year periods are divided by different coloured card inserts. One member numbers each individual, and uses the ‘find’ facility in MS Word to bring them into focus. He writes a question sheet before each archive visit, and types in the information immediately on his return. Two members keep amazing records using smart-phones. Everyone agreed that it was really important to list every archive visit, back up all work and make a careful note of the source of information. (February) Jane Fox & Jane Painter – The Wickham Memorial Project . There are 49 names on the wooden Roll of Honour to the fallen of World War One in Wickham Church. The aim of the two Janes is to research all the names on the memorial. They have traced all but one. All three services are included, as well as Australian and Canadian personnel. The main sources of information on each man are the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, war diaries, newspaper reports, electoral and school registers, and trade directories. There are photographs of some very young servicemen, such as George FROUD , who had moved to Wickham in 1912, and died in terrible conditions in France. An online service record was found for Frank STACY , giving his date of birth and physical description. His wife's brother was also killed, so the family suffered a double loss. Some eyewitness reports survive, and they describe where men were buried. The project is on-going, and will ensure that the men who died for their country from this small village will not be forgotten. (March) Andrew Negus – Harlots, dung & glory. Andrew’s presentation was a potted history of Portsmouth. The city was originally just a small cluster of villages, and the area around the Camber Docks comprised narrow streets with the houses close together. Animals roamed the streets and the washerwomen’s dirty water ran into the town brewery, joining the dung accumulated from the villagers’ waste and animal droppings. In medieval times a charter was granted for a two-week fair, which even attracted people from the continent. Thieves and harlots frequenting the fairs were punished by hanging, being whipped, or placed in the stocks. As the Navy grew in importance, the town expanded, and in 1500 Henry VII had the dockyard built, and the first dry dock was placed inside it. Shipbuilding became very important,

63 Local Group Programmes and the town grew rapidly to house naval men and dockyard workers and their families. Henry VIII had defences built along the harbour and sea front, and it was from Southsea Castle that he saw Mary Rose sink on her way to fight the French. Nelson sailed from Portsmouth on the Victory in 1805, bringing the ‘glory’ in the title of the talk to the working people of Portsmouth for all the hard work undertaken in maintaining the ships in the dockyard. April & May meetings to be reported in the next journal. Future dates are:-

14 June A walk around Old Portsmouth Madeleine Salvetti 10 July Foreign records Jane Fox 14 August Guided walk around Netley Abbey (10.30 am start there) 11 September Nonconformity: The road to toleration Les Mitchinson

Contact: Fleet & Farnborough David Broomfield, I Burghead Close, College Town, Sandhurst, The group meets at the United Reform Church Hall, Berks GU47 0XL Tel: 01344 Kings Rd, Fleet GU51 3AF second Thursday of every 761375. Email david.c.broomfield month except August at 7.30pm. @btinternet.com

Lesley Bull reports:- (January) John Copley – Some early Copley family history. Going back from 1900 to around 1600, John’s family history is centred around South Nottinghamshire. It then links to the COPLEY family of Yorkshire, well-documented back to the mid-fifteenth century. Some early family pedigrees claim to trace the Copley decent from Adam de Copley, slain at York in 1070, but John has his doubts. Sir Richard Copley died in 1434, and John is confident that everything from then onwards is well-documented. His talk was about how he has tried to sort fact from fiction, referring to the published versions of the Copley family pedigree, going back in time from Richard’s death. In his words, it will always be ‘a work in progress’. (February) Lindsey Kerr – The use of Bramshill during World War II. Lindsey is the archivist at Bramshill House. She set the scene for her talk with a film of the house. During World War II every spare inch was used - there were even offices on the landings. During that period it was a temporary maternity home, had Land Army girls, and was utilised by the Ministry of Food. However, the majority of Lindsey’s talk centred on its use as the HQ for the British Red Cross Penny-a-Week Fund. When the fund came to an end over 4,000,000,000 pennies had been paid into it. Lindsey has made contact with some of the hundreds of people who worked at Bramshill during the war, and showed us photographs of recreated scenes with people then and now. The house, which is beautiful, was visited in wartime by Hermann Goering, who declared: ‘If we win the war, Bramshill will be mine’. The talk concluded with another film of Bramshill at night.

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(March) Steve Rogers – The War Graves Photographic Project. This talk has been given to other groups, and was most recently reviewed for the November 2013 meeting of Ringwood Group (HFH Vol 40/4, March 2015, p 310). April & May meetings to be reported in the next journal. Future dates are:-

12 June Huguenots in Southampton & the south coast John Avery 10 July Members’ Evening August Social Event 11 September Tracing your mediaeval ancestry Michael Gandy

Contact: Gosport Marilyn Lovett, 2 Anglesey Road, Alverstoke, Gosport Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each Tel: 02392 585194 e-mail month in the Scout Hut, Clayhall Road, Alverstoke, [email protected] Gosport, at 7.30pm.

Marilyn Lovett reports:- (February) Ray Harding – Lee Historic Waterfront. Originally named after a little stream (the ‘Ly’), and under the parish of Titchfield, Ray told us that it finally became Lee on Solent in the 19th century. In 1884 Charles ROBINSON had persuaded his father - Sir John Charles Robinson (Director of the Victoria & Albert Museum) - to create a limited company to buy up largely unused land for the development of a resort. With its own brickyard, railway station, and incredible views of the Solent, Lee flourished to see world events pass before it - not to mention the last fatal duel in England at Browndown. With reviews of the Fleet going back to the 13th century, the Schneider Trophy, Cowes Week, numerous sea and air activities (including D-Day), there has always been something to watch here. Pauline Powell reports:- (March) Colin Carter – The Crimean War: The facts & myths. Colin started his talk with the background and run-up to the conflict. We are very aware where the Crimean Peninsular is - due to recent events - and have heard of the Charge of the Light Brigade and Florence Nightingale, but perhaps the Congress of Vienna, 1814-15, is less familiar. The Great Powers of Europe met to settle future boundaries within the continent, and almost every state in Europe was represented. Apart from the interruption of the 100 Days War, the peace was kept up until 1853, when Turkey (the “Sick Man of Europe”) declared war on Russia. The French, seeking glory, and the English, worried about the Russian Fleet in the Baltic and their Empire, joined in. Colin spoke about four battles: Alma River, Balaclava (and its infamous charge), Inkerman,

65 Local Group Programmes and the Siege of Sebastopol. He exploded some of the myths associated with the war, including the one about ‘the Lady with the Lamp’. Florence Nightingale was never in the Crimea: she was stationed at the main hospital at Scutari in Turkey and never did any actual nursing - her talent was in management. Mary Seacole, the West Indian, introduced combat nursing in the field, and provided good support for the troops. Colin told us that the human cost was immense: 25,000 British, 100,000 French and 1,000,000 Russians killed or died from disease and neglect. Medals and clasps were issued for the four main battles, and the first five Victoria Crosses were awarded for the Crimea. Despite the huge losses, the British deemed the war a success, and it kept the Russians quiet for 30 years. For the first time, the media played an important part in keeping the public informed, and the war turned out to be an important turning-point in European history, with the collapse of the Vienna Settlement and the subsequent domination of Europe. April & May meetings to be reported in the next journal. Future dates are:-

11 June Treasures of the parish chest Les Mitchinson 9 July Parcel of gold for Edith Jo Smith 17 September Getting started Les Mitchinson

Contact: New Forest Mike Hobbs, 124, Winchester Rd, Southampton Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the SO16 6US month in the Exhibition Room of the Brockenhurst Tel: 023 8032 7952 Village Hall, Highwood Road, Brockenhurst and Email: commence at 7.30 p.m. Lift and full disabled access [email protected] available. Mike Hobbs reports:- (February) Michael Hobbs – Family at war: Crimea to Korea. Michael started his project 18 months ago - to research all the members of his and his wife’s families that were involved in the Great War. But then, having found that his great-great-grandfather had been in the Crimea War (1853–56) and, as his father was RNVR Royal Navy and called up for the Korea War (1950–53), the project was moved to cover this 100-year period. As well as talking about some of the family members, including special war workers and civilians in wartime, Michael also showed some of the sources used, and how he displays the information in them. He even revealed how you could take three or four lines of information, and then build up a story of three or four pages, thus putting meat on the bones. He had a large number of printed examples on display, as well as in digital format on a tablet.

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(March) Members’ Evening: Letters & postcards. The evening started with an album of 30 postcards, posted during the First World War. These cards had songs of the day on them and a picture, usually war related. There were also lots of holiday postcards from the 1950s and up to the 1980s from all over the UK, although some were foreign. Among the letters were sad ones from WW1. In one, the soldier was complaining about the shirkers back home not doing their bit for King and Country. With some of the letters were medals and a silver war badge. There was an account that had been written about life in the 1920s, plus a receipt for a diamond ring that cost £5 17s 6d in 1926. We came right up to date with an email that started research about a soldier here, and in New York and Australia. April & May meetings to be reported in the next journal. Future dates are:-

4 June The cholera years John Avery 2 July A visit & walk around Hythe 3 Sept New Zealanders in Brockenhurst

Contact: New Milton & Christchurch John Heighes, 7 Wharncliffe Rd, Highcliffe on Meetings are held in the Library of St. Mark’s Church, Sea, Christchurch Highcliffe, on the second Friday of each month at 7.30 Dorset BH23 5DA p.m. The church is about 100 yards off Lymington Tel 01425 275800 Email: [email protected] Road on Hinton Wood Avenue, the turning opposite The Galleon Daphne Austin reports:- (January) Audrey Vincent, Janet Heighes & Jim Brinsford – Training in my day: A teacher, a nurse & an army officer. Three members reminisced about the training they went through for their lifetime’s occupation. Audrey spoke about the course she attended to become a teacher at St Mary’s, Cheltenham. Janet related the work and studies involved in becoming a nurse, the hours worked, and the type of things she did. Jim ended the evening with his training at Sandhurst to qualify as an army officer, and the things he had to do. All this did not only give us insight into their actual training, but also the way they relaxed during off- duty hours. It appears that they enjoyed their time very much, and seemed very happy, while they all rose up on their professional ladders. What really came across was the strictness of their training and the control of their personal time - something that some of the young people of today would not tolerate. (February) Audrey Brinsford – Weddings, 20th century style. Audrey brought a lovely range of wedding photos from the late 1800s through to 2013. With the use of group photos

67 Local Group Programmes she was able to show the different styles of dress, both male and female, and also headgear and bouquets. Originally, photos were taken in studios, as the photographer did not attend weddings. Then came formal professional photos, very much staged, and ending up with snapshots of family members. Four lady group members also supplied their carefully preserved 30-40 years old wedding dresses for inspection, ranging from home-made to couture. An amazing evening, enjoyed with lots of laughter over the changes. (March) Daphne Austin – Some of the admirals of Milford. Daphne spoke of her research into Milford’s past, which made her aware of the numerous admirals connected with this small seaside town. She told us of four who lived during the latter half of the 18th century. Admirals Robert MAN and John PEYTON have memorials in the church and lived in the area, as did Admiral William CORNWALLIS . Admiral James SAUMAREZ ’s children married and had families there. They would certainly have known each other, and all knew Admiral Horatio Nelson. Indeed, Peyton and Saumarez belonged to the ‘Band of Brothers’ - captains who served under Nelson at the Battle of the Nile (1798) - whilst Cornwallis is known to have been a personal friend. Man, however, earned his disapproval in 1795 by disobeying an order to return to Gibraltar to face the Spanish fleet. Instead, he sailed for home, and was stripped of his command. An intriguing mystery remains: What brought these admirals to Milford? Daphne’s research continues! April & May meetings to be reported in the next journal. Future dates are:-

13 June Art & artists of the New Forest Georgina Babey 11 July Genetics for family historians Heather Sheeley 8 August Lest we forget Jim & Audrey Brinsford 12 September Family letters during the Wars of the Roses Tony & Pauline Ruffhead

Contact: Portsmouth Sue Decicco. 12 Romford Road, Warsash, Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month Southampton SO31 6GZ. (except January and August Bank Holidays) at 7 p.m. Tel: 01489 576932. Email: for 7.30 p.m. in the Baptist Church Hall, Havant Road, [email protected] Cosham.

Sue Decicco reports:- (February) George Yalden – Railway ancestors. The railways had been one of the biggest employers in the UK, and there are hundreds of books on the subject. Information about ancestors is not easy to discover, but George explained that there are many places to be

68 Local Group Programmes searched, although not always in any particular order. There are few databases available. There had been 2,680 railway companies until the Big Five were formed in 1923. So, prior to that date it is often difficult to find out which company your ancestor had worked for, as several would have trains travelling to the same stations. Jowetts has all such companies listed. Railway occupations are numerous and diverse, and include porters, engine-drivers, dockworkers, deliverymen, steam-packet ship crewmen, police, engineers, track-layers, cleaners, and many others. The main railway companies ran hospitals, orphanages, schools, etc, for the welfare of their staff. To employees, it meant they had a permanent job, regular wages, with uniforms provided, and even housing in some cases. One of the best places to find information is the National Archives under RAIL. You could find your ancestor’s name, date of birth, wages, job, and the company he worked for, but not much more. Other sources include staff magazines and small local companies where a track is still being run by volunteers. Newspapers, especially The Times , would have articles about employees, deaths, injuries, etc, and are very informative. (March) Les Mitchinson – Nonconformity: The road to Toleration. Until the 16th century the official religion of this country was Roman Catholicism, and “heretics” were severely punished. Following the Reformation a settlement was made whereby Anglican Protestantism became the State religion, even though there were minimal attempts towards Protestant extremism and even Romanism again along the way, depending upon the will of the monarch. Even so, religious dissent continued. Ultimately, though, the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829 lifted almost all the remaining restrictions on nonconformity. If you cannot find an ancestor, it is possible that they might have belonged to a dissenting group. There may be clues to this. They could be shown as ‘Papists’ or other titles in parish registers, and Catholics were often named after saints. If they reverted back into the Anglican fold, then possibly the whole family were baptised at the same time - or even later in life - to allow for burial in the parish churchyard. The Non-Parochial Act of 1840 decreed that all existing nonconformist registers had to be surrendered to the Registrar General, and most are now held at the National Archives (RG4- 8). Other dissenting records may even be found in some county record offices. April & May meetings to be reported in the next journal. Future dates are:-

2 June TOC H & the Revd Tubby Clayton Geoff Watts 7 July Visit to be confirmed 1 September Royal Portsmouth Dockyard employees’ records Mike Roberts

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Contact: Ringwood Paul Pinhorne, 84 Fontmell Road Broadstone BH18 8NP We meet at 7.30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every Tel: 01202 383736 month at Greyfriars Community Centre, Christchurch Email: Road, Ringwood. Visitors and new members are most [email protected] welcome. Paul Pinhorne reports:- (January) Members’ Evening: Problems & successes: Tell others about yours. Peter Williams brought a copy of a Quaker marriage transcription: not only did it contain flowery text, but up to 50 witnesses are shown. Paul Pinhorne spoke of meeting German cousins for the first time and finding the homes where his mother lived. The archivist at the State Archives was extremely helpful in translating records in Old German. It was noted how Germans are now recognising their fallen from the two wars. One member stated that brass plaques are being put up at the homes where the previous occupants were Jews. George Hilbert showed the book he and Pat had created of photographs associated with his family, which include four cathedrals. There are two churches where he is unable to find a photograph or drawing. Paul Pinhorne, George Hilbert, Mike Jenkinson and Adrian Voller, representing the Group, took part in the Ringwood Community Quiz. They won their matches in the first and second rounds, but lost closely in the quarter finals. (February) Kevin Patience – The true story of the Bridge over the River Kwai. The movie was filmed in Sri Lanka, and some of the scenes were of the construction needed for it to take place. Kevin met some of the servicemen who had worked on the railway. One was an Australian whose survival depended upon what he considered an easy role as one of the train drivers. Prisoners were used, so that no Japanese would be killed if there were accidents. When Singapore surrendered over 17,000 prisoners were locked up in the barracks that should have held only 2,000. It was only when they agreed to work that conditions improved. Kevin visited the route of the railway, and took photographs to compare with how it was during the war. The bridge was eventually bombed in February 1945, and finally destroyed at the end of April. Kevin spoke of the cutting the Australian forces constructed, where they had to work for 22 hours a day. The monument to the fallen, of whom many have no known grave, is in Kanchannanburi. (March) Members’ Evening: Every picture tells a story. Most brought a photograph and gave a talk on its history. Adrian Voller: His grandfather was in charge of the riggers at the Portsmouth Dockyard involved in moving HMS Victory to her present position. Marian Ward: An album started in 1870, showing members of the family, included a plumber extremely skilled in detailed lead work. Pat Hilbert: A photograph of President Obama sitting at the Evenden desk - this highly detailed desk is one of four made by William Evenden (George Hilbert’s ancestor) for Queen Victoria from timbers from HMS Resolution in 1879. Sue Dymott: Her ancestor was a diver in Hong Kong in the early development of diving. Helen Nield: A book that she found on the school her father attended, showing photographs of him (Neil Kinnock also attended this school). Ray Alexander: A photograph of his father’s seven war

70 Local Group Programmes medals - he was a tank driver during the war, and finally posted to Bovington as an instructor. April & May meetings to be reported in the next journal. Future dates are:-

18 June Heir hunters Beverley Walker 16 July Open Day & HGS Bookstall 20 August Skittles (Members only) 17 September Rorke’s Drift Peter Booth

Contact: Romsey Kay Lovell E-mail [email protected] Meetings take place on the first Monday of the month Telephone 07905 798136 at Crosfield Hall, Romsey, at 7.30 pm. Newcomers are welcome. Val Dawe reports:- (February) Les Mitchinson – Census substitutes. When the usual censuses and parish records fail to help and we hit a ‘brick wall’, there are many other records that might help us to further our research. Les explained how the country was split into counties, then down to hundreds, then and parishes; understanding this will help in the necessity to narrow down the area where our ancestors might have been recorded. Tax, religious and military records are some sources that can be considered. Land Tax, Hearth Tax and Window Tax records might help to determine the wealth of ancestors, e.g., an occupier with seven hearths would indicate gentry. Men were conscripted by ballot when there were insufficient volunteers for the militia. There are Militia Rolls surviving from the 16th century and also some Militia Defence lists of able-bodied men not already serving. Les also suggested many other records for tracking down that elusive ancestor. A useful fact sheet was made available to us listing dates, books and records mentioned in the talk and where to find them. Many are at The National Archives, but copies are often held at county record offices, too. (March) This meeting was cancelled, due to flooding in the area, and the talk postponed until the April meeting. April & May meetings to be reported in the next journal. Future dates are:-

2 June Resources available to family historians: Divorce, wife sales & Desertion Vicky Green 7 July Members’ Evening: World War I 1 Sept Signatures, tax list & militia from the past Barbara Burbridge

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Contact: Southampton Mike Lawrence, 84 Missenden Acres, Hedge End, Southampton Monthly meetings are held on the third Monday of SO30 2RE. Tel 01489 790505. each month EXCEPT BANK HOLIDAYS at the Roman Email southampton@ Catholic Church Hall, Commercial Street, Bitterne, hgs-online.org.uk Southampton, at 7.30 p.m. Car park is adjacent.

Anne Lawrence reports:- (January) Members’ Evening: My most exciting find & why. There were several: A brown exercise-book containing a detailed account of the cruises that a great-grandfather had worked on; A Collins House, in which army officers were billeted during the war; Newspapers dating from 1942, found in a garage roof; A grandmother’s funeral bill; A mother’s death certificate (he was only 18 months old when she died); A grandfather’s seaman’s records (surname Smith); A photo of grandfather and family taken when he was station-master at in 1918 (found in her father’s damp allotment shed); A description of a reunion of the Genges family at Pendomer, Somerset (with many living in Newfoundland). Lastly, there was an account of finding some cousins in 1996. One, Evelyn, died this year, aged 90. Although never mentioned, she was in a serious train crash at Guildford in 1942. The Germans, thinking there were Canadian soldiers on board, bombed the train. She had very serious injuries, and had to have her face reconstructed. (February) Vicky Green – Southampton companies. If searching for information about local companies, we should realise that not every firm kept archives. However, even if they were dissolved there is a chance the records were sent to the Record Office. Another idea would be to look at the London Gazette (now called Gazette ), which is free on the web. Sometimes they have “winding up proceedings for bankruptcy”. Vicky gave some examples. William BIDDLECOMBE ran a draper’s shop in Southampton High Street, but in January 1837 the records show it was dissolved. Lancaster and Crook, ironmongers, had records from 1865. James LAWRENCE , a watchmaker and jeweller, was taken to court about his expenses to and from America. We could also look through directories and rates books to find more. (March) John Avery – The Huguenots of Southampton & the South Coast. John has a particular interest in Huguenots, as he is descended from them. The Huguenots had fled from persecution of their faith at various times in history, and went mostly to England and Holland, where their Protestantism was accepted. They took with them many skills. For instance, 50,000 arrived in Devon in 1580, and were mostly weavers, lace makers and paper manufacturers. A later wave went to London: quite a few were silversmiths. They were welcomed for their skills, but sometimes fell foul of the existing guilds. Locally, Huguenots ran Gaters Mill at West End, near Southampton. They provided paper for Bank of England banknotes. Later, Henri PORTAL moved the works to Laverstoke, near Overton. We were shown a picture of St Julian’s, the French Walloon Church, Below Bar, in Southampton. There is also a French garden. Originally, a white mulberry tree was planted

72 Local Group Programmes there to signify the production of silk weaving by Huguenots. Unfortunately, it blew down, but a new one has since replaced it. We were also shown a picture of the Huguenot Cross: it depicts the Holy Ghost and the Flight to Freedom. April & May meetings to be reported in the next journal. Future dates are:-

16 June British families in India Peter Bailey 21 July First World War memorabilia Geoff Ryan 18 August Members’ Evening: Four generations on my maternal side 15 September Southampton through the eyes of artists

Contact: Waltham Chase Chris Pavey, 15 Spring Lane, Swanmore, Meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of the month Southampton SO32 2PT. at Waltham Chase Village Hall, Winchester Road, Tel: 01489 895462. Email: Waltham Chase, and commence at 7.30 p.m. [email protected] Car parking at the Hall. Newcomers welcome. Chris Pavey reports:- (January) Jane Painter & Jane Fox – The Wickham Project. This talk was also presented at Fareham in February. Please see under Fareham for the report. (February) Members’ Evening. Bob HILLS gave a helpful and interesting talk with a demonstration of how to get the best results from Ancestry . Providing examples, he gave useful hints and tips on how to manipulate the search engines to produce targeted results, thus avoiding long searches. Members then discussed their own research problems, and received help from others. A convivial evening concluded with refreshments and the chance to browse a small display of donated WWI artefacts. On March 4 many group members enjoyed a Spring Lunch at The Hunters Inn , Swanmore (right). A sociable and enjoyable event for all, it concluded with myself, as group organiser, being presented with a bouquet of flowers as thanks for all my work for the group.

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(March) Bobbie Neate – A conspiracy of family secrets. Bobbie, a local author, related her research into the unknown and mysterious background of her stepfather Louis T STANLEY . Well-known in the motor-racing world in the 1950s and ‘60s, when he was a joint managing director of BRM, Louis’s origins were nevertheless an enigma to the family. Bobbie’s research uncovered links with the WWI Prime Minister Herbert ASQUITH and his association with the socialite Venetia Stanley. Asquith wrote over 400 affectionate letters to Venetia, many of them penned during WWI War Cabinet meetings, and their relationship has been the subject of much speculation over the years. Bobbie’s research revealed that Louis was the unacknowledged and hidden illegitimate son of Asquith and Stanley. The story of her own childhood in a secretive and intimidating household, which led to her subsequent research and book A Conspiracy of Family Secrets , was a fascinating listen. January & February meetings to be reported in the next journal. Future dates are:-

24 June Intriguing networks Amanda Moore & Helen Banham 22 July A visit to Southampton Old Cemetery 26 August Members’ Evening 24 September A visit to the Hampshire Record Office, Winchester (Wednesday)

Executive Committee and Development Forum Meetings

Executive Meetings are held at the HGS Office in Cosham on the last Wednesday of alternate months, beginning at 7.15 pm. Development Forum Meetings are held in the Gilbert Room at Twyford Village Hall three times a year on Sunday at 2.15 pm. Attendees must inform the secretary if they are unable to attend. They are however able to send a substitute on their behalf.

Dates for 2014 Committee Meetings: 2 July Executive Committee Meeting 8 June Development Forum 3 Sept Executive Committee Meeting

Membership renewal If your subscription is due for renewal please see "Renewal Instructions" on the inside back cover

74 Forthcoming Events

Alton Local History Day

Saturday 11 October will be Local History Day at the Assembly Rooms in Alton, where you can come and find out about the local people and buildings. There will be exhibitions from surrounding villages and many sources of information for Alton and its immediate area, including maps, directories, parish registers, censuses and books. The event is free – so just come along. Organised by the Alton and Villages Local History Forum, it is hoped to launch their volumes about the men noted on the local WWI war memorials that day. The Allen Gallery in Church Street is to host the exhibition ‘A Soldier’s Journey’ and the Curtis Museum will be open, so you can wander through the area on the history of Alton. Again - these are free. If you have any queries, please contact Jane Hurst at [email protected] or on 01420 86701.

Come to a Gathering of the Branches of the Families of Colbourne, Colborne, Coleborn, etc, on Sunday 5th October 2014, 2 pm – 5 pm, To be held at the Sarisbury Community Centre , Sarisbury Green, Southampton SO31 7AA There will be many family trees there so please bring your tree and any photos you may have. Brenda Sherwood (Member # 8287) 01489 572939 [email protected]

75 HGS Publications

HGS Publications A full list of currently available HGS Publications was featured in the December 2013 Hampshire Family Historian journal (Vol 40, No 3). To view a current list please visit www.hgs-online.org.uk, as you can now purchase such items online. You can also refer back to your copies of HFH 40/3 and 40/4, and note the following amendments:- Additions Hampshire Village Series (Roy Montgomery): Lasham (69), Tichborne (70). £2 (collected); £3.00 (post, UK); £4.50 (post, overseas). WEA Publications: (£3.00 collected; Post - £3.80, UK; £6.10, overseas) Memories of New Road. A new revision of 2012 of one of the earliest WEA booklets with memories, shops and businesses in New Road. Memories of Palmerston Road, Southsea (including Marmion Road & Osborne Road). A new book for 2013 with memories and shops and businesses in the main shopping area of Southsea.

Deletions Monumental Inscriptions on Microfiche: S8: Selborne, Shedfield, Sherfield-on-Loddon, , Sopley, Southwick, Spearywell, Stoke Charity S9: St Mary Bourne, , Soberton, Stratfield Mortimer, Stratfield Saye, Limited Stock Hampshire Family Historian – back numbers as available (please enquire)

76 Renewal Instructions

All members £15. All members may now renew online via www.hgs-online.org.uk and pay by PayPal or credit card (at no additional cost). Alternatively, you may go to www.genfair.co.uk and enter ‘Hampshire Genealogical Society’ in the search box (which would cost an extra 50p for administrative purposes). If you wish to pay by Direct Debit, you can download a form from our website (www.hgs-online.org.uk). The completed form should be sent to the Membership Secretary at the office address (below) and not direct to Eazipay. The reference number is your membership number prefaced by a zero. Please remember to cancel any other method of continuous payment that you may have set up (eg, Standing Order). A direct debit instruction will ensure continuing membership unless cancelled by you. Payment can also be made by cash (only at the HGS Office), or by UK bank cheque, a sterling cheque drawn on a foreign bank, CAF cheque or postal order. Please send your payment, with your membership number on the reverse, to the Membership Secretary at the address below. If you are a UK income taxpayer you may wish to add a Gift Aid to your payment. A Gift Aid form can be downloaded from the website or sent from the Cosham Office. Gift Aid helps the Society’s funds with no extra cost to you. If you are unable to obtain the forms you require, or have any other problem, please contact the Membership Secretary. Please include your membership number in all communications.

Address to:- The Membership Secretary, Hampshire Genealogical Society 52 Northern Road, Cosham, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 3DP UK Volume 40 (2013-2014) No. 1 (June) The new website (Chris Pavey) ...... 3 Memories of 40 years ago (Mary Talbot) ...... 10 In days of yore Census: 3 (Ken Smallbone) ...... 12 New technology & an old headstone (Tracy Dunne) ...... 20 Which is the right Ann Dimes? (Wendy Cope) ...... 22 My Brown family (Ken Smallbone) ...... 27 William Inwood – one problem solved (Jane Hurst) ...... 34 We are the chosen (Peter Elliot) ...... 37 Historical Hogs – John Arlott (Ken Smallbone) ...... 42 Southampton Quaker burial ground (Ben Cowdrey) ...... 54 My ancestor came from Hampshire (Sue Dennis) ...... 72 Important matters – website & logo (Ken Smallbone) ...... 74 No. 2 (September) From the Chairman … (Dolina Clarke) ...... 79 Sudden death of a volunteer sergeant (Arthur Sainsbury) ...... 84 In days of yore – Census: 4 (Ken Smallbone) ...... 86 Men (& women) of the cloth (Michelle Moody) ...... 94 Memories of 40 years ago: From small beginnings (Joyce Baker, Daphne Slawson, Mike Smith) ...... 103 Historical Hogs – Isambard K Brunel (Ken Smallbone) ...... 114 Problems with online pedigrees (Janet Carter) ...... 119 The last of the Instone blacksmiths (Ken Barker) ...... 120 The postcard age (Lynda Kiss) ...... 132 Were they cousins? (Robert Bryce) ...... 153 The Way Forward – A success story (Chris Pavey) ...... 154 No. 3 (December) Open Day 2013 (Sue Wright) ...... 159 The changing shape of England (Ken Smallbone) ...... 162 In days of yore – Civil registration, Part 1 (Ken Smallbone) ...... 167 Memories of 40 years ago: The early years ...... (Muriel Allen, Peter Christie) ...... 176 St Mary’s, Andover: MIs project (Jim Duncan) ...... 179 Family history memories (Daphne Slawson) ...... 183 Lance Corporal Henry Jarvis, 1902-1921 (Lynda Kiss) ...... 185 Historical Hogs – John Worthy Chaplin (Ken Smallbone) ...... 196 Richard Primmer (Linda Ostaszewska) ...... 200 The Tubbs and/et les Tinels (Suszanne Puckle) ...... 202 The Way Forward – Upwards & onwards (Chris Pavey) ...... 228 No. 4 (March) In days of yore – Civil registration, Part 2 (Ken Smallbone) ...... 250 Memories of 40 years ago: Our 1st journal (Ken Smallbone ...... 262 The Walcots of South East Hampshire (Michael Walcot) (1974) ...... 264 The Georgian George game (Elaine Race) ...... 270 Someone I would have liked to have met (Stella Crocker) ...... 272 Just a word - Tithes (Ken Smallbone) ...... 274 Historical Hogs – James Callaghan (Ken Smallbone) ...... 282 In a “nutshell” (Sheila Brine) ...... 285 Robert Thrasher (Lorraine Courtenay) ...... 286

Hampshire Genealogical Society