Coton Arches, Chilvers Coton in 1969, before the roundabout was built.

NUNEATON AND NORTH FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Member of the Federation of Family History Societies http://www.nnwfhs.org.uk

JOURNAL APRIL 2006

Price £1.50 (first copy free to members) & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 1

CONTENTS PAGE NNWFHS Committee 1 NNWFHS Diary - A Report From The Chairman, Peter Lee 2 A Warwickshire Odyssey - By Anthony M Barrs 3 Disappointments - Ann Nonymouse 5 Fielding Johnson’s Mill - By Peter Lee 6 My Family Album: Walter Henry Hood - By Anne Paul & Pauline Morbey 7 It’s a Small World Innit? - By Wilf Whitmore 8 The Moreton’s Direct Line - By Trevor Moreton 9 Your Letters 10 Where am I from and how did I get there? - By Alan F Cook 11 Get Netted 13 On-Line Parish Clerks in Warwickshire - by Jacqui Simkins 14 Underneath the Arches - By Peter Lee 15 Notice Board 16 New Members 17 Publications 19 NNWFHS COMMITTEE

CHAIRMAN PETER LEE, P O Box 2282, Nuneaton, Warwicks CV116ZT Tel: (024) 7638 1090 Email: [email protected]

INDEXING PROJECTS CO-ORDINATOR CAROLYN BOSS, Nuneaton Library, Church Street, Nuneaton, & VICE CHAIR Warwickshire CV11 4DR Tel: (024) 7638 4027

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY JOHN PARTON, 6 Windmill Rd, , Warwickshire CV9 1HP Tel: (01827) 713938 Email: [email protected]

TREASURER & CELIA PARTON, 6 Windmill Rd, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV91HP NORTH WARWICKSHIRE CO-ORDINATOR Tel: (01827) 713938 Email: [email protected]

JOURNAL & PUBLICATIONS EDITOR PAT BOUCHER, 33 Buttermere Ave, Nuneaton,Warwicks CV11 6E Tel: (024) 7638 3488 Email: [email protected]

PUBLICATIONS MANAGER ROBERT BUTLER, 16 Dovecote Close, Solihull, West Midlands B91 2EP Tel 0121 743 8526 Email: [email protected]

WEBSITE MANAGER BILL BOSWELL, 21 Randle Road, Stockingford, Nuneaton,Warwicks CV10 8HR Tel: (024) 7634 3596 Email: [email protected]

COMMITTEE ALAN F COOK Tel (mobile): 07813615522 Email: [email protected]

MINUTES SECRETARY JACQUI SIMKINS, Langley Mill Farm Sutton Coldfield W Midlands B75 7HR Tel: (0121) 311 0455 Email: [email protected]

TRIPS TEAM VAL PICKARD, 108 Lister Road, Atherstone, Warwicks CV9 3DF Tel: (01827) 711863 Email: [email protected]

TRIPS TEAM LINDA BODEN, 45 Grove Road, Atherstone, Warwicks, CV9 1DJ Tel: (01827) 709015 Email: [email protected]

MICROFICHE LENDING LIBRARIAN CAROL HUGHES, Millstone, Mill Lane, Wolvey, Nr Hinckley, Leicestershire LE103HR Tel: (01455) 220408 Email: [email protected]

NORTH AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVE HARLOW G FARMER, 7101 Bay Front Dr. #124 Annapolis, MD 21403 USA. Email: [email protected] Page 2 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal NnwFHs Diary A Report From The Chairman, Peter Lee In January I learned of the sad loss of to free up some time for other things – organisation of our size - Pat has played member Wilf Whitmore. Wilf – like not least to work on her own family an integral part in delivering many of me a Coton kid - corresponded with me history. As soon as I heard I felt these. Needless to say our journal and on a number of areas of common devastated because I know how much publications mean much to us all. The interest: the town, our local you all appreciate the work Pat does: committee will do all possible to neighbourhood of Chilvers Coton, she has lifted the journal to a much maintain the quality, the regular mutual friends, and youthful memories. sought-after publication. Members tell publication and the tough standards we All added to the store of knowledge we me how greatly they look forward to its have set ourselves. But we need both had and felt we could share with arrival. Beyond the obvious outcome volunteers – do you have the skills to others. Wilf kindly sent me all the you see when the journal arrives, there be our journal editor? Pat would be progress he made on the Whitmore are all the other things that Pat does happy to talk to you if you want to give family along with correspondence and which do not get heralded: indexing, her a call. Pat is happy to help ease a family trees of titled Whitmores in publishing work, going to the printers, volunteer editor into the role. antiquity: he was a family historian par packing the journals into plastic bags - excellence. Our condolences go to all taking up many hours of unpaid Many of you will be shocked to learn Wilf’s family. I appreciated his effort. Of course, Pat misses the that our publications manager – Bob correspondence and have happy companionship of Alva King: feeding Butler – has had to go into hospital for memories of the times we met and material to Alva for typing, then Alva a major heart operation. His wife, conversations we had. delivering it back to Pat for checking, Audrey, tells us that surgery went to indexing together. Both shared a plan, and Bob is making good progress. Devastated is perhaps the wrong word passion that is so rare – keen delivery Although Bob lives in Solihull, twenty to use here. Pat Boucher has told us of the end product. And, they loved odd miles away, nearly every month he that, after ten years of what I believe to their hobby. I feel sure that I speak for comes to our committee and library be brilliant editorship of our journal, all members of the Society when I meetings, which is remarkable. But she intends to ‘retire’ at the end of this thank Pat for all her wonderful efforts. for the time being Bob is out of action: membership year i.e. at the end of we wish him a speedy recovery. Until August. Family, work, health and other The range of publications the Society further notice, Celia Parton is commitments have changed and she has has is to be admired – especially for an processing orders for publications.

FFHS Editing & Publishing Seminar WANTED: Saturday 3 June 2006 Nuthall Temple Community Centre, Nottingham NG16 1DP Editor for the Journal The aim of this seminar is to bring Do you enjoy: together Editors, aspiring Editors and any interested parties of our Member …editing? Societies, providing a valuable learning …playing with words? opportunity from each other as …making the printed page look good? problems faced and issues presented are discussed under the guidance of the Are you a competent speller? Editor of the Guild of One-Name Society Journal. It is open to any family Are you able to produce text and layouts ready for historian who wishes to know more or improve their skills in the subject. the printing press? The programme includes presentations

on: Yes? Then • A Small Family History Society

Publication. YOUR society needs • Editing a One-Name Periodical. • Your Journal in the 21st Century. YOU!

There is a small charge of £10 to cover This is a voluntary role: pay is nil - but the satisfaction of knowing the lunch and refreshments. Journal is well produced and a key communications tool within the Society For more information or to book a place is very rewarding. contact: Dominic Johnson, FFHS Director of Education Pat is retiring this summer after 10 years as editor; she will help you ease Email: [email protected] into the role. Booking form also downloadable from:

Don’t be afraid to offer – it is a rewarding job www.ffhs.org.uk/Societies/Seminars/ index.htm Contact Pat for a chat about the job – or phone Peter or Jacqui Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 3

A Warwickshire Odyssey By Anthony M Barrs It was Easter 2003 when I found myself grandfather, Stephen, was the grandson teacher, was christened in Burton-on- standing in the fields that my ancestors of William and he christened one of his Dunsmore in1734 and his parents were had farmed four hundred years ago. sons George Butler Barrs - my uncle! Abraham and Mary. I wrote to The undulating remains of the strips Stephen’s father was William’s eldest Warwick Record office requesting they had tilled in the Dunchurch son, John, born in 1828. research for Abraham. They gave me common field system were still visible two Abrahams, born 1703 and 1708, in places. I could scarcely believe it! And there the matter rested for quite a one of whom married Mary Butler in while. In 1989 my wife and I moved to 1730. Bingo! There was the origin of It had been a long trail from the time Scotland where our daughter, Susan, the unusual Christian name. my son had handed me his family lived. She was married to a Scot, Paul history research notes some twenty Mclennan, from Motherwell. We lived But which Abraham was the right one? years before. He had just taken up his in an old mill cottage for a couple of I plumped for 1703 as his father was first teaching post in Saffron Walden years until I found a piece of ground Nathaniel (born 1672) and Frances and and had no longer got the time to just outside Pitlochry and built a house Butler later named one of their sons follow them up. I did not even know he where we operated a B&B. Nathaniel. It seemed a safe bet. From had started the research. As it turned Three years later my wife died and my the IGI I found that this Nathaniel was out he had only got as far as his daughter, her husband and I bought a the son of either Abraham born 1633 or mother’s and my grandparents’ partly converted old church in Murthly, his brother Nathaniel born 1636. As families. I was interested but was busy a few miles north of Perth. It took me there appeared to be no record of this with my own business at the time. nearly a year to convert the rest of the Nathaniel’s family after he married building into a self-contained bachelor Ann Nuburne in Bourton-on-Dunsmore It was not until I retired at the end of flat (a granny flat for a feller!) in 1664 it seemed Abraham was 1987 that I dug out his notes and another safe bet. I have found a record decided that, now I had the time, I As soon as I had settled in we agreed to of a Nathaniel and Ann Barrs living in would try my hand at some research of share the cost of an Internet connection London about this time so it could be my own. Accordingly I paid several and I started to surf for family history that Nathaniel, having two older visits to the Warwick Record Office. sites, without any clear idea of what I brothers expecting to inherit their was doing. However, I soon found the father’s farm, decided to try his luck I had not been researching long when I IGI and flagged up Butler Barrs – more elsewhere. found a clue, which would eventually in hope than expectation. And there help take me back to 1703 and beyond. was the answer to my problem. Butler I must confess that all these Abrahams I found a reference to a Butler Barrs Barrs, christened in 1764 in Long and Nathaniels were beginning to make christened in 1834 and another to a Itchington, Warwickshire. When he my head spin, particularly when I then William Butler Barrs christened in was four years old his father, who was found that the father of the brothers was 1841, both in Nuneaton; where I was also named Butler, died and when he also called Abraham of Toft! born born and lived until I retired to was seven his mother, Frances, also between1600-1610? Oh no, not another Scotland in 1989. died. Abraham!

The unusual Christian name struck a At the time of his death in 1768 So, there it was at last, my ancestry, in cord - my uncle, born in 1897, was Butler’s father was the schoolmaster in straight line, without a break, back to christened George Butler Barrs! So Long Itchington. When his wife died in the first decade of the seventeenth where had the name originated? 1771 they left a daughter, Frances, who century. Hard to believe! I have not yet Because it was so unusual, it was had been born in 1759 whilst Butler found exactly when and where the first without much difficulty that I found my was the schoolmaster at Meriden, a son, Abraham was born or when he married 3x great grandfather. He died in Abbey Butler, and another son, Abraham, born his wife Joan. But their first son, Street Nuneaton in 1825. He had been a 1766. Earlier they had had a son, Thomas, was born in 1631 so they weaver. His name was…Butler Barrs! Nathaniel, who was christened and probably married about 1630 when buried in Long Itchington in 1767. To Abraham was around 25 (a guess). Two He was 61 when he died so he was born date I have only been able to find out of their daughters married men from in 1764, but where? I tried all the local what happened to two of the orphans. Nuneaton. Alice married John Daffern records; Attleborough, Coton, My 3x great grandfather, Butler, in Burton-on-Dunsmore in 1665 and Stockingford; but to no avail. I could sometime in the next 27 years, came to Elizabeth married John Burdett in find no record of his birth or his Nuneaton where he married Hannah Dunchurch in 1667. marriage. I did find the burial of his Randle in 1788. I have recently found wife, Hannah (nee Randle), in 1816 and Abraham. He joined the Army at 21 In the course of my researches I was the record of his son, William, living in and served with the 17th regiment of given considerable help by Mrs Bond End Nuneaton when he married Foot and the 15th Regiment of Foot and McIntyre of Leamington who Mary Ann Brindley in 1825, the year was discharged in 1801 having served undertook private research at the WRO. his father died. for 13 years and 9 months. Hopefully I I also received crucial information from might be able to find out more about Mr. Edwards of Rugby and Mr and Mrs William was the father of Butler, his life before and after his army Eastwood of Thurlaston. This christened in 1834. This son died in service information enabled me to begin filling infancy so he christened his next son out the lives of the Toft and Thurlaston William Butler in 1841. My The IGI record showed that Butler, the (Continued on page 4) Page 4 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

Barrs families in the 17th and 18th appeared to be a pillar of the Toft/ recently obtained a book, ‘People at centuries. Mr. Edwards sent me copies Thurlaston community. In 1669 he was Home’, about families in an around of several documents. One of which the village constable and at times over Stoneleigh in which three generations was a list of the names of the tenants of the next ten years he served on the jury of a Barrs family living on the same the furlongs in the Dunchurch common of the Thurlaston Manor Court. In farm at Tile Hill all spelled their name field system before the enclosure of 1682, at the time of a visit from the differently in 1701,1720 and 1733. 1709, showing Abraham Barrs as Lord Bishop, and the year that his tenant of 21 strips. Another was from a father died, he was a churchwarden of The next record I have of a Thomas and survey of Dunchurch in 1717, which St Peter’s, Dunchurch. Nathaniel Barrs in Warwickshire is in a listed John Barrs’ homestead and the transcript from the records of St Peters, names and acreage of the fields he One of the Abrahams, father or son – or Dunchurch, sent to me by Mr Edwards. tenanted (after the enclosure). There possibly both at different times – found This lists the baptisms and burials of were numbers alongside each field themselves in front of the Manorial Thomas and Margery starting with the name but nothing to show to what they Court. Once in 1669 for ‘setting of his baptism of Sara in 1613. Their last son, referred. beast on the common contrary to Joseph, was baptised and buried in orders’ and for ‘having 2 hoggs being 1618. Nathaniel and Mary’s first Serendipity – which so often comes to unringed according to the orders’ fined baptism was a daughter, Susanna, in the rescue of researchers! Within two 8d. In 1678, Abraham was fined 3s 4d 1637/38. If this Thomas and Nathaniel weeks of my getting the documents for ‘a common trespasor with his were indeed originally from Bulkington from Mr Edwards I received some from sheepe’ it would explain the coincidence of Mr Eastwood. And, low and behold, their choice of names, i.e. Joseph and there was a map of the Dunchurch Trying to flesh out how my family Susanna. Born 1607, Nathaniel would common fields at the enclosure of lived all those years ago I have been about thirty when his first 1709. The landlord at the time was commissioned some research from the child was born. Later, in 1648, he also Lord Montagu of Northampton and Mr Lichfield Record office (the Lichfield named a daughter Margery; after his Eastwood had found the map in the and Diocese of the time mother? Montagu papers. There, on this map, incorporated north and central were the fields referred to in the 1717 Warwickshire) and what did they find This transcript also shows Joan Barrs Dunchurch survey, neatly numbered but a marriage contract, dated 1697, burying her son, William, at Dunchurch and named. Intriguingly, very faintly, between Nathaniel Barrs of Dunchurch in 1600 and marrying William Garrett someone had written the name of John and Joannah Smith of Flecknoe signed of Thurlaston the same year. Could she Barrs on the site of his homestead. by Nathaniel’s uncle, Thomas! have been the wife of Robert of With the two documents I was able to Nathaniel and Joannah had a son Bulkington and the mother of Thomas? trace the fields belonging to John Barrs, William in the year of the marriage Whilst the consecutive nature of the situated on both sides of what is now contract and the marriage took place a dates from Robert Barres burial in 1595 the Southam Road, at Toft. I was so year later in 1798. Oh dear, could the is not conclusive proof of the excited by my discovery that I dashed reason for Thomas signing the marriage connection between Bulkington and into Perth to buy an Ordnance Survey contract be that Abraham disapproved Dunchurch, it does seem quite likely. map. I worked in Rugby in the 60s of his son’s marriage? and70s and I can remember the Since starting to write this history I building of the Draycote Water Lichfield RO also found the inventory have been back to Warwickshire with reservoir and I had a horrible of Nathaniel on his death in 1741 Al Barrs of Florida. Some time ago I premonition that John’s homestead was showing his wife, Joannah, and his son, found a Barrs history site on the now at the bottom of the lake. I need Abraham, as appraisers. It also showed internet in which Al had written his not have worried. To my surprise – and that Nathaniel lived and farmed at family tree back to John Barrs of Toft joy- I found that not only were the Draycote, a hamlet in the parish of who emigrated to America about 1750. fields not under water but the Bourton-on-Dunsmore a couple of However, he had got John’s father as boundaries were still intact and exactly miles across the fields from his father at Frances of Coventry. I was able to tell the same on the modern map as at the Toft. him that John’s father was on my enclosure of 1709. family tree and that he was John Barrs Also from Lichfield, I have recently of Toft. So that, in fact, his ancestry Another document made the connection received a copy of the will of William went back to at least 1633. To say that between Abraham of the 21 strips and Bares of Bulkington in 1559/60 and an he was chuffed is an understatement. John of the homestead in the extract of a probate document relating He was ready to drop everything and Dunchurch survey. In 1710, the year to Robert Barres’ death in 1595 in fly to the UK on the very next plane. In after the enclosure, Abraham was 77 which he nominates his son, Thomas, the event he arrived in Scotland on the nd years of age and it appears he wanted as executor. Thomas Barrs of Bulkinton 2 of September 2004. In the interim, no truck with all these modern ideas so christened a son, Nathaniel, in 1607. He we had exchanged e-mails on a regular he made over all his assets to his also buried his daughter, Susanna, in basis. After a few days for him to see youngest son, John, by deed of gift 1606/7 and baptised and buried his son, the sights in Highland Perthshire, I including the tenancy of the newly Joseph, in 1610. drove him down to Leicestershire to formed farm. tour the churches in Caldecot, Burbage, During my researches I have found the Cadeby, Nailstone and Market So here I was at Easter 2003 walking in Barrs surname in various forms: Bars, Bosworth where members of the the footsteps of my ancestors of 400 Barr, Bares, Barres, Barrs. This is Leicestershire Barrs family had been baptised, married and buried since the years ago. I reckon I can now claim to Probably the result of various scribes’ th be a real Warwickshire kid from way interpretation with the particular Barrs early 16 century. Moving across the back. Apart from his farm Abraham not knowing any different. I have (Continued on page 5) Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 5

(Continued from page 4) A5 we visited the churches associated Disappointments with the Warwickshire family in Bulkington, Dunchurch, Bourton-on- We all have them. Recently the An illegitimate birth can lead to a Society of Genealogists recommended number of records especially prior to Dunsmore, Napton and Wolfhamcote counselling for those who find the Poor Law Amendment of 1834. If a (where the church is all that is left of depression and anxiety taking over their mother was likely to “fall on the the deserted village). He insisted on research. However, you should not to parish” she would be questioned under checking out the inscriptions on all the embark on family history research if oath about the father’s identity and her tombstones in all the churches and was you will be upset or depressed to find answer may be found in either the most disappointed that any older than illegitimacy, infidelity, bigamy, vestry records or the Overseer of the about 1800 were too corroded to be poverty, criminality or insanity: every Poor records. The putative father read. However, he was excited to walk family has a skeleton or three, so you would have been required to commit to on the fields of his ancestors’ farm at have to be prepared to accept them as a bond to pay for the “lying in” of the Toft. He left Scotland for the US on the part of the rich tapestry of life. mother-to-be, and to support the child. 16th of September, one fully satisfied Sometimes disappointments come These are “Bastardy Bonds” sometimes unexpectedly such as when a long- called Indemnity Bonds; those that member of the Barrs Trans -Atlantic sought marriage certificate arrives with survive may be with parochial records, family. Next to the UK there are more no father stated. We are at the usually held at county record offices. Barrs in the USA - in particular commencement of civil registration - Where there was no provision by bond, Florida - than any other country. before the census can provide help. churchwardens could seek a court order You check the church marriage register requiring the putative father to provide The high point of this tour for me was a and it too has no known father; the for the woman and/or child. The visit to the hamlet of Draycote. There names of witnesses do not offer any Quarter Sessions records (usually held are still several houses there built in the clues. You feel “lost”. at county record offices) may therefore early 17th century and the remains of contain information of a Maintenance ridge and furrow farming. Al, busy There is debate on the percentages of or Filiation Order. Unfortunately for with his camera, attracted the attention illegitimacy over the centuries. Mark you, some putative fathers would have Herber in his acclaimed “Ancestral paid up without argument leaving only of the occupier of an obviously Tudor Trails” suggests 4 - 7% post 1837. house who generously offered to show maintenance orders in Petty Sessions – Terrick FitzHugh’s “Dictionary of few of these records remain! If you us inside. After explaining our interest Genealogy” states ‘bastardy appears to still have no leads, it is worth looking we were intrigued to think that our have increased considerably from the th th through Settlement Examinations ancestors might have lived and died in 16 to the 19 century’ but goes on to particularly if a woman and child were this very house or, at the very least, one add that all children born over one possibly to be “moved on” by the of the other old houses still existing in month after a marriage were considered parish. the village. A further coincidence was to be legitimate – long after the “bump” that Mr Grinnel, the owner, was a would have been very obvious! Your illegitimate forebear may have descended from the local aristocracy. retired deputy head of Long Itchington Occasionally, you can discover the School where Nathaniel’s grandson, In The Durants of Tong Castle: A likely father, but it requires research. Lecture by Venerable RMC Jeffery, who might have lived in this house, Did the mother marry soon after the George Durant reputedly had 20 became the schoolmaster in 1765. birth? You cannot be sure this man children by his two wives, and 32 was the father; he may have been an illegitimate children. George reputedly Finally, having collated all my available man looking for a wife to had a child of his own in every cottage ancestors’ births, marriages and deaths keep house, or Guardians and on the Shropshire estate, gave each of back to 1633, I find that, of all things, I Overseers may have coerced the them unusual names, and was godfather am stonewalled on two deaths in the woman to marry. However, check the to each: the early 1800s parish register 1800s and, hard to believe, my given names of the child. Does this must make interesting reading! grandmother Emily’s death in 1932. I look like a surname; is the child given know the year of her death because it is an unusual Christian name that matches Leave no stone unturned: I recently entered in the family bible bequeathed that of the new father? A number of found a Will that solved a conundrum: ‘natural’ children carried a surname as Charles Edwards was married to Sarah to me by my father. Despite researches their middle name – with some delving Morris who had given birth to a child by the Nuneaton Registry office and the a possible link may be forthcoming. James prior to her marriage to Charles. Warwickshire Records Office we Start with the parish registers, as these In his Will, Charles left property to cannot find any reference to where she can be more locally accessible. You “natural son James Morris otherwise was buried. I have only two cousins may hit the jackpot and find the “later” Edwards” (the only way illegitimate around my age who remember her and husband had the same surname as that James could inherit was through the they have no clues either. used as a given name at baptism or father’s Will with trustees named). It there may be a hint of the father in the did not prove beyond all doubt that My great grandfather, John must have baptism register: “John, base born son Charles was the father of James; it did died sometime after the birth of his last of Ann Smith and Fred Bloggs” – the prove that Charles wished to be child, Arthur, in 1860. But I can find no attitude of the vicar often comes out in considered as his father. his comments in the registers! An entry record of his death or burial. His wife When your research finds no known Sarah (nee Fairfield) whom he married may read “John Bloggs, bastard son of Ann Smith” which leaves you father - a situation you may have to in 1849 was still living in Abbey Street wondering if he was known as Bloggs accept - you can follow female lines: on the 1881 census. John’s mother or Smith – and is he “your John”. the mother is the mother; the father is Mary Ann (nee Brindley) who married Perhaps worst of all: “John, son of Ann who the mother says he is! This is just William in 1825 also seems to have Smith” but check for any other children what I may have to do with my gt disappeared from the records. I can find by single Ann – she may have been in a grandmother – she claimed to be neither the date of her birth or death. long-term relationship with a man not Shropshire born, but after the time of Any clues would be greatly free to marry…did she marry later; our ‘active’ George Durant! appreciated. As Sir Mortimer Wheeler who, was he widowed and when would say ‘I’m still digging’. widowed? Ann Nonymouse Page 6 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

Fielding Johnson’s Mill By Peter Lee I have been asked what was on the site in Attleborough Road between the railway bridge carrying the Coventry Line, and the river bridge. There is a large housing estate there now. It is hard to reconcile that this new development has completely changed the aspect of the area, which was once dominated by Fielding Johnson’s factory. It does not seem that long ago since it was pulled down, and the land made up well above the flood level of the river.

Before the factory, and even before the railway this piece of ground, which stretched from about Anker Street down to the river on Attleborough Road, went by the strange name of "Fudgy Nutts". No one in the town today will know where this name came from but the explanation is simple because the ground was at that time low lying and the river flooded it, so it was soft clay and "fudgy". Nutts because it belonged to a family called Nutt who were once important people hereabouts of a cut in wages brought on by a slump was the first entirely new installation in but seem to have died out locally in the in the cotton business generally. Things England where the "New Bradford" early 19th century. In 1792 there was a went from bad to worse to such an system of worsted weaving, drawing gentleman whose name was Joseph extent that the mill closed in the mid and spinning was introduced. This Nutt and it could be this man who 1880's. revolutionary new system combined the owned the land, and had a large house old labour intensive drawing, spinning, where the roundabout is opposite the In 1886 it was taken over by a Leicester twisting and winding system using parish church. He also owned the old firm called Fielding Johnson Ltd. large numbers of machines into a single "Plough" public house next door, which Thomas Johnson had started this system where only three operations was pulled down in the 19th. century, company in 1720. Their first factory were needed giving a great deal more but his own house was demolished well premises were in West Bond Street, efficiency so that more wool could be before then and replaced by a house Leicester. In 1862 they moved to the produced per floor area. In addition to called "The Close". Abbey Mills on the site of the old the manufacture of woolen yarns in its Abbey in Leicester. The name came many different forms, Fielding & Before the Coventry railway line was about because originally there was a Johnson were also dyers and produced opened in 1850 where the line branched Mr. Thomas Fielding and a Mr. a large range of colours. off from the main line and ran parallel Thomas Johnson. The families to Anker Street was a small brickyard, intermarried hence the name. In 1828 It is sad to reflect on the passing of this which obviously used some of this Thomas Fielding Johnson was born manufacturing trade which like so "fudgy" clay in its kilns. Of course, the who went on to become owner of many in Nuneaton have entirely railway sliced through the brickyard Fielding & Johnson Ltd . His brother disappeared which were originally and cut the land in half leaving the was Joseph Fielding Johnson who based on the old skills of the silk trade. Attleborough side as rough ground. But sought his fame and fortune in not for long. On 9th October 1860, the Nuneaton and opened the very Elastic web weaving making the webs Nuneaton Cotton Spinning & Weaving successful business of the Union Wool used in the gussets of shoes and boots, Co. Ltd was registered with a share & Leather Co. Ltd., nearby in 1864. synthetic yarn spinning at Courtaulds capital of £100,000 and a magnificent Joseph had been involved in his early which went into the making of clothes, mill erected in 1861 at a cost estimated years in the Lancashire cotton trade, silk velvet and plush manufacturing at to be approaching £70,000, which was and was to become Nuneaton's most Listers and the woolen products of an enormous sum of money then. It has influential businessman. His influence Fielding Johnson’s Ltd. been reported that this mill was built to seems to have brought his brother's help relieve the distress in the ribbon business to Nuneaton so that for the Nuneaton prospered because our men trade, which was in terminal decline at next ninety years Fielding Johnson’s folk had jobs in the coalmines, that time. Ltd were one of Nuneaton's major brickyards and the engineering On 24th November 1877 the business employers. companies in Coventry whilst their was taken over by The Trent Cotton wives earned extra money in the mills Spinning and Manufacturing Co. Ltd The company produced woolen of Nuneaton. Numerous works hooters whose directors came from Lancashire, products, knitting wool and yarns for regimented their lives and Courtaulds mostly the Manchester, Bury, Wigan the hosiery trade using high quality raw familiar clock chimes was the town’s and Oldham areas. Thirteen materials such as merino and crossbred wrist watch. All this has changed. The shareholders had a capital of £30,000. wools, together with synthetics. mills, which once employed so many By 1883 it had five hundred employees hands, are now all gone. but there was a strike that year because In 1957 the Anker Mills in Nuneaton Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 7 My Family Album - Walter Henry Hood By Anne Paul (nee Hood) & Pauline Morbey (Nee Hood)

Our grandfather, Walter Henry Hood, During his time in India we understand was born on 5 August 1876 at Higham that he was received an injury to his on the Hill to Rhoda (nee Johnson) and throat. It was necessary for a John Hood. tracheotomy to be performed in a field hospital and a silver tube was inserted On the 1881 Census he is listed as into his throat. The family story relates living with his Uncle, Richard Horobin, that three soldiers were operated on in in Church Street, Nuneaton. We know this manner and only our Grandfather that he started work at the age of ten on survived. We can only guess at the a farm in Higham and that at the age of conditions in which these operations sixteen he was working for Mr Finch, were carried out and the likelihood of an ironmonger, as a hawker. We have infection and feel that to survive this been told that he came home from work was no mean feat in itself. For the rest one evening and found that some of his life he had to cover the silver tube in his throat to enable him to clothes he had saved for some time to speak. As children, we found this quite buy had been pawned. There followed frightening, not realising how lucky he a huge family row and Walter left was to have survived. If the tube had Grandma Hood outside the house in home. broken or come out, he would have Arbury Rd just opposite WestburyRoad. suffocated. This operation is pretty You can see the notice in the window for He then walked along what we know much commonplace now, but in those milk and cream. The plaque on the left of now as the A5 to South Wales and days it must have been groundbreaking the door says that it is Dr Price’s found employment in an enamel works. medicine. Surgery. The little girl she is holding is He did not like this work, so lied about her grandaughter, Joan Surman, who his age and enlisted in the Army. We He was then invalided back to England, lived in Westbury Rd. think the regiment he joined was the but we have no information as to Welsh Fusiliers but if anyone can give where. We know that he was in receipt We are the daughters of Douglas Hood us more information from the picture of of a pension and used to tell us that he and Eva Hood (nee Arnold). We have him in uniform we would be most would be entitled to admission into the spent quite a long time gathering this grateful. Chelsea Hospital if he survived our information, and although we have Grandmother. Once he had recovered uncovered many things previously he went to work as a chauffeur and Whilst in the Army he spent some time unknown to us, there are still some valet for the surgeon that performed the in India and was involved in the Boer gaps we would dearly love to fill in. If operation on his throat. anyone has any information regarding War (1899 – 1902). His regiment was our grandfather’s life, we would love to ordered to help with the relief of In 1905 he married Emma Elizabeth hear from them. Ladysmith (1900) in South Africa, but Allen from Bramcote, Bulkington and Mrs Pauline Morbey, Member No 45. on their arrival they were informed that they had four children, Gladys, 21 Goosander Close, Snettisham, Kings Ladysmith had been relieved and they Douglas, Phyllis and Jack. They lived Lynn, Norfolk, PE31 7RF were sent back to India. in Arbury Road in Nuneaton. Our Email: [email protected] Grandfather trained to be a lorry driver in London and then worked for Anslows in Coventry. Our Grandmother sold milk, cream and butter from the house. For a period of time the front room of their house in Arbury Road was used as a temporary surgery for Dr Martin and Dr Busby.

He finished his working life at the age of 73 after a period of employment at the Daimler factory. He died in 1959 at the age of eighty-one. Our grandmother died in 1964 at the age of eighty-six.

Researching our grandfather’s life has been interesting and fascinating and we have learned what a strong character he was. We feel that this has brought us closer to him, as being teenagers when he died we just thought of him as our lovely, gentle, grandfather. We will always remember him with love and respect but feel we were too young to Our last picture of Grandad taken after value him at that time. he retired aged 73. Page 8 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal It’s a Small world Innit? By Wilf Whitmore Wilf sent his article to me for crossed the county line into Staffs, before and as the marriage to Roy’s publication shortly before his death and Mum would say, “You know, your father, Alfred, was in St Mary’s Abbey it is included in this edition with the Dad’s cousin Mary Annable lives church take it that she must have been kind permission of his wife, Jane. Pat somewhere in Staffordshire”, “Yes, widowed.) The interesting fact of her Boucher. Mum, but Staffs is a big county, could entry of birth was the place, Pelsall. be anywhere.” I moved from Nuneaton some thirty I set about trying to trace Roy to years ago for reasons of my job at the In time we moved to a bigger house in belatedly inform him that all the years time, commuting along the Watling Pelsall more in the centre of the village at school we had denied being related, Street daily until, with the company’s mainly to accommodate the ‘getting we were wrong. I had no success in help, I bought a house near to bigger’ children. We got to know the finding Roy, but I did find his older Brownhills where the firm had neighbours all right, but mainly only by brother. I telephoned him and during relocated. One of the most frequent their first names and occasionally post the course of the conversation I said questions from new acquaintances was would arrive through our door by that I lived in Pelsall which prompted whether my wife or I had any family mistake. I decided to nip into the him to relate early memories of visiting around this area. The answer was library just round the corner and from elderly relatives in Church Road, always no, my roots were in Nuneaton, the register of electors make a list of Pelsall, first to a cottage opposite the my wife’s between Rugby and our new neighbours surnames. While I church then to another house further Leicester. was about it I thought I might as well along. I lived in Chapel Street, which list the names of the folks in the next runs almost parallel to Church Road Some years later, following a drastic street where their gardens backed onto and the cottage referred to was about career change, I worked for myself in ours. Guess what! Third garden to the 250 yards away as the crow flies. Off the area of property maintenance, right in the other street - Mary Annable, Chapel Street there is a cul-de-sac, formerly a hobby more or less. Dad’s cousin. I take it all back Mum, ‘Hayward’s Close’. So named because Staffordshire isn’t that a big a county it was built on land formerly owned by I did some work for a customer in after all! the Hayward’s of Church Road. The Pelsall, the village where we lived, and saddening news learned during the at the end of the job was asked if I A few years later I suffered a stroke conversation was that Roy died of a would be willing and able to repaint a and not being able to work I became heart attack aged 50 in 1993. house he owned just round the corner. involved with my family history, I A quote was done and a contract wasn’t able to do much else except read My research had shown that, like my agreed. An elderly couple rented the and write at the time and it turned out wife and myself Roy and his wife had house. I didn’t have a great deal of to be therapeutic. I always had the idea two children, a boy and a girl. contact with them during the job save of researching in the back of my mind Although his brother did not know their the usual pleasantries and yes, a cup of since school days. The name next to exact whereabouts he told me that his tea would most welcome, could you mine on the class register was R L nephew worked for a national company leave that window open as long a Whitmore and every new master who and was in the Manchester area and his possible to allow the paint to dry etc. took the register asked the same niece, unmarried, lived and worked in Finishing early on Friday afternoon - question as to whether we were related. the Birmingham area. At that time our all done, tidied away, truck loaded We always said we weren’t but really son worked for a national company, ready to leave - I was invited in for tea we didn’t know for sure. We had both living in Wigan and our daughter was and a chat with Mr and Mrs Lloyd. Mr asked our parents but could get no working in Birmingham. Lloyd observed that by my accent I further than ‘probably distant cousins’. didn’t come from these parts. I During other of my researches I found a confirmed that was quite correct, I was I had found his parents’ marriage cousin of my father, Lilian, who had originally from Nuneaton. “You said certificate with his mother’s name married not far away in your name’s Whitmore?” which I given as Emily Barton duly noted in my Wolverhampton (information gleaned affirmed, “Your mother wouldn’t be records. The marriage details from the marriage index). I traced her Ada, who used to serve chips in Queens obviously also gave his grandfather’s present whereabouts to Shelfield, a Road in her teens before she was name and putting the information village adjacent to Pelsall. Not only married?” together the resultant fact was that our that, but to a house just a few doors great grandfathers were brothers. Roy away from one of my regular customers This incident happened long before I and I were third cousins. when I had been self employed. became seriously involved with research, otherwise I would have Then when checking the births indices I now move on to a holiday near Tenby quizzed them further to drain them of for Roy L (easy because he was a few years back. As I was outside every scrap of information they would roughly the same age as me) also for preparing the car for an excursion to the have been able to give. I have two his older brother, the entries give records office at Haverfordwest, I got Lloyd families in my tree. ‘mother’s maiden name’ as Hayward. into conversation with the man from A search of the St Catherine’s index of the next caravan. They were living in After the death of my father we would births revealed an Emily Hayward born their large touring van having sold a often fetch Mum to come and stay for 1909. (Although I have not been back hotel business in Tenby and were now visits. Coming along the Watling to check yet I have presumed for the looking for a suitable bungalow for Street, without fail, as soon as we time being that Emily had been married (Continued on page 9) Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 9

(Continued from page 8) managing a pop band myself in the the school starting at its opening in their retirement. Naturally, he 1970s). 1874, it makes fascinating reading. I enquired where we were from; Pelsall am currently doing a bit of research near Walsall was the answer. He knew I had driven some 150 miles to into the names featured in it using the Pelsall, he himself had lived at Goscote randomly have a conversation with a 1881 census as a starting point because (a couple of miles away) and in fact his man whose brother had been known to I have the CD set to hand. The mother still lived in Aldridge. The doss down on mum’s settee or floor. schoolteacher at that time was a Mr conversation continued with my saying Unhappily, prior to the holiday, my William Charnell in the company of that I was not from Pelsall originally mum’s health and mind had his two sisters, Clara and Sarah Ann; but from Nuneaton, strange deteriorated to the extent of needing 24 all three are shown to have been born coincidence so was he, with a brother hour care and had had to be moved to a in Bulkington. The name Charnell still living there. One of his brothers home (otherwise she would have been appears in my family tree, the husband used to play drums in a dance band in with us on holiday). My brother took of a cousin. He tells me that his family the 30s, the same time that my dad on the task of removing most of her came from Atherstone. Checking the played trumpet in dance bands. The things from her flat, leaving me to 1881, there were only 32 people with name Parnell, the same as my mum collect the remaining oddments on our the name in Warwickshire at the time, often mentioned when reminiscing return. Amongst these oddments were amongst which were two households in about her younger days and how after a lot of the paper items, photos and the Bulkington, one a couple by their ages playing somewhere it was all back to like. Included in the papers were press must have been the parents of the mum and dads’ house for cups of tea cuttings on the subject of Nuneaton’s teachers the other having some and coffee, sandwiches, a few beers or dance bands and both my dad’s and the members born in Atherstone. glasses of wine. Being usually (I believe, Eric) Parnell names were Coincidence or what? Saturday night, late, some would ‘crash mentioned in the same column. out’ on the settee or the floor and go home in the morning (I had first hand As caretaker of Stonnall village school, It’s a small world, innit? experience of this activity from I recently came across the log book of

The Moreton’s Direct Line Mothering Sunday By Trevor Moreton, son of Christopher Moreton and Winifred Markham Mothering Sunday began as a special Our confirmed story of the Moreton packer born 1875. They lived in Huck- day in the Church of England calendar. family starts with William, born 1769 nall but returned to Nuneaton and, in It's celebrated on the fourth Sunday of in Nuneaton. He married Sarah Erps, 1901, were living at Tuttle Hill with 2 Lent. Now the day is popularly known born 1772. Between 1791 and1814 children. Joseph and Mary moved to as "Mothers' Day." they had 8 sons and 3 daughters born Chapel End where 3 more children were in Whittleford. Sarah died in 1822 and born. In 1909 the family moved to Old In the 1700's, churchgoers would wor- William later married a widow, Mary Arley where they lived in St Wilfrid’s ship at their nearest parish or "daughter Hazel Wood, who had 2 daughters, Cottages. A son and a daughter Mary church". It was considered important Maria and Elizabeth, from her previous were born here. Father Joe worked at for people to return to their home or marriage. William and Mary were silk Arley Pit. "mother" church once a year. weavers. 1919 found the family living at Binley So each year in the middle of Lent, In 1824, Thomas, the sixth child of Village. Joe and his sons worked at everyone would visit their "mother" William and Sarah, married Ann Bur- Binley pit, until 1927. The family left church, or the main church or Cathe- dett, born 1802 at Chilvers Coton. Binley and lived once again at Old Ar- dral of the area.

Thomas was a shoemaker. They had 2 ley, in St Wilfrid’s cottages. Joseph sons and 2 daughters. Ann died in This special occasion became a time worked at Arley Pit with his sons, Joe, for family reunions. Historians think 1838 and Thomas was married again Chris, Jack and Bob. Bob played foot- in1839 at Nuneaton to Elizabeth Hazel that the return to the "Mother" church ball for Binley and Arley. led to the tradition of children, particu- Wood, a ribbon weaver of Ansley and larly those working as domestic ser- his stepsister. They produced 4 daugh- The sons and daughters, except Mary, vants, or as apprentices, being given ters and 1 son between 1840-1859 and all married and stayed within a few the day off to visit their mother and lived in Chapel End. miles of their parents. The next genera- family. By Victorian times it was quite

tion saw one family move to Canada. common for children to leave home for William, the son of Thomas and Eliza- work as young as ten years old. beth, was born in Hartshill in1847. He The Moreton tree continues to expand was a coal miner and in1869 he mar- with a good chance of the name con- As they walked home to their family ried Catherine Dingley, born in Hart- tinuing for many more years. Our own along the country lanes, children would shill in 1850. They lived in Chapel efforts produced 3 sons and 5 grand- pick wild flowers and violets to take to End and had 2 sons and 6 daughters. sons, all living in Nuneaton, with one church or to give to their mother as a twig in Suffolk. I should mention our 2 small gift. This special day has now Joseph, the first son of William and daughters and 4 Granddaughters, no become a time when people give Catherine, was born in 1873. He was a longer Moretons. thanks to their mothers and it offers an coal miner and, in Nottingham in 1897, opportunity to express both love and he married Mary Rushton, a cigar thanks for the work that they do. Page 10 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

Yo ur L et te rs The following are letters which were on the Green. (There is a memorial London trade. As you probably know sent to Peter Lee. Can anyone help window to Charles in the church at the silk trade went into steep decline answer the queries? Hartshill). after 1830, and by 1860 was almost ******************************* finished in Nuneaton and Coventry. Dear Peter: Incidentally, the local collection Just a few specialised regalia firms This morning my husband & I were librarian did supply me with some remaining in this area. Where the silk chatting and the old nickname for extracts from your book, 'The Trent trade employed four fifths of the Nuneaton came up (codder) and he Valley Railway', about the Charles population by 1860 there were hardly asked if I knew where or what it Abell Quarries, later Mancetter any jobs remaining. What effect this originated from and I could not answer. Quarries, and their locos; I found it had on Hood & Ward either here or in We also wondered about ‘Tin Hat’ for most informative and helpful. London I cannot say. Presumably they Hinckley and ‘The Holy City’ for had made their money by then. Bedworth. Best wishes, from Penny Duce email: [email protected] Strangely both the premises they had When I was growing up in the old Member No 198 built in Nuneaton burnt down. The town, codder was used a lot but when ******************************** original factory became later (1850ish) we visit we never seem to hear it and Dear Peter Hall & Phillips hat manufacturers, some of my old school friends say they I am currently researching my family when they closed later a company never knew of it. tree, a large branch of which originated which made laminated timber trims, from Nuneaton - the HOOD family. dashboards and the like, for motor cars Keep up the good work with the (The Awson carriage Co.) took over journal, I always look forward to My G grandfather was Frederick and this burnt down in a spectacular receiving it and read it from cover to Thomas Powell Hood born c1900. My fire in 1967 fuelled by the lacquered cover. 2x G grandfather was Frederick Charles timber work. Part of this factory Hood born c1871. My 3 x G complex was used by the Hall West Co. Thank you, from Eileen Wright email: grandfather was Frederick Powell Hood engineers - later Nuneaton Engineering [email protected] born c1850. My 4x G grandfather was Co. These specialised in steam driven Member No 138 Charles Hood born c 1796 and listed on machinery for the mining, brickmaking, ******************************* the 1841 census as a schoolmaster aged brewing, and agricultral industries. Dear Peter 45.I think my 5x G grandfather was The warerooms on Abbey Street I've read the latest (January) issue of William Hood born c 1760. became the Gauze Hall public house the NNWFHS Journal with interest, about 1850, later it was made into a and noticed a reference (p.5) in Brian A Charles Hood is mentioned in the baptist chapel until about 1890 when it Mitchell's article to the Jan 15th 1897 “Annals of the Nuneaton Silk Trade” became Pool Lorimer & Tabberer's issue of the Atherstone News, which article. Could he be my 4x G factory. This too burnt down, in 1928. carried an announcement that grandfather? photographs of the Atherstone Hunt You will find several Nuneaton families were for sale. These were presumably From Matthew Soden in the Wood Street/Cripplegate areas of not printed in the newspaper at that Email: [email protected] London where major distribution time, but were on show in the window operations took place for silk products of the printer and publisher of the Reply from Peter Lee made in Nuneaton and Bedworth. paper, John H. Calladine, in Long Dear Matthew Street. I know a bit about the Hood family and my impression is I am wondering whether any that the silk weaving side of NNWFHS member is particularly the family were very wealthy interested in the Atherstone Hunt and at one time. They traded may have an archive including these or (1840's) as Hood Ward & similar photographs? I was unable to Hood, and by 1850 this was locate any such photos in the Nuneaton shortened to Hood & Ward. local collection when I was briefly able They had premises in the NNWFHS to visit there for research some months Meadow (later Meadow ago, and I am hoping to find a Street) off Abbey Street, a HELPLINE photograph of an ancestor of mine, silk weaving factory and in Charles Abell, a quarry owner at the 1820's built ware Peter Lee Hartshill for over 20 years in the late warerooms for the gauze (024) 7638 1090 19thC. His obituary in the Nuneaton trade in Abbey Street, later 6.30 - 8.00pm Chronicle, 9.9.1904, mentions that his converted into a pub called Mon to Sat 'favourite sport was hunting, and he the "Gauze Hall". They were was a subscriber to and regular also listed as having a Or email: follower of the Atherstone Hounds, London warehouse in 1850 [email protected] entertaining the Hunt on those at 117 Wood Street, occasions when they met at Hartshill' Cheapside where one branch where he lived at 'The Poplars', a house of the family looked after the Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 11

Where am I from and how did I get here? - The list that did not exist until now By Alan F Cook If, like me, you have spent a lot of time researching your family Type 2 tree, there often comes a point when you start to wonder about The VCH or Victoria History of the County. This is a national the context of it all. Why did my family move from here to programme of county research. Most counties have some there? Why did they get into this trade or occupation? Why did volumes published (Warwickshire is complete). They often that unusual forename appear? I hope this table will be of use contain family histories – listing owners of manors, houses, to the people trying to find out background history to their incumbents of churches etc. Vol. I is typically a geological and families and the places that they lived. biological view of the county. Vols. II and III list industrial and religious developments. Vols. IV onward deal with each Each English County has several types of reference book on it. County Hundred (a shire division with a Court). [Ed: Some are now available on-line.]

Type 1 Type 3 There are the local historian/antiquarian works such as The BAAS or British Association for the Advancement of Nichol’s Leicestershire or Dugdale’s Warwickshire. These are Science yearbooks are very scholastic in the depth and range of often rare, only available in County Record Offices or good their content. You will not find your ancestors amongst their reference libraries. Sometimes they are indexed, but often not. pages – but you will get a very thorough understanding of They may deal with parishes in an alphabetical way. regional social and economic history with geography. The Occasionally they have superb family pedigrees – you may meeting often return every few decades to their old venues e.g. find your ancestors on such pages. Cambridge has had 6 yearbooks prepared to date. Birmingham has had 7.

ENGLISH COUNTY ANTIQUARIAN BOOKS (as of 2005) Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 County Author of history/ Date Victoria History of the British Association for the (Pre 1974) antiquity book Published County (VCH) Advancement of Science Yearbook (BAAS) Bedford L Meynell 1950 I, II, III Berkshire E Ashmole 1719 I, II, III, IV Buckingham G Lipscomb 4 Vols 1847 I, II, III, IV Cambridge B Galloway 1983 I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, 1833, 1845, 1862, 1904, 1938, 1904 IX 1965 Cheshire Ormerod 1882 I, II, III, IV Cornwall J Polsue 4 Vols 1867-73 I, II, V, VIII R Polwhele 7 Vols 1803-16 Rev W Borlase 1758,1769 Cumberland W Hutchinson 2 Vols 1794 I, II Derby R Simpson 1826 I, II Devon R Polwhele 3 Vols 1793-1806 I, II 1841, 1869, 1877, 1969, 1989, 1991 Dorset J Hutchins 4 Vols 1861-74 II, III Durham R Surtees 1816-40 I, II, III 1970 W Hutchinson 3 Vols 1785-94 J R Boyles 1892 J Raine 1865 Essex P Morant 4 Vols 1768 I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII Gloucester S Rudder 1 Vol 1779 II, IV, VI, VII, VIII, X, XI 1836, 1856, 1875, 1898, 1930, R Atkyns 1 Vol – 2pts 1712, 1768 1955, 1986 Hampshire R Warner 1830 I, II, III, IV, V 1846, 1882, 1911, 1919, 1925, B B Woodward, 1861-69 1964 T C Wilks & C Lockhart 3 Vols Hereford Duncumb 1 Vol 1804, 1812 I Cooke 1912 Matthews - Hertford J E Cussans 3 Vols 1870-81 I, II, III, IV H Chauncy 2 Vols 1826 Huntingdon G C Gorham 1829 I, II, III Isle of Wight R Worsley 1 Vol 1781 I, II, III, IV, V G Brannon 1828 & 1842 Kent E Hasted 12 Vols 1797- 1801 I, II, III 1899, 1973 W Lambarde 1536 R Kilburne - K P Witney 1982 Page 12 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

Lancashire E Baines 1825 I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII 1837, 1854, 1870, 1883, 1896, 1903, 1923, 1933, 1936, 1953, 1976, 1982 Leicester J Nichols 4 Vols - 8 pts 1795-1815 I, II, III, IV, V, VI 1907, 1933, 1972, 1994 W Burton 1 Vol 1622, 1777 Lincoln W Marratt 3 Vols 1??? II A Rogers & S Bennett 1999 London T Allen 4 Vols 1827-9 I 1931, 2000 Middlesex F Prickett 1842 I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, J H Lloyd 1888 IX W P W Phillimore 1892 G F Bosworth 1913 M Sharpe 1919 Norfolk F Blomefield 3 Vols 1739-45 I, II 1868, 1935, 1961, 1984 Northampton Morton 1712 I, II, III, IV Bridges 1791 Baker - Northumbs E Bateson 14 Vols 1893- None 1838, 1863, 1889, 1916, 1949, J Brand (Newcle) 1789 1995 R Welford (Newcle) 3 Vols 1884-87 Nottingham R Thoroton 3 Vols 1790-96 I, II 1866, 1893, 1937, 1966 Oxford A Wood 2 Vols 1796 I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, 1832, 1847, 1860, 1894, 1926, IX, X, XI, XII 1954, 1988, Rutland J Wright 1687 I, II T Blore 2 Vols 1811 Shropshire J G Anderson - I, II, III, IV, VIII, XI Rev R W Eyton 12 Vols 1861 Rev C H Hartshorne 1841 Somerset Rev J Collins 3 Vols 1791 I, II, III, IV, V, VI 1864, 1888, 1978 Stafford Dr R Plot 1686 I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VIII, XIV, 1993 Stebbing Shaw 2 Vols 1798-1801 XVII, XX Suffolk A Suckling 1846-8 I, II 1851, 1895 W White 1855 Surrey O Manning & 1804-14 I, II, III, IV 1975 W Bray 3 Vols Sussex T W Horsfield 1834-5 I, II, III, IV, VI (1-3), VII, IX 1872, 1948, 1983 2 Vols Warwick W Dugdale 1656 I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII 1839, 1849, 1865, 1886, 1913, 1 Vol 1730 1950, 1977 2 Vols 1765 Westmore- J Nicholson & 1777 None land R Burn 2 Vols Wiltshire G Bell 1851 I (1-2), II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV Worcester T Nash 1781 I, II, III, IV Yorkshire T Baines 1875 I, II, III 1844, 1981 E Riding G Poulsons 1840 I, II, III, IV, V, VI 1853, 1922 N Riding W Edwards 1924 I, II 1842, 1858, 1861, 1873, 1879, T Whellan 1859 1887, 1890, 1900, 1901, 1915, 2 Vols 1927, 1956, 1962, 1967, 1980, W Riding - - 1989, 1996, 1998 South Rev J Hunter 2 Vols 1828-31 1881, 1906, 1932, 1959, 1981 F Drake 1736 I, II York BBC Timewatch - The Influenza Epidemic of 1918

Timewatch is the BBC's flagship history series - we are currently making a programme looking at the 1918 Influenza epidemic.

If you know that your family was significantly affected by influenza in 1918, then we'd like to hear from you. It might be that you have parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles who died or were orphaned as a result of it - or that you've discovered family archive or an interesting family story about it. We would also like to hear from anyone who has a family member who might remember the influenza outbreak.

If you'd like to get in touch, please contact Emma Parkins, BBC Timewatch on 020 8752 6179, or by email - [email protected]. uk The programme is at the early research stage at the moment and all conversations are in complete confidence. Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 13

GET NETTED

How to find the BMD indexes www.tribalpages.com/tribes/ To the left of the search button, click minniepearl on Advanced Search then scroll down The Dead Bones Society This collection of databases is available the page to the map. A website from a genealogist living in on the internet in all Warwickshire America but researching in and around libraries. It is not available for library To find the indexes to Births, Marriages Warwickshire. Surname interests card access from home like the other and Deaths for England, click on UK & include Richardson, Frew, Wills, Information Zone subscriptions Ireland and then view all 69 England Chetwynd, Clarke, Chester, Etcheson, services, as people can subscribe Birth, Marriage, & Death Records . Ross, Ingram, Brown and Barnsley individually. The results give the first and last names on the page, so click on View Image to www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ To book a library computer, please see the whole page. Find your ancestor in the Death Duty telephone your nearest library or book Registers online. Search over 66,000 online at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/ For the most complete and up-to-date names. The Registers cover the period bookalibrarypc list of content in Ancestry Library 1796 to 1811 and hold details of wills Edition, click on the “list all databases” and bequests for estates liable to death You can book a library PC for up to link on the Advanced Search screen. duties. one hour a day. Access is free but there ******************************** is a small charge for printing. The If you do not have access to Learn beginners' Latin online. A library only has an A4 printer but you Warwickshire libraries Ancestry.co.uk beginners' tutorial to the Latin used in are allowed to copy the images to a now offer 2 FREE ways to search the documents between 1086 and 1733. floppy disk or pen drive. England and Wales General Register You don't need previous knowledge of Office (GRO) birth, marriage and death Latin and you can learn interactively at You can also access the internet at the records 1837-1983. your own pace. Use it to improve your NNWFHS research evenings, second 1. Search the complete images. This family and local history skills. Tuesday of the month at Nuneaton search returns the images of the pages library, 7.30pm-9.15pm. that may contain the name you are Http://www.westmidlandspolice searching for. museum.co.uk Click on the Information Zone on the 2. Search the partial FreeBMD indexes, West Midlands Police Museum first screen after logging in and then 1837-1983. This search returns names Sparkhill Police Station, click on Ancestry. from the partially completed FreeBMD 639 Stratford Road, Sparkhill, indexes. It is especially useful for Birmingham B11 4EA. What’s available names before 1900. Tel: 0121 626 7181 ∗ Indexes to Births, Marriages and Email: [email protected]. Deaths for England www.mckirdyindex.co.nz police.uk ∗ U.S. Census Collection The McKirdy Index is an Analytical A fascinating website with details of ∗ U.K. and Ireland Collection Genealogical Finding Aid to the the museum’s open days, the archives 1861 England,Wales,Channel Statutory Registers of Death for they hold and how to access police Islands & Isle of Man Census Scotland 1855-1875. It is an ideal officers’ records, the history of local (complete index with images) medium for Scottish Genealogy, police forces, extracts from newspapers 1871 England & Wales Census enabling researchers to locate Scottish on historical crimes, old photographs , (partial index with images) ancestors. Some of the data listed a profile of a victorian policeman and 1871 Channel Islands & Isle of Man shows details from the mid 1700s, as much more. Census (complete index with the death entries for someone who died images) in 1855 aged 80-100 may show their http://www.british-history.ac.uk/ 1891 England, Wales, Channel parents. The following data is currently Amongst other information on Islands & Isle of Man Census available: Bute 1855 to 1875, Warwickshire to be found here is the (complete index with images) Clackmannan 1855 to 1875, Kinross Victorian County History of 1901 England Census (partial index 1855 to 1875, Lanark 1855 to 1857, Warwickshire Volume 4 which covers with images) Peebles 1855 to 1875, Perth 1855 to the Hemlingford Hundred. 1901 Wales, Channel Islands & Isle 1856, Selkirk 1855 to 1865, Sutherland of Man Census Census - Coming 1855 to 1875 www.eh.net/ehresources/howmuch/ soon! poundq ∗ England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland: http://www.lostcousins.com This is an American academic site with Parish and Probate Records LostCousins is a family history site lots of information about prices, wages, ∗ England and Wales Civil which tries to match you with others cost of gold, inflation. If it has a fault, it Registration Index, 1837-present researching the same ancestors by is that it only seems to give you one ∗ Trees and Message Boards asking you to input the ancestors you year’s figures at a time. including Ancestry World Tree have found on the 1881 British census. (Continued on page 14) Page 14 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

(Continued from page 13) developed, there are sufficient www.wirksworth.org.uk/ photographs to make it worth a visit. Make Use of A04VALUE.htm You can add your photos if you wish. Tamworth Library From this site I discovered that in 1710 clergymen were paid £100 a http://ourworld.compuserve.com/ Members living in an around north year, compared with solicitors earning homepages/jkonvalinka/GPS.htm Warwickshire will be familiar with £113pa and Surveyors and Engineers This one deals with the standard of their local libraries. But how many being the best-rewarded at £131pa. By proof we use (or should use) in our step over the border into Staffordshire 1911 solicitors earnings had risen to hobby. Worth printing out and and visit Tamworth Library? £1343pa, whilst Surveyors and reading! Although much of Tamworth once Engineers had to get by on £287, and came within Warwickshire, it is now clergymen on a measly £206. Just www.spatial-literacy.org/index.php wholly a “Staffordshire town”. Some shows who are the most-valued has both the geographical distribution nearby places fell in Warwickshire but members of our society these days! of surnames as shown by the 1881 were not ecclesiastical parishes; they Another part of this site, at: www. census, as well as the distribution of were chapelries of Tamworth parish wirksworth.org.uk/PC-DATE.htm surnames from the 1998 electoral (e.g. Wilnecote and Dosthill) and includes a section on dating postcards register. You can thus see how some of our ancestors made a real meal of border-hopping to avoid our from the stamps used and so on. surnames moved around the country detection! during the last century. Said to be a

www.geograph.org.uk very good site, and worth visiting. Situated in Corporation Street, within “The Geograph British Isles project However it was so popular when I reach of bus station and car parks, aims to collect a geographically went there that I couldn’t actually use Tamworth library is central to the representative photograph for every it. Shades of the launch of the 1901 town. You can view a location map square kilometre of the British Isles”. census site! on their website: http://www. Although this site is still being staffordshire.gov.uk/leisure/libraries/ branchlibraries/TamworthLibrary.htm On-line Parish Clerks in Warwickshire and those not on the Internet can communicate with them by phone: By Jacqui Simkins 01827 475645 or by good old post: Tamworth Library, Corporation Street, The on-line parish clerk (OPC) was Pages” where genealogical Tamworth B79 7DN. Current opening born in the south-west of England and information is made freely available: hours are: successfully developed in Cornwall http://www.hunimex.com/warwick/ Monday: 8.30am - 8.00pm and Devon. You can see their As a result of discussions, a number of Tuesday: 8.30am - 8.00pm Wednesday: 8.30am - 6.00pm websites are: http://cornwall-opc.org/ like-minded people got their heads Thursday: 10.00am - 6.00pm index.htm or http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac. together on the Warwickshire Friday: 8.30am - 6.00pm uk/DEV/OPCproject.html Discussion List (http://lists.rootsweb. Saturday: 9.00am - 4.00pm com/index/intl/ENG/WARWICK. Sunday: CLOSED The purpose of the OPC is to act as a html) to investigate the possibility of point of contact for those with interests operating an on-line parish clerk The staff at Tamworth are helpful, and in or enquiries about that parish. The system for the county. It went live in family historians will be pleased to role is what the volunteer wishes to January 2006 with David Franks learn that the library is increasing its make it – from pointing enquirers to voluntarily acting as co-ordinator. holdings of both Warwickshire and where they can source information (be Staffordshire parish registers for the it on the web or in a repository) or by In January, some 14% of the county’s places around the town’s area. They offering details from material that the 250 or so parishes had a volunteer and are keen to meet the growing demand OPC personally holds. A number of the details were launched on Pickard’s for locally available resources for OPCs are actively involved with pages. The OPC scheme is intended to family history research. transcribing census and/or parish work hand-in-hand with local family registers – and some are known to be history societies and this includes Already at Tamworth Library there is leading local historians with a wealth NNWFHS which itself has a access to Ancestry on-line (that is of information at the fingertips. Some commitment to make resources 1851-1901 census and other volunteer to photograph places around available for researchers. genealogically useful indexes), to the National Burial Indexes (on CD) and the parish for those unable to visit the to the GRO. They have Warwickshire area. All are different but with a If you would like to act as OPC for parish registers on microfilm for common aim of helping others. It is your parish, or you wish to share Middleton, Newton Regis, hoped that those holding resources for material you have acquired for a Shuttington, Seckington and a parish, or information about places parish, do contact either David Franks, Polesworth and part of the register for or people in it, will be willing to share or the OPC for the parish. We are all Curdworth along with a number of their material with the OPC making it involved to help each other and enable Staffordshire parishes. a two-way process. the sharing of information. Why not pay a visit? In Warwickshire we are fortunate to You can view the details and links at have the excellent “Pickard’s Pink http://www.hunimex.com/warwick/ Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 15

Underneath The Arches By Peter Lee

It is sad to reflect that one of the construction would have been a traffic from that in the roadway. In few remaining Victorian structures great improvement on its 1897 a footpath was built on either to grace the Nuneaton townscape is predecessor built when the side of the roadway. a railway bridge - Coton Arches. Coventry-Nuneaton line opened in This magnificent edifice with its 1850. Then in 1911 a second arch was impressive wide central arch is a opened out to facilitate traffic going tribute to the ingenuity of our Over the years improvements were into Bridge Street, Chilvers Coton. nineteenth century ancestors. made to accommodate pedestrians and road traffic. In the early days it Another feature of the bridge was Historical evidence seems to point probably did not matter so much if that in the side arches various to the fact that this is the second the people passing under it sheds were built on ground leased bridge on the site. The first one was wandered into the road. Traffic was from the railway companies. thought to be a lofty iron bridge very light and horse and cart traffic Whitehalls who ran workmen’s over a narrow cross roads gap in did not travel very quickly. However, buses to the Coventry engineering the embankment. It would have by the turn of the century, Nuneaton factories occupied one of these. been taken down in the early and Chilvers Coton was growing at Another was Woods the garage. 1860's when a similar bridge at a rapid rate and as a result the They had for many years a petrol Bedworth collapsed and Spon End volume of road traffic increased so pump that allowed passing vehicles arches in Coventry fell down due to that it was wise to segregate foot to fuel right at the side of the road. poor workmanship in 1857. Not that it held up traffic much as there was not a great deal of motor traffic up until the War. This petrol pump was one of the old fashioned types with a boom that swung out, which was later replaced by a more modern one.

Woods was an agent for Humber cars and also had a small precision engineering business too, also in Coton Road.

In the early 1970's most of this jumble of sheds together with many of the houses in Coton Road were cleared away and the site was opened up for a large island so that a dual carriageway could be built Sedate times. An Edwardian woman cyclist wheels her bicycle through into the town centre, which is how the central arch at Coton Arches railway viaduct before the road was we know it today. widened in 1911.

One of the men who worked on the bridge was Thomas Smith who went on to build Nuneaton Grammar School, St Mary's Abbey Church, the Chase and various other public buildings throughout the town. Another was a youthful George Wykes the Chilvers Coton builder, bricks were made locally in Chilvers Coton and did not have to travel very far to site. The quality of the construction work was such that for many years the bridge never had to be repointed. The bricks were delivered 350 at a time by horse and cart. The new bridge with Quiet days. With increasing traffic the road was improved in 1911 its lofty arches and spacious making use of a second arch, giving better access to Bridge Street.