WILTSHIRE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY

APRIL 2021 ISSUE NO 161 Family History Society Registered Charity No 290284 PRESIDENT – Mike Stone, BA Hons, CertEd MITG VICE PRESIDENTS – John Hurley and Steve Hobbs, FSA

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE – WFHS Trustees (Postal address through the Resource Centre) CHAIRMAN – David Weaver, [email protected] VICE-CHAIR – Cy Cutler, [email protected] GENERAL SECRETARY – Barbara Fuller, [email protected] ELECTED MEMBERS Bob Knightley, [email protected] Tony Rutter, [email protected] David Weaver, [email protected] Rodney Whale, [email protected] Persis Wiltshire,[email protected] BRANCH REPRESENTATIVES Cy Cutler (Chippenham/), Barbara Fuller (), Mike Langtree (Malmesbury), Sue Wight (Salisbury), Jenny Pope (Swindon), Graham Warmington (Westbury) CONTACTING THE SOCIETY via email or through the Resource Centre WILTSHIRE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY RESOURCE CENTRE, Unit 3, Bath Road Business Centre, Devizes, SN10 1XA; [email protected] MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY – Doreen Jones, [email protected] or 11 Caird Lawns, Nursteed Road, Devizes, Wilts SN10 3EB WEBSITE MANAGER – Kevin Hurley, [email protected] WEBSITE – www.wiltshirefhs.co.uk MEMBERS’ INTEREST SECRETARY – Katy Jordan, members-interests@wiltshirefhs. co.uk PUBLICATIONS OFFICER – Jane Syckelmoore, [email protected] Sales leaflet via Website: ‘Publications’->’Sales Leaflet’ RESEARCH REQUESTS – Preferably by email to [email protected] after check- ing our Website for research arrangements and charges. Send postal enquiries to the Research Coordinator at the Resource Centre. Note that response times will depend on the availability of volunteers. More detail on Website under ‘Research’ MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS/RENEWAL – Annual membership is £12. Preferred payment or renewal is by BACS or Bank Standing Order. Otherwise through GenFair (link at bottom of Website ‘Home’ page) (credit/debit card), through the Society’s Website (PayPal), or cheque drawn on a UK bank. Contact Membership Secretary (above) for details. Membership will lapse if not renewed within three months of the renewal date. CHANGES TO PERSONAL DETAILS – To ensure receipt of the Journal and access to the Society’s Website ‘Members’ Area’, the Society needs to know of any changes to postal and email addresses, either to the Membership Secretary (above) or through the Website. Wiltshire Family History Society Journal April 2021 Issue 161

Editor’s Comments 2 Springford alias Springbatt 15 Two Milestones – D Weaver 3 – G Springford Letter to the Editor 3 Mark Cogswell – B Davey 22 Diary Dates 2021 4 Murder and Suicide – M Jefferies 26 Amy Hutchins – J Kirk 32 Visiting the Resource Centre 4 Winterbourne Bassett – Y Neal 34 Branch Programmes 4 American Cousins – L Argent 37 From the Branches 4 Gunner SG Grant – P Spencer 44 Zoom Meetings – G Warmington 7 Publications – J Pope 46 Archive News – D Plant 8 Useful Websites – R Whale 48 Spanish Flu Epidemic – A Espina 10 Book Review – B Afton 50 In Memoriam – J Dewey 12 Members’ Surname Interests 51 CONTRIBUTIONS, articles, letters, comments, photographs, illustrations, and other items are welcomed. The deadline for letters and items routinely submitted for the Jul 2021 Journal is 1 May, 2021. Articles may be submitted at any time and will always be acknowledged, but the date of their inclusion in the Journal is entirely at the discre- tion of the Editor. Please submit material electronically if possible. Send material for the Journal electronically to [email protected] or to by post to The Editor, Dr Bethanie Afton, 1 Yerbury St, , BA14 8DP. Enquiries about non-receipt of an issue should be sent to the Membership Secretary at the address inside the front cover.

The Journal is the official publication of Wiltshire Family History Society. All submissions are the copyright of their authors and the Society and must not be reproduced in any form without written permission. The Society does not accept responsibility for personal views expressed in the articles or in letters to the Editor. All material submitted may be edited to conform to the requirements of the Journal.

FRONT COVER: Ernest Pike and Family, c 1905 The tragic story of a murder and suicide within the police force (see ‘A Murder and Suicide in the Police’, pp 26-31).

1 Editor’s Comments Bethanie Afton (6817) A year ago, I announced that we were between them. Before I can use an looking for a new Editor. My thought article, these have to be removed and was that we needed new ideas. Well, then redone by the publishing pro- no one came forward so I’ve agreed gramme. It’s not a big problem, just to continue for the foreseeable future. simpler for me. And because I have had a plethora Images are best sent separately. If of lockdown articles, the Executive they are combined in a Word doc- Committee have agreed to a slightly ument, I have to take them out. longer Journal for this year. Please, Again, these are dropped into Adobe keep those contributions coming. I Photoshop to get the resolution enjoy reading them and hope to get and format needed for the Journal. many into a Journal this year. However, please, don’t send me tiny It seems like a good time to answer images. They go out of focus when a recurring question that I get from enlarged, so can’t be used. authors: In what format do I want Having said all this, don’t worry too material sent? The first thing I ask much about the format. All the years is that the document is done using I’ve been editing have taught me how MS Word or a similar programme. to deal with most problems. I’ve had several that are .pdfs. These have to go through a process of text One of the biggest jobs that has to recognition that sometimes creates be done to get an issue to press is unpredictable results. The original proofreading. Each author receives a is much easier. I’ve had articles sent .pdf of their article to look over just as photos. I don’t retype articles so before it goes to press. Additionally, can’t use these and will send them Jerry King and David Chilton check back to the author. and proofread the whole Journal. For their work, I am especially grateful. It About 2,500 words is the maximum takes a lot of time and effort on their length. The font and other format- parts. Also graphic designer Mike ting you use make little difference. Wicks has a final check through and After I’ve run it through MS Word adds his touch of magic. To all of to check spelling and grammar, you, my thanks. each goes into an Adobe publish- ing package. It is helpful not to So please, keep the material coming have paragraphs indented or spaces in to me and enjoy the results.

2 Two Milestones David Weaver, WFHS Chairman By the time you read this article the daughter of Robert Kempton and Society will have reached two impor- Mary Rawlings, and was born in tant milestones. Burbage. On her mother’s death, Wiltshire Family History Society was Alice moved to Great Bedwyn with founded in 1981 by Wiltshire resi- her two sisters, before entering dents of the and Avon Family domestic service in London. History Society and, therefore, cele­ To mark this second milestone, brates its 40th anniversary this year. WFHS offered Heather complimen- The second milestone is that, in early tary life membership along with a January 2021, Doreen Jones, the choice of three society publications. Membership Secretary, issued mem- She has initially chosen the download bership number 10,000 to Heather of CMB 26 which covers Burbage Wise, a resident of Lesmahagow, and the surrounding villages. We Lanarkshire. hope this will further her researches in that area. Once this pandemic is Heather’s interest in Wiltshire over, she would understandably like began because her paternal grand- to spend some time to explore the mother was Alice Kempton, Burbage and Marlborough area.

Letter to the Editor Pleased to be Back the web pages display very pleasingly I have just rejoined the Society, hav- on there. Of course when I joined ing originally signed up in 1982 as in 1982, there was no website and member no. 521, but lapsing in the no Internet. The old era! I am very late 1990s. My breath is taken away delighted to see all the past WFHS that the membership numbers now Journals on the Website and am exceed 10,000, roughly equivalent to immediately impressed by the attrac- the 12th largest town in Wiltshire! tive design of the latest issues. Immediately, I am very much Also, I am hugely impressed by the impressed by the Society’s Website very wide range of research resources – clearly a large amount of work that members of the Society have cre- and thought has gone into it. I use a ated, and I anticipate buying numer- desktop PC with a wide screen, and ous items from the publications list.

3 Unlike before, I now know my Puzey You can deduce that I am very pleased ancestors were living in the north of to be back! the county dur­ing the whole of the 18th Tony Puzey (10013) century and the first half of the 19th.

Diary Dates 2021 We recommend that you check event websites for any updates. 19 Jun The Family History Show, online (previously York) 25-6 Jun The Genealogy Show, online (previously at the NEC)* 25 Sep The Family History Show London, Kempton Park* 2 Oct Oxfordshire FHS Family History Fair, Woodstock* Autumn RootsTech London, ExCel Centre * WFHS plans to attend. An extensive list of genealogical events can be found at GENEVA, the online calendar of GENealogical EVents and Activities – http://geneva.weald.org.uk/

Visiting the Resource Centre We will restart our programme of monthly ‘Open Saturdays’ and other visits at the first opportunity. When we do, the details will be published in the Events section on the WFHS Website. Meanwhile any enquiries can be made, prefer- ably by email, through [email protected] 01380 723830.

Branch Programmes Although in-person Branch meetings have not yet restarted, Swindon, Westbury, and Devizes are holding virtual meetings for members. Other Branches may follow their example. Check ‘Society Branches’ on our Website (www.wiltshirefhs.co.uk) for updates. From the Branches AND CALNE Unfortunately, many of our members Not a lot is happening with the Calne/ are in the 65-plus high-risk bracket, Chippenham Branch at present. and our meeting room does not lend 4 itself to social distancing. Please, talks by our other branches, or, for watch the Website for news of our example, the Society of Genealogists, return. and the U3A who has linked up with Cy Cutler the British Library. I maintain contact through phone calls to those who are DEVIZES not on email. 19 Jan, Peter Anstie: Dyer and Mike Langtree Preacher – Graham Warmington It was a pleasure to see over 20 familiar SALISBURY faces at this Zoom meeting. Society Our Branch last met in February 2020, member and trustee Graham told us in Wilton Community Centre. The about Peter Anstie who was born in Centre remained closed during sum- 1778 into the influential Anstie fam- mer 2020 due to the outbreak of coro- ily of Devizes. We heard how he estab- navirus. The trustees of the Centre put lished himself in Trowbridge with a forward proposals in September to fine reputation as a specialist dyer. re-open but local members remained He also developed increasing respon- apprehensive about conventional sibility as a well-regarded Baptist pas- meetings and a majority voted against tor and minister in Trowbridge and attending. Since then the situation Westbury before moving to Devon in with Covid-19 has deteriorated and 1834. Eventually ill health drew him there are no plans for the time being back to Devizes where he died and to re-start conventional meetings. was buried in 1848, aged 70. There is an impressive memorial to Peter in Any change in plan will be announced Sheep Street Baptist Church. on the Salisbury Branch page on the Society’s Website and also in the Barbara Fuller and Jerry King monthly newsletter communicated by MALMESBURY email to local members. The Malmesbury Branch has not Many societies use software such as been meeting either in-person or by Zoom or YouTube to hold ‘virtual Zoom since last February. As Branch meetings’. At the moment we Chairman, I have been sending out probably do not have people with newsworthy emails to branch mem- the right skills to do this properly. bers when I receive notifications Instead, we are giving members of events and developments in the the opportunity to report notable family history world. These include successes or pose enquiries (the sort news from family history societies, they would normally have discussed archives, and organisations, as well as in a members’ meeting) using the opportunities to join in with online monthly newsletter communicated 5 by email to local members and edited Everyday Life during WWII – by Bob Hambling (bob.hambling@ Julie Davis from the Swindon btinternet.com). Other members and Wiltshire History Centre in will then have the opportunity to Chippenham gave a talk originally respond. This exchange of views is been arranged for last May to coin- not intended to replace contributions cide with the celebrations for the 75th to the Society’s Journal or the need to anniversary of VE Day. consult historical data available. Yvonne Neal Philip Rabbetts WESTBURY AREA SWINDON 26 Nov, The Mayflower and Family In addition to having Zoom meet- History – Graham Warmington We ings, we started the newsletter mainly enjoyed meeting people from many to maintain contact with our mem- of our neighbouring branches to this bership during these extraordinary talk by Graham. During the week times and to encourage them to that marked the 400th anniversary submit their family history stories. of the arrival at New Plymouth in We have been overwhelmed by the Massachusetts, Graham Warmington response. It has highlighted connec- gave a personal reflection on the story tions and coincidences, be it names of the varied passengers who sailed that appear in family trees, location on the Mayflower in 1620. Graham’s of residences, shared events, or inci- reflections were based on having dents. It has been a great opportunity grown up in Plymouth, Devon (where to share information that probably they eventually sailed from), having would not have happened in the nor- seen Mayflower IIsail along part of mal meetings, and has also engaged the Cornish coastline when he was members who are unable to attend a little boy, having lived and taught our meetings. So it is something posi- in Nottinghamshire (where several tive in these dark times. of the Pilgrim Fathers hailed from), John Mills, Branch Chairman and finally, from having visited New Plymouth and Mayflower II a few 10 Dec, Branch Christmas Meeting years ago. Graham has also uploaded with carols and light-hearted read- the talk onto YouTube. ings. It was so lovely to ‘meet’ up with our Swindon Branch family, and 17 Dec, Christmas meeting on Zoom especially lovely that other Branches with a ‘bring your own’ drinks and joined with us. food. The quiz was great fun. 14 Jan, Changing Times and Lynne Vercoe 6 Zoom Meetings A Possible Short-Term Solution for Branches Graham Warmington (9094, Westbury) This has been a strange year because Westbury branch also held their of the coronavirus pandemic. Some annual social evening (complete of us may have lost loved ones, with quiz) on Zoom. Other branches and all of us have spent more time have also started to hold Zoom meet- indoors than usual. Maybe this has ings, with some inviting other mem- meant that we have had more time to bers to join them. carry out our personal research on Unfortunately, not all of our mem- our family trees – maybe even mak- bers have the technology to use ing contacts with distant relatives by Zoom, and nothing can beat meet- FaceTime or other electronic means ing together in a room with our fel- of communication. low branch members with an actual 2020/21 has also meant that we have talk-provider in the room with the been unable to meet for our regu- opportunity to interact with him/ lar branch meetings and talks. For her. On the other hand, Zoom meet- several months, it seemed that the ings have meant that the branches Society branches were just shut- have been able to provide some sort ting down. Then, a new terminology of programme for their members. began to enter our language: ‘zoom- This has led some of our members to ing’. Maybe we ‘zoomed’ (other plat- consider whether for the rest of the forms are also available) members of lockdown period, the Society could our family or friends; got involved arrange joint Zoom meetings that with Zoom quizzes, etc. It eventu- can be provided for all our members ally dawned on many of us that we who can access Zoom. If branches (or could still meet with some of our individual members) can either pro- branch members via Zoom. During vide Zoom talks, or have arranged the summer of 2020, the Society’s Zoom talks that are suitable for AGM took place via Zoom with some members outside of their own branch other branches following suit. In group, I (email below) will be happy November, Zoom was used to share to help you organise them so they are the Westbury branch’s talk: ‘The accessible to other Society members Mayflower and Family History’ (now either in the branches or outside of on YouTube) with members of the the county. Please let me know. Society as well as their own branch members; while in December the [email protected] 7 Archive News Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre David Plant, archivist

James Wyatt in Wiltshire Architect James Wyatt (1746-1813) marked himself as distinct from his created and embellished some of the contemporaries. most magnificent estates in Wiltshire. Between 1787 and 1793, Wyatt But he could be a difficult man to deal led restoration work on Salisbury with, and relations with his clients Cathedral. The archive of the Earls were often strained. of Radnor includes newspaper From the age of 16, Wyatt spent six cuttings detailing the subscribers years studying architecture in Italy willing to finance his proposals. under the revered designer Antonio However, Wyatt made controversial Visentini. His first success was the changes, removing two porches and Pantheon assembly room, inspired two medieval chantry chapels, and by the cathedral of Hagia Sophia, eliminating some of the remaining Istanbul, on London’s Oxford Street medieval glass. Wyatt also organised in 1772. Overnight Wyatt became the levelling of the churchyard and one of ’s most fashionable demolished the bell tower in the and in-demand architects. north-west corner of the close, leaving One of Wyatt’s first Wiltshire Salisbury as one of three English projects was the creation of New Park cathedrals to lack a ring-of-bells. on the Roundway estate, Devizes Between 1796 and 1813, Wyatt (1777 to 1783) for the London created Fonthill Abbey as a country merchant James Sutton. Whereas estate for the writer and collector traditionally principal rooms were William Beckford. Beckford grew on an upper storey above kitchens frustrated by Wyatt’s behaviour, as and stores, Wyatt’s design placed he repeatedly missed appointments them at ground level, creating an easy and showed a disregard for day-to-day flow into the gardens. In so doing, activity on the site. Contemporary he gained further notoriety and accounts suggest Wyatt was more

8 interested in pursuing women and original Tudor property, including drink. As a result, the ambitious destroying its magnificent Great Hall. Beckford oversaw the hurried But he added a beautiful two-storeyed construction of the abbey’s 90-foot cloister complete with central tower. The tower’s subsequent collapse courtyard. The Wilton House archive in 1806 was blamed on its hasty includes designs for this cloister, plus construction using faulty Roman his proposed bridge linking Wilton cement. Beckford’s response was to Park and Bulbridge Gardens. Again, insist on the use of heavy masonry for there was a fractious relationship rebuilding its upper storeys, which between architect and client, this led to a second collapse in 1825. time resulting in a court case in 1810. Wyatt similarly had a difficult Wyatt died in a carriage accident relationship with the 11th Earl near Marlborough in 1813. He of Pembroke while engaged on was honoured with a burial at redeveloping Wilton House (1801- Westminster Abbey, having been 1811). The Earl’s archive includes surveyor of its fabric since 1776. For estimates and accounts for building all his idiosyncratic ways, Wyatt’s work, plus notebooks believed to be creations contribute greatly to the in Wyatt’s own hand. Wyatt made diverse architectural history of sweeping changes to Inigo Jones’ Wiltshire.

Fonthill Abbey with its 90-ft tower, in an engraving of 1823 9 1918/19 Spanish Flu Epidemic Haliburton, Ontario, Canada Adele Espina Researcher – Haliburton Highlands Genealogy Group

Haliburton County in southern Ontario, Canada, was organised in 1874. Settlers came to clear and farm the land which was offered cheaply to immigrants and was described as ‘rich and fertile’. They soon discov- ered there was only a thin layer of topsoil which was not conducive to farming. However, there were vast forests of white pine and many set- tlers turned to lumbering. The pine was shipped to England, particularly for ships’ masts. The Spanish influenza epidemic of 1918/1919 killed between 20 and 50 million people worldwide, including an estimated 50,000 Canadians. As the First World War ended, the flu was spread through Canada partly by soldiers returning from overseas. to the war. The combined death toll They had survived the war only to significantly reduced the workforce. die of this illness once in Canada, Like today with our efforts to stop the and to infect thousands of family and spread of the COVID-19 virus, many community members who welcomed local governments shut down nones- them home, but perished soon after sential services. Quarantines were their arrival. imposed, and people were required The loss of life had a huge effect on a to wear protective masks in public country that had already lost 60,000 places. The lessons of the flu epidemic

Submitted by Gail Leach-Wunker, Chair and Newsletter Editor of the HHGG and WHFS member 5783. The Group has put together an article on the residents of Haliburton county who died of the Spanish Flu. The full article appeared in the Fall 2020 issue of the HHGG newsletter, ‘Original Roots’. 10 Evergreen Cemetery John Padfield was buried here in an unmarked grave. led to the formation of the federal had died when John was two years Department of Health in 1919. old, and his widowed mother, Martha In Haliburton, between 25 Oct 1918 Alder, owner of the Patriots Arms and 6 July 1919, there were 38 deaths in Chisledon, Wiltshire had died in from Spanish Flu and its effects such 1892. On the 1911 census, John was as pneumonia. Thirty of those deaths working as a painter in Etobicoke, happened in the three months of a suburb of Toronto, Ontario. It is November, December, and January. not known what year he came to Haliburton, nor why. The inform- A man originally from Wiltshire was ant on his death registration was Mr the 13th person to die in Haliburton Albert J Mallard, owner of a large County. John Alder Padfield died boarding house in Haliburton village. on 14 November 1918 in Haliburton The doctor who had cared for him village at Part 7, Block G. He was was Dr Quinn from Toronto who had an unmarried cook from England arrived to treat Dr Henderson, who who had emigrated to Toronto from died a week earlier. John is buried Wiltshire in 1907 to seek work as in Evergreen Cemetery, Haliburton, a painter. His only family back in Ontario in an unmarked grave. England was a younger sister, as his father, Joseph Padfield, a dairyman, [email protected] (Haliburton, Ontario, Canada) 11 In Memoriam James Dewey In , on the war memorial in the parish churchyard is an inscrip- tion commemorating the death of Charles Dewey in WWI. It was recorded that Charles was reported missing on 10 August 1915 and presumed dead while serving with the 6th Leinster Regiment during the Gallipoli cam- paign. Charles, a Wiltshire shepherd, had joined up at the beginning of the war to serve with the Wiltshire Regiment. Heavy losses in the early stages in the war meant that the 10th Irish Division, of which the 6th Leinster Regiment was part, had become persistently under strength. This, combined with sluggish recruitment in Ireland, forced replacements to be posted from England. Thus, Charles found himself serving with 6th Prince of Wales’s Leinster Regiment. As it so happened, the 6th Leinsters Anzacs on Rhododendron Ridge, had landed where the Australians and held the right of the line to the and New Zealanders were fighting south of Chunuk Bair. A further part and took part in what was called the of the battle plan involved Australian Anzac Breakout. attacks at the Nek (celebrated in the This started during the night of 6/7 film Gallipoli) and surrounding areas August 1915. The aim of the part of on 7 August, in conjunction with the attack, in which Charles’s units anticipated success at Chunuk Bair. were participating, was to capture The Anzac attacks were only par- the summit of Chunuk Bair. The tially successful, and the Turks under Leinsters moved up to replace the the leadership of Mustafa Kemal, later to be know as Kemal Ataturk

Shrewton WWI Memorial Inscription 12 (creator of modern Turkey), com- George was born in in 1850 menced a dawn attack on 10 August and was a shepherd, as were Charles (as reported in the War Diary). It was and his elder brother, Fred. Sometime then that our Charles probably went around 1888, George moved his fam- missing and was presumed dead. The ily from Chitterne to Shrewton. War Diary, however, gives little idea This change in residence may have of the ferocity of the total action in been in part on account of religious which our Charles was involved. affiliations. A certain CharlesLight , In the book Gallipoli 1915 from which in the early years of the 19th cen- most of the information about the tury, had been from a very early age campaign is derived, Tim Travers an energetic Baptist evangeliser. An quoted from the diary of one Trooper application was made in May 1798 for Law, probably a New Zealander, the licence of Shrewton’s first Baptist where he wrote that, having moved meeting house. In 1816, a simple up to the front line on 8 August, he brick-built building was completed to ran over the hill with ‘bullets from proclaim that they were there to stay. the machine guns raining around us In 1838 Charles Light had his own like hail’. Law found a hollow to shel- house licensed for prayer, and he also ter in, but became a member of what grew into men were killed all around me. a second large meeting in Shrewton, Legs, arms and other portions with its own chapel, Bethesda on being blown off. He waited in Chapel Lane. This was constructed the hollow for over seven hours, in 1831. In 1846, the two meetings without moving, and then from in Shrewton combined and Charles the Valley of Death (600 to 700 Light was chosen to be the first dead and wounded here) on into pastor for the united congregation. the Mouth of Hell, charged up Zion, by which name the first chapel the side of Chunuk Bair ...our was known, was expanded to seat men fell like apples in a gale, up to 500 people. the Turks rushed us with bombs only to be mowed down by us. Charles Light had a younger brother, One came up with the white flag Henry. He was responsible for evan- and party [of] bomb throwers gelising Chitterne. As Alison Light behind. They all fell... in her book, Common People – The History of an English Family, points Charles, so tragically killed at out, the story of the man of Shrewton Gallipoli, was the youngest of the who walked over the wild Salisbury seven children of George Dewey Plain in all weathers to take morning and his wife, Sarah Jane née Bolter. service, then home for midday meal, 13 Zion Chapel in Shrewton (courtesy of W&SHC) then repeated the journey to take the bass or ‘Grandfather’, as the instru- evening service – a 20-mile stretch ment was often known, in the Zion – entered village lore. It was this chapel in Shrewton, rendering with Henry Light who established a close great spirit all the grand old tunes. relationship with George Dewey in Called to be saints, in some lowly Chitterne and was probably instru- place, mental in bringing this Dewey fam- Unwritten large on the roll of fame, ily from Chitterne to Shrewton. At With few to notice, and less to cheer, Possessing withal, God’s mystic name. the turn of 20th century we find the shepherds, Fred Dewey, on the cello, [email protected] and his father, George on the double (Wigan, Greater Manchester)

14 ‘Springford alias Springbatt’ Clues to My Surname Gordon Springford (81) When I was a boy, my father told me that he thought that ours, Springford, was a modern surname because there were so few of us. After more than 50 years of shaking our family tree and seeing what came down, I know that he was right. I loved history and it became an aim to discover more about our name. So, as a schoolboy, I set off for Somerset House and with a friend, spent days recording every birth, marriage, and death between 1837 and 1900. I was born and grew up in east London – most of the early events happened in a registration district that I’d never heard of called ‘Devizes’. When I got home, my mother told me that it was in Wiltshire. As we progressed we recorded fewer ‘Devizes’ events and far more in my home area of West Ham. I spent my pocket money ordering and eagerly awaiting the delivery of birth, marriage, and death certificates. I quickly had a crude family tree which I supplemented after visits to the Public Records Office to view census returns, then on microfiche reels, in Portugal Street in central London. I’d traced my family to a Richard I had no idea how Richard was con- Springford who married Letitia nected to it. William and Hannah had Amber at Bishop’s Cannings in six children – three girls and three 1826. He was born in Allington near boys. The prime suspect for being Devizes in about 1798. I had reached Richard’s father was John who would my first brick wall because I could have been 25 when Richard was born. find no baptismal record. An earlier I was bitten by the family history bug generation had lived in Allington, but and decided to assume that there was

The Will of Isaac Springford alias Springbatt of , 1786 15 Richard Springford’s Home in 1841 at Allington a relationship to William Springford the parish registers have the last part and Anna Rose of Allington, and just of the surname overwritten changing press on – collecting every reference ‘ford’ to ‘bat’ or vice versa. Individuals to the family I could find. were baptised as Springbat, married I found that William had been born as Springford, had offspring bap- at Seend in 1747. His grandfather was tised under either surname, and ulti- a William Springford who mar- mately buried, again as Springbat. ried Sarah Harding at Melksham in I spent a wonderful hot summer 1695. I had reached my second brick holiday cycling around the Vale of wall but in getting to it I uncovered , photographing Allington something unexpected: William (the and hunting for graves – which I grandfather) had a son named Isaac found at Devizes St John’s, Wilcot, Springford, who left a will in 1786 Wilsford, and Melksham. For an – at the top of this, proudly written east London boy seeing the village with beautiful calligraphy, was ‘Isaac churches, the thatched cottages, and Springford alias Springbatt’. the rolling hills gave me the sense of What was a ‘Springbatt’? – I visited the being transported back in time and County Records Office at Trowbridge the feeling that I was getting closer and found many examples of mem- to my ancestors. It was a thrill to find bers of this family alternating in their Springford & Rose stationery shop in use of these two surnames. Some of Devizes and to meet Mrs Rose whose 16 maiden name was Springford. The Internet has been an enormous The made a big impres- benefit. I solved my first brick wall sion on me; I bought HW Timperley’s which had defeated me for some 40 book and returned countless time for years. I discovered that my ances- holidays and day trips. I’ve even been tor, Richard Springford, did have fortunate enough to metal detect a baptismal entry at , at Allington, All Cannings, and but his parents were unmarried. He Melksham. It was wonderful to dig was recorded as the illegitimate son up a silver hammered halfpenny of of Margaret Hale. I was able to find Edward III and a sword belt hanger, this because I noticed that Richard’s both within sight of All Cannings daughter Lydia had been named as church. Hale when she married some 50 years after Richard’s birth. This caused My ancestor George Springford, much soul searching because I had to born at Allington in 1845, had fol- face the possibility that Richard may lowed his many siblings to east have been an adopted child. I began London. The newly dug Royal to feel rather foolish, having invested Victoria Dock offered employment so much time pursuing the earlier both in the dock and in the burgeon- family and remembered the advice I’d ing factories along that part of the read as a boy not to progress beyond River Thames. what can be proved. I’ve enjoyed the pursuit of my DNA came to my rescue. Very few Wiltshire ancestors enormously and Springford matches resulted from with corresponding and sometimes my DNA test, and the few that did meeting distant relatives. I joined were to descendants of Richard. This The Guild of One Name Studies heightened my fear that Richard may and built a family history genealogy have been an adopted Springford. website dedicated to this research But several matches have appeared in 2000. This was online for many recently and proved that Richard years. It gave me a greater level of was a Springford after all. I had contact with others who shared my found a John Springford who mar- interest. A kind Springbett lady ried Jane Bateman at Upton cum sent me photographs and impres- Chalvey in Buckinghamshire. His age sions from an old pewter church- when he died in 1849 suggested that wardens’ mug inscribed: Wilsford – he was William and Hannah’s eldest Samuel Springbit – William Benger son and my prime suspect for being churchwardens 1714. This had been Richard Springford’s father. This passed down to her through many DNA match was with a descendant generations. 17 of the Springfords of Upton cum alive in about 1600. I breathed a deep Chalvey, namely a daughter of John sigh of relief – I hadn’t unmasked Jack Springford, the prime suspect. The the Ripper, but I had proved, to my second match was with someone in satisfaction, that my 3x great-grand- Australia with a Springbett family father was descended from those tree. I knew that the Springbetts in Springbats that I had been research- South Australia were descendants of ing carefully for so many years. the Springbatts from Wilsford near The parish registers are not complete Pewsey. This family were millers at and the marriages of some couples Wilsford mentioned in the Victoria just can’t be found. The baptisms of County History. This was a very dis- some who married also cannot be tant DNA match and must date to found. Having spent such a long time an early period; my guess is that the looking at what is in the registers I common ancestor would have been acquired a familiarity with the families. Benefitting from a rela- tively uncommon surname meant that often the possibility existed to link people with a high prob- ability of the relationship being correct; sometimes this has been subsequently confirmed by the discovery of wills which unex- pectedly endorse what had until then been an educated guess. The earliest reference to any- one bearing one of the variant surnames I have found is John Spryngbet a fellow of Oriel College Oxford in 1461. Richard Spryngbet, a husbandman, lived at Upton Scudamore in 1472. The next occurrences are in Wiltshire in the 16th century where Yelsebeth Springbed mar- ried in 1557 and John Sprinbat Pewter Mug inscribed married Alice Eaves in 1583. In ‘Wilsford – Samuel Springbit – William Benger – Churchwardens 1584, there was the baptism of 1713’ John Springfoot, son of Thomas, 18 Part of the Parish Register of Stanton St Bernard in which neglect in record keeping in the 1650s was admitted. at Marlborough. The family then goldsmith who went on to make a appears in Wilsford, , great fortune and became MP for and Woodborough. At Wilsford Devizes. the use of the name Alice suggests A ThomasSpringbat died at Stanton an Urchfont connection with Alice St Bernard in 1681. I believe that he is Eaves. another son of Richard Springfoote I could see that Edward Springbat, of All Cannings for whom no baptism baptised in Beechingstoke in 1604/5, can be found. The Stanton registers had his family in Wilsford and state that they had been neglected the Wilsford Springbetts are his for some time between 1651 and descendants. Some Springbetts 1653. The period in which I seek a emigrated to South Australia, tak- baptism for William Springford of ing Wiltshire place names with Melksham is a little later, but I think them. Thus, we find Pewsey Vale near that William was a son of Thomas Gawler. Wine lovers will recognise Springbat who headed this family. the name of South Australian wine Another ThomasSpringbat from producer Grant Burge who is part of Stanton St Bernard was killed in 1793 this family and has made a Barossa lifting ash with a lever which struck Valley Shiraz he named ‘Springbetts’. him on the forehead. Edward’s brother, Richard Springbat Yet another brick wall was solved and (for whom there is no baptism but traced to Stanton St Bernard. There is who is mentioned in his brother a large family of Springfords in New Gilbert’s will made at Southwark in Zealand today. This family traces its 1639), went to All Cannings where ancestry to William Springford he married Jane Bartlett. He is who married Emma Ayliffe and ran named as Richard Springfoote the Elephant & Castle and Saracen’s at All Cannings. His son Richard Head pubs in Bath. Descendants of Springford married Barbara Fowle this couple scattered all over England in 1657. Barbara was the sister of Sir and were often involved with the Thomas Fowle MP of Stanton St licensed trade or drapery businesses. Bernard. Sir Thomas was a Stanton William’s origins were unknown boy apprenticed to a City of London until I looked at the will of a Thomas

19 by identifying a bap- tism for William Springbatt in 1757 as being that of William Springford of Bath. The New Zealand family now has an impressive family tree with three addi- tional generations at Stanton not to men- tion the All Cannings, Beechingstoke and Urchfont generations. A Richard Springbat alias Springford of this family was born in 1748 at Stanton and served an apprentice- ship in Marlborough as a coach builder and harness maker. He set up business in this trade in St Marylebone, London where he mar- ried Mary Cox. His many descendants have connections with St Pancras, Islington The Bath Arms, and later the Barnet The proprietor was John Springford in 1824. area of north London. Springford in Whitechapel, London Turning again to my in 1857. Thomas mentions John own immediate ancestry. I think that Springford of Oakhill in Somerset, the parents of William Springford a son of William and Emma. I was of Melksham are most likely to able to connect Thomas, through the be Thomas and Joan of Stanton St will of his sister Martha, to Stanton Bernard. It would be a surprise to St Bernard and solve the brick wall me to find that he could have come

20 The Tomb of Isaac Springford and his Family in Melksham Churchyard from any other place. My father’s Finally, I’ve found the parish registers view that we had a modern sur- of Urchfont to be filled with early ref- name, I believe, has proved to be erences to a large family by the name correct. The earliest references to of ‘Spring’. I’ve not been able to con- the name Springford is for Joanne nect my Springbats to the Springs Springferd in 1600 (at St Katherine’s but, if this is another variant, it would by the Tower in London – probably explain how a family could begin from a Wiltshire ‘stray’). Springfoot(e) just a handful of individuals in the seems to have preceded it on a few late 16th century. Perhaps Springbat occasions in Wiltshire. The records and Springfoot were variants of show that all parts of the family alter- plain Spring – a family which, unlike nated in their use of Springbat(t) mine, is well documented through- and Springford – often when they out the 16th century. Those bear- left their home parish they changed ing the surnames Springford or from Springbat to Springford. By Springbett today, unless they have about 1800 this had stopped with adopted it, are descended from one most settling on Springford while source, and this is in the heart of the the Wilsford Springbat(t)s reverted county of Wiltshire. to what seems to be the original ver- [email protected] sion – Springbett. (Epsom, Surrey) 21 Mark Cogswell A Great Western Railway Policeman Barbara Davey (8303) My great-great-grandfather, Mark Cogswell (1819-1905), was one of the first railway policemen. He worked for the Great Western Railway (GWR), which also ran the Bristol & Exeter Railway and the Wiltshire, Somerset & Weymouth Railway. He and his family lived for many years at Brookwell, Box Hill, Box, a cottage now demolished. Career with the Great Western Railway In many respects, the railway com- panies were one of the first mod- ern employers in Victorian society. They offered their staff training and career promo- tion as well as a company-sub- sidised friendly society provid- ing pensions for retirement or ill- health. In some areas, they built churches and schools, insist- ing on morality and respectability from their staff. The employees Mark Cogswell – GWR Policeman were conscious (1819-1905) that they were 22 Railway Policeman with Dog at the Entrance to Box Tunnel, 1846 privileged to have reliable employ- Poynder of Hartham Park at an ment and status in their community. annual rate of £10. They remained After his training with the GWR, as tenants at Brookwell until Mark’s Mark was based for a time at death, when their son, William, took Wellington, near Taunton, Somerset, over the tenancy. where two of his sons were born – Railway travel was still very new Frederick in 1846 and William in in the mid-1840s when Mark was 1848. According to the 1851 census, working for the GWR. The line from he was at Bristol as a switchman (a Bristol Temple Meads to Bath opened rank within the railway police). In in August 1840 and the line from 1853, he was working at Warminster Bristol to St David’s Exeter in May where his son Harry was born. By 1844. Mark must have been one of the 1861, Mark was based at his home first railway policemen on the Bristol village of Box, where his occupation & Exeter Railway. In the early years was pointsman and signalman. Mark of railway policing, the role of switch- and his wife, Elizabeth, remained in man or pointsman was aligned with Box for the rest of their lives and had that of the policeman. The safety of two further children, Mary and Kate. staff and the travelling public was From 1863 they rented Brookwell important to the railway, as it was Cottage from Thomas Henry Allen later on the roads where policemen 23 Mark with his Family (plus some others) outside their Home in Box performed point duty at busy cross- white for all clear. Later, he would roads. Railway policemen were have operated signal switches and appointed to preserve law and order, stop blocks. His job might have also to protect the line itself, and to con- included using the telegraph and trol the movement of railway traffic. issuing tickets. So Mark would have In addition to his uniform (probably had a lot of responsibility for ensur- a top hat and tail coat), Mark would ing that the railway line ran smoothly have been issued with a watch, flags, a and safely on his patch. lamp, and probably a truncheon bear- ing the GWR insignia. The watch was Life in Retirement to ensure there was a suitable delay I think that Mark retired in 1885 at between the trains entering each sec- the age of 65, as this would tie in with tion of track, thus avoiding collisions. his Sick Allowance payments. He cer- In the early days, Mark would have tainly retired before spring 1891 as used the flags to communicate with the census for that year says ‘GWR the engine drivers, red for stop, servant retired on pension’. Although 24 employment records for the GWR 1879. He married Mary Harris in have brought forth nothing on Mark, 1840 at which time he was working the GWR Provident Society did. This as a labourer in Box, where they had Society was a benevolent fund which their first two children. Their third covered sick pay and pensions for its child was born in 1845 in Samford servants (employees). Arundel, very close to Wellington in Although the records are not neces- Somerset, where Mark was based. So sarily complete, it would appear that, James was probably working there as from the age of sixty, Mark’s health a railway policeman at the same time had its ups and downs. However, he as Mark. However, by 1851 James and had many years in retirement before Mary were living in Frome, where he died on 27 April 1905 at the grand the census describes him as a railway age of 86, from senile decay and policeman. They were still there in heart failure, having suffered influ- 1871. James was described as a points- enza for three weeks before his death. man when he died in Frome in 1879. The Wiltshire Times for Saturday 6 Mark’s son, Frederick, started out May 1905 carried the following obitu- working as a gardener in Wellington, ary for him: but by 1871, was an engine fitter with On Friday the death occurred of the GWR based in Bristol. By 1881 he Mr Mark Cogswell, an old and had moved to the Swindon works. In much respected resident, at the January 1885, Frederick joined the age of 86. Deceased was for- London & South Western Railway as merly in the service of the GWR an erector, his location being Station: Company, but had for many NE. In the 1891 census, Frederick and years lived in quiet retirement. his wife Sarah were in West Ham, He was one of the oldest mem- Essex and he was an engine fitter, pre- bers of the Loyal Northey Lodge sumably still with the L&SW Railway. of Oddfellows and early in its However, in the 1901 census, still in history was secretary for a con- West Ham, his occupation is given as siderable period. a ship’s engineer. Frederick and Sarah On his death, the GWR Provident moved back to Somerset some time Society paid a funeral allowance of before the 1911 census where, at the £10. age of 65, he says he is an engine fit- ter – unemployed. The boom years of Family of Railwaymen railways in the 1840s were obviously Mark’s brother, James was also a over. I hope that Frederick found railway policeman. James was born something fulfilling to do because he in Box in 1815 and died in Frome in had a very long retirement, eventually

25 dying in Bath in 1941 aged 94. behaviour. Frederick’s son, Mark Edward In many respects Mark Cogswell was (known as Edward) born in 1869, was a typical railway employee of the time: apprenticed as a fitter for the GWR in respectable, a pillar of society, and a Swindon on 15 March 1883. It should family man. He was the sort of per- have been a seven-year apprentice- son that the early railways wanted as ship, but he absconded on 25 July 1887 an employee. But the company ethos after four-and-a-half years. We have wasn’t suitable for all, as the story of yet to discover why he left or where Mark’s grandson implies. he went, or what loyal GWR serv- [email protected] ant Mark thought of his grandson’s (Tavistock, Devon)

A Murder and Suicide in the Police Malcolm Jefferies (8043) One of the few murders committed by a police officer against a fellow police officer took place at Coombe, near Netheravon, on 1 April 1913. The vic- tim of the murder was Sergeant William Crouch, who joined Wiltshire Constabulary in 1900. He was first stationed at Bradford-upon-Avon, moving from there to Swindon, Chilton Foliat, and Ludgershall, from where he was posted to Netheravon. A married man, Crouch lived with

Sergeant William Crouch Murdered by a Fellow Policeman 26 his wife and two children at the police station. He was a strict man who nevertheless was reasonable in his attitude towards those serving below him. Police Constable Ernest Pike had joined the Force in 1895 and was very experienced. He had served at Swindon, Burbage, , and Enford. While he was at Bottlesford he was promoted to sergeant and posted to Swindon. Pike, however, had a quick temper, and at Swindon he ran into difficulties. Before long he was brought before the Chief Constable Hoel Llewellyn accused of a seri- ous breach of discipline. He was found guilty·, demoted to Constable Ernest Pike Second Class Constable, and Committed Suicide after Murdering William Crouch sent to Enford. Pike settled down well to his new posting. on duty and for lying to a superior Compared with Swindon, Enford officer. was a pleasant district on the banks The evidence was submitted of the Salisbury Avon, and he got to Divisional Headquarters by to know the small valley commu- Sergeant Crouch. On 31 March nity very well. He became a popular 1913, Police Constable Pike made local policeman and it wasn’t long the trip to Amesbury Police before he won back a stripe – being Station to appear before the Chief promoted to Merit Class Constable. Constable. As the hearing wore on, But despite his new found hap- Pike got quite angry and eventually piness, Pike was soon in trouble accused Sergeant Crouch of tell- again. This time it was more seri- ing lies. Despite his protestations of ous than before. He was reported innocence, Pike was demoted and for being in a public house while told that he would be removed from 27 Enford Police Cottage The popular Police Constable Ernest Pike lived here with his family. his new found home in Enford and out of his cottage. Then he returned posted to Colerne on the Somerset to the family home and kissed his border. wife good night. He left the house Pike was incensed. As he cycled at about 9pm taking the gun with back to Enford with his neighbour- him. He intended to meet Crouch ing colleague, Police Constable at their usual meeting place near Slade, he talked about the injus- Coombe around 11pm that night. tice of his predicament and bitterly As he patrolled his beat, Pike dwelt blamed Sergeant Crouch. on the day’s events. He was first to When the two officers reached the get to the regular meeting place at police house at Enford, Pike dis- the road junction near Coombe. mounted. Slade, who still had a few Evidence found later suggests that miles to go, bade him goodbye. As Pike hid behind a hedge until he cycled away, Pike shouted after Crouch arrived. him: ‘That’s it, I’ve done with the No one knows precisely what hap- Force. I’ll make this County ring.’ pened next – but when the shot- That evening, while no one was gun was discharged Crouch died looking, Pike smuggled a shotgun instantly from a head-wound. 28 Pike knew that he would certainly following morning. Mrs Pike had hang for the murder. He was in already reported her husband miss- a hopeless position. What would ing the night before, but no one have gone through his troubled could findPike . mind as he made his way from the Slade was called from the sta- scene of the grisly murder? About tion at Upavon. He arrived with five hundred yards from the meet- the Chief Constable’s bloodhounds, ing place was a little wooden foot- Moonlight and Flair, and a search bridge across the River Avon. There was initiated. Slade believed Pike he placed the gun’s muzzle in his was probably the murderer and mouth and pulled the trigger. now on the run. The Forcewas Sergeant Crouch’s corpse was put on alert. The bloodhounds found by farm workers at 6am the led Slade up and down the water meadows, con- fused by the early morning dew. After two hours Pike’s body was found in the river – he had fallen off the bridge and floated some way d o w n s t r e a m before sinking to the riverbed. An inquest was opened that morning at Coombe Farm. The hastily convened jury returned a ver- dict that Police Constable Pike had ‘wil- fully mur- Letter by Ernest Pike dered Sergeant 29 Report of the Murder and Suicide

30 Plaque Marking the Place Sergeant Crouch and Constable Pike Died Coombe near Enford, 13 March 1913 Crouch and afterwards commit- donated their Jury fees to the wid- ted suicide.’ As a gesture, the Jury ows of the two policemen. The funerals were a few days later. Sergeant Crouch was buried with full police honours. His funeral was attended by the Chief Constable, and 160 senior officers and other ranks. A band from the Third Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment accompanied the funeral proces- sion. Police Constable Pike’s funeral was held at Enford – with no ceremony. His wife and children were joined by a number of villag- ers who came to mourn the loss of a popular local bobby. Pike had a tragic life that was ended in a moment of madness.

Gravestone of Ernest Pike [email protected] (Yeovil, Somerset) 31 Amy Elizabeth Hutchins Jack Kirk (9770)

My maternal grandfather, Edward Emma and Alma, but by 1901 Edwin Reginald Hutchins, was born at was living in Broughton Lancs with Orcheston St Mary, Wiltshire, on 13 another ‘wife’, Charlotte, and her March 1901, the illegitimate son of own children along with their two Amy Elizabeth Hutchins. Amy her- children born 1896 and 1898. Edwin, self was the illegitimate daughter of a carpenter, died of blood poisoning Anna Hutchins. after scratching his thumb on a rusty According to her marriage certifi- nail on 7 February 1917. cate, Amy’s father was Edwin Grist. As to my grandfather’s father, I have Having got Anna Hutchins pregnant found from The Salisbury and Wilton in 1876, and presumably deserting Times and South Wilts Gazette Friday her, Grist married Rosalie Dewey in 23 August 1901: Orcheston in 1881. By 1886 they had Amy Elizabeth Hutchins, a sin- three children. Rosalie did not die gle woman living at Orcheston until 1912. However, by 1891 Edwin St Mary, was granted an affilia- had deserted Rosalie and was living tion order of 1s 6d a week, against in Aston Birmingham with his ‘wife’ George Smith, a railway shunter Emma and one-year-old daughter of Templecombe. Alma. I cannot find what happened to

The Childhood Home of Edward Hutchins in Orcheston St Mary 32 Edward with his Mother Amy and his Grandmother Anna, and his Step-Grandfather George Oram Orcheston St Mary, 1908 But who was this George Smith? I was 14 years old (born 28 June 1876). have looked at the census and other So any ‘romance’ would have had to records for Templecombe for a likely last the best part of ten years. candidate but nothing is obvious. Amy married Sidney Matthews Orcheston St Mary is nowhere near of Shrewton in 1909 and died in a railway. My great-grandmother, 1912. Edward was looked after by Amy Elizabeth Hutchins, was living his grandmother from 1909 until he at Hanging Langford, Wilton at the left to work on railway construction time of the 1891 census with her uncle in 1915. In 1919, he enlisted in the and his family. However, by June 1892 Coldstream Guards. It was while in that uncle was living in Hampshire. London that he met my grandmother My guess is that Amy was there to who was there working as a nanny. look after her uncle and aunt’s daugh- They married and subsequently set- ter who died at Hanging Langford tled in her home village of Brantham aged four-years in early 1892. in Suffolk where I was born in 1950. Hanging Langford is on a railway [email protected] line, as is Templecombe. Is this how (Ely, Cambridgeshire) she met George Smith? In 1891 she 33 Winterbourne Bassett Yvonne Neal (6513)

The PECKS were my first big interest in family history. I remember Dad occasionally taking Grampy (Jack/John Harris) back to his home village of Winterbourne Bassett. Unfortunately, my interest in family history was to emerge many years later. Oh how I’d love the opportunity now to be able to chat to him about the village, his parents, his home-life, and the like. Many years later, my brother-in-law tried to share his new passion, family history, with us. Yes, I was interested to some degree I suppose, but it wasn’t until my Uncle Jack, Dad’s brother (Dad was no longer with us by that time) came to us one day and was chatting about Winterbourne Bassett, that I got that first spark of interest.

Still new to the family history ‘game’, leading up to it. we decided one chilly morning to go There was a man working in the gar- take a look at Winterbourne Bassett den right next to the Chapel and I for ourselves. We took with us a photo asked if he’d mind if I took a photo. of my great-grandparents, William I explained why. He said ‘Do you like James Harris and Sarah Ann (née dogs?’. We confirmed that we did, and Peck), taken outside their cottage he took us into the Chapel, now his under a window. With no street num- lovely home complete with family of bers or names, it was rather a stab in dogs. What a coincidence! What luck the dark and (sounds silly now) but or providence that he was in the gar- we, all those years later, went looking den just at that time. And how great for the window – as if it would have it was to see the original beams and stayed the same! rafters, where the old stove stood, We never did find their cottage. Not where the lectern had been and the surprisingly because we later discov- steps, now presumably leading to his ered that it was at 90 degrees to the upstairs area. It’s certainly an event road and very considerably extended that I shan’t forget. and modernised. We did however Joan, my first cousin-once-removed, find the old Primitive Methodist said that there was no organ so Chapel where the family worshipped the hymns were unaccompanied. and where my grandparents married. Whenever she visited, she remem- It seemed to still have some original bered that there would be just a hand- features such as the original main ful of people in the congregation – in doorway and the grey pitted bricks 34 fact, there were not many people in pulpit. (This point disputed by Joan’s the whole of the village. Joan remem- cousin, Harry.) bered that she and her brother Arthur One day we went to visit Harry, also used to recite and sing from the pul- my first cousin-once-removed. He pit. William James would sometimes had vivid memories of the Primitive come straight from the fields on a Methodist Chapel at Winterbourne Sunday evening, still in his shep- Bassett, a small brick chapel built herd’s smock, and speak from the about 1903, which fell into disuse in the 1950s and was sold in 1960. He told us that his father had been a lay preacher there. Joan had thought that great-grandfa- ther William James Harris may have been a lay preacher, a fact that Harry rather discounted. William James did not have a bicycle, which would have been a require- ment for circuit preaching, and he may have been otherwise preoccupied with his shepherding duties. Two cousins having different memories,I guess. Harry told us that Uncle Harry Noble used to sit in the seat right in front of the pulpit and all of a sudden would shout out ‘hallelujah’. He was The Cottage of Sarah and William James Harris married to another of in Winterbourne Bassett 35 Grampy’s sisters, Amelia. large as apples. Whilst delivering his One lay preacher on the Brinkworth sermons, he would often shake and, Methodist circuit was very small, much to the amusements of the chil- and a box was always kept for him to dren sitting in the front row of the stand on to enable him look over the Chapel, his bumps used to wiggle pulpit. Was it coincidence – or Divine around. intervention perhaps – that one day Even when Harry and his brothers he was preaching about ‘the Lord and sisters lived in a close-by village, Jesus Christ: sometimes you see Him, they had to go to Sunday School at the sometimes you don’t’. As he said the Winterbourne Bassett Chapel every last two words, the box on which he Sunday morning, back home for din- was standing, collapsed, and down he ner, back again to afternoon Sunday went. school, and then back home again for Another of the lay preachers had tea. The whole family then walked several large bumps on his head – as back again at night with Mum and Dad for Chapel ser- vice – not good in bad weather. Their dad was very strict – the children were not allowed to pick up a stick or do anything on Sundays. All the wood and coal for the fire had to be got in the previous day and, should they run out of coal, they were not allowed to go out to the coal house to get more. Mum was not quite so strict. Harry recalled that when she was cooking in the kitchen on her own, she would sing ‘What a friend we have in Jack Harris, my Grampy Jesus’. 36 Winterbourne Bassett Chapel as it was a few years ago Sometimes, when we look back, to Quite a different matter, I think. us, their village life may look rather [email protected] idyllic, but what was it like in reality? (Swindon, Wiltshire) Two American Cousins Mabel Francis and Henry Oliver Elkins Liz Argent (8318) I started researching my family history well over twenty years ago and always hoped it would lead to the solution of two mysteries. I wanted to know how Cousin Mabel fitted in to our family and what was the identity of the visitor from America who appeared in an old photograph with my father and his family (see photo p 43). When I was a child, one of the first Neither my parents, nor my father’s Christmas cards we received every sisters seemed to know who she was year was from Cousin Mabel in or what her connection was to the America. It always arrived towards family. Eventually, we stopped receiv- the end of November, and, apart from ing the cards, but my father’s sister, the greeting inside, the only other Rowena, kept in contact with Mabel. information was a return address The first piece of real information in Flint, Michigan on the envelope. 37 came when Rowena retired and took were husband and wife, but eventu- a trip to the USA and Canada in 1982. ally she did recall that they were her She visited Mabel and came back with grandfather’s brother and sister. This some notes. Mabel told her she’d been information confirmed some of what born in The Halve in Trowbridge and Mabel had previously told Rowena. that she had also lived in Norton St Time passed and it became easier to Philip as there was a photo of her research family online. After working taken there. Auntie Rowena wrote through other branches of my tree, I that she was ‘Grandpa’s brother’s came back to Francis. I thought I’d youngest daughter’. This turned out made a breakthrough when I found to be a bit of a red herring. Rowena James Francis, my great-grandfather, also learned that Mabel’s birthday on the 1881 census. He was twelve was 16 May and her brothers and years old and living in Newtown in sisters were Clarence, who stayed Westbury. However, he was not living in England, Leslie, Lillian, Albert, with his parents and siblings, but with Herbert, and Edgar. Mabel was the his grandparents James and Sarah second child, the first three being Francis as well as an unmarried born in England and the rest after the uncle, William, and aunt, Elizabeth. family emigrated. Were these the ‘Lizzie’ and ‘Bill’ who More accurate information was in went to America? I decided they prob- a letter from Mabel we found after ably weren’t as they were possibly too Rowena died. Mabel was about 88 at old and not my great-grandfather’s the time of writing, but she provided siblings. Unless of course my aunt the first real lead. She wrote: was mistaken. your (ie Rowena’s) mother and I In 1891, James Francis was still were cousins. Her father was my with his grandparents and now was mother’s brother. My mother only employed as a clerk at the Laverton changed her name from Miss to cloth mill. I began to think that his Mrs Francis and no relation. parents had died and that I would Rowena’s mother and my grand- never get any further back with the mother was Dora Louise Argent family. But that was not to be the née Francis. Dora’s father was James case. I later found him on the 1871 Francis. But there were still no first census and this time with his parents, names to follow up. John and Ruth. The family were liv- Jean, my father’s other sister did pro- ing in Newtown, Westbury. And he vide more information. She talked had a brother, William, and a sister, about Lizzie and Bill who had gone Elizabeth. I could now begin to work to America. At first, I thought they out Mabel’s connection to our family. 38 Two American Cousins in the Collier Family My great-great-grandparents were Francis who became Mrs Francis, John Francis and Ruth Collier. as her daughter Mabel had told my John was born in Beckington in 1845 aunt all those years ago. and Ruth in Westbury in 1844. When Mabel had also said that her father they married in Westbury on 8 July and mother were not related. I did 1866, both were cloth workers. With wonder about this so had a look at the help of members of the Westbury Henry’s background. Family History Group, I found that they had four children in all. William Henry was born in 1868, the eldest James was baptised on 11 November son of Henry, a coal merchant, and 1866, and my great-grandfather, his wife Hester. He had at least four James, on 8 November 1868. Their younger siblings: Emily, Mary, James, sister, Elizabeth Ann, was baptised in and Ellen. By the age of 13, he was a Westbury on 9 October 1870. By the coal merchant’s labourer. On the 1891 time the youngest, Sarah, was bap- census, both father and son are listed tised on 9 October 1878, the family as haulier. However, by the time he was living at The Halve in Trowbridge. married Elizabeth he was a coal mer- Sadly, Sarah died while still an infant. chant again. As far as I could tell there was no close relationship between the John and Ruth stayed in Trowbridge, two Francis families, although both living in Bowyer’s Yard, and contin- had originated from the same general ued to work in the cloth mills for the area in Somerset. rest of their lives. By the time he was 14 in 1881, William had joined them Henry and Elizabeth’s first child, as a cloth worker. In 1891, 20-year-old Clarence Henry William, was born Elizabeth was also working in one of on 24 April 1892. His sister, Mabel the mills. On 9 August that year, she Elizabeth, was born on 16 May 1894, married Henry John Francis from a few months before her cousin, my Norton St. Philip. So she was the Miss grandmother, Dora Louise Francis. 39 Clarence and Mabel were baptised workers emigrated to Providence, in North Bradley on 7 July 1895. The Rhode Island. Both Woonsocket and family were living in Trowbridge and Providence were centres for textile Henry was still a coal merchant. Their manufacturing at this time. The two third child, Leslie James, was born in Francis families were almost cer- 1896. tainly part of this migration of skilled In early 1889, Elizabeth’s brother workers from Wiltshire. William married Jemima Long, the Some contact with home was main- daughter of John and Maranda Long tained by sending family announce- and step-daughter of Joseph Norton. ments back to the Wiltshire Times. Their son Albert was born the follow- Albert Victor Francis, aged 3, the ing year. By 1891, the family was living son of Henry and Elizabeth Francis, at 20 Rutland Terrace in Trowbridge. died on 6 March 1904 at 444 3rd Both parents were woollen cloth work- Avenue, Woonsocket; the news was ers. Living with them as a servant was carried in the issue of the paper on 19 twelve-year-old Ellen Francis from March. Previously, in the issue of 13 Norton St Philip. I believe she was June 1903, they had announced the Henry’s younger sister. happier news of the birth of their sec-

By the beginning of the 20th century, ond daughter, Lillian May, on 27 May both these young families were living that year. in the United States. In October 1899 My final details about the fam- Lizzie, Mabel, and Leslie travelled ily came from an entry I found on on the SS Ultonia from Liverpool. It Ancestry. Lizzie died in Niagara Falls, appears Henry had left before them, New York in 1953 and Henry in 1955 but, by the time of the 1900 US cen- in Flint. Mabel married John DeVoe sus, they had been reunited and were and their son James was born in 1914. living in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Mabel died in 1992. Clarence eventu- William, Jemima, and Albert had ally made it to the US, married Helen left Trowbridge in 1891 and also set- Bucher and lived in Pennsylvania. tled in Woonsocket. However, young Lillian married Lenus Jacobsen and Clarence did remain behind when the lived in Niagara Falls. The other three rest of his family left. In 1901, he was sons, Leslie, Herbert, and Edgar are living with his grandparents, John not mentioned, but I later had infor- and Ruth, in Trowbridge. mation that Leslie married Edna So what had prompted this move? In Lindblade. The photo of three young his book Warp and Weft,Ken Rogers men taken at Niagara Falls (see p 41) says that when local mills closed at has nothing to identify them, but the end of the 19th century, some I have to assume they are Mabel’s 40 These are probably three of Mabel’s brothers in the United States 41 brothers. Courier. These clues gave me some- Auntie Jean told me one last thing. thing to work on. She said that Mabel’s son, James, vis- I started by trying to find Steuben in ited the family in Westbury when he an atlas, with no luck. An Internet was a soldier stationed in the UK dur- search for the newspaper was also ing the Second World War. My father, fruitless, as at the time not everything who at that time was of an age to be had an online presence. Searching for impressed by the appearance of a GI HO under his possible names also at the family home, had never men- gave me nothing. I stopped trying tioned it to me. I would love to know and thought I would never find out if the visit happened. who he was. Making sense of the story behind the The breakthrough came when I later photograph of the American visitor discovered the maiden name of James took longer. The photo was usually Francis’s mother, Ruth, and began kept with lots of other snaps in an to explore my Collier ancestors (see old box. Taken in the 1930s it shows tree p 39). Ruth was the second of my grandparents Dora and Teddie six daughters of William and Sarah (Edward) Argent, their children Collier. The eldest, Jane, was born Jean, Rowena and my father Jim, in 1839. Ruth was born in 1844. On and Dora’s parents James and Ada 6 July 1845, William, Sarah, Jane, Francis. The family are all dressed in and Ruth were baptised in Westbury what looks like their Sunday best. On parish church along with William’s the left of the picture is a middle-aged brother Nathaniel, his wife Isabella, man who I always thought looked as and their children, Samuel and Sarah. if he had just stepped off the set of an William and Sarah’s younger daugh- old Hollywood movie. This was HO. ters were Hannah (1846), Theresa My father was always vague about (1850), Eliza (1855) and Annie (1863). his actual name. Sometimes it was Tracking them through census ‘Henry Oliver’ and sometimes ‘Henry returns, I found Hannah living with Oliver Elkins’. her parents in 1871 under her married Much later, and on different occa- name of Cadby and with two chil- sions, Auntie Jean provided a few dren, Elizabeth Ann and Fred. She more possible details. HO may have had married Henry Cadby in 1866, been married to the daughter of the same year that her sister, Ruth, Lizzie or Bill Francis. He had vis- married John Francis. ited the family when he was on his Theresa was not with the family so, honeymoon and he was the editor if not dead, was either in service or of a newspaper called The Steuben 42 Henry Oliver ELKINS (left) and his cousin James FRANCIS (right) with James’s daughter Dora, son-in-law Edward, and grandchildren, Jean, Rowena, and my father, Jim. had married. I was curious to know and children and this must have what had happened to her and, as happened in the case of Frank and she had an uncommon Christian Theresa as I could not find him on the name for the period, I searched for a 1871 census. Theresa born in Westbury in 1850 on Now I had discovered ‘HO’, I went the 1871 census. And there she was. back to the Internet, which was Theresa Elkins, but it was the name more useful this time. I found of her young son that solved the mys- the family living in Mexico, near tery – he was Henry Oliver. So my Oswego in New York State (close to great-grandfather James was his first Lake Ontario) on the 1880 US cen- cousin. sus. By the time he married Mary It didn’t take much to find out that Woodbury in 1891, HO was in the Theresa had married Frank Stephen town of Bath, New York. He went on Elkins in 1868 and Henry was born to have two daughters, Miriam Anna in the autumn of the following year. in 1896 and Dorothy in 1901. He is When families were planning to emi- listed as a printer/publisher on all grate, it seemed to be the practice that references. I have found that he was, husbands went ahead of their wives indeed, the owner and editor of the 43 local newspaper The Steuben Courier. September, returning to Boston from Steuben is a county, not a town, which Liverpool on the Laconia. On the pas- explains why I couldn’t find it when I senger list HO’s occupation is given as looked. editor. He died on 1 January 1946. Mary died in 1934. On 26 June 1937, I was pleased to have found the HO married Elizabeth Hunter. Their connection to our two American honeymoon was spent in the UK. cousins, but in the process I uncov- (Auntie Jean was right!) They arrived ered a further mystery which start- at Southampton from New York on ed another exploration of Collier the Hamburg on 8 July. During their family history. stay, they visited HO’s relatives in [email protected] Westbury including my great-grand- (Westbury, Wiltshire) father and family. They left on 20 Gunner Sidney George Grant World War Two Casualty Peter Spencer (8442) In the run up to WWII, the gov- ernment recognised that it needed to strengthen the armed forces. One way they did this was to double the size of the Territorial Force by creating a new battalion for every existing battalion. Civilians duly signed up and started to get trained. With the outbreak of war, these battalions were mobilised and sent to train- ing areas to learn the skills that were needed. Once trained the battalions were deployed either to the British Expeditionary Force in Europe or on Home duties. One of the problems that then arose was that the TA could recruit men aged over 16, but no Sidney George Grant 44 one under 18 could be deployed overseas. Someone who was Gunner Sidney George Grant caught like this was Gunner Service Number: 5571017 Sidney George Grant. Regiment & Unit/Ship: Royal Artillery, Sidney was born in West 392 Bty., 48 A.A. Regt. Lavington on 7 May 1923, a Date of Death: 22 June 1940 son of bricklayer’s labourer Age: 17 years old Frederick George Grant and Buried or commemorated: West his wife Mary Ann Wheeler. Lavington (All Saints) Churchyard He was the fifth of six chil- Extension Grave 73, UK dren born to Frederick and CWGC Mary Ann. His oldest brother, Arthur, enlisted in the where he and his parents must have Wiltshire Regiment in 1931. thought he would be safer. However, On leaving school at the age of 14, while on searchlight duty on 22 June Sidney trained to be a carpenter. 1940, he was shot from an enemy He was very popular, with a ‘happy aircraft and subsequently died at the go lucky’ nature. He was a member Royal Isle of Wight County Hospital, of West Lavington Church Youth Ryde. He was just 17 years old, and Fellowship and the Tennis Club. is buried in West Lavington. He was Although he couldn’t read music, he the first person from West Lavington was a keen musician and was learn- to be killed in World War Two and ing to play the violin and cornet for the first person on the Isle of Wight the Market Lavington Silver Band. to die as a result of enemy action. Sidney enlisted in the Territorial On the day that the police delivered Army, 4th Battalion Wiltshire a message to Sidney’s family to say Regiment on 19 June 1939. When this that he was wounded, a telegram battalion was mobilised for service was received to say that his brother in France, Sidney was under age for Arthur was reported missing. He deployment overseas. He was there- was captured in France on 23 May fore transferred on 13 December 1939 1940 and was taken as a prisoner of to the Royal Artillery 392 Battery, 48 war to Poland. He died on the forced AA Regiment (Searchlight Section). march when the camp was evacuated due to the advance of the Russian They operated searchlight and anti- army in 1945. aircraft defence, armed with Lewis guns and rifles. Sidney was posted to [email protected] the Isle of Wight on 2 March 1940, (Salisbury, Wiltshire)

45 Publication News Transcribing and Publications During Lockdown Jenny Pope (8066) Transcribing Coordinator I am writing this piece during our charge, as they (quite rightly) believe third lockdown. It would be lovely to that the outcome of our labours bene- believe that by the time you read this fits the History Centre as well as other in April it will all be history. Sadly, I researchers. Cameras and phones am not holding out too much hope, were being wielded by quite a few of although I know that some of our us in anticipation of lockdown (one, transcribers have already had at least two, and three), so we could continue one vaccination. beavering away at home. One of the benefits for our transcrib- Transcribers now work in different ing team is that the History Centre ways: some follow the traditional path allowed us to take photos of the docu- of transcribing to paper at the History ments we were working on without Centre and then transferring their pencilled record onto a spread- sheet at home; a growing num- ber work directly to a spread- sheet, using their own laptops. I confess I started this trend as I was too impatient to do it ‘as it has always been done’. A few eyebrows were raised initially, and of course, there is always the danger of losing your work if you suffer a computer glitch, so making one or more back- ups is essential. Some transcribers have used lockdown to put their records onto spreadsheets at home, or to review their previous work and correct the errors only seen at second (or third) view- ing. For those who are working on manorial records, where we 46 summarise rather than transcribe transcriptions are in a format that word-by-word, it has been a chance lends itself as easily as possible to to look again, with our growing publication. This way we can tackle understanding, at what happened in problems at an earlier stage than if the court sitting and how we have we waited until all the transcriptions expressed that. for Wiltshire were completed before One of my tasks was to review and passing them to David, the publica- ‘tidy up’ the work that three of us tions guru. Our intention is to pub- had undertaken in transcribing and lish the ‘Accounts’ parish by parish, checking the records for Alvediston in one or several volumes per parish Manor Court. Work began on this depending on their extent. court over four years ago. I was sur- The closure of the History Centre dur- prised and heartened at how my ing lockdown and fewer transcribers knowledge of the procedure and able or willing to work from home the terminology had grown. I could slows our rate of transcription and amend and correct the text with checking. This will inevitably delay greater confidence. This has resulted publication of material we had hoped in the publication, shortly before this to make available in 2021 and 2022. January lockdown, of Manor Court However, David Chilton has been Records Number 9 for Alvediston. The working with Jerry King from the records for another manor, Alderton, Resource Centre and our Librarian are in check as I write: I had taken Mike Langtree to identify some of photos of much of the original record our earlier publications which have when I transcribed it in 2016 and Steve been out-of-print for some time and Brain is working on them at home. re-publish them online (see details on Checking is not so much fun as mak- the Website under ‘Latest News’ and ing the original transcription, but it the Sales Leaflet). These have included is necessary and has its own pleasure Nonconformist records. when you find a better explanation or There is a long-standing pro- more felicitous turn of phrase. ject to revise and expand data on Ken Giles has been busy rechecking Nonconformists and include infor- his transcription of Langley Burrell mation available from sources beyond Overseers Accounts, and we have the RG4 record series. This was initi- twisted the arm of Judith Sanger to ated by John Hawkins, who decided re-check this (it is always amazing last June for personal reasons to stand what a fresh pair of eyes can find!). down from the project. Lockdown Ken has been working closely with and distancing rules have made it David Chilton to make sure that the difficult for Michael Flight (who has 47 been carrying the burden of the pro- being outside on a sunny day, not so ject) and me to get together to discuss good in the wind and rain. But the the way forward to completing the History Centre staff managed to get work and how the data might best be this overturned, and we could book made available to others. slots to use the four well-spaced tables The History Centre temporarily re- in the foyer. opened for business in August 2020, The History Centre staff deserve an but under restrictions: transcrib- accolade: we had a very warm wel- ers needed to order documents in come on return after earlier lock- advance, observe distancing and downs and they were always help- hygiene rules, and wear masks. This ful and accommodating. They were made it difficult to work for long peri- punctilious in observing the rules ods and to consult one with another. that have allowed our return – clean- Entering the reading room for the ing down tables and chairs after use, first time reminded me of going into quarantining the documents when an examination hall – the tables were we have handled them, and ensuring spaced well apart, with the ‘invigila- both they and we kept our distance. tors’ in place: I was waiting for some- Not all our regular transcribers have one to say, ‘You may turn over your returned between periods of lock- paper and begin – now’! Despite this, down, but it will be wonderful when it was wonderful to be back and to they feel the time is right to do so. see one another. Initially, there was a Let’s hope that normal working will ban on consuming any refreshments be possible before 2021 is over. within the building – it was pleasant Correction On p 40 of the January Journal, under ‘Transcribing and Publication’ section of the ‘Trustees Report’, leadership of the Overseers Accounts project was wrongly attributed to Ken Green instead of Ken Giles. My apologies to Ken Giles, who is still very active – even under lockdown – working on the Accounts. [email protected] Useful Websites Rod Whale (3914) It is a long time since the first virus available websites that contain infor- pandemic lockdown started, but mation to assist family historians. fortunately, there is no shortage of More are constantly being added.

48 The Wiltshire and Swindon Archives members who have ancestry there at Chippenham is still closed to the and the great advantage for that public, but the online catalogue county is that images of the register and research guide are available for entries are available to view. research from the archive pages. To I am sure that many members use the gain access, it is necessary to use the free information available on Family website URL which near the end of Search, operated by the Church of last year was changed and it is now at Latter Day Saints in Utah. However, https://www.wshc.org.uk that information is increased weekly. Ancestry and FindmyPast, the well Recently, many more parish regis- known and popular subscription ter details for Middlesex have been sites, are constantly adding new data added, the latest update being on 28 information. It is always worthwhile January. Many members have ances- to check what is new when using try there and the current total avail- either of these sites. An example able is nearly one-and-a-half million. is that on Ancestry. One new piece I am aware that when adding fam- of data added on 22 January was ily details to a database on one ‘Lancashire, England, World War 2 of the Family Tree software pro- Home Guard Records, 1940-1945.’ I grammes such as Family Tree Maker know that quite a lot of Society mem- or Rootsmagic, some people are not bers have some Lancashire ancestry fully aware how important it is to and that new database might be help- include sources and citations and/ ful to them. or the difference between the two Another new database on the same items. I have found there is a webinar site is ‘UK, Registers of Habitual available at https://www.youtube.com/ Criminals and Police Gazettes, 1834 watch?v=4NBN3QsPneU which is to 1934’. It is possible that members from an older version of RootsMagic might find something helpful and than the one currently on the market. possibly surprising therein. However, it covers all the details relat- FindmyPast adds new data every ing to sources and citations. The prin- Friday and recently added additional ciples are unchanged and applicable parish records for Devon. I have to whatever software is used. It lasts previously mentioned what is avail- for more than an hour and after view- able for Wiltshire. For Devon, there ing it, some members will know more are more than two million christen- than when it started! ings and similar totals each for mar- [email protected] riages and burials. I know there are

49 Book Review Bethanie Afton (6817) Reverend Duke and the Amesbury Oliver, by Peter Maggs (Mirli Books, 2020, £9.99) This book resulted from the discov- ery of a 100-page document relating to an inquiry into charges of cruelty in the Amesbury Union Workhouse. The allegations were made by the Reverend Edward Duke. The first chapters of the book consid- ers the career of Duke as a landowner, magistrate, and ex-oficio guardian of the workhouse. He was a difficult man. Maggs described him as ‘... a grievance-hunting, petty, and dis- putatious busybody, subject to fits of caprice and petulance, and not short of hubris and ego.’ His life seems to have centred around writing letters, both to individuals and in print, com- shared food from their own table with plaining about perceived injustices. the sick, ensured that the children received an education, even took the The master and matron of the newly- inmates up onto the downs for a pic- created Amesbury Union Workhouse nic. Several former inmates testified did not escape his attention. This that they would visit the couple after came to a head when it was alleged they were out of the workhouse. that the workhouse master was treating the paupers in their care so News of this case never received any cruelly that one youth died. At the publicity, anywhere. It is a total con- resultant inquiry, 46 witnesses gave trast to the case a year later in the evidence. For me, this is the highlight notorious Andover Workhouse. Why of Maggs’s book. The principal charge was this so and was it unusual? Only related to the death of a disabled further research can answer these 15-year-old. It was found that he died questions. However, the book has not by maltreatment but of natural made me reconsider my assumptions causes. Witnesses consistently testi- about the conditions in the work- fied to a kind and caring couple who houses in Victorian England. 50 Members’ Surname Interests compiled by Katy Jordan (6064)

SUBMITTING INTERESTS All members with Internet access should add their sur- name research interests through their account on our website (www.witshirefhs.co.uk) or, if this is not possible, by post to the Members’ Interests Secretary via the Resource Centre (see inside front cover). No matter how your interests are submitted, they will be printed in the Journal and appear on the Society’s website. CONTACTING MEMBERS Enquirers seeking more information on a Name Under Research (below) should use the associated Membership Number to find contact de- tails in the Addresses section that follows. SEARCHING INTERESTS ONLINE Members can search the full Interests data- base on the WFHS website. Click on the Databases tab, then on Members’ Research Interests, then on Search Members’ Interests. Contact a member who shares your sur- name interests by clicking on their blue ID number [NOT the Membership Number found in the Journal], then on the Send Email link. NAMES UNDER RESEARCH

Mem Surname Place and Date Mem Surname Place and Date No No 9965 ADAMS West Harnham, WIL, 10009 CARTER Malmesbury, WIL, all 17-19c 9977 ARLETT Box, WIL, 18c 1609 CART- All, LIN, 18-20c 9893 BAKER West Lavington, WIL, WRIGHT 18-20c 1609 CART- Peterborough, NTH, 9977 BEAK Box, WIL, 18-19c WRIGHT 19-20c 9983 BENGER Devizes, WIL, 19c, 10018 CLEVER- Calne, WIL, 18-19c before LEY 9998 BROWN- West Dean, WIL, 9999 COLE Fonthill Bishops, JOHN 18-19c WIL, all 9992 BURRIDGE Chilmark, WIL, 9932 COLLETT South Wraxall, WIL, 18-19c 18-19c 10003 BURRY All Cannings, WIL, 9961 CRABB Pershot, WIL, 18-19c 18-20c 9961 CRABB Quennington, WIL, 9999 BURT Fonthill Gifford, 18-19c WIL, all 9972 CROUCH Longbridge Deverill, WIL, 18c

51 Mem Surname Place and Date Mem Surname Place and Date No No 9999 DALLEY Fonthill Gifford, 9955 HINWOOD Wylye, WIL, 18c WIL, all 9998 HINXMAN East Grimstead, WIL, 9999 DALLEY Chilmark, WIL, all 18-19c 9999 DALLEY Fonthill Bishops, 9998 HINXMAN West Dean, WIL, WIL, all 18-19c 9859 DENNESS Alderbury, WIL, 19c 9985 HOOPER Burton Bradstock, 10003 DOBSON Ramsbury, WIL, DOR, all 19-20c 9977 HUDD Box, WIL, 18-19c 9982 DOLING Basingstoke, HAM, 9977 ISAAC Kington St Michael, 19c WIL, 18c 9982 DOLING Wilton, WIL, 18-19c 9977 ISAAC Box, WIL, 17-19c 9982 EASTMAN Wilton, WIL, 18-19c 9977 ISSACK Box, WIL, 17-18c 10007 FAWKES Cricklade, WIL, 9998 JEANS Yeovil, SOM, 18-19c 18-19c 9977 JOY Box, WIL, 17-18c 9996 FLOWER All, WIL, All 9992 KELLOW Dinton, WIL, 18-19c 9998 FORDER East Grimstead, WIL, 10000 KEMPTON Great Bedwyn, WIL, 18-19c 19c 9998 FORDER West Dean, WIL, 10000 KEMPTON Burbage, WIL, 19c 18-19c 10017 KING Mere, WIL, 19c 10003 FREEBURY Swindon, WIL, 19-21c 2454 KINGTON Bradford-On-Avon, 9982 GALPIN Wilton, WIL, all WIL, 19c 9999 GODWIN Fonthill Gifford, 10003 LEAT Swindon, WIL, WIL, all 19-20c 9994 GURD Tisbury, WIL, 19c 9977 LEWIS Box, WIL, 18c 10011 HALE Chirton, WIL, 19c 1609 LUXTON All, DEV, 19c 9972 HALL Longbridge Deverill, 10006 MARKE Melksham, WIL, WIL, 18c 17-20c 1609 HANDSLEY All, LIN, 18-19c 10006 MARKES Bradford-On-Avon, 1609 HANDSLEY Peterborough, NTH, WIL, 17-20c 19-20c 10006 MARKS Heytesbury, WIL, 2454 HARDING Wanborough, WIL, 17-20c 18c 10008 MARTIN Upton Lovell, WIL, 3284 HARDING Trowbridge, WIL, 19c 18c 9986 HIND Westbury, WIL, 19c 9988 MASLEN Enford, WIL, 17-20c

52 Mem Surname Place and Date Mem Surname Place and Date No No 8931 MATON Vale Of Pewsey, WIL, 9987 PILE Urchfont, WIL, 17c 14-18c 9987 PYLE Urchfont, WIL, 17c 9932 MIZEN South Wraxall, WIL, 9992 RANDALL Amesbury, WIL, 18-19c 19-20c 9932 MIZEN Calne, WIL, 18-19c 9992 RANDALL Brixton Deverill, 9967 MOODY All, WIL, 17-18c WIL, 19-20c 9992 MOODY Carters Clay, HAM, 9992 RANDALL Teffont, WIL, 19-20c 18-20c 9992 RANDALL Winterbourne 9998 MOODY West Dean, WIL, Whitchurch, DOR, 18-19c 18-19c 10021 MOON Melksham, WIL, 19c 10024 R AWKINS Donhead St. Andrew, 9992 MULLINS Teffont, WIL, 18-20c WIL, all 9987 MUSPRATT Urchfont, WIL, 16c 10000 R AWLINS Burbage, WIL, 19c 9999 NISBECK Hindon, WIL, all 9977 SALTER Box, WIL, 18-19c 9999 NISBECK Fonthill Gifford, 9995 SANGER East Knoyle, WIL, WIL, all 17-18c 9999 NISBICK Hindon, WIL, all 9977 SHELL Box, WIL, 18c 9977 NOWELL Box, WIL, 18-19c 9974 SPARKS All, WIL, all 9977 OCKWELL Cricklade, WIL, 18c 9982 TABOR Wilton, WIL, 19c 9972 PAYNE Longbridge Deverill, 9982 TABOR Alderbury, WIL, 19c WIL, 18c 10000 TANNER Ogbourne St Andrew, 9991 PENNY Broadchalke, And WIL, 20c Surrounding Area, 10000 TANNER Marlborough, WIL, WIL, 18-20c 20c 9955 PERRIOR Wylye, WIL, 18c 9961 TAYLOR Quennington, WIL, 9968 PICKETT , WIL, 18-19c 19-20c 10010 TAYLOR Ramsbury, WIL, 9968 PICKETT Rowde, WIL, 19-20c 19-20c 9968 PICKETT Broad Town, WIL, 9942 TILLY All, WIL, 19c 19-20c 9980 TOWN- All, WIL, 18c 10007 PIKE Cricklade, And SHEND Surrounding Area, 10011 VINES Hullavington, WIL, WIL, 18-19c 19c

53 Mem Surname Place and Date Mem Surname Place and Date No No 9982 WEARE Wilton, WIL, 19c 9801 WOOD- Lea, And 9973 WHIT- Cann, DOR, all WARD Surrounding Area, MARSH WIL, all 9973 WHIT- Tollard Royal, WIL, 9801 WOOD- Cleverton, And MARSH all WARD Surrounding Area, WIL, all 9977 WOOD- Box, WIL, 18c MAN

ADDRESSES OF MEMBERS WHOSE INTERESTS IN THIS JOURNAL Mem Member Details No 1609 BULLEN, Mrs Clare, Mill Cottage, DEVIZES SN10 3JD, [email protected] 2454 SIMONS, Mrs Sheila, 31 Filleul Road, WAREHAM BH20 7AW, [email protected] 3284 BURNETT, Mrs Sandra, 5 Tarrws Close, Wenvoe CARDIFF CF5 6BT, [email protected] 8931 MATON, Mr Brian, Unit 8, 233 – 237 Bluff Road SANDRINGHAM VIC 3191 AUSTRALIA, [email protected] 9801 WOODWARD, Prof Bryan, 5 Burton Street, Rotary Club of Loughborough Beacon LOUGHBOROUGH LE11 2DT, [email protected] 9859 JENKINS, Mrs Sandra, 26 Gaveston Drive, BERKHAMSTED HP4 1JF, [email protected] 9893 BAILEY, Mr Peter, 15 Sandy Lane, Shrivenham SWINDON SN6 8DZ, [email protected] 9932 BANFIELD, Mrs Margaret, 20 Sunningdale Close, NORTHAMPTON NN2 7LR, [email protected] 9942 TILLEY, Mr Gerry, 24 Viador, Chester le Street DURHAM DH3 3TP, [email protected] 9955 DAWSON, Mrs Darelyn, 15A Cherrybrook Road, WEST PENNANT HILLS NSW 2125 AUSTRALIA, [email protected]

54 Mem Member Details No 9961 DUKE, Mrs Barbara, 15 Caernarvon Close, Castlefields RUNCORN WA7 2JZ, [email protected] 9965 HAMILTON, Mrs Jane, Poggles Wood, Gardyne Street, Friockheim ARBROATH DD11 4SN, [email protected] 9967 MOODY, Mr Geoff, 6 Boscawen Close, EASTBOURNE BN23 6HF, [email protected] 9968 EVANS, Mr Michael, 4 Dymboro Avenue, MIDSOMER NORTON BA3 2QR, [email protected] 9972 LEVERINGTON, Mrs Viv, 245 Melksham Road, Holt TROWBRIDGE BA14 6QW, [email protected] 9973 SHAW, Mr Andrew, 87 The Parklands, COCKERMOUTH CA13 0XJ, [email protected] 9974 MORTIMER, Mr Peter, 28 Heath Road, SALISBURY SP2 9JS, [email protected] 9977 ISAAC, Mr Alan, 4A/172 Oriental Parade, WELLINGTON 6011 NEW ZEALAND, [email protected] 9980 TOWNSHEND, Mr Graham, 7 Welland Drive, CHELTENHAM GL52 3HA, [email protected] 9982 McFALL, Mrs Karen, 12 Brookwood Avenue, EASTLEIGH SO50 9EP, [email protected] 9983 OBRIEN, Ms Kelly, PO Box 997, GUERNEVILLE CA 95446 USA, [email protected] 9985 WARN, Mr Philip, 36 Pinehurst Park, West Moors FERNDOWN BH22 0BW, [email protected] 9986 HIND, Mr Philip, 161 Bank Street, SOUTH MELBOURNE VIC 3205 AUSTRALIA, [email protected] 9987 MILANO, Mrs Deborah, PO Box 1690, BRACKETTVILLE TX 78832 USA, [email protected] 9988 MASLEN, Mr Andrew, 9 Bush Spring, BALDOCK SG7 6QT, [email protected] 9991 WALKER, Mr James, 340 Farnborough Road, Clifton NOTTINGHAM NG11 9AA, [email protected] 9992 SWINDELLS, Mrs Marion, Lime Grove, Clifton Reynes OLNEY MK46 5DR, [email protected]

55 Mem Member Details No 9994 JOHANSSON, Mrs Bernadette, Regnbagsvagen 43, HARRYDA 43894 SWEDEN, [email protected] 9995 SANGER, Dr Gareth, 13 Dalton Gardens, BISHOP’S STORTFORD CM23 4DX, [email protected] 9996 CASWELL, Mr Michael, 28 Erie Crescent, FAIRPORT NY 14450 USA, [email protected] 9998 FORDER, Ms Sandra, 10 Roslyn Road, BELMONT VIC 3216 AUSTRALIA, [email protected] 9999 HOLLANDS, Mr Trevor, 4 Kongoola Avenue, CAMBEWARRA VILLAGE NSW 2540 AUSTRALIA, [email protected] 10000 WISE, Mrs Heather, The Dovecot, Blackwood Estate LESMAHAGOW ML11 0JG, [email protected] 10003 DOBSON, Mr Roy, 29 Westlands Avenue, READING RG2 8EN, [email protected] 10006 RUDRAM, Mrs Carol, 21 Duffryn Close, Roath Park CARDIFF CF23 6HT, [email protected] 10007 WILES, Mrs Jancis, 23 Wilton Grove, LONDON SW19 3QU, [email protected] 10008 LAYLAND, Mrs Shelagh, 10 Kenilworth Drive, Boyatt Wood EASTLEIGH SO50 4PT, [email protected] 10009 CARTER, Mr Colin, 72 Cuckfield Road, Hurstpierpoint HASSOCKS BN6 9SB, [email protected] 10010 WOLFENDEN, Mrs Michelle, 20 Pound Croft, Grove WANTAGE OX12 0BZ, [email protected] 10011 KIFT, Mrs Elizabeth, 19 Waterloo Place, Brynmill SWANSEA SA2 0DE, [email protected] 10017 KING, Mr Malcolm, Beechwood Avenue, ST ALBANS AL1 4XU, [email protected] 10018 CLEVERLEY, Mrs Carol, 56 Parry Palm Avenue, WAIHI 3610 NEW ZEALAND, [email protected] 10021 CLARE, Mrs Deborah, 10 Mayfield Road, Holcombe Brook, Ramsbottom BURY BL0 9TB, [email protected] 10024 KENWARD, Mrs Pamela, 11 Kane Street, KINGSLEY WA 6026 AUSTRALIA, [email protected]

56 USEFUL ADDRESSES AND INFORMATION Due to Covid-19, you are strongly advised to check with venues for alterations to opening hours.

Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Cocklebury Road, Chippenham, SN15 3QN; 01249 705500; [email protected]; www.wshc.org.uk Opening hours Tues-Fri 9.30am-5.30pm, Sat 9.30am-5.00pm Wiltshire Studies Library is part of the W&SHC, address, telephone number and opening hours as above; [email protected] Local Studies at Swindon Central Library, Regent Circus, Swindon SN1 1QG; 01793 463238; [email protected]; www.swindon.gov.uk/swindoncollection Opening hours Mon-Wed 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-1.30pm Wiltshire Museum, 41 Long Street, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 1NS; 01380 727369; hello@ wiltshiremuseum.org.uk; www.wiltshiremuseum.org.uk Opening hours Museum: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12 noon-4pm. Archive & Library by appointment: Tues 11am-5pm, Wed- Fri 10am-5pm (also first Sat). Entry charges Bristol Record Office, “B” Bond Warehouse, Smeaton Road, Bristol, BS1 6XN; 0117 922 4224; [email protected]; www.bristol.gov.uk/recordoffice Opening hours Tues-Sun 10am-5pm, Berkshire Record Office, 9 Coley Avenue, Reading, Berks, RG1 6AF; 0118 937 5132;arch@ reading.gov.uk; www.berkshirerecordoffice.org.uk Opening hours (booking advised) Tues & Wed 9am-5pm, Thu 9am-9pm, Fri 9am-4.30pm Dorset History Centre, 9 Bridport Road, Dorchester, DT1 1RP; 01305 250550; [email protected]; www.dorsetforyou.com/dorsethistorycentre Opening hours Tues-Fri 9am-5pm, first and third Sat 9am-4.30pm Gloucestershire Record Office, Clarence Row, Alvin Street, Gloucester GL1 3DW; 01452 425295, [email protected]; www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/archives Opening hours Tues,- Fri 9am-5pm,, first Sat 9am-4.30pm Hampshire Archives and Local Studies, Sussex St, Winchester SO23 8TH; 01962 846154; [email protected]; www.hants.gov.uk/archives Opening hours Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, first and third Sat each month 9am-4pm Oxfordshire History Centre, St Luke’s Church, Temple Road, Cowley, Oxford OX4 2HT; 01865 398200; [email protected]; www.oxfordshire.gov.uk Opening hours Tues 10am-5pm, Wed-Sat 9am-5pm Somerset Heritage Centre, Brunel Way, Taunton, TA2 6SF; appointments 01823 337600, enquiries 01823 278805; [email protected]; www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives Opening hours Tues-Fri 9am-5pm, second Saturday 9am-1.30pm

ISSN 0260 7174 Published by Wiltshire Family History Society Printed by JAM Print, Portemarsh Industrial Estate, Calne WILTSHIRE FHS RESOURCE CENTRE UNIT 3 · BATH ROAD BUSINESS CENTRE · DEVIZES · WILTSHIRE · SN10 1XA www.wiltshirefhs.co.uk