North Warwickshire Railwaymen, Maxstoke Station By Peter Lee, (see article on page 4)

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

JOURNAL JULY 2005

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

CONTENTS PAGE NNWFHS Committee 1 NNWFHS Diary - A Report From The Chairman, Peter Lee 2 No Light Matters - By Brian Mitchell 3 Familysearch.org 5 Copyright - A Partial Explanation - By Rod Neep 5 Trials and Tribulations of a Transcriber - By Anne Paling-Lawson 5 North Warwickshire Railwaymen, Maxstoke Station - By Peter Lee 6 PDF Files - By Graham Fidler 7 Teddy Kem’s Heavenly Mystery - By Sheila Dunn 8 The Zion Independent Chapel, Nuneaton - By Peter Lee 8 Mr William J Clench and Family/ Revelations of Family Affairs - By Sheila Dunn 9 My Family Album, Edith Eliza Paling - By Anne Paling-Lawson 11 Trip to the Family Records Centre - By Linda Boden 13 Birth Marriage & Death Certificates Index - By Celia parton 14 Gender and George Eliot - By Alan F Cook 16 Notice Board 17 New Members 18 Publications 19 NNWFHS COMMITTEE

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

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

SECRETARY & ALVA KING, 26 Thirlmere Avenue, Nuneaton, Warwicks. CV11 6HS BURIALS INDEXING PROJECT Tel: (024) 7638 3499 Email: [email protected]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NORTH AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVE HARLOW G FARMER, 7101 Bay Front Dr. #124 Annapolis, MD 21403 USA. Email: [email protected] Page 2 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal NnwFHs Diary A Report From The Chairman, Peter Lee The committee was very saddened to learn recently of well. See if they tell you anything about your own the death of a long time member of our society – Alan relative. Their jobs, their employers. The products they Croshaw. Although Alan had left the town years ago he made, the houses they lived in. Buildings do leave still kept in touch with family and friends locally, and imprints through paper records, ancient walls left members will recall a fine series of articles he wrote for behind, fragments of gardens, the ancient layout of the the Newsletter about his local memories. He was also a streets. Where they travelled to work, how they travelled leading light in the first Croshaw family re-union, which to work. Where the family lived relative to each other. took place at the Chilvers Coton Heritage Centre a few Visit the pubs they drank in, the churches they were years ago. Organised by Don Croshaw from the USA, it baptised, married and buried in. If they were alive in the was a remarkable occasion and, with Alan’s help 19th century they might have featured in our local gathering in many Croshaw relatives, it was a fantastic papers. day which will be remembered with affection by all who attended for years to come. You soon find cousins marrying cousins, and in Nuneaton’s case it’s a wonder some members of our Alan and I corresponded quite often, and shared mutual local community up until the 19th century did not have interests and friends. I will always remember him for his webbed toes they were so intermarried. kindness and interest in local matters, and his overwhelming willingness to share his memories with Shortly the NNWFHS will publish the “Nuneaton Diary”, us. Our sincere condolences go to his wife Shelagh and a diary of an old Townsman John Astley from 1810- all of his family. 1845. Mr Astley - whose father, also John Astley, a grocer, was remembered at one time for wearing a blue efefefefefefe coat with brass buttons - sold pickled pork imported in barrels from his shop in the Market Place, and the Context - “Thinking Outside the Box” diarist, who was for a time “Inspector of Nuisances”, For some people the result of family history research is observed life in the town in much gory detail. The diary a well laid out family tree. Suitably strung out with is full of salacious gossip. The myther of town life will be names and dates as far back as you can go. Once its a gold mine for those whose ancestors lived in done, like a completed crossword puzzle, it is put away Nuneaton and district and are looking for context. and forgotten. That is until the children or cousins enquire and it is dusted off once more. I have also turned my attention to the lives of railwaymen. This was a big job in Nuneaton at the time For some of us we need a family history that deals with with approximately 1100 men employed on the railway our ancestors in such a way that we feel we are in 1912. My file on this subject is growing considerably emotionally involved with them on a personal level. and has been enhanced by the stories of old They come alive again for us. The history within our tree railwaymen. I have prepared an article on an old North is almost a separate live organism. Our long departed Warwickshire station for the journal and this gives a relatives hopes and aspirations are then passed on to flavour of the railway scene in a remote and often us and our children, relatives, etc. or those to whom we forgotten corner of North Warwickshire. trust our heritage and history for posterity. A continuous time line into which context of contemporary situations, family tradition, oral history, and the soap opera of their lives are all mixed together.

The family tree is the front sheet, behind that the documents and beyond that the context, and so on.

The problem is, of course, how do you think “outside the NNWFHS box” with something as elusive and fleeting as our noble HELPLINE ancestors lives, about whom we know so very little in the first place. Peter Lee (024) 7638 1090 As mentioned in the last newsletter, know your local 6.30 - 8.00pm history. That is very important. Spread out laterally. Mon to Sat Look at your remote relatives in more detail; the dates they were born, the witnesses on their wedding Or email: certificate. Who were these people, and what were they [email protected] to them. In many cases they were good friends, brothers, sisters, parents, cousins. Look at their lives as Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 3

NO LIGHT MATTERS By Brian Mitchell I was interested to read Alan Croshaw's cottage next door to their older brother, on the surface about a year, carrying contribution to the January 2004 issue Walter, with their families. Each had out various duties including cleaning of the NNWFHS Journal about married a woman from Polesworth with out the wagons. He was considered an “Colliery Explosions” since the Coal the surname Clamp: three brothers active and intelligent lad who showed Mines Act of 1911 led to a relative of married three sisters. A fourth sister left initiative and didn’t complain about his mine being summoned, not for smoking with her husband for New Zealand in employment. He must have got up onto down the nine but “using a naked light 1912. Her grandson and his wife are the ladder while the trucks were still in in the Rider Seam at Birch Coppice current members of the NNWFHS. motion to see if the dust wagon needed Colliery on March 18th 1918, contrary cleaning out just a few seconds too to a Section of the Act.” Edward, the father of the three early. The verdict was accidental death. Chetwynd men, was the brother of my Mr Allen, the Manager, stated he The owners, Messrs Morris and Shaw Great Great Grandfather, Eli. The three “personally very much regretted the had received permission from the brothers were therefore cousins of my death of the lad who ... promised to Secretary of State to use naked lights in Great Grandfather, John Chetwynd who become not only a benefit to himself, the pit except within 20 yards of a fault. also lived at Boot Lane. Walter but to his employers.” On the day in question, Mr T H Bull, Chetwynd was a founder member of HM Inspector of Mines, visited the Grendon United Methodist Free Church The report of Ernest Chetwynd’s case Rider Seam at Birch Coppice in and in May 1905, in the presence of a appeared in ‘The Atherstone News’ of company with Mr Allen, the Manager, large congregation, he was to lay the 12th April 1918. The following day, the and saw a naked light burning a few third foundation stone, on behalf of the first child of my Grandparents - my yards ahead, which was suddenly Sunday School teachers and scholars, Uncle - Walter Chetwynd Mitchell was extinguished. Mr Allen found the of the extension or ‘enlargement’ at the born. In May 1940, he was to be candle which Ernest Chetwynd of Boot rear of the building in order to cater for captured while the 2nd Battalion Royal Hill, Grendon, admitted he’d had the increasing demands made upon its Warwickshire Regiment were fighting burning. Although he didn’t find any accommodation. He did so with a a rearguard action in the retreat to gas at the site of the offence, he stated prayer that the boys and girls who Dunkirk and he died eighteen months in court that naked lights were, in his attended the school - as I did myself in later in a P.O.W. camp - but this is not opinion, dangerous and several reports the 1950s and 1960s - would grow up the place to tell his story. He was, had already been made as to ignition to be good men and women and worthy though, named after my Grandmother’s from naked lights at Birch Coppice. of that “well done” pronounced upon brother who died aged 26 from injuries Ernest Chetwynd admitted he had no them at the last. Walter Chetwynd’s sustained in an accident at Hall End right to have a candle burning at the two eldest daughters married two (Birch Coppice) Colliery on September place in question some ten yards from a brothers - the Gaytons who established 7th 1916. He was to die five days later fault. the bakeries at Baddesley and Grendon. on 12th September in Tamworth Celia Parton referred in the April Cottage Hospital - his case was said in Mr Pownall, for the Defence, claimed Journal to the fact that after her relation the initial newspaper report to be that Chetwynd had always been Joseph Sanders died, his wife sold the “hopeless from the first”. regarded as a careful workman and business in Baddesley to the Gaytons. contended that there was no case for The great shock was that the rock fall him to answer as it had not been proved Thomas, the son of Walter’s brother did not occur near the face as might be by the Prosecution that an explosion Samuel, was killed aged 14 while expected but along a place called the from inflammable gas, causing personal working on the bank at Hall End hill about 150 yards from the pit bottom injury, had taken place in the mine Colliery on 10th November 1914. The where a heavy amount of stone within the previous twelve months but main witness was William Sanders, a weighing probably 3 hundredweight when Mr Allen was recalled to the shunter on the surface whose job was to fell from the roof without warning and witness stand he stated that an ignition lower the wagons. The boy had been knocked my Great Uncle face down to had taken place at the end of August injured at 9.30 a.m. having left home at the ground. In hospital, he had told his 1917 in the south east district of the 6.30a.m. and he was removed to Dr father that the lump which fell covered same seam, causing personal injury to Power’ s surgery at Atherstone whence him up to his shoulders. The man he one of the workmen. The Chairman he was taken home and died about 3.00 was walking with had travelled for up later said that the Bench had decided to p.m. from shock following his injuries. to two years without ever knowing of a convict but they were prepared to take He had told the doctor that a nut on a similar fall. The place was timbered. into consideration the defendant’s truck caught his jacket and dragged him The deputy had examined the roof and length of service and good character. between an upright post and the wagon. sides and considered them safe and The offence of using naked lights in a “There was a lacerated wound over the sound but afterwards, on seeing the prohibited area was the most serious right angle of the mouth as far as the cavity from which the stone fell, he that could be committed in a coalmine, malar bone, right through the cheek ... thought it came from a join, which and the defendant would be fined There was no fracture of the skull but could not be detected prior to the £2.10s including costs. there was a contusion on the right chin. accident. Walter Chetwynd died from The lad complained of great internal shock and internal injuries - crushed In the 1901 census Ernest Chetwynd pain...” He was suffering from a ribs and thighs and a broken pelvis. He was living with his brother Samuel in a fractured pelvis. He had been working (Continued on page 4) Page 4 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

(Continued from page 3) report of a ‘Motor Fatality at Grendon’ war.” The jury recommended that the had only married in April of the in the local news of March 1st and the Automobile Association should be previous year. following week the inquest. Retired asked to erect danger signs along the Grendon schoolmaster and Chair of Watling Street - one near the end of Of course, this happened in the middle Grendon Parish Council, Thomas Spon Lane, the other near the Black of the Great War, which the populace Sanders, a highly respected resident, Swan. had thought would be ‘over by aged 77 was knocked down on the Christmas’ 1914. Sir Edward Grey, dangerous Boot Lane corner by a motor On March 1st 1918, on the same page as Britain’s longest serving Foreign car driven by Mr Bourne motoring to th the report of the ‘Motor Fatality At Secretary of the 20 Century is, Baddesley in connection with his duties Grendon’ was a note that Charles however, best remembered for his as the officer in charge of the V.T.C. words at the outbreak of the Great War: platoon there. At the inquest the William Smith, a farm hand of “The lights are going out all over Coroner addressed a few words of Mancetter, was summoned for failing Europe. We shall not see them lit again sympathy to his widow: “The world” to reduce the intensity of the inside in our lifetime” My grandfather had lighting of his house at 8.55 p.m. on he said “was made up of cloud and th enlisted in May 1915 and by November sunshine, and he was afraid there was February 10 . PC Gordon said the had been sent to front line duty on more cloud than sunshine at the present light from the defendant’s back kitchen active service in France. However, his moment. The deceased had arrived at a reflected onto some glass. He was fined Regiment, the 2nd Battalion Royal good old age and it was to be much 5s. Warwickshires were not to see any regretted that he should come to an end major conflict until the first day of the st like this.” Thomas Sanders died in his It is worth ending this miscellany with Somme on, July 1 1916. It was in one own home in Boot Lane about two part of a letter written to the Editor of of three battles, the most likely being rd hours after the accident from cerebral ‘The Atherstone News’ and printed in on 3 September, that he sustained a haemorrhage and shock due to his the issue of May 14th 1915: Sir, Having shrapnel wound to his right arm, which injury, although there appeared to be no been engaged in a terrible European almost resulted in it being amputated. broken bones. Ironically, and saddest of War for over nine months, everyone Medical opinion is that such a wound nd all, in the edition of February 22 realises to the fullest extent that we are would take at least 6 months to heal 1918, a short letter from Thomas enough before the army would th living in extraordinary times, and that Sanders dated February 15 was sent we must now and again be subjected to discharge him, which it did in April to the Editor of ‘The Atherstone extraordinary measures by the powers 1917. News’ - about 10 days before he died. that be - which in peace times would It warned pedestrians of a potential For my grandmother this must have accident in waiting - that presented by a be considered hardships - but one was been the darkest of times. She lost her dislodged flagstone at the New Bridge scarcely prepared for any further brother to a freak accident around the near Atherstone. curtailment of the already very limited same time that my grandfather was hours of public lighting in our little very seriously wounded. She was not Following the evidence, the Coroner community. The Parish Council cannot married to him then, although they said that he thought the jury could not be said to have enhanced their were clearly betrothed as I have a help but come to the conclusion that the reputation by what many people photograph of them both, my driver was blameless. The police had consider a most unreasonable decision. grandfather still with two good arms, stated that he was a most careful driver, On Tuesday night the town was in total wearing his army uniform, sitting with proved by the fact that he had driven a darkness, and when the shops had the Mitchell family before his departure closed, Long Street was absolutely for France, taken sometime in the car since January 1904 without an accident. He did sound a ‘powerful dangerous for pedestrians. If this state summer of 1915. I also have a of things is allowed to continue, some photograph of him posing with other horn’ before turning into Boot Lane serious accident is almost bound to soldiers at an unknown Military where it was necessary to slacken to a occur in the main thoroughfare, with its Hospital, his arm in a sling, sometime very slow pace owing to the nature of towards the end of 1916 or early 1917. the corner. They had heard that the many side streets. The whole thing deceased although active, was deaf and seems so absurd, because there is little In the same edition of “The Atherstone only wore spectacles when reading. Mr fear of Zeppelin raids - at all events not News” as the report of the case of the Bourne saw nothing of the deceased at present - in a town so far removed naked light at Birch Coppice, in the until he was crossing immediately in from the East Coast. All that the town column under ‘Atherstone Petty front of the bonnet but he did all he requires is a little light for about a Sessions’ is another case concerning possibly could to render assistance couple of hours; or, at all events, we Godfrey Kneller, manager of thereafter. The accident was “to some might be permitted to have two or three Atherstone Motor Garage who was extent due to the restricted lighting lamps kept burning in the principal summoned “for driving a motor car in regulations, because the probability was thoroughfares so that people may find Long Street with unshaded electric side their way about. Yours faithfully, rd that if Mr Bourne had been permitted to lights” on March 23 1918. Inspector have had the usual bright headlights, MORE LIGHT. The Editor concludes Spencer proved the case and stated that instead of only two subdued lights on with a coda in parentheses to the effect the lights were very powerful. The each side, he would have been able to that “on Monday evening it was defendant said he did not know he was resolved that for the present the public transgressing the regulations but was see the whole of the road for some distance on turning the corner. It might lamps shall only be lighted on Saturday fined 10s including costs. nights.” be said that the deceased was another of Only the previous month there was a the unfortunate victims of this terrible Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 5 Familysearch.org Copyright - A Partial Explanation By Rod Neep (Archive CD Books)

Since the LDS launched the on-line A member spotted this article on the ficiaries or descendants. facility for the IGI and 1881 census Staffordshire List and, as the subject of There is an argument that the solicitor most of my CDs purchased from them copyright of documents seems to get who wrote the will holds the copyright, have remained unused. The 3-counties raised in relation to so many bits and because the wording is his work. (And selection from 1851 is not on-line so is pieces, thought this explanation may very often, most of it is standard word- regularly in the CD-drive as I seek be useful - Editor. ing). But that has never been tested in law. various missing persons through PARISH REGISTERS Warwickshire, Devon and Norfolk. To Are what is known as "perpetual copy- But then there is the owner of the docu- help a friend in Scotland, the Scottish right". (Always in copyright). They are ments. Very often that is the county section of the 1881 also gets used after perpetual copyright because the "work" record office. And because they are the she discovered that is not on the LDS is ongoing and never finished. The owners of the collection of wills (note 1881 on-line site (presumably because copyright holder is the present incum- the emphasis on "collection" - it will be bent of the church. (The repeated again lower down), they re- Scottish census material is on a pay-to- vicar). He inherits the work of his serve the right to publish them. view site). predecessors. Therefore, when you obtain a copy of a A recent lurch across another county To reproduce ‘images’ of the pages re- will from the county record office, it boundary, pre-census, had me checking quires the permission of the copyright will contain a copyright statement (but various on-line sources in search of a holder. It is very hard indeed to obtain it is a copyright of that ‘one’ ‘print’ that clutch of siblings. I tried a number of permission, and mostly impossible. ‘they made’; and very often, many (And the reasons for that are a whole county record offices will make you sites, including the free search capacity different topic, and a can of worms). sign a statement that they are for per- on some pay-to-view ones. Then a sonal use only, and that you must not friend, in response to my frustration, Anyone can transcribe the information make copies of them or publish them. said, “they are on the BVRIv2”. from a parish register and publish it as WHY? Because if you published just their own work, and then they hold the one or two of them, then they could not, The British Vital Records Index (2nd copyright to their work, and in the for- at a later date, claim copyright on the edition) contains “approximately 10.4 mat in which it is presented. collection of the wills if they published them. It is unlikely that they will get million birth and christening records WILLS round to publishing their collection of and 1.9 million marriage records from This is a real sticky one! And very, wills, but ‘they want to hold the cards’ England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.” very interesting. One thing to get out of just in case! It was launched around the mid 1990s the way first. The person whose will it and for some months mine had lurked is does not necessarily (and rarely does) Again, we are talking about ‘page im- on the shelf. I, and I now find others, own the copyright. Neither do his bene- ages’ here, and not transcriptions, believed this set of records had been included into the on-line site at www. Trials and Tribulations of a Transcriber familysearch.org ! Not so. By Anne Paling-Lawson BVRv2 has over 100,000 Last year I took my courage in both sent crawling down Bull Street past the Warwickshire records, over 300,000 hands and agreed to do some transcrib- "Bull Inn". I have found several of my for Cheshire, nearly 560,000 for ing of 1841 census for the Free Cens relatives including my gt gt grandfa- Staffordshire but sadly few for project which aims to put the whole of ther John TOWNSEND and his family Leicestershire (under 700). Ireland, the Warwickshire Census on line. The and also his brother William. website can be found at http://www. Scotland and Wales are well hunimex.com/warwick/ I have had some disasters; progress represented. was held up for a week when I spilled I was given the St Thomas District of water all over my keyboard but I have If you already own BVRIv2 – get it off Birmingham to do and found it fasci- now got a new Chinese made keyboard the shelf and check for those missing nating. Some of the streets are still for £4.00 which seems to be working persons. If not, then it is worth there today so I could chart my slow well for the time being. My eyesight checking if the LDS still sells it. progress on a modern map. I also had a is holding out despite the somewhat tiny glimpse of the many trades then idiosyncratic nature of the writing of Remember, these are transcribed carried out most of which have now the Enumerator from 1861. entries and, as with the IGI, there are gone. Would anyone today know what errors. That said these are valuable an "Apprentice Fringe Cutter" or a One surprising fact that I uncovered is finding aids, which can lead you to the "Tray Paster" was? There were one or that most of the children of Attlebor- right parish in the right county to start two of these living on Great Bow Street ough were very precocious academi- your search in the church registers. in Birmingham in 1841. cally. Almost all of them were "Scholars" from as early as 2 years Having become addicted to transcribing old!! I am beginning to suspect that Don’t be caught napping, too! I recently agreed to have a go at 1861 this may be another of the Enumera- Census for Attleborough. I am at pre- tors idiosyncrasies? Page 6 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

North Warwickshire Railwaymen - Maxstoke Station By Peter Lee There are plans to build a new railway up until 1917 when it ceased running the paperwork for coal wagons being station at Coleshill. This is a very good passenger trains; only one train delivered to nearby Rollason’s the local idea because as regular North wandered out per day along its entire coal merchant’s siding, or another Warwickshire rail commuters to length of 6½ miles. In 1877 the solitary siding serving the Packington estate. Birmingham will know the town of train left Whitacre Junction at 8.30am On one occasion he had the trouble to Coleshill has grown to such an extent stopped briefly at Coleshill fifteen take a mis-directed parcel to Forge passenger train facilities are now very minutes later before setting out again Mills station (the second Coleshill sorely needed. for the junction station at Hampton in station) on the main line. Arden which it reached in another Not many people will know that this fifteen minutes. The return journey It must have seemed a promotion for will be the third railway station called commenced at 10.15am and the whole Mr. Leary when he was raised from his Coleshill and the first one, after it show was over by 10.45am. Which previous position as porter at Water closed to passengers, changed its name meant if you had alighted at Coleshill Orton, but from then on the railway to Maxstoke to bring it more in keeping you had less than one hour to walk into authorities passed him by. As long as with the community it used to serve, town which was about two miles they paid his modest wages and later although by then it was too late, it was distant, and return in good time to catch his pension on time every week I closed! It was a gloriously impecunious your return train. If you missed it suppose it did not matter. He tended his set up!. would have meant a night in a hotel or garden, weeded and swept the platform. inn, or with relatives and friends in Read, and probably re-read the bumf This station remote from the town it order to catch the next train the the railway company regularly sent purported to serve, in all its ninety following day. him, as well as cadging a bit of coal years of active life saw very few from the tender of a passing loco. passengers, and some days needed not The relatively lengthy time it took to Wandering into the village for his to have bothered opening its tiny carry out its round trip was because it provisions. It seems an idyllic life, booking office at all. was, in the best light railway tradition, although few people today would put a mixed train. With coal trucks or a up with the boredom of it all. There was a delightful whimsy about goods van next to the engine, so that our old English country railways. Grass any passengers who had ventured The question is, of course, Why? Why grown tracks, old steam engines with abroad would have to bide their time as build the Hampton-Whitacre branch long funnels, dolled up in the most wagons were placed in sidings, or line in the first place? and why call gorgeous liveries with polished brass retrieved en-route. Coleshill station Maxstoke six years fittings. Manned by bewhiskered train after it closed so that Mr Leary never crews. These ancient, panting, gaudy, By 1916 the routine had changed issued a ticket in the new name of the beauties pulling a couple of jolting slightly in that the train left Whitacre at station, when in fact, it had always been wooden carriages. Brushing aside the 8.10am but was back by 8.55am, giving nearer to Maxstoke than Coleshill, and willow herb and long grass they the travelling public only 20minutes in yet Forge Mills on the Whitacre wandered along rusty creaking tracks Coleshill. By that time the Midland Junction to Birmingham line was the connecting one pretty country town or Railway had put on an additional goods best station for travellers to Coleshill, village to another. train which was sent out “on demand” and the name Forge Mills was changed to deliver the coal and fertilizer, or to Coleshill in 1923? But nothing can quite prepare the remove the empties. reader for the first Coleshill station The answer lies in the construction of (later to become Maxstoke). Even by The realities of the Great War made the one of the first railway lines in Victorian railway standards was one of authorities realise it was futile keeping England. The Birmingham and Derby the most under-used and pointless the passenger service going so the little Junction railway which opened to railway establishments you can train consisting of one coach and passengers in 1839. This was the line imagine. Where one North engine which had set out every that passed through Coleshill station, Warwickshire Railwayman – William morning for forty years was and joined the then new London to Leary – spent nearly the whole of his superfluous to requirements. The Birmingham railway at the station in working life in tranquil isolation. He station master, William Leary, was then Hampton. However, the Midland raised his family and spent his content to simply attend to the needs of Counties Railway, the company that retirement there. One of the cushiests the daily goods train (if it ran) and that built the linem was actively seeking a jobs on the railway. He certainly was was that until he retired in 1936. His more direct and independent route into not troubled by many passengers, family continued to occupy the station Birmingham. This they soon opened in parcels or goods consignments, or house until November 1961 when his 1842. This came about because of the many trains for that matter. daughter Dorothy was re-housed. His desire not to have to pay trackage tolls widow was presented with five free over the L&B for entry over their rails The new Coleshill station will be built bags of coal on her 100th birthday and into Birmingham. So from that date on the busy Birmingham to Derby and lived to be 10. She died in 1960. forward he little stretch of track from Leicester railway lines, but the first For Mr. Leary, his day was not entirely, Hampton to Whitacre was reduced to a Coleshill, later to be re-named without incident. He may have been branch line, and became a sort of Maxstoke, station stood on a branch contacted occasionally by the main line withered arm. Over the years its line which went from nowhere to people to accept a diversionary train or passenger service was reduced as the nowhere and seemed to go in the very a light engine, and that meant he had to trade never recovered from its opposite direction to which the traveller open the level crossing gates twice in demotion to branch line status. From ever needed to venture. Not only this one day! He was also responsible for (Continued on page 7) Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 7

(Continued from page 6) the Coleshill passenger train. Another for a few more years until 1930 when 1877 and for forty years one passenger important event was the grouping of the the great depression took its toll. train was all that was provided. Annual former competing railway companies Further more drastic cuts meant that the passenger numbers dropped from 670 of the Midland Railway and the fairly regular goods service ceased and in 1872 to 209 in 1912 when passenger London & North Western Railways trains ran “on demand”. In effect all receipts produced just £5 for the whole into one company the London Midland maintenance stopped and the track year. In fact with parcels also taken into & Scottish Railway in 1923. As in all disappeared under the boscage of the account the station earned just £15 in such mergers the new management Warwickshire countryside. The 1912, and the upkeep of the station decided to seek economies and the redundant track was lifted in 1951. including Mr. Leary’s wages was over accountants soon spotted the problem £60. Coal traffic made up for it a bit of Coleshill. As a result what had Sources: The Stonebridge Railway, A with 1018 tons received which would formerly been Forge Mills Station but portrait of a Midland Branch Line by have produced a revenue of had, in effect, been the most important Roger Waring. approximately £600. Bearing in mind station for Coleshill town, was Brewin Books ISBN 1 85858 045 5, that only a tiny proportion of that appropriately re-named Coleshill. Mr. 1994 income would go to defray Mr. Leary’s Leary’s station was re-named British Railway Journal, Nr. 5, Roger expenses at Coleshill. The Midland Maxstoke, which was in a way Carpenter’s account of the Hampton- Railway was a big company and could appropriate as Maxstoke was the Whitacre Junction Line afford to offset Coleshill’s station costs nearest village, although by this time Railway Magazine, March and June in those days. the station offered no passenger 1950. Articles on the Hampton branch facilities. The goods traffic tottered on by Eric Tonks. As mentioned the Great War killed off PDF Files By Graham Fidler A member uses a program to convert when converting a Word document in to just 24Kb—96% reduction. family trees prepared by programs such several instances it was the same or as Generations into Acrobat PDF larger in size in bytes. So further investigation was needed. I format, so that the tree cannot be I don’t use Publisher (no need as I use repeated all the steps described in the ‘altered’ by the recipient, as often WordPerfect!) but I have produced lots second to last paragraph and this time happens. One such is a program called of PDF files, mainly for the Members’ pasted the copied information into Win2pdf from www.daneprairie.com, Information CD. So I went back to the WordPad, the under-rated and free which is a shareware site, and the source documents and found the word processor that comes with program costs $35 to register, payable following: Windows XP. The file loaded very online. Fiche List.doc (Word format) 81Kb quickly, and amazingly was only 95Kb Fiche List.pdf (Acrobat format) 45Kb in size when saved as RTF (rich text The member finds that it works a treat, (45% smaller) format) file, and when I produced the doesn’t miss edges off documents, etc., Members interests.xls (Excel format PDF file it was only 13Kb in size. and where my software churns out a 2539Kb tree over umpteen pages of A4 it seems Members interests.pdf (Acrobat format Finally, I pasted this information into to reproduce it OK for those receiving 878Kb (65% smaller) WordPerfect and the file size of the it. However, Win2pdf only works WordPerfect document was 236Kb, under Windows XP, and until you However, this one amazed me: massive when compared with the purchase the registered version, adds Cheshire Ancestor.wpd (WordPerfect WordPad file, but well under half the one sheet of paper to every PDF file format) 5492Kb size of the Word document. The PDF created. Cheshire Ancestor.pdf (Acrobat file created from the WordPerfect format) 560Kb (90% less) document was 14Kb in size. If you are still running Windows prior to XP, then you should try PrimoPDF, So, I did a little experiment. I took the So three programs produced PDF files which supports Windows 98 onwards. Members Interests for December 2004, of about the same size: Excel, WordPad It is available from www.primopdf. which are stored in an Excel file, 57Kb and WordPerfect (13-15Kb), whilst com This is freeware, and like in size. I then turned this file into a Word produced a PDF file 70% larger. Win2pdf installs itself as a ‘printer’. PDF file, using Adobe Acrobat, and it So we have proved part of what our So, when you want to prepare a PDF came down to a 15Kb PDF file. reader reported: Word produced very file from Word or Excel, click on large files, which may well have ‘print’, and then choose PrimoPDF as So I then copied all the information implication when loading web pages, as the printer. You will then be asked to from the Excel spreadsheet using PDF format is common in web pages. name the PDF file, and the PDF file Ctrl+A to mark everything, then Crtl+C What do you think? will be saved. You can then use the to copy it, and finally Ctrl+V to paste it free Acrobat Reader (which most into a new Word document, and was Jargon Buster PDF Files people now have on their computer) to staggered to find that the size of this PDF - Adobe’s Portable Document Format read the PDF file, and then e-mail this new Word document had gone up in is a publicly available specification used by file to your contacts. size by a factor of almost twelve times, bodies around the world for secure, reliable electronic document distribution and While we are on the subject of PDF to a massive 655Kb. exchange. It has become the ‘standard’ for files, a member wonders why PDF files page description, allowing people with vary so widely in size. When using a Surely some mistake I thought, but different computer systems to see the same PDF conversion program, it is said to proceeded to make a PDF file from this document as you prepared. You can work brilliantly on something like a mega-file, to be surprise to find that the produce PDF files from most programs, and Publisher document where it reduces 655Kb Word document had become send them to a third party, who only needs the byte size enormously. However, ‘Slimmer of the Year’ and come down the free Acrobat Reader to see what you have done. Page 8 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

Teddy Kem’s Heavenly Mystery By Sheila Dunn Alan Cook's informative and very interesting talk about Teddy Kem on Tuesday 17th May, solved the puzzling reference to him on this post card written in 1918.

It was sent as birthday greetings to Gertie Brunt from her sister Gladys who was staying with relatives in Coton Road. Gladys writes: “We have just been to ‘Teddy Kems’ Heaven”. It was obviously a very enjoyable visit.

Thank you Alan for solving the mystery.

The Zion Independent Chapel, Nuneaton By Peter Lee The Zion Independent Chapel stood in off classes of Nuneaton jumped ship down. It was re-used at one time as a Bond End, Nuneaton and opened its and trudged up the "Ford". It caused printing works, both as the "Observer" doors on 13th August 1817. Joseph quite a stir at the time, and George press and later by the Newdigate Press. Griffiths became its minister in 1820 Eliot's first published stories: the series This would have been in the 1920-40 and held that post for 5 years. He came of religious novellas gathered together period. It was demolished c. 1960. from Bilston to take up his new post as "Scenes of Clerical Life" - "Janet's and was the first permanent minister*. Repentance" published in 1857 give a During this period it was said to be sound insight into this part of haunted, and the son of the proprietor, The Zion Independent chapel was Nuneaton's religious history. in those days told me of experiences he founded at a time when the regular had when he was there at night. If they Anglican church was the stipend of a The Zion Independent church came into had an urgent job come in which plurialist vicar, the Rev. Richard Bruce being just seven years before the needed to be run on the machines late Stopford, who had a number of "Chapel of Ease" and must have filled a into the night, or a deadline had to be churches in his jurisdiction and services great need at that time as there was met so that a printing order had to be were taken every Sunday by the Rev. only one other Independent packed and ready for the morning a Hugh Hughes who eventually officiated Congregational chapel in the town and number of eerie things happened to for 52 years before his death in the this was then 100 years old. I do not him. There was a wooden staircase early 1830's. His sermons were so long think the Baptists or the Methodists had from the outside front door up to the winded, inaudible and boring that the made an entrance in town before 1830. old chapel floor. The chapel itself was "Double Plough" pub over the road then being used as their work room. from St. Nicholas Parish Church did The builder of the new Zion Chapel These steps were behind a door, despite good business as the menfolk slipped was George Stowe, a silk manufacturer, this a loud footfall could be heard on out to slake their thirsts as he whaffled who employed quite a few people in a them. But when the door was opened on for an hour or more. parish that was then two thirds engaged there was no-one there except a very in some form or other in the silk ribbon icy feeling of a presence on the stairs. The need for spiritual enlightenment trade. Perhaps he felt his fellow As you can imagine this un-nerved a was such that when a "Chapel of Ease" townspeople needed a bit of spiritual youthful employee on his own on a was built on Stockingford common, a enlightenment to keep them out of the dark night. stiff half hour's walk from Nuneaton beer shops and ale houses! town centre in 1824, and the newly * Information taken from engaged perpetual curate Rev. John Eventually the Zion chapel merged "Independency in Warwickshire" by Edmund Jones started his fiery sermons with the Congregational chapel around John Sibree and M Caston pub 1855 there, the great unwashed and the better about 1900 and the old Zion closed Chapter VI Page 212 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 9 Mr William J Clench & Family By Sheila Dunn I received the following note from my sister-in-law along with ‘Revelations of Family Affairs’ by Mr James Clench.

Dear Sheila I am sending you this ‘potted life history’ that my father found in his mother’s effects when she died in the 60s. Dads surname was Clench-White (Clench being the maiden name of his mother) so this must be the history of his mother’s family. Love Dinah

This fascinating ‘potted history’ inspired me to trace the history of the Clench family which wasn’t difficult given it was all written down. I searched for the family using the IGI, my 1851 census index (Devon, Norfolk & Warwickshire) and my 1881 British The Clench family on the census of 1881 Census & National Index. Finally, I tracked down the marriage of Dinah’s grandparents, William Edwin White and Gertrude Victoria Clench, searching the Parish Records of Rugby, held at Warwick Record Office.

I hope that members will find this fascinating reading, especially any members who have ‘interests’ in the Rugby area, as all the Clench girls were married at the Parish Church of St Andrew, Rugby.

There was one son in this family, William James but as yet I have not found a marriage for him.

The Clench family on the census of 1851 Revelations Of Family Affairs By Mr William J Clench I was born in the year 1810 on the 20th. time the foot soldier wore leather He was then made a pensioner at the May, and I believe christened at breeches and gaiters and the trade was Greenwich Hospital for aged seamen Bermondsey Church. My grandfathers brisk until the Government and died there and was buried in the were a Mr Powell, Proprietor of the discontinued it, then the trade became Hospital Burial Ground in the year Burton Coffee House, London City, very bad. My father and his brother 1847, aged 72. and the other Captain Beachcroft in the John left home and tramped in search East India Company of that time. He of work. They got work in My mother died about the same year, was Captain and part owner of the Rickmansworth for a time. He then got aged 73. She came from Oakengates, vessel. work in Bermondsey, this was in 1802. Shropshire and her maiden name was Elizabeth Sawyer. I had one brother My father was born 10th April 1775 in He was taken by the Press Gang and Henry and one sister Elizabeth. They Hampshire. His father was a felmonger sent off to sea, and he was in the Battle are both dead. My sister married a man and leather dresser in Ringwood, of Trafalgar; after that the ship came named Harcombe, they had a family. Hampshire, where he carried on the home and the men paid off. My father Two of her sons were in the South business of felmonger oil leather then followed his employment as Eastern Railway Service. dresser and breeches maker. At that leather dresser until he was past work. (Continued on page 10) Page 10 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

Three of my sons must recollect their others was sent to Rugby and we as to Rugby owing to a reduction being grandfather as he came to see me in his guards worked between Rugby and made in the number of clerks at uniform dress when I was at Bletchley Denbigh Hall from the 1st May until Birmingham Tom got in the loco in 1846, and stayed with us a week. 26th September, when the line was Department as cleaner and worked James wanted to be his companion and opened Through from London to himself up to be engine driver. Also go about with him to Fenny Stratford Birmingham. During that time we Charley for a fitter. . William was in and there were a good many Clenchs were living at Shenley, 2 miles from the cloak room as clerk and was in Hampshire. One of my uncles was Denbigh HallThis Denbigh Hall was removed to Euston after a time, where house carpenter in the Seymour family two miles from Fenny Stratford on the he is now. John, he got on very well. and his father before. The last time my old Holyhead Road; an out of the way He was a clerk at Blisworth and then father saw them was when he returned place there was as is now only three removed to Euston Station as booking from sea; that was before he was cottages. It took the name of Denbigh clerk; after a time was made Station married. I have been to Ringwood Hall owing to Lord Denbigh’s carriage Master at Leamington and then myself in 1866 and was shown the tan breaking down on the road, and the Coventry. Robert was in the Loco. yard and premises that once belonged cottagers gave them shelter until the Department and is now an engine to my grandfather, but I could not find carriage was repaired. driver, so I got them on very nicely. I any of the family then living. I met a had altogether six sons in the Service man named Cave who told me all We travelled 80 miles a day by coach when I left the service in 1879. about the family; some in Blandford from Denbigh Hall to Rugby and back, and Fordinbridge - they were on the and when the line opened through the I was 25 years at Rugby as booking female side. He told me the names but coaches were taken off the road and clerk, altogether I was 42 years in the I can only recollect the one name of we all returned to London, and all Gt W Service. The cause of my Dowding, button manufacturer. those who conducted themselves and leaving was the Directors resolved to was steady was to be promoted to discharge all over 60 years of age. I I, William James Clench was born on collectors and station masters, being then 68 years of age was one of the 20th May 1810. I was sent to according to their ability and the first batch to leave. Unfortunately school when seven years, and that is to scholarship. At that time very few there was no pension for old servants boarding school kept by a Mr working men could read and write as as there is now - they gave me a good Boardman. I remained there three schooling was not compulsory as it is testimonial and a sum of £50 as years and at the age of ten was, owing now. We were ordered to send in to gratuity for long service. I was very to family affairs, obliged to go out to the Director a specimen of our hand sorry to leave as I was not past work. I work. My first place was a page boy to writing, and I was selected for the was strong and healthy. a Mr Leatherhead Smith, Tanner at collection office at Wolverton, and Bermondsey, next to a cheesemonger entered my new appointment 1st I then got a job in a Coventry watch in Tooley Street, and as I grew up I January 1839, and in 1840 I heard firm as traveller, and was with them was promoted by chagen’d Master to there was an opening for Station three years, but I was at last obliged to the position of shopman. I was Master at Bletchley Station. I applied give up as my sight failed me, and I altogether 17 years in the for it and was granted by Mr A. Baxter became nervous as I had always cheesemongering business. When I at Euston Station. I was there 6 years. I upwards of a thousand pounds of was 20 years of age I made up my was then removed to Tring where I jewellery and watches in my care, for mind to get an outdoors situation. I remained three years. I had then a wife fear anything might happen on my was out of work many weeks but I and seven children, and no school journeys; I thought best to give it up. succeeded in getting employment in a within two miles and no sort of French Egg Merchant’s employ in the employment for two boys; they were I then made another attempt to work borough Market. I was there some able to work so I heard of a foreman of and my son John got me a job in the years and when I was 21 I got married. collectors wanted. I apply for the berth asbestos works at Harefield. I worked I was receiving 23s.0d. per week. and got it. I was then landed. I got the there 20 months - my health gave way boys in the grammar school and two and I went on the club and when I I left in 1835 and started business for into work in the town where they came to half pay I had to ask for myself in the egg trade but I did not remained for a time. assistance of my sons and three of succeed, and owing to giving too much them, James, Tom and William credit and heavy losses, I was I then got them one by one in the allowed me ls.0d per weekI was very compelled to give up, and was jobbing Company’s service. James commenced sorry to be a drag on them so one day I about for some months. I heard of the in the lamp department at thought I would make application for London and Birmingham Company Birmingham, and he very soon got one of the alms houses in Rugby. I applied July 1886, but did not succeed wanting men. I made application position as collector at Tipton. I then that year. In 1887 applied again and through R C Glyn and Rothchild, and got William in the service as booking was elected by the Trustees of the was appointed in November 1837 as clerk at the Albion Station. Next was Charity solely on my good testimonial porter at Euston Station. The line was Thomas; I articled him to an Engineer I received from the Gt W Corporation, opened to Tring and on the 1st. May in Borad Street but the firm broke up so I am now in a comfortable home 1838 the line was opened at East End, and he got work in a bedstead viz from Euston to Denbigh Hall, and manufacturers, also Charley with him, I trust God will give me health to from Birmingham to Rugby, and the making iron bedsteads. enjoy it a few years. I have given up 40 miles between those stations was all worldly affairs. worked by stage coach. I, with 14 In 1854 I was ordered to be removed Signed. W. J. CLENCH Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 11 My Family Album Edith Eliza Paling - By Anne Paling-Lawson

Edith Eliza Paling was my great-aunt, the 4th child of By 1874 the family had moved to Market Bosworth, as Thomas and Mary PALING. And I have more photographs Thomas PALING had become Station Master there. It was of her than of any of my family and I have a LOT of family here in 1878 that my grandfather, Thomas Percy (Perce) photographs!! Now why should this be? PALING, was born. When I found the PALING family on 1881 census they had moved again to Nuneaton where Edith was born in June 1871 in Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire. Thomas was Station Master at Abbey Road Station. By this Her father, Thomas, after a spell in the Indian Army, had time 5 more children had been born, Marguerite, Maggie, come back to England and was employed on the Midland Perce, Wilf and Ethel. Marguerite had died as a baby … Railway. Starting as a guard, by the time of Edith’s birth he BUT there was no mention of Edith who, as a 9 year old, was a Station Master, probably at Farnsfield itself. Edith was too young to be “in service” which could be one of the had two older sisters, Lizzie and Agnes, who were nearly 4 reasons for the absence of a young girl from her family at and 2 years when she was born. Their eldest brother, this time. I knew she hadn’t died because of all the grown- William Pidcock PALING, had died when he was three, up photographs of her that I had but for a number of years before Edith was born. On 24 July 1871 Edith was taken had no idea where she was. Eventually, when the excellent back to the beautiful Derbyshire village of Great Longstone “Family Search” site put the 1881 British Census on line to be christened. When I first found this record on the with an index, I was able to look for Edith and the mystery “Family Search” web-site I assumed that the family lived was solved. She was staying with her father’s sister and there but subsequent research has proved that that was not husband, Eliza & Guy FOWKES, who kept the “Smithfield so. The eldest four PALING children were all taken back to Hotel” in Coventry. Longstone to be christened. Edith’s mother, Mary PIDCOCK, had been brought up in Longstone and met On 1891 Census the family are still living at Midland Road, Thomas PALING when the first trains reached Longstone in Nuneaton, the last child Alice Isobel being born in 1884. 1864. He was a guard at the time of their marriage probably Edith, then aged 19, seems to be helping her mother at home on this line from Derby to Buxton. He is said to have met as no occupation is noted. Her two older sisters, Lizzie and Mary at Longstone Station where she had been sent to Agnes have left home. Lizzie had married Robert FOSTER, collect goods from the guard. I imagine that there were the previous year and would return to Nuneaton from quite a lot of “goods” to be collected from the train after this Nottingham to run the Midland Railway Tavern on first meeting. Whittleford Road at Stockingford. Agnes married John MORRISON in 1894.

Edith married George William SHUTT (known as Will) in West Bromwich in 1894 and their only child Marguerita was born in 1897 in Stockingford. There may have been other babies but I have found no record to date.

The reason for the family portrait on the left may have been that in 1899 Will was recruited in U.K. as a Winding Engine Driver for the construction of the Mombasa to Nairobi Railway in Kenya. Maybe Will wanted a reminder of his family whilst working so far away in Africa. He arrived in Mombasa on 6 November 1899. I do not know whether Edith and Rita went with him but as it was originally a short- term contract, I think they probably stayed in England. Will had many adventures whilst the railway was being laid including several lucky escapes from predatory animals. This is possibly when the family story that he became a hunter originated as he was forced to shoot some big cats in self defence, The engineers employed considerable ingenuity in hauling the heavy construction engines over hostile terrain; I have been sent an extract which shows an engine being hauled down a cliff in a manoeuvre not unlike the funicular railway at Babbacombe Chine.

On 1901 Census Edith and Rita are staying with her parents at 82 Stanley Road, Nuneaton. Her father, Thomas, had retired as Station Master the previous year. I am not sure when Edith and Rita joined Will in Kenya. Will was given Edith & Will with Rita in a formal portrait taken around 1899 by Claire Speight of Nuneaton. (Continued on page 12) Page 12 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

back to her brother Perce in Nuneaton. So far as I know Will & Edith never returned to England; World War I must have prevented travel for several years and they had, by then, made a life for themselves in Kenya. After the completion of the railway family legend told that Will became a hunter but records indicate that he probably remained with the railway after its completion. Bob Barnes, who is compiling records of migrants to Kenya, sent me several hair-raising stories of the early days of these settlers. I also, have photos of groups taken on early safaris probably in 1920s. Copies of all these photos were A portrait of the six PALING sisters, which was probably taken before Edith sent home to family in Nuneaton and left for Kenya. cherished.

three months notice from the railway My grandparents’ house on Lutterworth on 20 September 1901 but he remained Road in Nuneaton was called “Nairobi” in Kenya presumably taking up another after the Kenyan home of my railway contract. Edith and Rita may grandfather’s sister. My grandmother not have joined him permanently until told me stories about the Shutts when I 1914. In February of that year my was a child growing up in the 1940s grandparents received a card posted in and 1950s. The photos were passed on Southampton showing Union Castle to me and I too cherish them as a East African Steamer “Llanstephan fascinating record. Castle” of 11,500 tons. On the back Edith has written “…. Just a line to say Bob Barnes has told me that Edith died we both are well. Very cold - we are on 25 April 1931, aged 59, and was near Southampton. What do you think buried in Forest Road Cemetery in of our boat – love from both to you Nairobi. Will died the following year all – Tid & Rita”. and is buried in the same cemetery.

Unfortunately Rita did not live to Maybe the reason so many photos of adulthood. She died in Nairobi in Edith Eliza, George William and 1917. Edith sent a poignant photo of Marguerita survive is because they A companion picture of Rita. her grave marked with a wooden cross were treasured. There were no phone links from Kenya to Nuneaton, certainly not links that this family could afford, but photos were a tangible record of their life to be pored over by their family back in Warwickshire.

www.Ancestry.co.uk Census records are invaluable in help- ing you find your ancestors. Discover who was living at the same address as your ancestor and start building your family tree. 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 census for England, Wales, Channel Islands, Isle of Man. Search by name plus use other fields to refine your search. Searching the index is free. Pay a small fee for downloading the images and information from the actual cen- sus entry. Ancestry.co.uk hosts the 1891 Census database for England and Wales under an enhanced licensing Edith is the plump woman in the centre of the photo and Will sports a bowtie to her right. arrangement. Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 13

TRIP TO THE FAMILY RECORDS CENTRE By Linda Boden As the newest committee member of look in your bag. They are very is registered the next quarter, I’m not the N&NWFHS, I’ve been working friendly and will direct you to the lift sure if this is Hannah’s child. I now with Val Pickard to organise coach or stairs. The bookshop is also in this have Hannah’s death certificate and trips to the National Archives. The area. the cause of death was Anamia or first trip was to the Family Record something like that, I’ll now have to Centre at Myddelton Street, on 23rd For more information you can visit the order the birth certificate to see if it is April 2005. We left Atherstone at FRC website at: http://www. her child or her sisters. 7.00am and Nuneaton at 7.15am, and familyrecords.gov.uk/frc/default.htm after a short stop on the motorway we They are the only family in Atherstone arrived at the FRC at about 10.00am. Once in the FRC we all went in with this surname that I’ve found in Everyone was informed of the time the different directions to do our research the 1880s. In 1852 a Joseph Boyard coach would be leaving for the return and met up in groups to have our and a Sarah Boyard married at journey home. For those of you who lunch. Birmingham. On the census that I’ve have not visited the centre, this is some found them on, they state their place information about the FRC. I ordered 9 certificates - most of these of birth as Atherstone. I ordered the were to find out more about the person marriage certificate to see how they The F R C has three floors: on the certificate. A few weeks earlier were related and, from my research, I Ground Floor (General Register I had been looking on 1837 online and now know they were cousins. Office) had found a birth that could be my ∗ Indexes of births, marriages and father’s younger brother - he had a I’m now looking forward to the next deaths in England and Wales from sister and brother that I knew about, visit to the FRC as are many of the 1837 but this one I’d never heard anyone people who went in April. The next ∗ Indexes of adoptions in England and talk about. So my first research at visit to the FRC is Saturday 3rd Wales from 1927 FRC was a quick check in the deaths September 2005. If you are interested ∗ Indexes of some births, marriages and there he was in the same quarter please contact Val or myself for more and deaths of British nationals and and year as his birth. Then a week information or a booking form. British Armed Forces, which took later when the certificate arrived with place abroad, from the late my grandparents names as parents I We are also trying to organic a trip to discovered this was their second child the Public Record Office at Kew. If eighteenth century including both th World Wars born 24 July 1917 who then died at you are interested in going we have a two days old. My grandfather had questionnaire to find out what day of First Floor registered both birth and death at the the week would be best to go and if ∗ Census returns for England and same time. His name was Ronald we have enough people interested in Wales (1841-1901) Alfred and the Cause of death was going. Again please contact us for a ∗ Wills and administrations from the ‘Morbus Cordis’. form or more information. PCC up to 1858 ∗ Death Duty registers (1796-1858) I also ordered a copy of the birth Linda Boden and indexes (1796-1903) certificate for my auntie on my father’s Telephone 01827 709015 Email [email protected] ∗ Records of nonconformist births, side. I have my father’s certificate and baptisms and burials (mainly pre- information about my father’s 1837) and marriages (mainly pre- youngest brother from his wife, and 1754) also my grandfather’s death certificate - he died in 1929. ∗ Miscellaneous foreign returns of WANTED births, deaths and marriages from With all this information on the family 1627 to 1964 I can now establish the different places ∗ Access to online resources including they lived at in Hucknall, Linby and DEAD (OR ALIVE) Documents Online (with free image Papplewick. downloads) and 1901 Census Online FOR THE NEXT The other certificates I ordered were NNWFHS Basement my brother’s birth and death Here you will find the toilets and a certificates, my sister in-law had not JOURNAL cloakroom with lockers, which you offered me copies and I didn’t like to will need 50p coin to use; you will ask her. Articles about your need a locker to leave your property in. There is also a refreshments area with My research with my fathers side has ancestors, family photos, vending machines. led me in a big circle from Atherstone items for our notice board in 1874 back to Atherstone when I The building has wheelchair access moved here to live in 1970. My great and help wanted/ offered and there is a lift to all floors. The grandfather was illegitimate, so I have Centre also has staff to help people section etc. been researching my great with disabilities. You only have to ask grandmother’s side, Elizabeth Boyard. a member of the staff. Start writing Her sister Hannah died on January 1st On entering the building there is a 1883. I was interested to know why security check, they usually ask to she died as a child ‘Hannah C Boyard’ NOW!!! Page 14 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

Celia Parton was recently given a number of birth marriage and death certificates relating to families in the North Warwickshire area. She has now produced the following indexes. If anyone would like further information from any of these certificates please contact Celia Parton (contact details under committee members on page 1)

BIRTHS SURNAME FIRST NAME FATHER MOTHER NEE ADDRESS YEAR DATE ALBRIGHTON Michael William Charles Sarah Pickering Baddesley Ensor 1896 29-Aug ALBRIGHTON Effie Adeline Thomas Martha Lakin Baddesley Ensor 1871 01-Jun CHETWIN Shurley Shurley Sarah Boneham Dordon, Polesworth 1859 10-Apr CHETWYND Gladys Lilian Arthur Elizabeth Sandall Dordon, Polesworth 1902 23-Nov CHETWYND Sissie Arthur Elizabeth Sandall Dordon, Polesworth 1904 28-Dec CHETWYND Violet Lily Arthur Elizabeth Sandall Dordon, Polesworth 1906 01-Dec CHETWYND Ivy Winifred Arthur Elizabeth Sandall Dordon, Polesworth 1909 16-May CHETWYND Harry Dick Sarah Large Dordon, Polesworth 1903 03-Mar CHETWYND William Dick Sarah Large Dordon, Polesworth 1904 12-Dec CHETWYND Arthur Dick Sarah Large Dordon, Polesworth 1906 03-Jul CHETWYND John Keith Eric Caroline Elizabeth Round Atherstone 1935 21-Jan CHETWYND Eileen Lillers George Lucy Harvey Dordon, Polesworth 1919 12-Nov CHETWYND Elsie George Sarah Wilson Baldwin Atherstone 1922 10-Feb CHETWYND Harold Harry Florence Mary Ann Wright Polesworth 1925 02-Mar CHETWYND John Charles Michael John Thomas Rosa Lilian Shilton Dordon, Polesworth 1911 20-Sep CHETWYND Charles Levi Sarah Barnes Dordon, Polesworth 1880 27-May CHETWYND William Clarence Michael Ada Ford Dordon, Polesworth 1912 12-Jul CHETWYND Florence Ada Michael Ada Ford Dordon, Polesworth 1914 17-Apr CHETWYND Ernest Michael Ada Ford Dordon, Polesworth 1916 15-Jan CHETWYND Herbert Michael Amelia Wright Dordon, Polesworth 1901 23-Nov CHETWYND Clarence Michael Amelia Wright Dordon, Polesworth 1904 07-Feb CHETWYND Minnie Samuel Sarah Middleton Dordon, Polesworth 1875 01-Sep CHETWYND Hilda Ada Elizabeth Samuel Thomas Hilda Ada King Dordon, Polesworth 1932 04-Jan CHETWYND Emily Annie Shirley Rachel Ife Glascote Heath 1883 23-Jun CHETWYND William Thomas Shirley Sarah Ann Jones Hall End, Polesworth 1912 30-Aug CHETWYND Henry Thomas Mary Albrighton Baddesley Ensor 1902 18-Jun CHETWYND Harriett Thomas Mary Albrighton Baddesley Ensor 1906 02-Mar CHETWYND Thomas Henry Tom Mary Eliza Bates Dordon, Polesworth 1915 18-Jul CHETWYND Sam Tom Mary Eliza Bates Dordon, Polesworth 1919 01-Nov CHETWYND Shirley William Sarah Ann Atkins Dordon, Polesworth 1889 27-Jun CHETWYND Harry William Thomas Sarah Ann Atkins Dordon, Polesworth 1902 23-Dec CROWLEY Charles Eli Mary Ann Wallbank Dordon, Polesworth 1860 23-Feb CROWLEY Sarah Jane William Ann Jane Lawrence Dordon, Polesworth 1878 05-Oct CROWLEY Jane William Jane Lawrence Dordon, Polesworth 1887 04-Jul CROWLEY William Eli David Sarah Harriet Perry Polesworth 1887 25-Jul CROWLEY Annie Caroline Abraham Sena Emily Deakin Polesworth 1901 19-Dec DINGLEY Robert Thomas Hannah Barnsley Baddesley Ensor 1881 30-Jul JACKSON Eric George John Ellen Maria Wagstaff Dordon, Polesworth 1904 19-May WALLBANK Alice Alfred Clara Wood Dordon, Polesworth 1904 04-Apr WALLBANK Wilfred Alfred Mary Ellen Carter Wilnecote 1906 02-Feb WALLBANK Marjorie Edward Mary Elizabeth Clempson Dordon, Polesworth 1907 20-Feb WALLBANK Harold John Mary Ann Street Dordon, Polesworth 1903 07-Mar WALLBANK Edna May John Richard Clara Lillian Haywood Dordon, Polesworth 1902 29-Aug WALLBANK Olive May Samuel Gertrude Clarke Dordon, Polesworth 1907 31-May WALLBANK Thomas Edward Samuel Urram Lees Dordon, Polesworth 1904 11-Jul WALLBANK Ivy Jane Samuel Urram Lees Hall End, Polesworth 1908 15-Aug WALLBANK Elizabeth William Elizabeth Barnett Birmingham 1861 28-Feb WALLBANK Ellen William Sarah Coates Baddesley Ensor 1877 04-Mar WOOD George Thomas Mary Ann Greenwood Dosthill, Kingsbury 1896 22-Jan MARRIAGES SURNAME FIRST NAME SPOUSE DATE YEAR PARISH PLACE OF MARRIAGE FATHER ALBRIGHTON Bertha Thomas Slack 21-Apr 1885 Baddesley Ensor Wesley Chapel, Atherstone Thomas ALBRIGHTON Charles Sarah Pickering 25-Sep 1877 Baddesley Ensor Independent Chapel, Hartshill Thomas ALBRIGHTON Fanny Elizabeth Thomas Spencer Cooke 26-Dec 1910 Baddesley Ensor Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Baddesley Charles ALBRIGHTON Jane James Hargrave 20-May 1866 Grendon Wesley Chapel, Atherstone William ALBRIGHTON Mabel Ellen Frederick Palmer 01-Jun 1914 Baddesley Ensor Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Baddesley Charles ALBRIGHTON Susanna William Wilson Phipps 24-Jul 1887 Baddesley Ensor Register office Atherstone John ALBRIGHTON Thomas Martha Lakin 30-Jan 1869 Baddesley Ensor Wesley Chapel, Atherstone William ALBRIGHTON Thomas Charles Annie Chetwynd 26-Oct 1916 Baddesley Ensor Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Baddesley Charles CHETWYND Annie Arthur Aaron Wood 27-Dec 1924 Baddesley Ensor Register office Atherstone Thomas CHETWYND Edith Annie Fred Good 24-Mar 1928 Dordon Polesworth church Arthur CHETWYND Eliza Thomas Allcott 29-Aug 1914 Dordon Polesworth church Michael CHETWYND Eliza Elizabeth Thomas Harris 12-Oct 1901 Hurley Kingsbury church Samuel CHETWYND Florence Alice Arthur Warren Townsend 30-Jul 1921 Dordon Dordon church Arthur CHETWYND George Lucy Harvey 16-Aug 1916 Dordon Polesworth church Michael CHETWYND Harry Florence Mary Ann Wright 21-Apr 1924 Polesworth Polesworth church William Thomas CHETWYND Jennie John William Woolley 28-Sep 1907 Dordon Dordon church Michael CHETWYND John Mary Jane Wright 18-Feb 1923 Baddesley Ensor Register Office, Atherstone Thomas CHETWYND John Thomas Rosa Lillian Shilton 28-Jun 1909 Dordon Dordon church Michael Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 15

MARRIAGES CONTINUED SURNAME FIRST NAME SPOUSE DATE YEAR PARISH PLACE OF MARRIAGE FATHER CHETWYND Levi Sarah Barnes 24-Sep 1860 Birmingham St Bartholomew church, Birmingham William CHETWYND Lily William Frederick Ball 01-Jun 1914 Baddesley Ensor Register Office, Atherstone Thomas CHETWYND Michael Ada Ford 06-Jan 1907 Atherstone Independent Chapel, Atherstone Levi CHETWYND Michael Amelia Wright 16-Feb 1885 Birmingham St Thomas church Birmingham Thomas CHETWYND Michael William Jennie Thornton 05-Aug 1922 Dordon Dordon church Michael CHETWYND Sarah Ann William Pratt 07-Feb 1909 Grendon Register Office, Atherstone Joseph CHETWYND Tamar Thomas Hall 18-Apr 1880 Atherstone Atherstone church Joseph CHETWYND Tom Mary Eliza Bates 25-Dec 1912 Dordon Polesworth church William Thomas CHETWYND William Sarah Ann Atkins 26-Dec 1883 Dordon Register Office Atherstone Samuel CHETWYND William Gladys Lilian Chetwynd 27-Dec 1926 Baddesley Ensor Dordon church Thomas CROWLEY Charles Elizabeth Collins 17-Jul 1881 Polesworth Register Office Atherstone Eli CROWLEY Eli Annie Maria Rogers 03-Aug 1908 Dordon Independent Chapel Atherstone Henry CROWLEY Eli Dorothy Kate Evans 26-Jul 1912 Dordon Register office Atherstone William CROWLEY Elizabeth Joseph Wilkins 04-Dec 1881 Polesworth Register office Atherstone Eli CROWLEY Emma John Shakespeare 05-Nov 1877 Polesworth Independent Chapel Atherstone Eli CROWLEY Henry Ellen Gent 18-Apr 1875 Polesworth Independent Chapel Atherstone Eli CROWLEY Lizzie John Cook 25-Jul 1908 Polesworth Polesworth church Henry CROWLEY William Mary Jane Jackson 05-Jun 1911 Dordon Polesworth church Charles DAY Arthur Effie Adeline Sharrott 29-May 1899 Baxterley Baxterley Church Thomas widow formerley Albrighton DAY John Harriet Wood 20-Feb 1854 Baddesley Ensor Independent chapel Atherstone william JACKSON Alice May Percy William Highton Tomlinson 22-May 1919 Dordon Register Office Atherstone John Hawkesford JACKSON Annie Maria William Collins 01-Aug 1904 Dordon Polesworth church George JACKSON Arthur James Sarah Ann Priday 21-Sep 1914 Dordon United methodist free church dordon arthur JACKSON Elizabeth Arthur Henry Broadhurst 01-Jun 1914 Dordon United Methodist church Dordon Arthur James JACKSON Kathleen George Edward Wood 05-Aug 1916 Dordon Polesworth church George JACKSON Mabel William Marven 30-May 1920 Dordon Register Office Atherstone Alfred JACKSON Mary John Groves 26-Dec 1911 Dordon Polesworth church Arthur James JACKSON Samuel Leslie Florence Mary Jane Jackson 01-Jun 1914 Dordon Dordon church Samuel Whalley LEES William Alice Owen 11-Apr 1859 Fazeley Fazeley church Thomas SHARROTT Henry Pickering Letitia Ball 25-Apr 1905 Baddesley Ensor Zion Chapel, Baddesley William SHARROTT William Christina Pickering 21-Apr 1881 Baddesley Ensor Zion Chapel, Atherstone Samuel WALLBANK Albert Edward Florence May Densley 23-Jan 1926 Dordon Register Office Atherstone Alfred WALLBANK Alfred Mary Ellen Carter 16-Sep 1902 Wilnecote Register Office, Tamworth John WALLBANK Alfred Joseph Clara Wood 04-Jun 1885 Dordon Register Office, Atherstone William WALLBANK Alice George West 07-Mar 1926 Dordon Register Office, Atherstone Alfred WALLBANK Bert Sarah Jane Hewkin 25-Dec 1911 Wilnecote United Methodist church, Fazeley John WALLBANK Cecil Augustus Elizabeth may Brayne 03-Feb 1932 Dordon Fazeley church Dick WALLBANK Charles Elizabeth Aston 25-Dec 1910 Dordon Register Office, Atherstone Charles WALLBANK Clarissa Verna Thomas Walton 14-Apr 1925 Dordon United Methodist church, Dordon Dick WALLBANK Dick Clarissa Knight 31-Oct 1893 Dordon The Independent Chapel, Polesworth William WALLBANK Elizabeth George Holland 17-Dec 1882 Dordon Register Office, Atherstone Richard WALLBANK Ernest Sarah ann Browning 22-May 1899 Wilnecote Hints church Joseph WALLBANK Ethel Charles Bates 30-Dec 1922 Wilnecote United Methodist church, Wilnecote Alfred WALLBANK Florence Daisy Harold Lees 29-Oct 1927 Dordon Dordon church John WALLBANK Georgina Dome Edmund Kinsey 18-Oct 1939 Dordon Register Office, Atherstone Dick WALLBANK Gladys Muriel Thomas George Deakin 26-Dec 1927 Polesworth Polesworth church Samuel WALLBANK John Caroline Pearce 01-Mar 1922 Polesworth Register Office, Atherstone Alfred WALLBANK John Ann Elizabeth Grant 31-Dec 1868 Wilnecote The Aldergate chapel, Tamworth John WALLBANK John Annie Gisbourne 30-Sep 1916 Dordon The Wesley Chapel, Atherstone John WALLBANK John Henry Florence May Ball 04-Apr 1915 Dordon Register Office, Atherstone Alfred WALLBANK John James Mary Crowley 13-Apr 1903 Dordon Dordon church Richard WALLBANK Joseph Orton Emma Lakin 03-Feb 1861 Polesworth Independent Chapel Atherstone John WALLBANK Leonard Mary Hall 22-Apr 1911 Wilnecote United Methodist church, Wilnecote Alfred WALLBANK Leonard Eva Jane Stock 12-Oct 1914 Wilnecote Wilnecote church John WALLBANK Lizzie William Henry Gill 25-Nov 1917 Dordon Register Office, Atherstone Samuel WALLBANK Mary Jane Benjamin Holland 21-Mar 1885 Dordon Register office, atherstone Richard WALLBANK Richard Shirley Sarah Ann Ingley 14-Oct 1906 Fazeley Fazeley church John WALLBANK Samuel Sarah Long 21-Mar 1877 Dordon The Independent Chapel, Polesworth Richard WALLBANK Samuel Ann Davis 19-May 1879 Dordon Register Office, Atherstone Richard WALLBANK Sarah Ann Percy Arthur Kirkland 12-Aug 1891 Atherstone Register Office, Atherstone Samuel WALLBANK Sarah Hetty Sidney Chapman 26-Dec 1914 Dordon Register Office, Atherstone Frederick WALLBANK Thomas Mary Collins 21-Apr 1877 Dordon Register Office, Atherstone Richard WALLBANK Urram Frank Lockley 22-Feb 1919 Dordon Register Office, Atherstone Samuel WALLBANK Walter Henry Mary Jane Chapman 23-Feb 1924 Dordon Register Office, Atherstone Richard widow formerley Wallbank DEATHS SURNAME FIRST NAME AGE OCC YEAR DATE ADDRESS ALLBRIGHTON Elizabeth 35 Wife of Thomas 1867 23-Oct Baddesley Ensor CHETWYND Eli 74 Coal miner 1896 28-Jul Grendon Common CHETWYND John 1mth Son of William 1886 22-Jan Dordon, Polesworth CHETWYND Sarah 48 Wife of Samuel 1886 01-Nov Dordon, Polesworth CHETWYND William 10days Son of Joseph 1897 19-Apr Dordon, Polesworth CROWLEY Albert 1 Son of Charles 1898 19-Jun Dordon, Polesworth CROWLEY Eli 53 Coal miner 1876 19-Jul Polesworth Page 16 Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal

DEATHS CONTINUED SURNAME FIRST NAME AGE OCC YEAR DATE ADDRESS CROWLEY John Henry 20mths Son of Charles 1891 08-Jan Dordon, Polesworth CROWLEY William Olner 13 Son of John 1874 02-Mar Polesworth HOLLAND Elizabeth 43 Wife of george 1897 21-Dec Dordon, Polesworth JACKSON Alfred 48 Coal miner 1910 13-Nov Dordon, Polesworth JACKSON Arthur James 88 ret coal miner 1944 14-Oct Dordon, Polesworth JACKSON Arthur James 66 ret coal miner 1951 19-Oct Dordon, Polesworth JACKSON Florence Mary Jane 17mths Daughter of Alfred 1891 01-Apr Dordon, Polesworth JACKSON George 90 ret coal miner 1950 20-Jun Dordon, Polesworth JACKSON John 51 Coal miner 1936 24-Aug Dordon, Polesworth JACKSON John Hawkesford 15 Son of John Hawkesford 1911 19-Jun Dordon, Polesworth JACKSON John Hawkesford 77 ret coal miner 1943 06-Oct Dordon, Polesworth WALLBANK Alfred 2y 11m Son of John 1927 19-Feb Dordon, Polesworth WALLBANK Alfred 84 ret coal miner 1936 07-Dec Dordon, Polesworth WALLBANK Arthur 16 Coal miner 1882 26-Jul Wilnecote WALLBANK Frederick 80 ret coal miner 1937 16-Mar Dordon, Polesworth WALLBANK Leonard 37 Coal miner 1927 14-Jan Wilnecote WALLBANK Mary Jane 69 Wife of Walter henry 1929 10-Mar Dordon, Polesworth WALLBANK Samuel 82 ret coal miner 1927 02-Nov Dordon, Polesworth WALLBANK William 74 Tailor (Master) 1905 03-Mar Dordon, Polesworth Gender and George Eliot By Alan F Cook

One of my colleagues is at the forefront we need to know? Hormones, chromo- What would it matter if George Eliot st of 21 C issues on gender at the Univer- somes, DNA and genes inevitably was a man in a woman’s body? If she sity of London Post-Graduate Medical come into the picture now! had been alive today would she, too, be school. She has kept me briefed on gen- seeking counselling in preparation for der issues, and how they relate to the It is no wonder that in today’s society gender re-assignment? Would she live new, modern Europe! we hear of gender re-assignment (sex in some dark underworld trying to keep change) trans-sexualism, cross-dressing her secret? I remember my college days studying etc. People saying they are a “woman human evolution and anthropology – trapped in a man’s body” – or vice- Would she be caught in moments of some of my tutors were researching and versa etc. indiscretion – to be front-page news as promoting the idea that there was a cause-celebre. Within 20 years of her more than ONE species of human People may spend their life in turmoil death Oscar Wilde was persecuted (to being on the planet in 1970. That was because they are not themselves!! A death) for his personal lifestyle!! a culture shock – I trusted and believed ‘man’ might have dominant female we were all Homo sapiens – colour of psychosexual characteristics in the Today’s celebrities are being tripped-up the skin was just climatic adaptation., brain. with monotonous regularity; some are etc. wise enough to publically celebrate So where does that put George Eliot their unique personalities by ‘revealing These notions were based on early (Mary Ann Evans); a victim of many all’, on their latest videos! The “pre- DNA work and histology. At that time unkind comments about her masculine emptive strike”, so to speak. it was proposed there may have been up appearance etc. etc. to 5 species or sub-species of human Look at the subtle agenda in George beings on the planet. By the 1990’s the I have read many comments about her Eliot’s work. How many underdog number of species or sub-species vari- sexuality and gender – some ignorant, characters does she have? How many ants was 17+. some well informed. Sadly, the truth repressed souls? How many heroic, will never be known. If it were possible stoic heroines? How many misunder- By 2000 A.D. it has risen to 35+. to test any of her remnant DNA, it may stood people? How many underprivi- be possible to find out where she was leged and overprivileged souls? Her What does all of this mean? It would on the scale of 1 to 35+!! work is full of people who do not fit appear there is a continuous transition into the Victorian social moulds of their between absolutely, totally male MEN It could be argued, that is an odd thing time. Souls who have more than one (45x and 1y chromosome) and abso- to want to know. It could be argued it is facet, or dimension to their love! lutely, totally female WOMEN (46x a perverted thing to be interested in. chromosomes). The mid-point is repre- I think she was about more than female sented by the HERMAPHRODITE. A I think the future will be the judge of emancipation and sufferance, more than true human hermaphrodite is exception- that. To the people in these marginal- women’s lib, more than “girl-power”. ally rare. In some species of mammals ized minority groups it is important to they are more common. know that they can reach the top of I think she was a brilliant campaigner their respective fields – not being con- for another way of living! As the 21stC How do any of us know where we are signed to some minority as regards ca- progresses the subtle agenda in her on this transitional scale? What things reer progress. writings will continue to be of immense should we consider and what else do interest.