A Family History of the Thorp Family Commissioned by Mark & Adi Thorp (March 2019) Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the contents within the report are accurate, it should be recognised that errors and omissions can inadvertently be made. www.exploreyourpast.co.uk [email protected] A Family History of the Thorp Family The surname ‘Thorp’ is a locational surname that is of Anglo-Saxon and Old Scandinavian origin. People in the Middle Ages used the name of the place they originated from as their surname. Consequently, people who came from any of the places in England that had the Old Norse or Old Danish element ‘thorp’ used this as their surname. ‘Thorp’ in a place name indicates it was originally an area of Danish settlement, with the term meaning a small farmstead or hamlet that was dependent on nearby village. Like many surnames, Thorp has several spelling variations including Thorpe, Throp, Thropp and Thrupp. Before English spelling was standardised, variations in the spelling of surnames were common, with elements of Latin, French and other languages being incorporated through the Middle Ages. In addition, scribes and Church Officials commonly spelt surnames the way they sounded, which meant surnames could change several times in a person’s lifetime. Indeed, several examples of variations in spelling came to light whilst undertaking the research into the Thorp family and are highlighted later in the report. According to the ‘Forebears’ website, ‘Thorp’ is the 33,301st most common surname in the world and the 2,081st most common in England! The research in this report is based on the following information provided by the clients: Martin Gerald Thorp was born on the 15th September 1931 and was the second of four sons of Sydney Richard Thorp and Elizabeth Margaret (Peggy) nee de Moraville. Sydney Richard Thorp was born on the 3rd January 1898, the son of Richard Thorp (born 30th January 1830, died 14th June 1914 and was buried at Wandsworth cemetery) and Clara Emily Soper (born 5th June 1867 and died 18th October 1923). Richard and Clara married on the 2nd March 1898 at Lee, SE London. The couple also had a daughter, Margaret Emily Thorp (born 11 July 1899) who married Russell Gurney. Richard Thorp also had brothers Alfred (a Stockbroker) and William; and sisters Matilda and Frances, the last 3 were unmarried and lived together at Muswell Hill. Copies of several letters of condolence and photos were also supplied by the client. Research began using the English civil registration records, where since July 1837, it has been a legal requirement to register all births, marriages and deaths. Using these records and some additional information supplied by the clients, the report starts with Martin Gerald Thorp, who as the clients are aware, was born on the 15th September 1931 in Farnham, Surrey and was the second of four sons. Martin went on to marry Gillian Mary Ramdeholl, nee Dyson, in Hendon in 1971. Martin’s wife, Gillian Mary was herself born on the 10th March 1939 in Barnet and had previously married Colin Ramdeholl in 1963. Martin’s older brother, Richard John Thorp, was born on the 3rd June 1929 in Bradfield, Berkshire. He joined the Royal Navy and reached the rank of lieutenant. Tragically, he was killed when the motor-cycle he was riding was in a collision with a ‘royal blue motor-coach’ in Portsmouth on the evening of 7th February, 1952. He is buried at the Haslar Royal Navy Cemetery, Gosport. Martin’s two younger brothers have both married, with Charles Henry Thorp (b 27th May 1937 in Farnham, Surrey) marrying Barbara Mary Owen on the 28th December 1963, in Hitchin, Hertfordshire and Rupert Francis Thorp (b 3rd March 1942 in Thornbury, Gloucestershire) marrying Rosemary Jane Cooper on the 5th March 1966 at Budleigh Salterton. Rupert and Rosemary lived out in New Zealand, however, following Rosemary’s death in 1991 of Malaria, which she contracted whilst in Indonesia, Rupert returned to the UK and later married Mary Robinson in 1994. Martin’s father is Sydney Richard Thorp who was born on the 3rd January 1898 in Wandsworth, London to Richard Thorp and his wife Clara Emily, nee Soper. At the time of the 1901 census, the family were living at ‘Homelea’, Portinscale Road, Wandsworth. Also listed is Sydney’s younger sister, Margaret Emily, who too was born in Wandsworth on the 11th July 1899. In addition, the family had 5 servants living at the address, which included two nurses, a cook and a parlour maid. Ten years later, the family were still living at ‘Homelea’ which, according to the 1911 census, had 14 rooms, not including bathrooms. Four servants are also listed, however, Sydney is not as he was away at Cheam boarding school, Surrey, where he is listed as being a ‘scholar’ aged 13 years old. Soon after the outbreak of World War I, Sydney joined up and served with the 23rd Division of the Royal Field Artillery in France rising to the position of lieutenant. Sydney Richard Thorp in his military uniform (Client’s Photo) After the war, Sydney met and married Elizabeth Margaret Schmidle de Moraville (known as Peggy) in 1928 at Bradfield, Berkshire. ‘Peggy’ was born on the 29th April 1906 at Marylebone, London and was the daughter of John Maximillian Schmidle de Moraville (b 1863, d 30th July 1917, Oxford) and Olga Ilma Charlotte nee Behrend (b 1872 Trawden, Lancs, d 6 Dec 1947, Wallingford, Berks). After the marriage the couple stayed in Bradfield, where their eldest son, Richard John, was born. However, soon after the family moved to ‘Stoney Hatch’ Shortheath Road, Farnham, Surrey where first Martin Gerald was born in 1931 and then Charles Henry in 1937. However, by the 1939 England and Wales Register, the family had moved again to ‘The Grove’ in Thornbury, Gloucestershire and Sydney is listed as being a Major in the Territorial Army. Their fourth son, Rupert Francis was then born there in 1942. At the time of Sydney’s wife’s death on the 1st November 1959, the family had moved once again and were living at ‘The Old Vicarage’, Higham, Suffolk, although ‘Peggy’ passed away at the National Hospital, Queen’s Square, London. When Sydney died on 30th August 1967, he was listed as living at ‘Fengate House’, Nayland, Suffolk. Map showing the known locations and dates over the course of Sydney Richard Thorp’s life (Based on known evidence. Sydney may well have lived in the various locations for longer than the dates shown as well as living elsewhere) Margaret Emily (Peggy) along with her older brother Sydney Richard (Client’s Photo) Sydney’s sister Margaret Emily, who as previously stated, was born in Wandsworth on the 11th July 1899 was then baptised 13th August 1899 at the Holy Trinity Church in Wandsworth. She then married Russell Gurney (b 8th October 1890, Swanage) on the 26th April 1928 at St Paul’s Church, Upper Norwood, Croydon. Just over a year after their marriage, Margaret gave birth to the first of their two children, Timothy Russell on the 16th June 1929. The following year, the couple are listed in the 1930 electoral register as living at 7 Gordon Road, Frimley, Surrey. This is where their second son, Thomas Jeremy Russell, was born on the 26th June 1934. However, by the time of the 1939 England and Wales Register, the couple were listed as living at ‘Ablington House’, Amesbury. The following year, they again moved, this time to Hayne House, Seaton, Devon. Margaret died in 1959, aged 60. According to the clients, Russell Gurney was educated at Clifton College, Bristol, and played rugby for Northampton and the East Midlands. At the outbreak of the First World War, he enlisted with The Royal Fusiliers, but was then given a temporary commission with the Northamptonshire Regiment, taking part in several battles including the Somme and Loos. He rose to the rank of Captain and served on Lord Plumer’s staff in France and Italy. Following the war, he continued to serve in the military where he joined the staff of British troops in Sudan during the Mutiny in Khartoum (1924-25). He was promoted to the rank of Major in the Suffolk Regiment in 1928 and spent several years working in the War Office. Russell Gurney (National Portrait Gallery) In 1938, Russell was promoted again to Brigadier in Command of the Small Arms School. However, at the start of the Second World War, Russell was found to be medically unfit. Despite this, he was promoted to Major General in 1943 and became the ADC to the King in 1944. Russell also wrote several training manuals and books including ‘History of the Northampton Regiment’ and a spy story called ‘Devil or Man’, in collaboration with his wife Margaret. He retired in 1947, but later that year, passed away on the 29th June 1947 at ‘The Imperial Nursing Home’ in Cheltenham. He is buried in Seaton, Devon. Returning to the Thorp family, Sydney and Margaret’s father, Richard Thorp was born on the 30th January 1830 in Monken Hadley, an ancient country village, north of Barnet. Today the settlement lies on the very edge of the Greater London conurbation. He was then baptised on the 28th February 1830 at St Mary’s Parish Church, Monken Hadley. St Mary’s Parish Church, Monken Hadley c1807 Turning to the census returns, it is possible to trace the life of Richard Thorp from the 1841 census up to his death in 1914. The first decennial census of England and Wales was taken in 1801, however, personal information was only recorded from 1841 onwards.