Family Queries
Phyllis Pearson is trying to establish information about her Templar family. Robert Templar married Jane (Jenny) Day on 7 Sep 1815 at St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol. Jane was born in Axbridge SOM c1779/80 and died in Axbridge Oct/Nov 1862, buried there 2 Nov 1862. Robert and Jane had five children all born in Axbridge SOM: Charles (bap. 11 Feb 1817), Robert (b.c1817/18), William (b.c1820), Harriet (b. Feb? 1928), Jane (b. 1816 to 1825 period). William was Phyllis' 2xGGF, thought to have owned/leased the Bell Inn, Axbridge as her GGM used to go there to stay.
Charles and Robert Jnr left c1850 to live in America and contact has been made with the family of Charles. Phyllis grew up in Newport (South Wales) until 1955 when they went first to Australia and then to NZ.
Phyllis would be delighted to make contact with anyone who knows about the Templar family.
Frank Rae would like to add more information to his family history about the PRIDDLE, VIGAR, SWEET and DOWNTON families in Somerset. The family ancestry is known to be as follows from research so far.
Joseph VIGAR (bp.10 Jun 1736 Pitney SOM; d.Jun 1783, bur.19 Jun 1783) m. 2 Apr 1764 to Ann DOWNTON (b.c1744 Pitney SOM, d.Jun 1810, bur.15 Jun 1810). They had son George VIGAR.
George VIGAR (b.18 Apr 1775, d.27 Apr 1856) m. 22 Oct 1798 Pitney SOM to Ann SWEET (b.1782, d.bef 17 May 1856 Pitney SOM); they had 7 children of whom one was Harriet VIGAR. Ann's father was John SWEET (b.c1762 Pitney SOM) m1. 18 Mar 1782 to Elizabeth VIGAR (b.c1762 Pitney SOM, bur.4 Jul 1793); m2. Charlotte VIGAR (bp.17 Sep 1796).
In the table above, we note that John PRIDDLE married Harriet VIGAR at Yeovil SOM on 6 Dec 1824. They had 13 children as follows: Thomas (1825-1827), John (1827), Sarah (1828), Thomas (1830), Harriet (1833), Elizabeth (1835-1842), all born Tintinhull SOM; George (1837, Yeovil SOM); next children all born Tintinhull SOM, Henry (1838), William (1841), Joseph (1843), Samuel (1846-1853), Ruth (1849), Elizabeth (1852).
Frank Rae is descended from George PRIDDLE (b.1837 Yeovil SOM) who emigrated to Australia but it is not known when. He married Sarah STOTHERS at Kiama NSW AUS on 6 Feb 1862 and died on 9 May 1906 at Wattamolla near Berry NSW.
Frank Rae would appreciate any assistance that can be given on any of these family connections.
Elizabeth Pitkin is searching for information on the birth and marriage dates and places for William NORRIS who married Lilian MITCHARD possibly about1907/8. William joined the Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's) and became a Company Sergeant Major in the 2nd Battalion. Their eldest daughter was born in Taunton in 1909. The rest of their children were born abroad.
The Army sent them to China where William was in the Chinese Legation Guard in Peking in 1912. The family was sent to India where William is recorded as having died from "Heat Stroke" in a train en route from Delhi to Dehra-Dun on 28 June 1924, aged 39.
The death was reported by A.F. Harding, Captain Adjutant 2nd Btn Light Infantry (P.A.) in a letter received from HQ 17th (Indian) Infantry Brigade Dehra-Dun. While this is the Army record obtained from the PRO, the family story is that William was shot at Dehra-Dun railway station by a sniper and died before help could be given.
Lilian was brought back to the UK by the Army to Peasedown St John SOM and the children were educated by the Army. Lilian lived at Hillside View, Peasedown St John and her brother Lazarus Mitchard lived in the same row of miners' cottages. The eldest daughter Irene Eva May Norris went down to Bournemouth to work when she was 15. She married George Alfred Pitkin in Bournemouth DOR. Lilian later came to live with them and she died there, aged 84, on 15 January 1972.
Elizabeth would welcome any assistance that can be given in finding the birth dates and places and the marriage place and date for William and Lilian, and their parents and ancestors.
Eddie Rawles[robynrawles] would welcome assistance in finding more about the parents of his GF Charles Jesse RAWLES.
Eddie has a photo of two elderly people said to be his GGF and GGM Rawles, outside a Church cottage in Glastonbury SOM, and a copy has been sent to us. Webmaster has been providing some assistance though the discoveries made so far need confirmation. There are difficulties with reconciling the possible date of the photo with the information below and the date of birth of GF Charles Jesse Rawles.
Reference to Somerset Web Archives makes it possible that the photo is at the door of one of the Almshouses of the St John the Baptist Parish Church in Glastonbury.
The 1881 Census lists a James RAWLES, widower, born 1814, age 67, general labourer, living in an Almshouse at Magdalen Street 11, Glastonbury SOM, very much fitting the photo which must have been taken a number of years earlier when his wife was alive.
Archival aerial photos show that there were certainly almshouses at the south end of Magdalen Street Glastonbury on the same side of the road as the Parish Church of St John the Baptist. The 1832 Somerset Electoral Register has a James Rawles living at Hillhead in Glastonbury Parish with a freehold house and premises.
Eddie would be delighted if anyone or any Rawles descendant can assist him in confirming this, giving even more background if available.
Diane Smith is rather remote from Australian family history sources and would welcome assistance on the entries in the table above where there are no maiden names and BMD dates and places entered. An example is that of Edward Noake for whom Diane wishes to find parents and a birth or baptism date. He married Maria whose maiden name has not been found nor a birth or baptism date and place. The entries thereafter have missing material and it should be apparent where these are from the table.
Vanessa Armstrong is seeking information about Henry Damon born 1872 in Bettiscombe/Broadwinsor DOR. His parents were Robert Deamon, also spelt Daman, (b.1846-48 Broadwinsor DOR) and Ann nee Hodges (b.c1850 Crewkerne SOM). Henry may have had siblings, including Kate and Charles. He was buried in Farleigh Hungerford SOM (died 1940-50s). Henry married Jane Elliott (see below) and they appear in the 1901 Census as living in SOM. Their daughter, Audrey Damon b.1901, was Vanessa's GM.
Jane Elliott was born at West Coker SOM in the period 1865-71. Her parents were Charles and Harriet Elliott of West Coker. She is buried at Farleigh Hungerford SOM (died in the period 1940-50s). She married Henry Damon and apart from her daughter, Audrey, it is believed there were other children including Gladys, Albert (Bert) and Dorothy.
Susan Holloway is searching for information on the Baker and Fowler families set out in the table above. James BAKER married Ann FOWLER in 1836 at Bishops Lydeard SOM and had moved to Fitzhead SOM by 1837. They had the following children, all born at Fitzhead SOM: c1837 James Fowler Baker, 1838 Mary Ann Baker, 1840 Sarah Matilda Baker [m.(unk) Trott, by 1881 widowed], 1842 Elizabeth Fowler Baker [m. 1863 John Stembridge at Norton sub Hamdon SOM-sailed for VIC AUS 1863], 1844 James Baker [m.c1870 Harriet (unk, b.Elworthy SOM); children born in Fitzhead SOM], 1846 William Fowler Baker [emigrated to AUS, m.1899 in AUS], 1850 Jane Fowler Baker [emigrated to AUS, m.1877 in AUS].
Joan Lowe is seeking information on the Hart family and ancestors who lived at Child Okeford DOR and the Edwards family and ancestors of Barnsley WRY. Walter John and Iris Hart had the following children: Joan Maureen (1948), Dennis Colin (1949-1997), Leslie John (1950), Gordon Keith (1952) and Eric Arthur (1959).
Walter and Iris Hart and their family emigrated to Australia from England on the Sitmar Line Fair Sky, departing Southampton HAM ENG on 3 May 1963. Walter died on 11 November 1979 and his ashes were sent to Child Okeford for placement on the grave of his father and mother.
Iris Hart remarried to Mal Tucker of Jamestown SA on 1 Dec 1988 at Port Pirie United Church SA. She died on 9 Dec 2002.
Raymond Bazley is searching for more information about Thomas Collins and his ancestors. Thomas was, according to his Royal Marine records, born in West Monkton SOM near Taunton, in March/April 1824. When he married for the first time in 1857, he gave his father's name as Thomas Collins, occupation sawyer. He joined the Marines on 18 Mar 1844 at Taunton so might appear in the 1841 census for Somerset, aged about 17. In 1851, he appears to have been stationed in Portland and by 1861 was married and living in Vine Street, Yeovil SOM.
Ray would welcome any help that might be offered.
Tim Edwards is seeking information on the following orphaned Lambert children and their descendants:
John James (b.c1857, m.Mar 1879 Mary Sarah Ritchie of Wicklow IRL; later assistant chemist in Middlesex), Sibella Louise (b.c1859), Caroline Mary (b.c1861; later a teacher at Sevenoaks, Kent), Walter Edward (b.c1862; later joined London Met. Police), Francis Henry (b.c1864), George Lionel (b.c1865, later joined Merchant Navy), Arthur Edward (b.c1867), William Charles (b.c1867), Robert Frederick (b.c1872).
Tim Edwards has other background information for some of them and their possible movements after the death of their mother. If researchers have any background on each or any of these members of the Lambert family, please contact him by email or postage to the addresses given in the table above.
Brian Trevette has Robert Trivet heading his ancestral tree. His widow Mary died some 21 years later. Her Will gives insight into Robert's status in the village - Yeoman with a flock of 130 sheep, a herd of 5 milking cows and two bullocks plus evidence of arable farming. There are family tradition suggestions about the family which can be obtained by reference to Brian. Robert migrated to long-established family estates in SE Devon. There are suggestions that the Trivet family came over with William in 1066. Brian is collating any information on the medieval Trivet family and would welcome any data that can be provided to him for the production of a comprehensive family history.
Nick Brady would appreciate any information on the individuals mentioned herein or their relatives and ancestors. James and Jane Purchase had six children after their marriage at St Mary's Church in Puddletown DOR. They appear to have been born elsewhere as they were not listed in the St Mary's Parish Baptism Register. The children were as follows: Ann (b.8 Feb 1796), Thomas (b.25 Jun 1798), James (b.17 Jun 1800), Andrew (b.15 Jul 1802, listed in table above), Rebecca (b.12 Dec 1804) and William (b.1 Jan 1809).
Andrew Purchase worked on a farm as a lad, then went to sea for several years before becoming a travelling showman in 1825. He married twice and fathered James, Luke, Harriett, Andrew, Mark, Elizabeth, Mary Ann and Isabella. These children were born in a variety of places as far north as Morpeth NBR, Rhodes LAN and Sheffield YOR.
For more information on these family members, contact Nick Brady.
Nick would welcome assistance in finding ancestors of James Purchase and his wife Jane nee Devenish and any descendants of any of their children and grandchildren.
Maria Roskrow is searching for background data on William Henry FRICKER who married Mary Jane WEBB at Ashwick SOM in 1906. She has not found where William Henry came from prior to his marriage, though family legend has it that he was in Chapmanslade WIL for a while.
Maria has information on the Webb family for quite a few generations earlier. Mary Jane was mentioned on the 1901 Census as being at Roemead Farm, Ashwick SOM. Maria would greatly welcome help in finding data on William Henry Fricker and his ancestors from anyone who has come across him and his parents.
Steve Matthews has real problems tracing the parents of George WILKINS who married Mary HILL in Mudford 1838. His father is said to be William WILKINS when George was born in 1801. As the family appears to all have been Ag Labs, they may have moved around seeking work. The first born of George and Mary was Samuel WILKINS, born 1834 in Stowell SOM, probably out of wedlock. A possible William Wilkins was found to have died in Shepton Mallet SOM in 1842 but relevant data has not been found so far. Samuel was living in the family home in Mudford at least until c1860 but no trace of him has been found. A search in the FHRO turned up 33 deaths of a Samuel Wilkins but none really fits.
Steve would greatly welcome anyone who can help with data on these folk, especially about the parents of George Wilkins, and the disappearance of Samuel.
Jim Carey is trying to establish whether his earliest Carey (John) was born c1785 in East Clevedon SOM or elsewhere. The Census notes that it is East Clevedon but the Parish Record has not been seen. There is some thought that he may have been born in Backwell or North Petherton SOM where there is a long line of Carey families with very similar first names. Carey's Lane in East Clevedon seems to have derived its name from John and Betty Carey, married there in 1784. They produced a large number of children, ten of whom are believed to have been baptised on the same day at St Andrews in 1801. Jim would welcome any help or advice from interested researchers.
He has a family history Web site at http://carey.id.au; click on Family Tree in the left hand menus. He also has a couple of spare birth berticates for a Henry George and a George Carey through going up a wrong path, if anyone is interested.
Jennifer Dancy is assisting David Long in NZ to find more about his TARR ancestors who came from SOM and close by in DEV.
James TARR was born c1850 probably somewhere in West Somerset. He married c1880/1 Caroline TOWNSEND (b.c1848 possibly in South Moulton DEV area). George Clifford TARR was born 15 Oct 1881 in Minehead SOM, probably married in NZ to Margaret Hamilton DICKSON and their daughter Audrey Edna Tarr was born on 23 Sep 1915 in NZ.
Jennifer has found James and Caroline TARR listed in the 1881 Census for Old Cleeve SOM with an address at Roadwater SOM. James was shown as Head, age 30, Licensed Victualler (b.SOM); Caroline as Wife, age 32 (b.DEV), son John H., age 1m; son Ernest J, age 4m. They were not listed in the 1901 Census and Jennifer is still searching, possibly having more information since this enquiry. John H. Tarr died age 48 at Lourenco Marques (Consular Death list 1926-30). Ernest James Tarr died age 24 at West Derby (2nd qtr 1905).
Jennifer has collected other information for David Long and would be interested to find others interested in this TARR family.
Wanda Garrett is searching for data on her husband's Garrett and Howe ancestors who went to Newfoundland and are believed to have come from Dorset.
William Garrett appears to have been born in Dorset in 1799. He married Diana Denty on 25 Sep 1829 in Greenspond NFLD but the church records show him as being from Yeovil SOM. It is possible that both records may be correct with him born in Dorset somewhere near the DOR/SOM border and left for NFLD from Yeovil. Wanda is trying to confirm both his birth record and where he came from to Newfoundland.
Thomas Howe was born in DOR in 1860. NFLD Church records show him as being married to Selina Andrews on 24 April 1907 at Upper Gullies NFLD, father Thomas Howe. The family have part of a letteer wirtten to Thomas by his brother in England, probably round 1909. The return address was given as either Trose or Frose Ground Cottage, Rempstone, Corfe Castle DOR. It seems possible that Thomas came from that area. In the same letter, his brother George is mentioned. Thomas' father was still alive at that time.
Wanda and her husband will be visiting Dorset in May 2004 and she would appreciate any assistance that can be given in finding family ancestry.
Return to [Surname Index][Surname Interests][Family Queries] OR
Go to John Symonds Home Page