Somerset & Dorset Pages - Number 6

Family Queries

Frank Burden is looking for information on the ancestors of Annie Eliza WEBB (b.1876)at Evercreech SOM. Her parents were George WEBB, Labourer, and Annie Webb nee ROSSITER but no dates for births or marriages are available. Annie Eliza moved to Tarrant Gunville DOR and there married Francis WIlliam BURDEN on 6 Jun 1895. Frank has a fairly accurate record of everything thereafter.
Frank's main interest is in getting more information about Annie Eliza WEBB and her family. He would welcome contact with any researcher also interested in these families.

Nina Pickup has some problems in tracking down her ancestors, resulting from their movements around England. Emma ROYNON married Edward HEADLEY in the Cardiff Registry Office on 28 Oct 1873; the record shows Edward was 26, blacksmith and his father was Frederick HEADLEY, a freestone carver. Emma was 21 and her father was Ruben (Rueben?) ROYNON, Labourer.Their first child was Albert Henry HEADLEY, born on 24 Apr 1874 in Tredegar MON. Emma (ROYNON) HEADLEY died in Birmingham on 2 Mar 1902. J. GOLDSWORTHY (sister) was present at the death. There was no sign of Edward HEADLEY. There are many more recent family members living in and around Birmingham.
Jane and James GOLDSWORTHY (1881 Census Index Ref 2975 26 3 - Ct 27/2 Irving+.Birmingham) shows James was born in Exeter DEV 1837, Jane born Moreton SOM 1858, children - James born Bristol 1874 and Frank born Birmingham 1877. In these data, Nina (and your Webmaster, too) have not found Moreton SOM though there are ones in DOR and elsewhere in England.
17 Jul 2001: Nina has found that Edward Headley was baptised in Bristol as Albert Edward HEADLEY, but no other trace found in 1881 Census or later. Albert Henry HEADLEY apparently ran away from home to join the Merchant Navy when a young man so Nina knows little about this man's family. Family legend has it that Albert spent some of his childhood with his aunt Deborah whose birth certificate shows: Deborah ROYNON born 4 Apr 1852 in Compton Martin SOM, father Reuben ROYNON, labourer, mother Jane Larner ROYNON.
Nina would appreciate contact with any people related to these family branches and with any researchers investigating this family tree.
[What a strangely complicated web some people leave behind! - JLS]

Russ Lewis is interested in communicating with persons who know of the surname STICKLAND in Dorset. His emigrant ancestor was Joseph STICKLAND (age 33) who with wife Emma (age 28) and four children emigrated to the USA, arriving on 31 Dec 1821 aboard the ship Thames, master Marshall. Joseph was a blacksmith but Russ is not certain that Joseph and family were from DOR. He would welcome contact with researchers who could help locate the origin of Joseph and Emma.

Vera Baber has been studying the BABER surname from SOM for nearly 30 years Worldwide and is interested in all references to the surname for the One Name Study. The places where the BABER families were established in SOM from the sixteenth century are as follows: Backwell, Bath, Blagdon, Buckland Dinham, Chew Magna, Chew Stoke, Corston, Dundry, Easton-in-Gordano, Frome, Keynsham, Nailsea, Newton St Loe, Pensford, Publow, Rode, Timsbury, Twerton, Ubley, West Harptree, Winford, Wrington, Yatton and of course Bristol.
Vera believes that all BABER families are kin to one another and their roots are firmly in SOM, wherever in the World they are to be found. She would be interested in any material about people with this surname.

Bill Thorne would like to correspond with and share pictures with anyone connected with the THORNE family who originated in SOM ENG. The surname has been recorded in census and parish record as the variants THORN and THORNE, with the latter the most commonly used spelling.
Bill's GGF was John THORNE, a farmer of South Brent SOM, who married Mary FRY (bap.10 March 1830, Mark) at Mark SOM on 29 March 1856. John's father was George THORN, labourer, and Mary's father was James FRY, labourer. Apart from George (see below), John and Mary had four other children, all born at Mark SOM; Harriet b.c1862; Job b.c1863; Edward b.c1867; Frank b.c1870
Bill's GF George THORNE was born in Southwick, a village somewhat west of Mark SOM. His GM Elizabeth HUNT was born in South Brent SOM. George and Elizabeth were married at South Brent SOM. They must have moved around but they lived for many years at Millfield cottage in Lympsham SOM and died there, probably about the 1930s. Their children were Oliver George b.Dec 1875 Banwell SOM?; Harriet Wilkins b.1879 Banwell SOM; Bessie b.1880 Banwell SOM; Fred b.1883 Brent Knoll SOM; Harry b.31 Jan 1890 Brent Knoll SOM.
Harry THORNE emigrated to Canada in 1908 and died in 1937. Bessie THORNE married a man named HARRIS and they lived at 80 Meadow Street, Weston-super-Mare SOM. The Canadian Thorne family lost contact with Bessie Harris during WWII. Bill Thorne would like to re-establish contact with any of the Thorne family, some of whom may be in Wales. In Winnipeg, they are anxiously awaiting spring at this time and any contacts that the spring might bring about family connections.

Sharolyn Capnerhurst is searching for the birthplace of George Frederick FORD in SOM ENG and for the names and ages of his parents and his siblings.
Sharolyn's GGF George Frederick FORD was born in Somerset (no known town or village) and was a soldier in the Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry and was with the Militia in India. He fought in the Boer War and in WWI at Vimy Ridge. After the war, he became a machinist at the Great Western Railroad centre at Swindon, Wiltshire. He had married Eliza Mary Ann HEAVEN in 1904 and they had eight children, one of whom was Albert Henry FORD (Sharolyn's GF), born in Swindon on 5 Oct 1908. Other sons were George Frederick Jr, b.12 May 1905; Herbert Percy, b.2 May 1907; Frank Edward, b.1912; but that is all that Sharolyn has. George and Eliza moved to Canada in 1912, lived in Abernethy, Saskatchewan; Regina SK; and Vancouver BC.
Sharolyn would particularly welcome advice and assistance in finding the birthplace of her Great Grandfather George Frederick Ford, his parents and their other children.

Richard McCarthyis looking for information about his GF Alfred McCARTHY and GM Lily nee HAM [born SOM], their parents and their siblings. Alfred is known to have had brothers Charles William [b.1869, d.1921] and John [b.? ENG, d.1963 Ont.CA]. There is no information on the other siblings who remained in England; George, Mary, Rhoda, Agnes and Selina.
Alfred and Lily married on 6 Sep 1903 and some of their children were born in Keynsham SOM; Stanley John [Richard's father] b.11 Aug 1905 Keynsham SOM; Gerald Alfred b.20 Sep 1907 Keynsham SOM; Cecil Henry b.13 Sep 1909 Keynsham SOM; Olive b. 26 Jul 1913 Ont.CA; Ivor Thomas b. 16 Aug 1915 Ont.CA;Herbert George b. 19 Dec 1919 Ont.CA; Clarice Mabel b.19 Jul 1924 Ont.CA.
Alfred and Lily went to Canada in about 1910, as did Alfred's brother John to live in Hamilton Ont.CA, possibly about the same time. Richard would welcome any information about the McCARTHY and HAM families.

Martha DiChiara is searching for information about her 2xGGF James BUTLER, his parents and any siblings. James BUTLER was reportedly born in Ringwood DOR in the 1790s. His mother may have been named Sarah BRIXEY or BRICKSEY. His father was possibly also James but that is not certain. James emigrated to Newfoundland, Canada, at an unknown date, marrying in 1856 when in his 60s and sired five children born from 1856-1868. Martha has information from this period onwards, but nothing on the first 60 or so years of his life. Any assistance with establishing something about those first 60 years would be much appreciated.

Linda Howes is trying to discover if John FORD and his wife Jenny nee PEARCE had only one child, Richard Pearce FORD. Looking at the dates which Linda has recorded, it seems possible that there may have been other children born to John and Jenny. With the exception of John and Jenny, Linda has a fair amount of information from Richard down through his descendants and would be willing to share it with others. Can anyone help with advice or information?

Jim Avis is searching for the birthplace and parents of George AVIS who, according to the inscription on his tombstone in West Virginia, was born on 12 Apr 1818, possibly in Henstridge SOM or nearby. He came to the USA in 1835 at about the age 17 years. It was rumoured that George had fought with a soldier in England and may have left there under duress. It has also been said that his family never heard from him again. George married in 1838 in Logan County, Virginia (now West Virginia) where he is buried.
George may have had a relative by the name of Robert AVIS, born around 1824, who married Caroline Beadle on 19 Apr 1858 in the Parish of South Shoebury ESS (also known as Shoeburyness). He was a gunner in the Royal Artillery and his father was John AVIS, a corporal in the Coldstream Guards (Horse Guard) for about 22 years. Jim has copies of the discharge papers for both Robert and John. Their christenings are recorded in the Henstridge Parish.
Jim would be pleased to exchange information with someone researching the AVIS name in Henstridge Parish SOM and nearby Parishes in SOM and DOR.

Margaret Pekin has difficulties finding the birthplace and parents of Levi CHESTER and his wife Sarah nee LEE. According the birth certificates of their sons, Levi was born in SOM c1810 and Sarah LEE was born in Bristol ENG c1820, father Henry LEE JONES, Master Mariner. Margaret has no information about the entry of Levi CHESTER into Australia but it appears that he must have arrived in Victoria AUS. Sarah LEE (listed as 33, general servant, CofE, literate) and her sister (Martha?) travelled aboard the CLIFTON, arriving Point Henry AUS in Jan 1852 (ref: Florence Chuk The Somerset Years). Sarah's age fits in with her children's birth certificate data.
Levi CHESTER and Sarah married in Melbourne VIC AUS on 16 Sep 1852 and they had three sons; Henry Levi (1857-1889), Edwin (1855-1855) and Edwin Lee (1857-1889), all born in Melbourne VIC AUS.
Sarah died in 1876 and Levi in 1893 in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond where they had lived for most of their married life. Margaret would be delighted to have contact with anyone researching these families in England and Australia as Levi and Sarah were her 2xGGparents. Edwin Lee CHESTER was her GGF.

Dawn Pratt is seeking help with her RIGGS and MILLER ancestors in Dorset. Her GGM Emma May MILLER nee RIGGS, according to the 1881 Census of Lytchett Minster, was born in Tolpuddle DOR and was then 34 years of age. Her husband was Charles MILLER (35y) and their children in 1881 were Albert Charles (12y, b. Stoke), Fanny (8y, b. Bere Regis), Margaret (7y, b. Lytchett Minster), Charles George (4y, b. Winfrith), Anna (3y, b. Winfrith), Louisa (1y, b. Church Knowle).
Emma May Riggs Miller went to the USA about 1890 with 12 children after her husband Charles died of T.B. in England. Her two brothers were already there from about 1885 - Joseph Riggs (b. 1851) and George Riggs (no birth date). George returned to England after his wife died in 1891 leaving his daughter with his brother and sister.
Emma MILLER died on 19 Oct 1903 in Bethleham, Albany NY and her death certificate shows her parents as Livi Riggs and Anna M.
Dawn would also like to know about a RIGGS family Reunion which was held at Holdenhurst Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth a long time ago, possible 50 years, with a Gwen Riggs Parks having something to do with it.

Moira Forde is searching for information about Gideon FFORDE and Samuel FFORD, his son, who were possibly born in Wareham, Dorchester or Abbotsbury DOR. Moira has difficulty getting birth, marriage and death certificates for Gideon FFORDE. She is working from a handwritten list, entitled "some of our ancestors", pasted in the front of a very old book (1748).
The list begins with "Gideon fforde, born c1619, settled in Carrigascully Ireland 1651. No date of death." The list follows with Samuel fford (note change of spelling), born 1647, probably in Dorset. The list has many generations of later Fords and Fordes, all born in Ireland.
The ffordes were landowners and are believed to have gone to Carrigaskullihy, Co. Cork, Ireland in 1651 as part of the plantation system set up by Cromwell. It is this early Dorset family that is of interest to Moira. She has also been told of a Gideon Forde of Semley, Wiltshire who emigrated to Massachusetts in 1644.
Moira invites contact with anyone who has found any Dorset or Wiltshire Fordes (or name variants) in their family trees for the early 1600s.
[Note from Webmaster: If you would like to view where Moira and her husband live, you should go to their Web site or maybe even pay them a visit!]

Shirley Roskelley is searching for more ancestral background about Justinian WARR who married Eliza SIMMS at Frome SOM on 2 Jun 1842. They had 8 children: Joseph(1843), Ruth (1845), John (1846), Julia Ann (1848), James (1850), Jared George (1851), Franklin (1852) and Alma (1855), all born at Leigh on Mendip SOM. Justinian and Eliza Warr emigrated to the USA in 1869. Joseph Warr married Mary Ann Marett and they had 14 children, number 5 being Shirley's grandmother.
Justinian's parents were George Moses Warr (b.18 Aug 1776 Leigh on Mendip SOM) and Ann nee GRAY (b.c1780 Halstock DOR) and they had 12 children of whom number 7 was Justinian Warr.
Eliza's parents were Thomas SIMMS (b.c1791 Leigh on Mendip SOM) and Mary nee HOLLEY (b.c1793 Leigh on Mendip SOM) who were married on 7 Apr 1817 at Colford SOM.
Shirley would appreciate any information about the ancestry of the Warr and Simms families and any contacts that she can make with their descendants from that Somerset area.

Brenton Brooks is searching for the parents of Thomas BROOK(S) who were Richard Brook(s) and Elizabeth nee KNIGHT. Thomas married Mary PITMAN at Yeovilton SOM and their issue included nine children all baptised at West Camel SOM: John (1790), Robert (1793), Samuel (1795), Elizabeth (1797) who married a MILES, Joseph (1799) who was Brenton's 4xGGF, Mary (1799), Matthew (1802), Mark (1802,bur.1803), Frances (1808) who married a RAYMOND and also settled in SA AUS.
Joseph BROOKS (1799) married Judith GRINTER on 16 Apr 1821 at Muchelney SOM where all their issue was baptised; George (1821), Brenton's 3xGGF, Thomas (1825), Betsy (1827, bur.1828), Betsey (1829), Martha (1831,bur.1831), Mary (1832), Samuel (1835). Samuel (1835) was last known in Huish Episcopi SOM in 1896 and had several sons whose names are unknown.
Brenton would be interested to hear from anyone investigating these families and their ancestors and descendants. He would especially welcome information which leads to the place of birth or baptism of the earliest Richard Brooks and his children apart from Thomas. He would like to contact any descendants of Samuel last known in Huish Episcopi SOM.

Patricia A. Mahoney is researching the following families and would appreciate contact with anyone following up these surnames.
Robert ROWLEY married Martha HILL 17 Apr 1732 at Meare SOM; they had children Martha and James.
James ROWLEY married Amy HARRIS 26 Jun 1771 at Meare SOM. They had children at Meare SOM; Robert (bp 1774), George (bp 1778), Dinah (bp 1781), Job (bp 1785), and Richard (bp 1788).
Robert ROWLEY married Mary READ 18 Nov 1794 at Meare SOM. They had children at Meare SOM; Mary (bp 1795), Lydia (bp 1797), George (bp 1799), and Elizabeth (bp 1802). They had further children at Shapwick SOM; John (bp 1804), Elizabeth (bp 1807) Sarah (bp 1812), Dinah (bp 1816) and Harriet (bp 1818).
John ROWLEY married Charlotte TOTTLE 1 May 1826 at North Petherton SOM and they had children George, Elizabeth and Henry. Charlotte died in 1830 after the birth of the last child. John ROWLEY then married Charlotte SMITH.
Charlotte SMITH was the daughter of William SMITH and SARAH BENNETT who were married on 20 Jun 1808 at Lyng SOM. William was the son of William SMITH and Hannah FRY who were married 1769 at Stoke St Gregory SOM.

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