MESSER Harry Thomas b1871 Ayot StPeters Hertfordshire

[Ronayne123]

Hi Trish!    Thanks so much for the welcome and for checking for me.

I just found her in the 1951 census with a different birth date - looks like it could be an writing error - they have her birthdate as 1807 instead of 1797, but it definitely seems to be her. Perhaps her christening date was written down incorrectly as 1793 instead of 1798??

I looked in the free BMD index and she appears twice in there with the date 1868 and 1869, so the date of death that my mum gave to me must be wrong. I don't quite understand how to use the BMD index, other than searching it (i.e. what to do with the results). Sorry about that.

[trish1120]

Hi again,
I am going to post Census Refs for anyone who may be able to help that have access to Suffolk Records that I dont.
Lydia Balls;
1841, HO107/1017/9/Westleton (c 1797)
1851, HO107/1803/236/2  ( c 1807, Middleton)
1861, RG9/1179/55/17 ( c 1800, Middleton)

Christening;
Samuel BALLS
22 Aug 1824, Wesleyan, Framlington and Peasenhall, Suffolk
Parents, John BALLS, Lydia NEWSON
(F/S. Org)
+
JOHN, 30 March 1823
JOSEPH, 07 Oct 1825
WILLIAM, 29 June 1834
(Parents JOHN/LYDIA Balls)

I dont think the 1793 Christening is Lydia.
As you say Ronayne123 2 possible Death Regs in Blything;
March 1868 age 71
March 1869 age 72
There is another in Hoxne, March 1867 age 64

Trish

[Ronayne123]

I was looking at findmypast website (Parish Records Collection 1538-2005) and found a marriage entry for a Lydia Newson in 1821 at Middleton. I don't have a membership to view the record though, but it seems a suitable age for marriage (??) and the fact it's at Middleton is significant.

[trish1120]

Hopefully someone can help you with that

[Ronayne123]

I realised you can buy credits without a subscription, so I did that and it turns out it was her! She got married on 3rd of January 1821 in Middleton. Unfortunately, her parents are listed on the record. I will order the certificate and see if the parents names are on that.

[ClarksTheChemist]

Harry Messer is my Great grandfather.
His daughter Elsie, is my grandmother.
Elsie married Albert (Bert) Clark in Harpenden, around 1928.
Bert Clark worked for the local chemist and eventually, opened his own shop, rivalling Boots, as "Clark's, The Chemist".
After the war, he went on to become Mayor of Harpenden.
My father, "Monty" Clark, can tell you much more about the Messers and "Flossie" Balls!

Regards, CTC

[montyck]

I am the only son of Elsie Kathleen Clark nee Messer (as was recently posted here by my son). I am 82 and live in Canada.

EKC had a younger sister, Rita Messer.  She married Jack Willis (of Batford Mill).  They had a son and daughter. That family emigrated to New Zealand and became sheep farmers. I have lost contact with them.

There was an uncle Bob Messer lived in Harpenden. He only had one daughter, Brenda, who never married as far as I know.

I am more curious about the Balls side of the family. Flossie Balls had a sister, Gertrude. I believe their father was a police constable in Framlingham(?) which is on the river Ouse(?).
Years ago Sotheby's auctioned off some defunct titles. One of them was 'Lord Balls', and it included some fishing rights on the river Ouse. This might be my closest connection with the aristocracy?

'Monty' Clark

[ClarksTheChemist]

EKC had a younger sister, Rita Messer.  She married Jack Willis (of Batford Mill).  They had a son and daughter. That family emigrated to New Zealand and became sheep farmers. I have lost contact with them.

Mandalay, I had the pleasure of meeting some of the Willis  clan visiting Canada from New Zealand. That would have been about 1987.

[ClarksTheChemist]

Mandalay,
I noticed by your profile that you are from NZ.

Are you a Willis relation?

The family of visitors that I met were Mother (nee Willis ), Father was 'Ron' I believe, and they brought their son, about 22 years old.
Ron and the son had beards - Ron's was dark coloured, and the son's was red.

I do not have PM or Email privileges on here, yet.

Please email me via Rootschat if you see this.

Thanks