RootsChat.Com

Here are the children of John and Ruth Verrall

Richard Verrall (baseborn) chr 06 Jan 1764
Sarah Verrall chr 08 Dec 1765
Edward Verrall chr 01 May 1768
Ruth Verrall chr 16 Feb 1772
James Verrall chr 23 Jan 1774
Dinah Verrall chr 28 Apr 1776

Richard was christened on John and Ruth's wedding day.  All christenings at St Mary's Eastbourne

What started out as a simple inquiry regarding Ocklynge cemetery has turned into a most fascinating story that has had an impact on the law (the definition of a widow) and an interesting insight (at least for me!) into the kind of news stories that were reported in New Zealand in the early 1900s.  The court case regarding the contested will is reported in several newspapers in New Zealand (and no doubt elsewhere but some of the New Zealand newspapers are available on-line).  The reports in the newspapers seem to have sensationalized the events. For example, the Nelson Evening Post of 15 May 1907 implies that Alfred Jalland sold his wife to Wagstaff for 25 pounds!

Omega,
I think that Ruth misspoke when she stated that Harriet Elphick was baptised in Brighton in 1845.  It was Ellen that was baptised in Brighton in 1845.

Levi Simpson Elphick seems to have been quite an interesting person.
From the Dietetic Reformer and Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester, England), October 1885, p307:
San Francisco - About thirty-five persons (the members of the two sexes being about equally divided) assembled last night (Thursday, June 25th) at 519, Clay Street, to celebrate the first anniversary of the organisation of the Pacific Food Reform Association. The Association was founded by Mrs. Tarrant Siddons on June 25, 1884, and has for its objects the education of the masses in the knowledge and appreciation of the advantages of a purely vegetable diet as the sole source of health, wealth, long life, happiness, and physical and moral wellbeing. Naturally the celebration took the shape of a Vegetarian banquet, in which vegetables and fruits of many varieties and in various disguises furnished the entire bill of fare.

Among others present were Brother O. G. Gardner (the President of the Society); Mrs. Tarrant Siddons, its secretary and founder; Dr. Barlow J. Smith, of water-cure fame; H. C. Wilson, Principal of the Point Lobos Avenue School and President of the Society of Progressive Spiritualists; Rev. John N. Parker, an eloquent exhorter of the same society; Rev. Nicholas Boyd, who is at present engaged in preparing the catalogue of Adolph Sutro's library; Sister Stow, the President of the Social Science Sisterhood, having for its purpose the adoption of bifurcated garments for feminine wear; Mrs. Webb, Secretary of the same Society and champion lady swimmer of the Pacific coast; L. E. Kelly, paying teller of Lather & Co.'s Bank; and last, but not least, Levi Simpson Elphick, nearly 80 years of age, whose peculiar costume has recently attracted considerable attention in the streets.

Mr. Elphick, who is a remarkably well-preserved old gentleman, with a bronzed complexion, a keen eye, and long hair of silvery white, claims that for 55 years no aninmal food, or animal products with the exception of milk, has passed his lips. To such an extent does he carry his aversion to the products of animal life that his clothing even is manufactured entirely from vegetable products. Hence he roams the streets in all weathers clad in coat and trousers of linen, with his feet encased in slippers of canvas with soles of cork, so that even as to his feet he avoids contact with the objectionable hide of the forbidden cow. Mr. Elphick never wears a hat or head-covering of any description, his motto being to keep the head cool, the feet warm, and the mouth and tongue clean.

Regards

Mark

Hi,
Do you have any information on which Foords are linked with this family?  Which timeframe? 

Regards

Mark