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Topics - Smokey807

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Kent / Edwin Ingham Pitts (1876-1939)

« on: Saturday 13 February 21 20:14 GMT (UK) »

In the 1911 census taken at High View,Victoria Hill Road, Hextable,Swanley Junction, Kent Edwin was a nurseryman in partnership with Claude Fowler Camburn (a nurseryman) with two domestic servants. Edwin later married Nora Susan Jex(1881-1969) and with her had the following deceased children (1) Thomas Ingham Pitts(1916-1996) and (2) Crena Pitts.

Im interested in the following;
1) any photos of Edwin
2) Edwin's place of residence and occupation from the 1901 census
3) Edwins place of residence and occupation for any year after 1911
4) Any military record for Edwin
5) any information or photos about the Pitts/Camburn nursery in Hextable,Swanley Junction

Kent / Horace Arthur Leather of Tunbridge Wells

« on: Thursday 11 April 19 16:50 BST (UK) »

I would appreciate some assistance with any family or business information for Horace Arthur Leather who was an antique dealer. All I have to go on is the following;

1903 Tunbridge Wells Directory,,,Horace Arthur Leather, antique dealer, 43 Vale Road
1913 Sevenoaks directory... Horace Arthur Leather, dealer in antiques, 53 London Rd, Sevenoaks

The Courier of Dec. 2,1902 reported on antiques for Christmas by H.A. Leather, Vale Road and others.
The Courier of June 4,1906 reported on the construction of a porch on the building of H.A. Leather , 43 Vale Rd.
The Courier of Aug. 14,1908 referred to the "widow of Mr. H. A. Leather" and some damage done to the building and stock at 43 Vale Road.

From the above article of Aug 14,1908 it appears that Mr. H.A. Leather had passed away sometime before 1908 and that his wife continued to operate the shop under her husbands name.

I have two postcard views of Tunbridge Wells showing the shop of H.A. Leather opposite the post office. The name H.A. Leather is shown on the shop awning with the word "antiques" below it.

Kent / Sidney William Allen jeweller of tunbridge wells

« on: Sunday 31 March 19 14:35 BST (UK) »

I would appreciate some assistance. I'm looking for any information about Sidney William Allen who in the 1880's lived in Tunbridge Wells. He was a jeweller and a partner in the firm of Payne & Allen who had a shop on the High Street. He is stated on the website of Payne Jewellers that he was the brother in law of Thomas Edward Payne who in 1884 took Mr Allen as a partner in the business. When Thomas Payne passed away in 1886 widow Helen took over as he senior partner but in 1889 she dissolved the partnership with Mr Allen. The Courier of August 9,1899 states in part that" Mr SidneyAllen, late of the firm of Payne & Allen is shortly going to leave Tunbridge Wells and we are given to understand that he had purchasd a large jeweller business".

I looked at the family of Thomas Edward Payne for any of his sisters that might have married a Mr Allen but could not find one.

Mr Allen is stated to have been a freemason, a member of the Holmesdale Lodge in Tunbridge Wells but I could not locate a freemason record to confirm this.

In 1888 Mr Allen saved the lives of two boys from drowing in the breakwaters of Hastings, Sussex. They were the sons of Mr Edward Ashley. As a result Mr Allen was awarded a bronze RHS medal and given an engraved watch by a fellow mason(George Farrer) who was also a jeweller and had a shop on the High St.

Any family information for Mr Allen or other events in his life are of interest to me.

Kent / Mavis Markies or Sarkis tunbridge wells dog show 1914

« on: Tuesday 12 February 19 14:27 GMT (UK) »

Hello

I would appreciate some help in finding out any information for a Mavis Markies (or Sarkis) who entered her pet sheepdog 'Falcon Joe' in the dog show held in Tunbridge Wells May 13,1914.

A press photo of her with her dog has on the back " Miss Mavis Sarkis with her pet 'Falcon Joe' which won two first prizes. A newspaper report on the event showed the same photo of Mavis with her dog as that in the press photo but the text read " Miss Mavis Markies with Falcon Joe winner of two firsts".

The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News London dated May 23,1914 gave in part " Tunbridge Wells Dog Show- Miss Mavis Markies with Mr Burgoyne's old English sheepdog 'Falcon Joe' two first and special"

The Bedfordshire Mercury of Aug 30,1912 gave "Mr Burgoyn 'Falcon Joe' sheepdog 1st prize"

The London Standard June 5,1910 gave " Old English Sheepdog Mr Burgoyne's Falcon Joe"

Anything you can find out about Mavis and the Mr Burgoyn (or Burgoyne) would be appreciated

Kent / Chapman family of Langton Green Kent

« on: Monday 11 February 19 16:51 GMT (UK) »

I am interested in any information you can add to what I know about John Chapman and his family.

The Courier of January 24,1930 reported that John Chapman of Langton Green died on Satuirday at his residence 'Widbury' in his 83rd year. He was from a well-known Yorkshire family. For the past 9 years he lived in Langton Green. His widow, two daughters and for grandchildren survive him. Family mourners at his funeral in Speldhurst incuded Mrs John Chapman, the misses E.M. and M.C. Chapman, Mr Mobrey Chapman and Major F.H.M. Chapman. The staff of 'Widbury' also attended.

John Chapman came to Langton Green in 1921 and moved into a new house called Widbury. I have family photos showing this house and a woman dated 1921 to 1924. Kelly directory lists " Mrs Chapman, Widbury, Langton Green.

Local newspapers for 1922 and 1925 provide announcements by Mrs Chapman of Widbury for domestic staff. The advert of 1925 says in part "3 in the family, comfortable modern home"

The Courier of September 29,1947 gave a notice of the executors of "the late E.M. Chapman of Widbury, Stonewall Park Rd, Langton Green. (I'm not sure if this pertains to John's wife or the daughter E.M. Chapman referred to in the 1930 death notice for John Chapman)

I did find a few records for Major F.H.M. Chapman who attended the 1930 funeral. He served in ww1 and WW 2 with the Royal Army Medical Corps and in 1914 was awarded the VC. His medals were sold at auction in 2005. I was not able to find out how he was related to John Chapman (1848-1930) though.

Any help would be appreciated.

Kent / Mrs H. Gamble Langton Green

« on: Saturday 02 February 19 16:11 GMT (UK) »

Hello

I am looking for any information about a Mrs H. Gamble of Langton Green who along with Mrs J. Dunkels were breeders of boxer dogs at "Breakstones" on Speldhurst Road.

I have all the information for Mrs J. Dunkels but Harriett or possibly Hannah Gamble remains a mystery. I have her listed along with Mrs J. Dunkels as the "owner" and "breeder" of various champion boxer dogs as given in the Kennel Club records for the 1940's and 1950's at "Breakstones". Mrs H. Gamble will have passed away long ago for Mrs Dunkels died in 1957 (born 1907) and I would expect Mrs Gamble to have been about the same age as Mrs Dunkels.

Any assistance would be appreciated regarding her and her family.

Canada / Francis and Harold Moore of Toronto

« on: Tuesday 27 November 18 16:23 GMT (UK) »

I would appreciate anyinformation about Francis E. Moore who's birth was registered 1890 in Tonbridge, Kent,England and his brother Harold A. Moore who was born 1889 in Southwark, London. They were two children of Henry William Moore born 1857 in Belper, Derbyshire and his wife Charlotte Whitt born 1859 in Belper.

The 1901 census of Britain gave the two brothers living with their parents and siblings in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

I have found a passenger list for the two brothers sailing to Canada on the SS. Lake Manitoba of the CPR line. They sailed from Liverpool and arrived April 8,1908 at St Johns NB. Francis was given as an engineer and Harold as a sign painter. Their intended destination was given as Toronto by the CPR.

I found a record for a Francis E. Moore and a Harold A. Moore for 1908-1916 giving both of them in the volunteer militia Governor General's Body Guards Cavalry. Certificates of Military Instruction were found for them during the period of March to May 1916. After that I found out nothing.

Any information about the two brothers in Canada would be appreciated

Kent / The Mead School Tunbridge Wells

« on: Thursday 15 November 18 13:18 GMT (UK) »

In 1987 Angela Culley purchased a run down building at 16 Frant Road and began The Mead School at that location and continued as the head of the school until she retired in 2017.

She had purchased the building from Robin Dence, a former teacher of Skippers Hill Manor Prep School in Mayfield Sussex. Angela and Robin knew one another from the time they both taught at Skippers school. Angela started there in 1975 and left in 1980. Robin started there about 1978 and by 1983 was living in Tunbridge Wells at 1 Linden Park Road, the former residence of his parents and grandparents. At 1 Linden Park Robin tried unsuccessfully to establish a school there and thus bought the building at 16 Frant Road for that purpose but was unsuccessful there two. While Robin owned 16 Frant Road a former teacher friend of his from Skippers School by the name of Noel ( an ex-navy man) did some maintenance work on the building at 16 Frant Road.

The history of The Mead School goes back even further in time when a Miss Lewis ( Lilian Frances Elizabeth Lewis (1904-1987)) started a school at her home on Linden Park Gardens referred to in school photos as the "Old Mead School". Miss Lewis and Robin Dence got to know one another and it appears that it was Robins intention to take over the school from her but she sold her home to developers.

I would like to hear from anyone who attended the Mead School particularly anyone who has any information on Noel as I have not been able to trace him. Also interested in hearing your experiences as a pupil or teacher at the Mead School during the time of Miss Lewis. I have seen a few group photos showing Miss Lewis and her pupils from about 1975. I want to find out what the address of the school was on Linden Park Road and in what years Miss Lewis ran the school there.

Any information would be much appreciated.

Kent / Michael Robin Dence

« on: Thursday 08 November 18 18:40 GMT (UK) »

Hello...........I would appreciate some assistance with some information about Michael Robin Dence. He was born May 21,1929 in Ticehurst,Sussex the son of Alexender Frank Dence (1897-1976) and Nesta Violet Hermtage (1899-1980). Alexander Frank Dence was a noted biologist.

Michael is found in planning authority records from 1983 up to 1987 at The Mead School 16 Frant Road,Tunbridge Wells and must have been the headmaster. He was replaced in 1987 by headmistress Angela Culley. Michael died in Tunbridge Wells March 15,1998 and was cremated and his ashes buried in the Tunbridge Wells borough cemetery .

Travel records for 1939 gave Michael and his sister and parents travelling from Southampton to France and their address at the time was Highlands , 3 Chilston Road, Tunbridge Wells.

I have all the information I want for his parents and sister but what I have given above is all I know about him. Cant seem to find any records about his education or career before 1983 or when he took over the running of The Mead School in Tunbridge Wells.