Hello Readers,
Henry Kennett OSBORN was born 1853, in Cork, Ireland, during 1853.
Marie Alberta Eugene OSBORN (nee Cox) was the third child of John Cox COX (b: 1823, Bristol) & Anne Clatworthy (b: 1820, Rowberrow).
Marie and Henry were married at St. Thomas a Becket Church, Bath on 2 June 1879,
They were blessed with ten children:
Newport, South Wales:
Elizabeth Annie OSBORN (b: 03/1880) & John Victor OSBORN (b: 12/1881)
Estcourt, Natal: where Henry, the father, is described as ‘Post Master’
Felix Algernon OSBORN (b: 10/1883), Benjamin Earnest OSBORN (b: 06/1885),
Charles Kenley OSBORN (b: 08/1887 & Arthur Willian OSBORN (b: 06/1889)
Ladysmith, Natal: where Henry, the father, is again described as ‘Post Master’
Gladys Ellen OSBORN (b: 09/1892), Henry Alexander OSBORN (b: 08/1893),
Dorothy Mary OSBORN (b: 05/1895) & Frank Edward OSBORN (b: 09/1898)
My wife is a direct descendant of the above John Cox COX & Anne Clatworthy, via their first child: Flora Augusta COX (b: 1850, Wrington, Somerset) who married Benjamin David POPE (b: 1853, Strethham, Cambridgeshire) at St. Thomas a Becket, Bath. Flora & Benjamin spent the years 1884 -1891 in Natal whilst Benjamin worked as a contractor on the ‘new build’ Natal Government Railway from Ladysmith through Howick, Estcourt and further inland. We hold copies of baptism records for Emily Laura POPE (b: 11/1886, Howick) and Edward Benjamin POPE (b: 04/1890, Estcourt) where Edwards’ baptism was witnessed and signed off, by Henry & Marie Osborn (above).
Ruth has in her possession a substantial hand written Family Tree prepared by one of her late mothers’ several correspondents in Natal, each of them being descendants of the Osborn family members’ listed above, whom it would be improper to mention by name as we know not who is still alive and who might be deceased. The letters are dated in the 1970’s & 80’s. The hand written tree includes branches/ generations and names into the 1980’s. Having said that the generation we can comfortably mention includes 6 Osborn families, 1 Broughton family, 1 Middleton family, plus two more Osborn’s for whom we cannot see any foot print beyond their record of birth.
We here in Swansea already have Baptism Records (in lieu of birth certificates) for all ten of the above individuals, along with quite a number of copy Wedding Certificates, and other documents relating to the wider Osborn family, we also have a number of open ended lines which need tidying up.
It is also clear that all the other three Cox sisters visited Maria Alberta over the years, with various Cox names appearing on a number of the previously mentioned baptism records.
Should anyone reading this post recognise any of the above names, we here in Swansea would very much like to ‘swap’ relevant family news, information and updates with you.
JohnG_Swansea.