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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Shropshire Lookup Requests => Shropshire => England => Shropshire Completed Look up Requests => Topic started by: J.J. on Friday 23 September 05 21:42 BST (UK)
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Hello everyone!
Although he is not in my direct family line, I am interested in finding out more about the Shrewsbury artist Henry Blunt. I have written to the museum housing his work, (Shrewsbury Museums Service) and also the Darwin site which displays his work on-line.
I have received no reply from either. His daughter, Agnes, was also an artist of note.
If anyone is up to this challenge, that would be great!
I cannot seem to find records of his marriage or death. There is little on-line
other than on my own website...( about his nephew Thomas Blunt )
Here is what I do have on him, so far...although mostly unconfirmed.
Parents Robert Blunt & Ann (Porter) m.1802 Chesham
Henry Blunt : Artist & Chemist
Born 14 NOV 1806 Southwark Surrey d.___shrewsbury
Spouse: Martha ______born c1811 d.1900 Shrewsbury
children: Henry b. 1848 , Ellen c.1846,
Agnes c.1845 & Emily b.1843
Samples of his work:
http://www.darwincountry.org/explore/001561.html?sid=2981d338ba62b4a99fe236cda2393eda
(Please scroll down, as the first image is a painting OF him in 1840 by J. Pardon.)
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Oh, and I forgot this MAY be a clue... one of his paintings has the caption:
Interior view of Abbey, Shrewsbury. A view of the east end of the Abbey after Pountney-Smith's restorations of 1862-3 and before Pearson removed the neo-Norman east end on the left, to make way for his new chancel.
So was he still alive in 1862/3...?????
Cannot find on ANY census...see my mystery?
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This has since been disproven by the wonderful replies to come! read on ;D
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JJ
I wonder if you could get in touch with the Shropshire archives and find out about Henry through the house?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/history/2004/12/house_history.shtml
Annie
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Hi JJ
I'm assuming you have access to the census returns - if not, I'll copy out the details for you.
Found the children in the 1871 - the girls are on RG10/2777, folio 96, page 1, including an extra daughter, Anne, listed as an inbecile, living in Meole Brace, Shrewsbury.
This may be young Henry on RG10/1589, folio 125, page 29, a BA lodging in Cambridge, need birth cert to be sure.
What I don't understand is that the girls are the first entry of the first page and yet they are listed as 'daughters'. Would the parents be on the last page of the previous folio? They wouldn't really split a family up like that, would they?
Best wishes
Monica
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Hi, Annie!
Can you get info from the archives gratus? Money is tight right now and
don't have extra for the genealogy...that's why I am loving the help on this
site. Thanks for the reply! J.J.
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Hi JJ
Well I clicked on to the archives and then in the search typed in houses and there were loads of them - my thought was if you could find the house and that information - on the site I gave you - that might lead you to Henry!!
Read the site and see what you think!!
Annie
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hi, Monica...
Don't have access to the census...just what I access free online. If you wouldn't mind copying the information down for me, that would be great. Thank you so much! Weird
that the family is split up, but maybe there are a great deal of people in the household? Don't really know much about the censuses...
Thanks so much for looking this up for me. J.J.
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Dear Annie,
The site looks intriguing...just at a glance, I am not sure I understand it...but will look at it closer tomorrow as others need to use computer. So are you saying that if I find the house they occupied, I can find something about them there???
Is this an indexed database like that, or am I misunderstanding? Will get back to this tomorrow afternoon when I have time to really focus and understand better.
Many thanks! J.J.
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Hi JJ
This is from the 1861 census,
Meole Brace
Martha Blunt, H, Widow, 49, Fundholder, Chelsea Middlesex
Emily, Daur, U, 18, Shrewsbury
Agnes, Daur, U, 16, Scholar, Shrewsbury
Ellen, Daur, U, 14, Scholar, Shrewsbury
Henry, Son, 13, Scholar, Shrewsbury
Ann, Daur, 9, Scholar, Shrewsbury
Elizabeth Morris, Serv, U, 21, Cook, Llanfair Montgomershire
RG9/1874 Folio 97 Page 17
This may narrow down the death time span for you. I will see if I can find them in 1851 for you but I have to get ready for work so I may not get back to you for a while.
Allie
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This is in 1851, Meole Brace
Henry Blunt, H, M, 44, Chemist and Druggist, Middlesex St Georges Southwark??
Martha, W, M, 39, Middlesex Chelsea
Emily, Daur, 8, Scholar, Shrewsbury
Agnes, Daur, 6, Scholar, Shrewsbury
Ellen M, Daur, 4, Shrewsbury
Henry, Son, 3, Shrewsbury
Rebecca Hughes, Serv, Widow, 32, Nurse, Shrewsbury
Mary J Harries, Serv, U, 27, House serv, Shrewsbury
Allie
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Hi JJ
1871 census
Meole Brace (Brookside)
Emily Blunt, daughter, Unmarried, 28, Annuitant, b. Shrewsbury.
Agnes Blunt, daughter, U, 26, Governess, b. Shrewsbury.
Ellen Martha Blunt, daughter, U, 24, Governess, b. Meole Brace.
Anne Blunt, daughter, U, 19, b. Meole Brace, Imbecile.
Isabella Lloyd, Servant, U, 23, Servant, Cook, b. Madeley.
Martha Cath. Oliver, Servant, U, 18, Servant, Housemaid, b. Shrewsbury.
RG10/2777, folio 96, page 1.
1871 census
42 Jesus Lane, All Saints, Cambridge (Four houses away from Jesus College)
Rebecca Sharpe, Head, Widow, 60, College Servant, b. Cambridge.
Louisa Sharpe, Daughter, U, 42, Housekeeper, b. Cambridge.
John Frederick Chambe, Lodger, U, 17, Scholar, b. Barnstaple, Devon.
Henry Blunt, Lodger, U, 23, occ B.A., b. Shrewsbury (Nice idea that having a BA is an occupation!)
RG10/1589, folio 125, p. 29.
I still don't understand why the girls are all listed as daughters - I would have expected the eldest to list herself as Head. I suppose one answer would be if Martha was away from home - visiting or in hospital. I'll have a look for a death date for Martha.
Monica
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Success!
Martha was visiting in Cambridgeshire.
1871 census
The Vicarage, Trumpington, Cambridgeshire. (I didn’t realise there was a real Trumpington - thought it was invented for the children’s programme!)
Spencer Mansell, Head, Married, 32, occ: Vicar of Trumpington, Master of Arts, Landowner, Receiving income from interest of money, Private Tutor, b. Barnham St Gregory, Norfolk.
Emily C A Mansell, Wife, M, 43, occ: Vicar’s wife, b. Purley, Berkshire.
Susan Shailer, Friend resident with family, Unmarried, 70, Annuitant, b. Banbury, Oxfordshire.
William L M H Dakyns, Nephew, U, 16, Scholar, b. King’s Sterndale, Derbyshire. (Birthdate mistranscribed as 1795)
Martha Blunt, Visitor, Widow, 60, Receiving income from interest of money, b. Chelsea, Middx.
Maria Burling, Servant, U, 35, Cook, b. Over, Cambridgeshire.
Mary A Farmer, Servant, U, 20, Housemaid, b. Shrewsbury, Salop.
Martha A Miller, Servant, 14, Housemaid, b. Stow-cum-Quy, Cambridgeshire.
Monica
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Wow, Monica and Allie...Just took a quick look this morning and am
amazed with what you have found for me. As I had thought, Henry
did die young, after all...so the dating of the work in the painting is
wrong as restorations of the Abbey must have taken place a lot
sooner than they had said...
Thanks so very much for all your work, I shall look closer this afternoon
when I have time to read all this...
Many cyber hugs to all three of you! J.J. (Jeany)
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In retrospect, could he have been asked, perhaps to do this drawing with
the changes as a visual proposal of the work to be done. This would explain the dates being so off...
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Dear Allie,
You have indeed helped to narrow the date of death.
I dug in my files and found that I had saved this...Family Search site info
but thought it must be another ...as several henrys born in shropshire...and
then the painting info threw me off...So this probably was his death, after all.
Deaths Sep 1853
Blunt Henry Shrewsbury 6a 398
Still haven't properly read all the posts...doing that now....
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Oh, Yes...and Allie, I forgot to mention that ....Is it any wonder I didn't know where Southwark was when it is listed on 4 different census documents as ....Surrey, London, Buckingham and Middlesex (twice now)....
I find the districts are tough enough to follow!
Again, Many Cyber Hugs!!! Jeany
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Hello, Monica...I think I may have the death date for Martha as 1900?
From the BMD....oh...wait that's where I must have gotten the Henry
death info, too. Silly me!
Deaths Mar 1900 Blunt Martha 89 Atcham 6a 577
Although it's funny I couldn't find her in the 1881 census
Brilliant to find her in Cambridgeshire!
She had quite the housefull of gals at home...maybe she needed a break!
...Note that most in the household are living on interest of money!
Many Thanks! jeany
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Just based on the information from the last census...Martha was with Mansells....so I thought that I would try that search, as Henry never came up under marriages...but this resulted!!! Now there were as many men on the page as women, but does that mean that maybe he wasn't transcribed yet, or am I grasping at straws, here...????
Marriages Jun 1842
MANSELL Martha Montgomery 27 155
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Never mind...I am grasping at straws as she would have been listed as aunt or what ever, not as visitor... but could have been a clue...as I did find a Martha mansell 1812, but she was born in Farnham, Surrey...nothing else matched either...
The young vicar was born in Maole Brace also, I just found. Not sure what that means..
You certainly have been more than a great help. Perhaps you can help me with more of my Blunt family in Shrewsbury...? Do you two have to pay for this information which you have found for me?
Can't thank you enough for all the help...Jeany
p.s. just to show you that the census takers took liberty with name spelling...
Emily's last name was dawkins...but the nephew is written as Dakyns...
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Just so that there are no duplicates...
These were sent to me on henry's boy's family
Henry Blunt’s son, Henry: On 1891 census
BLUNT Henry Head M M 43 Private Tutor Shropshire - Meole Brace
BLUNT Agnes Wife M F 36 Nottinghamshire - Nottingham
BLUNT Mary A Dau S F 13 Scholar Bedfordshire - Bedford
BLUNT John H Son S M 10 Scholar Bedfordshire - Bedford
BLUNT Richard E Son S M 9 Scholar Bedfordshire - Bedford
BLUNT George W Son S M 7 Scholar Bedfordshire - Bedford
BLUNT Charity Dau S F 4 Bedfordshire - Bedford
BLUNT Davenport C Son S M 3 Bedfordshire - Bedford
BLUNT Ellen M Sister S F 44 Governess Shropshire - Meole Brace
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Hi again
I've found the household in the 1891 census:
Still at Brookside, Meole Brace.
Martha Blunt, Head, Widow, 80, Living on own means, b. London, Chelsea.
Emily Blunt, Daughter, Single, 48, Living on own means, b. Shrewsbury.
Agnes Blunt, Daughter, Single, 46, Artist, Painting, b. Shrewsbury.
Elizabeth Emma Jones, Single, 15, Servant, General, b. Atcham, Salop.
RG12/2113, folio 66, page 1.
You've got Henry and Ellen in the 1891 census in Bedford. I can't find Anne anywhere. As she was listed as an imbecile in the earlier census, you'll probably be looking for an early death date.
No luck with the 1881 but I'm still looking.
(The searches aren't costing me anything as I have a year's use of Ancestry. I've come to a halt with my own research until I visit some Record Offices and I'm not well enough at the moment to get out much, so it's really enjoyable to get to grips with a new puzzle.)
Monica
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Okay - 1881 census so far:
5 Argyll St, Bedford St Peter, Bedfordshire.
Henry Blunt, Head, M, 33, Private Tutor, B.A. Cambridge, b. Shrewsbury.
Agnes Blunt, Wife, M, 25, b. Nottingham, Notts.
Mary Agnes Blunt, Daughter, 3, b. Bedford, Beds.
John Henry Blunt, Son, 7mths, b. Bedford, Beds.
RG11/1619, folio 47, pages 42 & 43.
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1881 census:
Rhydd Court Mansion, Hanley Castle, Worcestershire.
Ellen M Blunt, U, 34, Governess, b. Meole Brace, Shropshire.
Ellen and six servants are living in the mansion with Joceline Alban Lechmere, 9, son, and Catherine M Lechmere, 6, daughter.
No parents at home on census night.
I can give you all the servants’ details if you want them.
RG11/2919, folio 23, p. 4.
(Rhydd Court is a big mansion - it has been a boys’ boarding school in recent years until it was shut down because of a child abuse scandel.)
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But - no Martha, Emily or Agnes.
Maybe someone else reading your thread will have more luck. I think I've searched in every way I can try.
Good luck,
Monica
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Found this, so might be annie
Deaths Mar 1887
Blunt Anne 35 Atcham 6a 533
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Wow, Monica...you have just been great...
If & when you are up to it, I would love it if you would help me with my line
of the Blunts in Shrewsbury....Henry's brother Thomas W. Blunt was my Great Great Grandfather...
I have a few blanks that I need help with. Could I direct you to that thread, or
would I ask within this one?
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I just found Agnes in 1881
The Rectory, Fladbury, Worcester, England
Private Governess
Head of Household....William P.A. CAMPBELL
and a huge list of those in household...
Tried only the name Blunt with +-birthdates,
but couldn't locate Emily or Martha, either.
J.J.
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Hi JJ
I was going to ask you about other Blunts because I came across Thomas P Blunt in the 1881, born and living in Shrewsbury, also a Chemist. I wondered if there was some connection.
I should start a new thread to follow up your own line. That way, other people won't miss information that may be useful to them. I know I find it easier when looking through threads if each one is a self-contained subject.
It may be worth putting a separate post on to see if anyone can find Emily or Martha in the 1881 census. However they may not be there to find. Some people just seem to have missed out getting listed, especially if they were away from home.
Monica
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Keep meaning to say how much I enjoyed your website - love the horrorscopes!
And the murals and the rest. Seeing that picture of your younger sister, it's no wonder your parents encouraged you to train. It's lovely.
Monica
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Hi Monica
I came across Thomas P Blunt in the 1881 too. But had no luck with Emily or Martha.
I'm still looking though.......I hate being beaten ;D
J.J.'s site is very good, isn't it?
Jan
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Monica & J.J.
Can you just clarify exactly which of the daughters we are looking for in 1881? I know this might sound like a dumb question, but after reading back through the posts I am left wondering.
It may be worth putting a separate post on to see if anyone can find Emily or Martha in the 1881 census. However they may not be there to find. Some people just seem to have missed out getting listed, especially if they were away from home.
Monica
Is Martha not this one?:
1881 census:
Rhydd Court Mansion, Hanley Castle, Worcestershire.
Ellen M Blunt, U, 34, Governess, b. Meole Brace, Shropshire.
1871 census
Ellen Martha Blunt, daughter, U, 24, Governess, b. Meole Brace.
This is from the 1861 census,
Ellen Martha Blunt, daughter, U, 24, Governess, b. Meole Brace
Or have I completely lost the plot? ;D
Jan
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Hi Jan
It is getting confusing, isn't it? As JJ is offline at the moment I'll tell you where (I think) we've got to.
We have found most of the family in the censuses except for mother, Martha b. 1812, and daughters Emily b. 1843 and Annie b. 1852, if she didn't die until 1887.
Good hunting!
Monica
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Oh thanks for that Monica! At last I know where I am. I didn't realise that the Mother was missing in 1881 ;D
The repeated christian names are certainly very confusing - I'm sure we all have them in our Trees!
At least I now know who I'm looking for :D
Jan
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Hi, Jan....you are turning up everywhere today!!!!
Don't think that we will find them as i tried all kinds of things like misspells and just last names no counties at all....Blount Bland Blund...
You are all really super at this! What a site this is, with so many wonderful genealogists. I often have trouble keeping up! J.J.
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Oh, Hi...Monica...
I just read up to see another post from you! Thanks for the compliment!
My mum was an artist until her very last stroke a few years back ( that section of the brain was affected) ...That's why we knew about Henry.
She was always very proud of her Grandfather's uncle. I am sure she knew he died young, but I waited too long to try gleaning information from her!
My horrorscope illustrations made me all of $25.00 a cartoon...and it often
took me over 5 hours....so it wasn't a lucrative job...but it was a lot of fun!
I am afraid that I am not a very good saleperson for myself as a freelance
artist. I had imagined myself illustrating books and drawing people's children
for a living. Ah, well, it's still a lovely hobby and I enjoy it very much!
J.J.
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Thankyou again to all...and many cyber hugs!!!
Re: my branch of the tree...Here is an old post with the whole family listed....Jan is going to take some shots for me at St. Chad's. Am I allowed to post another thread's link...I suppose I will find out soon enough!!!
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,67302.msg274336.html#msg274336
I like to see down all the paths, which may be weird, but I am just interested in the families...I never would have found that Agnes, Henry's daughter was also an artist, otherwise...and that is a fun thing to know! Great Grandpa had a huge orchard...Mom grew a garden full of every fruit she could grow in her Province.(Saskatchewan, Canada... It's cold here in the winter)...he inspired her to do this, she always said...
and looking down another family, I found that her cousin also was a fruit farmer...
She loves to hear these things! Jeany (J.J.)
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You all were so wonderful to help me when I was a MEGGA-noobie ( I'll always be a NEWBIE) Have to share this....
I have found something very exciting....I need to find out if this is the same Henry, although not proven, the fact that they were a family of science does point to it being about the same man!
I need to get a copy of this publication so I can find out for sure...!
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2000A&G....41a...6H
"An unrecorded Shropshire modeller of the Moon. This model of the surface of the Moon, made by Henry Blunt, surfaced among the Society’s photographic ..."
Many hugs to all of you....J.J.
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There is an image of it online!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects/astronomy/1858-43.aspx?keywords=lunar
"Made in 1851, this model is an electrotype copy of a plaster replica of the Moon's surface centred on the crater Eratosthenes. Framed in a wooden case it was made by the amateur astronomer, Henry Blunt. The model is based on observations of the Moon made with his reflecting telescope from his home at Shrewsbury. The main crater in the electrotype corresponds to a lunar feature 28 miles across (45 km). It was donated to the Science Museum by the Commissioners of the Great Exhibition and was probably displayed at the 1851 world exposition. The model is described in the exhibition catalogue, but other examples of lunar models by Blunt are known to exist"
Wow and a top/faceon view, also...
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/images/I054/10321830.aspx?keywords=lunar
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/images/I054/10321828.aspx?keywords=lunar
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I forgot to mention that I have written the Darwin site and they have added henry's date of death...thanks to all your hard work and sleuthing on my behalf.
I just found this, so seems it is our man as it states the date of his death....but still want the publication...."about Henry Blunt (d.1853) & his models of the lunar surface"
http://www.aas.org/had/bibliographies/bibliography2000-04.pdf
and this site say "an apothecary in Shrewsbury" so it is his work!!!!
http://www.astro.cardiff.ac.uk/sas/2006_03.pdf
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Thought I'd dig on the LDS site for 1881 once again...and still came up empty, not that it's a big deal, as they are found on the other censuses....
but this (extracted) was now added to the IGI along with more Blunts I was looking for
Martha Blunt - Chr: Nov. 26, 1837 Saint Julian, Shrewsbury
Henry Blunt - born Dec 4, 1839 Chr: Jan 5 1840 " "
Emily Blunt - born Feb. 5, 1843 Chr: Mar 19 1843 " "
Agnes Blunt - born March 18 1845 Chr: May 8 " "
not extracted files:
Ellen Martha Blunt - Chr:July 17, 1846 Shropshire
Anne Blunt - Chr: August 24 1851 Shrewsbury
Awe...So they had ( and lost) 2 other children previously
Birth December Q. 1837 Martha Blunt Shrewsbury 18 / 131
Death March Q. 1838 Martha Blunt Shrewsbury 18 / 164
Birth December Q. 1839 Henry Blunt Shrewsbury 18 / 166
Death March Q. 1840 Henry Blunt Shrewsbury 18 / 157
So they were married before the registration...Hmmm...I wonder if it was back in Middlesex, then....Does anyone think I should post on the board there?
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Hi J.J. :) :)
Here are all the Blunts listed on the you know what discs for Shrewsbury
Smethcote Registrum.
28 Sep 1633 John Leeach and Elinor Blunt mar.
The Regester of the Parish of Condober of all Christenings, Weddings, and Burialls.
08 Apr 1590 Mrs. Margarett Blunt, of Nettley, wydow bur.
24 Apr 1793 Rich. Blunt, from Longnor.
13 Oct 1798 Mary Blunt (age 92).
The Regester booke of the Parrnshe of Sheriffhales, Anno Domini 1557 et anno Philippi et Marie 3o et 4o.
Book 1.
10 Oct 1789 John Lane, of Wrockwardine par., & An Rudge, of S.H., lic. Per R. Dean, Curate. Wit: Mary Blunt, Nathaniel Porter.
Shropshire: Shrewsbury - St. Mary Parish Registers, Lichfield Diocese
03 Mar 1778 Jane Blunt, (Infirmary), bur.
12 Nov 1803 Wm. Blunt & Elenor Wall, Lic. Wit: Ann & Wm. Hammond.
Great Bolas Parish Begisters.
06 Apr 1623 Jane, d. of Morris [Thomas erased] Blunt bap.
and buried 12 Apr 1623
Shropshire: Lichfield - Wills and Administrations, 1516-1652
1538 Blunt, Nicholas
1559 Blunt, John 172
1604 Blunt, Alexander 151
1617 Blunt, John, ad. 264
1620 Blunt, John, ad. 69
1627 Blunt, Ralph, ad. 56
1628 Blunt, Margery, Ashborne
1648 Blunt, William, Coventry
1649 Blunt, John, admon. will, Knowle, 1762
Looks like your lot were worth some money :) :) :)
Pete :) :)
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:-* Ohhhh, Thanks, Pete...
Haven't made any connection to Shrewsbury prior to my direct line moving there from Surrey/Middlesex region in early part of 19th century...They may have just needed a Pharmacist/Chemist/Analyst....but there may have been a pull of family....Would love to get back further ...Thanks so very much for all that! Hopefully something connects one day. I also see a Porter surname in there....(Robert Blunt , Henry's father, married a Porter) so you never know ?
all the very best! :D
J.J.
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........and you are still waiting for your Blunt grave photos from St Chad's...... :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ oops!
I shall get right on it ;)
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Oh, That's o.k....
I was rather hoping to have been there myself by now...I have so much I want to do in your archives I'll need a month ! I was pleased with my shots of 23 Wyle Cop and the residence....
;D J.J.
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Here is some information about Emily C A
She was born 15th March 1828 in Purley Berks the daughter of Matilda Caroline Dakin and John Horsley Dakin.
John was curate of Purley at the time and baptised his daughter Emily Caroline Angelica on the 14th May 1828
regards
John
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Welcome to rootschat JOHN!!!!
John refers to this earlier find by Monica, the wife of Spencer Mansell :
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,91489.msg388134.html#msg388134
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Coming late to this subject - it may interest readers that the father of Rev Spencer Mansell, quoted in 1871 as vicar of Trumpington [not Trumpton!] was previously vicar at Meole Brace.
This probably explains the link.
A
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Much appreciated. They ( Mansill) are not my family, as you may have noted...but all helps to round out some information, so thanks so much for your input. J.J.
( and hello to all once again...! my Mom, also an artist has been with her with her GrGr uncle for almost 2 years now. Maybe they'll both help me with a painting one day )
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More fabulous information on our Henry Blunt on this thread started by a descendant: http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,636191.new.html#new
Please not if anyone has more to add or comment, read through both threads then add to one of the two threads...to avoid duplicaion of resources...