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Thanks for the information submitted on George Shell.

I have quite a good database on the Shell name in the region at the time.

My George Shell was a baptist minister and tended to a number of Baptist communities including Pill Gloucestershire 1815-1816, Wells Somerset 1816-1824 and Semley Wiltshire 1824-1832. His death was recorded in the Semley Baptist Records in 1832 and his age is given as 47 hence the 1785 birthdate assigned to him.

There are three Georges born in Box in the 1780s - George baptised in 1782 to Michael Shell & Margaret Doggett is in my opinion the one who served in the 14th Dragoons. It appears that he was in a bad way when he was discharged from the army in 1807 "Discharged aged 25 after 4 years 6 months of service due to Serafula and Veneral Disease contracted at Hounslow by which he lost the use of his right arm" so I suspect that he is likely to be the George buried in Box in 1808. The Box burials don't give ages so it is difficult to tell but my strong suspicion is that the other two Georges (bp 1785 & 1788) died in infancy in each case a couple of weeks after their baptisms. There was an extensive census of Box taken in 1801 which is held at Chippenham Record Office which has been a help in assembling the Shell families of Box - I don't think either of the 1785 or 1788 Georges survived that long.

There is a further George - bp 1786 Batheaston to Edward Shell & Diana New but I think he was still living in Batheaston up the 1861 census so he too can be eliminated from my enquiries.

It has occurred to me that if my George was from a Baptist family that it is unlikely that he would have had a childhood baptism which makes him difficult to find. There was however an Abigail Shell aged 86 "widow many years an inhabitant of Walcot" recorded in 1788 in Somerset Street Baptist RG4/1790 who in terms of age could be a reasonable fit for Abigail Harel who is reputed to have married a William Shell in 1733. William and Abigail had one child baptised in Box in 1734 and then more in Bathford between 1736 and 1741 before falling off the radar.

In addition at Somerset Street there is a difficult to make out record dated August 1802 for "_____SHILL painter of the parish of St Peter & St Paul aged_____"  I wonder whether this may related to a George Shell painter resident of Montpellier Row in Walcot from 1775 onwards. I think he was likely the husband of an Ann Shell who drowned in the river in Bath in 1792. This couple had a son named George baptised in Bath St Michael in 1771 - probably too old to be my George, but maybe if he died young and the name were recycled who knows.

Regards
Peter

 

I have come across a merchant seaman registration entry from 1835 listing a William Screen age 25 born Derry. I assume that this refers to Londonderry in Ireland.

Best wishes
Peter

Hello,

Does anybody have a copy of the MIs for Beverley minster (St John) please?

I am looking for Mary Randall of Lairgate who was buried aged 99 on the 23rd October 1821 - I think she may be connected to Mrs Anne Robinson of Lairgate who was a beneficiary in the will of General George Garth, who was also buried at the minster.

Thanks and Regards
Peter Richardson

I have just found a French website which seems to refer to Robert Pulford's tailoring business, but my French is not up to the translation

http://www.sabredefrance.eu/makers/auctions.php?cID=826

Are there any French linguists out there? Am I correct in understanding the Pulfords produced swords as well?

Thanks and Regards
Peter