RootsChat.Com

Dave26 -

Do any records survive of the Reading Borough Police Force circa 1890-1930. If so where can I access them please, as 2 ancestors of mine served as constables in this force around this period.

The Oxfordshire Family History Society bookstall http://www.ofhs.org.uk/books.html has

BKS-BS-06   Reading Borough Police Register 1865-1880    
BKS-BS-07   Reading Borough Police Register 1881-1904

These have records from Sulhamstead and elsewhere.  Oxfordshire Family History Society has a full name index to the books - to have a search done either write to the address on the webpage, or list the names here.

Wendy
Oxfordshire Family History Society helpdesk

Lizzie -

John Eltom widower and Catherine Bartlett spinster were married in Great Bedwyn, Wilts on 5 Dec 1768. Catherine was otp, but John was of the parish of Harding in the county of Oxford. Does anyone know where Harding is?

Harpsden, just south of Henley.

Wendy
OFHS helpdesk
www.ofhs.org.uk

Margaret -

My 4G grandmother Mary Crutch born c 1786 gave her birthplace as Asket, Oxon in 1851 and 1861 census.

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There's an entry on the Oxfordshire Surname Interest List, OXSIL, www.oxsil.org.uk , for CRUTCH in Stadhampton.  You might want to contact the researcher, and also add your own interests there.

Wendy

Margaret -

Thanks very much for that, Wendy. 

I'm not sure if Martin Crutch and Mary Crutch were related, Mary may have been from the other Asket, but I have something new to research.

Where would Ascott be today?

Margaret

In terms of Ascott - and other Oxfordshire places - always good to refer to the Victoria County History of Oxfordshire, now online.

Of Ascott, it says at http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/oxon/vol7/pp117-146
Of Milton's other hamlets Ascot once had a large manor-house, a medieval chapel, and at least three farmhouses. (fn. 81) Little is left now except Ascot Farm, an L-shaped, half-timbered and brick house, dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, and a few other survivals of the great house and its appendages. Ascot was the home for several generations of various members of the Great Milton branch of the Dormer family: Sir Michael Dormer acquired it in 1518, and it passed to his son Ambrose (d. 1566). (fn. 82) Ambrose's widow Jane, who had a life-interest in the house, (fn. 83) took as her second husband William Hawtrey, a London merchant and an original member of the Muscovy company. (fn. 84) In her will made in 1581, Jane speaks of her plate and household stuff at 'my mansion house and grounds called Ascott'.

Here's a trail, showing it in relation to Stadhampton -
https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/ascott-park-historical-trail

Wendy

Last week Oxfordshire FHS embarked on a new venture.

Periodically, an advisor from Oxfordshire FHS will be present on Lilley Mitchell's show on BBC Radio Oxford, and will present the research they've done on the ancestors of a visitor to one of our helpdesk sessions around the county, with the candidate also present to hear the fruits of the further research.

Last week, Jerome Sale, the sports presenter on BBC Oxford, had some secrets of his ancestry uncovered by Sue Honoré, our journal Editor, and an Officer on our executive committee. You can hear the recording on iPlayer by going to http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05lfp13#play. Move the slider to 1:09 hours to start listening at the beginning of the family history segment. It will be available for the next 20 days.

Wendy
Publicity, Oxfordshire FHS
www.ofhs.org.uk