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I’m not quite sure where to post this enquiry so I thought I’d try this board.

I came across a woman in my family tree called Ann Jean Martineau born 1917 in Chelsea, daughter of Cyril Edgar Martineau, an English stockbroker.  Jean’s mother, Muriel Robbins, was an American by birth and a 1st cousin of President F.D. Roosevelt. 

There’s various mention of Jean in the newspaper archives, particularly during her debutante season in London in the 1930’s.  She even attended a dance held for her at the White House during Roosevelt’s term of office.

Jean was a nurse at St Thomas’s Hospital during WW2 but soon after hostilities ended she married a chap called Peter Cazenove, a wartime Spitfire fighter pilot.  Peter was the son of Percy Cazenove, another stockbroker who reached the rank of Major in the Hertfordshire Yeomanry during The Great War.

Peter Cazenove’s exploits during WW2 make interesting reading.  In March 1940 Flying Officer Cazenove was providing air support over Calais to the retreating British troops when his aircraft was hit by airborne enemy fire and he was forced to make a ‘wheels up’ landing on the beach.  He was subsequently captured by German troops and after several failed attempts was eventually sent to Stalag Luft III which was the PoW camp famous for The Great Escape of March 1944.  His aircraft was recovered from a sandbank on the French coast several decades later and fully re-constructed to original specification and airworthy condition.

Peter Cazenove married again in 1957 to Edna Marjorie Hollis (nee Davie).  He died in 1980 in Angmering on Sea in West Sussex.  There’s no further trace of Jean Martineau beyond the late 1940’s.  She featured on the front cover of Country Life in 1946 a few months after her marriage to Peter and was living with her mother at 35 Sloane Avenue, Chelsea in 1948 under her married name.  Her mother continued to live at the Sloane Avenue address until her death in 1971 but I’ve not seen any electoral register records showing daughter Jean was living there after 1948.

Can anyone shed any light on what became of Jean Martineau?  I’m guessing she may have moved to the US.

Cheers,
Chris

I'm wondering if anyone can help me find a baptism record for a John Doyley (possibly D'Oyley), born around 1775 in Wandsworth, died 5th October 1861 at Judd Street, Brunswick Square in London.

He married Mary Ann Dobson on 11th September 1800 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire and, as far as I can determine, they had 5 children born between 1803 and 1816, all of whom I've managed to trace.  Mary Ann died in 1849.

John Doyley was a land surveyor.  I've found him in 1841, 1851 and 1861 census returns and there are numerous entries in the London trade directories.  He had business premises in Greville Street, Hatton Garden in 1820, Frederick Street in Grays Inn in 1830 and Liverpool Street, Kings Cross in 1845.  His two sons, John King Doyley and William Doyley were also surveyors.

According to his probate record the executors responsible for his estate were Samuel Smith, his son-in-law, and his grandson, Samuel Smith junior.  Both Samuels were solicitors.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Chris

I have a John Thornley, a colliery worker, who married Catherine Matthews on 22 Jan 1872 at Holy Trinity church in Burslem.  They had 5 children: Thomas (1872, Longton), Mary Ann (1875, Burslem), Catherine (1881, Burslem), John (1883, Burslem) and Margaret (1885, Haydock in Lancashire).

John Thornley died in 1885 in Haydock, apparently as a result of a mining accident.  His age at death was 38.  According to the marriage certificate his father's name was Thomas Thornley, a farmer.

I've found his wife in 1891 & 1901 census returns.  She married a chap called Matthew Littler in 1897 and died 1907.

I can't find John Thornley in any census returns so can't determine his birthplace or details of his parents.  I would greatly appreciate any help/suggestions for tracing him in the records.

Regards,
Chris

Hi,

I'm trying to find out a bit more about this man.

Allan Ansell was born 1867 in Croydon, son of Henry & Catherine Ansell.

I can't find this Allan Ansell in either the 1891 or 1901 census returns but in 1911 he was living in Cheam in Surrey, having been married 23 years to a woman called Ellen and with a 21 year old son called John William.  Ellen was born 1866 in Harleston, Norfolk, John William was born 1889 in East Ham.  Allan Ansell had married Ellen Brown on 4th June 1887 at St Michael's church in Croydon.

The 1911 census indicates that he was a farmer although from that time he became more involved in property and real estate dealing & development and there are a number of land registration entries in his name reported in the London Gazette. 

In 1920 he bought two farms in Rainham, Essex.  A highway was completed in 1926 to by-pass Rainham which ran through Ansell's holding, but he laid out roads on both sides of it, and sold plots for residential houses which were said to be cheaper per square yard than linoleum.

In 1924 he acquired a 1,500 acres estate in Havering including the manor of Havering-atte-Bower.  Indications are he was living at 'Priests', Havering Road in Romford around that time.  His son John W. Ansell, a contractor, sold most of the 1500 acre estate in 1937.

Allan Ansell was killed in a car crash on 28th July 1933 when his car over-turned on the Kingston by-pass near Esher.  The car in which he was travelling went out of control after striking a lorry.  His chauffeur was also killed in the crash.  I've not seen the full newspaper reports of his death and would appreciate if anyone can let me know if they contain any more information than summarised here.

At the time of his death he was living in Danescourt, Oxshott.  Danescourt has recently been developed into a very upmarket housing estate and I've not been able to find any information on the property he actually resided in which I assume has long since disappeared.

Around the time of his death, I believe he took delivery of a supercharged Bentley sports car, one of the 50 original production Blower Bentleys.  Bentley Motors service records indicate that the car was acquired in 1933 by famous Maidenhead motor dealer (Rolls Royce & Bentley) dealer R.S. Mead which would tie in with Mr Ansell's untimely death that summer.  It is high likely R.S. Mead initially supplied Mr Ansell with the car from new as it was registered in Berkshire.

I've not been able to find the death date of Ellen, his wife.

His son, who I believe continued his business, died in 1960 at Leigh-on-Sea.  The executor of his estate was Ethel Lilian Ansell, a married woman.  I've not been able to determine the relationship between John William and this woman. 

Any further snippets of information on the above would be greatly appreciated.

Regards, Chris

I'm  researching a Miss E.M. Unwin who died in Marylebone, London in 1960.  The place of residence given on her Probate Calendar entry was The Wyke, Grasmere.

I've seen some pictures of Wyke Cottage in Grasmere but I believe this is but one property on the Wyke estate.  The main property is a 6 bedroom dwelling from what I've read.  Does anyone have any information on The Wyke and if so, would you know when Miss Unwin moved to Grasmere?

Up until at least 1940 she was the owner of Palmers Farm in Billingshurst, Sussex.  She was a lover of fast Bentley cars and large Suffolk horses.

http://www.vintagebentleys.org/carpages/po3265.php

http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/1433853

Miss Unwin was born 1897 in Exeter, the daughter of Nathan Lees Unwin and Margaret Douglas.  Her cousin, Mrs Brenda Claire Brotherton was the daughter of Miss Unwin's uncle, Reginald Unwin, barrister-at-law.

Any snippets of information greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Chris