RootsChat.Com

I have recently discovered that an ancestor of mine died in Johannesburg in the Simmer and Jack Hospital.  I understand that Simmer and Jack refers to a gold mineing company - my ancester was a tin miner from Cornwall.  Is there anyway that I can find out what happened to him or where he might be buried?  I suppose he could have been in a mining accident.  His will was administered in London, England.  He appears on the English census for 1871, 1881 and 1891 and he was married in Cornwall in 1894 so it would appear that he did not spend much time in South Africa.  I have been unable to find any passenger lists for South Africa for the mid 1890s.  I tried to see if I could find him on NAAIRS but had trouble navigating around the site.

Here are his details:

Daniel Huddy James PRYOR
Born: 1871 Gwavas, Sithney, Cornwall, England
Died: 10 April 1897 Johannesburg
Married: 1894 Cornwall to Clara

Any help would be much appreciated,
KayP

Can anybody help please......  My Great Great Aunt and Uncle, Jack and Annie Rowley, were  listed on my aunt's NY Passenger List entry as residing at 14 Greenaway Avenue, Hamilton, Ontario in 1954. 

I believe Annie was born in Warrington or St Helens, Lancashire around 1880 but I have no idea if Jack was English, Canadian or when he was born.  My aunts told me that Jack was a carpenter/joiner who had his own business and made furniture.  Both of them died in Hamilton in the 1960's but I do not know when or where they are buried.  I do not even know if they had any children.

Since my aunts and mother are deceased I have not been able to find out anything else about Jack and Annie Rowley and except for the bits of information my aunts gave me and some old photographs I have no information about them.  I am really hoping that someone may recognize the address and be able to help me get some information either from city records or directories or whatever else might be available. 

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks Kay

I came across this family will (see below) and I am trying to find out where Samuel came from:

The last will and testament of Samuel Woodman of the parish of St. Michael, blacksmith, unto my two coloured children, Samuel Woodman and John Richard Woodman, boys reputed to me, the Boarded and shingle house with out offices and premises thereto attached, situated in Chapman Street to be equally divided as soon as they reach the age of one and twenty years. should either of said reputed children die under age and without lawful issue, in such case l bequeath the whole of my property and state to the survivor of them and their heirs for ever. I desire that my estate as it now stands be kept together by my executors hereafter named for the purpose of maintaining educating supporting my said children till thy shall have come to their respective ages of twenty one years.

 
Lastly l do hereby nominate my friend Elizabeth Ann Barrow the mother of the said children as executrix and guardian of the persons and estates of my said children and my esteemed friend Henry Knowles Melvin to qualify and act to this my will hereby revoking all ormer and other wills by me.

10 April 1844.

The mark x of Samuel Woodman.

Witnessed John Owens and William Woodman, Barbados.

John Owens appeared personally before me this day one of the subscribing witnesses that he was present an did see Samuel Woodman the testator there set his seal.

Given under my hand at Government House this 16 day of August 1844.

Charles Edward Grey.

Samuel Woodman died in 1844 but I do not have a date or place of birth for him.  In 1803 he married Margaret Scrivens (died 1895) in Barbados and they had the following children:

Sarah Frances born 1809
John Thomas born 1811
Anna born 1813
William born 1815
Robert born 1819

With Elizabeth Barrow/Burrow he had:

Samuel  who died 1913   Suspect the son Samuel to have been Butler at Colleton Estate House St John, and to have had property in Coach Hill which he left to his adopted daughter Maud Holder. (Suspect this to be connected to his brother John Richard Woodman)

and
John Richard

I am unsure when Samuel and Richard were born.  I think his children with Margaret could have predeceased him as he does not mention any of them in  his will but then he does not mention Margaret either so perhaps he left them for his "second family" with Elizabeth.

Anyway, I would really like to find more information about Samuel and the rest of his family if anyone can help.

KayP

Margaret Elizabeth Prosser's birth certificate states she was born on 20 September 1888 at Newmarch Street in Brecknock.  I am thinking this could be her grandmother, Mary (nee Lloyd) Prosser's home.  Her parents were William Prosser born abt 1860 in Llanfrynach and Margaret (nee Weir) Prosser born 1858 in Wick, Caithness.  William and Margaret were married in Edinburgh in 1885.

In 1893 Margaret and William had a son, also named William, who was born in Attercliffe, Sheffield. 

I think I have them on the 1891 census living at Brightside Bierlow, Sheffield, Yorkshire but because Margaret Elizabeth is not with them I am now having doubts.  William (born 1860) died in Sheffield in 1895.  On the 1901 census I found Margaret (widowed) and her son (William born 1893) at 1 Ritchie Place, Dalry, Edinburgh but again there is no mention of daughter Margaret Elizabeth.

Margaret Elizabeth Prosser died in Edinburgh, Midlothian on 20 Jan 1936 age 47.  She shares a headstone in the cemetery with her brother, William Jnr who died 23 November 1936 age 43.  I do not think that Margaret married as there was no mention of a husband on her headstone.

So..... can anyone help me find Margaret Elizabeth Prosser 1888-1936 on the 1891 and 1901 census?  I have tried the Scottish, English and Welsh census but cannot find her.  I think it is really strange that she is not with her parents on the 1891 or with her mother and brother on the 1901.

Any help greatly appreciated.

KayP

I get to spend a couple of days in Westbury and Westbury Leigh next month (whilst visiting from Canada).  I am desperately trying to find out if anyone can tell if the places my ancestors lived are still there or knocked down?  They were the ALLEY family and lived in both villages as well as Trowbridge, Bradford on Avon, Hawkeridge and later Swindon.

1861 census shows William Alley and family at:  Flour Mill, Westbury Leigh
1871 census shows him as baker/grocer on Leigh Street, Westbury Leigh - I think the bakery was there til the early 1900s
William's son, Thomas Alley, ran the bakery and grocery store until about 1915.  He was also a "special constable" (not sure what this means )

Grandson of William named Herbert Alley was a glove maker and lived at St Quentin, Station Road, Westbury (could St Quentin be a house or business name?)

1947 another relative was living at 30 Leigh Road, Westbury Leigh.  She was a "pupil teacher" and a "National School" can someone explain what this means please?

This I found in a will - Provison, Corn and Salt  Stores, Market Place, Westbury - any ideas?

I would really appreciate any help offered.  This is such a short visit that I want to try and see as much as possible and plan ahead to save time.

Thanks KayP