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Messages - StephenMW

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Wiltshire / Re: WEEKS family in Crudwell, Wiltshire, 1800 - 1871
« on: Friday 24 September 10 00:43 BST (UK)  »
Thanks, Allibaker - that probably is the correct Weeks - correct age - and I don't think there was another Weeks family in the village. I don't know why I didn't turn that one up on either Ancestry or findmypast - I'll try again shortly.

Matthew is also correct - I couldn't find the reference in an on-line search of parish records - of course the indexes don't go back to 1828. I;m actually rather glad to have his birth date confirmed - it's given in different records variously as 1829, 1827, and 1828.

I will probably send off for the birth certificates of the two Mary's - census data says 1855 but that could be incorrect as you well know.

Thanks for answering... I appreciate it, and I'd welcome anything more on the family.

Stephen.

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Wiltshire / Re: WEEKS family in Crudwell, Wiltshire, 1800 - 1871
« on: Saturday 18 September 10 14:09 BST (UK)  »
I really don't think it will be easy to confirm or disprove the little story I made up from the facts... it makes sense, but there are, of course, other explanations. I looked for a birth registration that might fit - there do seem to be a couple that are spot on  - but there are pages and pages of Mary Ann Williamses born in London during the relevant period - and I just don't have the money to send for birth certificates  - each one costs over $16.00 Canadian, of course. It's something I'd really like to know, but I'm afraid will have to remain a speculation.

There is, however, no mystery about their son Matthew being my g-g-grandfather... there are too many facts that link together, not the least of which is that there are very few Matthew Weeks to begin with, and only one that hails from Crudwell. I have a pretty strong chain to show this... including census records and copies of marriage certificates. It also helps that he moved to Scotland... the only other Matthew Weeks born in England in the right period died in Cornwall, I believe.

I can't locate the parish records online for Thomas and Hester... (Hester was born in Brokenborough, not Crudwell, as I stated mistakenly in the last post) - I'd like to find the records of their births, marriage, and the date of Thomas' death if I can, especially since those would likely give me the names of their parents.

I've been pretty nearly stonewalled every time I try to search for my ancestors in parish records; the relevant records just do not seem to be online.

I did manage to get some of my Scottish ancestors but that's about all; I'd love to come over to the U.K. and spend some time looking for records (and have a beer in the Green Gardens Pub in Rochdale where my namesake great - grandfather probably raised his glass as well) but it's not in the cards unless I win the lottery.  ;D

Stephen



3
Family History Beginners Board / Re: Drawbridge Family
« on: Saturday 18 September 10 13:46 BST (UK)  »
The birthplace is confirmed as Woolwich in several records pertaining to my great - grandfather... he is definitely mentioned as having been born there, both on his military wedding and on the 1911 census, in which there is more than enough information to determine that he is my great-grandfather; including my grandmother's known birth in India in 1902. I'm pretty sure that this is the right person, although, of course, I cannot be 100% sure - I'm hoping that the military records will confirm mother's name and residence when they are finally released - supposedly later this month.

This actually seems to be the most err... disreputable... part of my background; there are several obvious cases of illegitimate children involved, for instance  ;). I didn't have too much trouble tracing back the Wild family since I have several original documents including my great grandfather's birth and marriage certificates; they seem to have been poor but eminently respectable cotton workers in Cheshire,  Darbyshire,  and Lancashire. I imagine the Holmes Family rather gobsmacked my great-grandmother Hannah... my dad said she was very religious... I'd have liked to have been a fly on the wall when my grandparents announced their marriage in 1930 (especially since dad was already born!).  ;D

Harry Holmes left the military some time between the 1911 census and the Great War - I can't find any evidence of service in WWI. A family story was confirmed when I received my great-grandmother's death certificate stating that he'd been an inspector for the N.S.P.C.C. in Southport... I have no idea how a boy who was born in Woolwich, then served for years in the South Staffordshires, ended up in Southport, Lancashire. Unfortunately, there is now no one alive who knows the story... I had a hard time even finding out his name.

Thanks,

Stephen.

P.S.

If you don't mind my rambling I certainly don't mind yours... it's very interesting.

4
Wiltshire / WEEKS family in Crudwell, Wiltshire, 1800 - 1871
« on: Thursday 16 September 10 01:40 BST (UK)  »
I'm looking for information on Thomas and Hester Weeks, who lived in Crudwell from the early 1800s until their deaths... 25 July 1871 in the case of Hester. FindMyPast has transcriptions of the grave stone which has the date for Hester but not for Thomas. I have the census record for 1861 which gives them both living and lists Thomas as the parish clerk and owning a grocery shop.

I have traced Matthew as my great-great-grandfather. He seems to have had rather a chequered youth - in 1841 he's living at home, in 1851 living as a footman in Bath, and in 1858 he marries a Scots lady named Grace Kircaldy in St. Pancras, London where he is a beer retailer.

The pair settle down and proceed to have 5 children in England, until they suddenly decide move up to Old Kilpatrick in Dunbartonshire, Scotland, in about 1875 or so. They are in Scotland for the 1881 census and their last child, born in 1876, is born there.

The former footman then become a highly respectable piermaster and the family settles for three generations in Old Kilpatrick.

It is interesting that Thomas and Hester have a child in the house on the 1861 census listed as granddaughter who has a different surname - Mary Ann Williams - born in Westminster. I don't know, but I guess, that it was an illegitimate child of one of the sons (the daughter, Mary is still living at home and her surname is still weeks.)... my guess is the child of Matthew since he had more opportunity. 

It is rather interesting that in the 1841 and 1851 census, Thomas is listed as an agricultural labourer... then suddenly he winds up with the 100 or so pounds necessary to set up as a grocer...  there is an illegitimate child in the house... and the wealthy family with which the Weeks' eldest son is a footman in 1851 has an unmarried sister-in-law living with them. Coincidence? I'd like to know the truth in this one.

Stephen.

5
Family History Beginners Board / Re: Drawbridge Family
« on: Wednesday 15 September 10 00:41 BST (UK)  »
Thank you, Gobbo.

I'd not have of thought of looking for a Lilly Drawbridge at all... I shall probably send for either the birth certificate or the marriage certificate to verify the names.

Harry has been a traditional name in my family for some time; both my father's brother and my cousin (his sister's son) were named Harry.

When I went looking for my great grandfather, I had no idea what his first name was and there is now no one alive who'd remember him; I knew my grandmother's name, of course, and that she'd been born in India, so I went looking for regimental births and found it; all the details, of course, were for a "Henry" Holmes.

I imagine that your explanation is true... I do know my cousin has had trouble with people insisting that his name must really be Henry. Of course, then I couldn't find any records pertaining to the birth or death of a "Henry" Holmes that fit the facts. As soon as I found out he was "Harry" the pieces came together very quickly, and I made my way back to the Drawbridge family almost immediately.

I'm waiting with baited breath for FindMyPast to release the pension records for soldiers up until 1913... I can't find him in the Great War records so I'm supposing he was discharged on medical grounds before then... of course otherwise he'd have been called up since he was only 39 in 1914. He served in the South Staffordshires and his rank in the 1911 census was given as Colour Sergeant.

Anyway, thanks again, and I hope I haven't rambled on too much.

Stephen.

6
Family History Beginners Board / Re: Drawbridge Family
« on: Tuesday 14 September 10 01:57 BST (UK)  »
I'm particularly interested in finding out about one of Samuel Drawbridge's daughters who, I believe, was the mother of my great-grandfather.

Elizabeth M. Drawbridge seems to have married a man named Holmes who died quite young... I haven't been able to find his first name... but they had three sons ... Harry, Charles, and Thomas. I have tried to locate information about her marriage but have been unable to do so.  She appears in the 1871 census in Woolwich as Eliza M. Drawbridge, and in the 1881 Census as Elizabeth Holmes, window(er) with the three boys Harry, 6, Thomas 4, and Charles, 3.  A search for the marriage index has not returned any promising candidates.

If anyone has the link to the elusive Mr. Holmes I'd appreciate it... marriage, birth, death or even just his full name.

I believe that this particular Harry was my great-grandfather ... but I'm not completely sure... all the dates, names, and records seem to fit. There is a difficulty with tracing him because he seems to have changed his name to Henry when he enlisted in the army... all the records as to marriage, births, etc. in the army show him as being Henry. He seems to have reverted to Harry after his discharge from the service.

Thank you,

Stephen.

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