RootsChat.Com

Good Morning all

Not sure if this is the right place to post this message but I'm sure someone will point me in the right direction.

This year marks the 25 year anniversary of the re-discovery of St Mary's Church at Houghton On The Hill near North Pickenham by Bob Davey and his late wife Gloria.  An open weekend is being planned and the provisional dates are 7th and 8th October.  To this end, I am trying to collate as much information as I can about the inhabitants of the village and to unearth any (probably long ago told) family stories about the now disappeared Hamlet and it's church which can be available for the event.

I have received some very interesting information about one of the original families via a relative in Australia and I am fairly sure there are other emigrants, probably in Canada and/or USA.  I am myself going through the baptism/marriage and burial records available as well as tracing those who were recorded in Census records but I would be very pleased to receive any further information which may be of interest.

I very much look forward to hearing from anyone with any stories/family histories.  Thank you.

Lisa

I am unable to access the Norfolk Baptism Project website this morning at

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tinstaafl/

Does anyone know if this is a temporary blip or is there a new link?

I really hope it's not gone, I use it regularly.

Kind regards

Lisa

Hi Malky

That's the piece of research I am referring to.  I have contacted the originator and they cannot remember, at the moment where the piece about Alfred/Fred came from.  I was hoping that perhaps someone else might be able to find something.

Lisa

Thanks for checking Isobel.

I have traced Fred Hart's movements in Canada however, he does not appear to be connected on trees I have seen to Alfred Bligh.  The John Mellor he was released into the custody of was married to Ann Hart she was the illegitimate daughter of Alfred's mother Susan(nah) Hart(t).

I am pretty sure they are one and the same, but it would be great to see evidence of where the original link came from.

According to the Berkshire Records Office, the file is closed until 2016, not sure if more information will come out after then but I would imagine it will only deal with the trial and Broadmoor.

Lisa

Hello all

I am looking for any information regarding the murderer Alfred Bligh who was released from prison in February 1897 and who possibly used the alias Fred Hart to board a ship to Canada.

Before anyone looks, the story is not a pleasant one and I have lots of documentary evidence of what he did but, I have seen a piece of research , the narrative of which follows on from a Times article, which suggests the alias.  There is more than enough evidence to suggest the alias is more than likely and some which suggests that it probably did happen but I cannot find where this suggestion might have originated.  I have been in contact (via a third person) with the originator of the original research but they cannot, at the moment, remember their sources.

The local libraries have been very helpful but do not have reports of Bligh absconding.  There is no way the name could have been linked without some research into the family history.  Fred Hart does appear on the passenger list for the Laurentian in March 1897, Alfred Bligh who was released into the care of his brother in law does not appear on subequent UK Census records.

Can anyone help?

Thanks, Lisa