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Topics - mike175

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Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition / Cordwinder?

« on: Monday 06 April 15 21:36 BST (UK) »

Can anyone decipher the occupation of John Stutle of Ratcliff? It is from the 1659 baptism of his son, John.

The best I can do is "Cord'winder" but the letter spacing and the wayward apostrophe look wrong.

Mike

The Common Room / Maltese Cross tattoo

« on: Tuesday 17 June 14 23:18 BST (UK) »

Can anyone help me with the meaning of the letters "H.L." beneath a Maltese Cross.

A possible ancestor had a tattoo as described and I wonder if the letters had any more than a personal significance, such as membership of a group or club of some kind; they are not the initials of anyone I know to be associated with him.

I know the Cross was used by many organizations and was associated with courage in many cases. He was born in 1863 and was a police constable in New South Wales at the time of the description in 1899, which may have a bearing on the tattoo, but he left England around 10 years earlier after a short time as a merchant seaman.

I'm still trying to piece together the life of this man so any clue may be of significance.

Mike.

Kent Lookup Requests / George Wyatt, Sittingbourne

« on: Tuesday 11 March 14 09:50 GMT (UK) »

There is a record on IGI of the marriage of George Wyatt and Elizabeth Westaby on 31 Oct 1738 at Sittingbourne, Kent.

I suspect this could be the same George Wyatt who later lived at Wivenhoe, Essex and was a shipbuilder. However, his (second?) wife and mother of his children there was named Mary $:-\$

I am wondering if there might be any additional information in the actual register which would support or disprove a connection. Maybe Elizabeth died?

Mike.

Essex / Were they twins?

« on: Monday 03 March 14 22:16 GMT (UK) »

I found this entry in the Essex SEAX database. I am wondering if the "=" sign between the names indicates twins.

St. Mary the Virgin, Wivenhoe: Baptisms 1765

Baptized 6 December Elizabeth = Westebe Stuttle of William and Mary Born November 30

Westaby (various spellings) was used as a first or middle christian name in a particular line of this family but only in male children. I have yet to discover its origin in the family. Does anyone know if the "=" sign had an official meaning?

Mike.

The Common Room / Foundling

« on: Monday 03 February 14 09:30 GMT (UK) »

I have found a parish register entry from 28 July 1713 which I'm fairly sure says "Ann Wheate a Foundling" with no further explanation.

I believe her to be the sister of a direct ancestor, Jeremiah Wheate, son of Samuel Wheate and Alice Watson who married by licence in 1712; she was baptised in the right area (St. Botolph, Aldgate) at the right time, and I have been unable to find an alternative. Neither of the parents' wills give any indication.

The three possible explanations that occur to me are:
1. She was genuinely a foundling adopted by Samuel and Alice

2. She was born before their marriage and the foundling story was a 'cover-up'

3. She is a different person entirely

I would be interested to hear any other suggestions.

Mike.

Occupation Interests / When was Seaman's Certificate of Service issued?

« on: Sunday 06 January 13 17:18 GMT (UK) »

I have found a "Mate's Certificate of Service" for my 3xgt. grandfather Henry Thomas Scott, b.13 Nov 1812.

What I would like to know is, at what stage would the certificate be issued? Was it at the termination of service?

This one states he "Has been employed in the capacities of App. Seaman & Mate 24 years ... in the Coasting Trade", and is dated 18 Jan 1851, when he would have been about 39 years of age. He must have died in the 1850s as his wife was a widow in 1861, but I have not yet found details of his life (and death) during that decade.

Mike.

The Common Room / Death Sentence - Reprieved?

« on: Monday 26 March 12 20:28 BST (UK) »

Someone in my tree was sentenced to death in 1817 for housebreaking and stealing goods worth £1. 17s. However there is a letter "R" after the word "Death". Does this indicate he was reprieved?

If so, was he likely to have been transported to Australia instead?

Mike.

The Lighter Side / A man unknown found drowned!

« on: Wednesday 18 January 12 09:27 GMT (UK) »

I am working through the parish registers of West Thurrock, Essex where some of my ancestors lived in the 19th century. Even allowing for the fact that this is a riverside parish on the Thames, I was amazed by the number of burials of A man unknown found drowned! or similar: at least 10% of burials over a 20 year period, by a very rough estimate.

It may well explain a few of those missing ancestors that we all seek.

Mike.

Oxfordshire / Jeremiah Wheate, vicar of Deddington

« on: Wednesday 30 November 11 21:54 GMT (UK) »

I am trying to find out more about . . .

"[Revd.] Jeremiah Wheate, whose 'amiable spouse', as recorded on her gravestone in the chancel, bore him fifteen sons and six daughters. She died in 1685 at the incredibly (considering the circumstances !) early age of thirty-two. Hannah Wheate is buried with one of her twins." [Deddington Online]

I believe he is my direct ancestor via his son Samuel, born about 1680 in Deddington, Oxfordshire. I only found the above quote today and it has resurrected my interest in this family. Jeremiah's wife was Hannah Sammon m.1673, but I can find no record of the other twenty

children mentioned above. He was vicar of Deddington all his married life as far as I know. I believe I have his ancestry back to Henry Wheate of Walsall, his gt. grandfather.

Any help concerning his children would be much appreciated. It is the weak link in this family line.

Mike.