Melksham Churchyards

[davierj]

When I'm in Melksham I am willing to try and find graves in the various churches.   
Any requests will be answered in the summer - best to go exploring in the better weather.
Cheers Dave

[Sande]

Hi Dave,

I am not sure of which church in Melksham but am looking for George & Rebecca Jane DAVIS. Rebecca was born 1827 and died Sep Q 1892 aged abt 65. She was a HOOD from Lacock, parents Jacob & Elizabeth.
George Davis also born in 1827 was a builder and still living in Melksham in 1901 as well as a couple of sons, Henry, born 1861 also a builder and Charles Hood, born 1867, a stone mason. 

Thank you for any help.

Sandra
Qld
Australia

[trish251]

Hello Dave

I have a couple of large families who lived most (if not all) of their lives in Melksham in the 19th  & early 20th century. I have no idea where they could be buried, but if you see the surnames GORE or MERRETT while exploring, they are probably our ancestors.

John Gore died 1898 and his wife Mary died 1872.
Chilren included Rueben Maria Samuel Lucy Mary Ann Gideon John Levi Sarah Joseph Benjamin Martha Hannah - most of the women didn't marry.

Mary Ann married John Merrrett - children all born after 1870 (most died well into the 20th century) included  Christine (d. 1964) Alice (d. 1949) Edith (1911). 

many thanks
Trish

[davierj]

Hi
Currently I'm not in Melksham but will have a look in the next month or so.   I think there are 2 Parish Churches and a number of Independents.    More modern burials (late 19th and 20th century) will probably be in the Town Cemetery.
Cheers Dave

[davierj]

Hi Trish

Did the Merrett girls, Christine, Alice and Edith marry?   If so what were their married names.

Dave

[trish251]

Hi David

No, these girls didn't marry. They did have some sisters who married - I haven't checked if they stayed in the Melksham area. Will do that shortly. There were also 2 brothers - one came to Australia the other died in infancy - Marcus John Merrett died 1887.

Mary Ann Merrett died 1915, her husband John 1930 (I haven't checked where for John).

Please don't go to lots of trouble for me - I just thought if you saw the names while exploring it would be wonderful -

thanks 
Trish

PS  Taking awhile to check (not sure why I didn't do this before) - John Merrrett's death is registered at Brighton (although he lived in Melksham area most of his life & could be buried with his wife). Christine's death registered at Stroud, Alice at Frome but Edith did die in Melksham.

[davierj]

Hi Trish,
Bit of a mixed bag!   I looked in the Melksham Cemetery (close to the Parish church) and there were a number of problems.   First a lot of early graves - 19th and early 20th century were either missing, damaged, overgrown with ivy etc or unreadable.   The local stone is very soft and over the years the names flake off or are eroded.   Anyway this is what I found.......

1.   George Merrett died Aug looks like 1908, Elizabeth ? Merrett his wife 26 Jul 1916 age 68.

2.   Barney Charles Merrett, 25 Jan 1988 age 84, wife Carolina Merrett 8 Nov 1954 age 47, sons Victor George Merrett 3 Mar 1976 age 48, Frank Gerald Merrett 29 Aug 2000 age 75.
3.   Beatrice May Merrett 8 Jul 1975 age 77 and husband Abel john Merrett 20 Dec 1976 age 80.

3.   Only mention of a Gore was on Melksham War Memorial for 1914-18 war - F. C. Gore

I'll keep an eye out in my travels for more, cheers Dave

[davierj]

Hi Sande,
See my comments above, however more luck with your Davis family - the gravestones were remarkably well preserved!

1.   Rebecca Jane wife of George Davis died either 9,19 or 29 Aug 1892 age 62, also Elizabeth daughter died 19 Apr 1896 age 43, also sarah died 22 Jan 1899 age 49, also George husband of the above Rebecca Jane Davis died 2 Dec 1910 in his 83rd year.
See photo

2.   Henry Davis died 8 Apr 1922 age 60, also son Harry drowned bathing 3 Aug 1935 age 21, also wife Sarah Margaret died 19 Sep 1952 age 82.

3.Ethel May Davis wife of Thomas Davis 4 Oct 1921 age 36.

Hope they help, cheers Dave

[Sande]

Hi Dave,
Thank you so much for the lovely picture. That is fantastic and all that extra info as well. Rebecca Jane is the sister of my great great grandfather Abel HOOD.

best wishes
Sandra