July 2005 Rootschat Challenge

[Joanna Tolhurst]

Here goes ..... I hope I can manage to do the same wonderful job that MR has done throughout June and that I've come up with someone who will prove to be even halfway as intriguing as all the families we made aquaintances of with Allen Robertson.

My first random selection (closed eyes, finger on the map then lucky numbers) on my second check had some possible researchers in the county, so with the help of one of my sons (vague hope of prompting on interest in history if not family history) my second random selection is ..........

RG11 2079 folio 100 page 27
C. M. Balch age 26

Guess the first thing is to find his name!!!!!

Will catch up with your findings briefly tomorrow evening.  Last day of term tomorrow and us teachers have a need for some serious celebrating tomorrow evening 

Have fun.
Jo

[PrueM]

Found him in 1871:
RG10/1965  Folio 7  Page 19
Gasper Mill, Gasper, Somerset
Charles M BALCH born 1845 (age in 1881 is 10 years out!)  South Brewham, Somerset  - Miller employing 3 men, 1 boy
Martha, wife, born 1844 Stourton, Wiltshire
Eliza MARSHALL, servant, born 1858 Stourton, Wiltshire
WIlliam WILES, father in law, born 1800, Stourton, Wiltshire

[MaryA]

Charles Mitchell Balch married Mary Ann Miles
March Quarter 1870 Mere District Dorset Somerset Wiltshire
Ref 5a 306
1st February 1870

Mary

[Joanna Tolhurst]

Couldn't resist looking before I went to bed:
1891
Gasper Mill
Charles M Balch 46 farmer & miller born Brewham
Emma wife 45 born Paddington
Edith E dau 9 born Mere Wilts
Florence J Evill? serv 19 born Stourton

2 wifes to follow and half brother and sister, not bad for starters.
Jo

[Joanna Tolhurst]

1881 gave us as well as C.M.:

Herbert W Balch son age 8 b. Stourton
Alice Knott serv unmar age 36 housekeeper b. Weymouth Dorset

[MaryA]

South Brewham is approximately 5 km from Stourton.

Charles ___bell ? presumably Mitchell Balch born June qtr 1845 Wincanton Dorset Somerset Ref 10 527

Mary Ann Balch died age 35 June qtr 1878 Mere, Dorset Somerset, Wiltshire Ref 5a 156

William Miles died age 78 September qtr 1876 Mere, Dorset Somerset, Wiltshire Ref  5a 134

Mary

[PrueM]

1861
RG9/1651  Folio 89 Page 5
Hook Gate, South Brewham

Joseph BALCH, head, 1811 Brewham, Somerset Farmer of 100 acres empl. 3 men
Harriet, wife,    1809 Pitcurnlee (?? can't read the writing)
Charles, son, 1845  Brewham     
Charlotte, daur, 1842 Brewham
Henry, son, 1843 Brewham
Walter B, son, 1838 Brewham

[Paul E]

"NORTH BREWHAM, a parish in the hundred of Bruton, in the county of Somerset, 3 miles to the N.E. of Bruton, its poet town. It lies on the banks of the river Brew, or Brue. The ruins of the ancient chapel are now used as a barn."

"SOUTH BREWHAM, a parish in the hundred of Bruton, in the county of Somerset, 3 miles to the E. of Bruton. It is situated on the river Brew, and contains the hamlet of Hardway. The Frome canal passes through the village The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Bath and Wells, of the value of £102, in the patronage of Sir H. H. Hoare, Bart. The church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. In the churchyard are the remains of an old cross."

From The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
courtesy of GENUKI

"its poet town"?

Paul

[Little Nell]

His parents wereJoseph and Harriet Balch
1851 census
HO107/1931/723 p6 & 7  schedule 22
Hardway
BALCH Joseph 40 Inn Keeper b South Brewham
Harriet 42 b Pitcombe, Somerset
Walter 13 Scholar b South Brewham
Charlotte 9 Scholar b South Brewham
BALCH Henry 8 son b South Brewham
Charles 6 b South Brewham
CREAN Winifred Assistant 26 Castle Cary, Somerset Barmaid
BALCH William Servant 16 Stable Boy b Dorset Shaston