Sorry for the very late reply Julian, I have gone back to John Bowring marrying Adriana Ironside and going to Ralph Ironside and Mary Mudford I think it was, but haven't gone back to a Mary Strode. Henry II? William Bowring is also my 6xgreat grandfather! I'm descended from Robert 1791 who married Sarah Dickery, they lived in Charminster, the their son Henry 1830 and his son George Robert 1854, then Bertram Charles I Bowering 1879, Bertram Charles II my grandad.
I've gone back to a grandfather coming over with William the Conqueror on my mother's side, which took a long hard slog. He was rewarded by being given land, a title and built a huge manor house which still stands today up north! There was a converted stable cottage for sale a few years back now and I did tell my younger sister and she got quite excited! But I did wonder about the surname Ironside? I was immediately thinking of Edmund Ironside. The Bishops of Durham were Ironsides and Ralph came down to oh now forgotten the name of the village close to Winterborne St Martin, it's down a little track, the name's gone now, but I couldn't really see how such a wealthy family in the spate of a generation were reduced to being agricultural labourers and continuing the downward spiral over the generations. I wondered what happened to start this off. His will wasn't bad, he certainly had money. I shall have to take another look at my tree and see if I can trudge down it again. Unfortunately I've got a laptop which is on its last legs and with this cost of living crisis hitting hard I can't replace it just yet, nor persuade my daughter to change internet provider as that's not so good either! Later today I will take a stroll down to find Mary Strode! Oh maybe not today I've got a forum session about arthritis and pain relief and management etc, it's on all afternoon I think, so maybe tomorrow then! Nice to hear from you cousin!
