Victorian Photographers | Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Kent & Sussex
There were seven different photographers amongst the Lee sisters Cartes de Vista taken in Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Kent and Sussex. Can you help identify anyone?
Archives
Victorian Photographers | Durham & Yorkshire
There were five different photographers amongst the Lee sisters Cartes de Vista taken in Durham and Yorkshire. Can you help identify anyone?
Victorian Photographers | Nottinghamshire
There were two different photographers amongst the Lee sisters Cartes de Vista taken in Nottinghamshire. Can you help identify anyone?
Lilian May FRY 1896-1976 | Bristol
Another piece of detective work sprang up on the Bristol & Avon Family History Society’s Facebook page on Thursday evening, with a lady requesting help tracing the birth record of her great-grandmother Lilian May FRY.
Charles Clement SYMONDS 1894-1983 | Upper Eastville, Fishponds, Bristol
I found myself looking into the life of Charles Clement SYMONDS after identifying him in a WWI photograph. I wondered what else I could find out, and discovered a Bristol family marked by several tragic events over the years.
Captain Joseph Charles NEWTON of Bristol & Australia
A “little” bit of detective work caught my eye on the Bristol & Avon Family History Society’s Facebook page in mid-Jan, regarding a Captain JOSEPH CHARLES NEWTON, possibly of Bristol, who died in Epping, Victoria, Australia in 1903. I wondered what I could find out.
LINCE – Charles William John Lince (1887-1917)
Charles William John LINCE was born 1887 in Ramsden Bellhouse, Essex. He enlisted c.1916 in the Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge’s Own), and became missing in action and presumed dead on 22 Sep 1917 age 30.
GINN – Alfred Ginn (1872-1915)
Alfred GINN was born Jan 1872 in St. Neots, Huntingdonshire. He enlisted on 5th Sep 1889 into the 3rd Hussars and fought in the Boer War with the 6th and 2nd Dragoons. He was discharged after 21 years service in 1910 and re-enlisted 25th May 1915 as a 2nd Warrant Officer for the Military Mounted Police Corps. Alfred was killed in action just under 4 months later on 1st Oct 1915 age 43, leaving a wife and three young children.
James GULLIVER of Avon Street & Milk Street, Bath, Somerset
A new bit of detective work caught my eye during October with a request from Maureen Humphries for help identifying James GULLIVER who died in Bath, Somerset in 1915, and his daughter Mary (Maureen’s great-grandmother) who was born in Bristol in 1879. Could I track them down in census records?
The Medal In The Garden | George William BRERETON (1874-1940)
An interesting bit of detective work presented itself to me at the end of August on a local Facebook page for Hadleigh, Essex. A local chap named Ron had been digging a large hole in his garden in order to insert a sunken trampoline for his grandchildren, when two feet down he unearthed a silver medal. Closer inspection revealed it to be a King George V naval Long Service and Good Conduct medal for a G W BRERETON. Ron wondered if any members of the Brererton family were still living in the area in the hopes of being able to pass it on back to them, and I decided to help.
GILBERT – Alfred Gilbert (1879-1915)
Alfred GILBERT was born 9th Apr 1879 in Barningham, Suffolk. He enlisted 2nd Dec 1914 as a Private in the Essex Regiment (1st Battalion), and became MIA then confirmed killed on 6th Aug 1915 aged 36. He left behind a wife and four children.
FEAKINS – Robert James Feakins (1897-1916)
Robert James FEAKINS was born 1897 in Hadleigh, Essex. He enlisted underage into the 2/6th Essex Regiment in Nov 1914, later transferred to the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (7th Battalion). He was killed in action on 7th Oct 1916 age 19.
FARLEY – Thomas Henry Farley (1897-1917)
Thomas Henry FARLEY was born 1897 in Southend-On-Sea, Essex. He was fostered into the BARNES family in 1902, and lived in Hadleigh, Essex until 1914 when he was send to Canada. He enlisted in the 1st Canadian Labour Corps on 20th Apr 1916 and died from wounds on 19th Aug 1917 age 19.
Beal Bros. Millers of Rayleigh, Essex
Rayleigh Town Museum recently acquired this large 1m wide wooden sign for Beal Bros. Millers, Rayleigh and wondered if anyone could offer any more information on them.
The History of 185 Rayleigh Road, Eastwood, Essex
After a conversation with a friend about his parents new house situated on the Rayleigh Road in Eastwood, Essex I decided to look into its history. It is oddly positioned next to a pair of semi-detached houses, an old well was found in the garden and there are hints of it being part of a bigger piece of land at one time. What could I find out?
Dr George Simpson & Magnus A. O. Williams
A post for help on an Essex local history group peeked my interest this weekend, regarding a giant brass plate unearthed in a Benfleet garden. It’s inscribed “To Dr. & Mrs. George Simpson, Senior Medical Officer, Calr. From Mr. & Mrs. Magnus A. O. Williams, Calr. In affectionate remembrance. Hold ye the good – define it well. 1934”. Could I discover who these people were?
EADE – Charles Eade (1895-1915)
Charles EADE was born 5th May 1895 at Weeley Heath, Essex. He enlisted into the 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment on 24th Aug 1914 and died of wounds on 16th Jun 1915 (only eight days after arriving in France). He was 20 years old.
COWELL – Richard Cowell (1893-1918) & William Cowell (1897-1915)
Richard COWELL was born in 1893 at Little Barford, Essex and died from Pneumonia whilst serving in the Labour Corps on 9th Nov 1918 age 25. His younger brother William was born in 1897 at Hadleigh, Essex and died 17th Dec 1915 whilst serving in the 9th Essex Regiment aged 18.
Jack The Ripper, Dr John Hewitt & Granddad
During the 1980’s my grandfather Steward Jackson HICKS was a Jack the Ripper researcher, or “Ripperologist” as they are known in the trade. I knew nothing of his grisly hobby until after his death in 1993, and decided now was the time to find out more.
The Wittering Court Scandal of 1919 | Daws Heath, Essex
Wittering Court in Daws Heath was used as a private asylum between 1914-1919, until it became the site of a scandal after one of the patients was found dead in her bed.