The Hampshire Family Historian | Vol.49 No.2 | September 2022

Hampshire Family Historian The

Volume 49 No.2 September 2022

Journal of the Hampshire Genealogical Society

Haslar Hospital – See page 59

Also inside this Issue A Message from Uncle Bob • Grandfather was a Bigamist • Forest Rides to City Streets

PLUS: Around the groups • Members’ Surname Interest • Research Room

Hampshire Genealogical Society HGS OFFICE , Hampshire Genealogical Society, Hampshire Record Office, Sussex Street, Winchester. SO23 8TH Office only open Tuesday and Thursday 10am to 4pm Registered Charity 284744

Telephone: 07769 405195 Email: society@hgs-online.org.uk Website: http://www.hgs-familyhistory.com

PRESIDENT Dr Nick Barratt

PROJECTS Position vacant

CHAIRMAN Paul Pinhorne 84 Fontmell Road, Broadstone,

BOOKSTALL Tony Sinclair Email: bookstall@hgs-online.org.uk

Dorset BH18 8NP Tel: 01202 383736 Email: chairman@hgs-online.org.uk SECRETARY Gwen Newland 3 Wickham Close, Tadley, Hants RG26 4JT Tel: 0118 9810693 Email: secretary@hgs-online.org.uk TREASURER Ann-Marie Shearer at address at top of page Email: treasurer@hgs-online.org.uk

RESEARCH CENTRE MANAGER Chris Pavey Email: researchmanager@hgs-online.org.uk

MEMBERS’ INTERESTS Keith Turner Email: membersinterests@hgs-online.org.uk

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND TRUSTEES: John Bowman Margaret Bowman

Fiona Ranger Ann-Marie Shearer Keith Turner Angela Winteridge

Phil Brown Kay Lovell Gwen Newland Chris Pavey Paul Pinhorne

Tony Sinclair Sue Stannard (Co-opted)

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Margaret Bowman 11 Elbe Way, Andover SP10 4LD Tel: 01264 351361 Email: membership@hgs-online.org.uk

GROUP ORGANISERS – See Group Reports Pages

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: ALL MEMBERS £15

EDITOR Stephen Pomeroy at address at top of page Email: editor@hgs-online.org.uk

This journal is designed and laid out by Grey Cell Studios Southampton Telephone 023 8023 5780 Email: info@greycellstudios.co.uk

Hampshire Family Historian The Family

Contents

Editorial

42

by Stephen Pomeroy Chairman’s Report

43 44 45 47 48 51

September 2022

Farewell

Vol 49 No.2 • ISSN 0306-6843

HGS News

Book Review

Page 59

Searchers

A Message from Uncle Bob

by Jane Hurst News from the Hampshire Archives 52 Our Coastguard Boatmen ancestors 53 by Judith Sexton and Frances Marshall My Grandfather was a Bigamist 57 by Terry Gilmour

Deadline Material for possible inclusion in the December 2022 Family Historian should be received strictly by 22nd October 2022. All contributions are, however, appreciated as early as possible. The deadline applies to regular features only. Disclaimer The Hampshire Family Historian is the official publication of the Hampshire Genealogical Society. Material is copyright of the Society and may not be reproduced without written permission. The Hampshire Genealogical Society does not accept responsibility for personal views expressed in this publication, or in any articles. Submission of material The editor welcomes articles, feedback, letters or searchers requests for the journal. Text should be typed in black, with illustrations if appropriate. Send to the HGS Office at the address on the inside front cover marked for the attention of the editor. Please enclose a SAE for return of any photos or other items. Items can also be sent by e-mail to editor@hgs-online.org.uk as Word documents. In this case please send any photos or illustrations as separate image files rather than embedded in the document. You can have them in the document to indicate where they should appear or use placeholders. Images degrade when they are imported and resized when embedded. HGS reserves the right to reproduce submissions in publicity materials and on the society website. Please ALWAYS include a telephone contact — and if a member your membership number. To comply with data protection requirements please state what contact details you want printed in the journal or website, e.g telephone number and/or e-mail and/or address.

Page 57

Sir Isaac Wilson MD FRS by Barry Atwood Members’ Surname Interests Surnames Featured in this Issue From Forest Rides to City Streets

59

68 71 72

by Pat Staniforth Local Group Programmes

74

Membership

IBC

41

Editorial

Message from the editor Welcome to the September issue of the Historian. You will read further on appeals for members to take a role within the society, either helping with a group or with bookstall. A few years ago, the Winchester Group ceased but has reformed. Some other groups are under threat from local meetings ceasing, the only difference now is that ZOOM would allow ‘attendance” at other groups. However, face to face meetings are important, not just to listen and watch the presentation, but to socialise with other members at the start and end of the meeting and talk over issues which might expand into a members evening. Some of you will be aware that the way marriages are registered in churches has changed. Churches will have or be in the process of depositing their marriage registers at the local records office. Many of course will be too recent to be accessed, but some churches have not been depositing completed registers so a few older registers might be available. Back to this issue, articles include: Sir Isaac Wilson - a surgeon at Haslar who had a child by a local girl which resulted in the Stoneham family of boot makers/repairs in Portsmouth. Coastguard Boatmen – relates how this profession resulted in families moving large distances and families around the coast of England. Forest Rides – details the research that can result from odd snippets available from the family either anecdotes or items ‘hidden’ away. Uncle Bob – another article similar to the above and what can be learned from those odd books kept by the family.

Grandfather was a Bigamist – possibly you have another family overseas if a relative emigrates but the family remain here. Thanks to those who responded to

the appeal for articles, I have some in hand, so apologies if yours is not in this issue. It is good to know that I have the start of the next journal and not be worrying whether we can fill it. Proof readers will have noticed that I have not called on you recently, the recent articles have been well written and required very little editing. It would seem we are all getting better at putting pen to paper, or rather using our computer keyboards with the aid of the word processor advising us of spelling and grammar.. Finally, a reminder, when writing your family history etc the use of images from the internet is acceptable for your own use. However, if you feel the urge to write for the journal, which I hope you will still do, there can be problems with copyright. Photos you or your family have taken are OK, some older public domain images from websites are also OK. A few are copyright to the author or owner of the website and either not usable or a fee is required. If you are able, please check so we do not unintentional fall foul of copyright regulations. Stephen Pomeroy Editor

42

Chairman’s Report

Message from the Chairman

I am pleased to say that Tony Sinclair has taken on the role of Bookstall Manager. As the Shows are starting to occur again, please introduce yourself to him and the ‘Dream Team’.

At the time of putting my message together, in the UK we are experiencing the hottest temperatures on record. We are being told not to travel unless you really need to. However, in Winchester we continue to keep the HGS Research Desk fully manned. Not really a good time to be looking for that elusive grave stone. I know I am always pushing for volunteers, but if you are able to help please let either me or Chris Pavey know. We are looking to open on Wednesdays, so if you are available you know what to do. In June we held our Conference Day and AGM which was attended by our President Dr Nick Barratt and over 100 members at the Macdonald Hotel in Botley. We had three excellent presentations. As we have moved to the Hampshire Record Office, it seemed a great idea to have them attend. Jane Harris and Paula Crompton provided us with an excellent account of the history of the HRO and what the future holds. Whereas many visit the HRO to research family history, that material only accounts for a very small percentage (single figures) of their holdings. Our second speaker was Michael Gandy who gave us his highly amusing and informative talk on Name Lists of the 17th and 18th Century. Our third speaker was Nick Saunders with his talk How to Research Individuals through Military Records. By the time you read this article, we would have confirmed the date and format of next year’s event.

We are still looking for a Minute Secretary to attend 6 Executive and 3 Development Forum meetings per year if you are available. Since our last edition of the Historian we have seen the passing of Sheila Brine. Sheila was secretary, group leader and Open Day organiser for many years and has been missed since she stepped a few years ago. As the society is nearly 50 years old, many of the current Group Organisers and Trustees may not know those that did so much for the Society many years ago. If you know of someone who has passed on and should receive a specific obituary, please let one of the Executive Committee know. Well enjoy the rest of September Historian and ‘Good Hunting’ Paul Pinhorne Chairman

43

HGS News

Sheila Brine – a HGS Stalwart Earlier this year the HGS lost one of its most well-known and important role holders in recent years, Sheila Brine. For many years Sheila had led the Portsmouth Group before becoming the HGS Secretary. She performed this role most proficiently for many years and many of today’s post holders would have known her well.

knowledge the bookstall would not have been as lively, helpful and as friendly as it was. For a while Sheila stepped in as Editor of the Historian before Stephen took over, contributing many articles. Sheila was also the organiser of many Open Days that were held, mainly at Horndean. These were very successful events and showed her due diligence in any task she undertook. Sheila always made the tea and coffee etc. at meetings. She was also a regular in the office during the week helping on all tasks as needed. Without Sheila HGS would not have run as well as it was, she knew everyone and everything and was the lynch pin of HGS for many years. She always said that it was her late husband Gordon who got her involved and she didn't know much about family history at all - especially Hampshire as she very proudly said she was Scottish and came from Scotland.

She was also a very enthusiastic and helpful member of the bookstall team, joining most bookstall events from 2008 until really when Elaine took over in 2017. They were always fun days out. Sheila was often in charge of getting the tea and coffee for all and also made sure she touched base with all the other stallholders at the events. She knew everyone and also made sure Chris was introduced to everyone when she took over from Joan Stephens. Between Joan giving up and Chris taking over she stored the bookstall at her house and attended a few events. She always helped unpack and pack up at events and was also very helpful to people who came to the bookstall for help and to other members of the bookstall team. Without her input and

Sheila will be sorely missed. Paul Pinhorne Chairman

With the deepest regret we wish to inform readers of the death of the following HGS members:-

FAREWELL Rex Barham

Basingstoke

Member #14327 Member #7627 Member #3968

Sheila Brine Eileen Parkins

Lovedean Salisbury

44

HGS News

Research Report – July We have now been based here at HRO in Winchester for 12 months and our first year has been very successful. We work closely with HRO staff on a regular basis and also hold regular Partnership meetings with them. Our volunteers, all working on a rota basis, have increased over the year. They are working in three main areas: in the search room dealing with the public, in the office dealing with HGS administration, indexing and dealing with queries, and remotely working on research queries and transcriptions. A huge thank you to all of them for all they do. More volunteers are always welcome to help spread the load and we still hope to extend our opening to a Wednesday in due course. As you probably know work continues on the big task of updating our Catalogue and Station Stockbridge Road B3420 B3049 B3049 P B3420 Sussex Street

unwanted certificate index is now almost complete, and the new version will now be now be prepared for the website. Our Britains’ Dying Overseas index is being transcribed remotely (more transcribers welcome). Some HGS sales of ‘hard copies’ of CDs and books etc have now moved back to the office for processing, orders by email are still actioned remotely from home – do check our website to see what we offer. Queries for research are increasing, some are dealt with in the office and again some remotely. As most of you know, our Bookstall Manager Elaine Boyes has had to step down, so a huge thank you to her for all she has

B3047

WE ARE HERE

HGS Hampshire Record Office Sussex Street Winchester Hampshire SO23 8TH

A272

North Walls

Jewry Street

Durngate

B3330

B3040

we are hoping to see that come to fruition with the new version being uploaded to our website in the next few weeks. Similarly, our

Wales Sreet

Romsey Road

St Georges Street

P

The Westgate

Friarsgate

B3040

River Itchen

High Street

Bus Station

King Al fred’s Statue

Railway

Southgate Street

Town Hall

Winchester Cathedral

St Cross Road

P

B3330

B3335

45

HGS News

done over the last few years, we will miss her. We are now pleased to welcome Tony Sinclair to the role and are looking forward to working closely with him as outside events begin to open up again after Covid. We are also welcoming a visit from Basingstoke group in August to show them our set-up here and how we operate. We would

be very pleased to see any of the other groups come on a visit. If you would like to join the friendly and welcoming team on the rota here at HRO please do contact Chris on 07779 936044 or researchmanager@hgs-online.org.uk Chris Pavey HGS Research Manager

Britons Dying Overseas (BDO) Index Rescanning of the original BDO index cards started in May of this year with the first phase of transcription starting later that month. This first phase, a verbatim transcription of the scanned card content

process will be the analysis and validation of the data transcribed during the first phase described above. Recruitment of data analysists and validators is ongoing and it is anticipated that their work will start during August. The ongoing BDO work is an exciting and major project that will, when complete in 2023/4, be a HGS resource that we believe to be unique in the field of genealogical research. If you would like to be part of the project then please contact the undersigned on bowman92@btinternet.com . We look forward to hearing from you. John Bowman

on to XL spreadsheets, is progressing satisfactorily with approximately 4,500 cards transcribed by mid-July. The transcription team involved in this work are located around the world, from Auckland, New Zealand, to Vancouver, Canada, but there is plenty of work available for any new transcribers that would like to join us, irrespective of where you live. The second phase of the BDO transcription

Errata

The June journal had an article on Charles BRAMBLE. Unfortunately the author made an error in

stating that Thomas Drover married Ruth Etherington. His wife should have been Ruth ETHERIDGE , sorry for any inconvenience.

46

Book Review

by G D Hope The Normans to Queen Victoria 800 Years in Droxford

This 54-page booklet is a very welcome reprint of the 1980 edition which has long been unavailable. The 1980 edition had updated and amplified two previous publications: ‘Droxford - “A Hampshire Village, its History and its Church “(1955) and “The Village of Droxford and the Meon Valley” (1970). Covering 800 years of history, this excellent booklet is divided into 8 chapters covering specific time periods helpfully named: eg ‘Before the Conquest’, Stuart Droxford, Regency and Victorian Droxford etc., these headings help to provide an easy timeline to follow over the eight centuries of history, The early years focus is on placenames, as few personal names were recorded, although in a Winchester Pipe roll for 1210 a few names of the villagers are noted: eg. ‘Henry the smith paid 3s 0d for his daughter to marry’. From 1250 onwards names and buildings become more identifiable and increase with much more detail as more records become available. The book describes the manors, their lords and the work and activities and possessions of the villagers of Droxford, as well as details of their wills and inventories. The book is rich in names and details. For the family historian an index of the names would have been a useful addition to this well researched booklet. The book is also illustrated with helpful photos

and maps. The coloured centrefold reproduces a painting of Droxford Mill by William Evans ‘of Eton’ which is not dissimilar to Constable’s ‘Haywain’ in its subject matter. Both local and family historians will find much of interest in this book and a copy is held at our HGS office in Winchester. Copies can also be obtained from Droxford Post Office, Wilfrid's Cafe in Droxford church and from me on my email or phone Stuart Attrill on 01489 878500. The cost is £5 and postage will be plus £1.50.

Are you looking for that elusive family history book? Or one on local history? Perhaps we can help – contact Tony at bookstall@hgs-online.org.uk

47

Searchers

Searche If you would like your request to be included in this section, please submit a brief, but specific, email or letter of enquiry or send a 'Word' based article with relevant names (and particularly your own name and address) detailed in BLOCK CAPITALS to Editor, Hampshire Genealogical Society, Hampshire Record Office, Sussex Street, Winchester. SO23 8TH. Please advise what contact details you want printed in the journal along with your query – email, telephone number, postal address, or via HGS Office, research@hgs-online.org.uk Please be patient as acknowledgement or reply

will not be made except through this journal. Photographs and illustrations are gladly accepted: – 300 dpi resolution jpegs by email attachment or on CD are welcome or laser colour photocopies (never ordinary ones) or black and white original pictures. All can be returned if you request it and supply an SAE. If

sending original photographs through the post, please use a protective board envelope. EMAIL: searchers@hgs-online.org.uk and please always quote a full postal address for those without computers. If this is not done, your request may well be disregarded. Abbreviations used: b = born, bap = baptised, bd = buried, c. = circa, C = Century, d. = died, mrd = married. Members are reminded that these pages are compiled from letters etc. that may have been written months beforehand, so postal addresses should always be checked for up to date changes.

Joanna Hodgkin joannahines@btinternet.com (Member #15802)

Harold Hall

got to the bottom of why he changed his will, literally on his deathbed. It may be that some of your readers - or one of them! - might have some information - for instance, I’ve no idea if he arrived at the Bell Inn the day before he died or if he had been living there for some time. Why there?

I am researching the life of the writer Harold Fielding HALL who died in the Bell Inn Brook in May 1917. The day he died he changed his will, cutting out his wife and children in favour of the 4 year old daughter of a cousin (my mother). It’s an odd story, and no one has ever really

48

Searchers

The Bell Inn

Harold Hall

Rosemarie Tribe 8 Tuart Place, Morley, W.A.6062 (Member #12565)

Etherington

I have a problem which I am sure somebody there can solve. I am currently updating the ETHERINGTON side of my tree, my own immediate Etherington’s all hail from Sussex and are pretty up to date, but I also keep up a Hampshire Etherington tree, partly because some of them appear in my husband’s Tribe tree, but also on account of Eian Etherington’s tree which I have and which covers both Surrey & Hants as well as connecting with my own Sussex tree. The Etherington’s though

well spread are not the easiest to research as so far I have found 11 different variants in the way they spell their name! Due to living in Australia much of my research is based on the parish Index CD’s which I purchased from you some years ago. This week I was working on two early Etherington families who seem to hail from Alton, but I find that on the baptism CD dated from 1660 – 1751 the baptisms for that branch of the family - lurking under the spelling of Hetherington - all stop dead

49

Searchers

at the end of the 1600’s. Humphrey’s at 1670, and Edward’s at 1685 with a lone grandchild in 1698 and one in 1705, nothing further until 1751 when one Etherington item appears. The Marriage Index for the same period is similar, a couple in 1697, 1698 & 1 in 1704 after that nothing. Surely one would think there has to be some between 1690 and 1751? I tried in parish’s close at hand eg Selborne, Kingsley & Headley, but the Hetherington’s of

Alton seem to have totally disappeared under any spelling. My only thought is that maybe a register from Alton went missing as I have others in the family from around Selborne, Kingsley etc. jotted down in a book that I am unable to link in, it is as if a whole generation has gone missing. The Burial index seems okay with no breaks in it. Any clues?

Gwenda Cliff royandgwen@yahoo.co.uk (Member #15776)

Fosters of Portsea

Living as I do in South Somerset makes attending meetings rather difficult and perhaps I am naive in seeking to find details of my ancestors who resided in Hampshire. However the desire to know is ever present!! A DNA test gave a strong link to the FOSTER family who were evidently well connected to the Naval service and Portsmouth. This family was also linked to my Grandfather who was Henry Lawrence DAVIS of St. James in London but originally came from Portsea.

The most interesting revelation is the connected interests and employment. Several members of my family are boat owners and enthusiastic sailors. Other family members are by nature - artisans in pottery, upholstery and textiles. I suppose this confirms the suggestion that often family traits transcend generations even when there has not been an established link. I am 82 but have not lost my enthusiasm to find a connection to my ancestors. (I hope you will forgive my rambling on)!!

Gwenda Cliff royandgwen@yahoo.co.uk (Member #15776)

Boyett Family

I am a member of the Boyett DNA study; the aim of which is to identify the common ancestor of the USA and UK BOYETT/BOYT families. The study has so far shown that the Boyett/Boyt Y-DNA is H2, an ancient halpogroup which has been found in ancient skeletons in France and Ireland. We are looking to recruit new male Boyett/Boyt UK

participants into the study. Currently the time line to the common ancestor is 1300AD but the study group think this could be narrowed down with the testing of more UK males. The study would particularly welcome any Boyett/Boyt males who descend through the Boyett families from Charlton in Hampshire or from Westbourne in Sussex as my research shows that these families moved back and

50

Searchers/Member’s article

Florida; I am the UK contact for the study. I have a large tree for the Hampshire & Westbourne Boyett family as well as a Boyt One Name Study registered with the Guild of One Name Studies and welcome any queries.

forth over the years. There are also branches of this family in Pembrokeshire. The study is registered with Family Tree DNA https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/boyet te/about and is managed by David Boyett in

A message from Uncle Bob

Waiting to the Duchess of Edinburgh - so the couple both had royal connections. Two daughters were born to Francis and Harriot - Claudia Mary in 1887 and Harriot Elizabeth in late summer of the following year. Sadly, very shortly after the latter event, Harriot senior died at their home in Eastney Barracks in Portsmouth. The 1891 census shows the 49 year old widower Francis - a Lt Col in the Royal Marines Artillery - on Portsea Island with Claudia and Harriot. In August 1894, Harriot was given the Book of Common Prayer by ‘Uncle Bob’. This must have been for her 5th birthday or the anniversary of her mother’s death. The giver was probably her mother’s brother, Rev Canon Hon Robert GRIMSTON . Two years later, he married Gertrude Mary Amelia Villiers and became Dean of St Albans. Harriot’s father, Francis, retired and the 1901 census found him with the rank of Major General at St Helen’s Parade in Portsmouth with his two girls. Both married in 1916 with Harriot’s husband being Lionel George FOOTE - a Navy Lt Commander. When Harriot died in 1966 - did she still have her Book of Common Prayer? and how did it find its way to Alton? Jane Hurst (Member #6392)

While clearing out some books from a neighbour’s house, I came across a Book of Common Prayer with the following inscription: Harriot Elizabeth Poore with best love

and good wishes from Uncle Bob August 1894 Eastney Barracks Portsmouth.

On searching for Harriot, I found that there had been two people with that name. The first was born Harriot Elizabeth GRIMSTON and was the daughter of James Walter GRIMSTON , 2nd Earl of Verulam, and his wife, Elizabeth Joanna. On 24th March 1885, Harriot married Andover-born Francis Harwood POORE in the St Albans area. In the 1881 census, Francis had been in the Portsea district - single and a Captain in the Royal Marines Artillery. Various web sites say that Francis was Equerry to the then Duke of Edinburgh and the Royal Collection Trust has a carte-de-visite of Francis (RCIN 2584052, dated 1877) that was ‘acquired by Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh’. In the same year as the photograph, Harriot was a Lady-in

51

News from the Hampshire Archives

The Hampshire Archives and Local Studies

Digitisation of all wills Ancestry staff have completed the digitisation of all wills which were proved in the church courts of Winchester Diocese from 1500 to 1857/8 together with related probate records such as inventories and administrations. Indexing work is now taking place and availability of these records on Ancestry are on track to be available from beginning of 2023. There has also been a good start made with the digitisation of parish registers to 1921. Forthcoming Events For more information and booking details see: https://www.hants.gov.uk/ librariesandarchives/archives/events Back to Nature: Exploring Hampshire’s natural heritage through archives - Online talk This online talk will focus on sources available in Hampshire Record Office for studying Hampshire’s natural heritage – its landscape,

Behind the scenes at the archives Go behind the scenes at the archives to see some of the amazing records we hold. You’ll be guided around the building by a professional archivist who will explain the unseen work which is carried out to preserve, and make accessible, Hampshire’s heritage. On the tour you will be able to handle a wide range of documents from our collections, visit our conservation department to find out what happens to documents which are damaged by mould, water and vermin. We’ll explain the delicate work and processes which are carried out to repair damaged documents and bring them back to life. After all that you can sit back and relax in our cinema and watch a short archive filmshow. – 12 September 2022 6pm to 7:30pm (also on 7 and 28 November) The Swing Riots in Hampshire in 1830 Online talk. The riots affected about twenty southern counties but Hampshire was amongst the most troubled and where the consequences for the rioters were the most harsh. – 10 October 2022 6pm to 7pm

coast and rivers, its flora and fauna. – 6 September 2022 6pm to 7pm

Opening hours for Record Office visitors continue to be Tuesdays to Thursdays, 9.30am to 4.00pm. Researchers can visit without appointment and order up to 6 documents before 12 noon (please call us to order documents in advance if you are visiting in the afternoon). Booking is essential for researchers wishing to see more than 6 documents per day. Please check our website for the most up to date information at www.hants.gov.uk/librariesandarchives/archives . You can also follow the HRO blog at https://hampshirearchivesandlocalstudies.wordpress.com

52

Member’s article

Our ancestors were ‘Coastguard Boatmen!’

Thomas Redding was one of five. His siblings included Mary Ann b.1811, and Richard b.1820. Their parents were John b.1773 Fowey and Mary DODGE b.1772 in Mevagissey. In the Fowey 1841 census we found John Redding (b 1773). He was in the household of Mary Ann BARRETT and two boys, Richard Barrett 7 years and William Barrett 5 years. We went on to establish that Mary Ann was his daughter (parish birth records/local - Connor’s) and the boys his grandchildren. Searches for her marriage and the birth records of the boys yielded no results. We found no trace of Mary Ann Barrett and her family in Fowey in 1851. In 2017 the record of the marriage of Mary Ann REDDING and a William BARRETT , (findmypast/familysearch.org.uk) was

The REDDING’S, our father’s side of the family were not much known to us. He grew up in Torpoint, Cornwall. We recall talking to him about his immediate forebears quite often. As for any ‘further back’ information, nothing was ever said. Thomas Redding, Mary Ann Redding and William Barrett . . ? In about 2010 we set about finding out! Census searches soon revealed Thomas REDDING , born 1799, was our great, great grandfather and that he had been born in Mevagissey, Cornwall and had grown up in Fowey. He was employed as a boatman/chief boatman in the coast guard service until his retirement in 1865 in Wells Next the Sea, Norfolk. He had travelled from coastguard station to coastguard station along the south coast and ‘up’ the east coast - from Fowey to Wells. The family made at least twenty moves!

Admiralty Map of coastguard stations 1855 (The National Archives)

53

Member’s article

found by our ‘family history friend and mentor’, Betty. They had married in 1832 at East Blatchington, Sussex. Why so far from Cornwall? Was William ‘at sea’? Census records for William Barrett (son, b. about 1834) include different ‘birth places’, but in 1851 he says he was born at a place we later ‘deciphered’ as ‘Shoreham’ A ‘location link’ with the parents’ marriage at East Blatchington! In 2018/19 we searched the Admiralty Coastguard Establishment books. We found that Thomas REDDING , boatman, was in the Newhaven/Shoreham area in the 1830s. We found a William BARRETT , boatman, in the area, also. Perhaps a ‘location/occupation’ link’ between the Redding and Barrett families. We discovered from the 1851 census that Mary Ann had married for a second time to George ROBINS . It looked like William Barrett, b.1804, might have died before 1851! Coastguard Establishment book A ‘William Barrett’ listed. We continued to search for William’s birth (abt. 1805) and death. No certain birth record and no sign of his death. Later we found ‘a William Barrett’ born abt. 1804 at Landulph, Cornwall. We discovered, also, that Mary Ann’s brother, Richard (a mariner) had married (1839) Betsy BARRETT . Her father, Richard BARRETT (b. 1783, Landulph) was in the coast guard service! Landulph, the place where ‘the’ William we had found was born! Was this William’s ‘Barrett’ family? Was he a brother to Betsy Barrett? Was he a coastguard man, too?? Maybe a ‘location and occupation’ trail

really had been found!? Was it too much to suppose Mary Ann Redding and her brother Richard Redding had married Barrett siblings in William and Betsy? It must have been ten years since we set out on this hunt. 2021- more lockdown time! We looked again at the 1832 marriage of Mary Ann REDDING and William BARRETT ‘at source’ (family search.org.uk). An image was available! We found that Thomas REDDING (Mary Ann’s brother) was a witness. Wonderful! The record showed, also, that William was from the Parish of Seaford. A perfect match with the Admiralty Establishment Station record. In 1832 he was at Cuckmere Haven, Seaford. The Admiralty records confirm, also, that Thomas REDDING was ‘local’ at East Blatchington 1830+

54

Member’s article

We hunted again for a record of a death for William BARRETT and this time we had a find! A burial record and image of the parish burial record. (familysearch.org.uk) The date: 17 August 1836, at New Shoreham. He was 33 years old. But the image clinched it! William’s abode was given as ‘the Coastguard Station Houses’. He was in the coast guard service! Even more, the record showed two other boatmen buried within days of William. An incident - surely! A newspaper report? A Coroner's Report? Our hearts sank at the prospect of a newspaper search! However, Betty triumphed! Her Google search for ‘old newspapers of Shoreham, 1830s’ gave results. We found www.newshorehambysea.com Two articles of interest. We discovered names of boatmen based at Shoreham and these included William BARRETT , there from 1832-1836. The coastguard agency report of the incident at sea was included alongside the more detailed account from the local newspaper. From the Bucks. Herald , the story begins, ‘MELANCHOLY CATASTROPHE’. It was a Monday. We are told of the voyage planned from Cuckmere Haven to take the station officer and his luggage to his new appointment at Kingston. William BARRETT and the two other boatmen (Tyrell and Boyden) were to row the galley. A squall developed near Goring. The boat capsized and only the officer

got to shore. The report goes on to say ‘the unfortunate men each left a wife and family’. William BARRETT left Mary Ann and three boys. (Until now, we had known only of two, Richard and William, from 1841 census) A further hunt! The website had links to the Shoreham parish records. We found the death recorded of William BARRETT and the births of all three of his boys. At last! The third, John Redding BARRETT , b.1836 had died (familysearch.org.uk) before the 1841 census when the family was back in Fowey. (General Record Office unable to locate the death certificate 1840) Later, John Redding BARRETT (1836-1840) had a cousin, named John Barrett REDDING born in 1848 to Betsy BARRETT and Richard REDDING . Our Dad had made ‘notes’ of some family ancestors - and among them we found a scrap of paper where he had written, ‘Redding girls married Robins Barrett.

What, we wonder, did he know? The ‘finds’ made through the www.shorehambysea.com site were wonderful! Gaps were filled and speculation turned into fact. ‘Icing on the cake’

55

Member’s article

doesn’t touch the excitement and pleasure we experienced! William BARRETT is our 2nd great granduncle, (‘Ancestry speak!’) and a brother in law to our great great grandfather, Thomas REDDING . Our appreciation and gratitude goes to all those at www.shorehambysea.com Congratulations on gathering such a mass of information and presenting it so brilliantly. Interesting, informative and user-friendly. We have been able to ‘tie up’ so many queries from the last ten years! The ‘finds’ made by Betty were instrumental to progress! Thank you, Betty. Maybe we are still looking for a Coroner’s report . . . ? We are guessing that maybe Mary Ann met William Barrett on a visit to see her niece, Mary Ann, daughter to her brother,

Thomas, along the coast? And, we wonder - did she do this travelling by sea? Judith Sexton ( Member #13278) Frances Marshall ( Member #15493)

‘Redding girls’ Sources used: Ancestry.co.uk; Find my Past;

familysearch.org.uk; Fowey local/Connor’s Ancestry Thrulines confirmed our DNA matches with Richard Barrett b1873. The National Archives: downloaded ADM174/1+ Admiralty Establishment Books; Maps (1855) of coastguard stations FO 925/4060 and (1879) CUST 147/5 www.shorehambysea.com

It’s all relative

great great grandmother

great great grandfather

great grandmother

great grandfather

great great uncle

great great aunt

first cousin twice removed

grandmother

grandfather

great uncle

greataunt

first cousin once removed

2nd cousin once removed

father

mother

uncle

aunt

cousin (or “first cousin”)

2nd cousin

ME

3rd cousin

3rd cousin once removed

first cousin twice removed first cousin once removed

2nd cousin twice removed 2nd cousin once removed

3rd cousin twice removed

first cousin 3 times removed

2nd cousin 3 times removed

3rd cousin 3 times removed

56

Member’s article

My Grandfather was a Bigamist

I spent nearly 40 years trying to find the whereabouts of my paternal grandfather and it wasn’t until 2017 I discovered he was a bigamist. Henry Norton Wheeler GILMOUR was born on 17th June 1887 in Winchester. He was the first born to Frank and Mary Ann Gilmour. Frank was a successful printer and book binder in Winchester running the business set up by his father. I’m not sure how he met my grandmother but she was a domestic servant and clearly a status or two below the Gilmour family. When she became pregnant, Henry was kicked out of the family business and became a merchant seaman, based in Southampton. My grandmother always referred to herself as an “April Fool” bride as she married Henry on 1st April 1907. Harry Douglas, their first child was born on 13th August 1907, followed on 21st November 1909 by Charles Frank and 26th August 1913 by Arthur William. Returning home after one of his seafaring trips in1920, my grandmother announced that she was pregnant again. Henry told her not to worry as he was setting up home in the USA. This was the last time my grandmother saw Henry as it was suspected he jumped ship in America, never to be seen or heard of again. When I became interested in family history, some 45 years ago, I tried to trace Henry but had no luck until Ancestry opened the American records for free one week-end. I started trawling and there he was. No attempt to hide his identity, Henry Norton Wheeler Gilmour, born in Winchester on 17th June 1887. He had lodged a petition for Naturalization as an American Citizen. On the application form he stated that he was

Edith and Henry

living in Jackson Heights in New York and that he had served for 3 or more years on an American registered vessel and that his last place of residence was Liverpool England. He had emigrated from Southampton, England on the vessel Mongolia and arrived in New York on March 14th, 1921. His application was dated May 28th, 1937, some 16 years after his arrival in America. While serving in the American merchant navy he met Dorothy L EWING . Dorothy was a nurse on board the ship Henry was serving on and a romance blossomed. He had married Dorothy on October 15th, 1935, in Manhattan

57

Member’s article

and stated on his application that he had no children. Clearly, he had lost his memory during his 16 years in the States. Dorothy was born on November 19th, 1898, in Ashville N.C. USA, some 700 miles from New York. Henry had adopted the name Harry, as so many Henry’s did and changed his middle name to Neal. He died in 822 Galiano Avenue, Coral Gables, Miami-Dade, Florida on September 24th, 1958, aged 70 and his remains are buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Birmingham, Alabama USA. Terry Gilmour HGS Member # 70

Henry’s application for naturalisation

Have your Query published in the journal Please email it to: searchers@hgs-online.org.uk

For all the latest news visit… www.hgs-familyhistory.com

58

Member’s article

Sir Isaac Wilson MD FRS (1757-1844)

I was born at Portsmouth in 1940 and prominent amongst my earliest memories was the London Boot Repairing Factory Ltd at North End. The firm had been established by my maternal grandparents, Thomas and Ada Stoneham, and I soon learnt that Thomas, who had sadly died in 1930, was part of a dynasty that had been pursuing the gentle craft for over a century. My mother, Vera Atwood née Stoneham, told me many stories about them, the most notable of which was that we were originally descended from an eminent Royal Navy doctor who had been in charge of Haslar Royal Naval Hospital. In 1948 work demands took my parents and me away from Hampshire and it was not until some 60 years later that I set

out to investigate this intriguing but unlikely figure. Isaac Wilson and Eliza Stoneham The task was undertaken with some scepticism. Was it likely, I asked, that a line of 19th century tradesmen shoemakers would really have stemmed from a famous professional medical man? Yet my cynical incredulity was confounded when I got the 1846 marriage certificate of my great great grandfather, John Isaac STONEHAM . This revealed that he was a “Cordwainer” and

Royal Hospital, Haslar: 1799. View southwards from Gosport across Haslar Lake

59

Member’s article

only his father’s Christian name but also apparently some education. He was (unlike his mother and maternal grandfather) literate and is recorded around 1874 as acting as an “agent”. Family legend held that he played the violin and had invested in property in the Fratton district of Portsmouth. It is to be noted that the first Gosport school was opened on the west side of Holy Trinity Church in 1831 when John would have been about five years old. It was certainly in Gosport that Eliza settled with her young son. On 10 December 1832 at Alverstoke parish church she married John LEAL, a 44 year old, Gosport born cordwainer and widower. If he was taking on the additional responsibility for a 7 year old child with his young bride, he was also gaining their help with his work. John Isaac evidently learned the trade from him and censuses show that Eliza became a shoe binder. She stitched the parts of shoes together before the soles were nailed on. John Isaac Stoneham John Isaac Stoneham married Lavinia VINER at the North Street Chapel, Gosport on 6 September 1846 and over the next two decades they had eight children. Although the tale of their bumpy lives – eventually in Portsmouth – is for another time and place, a further word should be said of Eliza Leal née Stoneham. The end of her story remains unclear. No evidence has been found that she remarried after John Leal’s death in 1857. By 1861 she seems to have been living alone at Darby’s Yard, Gosport, but the information in the census of that year and thereafter is inconsistent with her known history. It is to be hoped she was not the “Eliza Leat” recorded

that his father was “Isaac Wilson, Physician”. I then obtained an article about Wilson by John J. Marshall from the Ulster Journal of Archaeology (“Marshall’s biography”). This showed that Wilson was an Ulsterman born at Drumrusk in 1757 who, after many years as a Royal Navy surgeon and having indeed served between 1821 and 1837 in the prestigious role of Physician at the Haslar Royal Hospital, had been knighted in 1838. But who was John Isaac Stoneham’s mother? Research in parish and census records eventually presented her as Eliza Stoneham. She had been born in 1806 to a Fareham labouring couple who seemed to have been making a living, at least in part, by servicing the needs of the monied classes in Fareham and Gosport. Whether this was how Eliza and Isaac WILSON came together is unknown, but it appeared very likely that it was through domestic work she had caught the eye of this elderly but authoritative and affluent local figure. Although now approaching 70, Wilson held an impressive place in society but also, retained a vigorous demeanour that belied his age. The young Eliza might understandably have been dazzled by his attentions. In the event, John Isaac, was born to Isaac Wilson and Eliza Stoneham in 1825. Given the wide gulf between them in age and social status, it would have been surprising indeed had they actually married. Eliza seems, nonetheless, to have been a feisty young woman. On 21 August 1825 at St Peter and St Paul, Fareham, she had her new born son baptised “John Isaac Wilson”. Although there is no evidence that Wilson made any provision for John and his mother, it seems possible that he did. John received not

60

Member’s article

1844 read as follows:- “On the 2nd instant, at Bognor, in his 88th year, Sir Isaac Wilson, MD and FRS, for many years physician to the Royal Naval Hospitals at Plymouth and Haslar, and domestic physician to their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Kent. ” A similar announcement appeared in the Hampshire Telegraph for 7 December 1844 which, on 4 January 1845, in a list of significant deaths during the past year added that Wilson “was senior physician in the medical list of the Royal Navy, being the senior by one year of the late Sir William Beatty”. Announcements also appeared in The Annual Register, The Gentleman’s Magazine and The Illustrated London News . But “It is a curious fact”, comments Marshall’s biography, “that none of the publications mentioned supply any biographical details of one holding such a distinguished position, while an important professional journal like the Medical Times does not even notice his death”. Some attempt is made below to repair that omission with information not least in relation to Wilson’s royal connection. Isaac Wilson’s career The starting point is, however, not with the Duke and Duchess of Kent but with the Duke’s elder brother Prince William Henry. According to Marshall’s biography, Wilson – “entered the British navy as a surgeon on the ship with the Duke of Clarence, afterwards William IV. The prince being seized with a dangerous fever Dr Wilson attended him during his illness; and to the Doctor’s care and skill the prince attributed his recovery and remained ever after his friend”.

as having died of General Paralysis at Mill Lane, Fareham on 20 September 1872. The deceased’s age is recorded as 58 and her occupation as “Widow of – Leat, Brewer’s Labourer”. Eliza Leal née Stoneham would of course have been about 66 by this time and there is no indication that, after John Leal’s death, she had become involved with a Brewer’s labourer. For the moment her ultimate fate remains uncertain. Isaac Wilson’s final years Rather more information is available about Isaac Wilson’s last years. On his retirement in 1837, he settled in what is still the attractive High Street at Fareham. Time however seems soon to have hung heavy on his hands. On 10 October 1840 the Chichester gossip columnist of the Hampshire Advertiser wrote "Sir Isaac Wilson, of Fareham, who intends taking up his residence in this neighbourhood, is, we understand, a candidate for the office of physician to the Chichester Infirmary." Since 1826 Dr Joseph McCoragher, Wilson's nephew and another former Royal Navy medical man, had evidently been Honorary Physician to the Infirmary and was active in local affairs. As it turned out, Wilson didn't get the job, or perhaps thought better of actually applying as age caught up with him. The 1841 census shows him still at High Street, Fareham, but he evidently kept in touch with his nephew and family. When Wilson died at Bognor on 2nd December 1844 he had probably been holidaying near them. Bognor is only five miles distant from Chichester and only four from the village of Oving with which the McCoraghers seem to have been connected and where Wilson was buried. The announcement in The Times of 12 December

61

Member’s article

on the slaving ship Elizabeth under the command of Captain John Smith and that he returned to England on 6 December 1789. Slaves were shipped at the Bight of Biafra and Gulf of Guinea islands and carried to the Rio de la Plata. Quite what possessed Wilson to participate in such an unspeakable business is unclear, but it is not inconceivable that, as part of a circle of like-minded thinkers, he agreed to do so for the express purpose of collecting evidence. Early in the 1787 Parliamentary session, William Wilberforce had "announced his intention of bringing forward a motion relative to the slave trade but, by ill health, which interrupted the attendance to his publick duties, he was prevented from doing it for nearly two years". When in 1790 and 1791 a Select Committee of the House of Commons came to consider abolition of the slave-trade, Wilson not only gave telling evidence of the appalling conditions of the slaves on the journey across the Atlantic, but also confirmed the equality of Africans to Europeans in "capacity, feeling, affection, and moral character". In his celebrated speech to the House of Commons on 2 April 1792 calling for abolition of the trade, William Wilberforce relied heavily on Wilson’s evidence to show, notwithstanding the relative humanity of the ship owner and captain, the appalling conditions on the slaving vessels and the serious level of mortality on passage. As he said "it was no longer ago than in the year 1788, that Mr Isaac Wilson, whose intelligent and candid manner of giving evidence, could not but impress the committee with a high opinion of him, was doomed to witness scenes as deeply distressing as almost ever occurred in the annals of the slave trade."

Extensive research, especially in ships’ muster books at the National Archives, failed to produce evidence that Prince William and Wilson were ever shipmates. However, they were in the Royal Navy at the same time. With an interval in Hanover between June 1783 and June 1785, Prince William served from 1779 until 1789. Meanwhile, on 21 November 1782 Wilson had begun his career as a Naval Surgeon when he was passed “2nd Mate for a 3rd rate” by the Surgeons Company. It is thus quite possible that their paths crossed at some time between 1785 and 1789. Philip Ziegler’s biography of King William IV refers to two bouts of tropical fever suffered by William during 1787 in the West Indies and at Quebec while in command of HMS Pegasus . If HMS Camilla , on which at the time Wilson was serving as Surgeon, was then present on the same station, it is not impossible that he treated Prince William then. Almost immediately thereafter Wilson had to invoke his half-pay entitlement. His record shows a two year gap (14 December 1787 - 22 January 1790) before he got a further posting. The American War of Independence had ended in 1783 and the French Revolutionary War proved to be still some five years off. Isaac Wilson was not, it seems, one to sit idly by. Marshall’s biography suggests that he acquired at least two merchant ships and other sources say that he traded in both North and South America and made money shipping goods between North American settlements. It has not been possible to verify these claims. Isaac Wilson and the abolition of the slave trade It is however certain that on 10 May 1788 Isaac Wilson sailed from London as surgeon

62