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Transcription

1 Oxfordshire FAMILY HISTORIAN Volume 26, No.2

2 President: Dr Hugh Kearsey Vice-Presidents: Mrs Joan Howard-Drake, Colin Harris, Dr Malcolm Graham President Emeritus: Jeremy Gibson FSA, FSG(Hon), FRHistS Hon Legal Advisor: Jeremy Geere OFHS Registered Charity Number Chairman: Dr Wendy Archer The Old Nursery, Pump Lane, MARLOW, SL7 3RD Tel: Secretary: Mrs Julie Kennedy 19 Mavor Close, WOODSTOCK, OX20 1YL Tel: Treasurer: Miss Linda Dore 3 The Square, Aynho, BANBURY, OX17 3BL Tel: [email protected] Editor: Mrs Sue Honoré Meadow Barn, Old Minster Lovell, WITNEY OX29 0RN Tel: [email protected] (redirected until October to Wendy Archer) Executive Committee: Wendy Archer, Malcolm Austen, Linda Dore, Paul Gaskell, Sue Honoré, Julie Kennedy Derek Powles, Sheila Tree Acting Editor this issue: Wendy Archer The Society s website can be found at: Front cover: Bale Top tomb at St Mary the Virgin, Witney See article Piecing It All Together page 94 Photo by Alan Simpson Printed by Parchment (Oxford) Ltd., Printworks, Crescent Road, Cowley, Oxford OX4 2PB from customer s artwork supplied

3 Oxfordshire FAMILY HISTORIAN The Journal of the Oxfordshire Family History Society Vol. 26 No. 2 ISSN CONTENTS From the Chairman and Acting Editor...75 OFHS News...76 Scene Around...83 A Discovery in Ambrosden...Pat Ford 87 Village Archives... Ian Costar 89 Matilda Coles... Carol Coles 91 Getting Back to My Roots... Mick Dumbleton 93 Piecing It All Together...Alan Simpson 94 Shipton under Wychwood Parish... Joan Howard-Drake 97 Jubilee George and Jubilee Charlotte Oxfordshire History Centre...Mark Lawrence 101 Berkshire Probate Index CD... Paul Gaskell 110 The SCHLESINGER family s association with Russell s Water... Paul T and Philippa M Harding 112 The British Postal Museum and Archive...Penny McMahon 116 Those Latin Bits in Wills... Dave Beames 121 Meeting Reports Library Accessions... John Blakeman 131 Oxfordshire FHS Booksales Wroxton Abbey...Brenda Crosby 134 Other Book Reviews Members Interests Useful Addresses Who s Who Diary Dates Meetings at Exeter Hall... Inside back cover 73

4 SOCIETY OBJECTIVES 1. to advance public education in family history and genealogy primarily within the county of Oxford 2. to collect, index, co-ordinate, publish and make accessible in the interests of genealogy any documents or records relating to the county 3. to promote the preservation of such documents or records 4. to encourage the study of genealogy 5. to assist educationally by lectures or otherwise in record research 6. to co-operate with Family History and other Societies with similar interests. The Constitution of the Society is lodged with the Charity Commissioners and a copy is available from the Society s web site or, upon receipt of a stamped addressed envelope, from the Secretary. OFHS Registered Charity Number Subscriptions are renewable annually on 1 January except that those joining during Oct, Nov, Dec have their membership carried forward through the following year. Membership renewal forms are distributed with the December journal. UK members: Individual 9.00, Family Overseas members (incl. postage) Cheques drawn in sterling and made out to Oxfordshire Family History Society should be sent to the Membership Secretary (see the Who s Who at the back of this Journal). Australian members may pay via the Society s agent (member 2202) Mrs Barbara Geeves, 6a Webb Street, Mornington, Victoria 3931, Australia [email protected] Membership details are kept on computer and are used for Society activities only. Contributions to Future Editions The is published three times each year with cover dates of April, August and December. Items for consideration should be submitted to the editor. The earlier an item is received, the greater the chance of inclusion in the next issue. The deadline for the December 2012 issue is 1 October Urgent short items may be submitted up to 15 October The Editor reserves the right to edit, abridge, reject, or defer to a future date, all material submitted for publication. It is the contributor s responsibility to ensure that material submitted does not breach copyright laws. Contributions remain the copyright of OFHS and the authors jointly. The observations and opinions expressed in the articles and notices in the journal are those of their authors and not necessarily those of the Society. 74

5 From the Chairman and Acting Editor The Society being between Editors, your Chairman is Acting Editor for this issue, and Rosemary Bailey has taken on laying out the journal for us. I have enjoyed being in contact with a number of members as a result. The Society has had an exciting few months. It was placed second (out of eighteen entries) in the Large Societies category of the Federation of Family History Societies Elizabeth Simpson Award. This is for the Society journal making the best contribution to family history. Congratulations to Tony Hadland, our outgoing Editor. My thanks also to Tony for so ably editing our journal for the last three years, and for bringing it into the colour cover age. One member with whom I was talking, living in Littlemore, told me she always had a day out by bus to the place featured on the cover, and was wondering where she would be visiting in August. I hope she enjoys her day in Witney! I have reported regularly in the From the Executive Committee Table section about the project we have been hoping to bring to fruition of scanning Oxfordshire s parish registers, primarily as a move to their being less used, and thus better preserved. I am delighted to say that, as the schedule currently stands, by the time you receive this journal the project should be under way; indeed, we should have had scanned about 500 registers, across the full date range from 1538 (Bampton, for instance) to current times. The project will scan about 3,000 registers in total. The Society has made a very substantial donation of sets of its transcribed and photographed resources on CD to the Oxfordshire local studies and branch libraries. Stella Wentworth, Local & Family History librarian at Oxfordshire Central library at Westgate, was very appreciative of the spread of CDs she received from myself on behalf of OFHS. Her letter of thanks is reproduced overleaf. Wendy Archer CHAIRMAN, AND ACTING EDITOR Stel la We nt wort h wi t h Chairman Wendy Archer 75 OFHS

6 OFHS News From the Executive Committee Table by Wendy Archer Some of the matters discussed by the Executive Committee in February to May 2012 are reported below. Committee changes Tony Hadland, who has been our Editor for the last three years, notified the committee of his intention to leave the committee in June. Sue Honoré, who is taking on the Editorship from October, has been co-opted onto the committee. Federation of Family History Societies At the FFHS Annual General Meeting and General Meeting at Wesley s Chapel, London, OFHS was delighted to hear that we had been awarded second place, with a High Commendation, in the Large Societies category of the Elizabeth Simpson Award The Award is competed for annually, and is given for the journal making the best contribution to family history. There were eighteen entries in our category. Tony Hadland, as Editor, collected a certificate on our behalf, and congratulations have been passed to Tony by the OFHS committee. Finance Monthly accounts were presented and reviewed. We made a donation of 5,000 to the Victoria History of Oxfordshire Trust, which was received with grateful thanks. Tony Hadland receiving the Elizabeth Simpson Award certificate from Nick Barratt on behalf of OFHS at the FFHS General Meeting in March Open Day We are looking forward to our wellestablished Open Day at Woodstock. For more details, see page 80. Dave Beames, our Wills Library Co-ordinator, is hoping to be at the Open Day. Fairs and broadcast We attended the Bracknell Family History Fair and the Oxfordshire & Bucks Fair at Kidlington, and took part in the Who Do You Think You Are? Live Show at Olympia. New members were recruited, including a transcription volunteer. It was good to meet existing 76

7 OFHS News members, as well as help enquirers, and show and sell our CDs and book stock. Within Oxfordshire, talks were given to U3A groups and others. We also featured in a broadcast on Radio Oxford. Holford Centre Visitors to the Holford Centre continue to appreciate the warm welcome and help they receive from our advisors there. Project to scan the parish registers volunteers now working on the project. The images of the grave registers will be available to view at the Holford Centre. Liaison with Oxfordshire History Centre (OHC) and Westgate Library staff We have kept in close touch with the staff of both OHC and Westgate Library, both formally & informally. Availability of OFHS resources Permissions from the parishes to have their registers scanned are being sought by Oxfordshire History Centre at the time of writing, about 50% having been received, with the detail and logistics of the project being finalised. We have made available to the Victoria County History staff copies of all our transcripts, and our Search Service databases, to help them in their excellent work. Within days of receiving the data, Simon Townley, County Editor, said It works like a dream, and has already Projects helped to fill a gap in the C17 and C18 As a sequel to the Probate project 1508 descent of Ewelme manor! (The answer 1652 we part-funded at Berkshire was provided by a quick parish register Record Office, a CD has been published search, and by a transcribed MI in containing an index to all the probate Wheatfield church...). data at the Berkshire Record Office, In similar vein, we have donated to This has been a the Churchill and Sarsden Heritage collaborative project between the project Centre copies of the OFHS census partners, including ourselves. Details of transcripts for their area, along with the the CD are on page 110. ima ges of the corresponding The new season of transcribing of enumerators pages. In return for a Monumental Inscriptions has started. donation from OFHS of our transcript of More details are on page 82. their parish register, they have given Register transcription has continued, us an extended transcript thereof. and re-keying of old transcripts is also We have developed comparable links progressing. with Bampton Archives. The project to transcribe the grave As mentioned elsewhere, OFHS has registers four ofoxford City also donated to the Oxfordshire The nextof64thepages articles have been removed from thislibrary copy cemeteries is well under way, with ten Service sets of CDs to be distributed to they are only present in the copies distributed to members. 77

8 Useful Addresses OFHS Research Centre: The Holford Centre, School Lane Stanton St John, OXFORD, OX33 1ET Tel: See for opening details Helpline: Oxfordshire Central Library: Westgate, OXFORD, OX1 1DJ Open 09:00 19:00 Mon, Tue, Wed Thu; 09:00 17:30 Fri, Sat. Closed Sun and Public Holidays Web: oxfordcentrallibrary Tel: Provides a self-service selection of local and family history books, and access to a range of computer-based resources. Local Studies Centres at other Libraries: Abingdon Banbury Didcot Henley Wantage Witney Web: Oxfordshire History Centre: St Luke s Church, Temple Road, Cowley, OXFORD, OX4 2HT Tel: [email protected] Web: oxfordshirehistory Open 10:00 17:00 Tue, 09:00 17:00 Wed Sat Closed Mon, Sun, Public Holidays and Bank Holiday weekends Telephone numbers are shown for UK callers. From elsewhere replace the initial 0 by +44 Berkshire Record Office 9 Coley Avenue, READING, RG1 6AF Open 09:00 17:00 Tue, Wed 09:00 21:00 Thu 09:00 16:30 Fri Tel: [email protected] Web: Society of Genealogists (SoG): 14 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, LONDON, EC1M 7BA Open 10:00 18:00 Tue, Wed, Sat 10:00 20:00 Thu Tel: Web: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Family History Centre: 280 The Meadway, Tilehurst, READING, RG30 4PE Tel: Web: The National Archives (TNA): Ruskin Avenue, Kew, RICHMOND, TW9 4DU Open 09:00 19:00 Tue, Thu :00 Wed, Fri & Sat Tel: Web: Federation of Family History Societies (FFHS): PO Box 8857, LUTTERWORTH, LE17 9BJ Tel: [email protected] Web: Guild of One-Name Studies: c/o Hon Sec, Box G, 14 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, LONDON, EC1M 7BA, Tel: Web: [email protected] 142

9 Who s Who in Oxfordshire FHS Baptism Index Co-ordinator: Dr Wendy Archer, see inside front cover [email protected] Birth Brief Index: Ian Costar The Old Post Office, The Green, LUDGERSHALL, HP18 9NZ [email protected] Book Reviews: Books (or other items) for review should be sent to the editor see inside front cover [email protected] Bookstall Co-ordinator: c/o Research Centre see below [email protected] Members Interests & Membership Secretary: Denise Lambkin 56 Arncliffe, BRACKNELL, RG12 7SB [email protected] Minutes Secretary: Mrs Sheila Tree 148 Campbell Road, OXFORD, OX4 3NR [email protected] Monumental Inscriptions: Dr Alan Simpson, Forest Farmhouse, Old Road, Shotover Hill, Headington, OXFORD, OX3 8TA [email protected] CD and Microfiche Sales by post: Miss Wildsmith 85 Downside Road, Headington, OXFORD, OX3 8JJ Open Day Organiser: Mrs Jenny Lee, 213 Whitecross, ABINGDON, OX13 6BW [email protected] CD and Microfiche Sales enquiries: [email protected], [email protected] Programme Co-ordinator: Paul Gaskell see Publicity Officer Computer Group organising panel: Wendy Archer, Leslie Binns, Alex McGahey, Alan Simpson, Angie Trueman. Contact the panel via Leslie Binns: 132 Cumnor Hill, Cumnor, OXFORD, OX2 9PH [email protected] Project Co-ordinator and Parish Register Transcription Project: Dr Hugh Kearsey, Windmill Place, Windmill Road, Minchinhampton, STROUD, GL6 9EE [email protected] Helpline: Wendy Archer [email protected] Holford Centre: (see OFHS News for opening times) The Holford Centre, School Lane, Stanton St John, OXFORD, OX33 1ET Journal Editor: Sue Honoré see inside front cover [email protected] Journal layout: Rosemary Bailey Journal Distribution: Denise Lambkin see Membership Secretary Librarian (books): John Blakeman see War Memorials Co-ordinator [email protected] Librarian (exchange journals): Mrs Sheila Tree 148 Campbell Road, OXFORD, OX4 3NR Link and Photo Link Secretary: Task shared by volunteers at the Holford Centre. Publicity Officer: Paul Gaskell, 28 Bulan Road, Headington, OXFORD, OX3 7HT [email protected] Research Centre: (see Holford Centre) Search Services: Dr Alan Simpson, Forest Farmhouse, Old Road, Shotover Hill, Headington, OXFORD, OX3 8TA [email protected] Strays Co-ordinator: Mrs Jennifer Tombs, 60 Selwood Road, OLD WOKING, GU22 9HT [email protected] War Memorials Co-ordinator: John Blakeman, 24 Newland Close, Eynsham, WITNEY, OX29 4LE Website Manager: Malcolm Austen, 11 Corn Avill Close, ABINGDON, OX14 2ND [email protected] Wills Library Co-ordinator: Dave Beames, 162 Black Road, MACCLESFIELD, SK11 7LF [email protected] 143

10 Diary Dates For more, especially the many events hosted by the Society of Genealogists in London, see the joint GENUKI/FFHS event calendar at Events shown emboldened will have an OFHS stand. Sept 30 August Aug 18 Aug 25 Aug 29 Aug 31 Pickering, NRY Ryedale Family History Fair Worcester, WOR West Midlands Area Group Fair Pudsey, Nr Leeds, WYK Experience Family Tree Maker Pudsey, Nr Leeds, WYK DNA and Family History September Sept 1 Sept 8 Sept 8 Sept 8 Sept 15 Canterbury, KEN Wills and How to Read Them Newcastle, TWR The National Family History Fair Parkend, GLS Forest of Dean Branch Open Day Liverpool, MSY Anglo-German FHS 25th Anniversary Conference Thornbury, GLS Bristol & Avon Family History Society Open Day This is the first year we will have a stand at this event, do visit us! Sept 22 Sept 22 Sept 23 Doncaster, YKS Family History Fair with talks (change of date from 15 Sep) Manchester, LAN Manchester Open Lecture Meeting and Surgery Hampton, MDX West Middlesex Family History Society Open Day Horndean, HAM Hampshire Genealogical Society Open Day October Oct 6 Oct 9 Oct 13 Oct 13 Oct 26 Oct 27 Woodstock, OXF Oxfordshire FHS Open Day Canterbury, KEN Tracing Your Roots Course, five Tuesday afternoons Birmingham, WAR Further Steps Course - How to research before 1837 Merthyr Tydfil, GLA Glamorgan Family History Society Family History Fair Poole, DOR Researching Your London Ancestors Workshop Canterbury, KEN The Parish and the Manor Day School November Nov 3 Nov 8 Nov 17 Nov 17 Woking, SRY West Surrey FHS FH Fair & Open Day Poole, DOR Researching Your Scottish/ Irish Ancestors Workshop/s Greenwich, LND Guild of One Name Studies Maritime Seminar Canterbury, KEN The Foundations of Family History Day School December Dec 1 Gaydon, WAR Why be a Society in the 21st century? OFHS Open Day Saturday 6 October, Marlborough School, Shipton Road, Woodstock, OX20 1LP. Family History Societies, museums, Oxfordshire History Centre, genealogical suppliers, books & CDs and research help. Free admission and parking, fully accessible. Refreshments available. 144

11 Meetings at Exeter Hall, Kidlington General meetings take place in the large hall. Library, bookstall and computer advice from 19:15. Talks start at 20:00. Computer meetings(*) usually take place in the small hall. Doors open at 19:15. Talks start at 19:30. 6 * Bucks Church Finder using the GRO Marriage Indexes to identify the parish Brian Horridge 24 September 2012 Counting the People census returns online Dave Annal 1 October 2012* Social Networking Getting the best from Facebook, Twitter, Google+ etc., to extend our Family History research Les Binns 22 October 2012 My Ancestor was an Apprentice Stuart A Raymond 26 November 2012 The London Gazette: not just the brave and the bankrupt Audrey Collins 3 December 2012* Family History Programs A comprehensive look at these important tools Computer Group Panel 28 January 2013 Every journey has two ends using passenger lists Dr Christopher Watts 25 February 2013 Ringing True The Bells of Trummery and Beyond 350 Years of an Irish Quaker Family Bill Jackson Back cover: Plaque on John Holloway s Almshouses Church Green, Witney See article Piecing It All Together page 94 Photo by Alan Simpson

12 Volume 26, No.2