Comments

Hi,

Ref my last email: I have found details of the inquest that took place on 14 October 1865 (page 5, Weston-super-Mare Gazette, and General Advertiser - Saturday 21 October 1865). Let me know if you would like a copy. Summary: Mr. W. Fear, a farmer at Uphill, found him in his "linhay" on the 12th October and took him to the hotel.

Richard

Hi Richard

Thank you for the information. The engraving looks to be from the area near the Sanatorium

I have found his burial record in Uphill for 1865. That's where the family lived - So the place and timeline seems correct. Just need to discover what actually happened to him.

Julie

Hi,

There was a hotel on the Prom called The Strand Hotel:

View from the Strand Hotel

At the time (1850s I think), it was close to Uphill. I can't remember where I read it but I think Uphill wasn't a separate parish until the mid-1860s (I am not certain about this) - parish lands came under Bleadon before that. I am wondering if that might be where this comes from. Does the date (1850s) sound about right for your 3rd great grandfather?

Richard

Hi Albert,

That's fascinating - thank you very much for replying. I am obviously reading too much into what they called each other! In the case I am looking it, perhaps it was a mid-Victorian fashion to use their middle name rather than anything that was faith-based.

Thanks again and best regards,

Richard

Hi Richard,

My mother and father were devout members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church at Grays Thurrock married in 1934. Dad never had a middle name and my mother who was Hilda Hanna was always called by her first name. I, my brother and sister all had middle names but were always called by our first name. There are instances where at least one member of the family was known by his middle name that was my Uncle John William. My paternal grandfather only had one name at his christening in 1844 but on moving from Poplar after the 1881 UK census he chose to add a middle name which appeared in the 1891 census but so far as I know he was never called by the name he added.

I have a copy of that book - it wasn't published until 1929 although the interviews with the old inhabitants took place during 1882 and 1883.  It contains some fascinating information about life in Weston, not only the interviews but the results of many years of research by Ernest BAKER. 

It includes details of the implementation of the Enclosure Act when a James STAPLES was appointed Commissioner to see that the act was carried through. In June 1810, he started his investigations and each day he and others involved - probably including Samuel BAKER, (great grandfather of Ernest BAKER), who was clerk to the proceedings - "adjourned to the Weston Hotel, then kept by Mr James NEEDHAM, and enjoyed great dinners"   The Bills for June 22nd and June 23rd are included which amount to £29. 10s. 4d.  The bills include the cost of beds and breakfast for 2 people and hay for the horses overnight.

When they started auctioning the land designated by the Enclosure Act this advertisement appeared.