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Hi Antipodean James.....

My husband is related to him through Jesse's son Jesse 1867-1912.   However, there are twists and turns, as you may have read....some notations have 'commonly called Weeks', alias Brooks. One person has suggested that he may have dropped his original last name, which could have been Weeks or Brooks and used James as the last name.  I have yet to sort through all the Cheddar baptisms of Weeks and Brooks.....a daunting task.  A cousin, who we had never been in contact with, in England, had responded to my original history queries mentioning he had the great-grandfather's birth certificate and thought he was born in Dorset.  He was to scan these documents and send to me but unfortunately I have not heard back since last Christmas, even after sending subsequent e-mails. Have put my research for this on hold for now since new information could essentially alter my entire effort.  If I do hear and get this information I will let you know.  

Best wishes,

Karen

Many thanks for this useful info, Pat.  I shall try to borrow Francis Disney's book through the inter-library loan system.

Best wishes

Julie

There is quite a bit online about the history of this prison which only closed in 2013. 

Francis Disney, who had been a Warder at Shepton Mallet, published a book entitled "Shepton Mallet Prison - 390 years of Prison Regime" in 1992.    Chapter 15 - dealing briefly with conditions in the latter part of the 19th Century - contains this passage:  "Female prisoners sentenced to hard labour were to pick not less than three pounds of oakum per day."  It also lists the clothing of female inmates and a typical daily routine for prisoners.

I have just come across this photograph showing Whitecross Nursery in the foreground. The Church is Victoria Methodist in Station Road, before a fire destroyed its steeple. I don't have a date for the photo.

After the last meeting I was sent some details of a George ROYNON born in 1844 at Chew Stoke who married a Sarah MIDDLE 14th Sept 1868 at St John's Church Bedminster - see Ancestry - whose father's name was given as Christopher ROYNON.  Christopher was the son and grandson of a Joseph ROYNON

One thing I have noticed is that the ROYNON Family seemed to move around Compton Martin, Chew Stoke and other nearby parishes. Joseph ROYNON senior mentioned above married in Dundry so don't limit your research to just Chew Stoke. 

As there are several members researching ROYNON I'm sure this one will be cracked soon!