I have been assisting the Pill History Society research the WW1 names on our War Memorials. One such person is Norman Blackmore Thomas who was born in 1883 and grew up in Pill but then lived and worked in Winscombe (working at the Temperance Hotel). In 1911 he married Eva Clemintina Mabel Phillips (known as Clementine) and they had four children Reginald (1914), Enid (1915), Ellen (1916) and Arthur (1917). Sadly after Norman was killed in 1918 Clementine died in 1919 leaving the four young children orphaned. They were living in Winscombe at the time. The administration of Norman's will was granted to his elder brother Arthur. What I would like to find out is, who brought the young children up after Clementine's death ? There were no grandparents alive so it could have been Norman or Clementine's siblings or of course an institution. Norman's brother Arthur was a school teacher living in Bristol with is wife Janet and their one child Keith, His elder brother Frank and younger sister Stella (never married) might have been still running the family grocery business in Pill following their Mum's death in 1915. I am asking around in the village to see if anyone remembers Stella or is related to the family.
Clementine was the youngest of seven Phillips children living in Winscombe and her siblings were Albert, Edward, Ernest, Octavius (Arthur), Herbert and Rose. I have not researched them past the 1911 census but it does encourage me that there should be descendants of them locally in or around Winscombe who might be able to answer my question. I have contacted the Winscombe Community website as Norman is also commemorated there but as yet no response.
I believe all four of the Thomas orphans lived locally. Have Reginald F Thomas marrying Barbara Stacey in Bristol in 1939 with one child and two potential death records in Weston 1979 and Bristol 1983. Two potential marriages for Enid i.e. Daniel Stabbins Weston 1939 or Owen James in Bristol 1939. Ellen does not seem to have married and I have a death record in 2006 (North Somerset). Have two potential marriages for Arthur in 1944 Dounton and 1948 Jones both in Weston and a death record 1999 Bristol. So there must be ancestors living locally who know the answer to who looked after them following their mother's death in 1919. It's a question I would very much like to answer as it leaves Norman's life story with a huge question mark at the end of it.
My second great grandfather was, I believe, Reuben White (c. 1799 - 1878). I think he was the brother of Samuel White (1797 - 1852). Reuben was baptised and buried at St Mary's Church, Hutton. Reuben's son, Charles, my great grandfather, was baptised at St Mary's also, in April 1834; and married Eliza North there in February 1857. Charles subsequently lived in Wales and London - but I have no death or burial record for him. My grandfather, George White, was born in St John's Wood, London in 1874 and died in Grays, Essex, in 1962. He was married to Caroline Elizabeth White (nee Mead) in Cardiff, in 1903. My father, Ernest Clifford White, was born in Southampton, one of five brothers, in 1912, but grew up at a house in London Road, Grays, with his parents, George and Caroline. Both Charles and George were carpenters. Reuben was an agricultural labourer and his brother Samuel is listed as a 'Mason' in the 1851 census for Hutton.
With a name like White and given all of that travelling done by George and Charles, it took me ages to find the connection to Hutton - I would never have got so far with this if it hadn't been for this site!
I am just wondering if anyone has any additional information on this branch of the White family. Reuben's brother's (Samuel's) line leads mainly to Weston-Super-Mare, where it appears I have a lot of White relatives to this day!
I live in the Mendips in Coleford Somerset and have been looking into the History of William Marchant Jones . William
Marchant Jones took a lot of photographs locally here at the first part of the last century and at one time his pictures were singed HJ . Now I notice that there are quite a few post cards from your local area saying that they are HJ series , I know we are 30 miles away but is it possible that these postcards are by WMJ or is it a photographer that is known by you and local to WSM ? I hope you can help me in this matter , thanks in anticipation
I recently came across this file in my Documents folder. I think that it may have come from the Somerset Record Office in Taunton many years ago. Does anybody recognise this, particularly what CD7 refers to?
This Tuesday (6th May 2014) I going to the North Devon village of Clovelly to meet The Princess Royal. "Interesting" you might think, "but what has that got to do with this forum?" Well ... it's as a direct result of the help that I have had from one of our members, Debbie Durrant doing research into my gggg Grandfather Charles GEE JONES.
Charles Gee Jones was born in Weston during the Summer of 1806, being baptised in St Johns church on 4th August of that year. His father, Thomas, was also born in Weston, his mother, Mary GEE was from Long Ashton. He was the eldest of 5 children and also had 2 half brothers from Thomas's first marriage. It would appear that the family had a small home roughly where Argos is today (and a store I worked in when it first opened!!).
Charles married Eliza WATERS (from over the water in Chepstow) in Weston, on the 26th January 1826 and it was about this time, from anecdotal evidence, that he started working as a ships pilot in the ports of Bristol. Charles and Eliza's first three children (Charles, George and William ... spot the Royal connection?) were all born in Weston between 1829 and 1834. Is it possible that Charles worked in Bristol whilst Eliza stayed in Weston?
By 1841, the family had moved to Bathwick (now part of Bath), where Sarah and Thomas were born. Charles Gee Jones was now the publican of the Poultney Arms, Bathwick (which is still a popular pub today with Bath rugby fans) and Man Servant to Dr John RYE, a retired doctor from London. Quite possibly due to his failing sight, Dr Rye would have Charles read him the papers and it was whilst he was carrying out this duty that Charles read about the terrible lost of the Clovelly fishing fleet in November 1838 due to hurricane force winds. The impact on the families in the village and surrounding areas was devastating and following a conversation between John and Charles, they decided that something had to be done to help them. They set about raising money from the people of Bathwick which they gave to the people of Clovelly.
The reaction and support they got seems to have inspired them to do more for all of the fishermen, seafarers and their families around the Country and the following year they formed a society, The Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Benevolent Society. Queen Victoria was the first patron and there has been a Royal patron ever since. Many of you will remember the old mines that could be seen on seafronts, and in some places can still be seen, that we're used as a collection box ... this was for their Society.
Charles died in Poultney Arms after a short illness, on the 20th May 1851, aged just 45. His tomb, I suspect paid for by Dr Rye, has the inscription : "In Memory of Charles Gee Jones who died 20th May 1851 aged 45 years. He lived in the service of J.Rye Esq of this city nearly twenty years and through his exertions the Shipwrek'd Fishermen and Mariners Society was first formed. This tribute is erected by his bereaved widow and family who have lost a most kind husband and an affectionate father. In public and private life he was deservedly respected by all who knew him. Who so walketh uprightly shall be saved."
This year is the Societies 175th year, they still give millions of pounds each year to fishermen, seafarers and their families who are in need, The Princess Royal is the current Patron. This Tuesday morning, in Clovelly, a plaque will be unveiled by HRH to commemorate the men who lost their lives that November day and also the anniversary of the Society. My wife and I have been invited along as direct descendants of one of the founders and I'm told that a number of descendants of the fishermen have also been invited, it should be a fascinating, and quite emotional day.
Does anyone have any photos of the Cardiff Arms public house which was in Meadow Street until at least 1939 when Mrs Emily Banwell was the innkeeper and in 1906 it was Henry Banwell in the year of his death.
3 Comments 
login
