News & Information (Monthly Update)

Our AGM was held in November and I was pleased to note that we have some possible new committee members.  May I wish them a warm welcome and hope their involvement brings them much joy and pleasure over the years to come.

It’s December already, somewhere I have an account of a family (not mine) celebrating Christmas back in the 19^th Century.  It describes the people sitting around the fire, recounts what they have to say and paints a picture of domestic peace and concerns.  It is interesting reading giving an insight into conditions at that time. Perhaps we should all write a description of our family this Christmas so that our descendants get an idea about how we celebrated this year. Family History is not only dates and places but also events and how we lived.

My memory goes back to my childhood Christmases when we spent hours making decorations from coloured paper and received handmade gifts from parents, grandparents and other relations.

I still have this set of handknitted clothes for my doll, “Wendy”, including underclothes. I must have been about 5 years old when I was given this doll.  Later, she had to share the doll’s pram with our dog who allowed my sister and I to push her around in it!

What were your favourite gifts at Christmas apart from the apple and orange in the toe of the sock? 

I remember a visit to the Hippodrome to see a Pantomime with an aunt and being persuaded to stand up and conduct the orchestra who followed my frantic waving with commendable ability!

I remember gathering around the piano at my grandparents’ house with my mother playing carols and old songs which were then rendered by my uncles and aunt.  I remember the warmth of the open fire, the chicken sandwiches (no turkey in those days) and mince pies. We played hilarious games like charades and paper-based games - I do remember an older member of the family being quite surprised when she wasn’t allowed Addock as a type of fish starting with “A”.  Apart from Anchovy I can’t think of a fish which fits this description!

In the next few days Christmas tree decorations dating back over 60 years will be lovingly placed on our tree and fond memories of the first times they were used remembered.

New Ancestry Records

Here are some of the latest additions to Ancestry

·         The Royal National Lifeboat Institution Records are particularly interesting and contain several people from Weston. That the RNLI will be able to return to Birnbeck Pier once the renovation is completed is great news for Weston.

photographs reproduced by kind permission of Weston-super-Mare RNLI

·         On Ancestry the REME Records also list some Weston residents. One, taken at random, was Percy Arthur COUNSELL, 1902-1979, who lived in Bedford Road.  He served in India.  He survived the war and both he and his wife Daisy were buried in Weston Cemetery.

·         There are several members of the Polish Forces who are buried in Weston Cemetery. They are included in the list on Ancestry of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain 1940-1947. They include Stanislaw WALCZAK, Alojzy MORAWIEC, Felix ZALEWSKI etc.

Findmypast – Military Records

Last month, with the commemoration of Remembrance Day, Findmypast posted a video about how to find Military Records of our ancestors.  You can find it on https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/british-army-promotions-medals
I was interested this year in watching the TV coverage of the various ceremonies to mark the occasion that the events at Monte Cassino were included.  I have a copy of my father’s military records which include mention of his wounding in Italy on the approach to Monte Cassino at that time, so I was pleased to see it included this year.

Free Sites Online

·         A reminder that there are masses of free sites online to aid our family history research.  You can see some of them here: https://www.family-tree.co.uk/how-to-guides/doing-your-family-history-online-50-best-websites-for-family-history/ The first one listed is Familysearch which has been available in various forms for years and should not be forgotten as a source. 

·         How many of these sites have you used?  Can you recommend others?

LostCousins Newsletter

I often suggest that you read the frequent newsletters for Lost Cousins and this is no exception,  Go to the latest one for news and a mention of the DNA master class which is recommended reading. https://www.lostcousins.com/newsletters2/endnov24news.htm

Society Events

North Somerset Archives Service - 5^th December

The next visit of the archivist from the North Somerset Archives Service, Eve Bickerton, is on Thursday 5^th December from 10:30am to 12:30pm and 1:00pm to 2:30pm (this is a change from the normal times of 11:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 3:30pm)

Any requests to bring documents up from Taunton should be made by
Email: somersetarchives@swheritage.org.uk

See more details https://www.wsmfhs.org.uk/society_news_view.php?nID=548

Free Help Session at Weston Library – Sat Dec 7^th

These sessions take place on the first Saturday of each month from 2.00 p.m. until 3.30 p.m. and all are welcome to attend.  Our Society Volunteers are happy to help anyone who has problems with their research and to point them in the right direction.

Society Members’ Meeting – Wed Dec 11^th

This meeting takes place at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall from 2.00 p.m. until 5.00 p.m. As this will be the nearest meeting to Christmas it is a special meeting. There will be a quiz, raffle, short talks by members, and of course cake! Non members are welcome.

Facebook Group and Research Forum

·         We have had some interesting postings on FB about the PUDDY family of Mark and Wedmore.  There was also a post about the PUDDYs on our Research Forum on the Web site.  It is a difficult and large family to unravel.  One suggestion was that we had a facility to compare family trees.  You can post a family tree under the Members’ SURNAME Interests on our Web site.   

·         Please consider posting your queries about your research, not only about PUDDYs, either on the Research Forum or the Facebook Group. 

Edwin and Catherine PUDDY photographed in 1864 in Wedmore. My aunt married Stanley PUDDY, a son of Thomas PUDDY, pictured far right in front row. My husband’s cousin married the daughter of Reginald, another son of Thomas.

AI and Family History

Last month I asked about how many of you have used AI to assist your research but had no response so perhaps you are not using it.  Can anyone recommend an overview of how it can be useful and what pitfalls to avoid?

Finally

Wishing you all a joyeous time over Christmas, however you spend it. Perhaps with family gatherings where you can recount the history of your family, and gather more information.
Looking forward to a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful 2025 when we as a society breakdown all brickwalls, fill in those gaps and find pleasure in those adrenaline shots we get as we find that long lost ancestor. This all helps us to understand the way in which our family lived in the past and to pass it on.

Welcome to another Newsletter – What with Halloween, Diwali, Bonfire night, and Remembrance Sunday there are several celebrations in which we and our ancestors took part at this time of the year.   How are they recorded in your Family History? – Do you talk about your experiences to younger relations? – How have they changed over the years?

Free Help Session – Nov 2nd

The Weston Library will be closed on Nov 2^nd.  We will not be holding a Free Help Session on Saturday November 2^nd.  The next one will be on Saturday December 7^th. 
In the meantime, we look forward to reading and answering your queries on the Research Forum on our Web Site or on our Face Book Group.

Gloucestershire Family History Fair – Nov 2nd

If you live near Gloucester or have relations from Gloucestershire you should find much to interest you at the Gloucestershire Family History Fair on Saturday Nov 2^nd at the Heritage Hub, Clarence Row, Alvin Street, Gloucester , GL13DW.   https://gfhs.org.uk/event/gloucestershire-family-history-fair/
My maternal Grandfather, Ashton B HILL, was born in Cam near Dursley in 1880 and my paternal Grandmother, Alice B JONES, was born in Gloucester in 1879; both after marriage ending up in Bristol.

Remembrance Day – Nov 11^th

^{poppy from freepik.com}

While you are wearing your poppy, remembering all who died in the service of this country it is wise to include those who came back.  They rarely spoke of their experiences but returned with many physical and mental problems which stayed with them all their lives.

If you have ancestors who served in WW1 these YouTube videos give some help with available records from the National Archives. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2Z0vFH2zMg

A similar video covering WW2 records is also available https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTkVFYvUZYM

A Video about “Using Prisoner of War Records” is also in this series https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WvD_mI9CvU

What are your suggestions for researching Military members of your family? 

AGM and Members’ Meeting – Nov 13th
The AGM will be on Wednesday 13^th November at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall starting at 2.30pm.  As Hon President of this Society, I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to the Committee for continuing under immense personal pressure to keep this society going.  Whenever requests for help have gone to our members for assistance the outcome has been disappointing. As our committee meetings are held on Zoom you do not have to be a local member to be on the committee, just to be able to support your fellow enthusiasts.

The AGM will be followed by a talk from Jenny TOWEY entitled Hints & Tips for Family History Research 

Hear about the hints and tips that Jenny Towey has discovered over her 50 years of researching her family tree. Research techniques have developed so much over this time, but it is good to have a “Back to Basics” session occasionally remembering that if you are researching online that information is often being updated and you might find new documents available.

DNA
For those members who are also members of the Weston U3A There is a DNA Research Group led by Jenny TOWEY which meets by Zoom monthly on Monday afternoons.  See  https://weston.u3asite.uk/u3a_groups/dna-for-family-history/ for more details.

AI for Family History
In August, FamilySearch published this guide to using AI for Genealogical Research. https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/ai-developments-genealogy 

If you prefer to watch a video about AI – Try this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S71pcTLQs5M 

Have any of you used AI to aid your research?  Please comment with your findings.

I have experimented briefly with Microsoft Co-Pilot which for one question did lead me to a document in the Bristol Archives I had not considered before.  Be careful with your questioning and check the answers carefully to avoid errors in its reply. 

Interestingly, I also asked it  - “ What can you tell me about Thomas Long, born 1818 in Bitton and a leather merchant in Broadweir Bristol?”
Its answer directed me to our own web site!

Thomas Long, born in 1818 in Bitton, Somerset, was a leather merchant who lived and worked in Broadweir, Bristol. He was a tenant at 19 Broad Weir, which was later destroyed by a bomb in 1942. His business was located near the Crown Tavern and he was linked to numerous newspaper accounts and the births of his children.

See Weston-super-Mare & District Family History Society

House through Time
Have you been watching this programme?  This series seems slightly more contrived and disjointed than previous ones but historically correct.  Have you considered researching the residents of your own house through time?

If you live in an older house, you can trace the families who lived there through censuses, parish records, street directories, newspapers, electoral rolls, County Archives etc., building up a picture of the area and changes which occur.  If the house was converted into flats – was it one of Henry Butt’s “Mansions”?
Our house was built in 1935/6, so we have little census information to go on. As the first two owners (father and son) were both called Henry WOLSTENHOME that did cause me some difficulty.  The father died in December 1944 and was buried in Weston Cemetery.  The son moved into his father’s house until about 1952.  It all adds to your own family history.

Birnbeck Pier
With the news of Lottery Funding of £10 million to aid its restoration I was interested to hear that our Mayor, John Crockford-Hawley has discovered that he is a distant cousin of the 4 year-old Cecil Hugh Smyth-Pigott, son of the Lord of the Manor who laid the foundation stone in 1864. Would like to see that Family Tree!

Prize Winning Salmon
It was reported in the Weston Mercury (with a misprint in the Heading) that a 3 lb Salmon had won a Langford resident a trophy.  When reading the article, it was actually a 31 lb salmon.   
This reminded me of Samuel Norvill who in the first half of the 19^th century caught a Salmon weighing 32 pounds and a quarter on the west side of Knightstone, in a net in the mud. As it was the first salmon to be caught that season it had to be taken to the Lord of the Manor, at Brockley.  Whoever took the fish to Brockley was given half-a-crown and as much as he and his pony could eat and drink.  Samuel was given three shillings on account of the size of the fish. This is recorded in Ernest Baker’s interviews of Weston inhabitants.

Workshop by Zoom – November 27^th
The November Workshop will be looking at “How our ancestors died”.  Peter de Dulin will be considering the various events which affected how our ancestors died. Joining details will be sent to all full members before the event.

All too often we forget to kill off our ancestors and there are some family trees which suffer from this problem.  I was sent one not long ago which was based on a John PUDDY but unfortunately the John PUDDY who was given as the father of a large family had died when he was 2 but this had not been recorded and the wrong John PUDDY chosen to record.

Somewhere I have a small book written by a coroner which lists many causes of death which makes for fascinating reading.

Finally
I hope that as the nights are now drawing in you will have more time for family History and offer your help to others in this society to gain as much pleasure from researching as you do.  Please add your comments and suggestions for a society which meets your needs to this newsletter.

Now that Summer is officially over - What documents have you found to be most useful when you are researching your family? Where have you found them? Which documents have been handed down to you? Do you have a Family Bible?  What about photographs – did your ancestors name the people featured on them?  Have you named and dated any photographs you have taken?

All About that Place 2024

Are you enjoying the short talks which are part of this year’s “All about that Place 2024”?  If you have missed any of them, you can catch up on YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f3Krjf_n7Q&list=PLQkoy8bkE6cBrEWsP6mjLhGVuhGmI_3Nb  There are some nuggets of information in these videos and well worth watching. Start with the one by Dave Annal as an introduction.

Latest UK Documents on Ancestry
 
Here are the latest additions to UK documents in Ancestry – which you can access at the Library.

Note that it includes a 20^th Century Index of Professional Boxers.  Interesting to see how many were from Weston-super-Mare.  This Index leads to a commercial company which will sell you information. Be aware of this type of Index.  See example at https://www.boxinghistory.org.uk/Boxer_Don_Trapnell_Weston-super-Mare.htm

Free Help Session at Weston Library this Saturday, October 5^th from 2.00 p.m. until 3.30 p.m.  Thanks are due to the volunteers from our society who will be there to help and guide you. Booking not required - Ancestry and FindmyPast available to use as well as all the items in the Library such as Electoral Rolls, Street Directories, Local Newspapers on film, Maps and the numerous files of information about people and places in this area etc.  Look also at the printed transcriptions by the late Brian Austin – including the one he did on the Overseers’ Accounts of Weston which he indexed under the people involved rather than the date.

Using Archives’ Catalogues.

Have you tried looking for documents in the Somerset Archives which feature your surname?

The Catalogue for the Somerset Archives has this entry for 1780 - found when searching for the name HASE:

However, I have yet to establish that these people have anything to do with our family.  The Parish Registers for Badgworth have christenings for Joshua, Jane and Hester with the surname HARSE – parents Henry and Elizabeth or Betty HARSE.  Be aware that variations of the spelling of surnames can happen in original documents as well as in transcriptions.

Don't forget that searching the National Archives using its search facility Discovery will show up documents in other Archives across the Country.  If you sign in to the National Archives there are many documents which you can download free of charge including the PCC Wills.  If you search for "Weston-super-Mare" there are many documents which you can download, including this one at no cost.

House History – Planning Permission

I have recently had a request for information about when a particular house was built.  Information may be gained from Street Directories – but remember that the entries were probably collected during the previous year.  Electoral Rolls should list people old enough to vote who are living at that address. 
Planning Permission found in County Archives may also help but you will need to see the actual plans to identify the Plot with the House number. However, it is sometimes possible to compare the name of the householder in a street directory with the planning permission for additions (such as a garage) to a plot number.  For example, I was able to identify the Plot number of the house in which I live with this as I knew from the Deeds the name of the first owner, Henry WOLSTENHOLME. 

Older property is more difficult to identify although you may find it on older maps.

Criminal Activity

Have you found any evidence of criminal activity in your family history research?  Why is it that we get excited about such events?

•       One of my great grandmother’s first cousins, called Frances COLES, was born in Bermondsey in 1859 and died tragically in Whitechapel in 1891.  See https://www.jack-the-ripper.org/frances-coles.htm for more details. There is considerable doubt about her assailant, however it has given me hours of distraction reading and researching her life.  My grandfather was alive, aged 17, when she died, but he did not pass the story down to me – I wonder why?!  Did the family know about her?
  
  
•       My husband’s great great grandmother, Hannah NICHOLLS née ROGERS, died following an altercation in Wedmore, with a son-in-law, Sandy CREASE, in 1854, who was subsequently charged with her manslaughter.  This newspaper account gives her age as 35 – she was 55. The case was dismissed when it came to the Assizes.

•  On the other side of the law, Charles PUDDY, Great Uncle of my husband, born in Mark, and a member of the Cardiff Police received a Bravery Award for saving the woman mentioned in the following incident.

• It is sometimes difficult to find these items.  Newspapers are excellent for bad news as they are today!
  
  Better News about HASE
  I did find information about a Henry Hase when we ran a vintage car for Wedding Hire and when visiting the home of a prospective bride, I saw one of these bank notes framed and hanging in their loo.

• Note that the Chief Cashier of the Bank of England was a Henry Hase, and I then wanted to prove a connection with our family, although this seemed unlikely!
• The National Portrait Gallery holds an image of him https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp121343/henry-hase and he was born in 1763.  He was the Chief Cashier of the Bank of England from 1807 until his death in 1829.
• At that time, I contacted the Bank of England and surprisingly received a very friendly and helpful reply which told me that they did not know where he was born or who his parents were but quoted a piece of doggerel about him from when he succeeded Abraham Newland as Chief Cashier. Dated 1808.

 Ye Directors of England’s vast treasure,

In darkness why always exist?

When Abraham Newland departed,

In the bank he was certainly Mist.

Still a cloud overhangs your proceedings.

I see it, I own with amaze!

(Though perhaps you make light of the matter),

He is now succeeded by Haze!

Notable women in Weston - Next Society Meeting October 9th

On Wednesday October 9^th from 2.30 p.m. until 5.00 p.m. the Society meeting at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall will be addressed by Jane Hill.  The title will be The History of Notable Women in Weston & Surrounding area.  Which women would you include?

•       Edith Graves-Knyfton from Uphill joined the Red Cross during WW1 and became in charge of the Ashcombe Temporary Red Cross Hospital. There are a number of photographs of the Hospital including patients on this site. https://museumandarchives.redcross.org.uk/objects/39448 She also organised help during WW2
•      Hannah More (2 February 1745 – 7 September 1833) comes to mind, especially when you think of her home at Barley Wood and her philanthropic work - educating women in the area etc. https://wringtonsomerset.org.uk/morelocke/irvingonmore.html
•       Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence and her work for Suffragettes and for more details see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmeline_Pethick-Lawrence She was the treasurer of the movement and is credited with choosing the purple, green and white colours worn by the women of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) 
•      Ivy Millicent James who was born in Weston is known her inimitable postcards featuring children. Ivy also designed the banner of the local Suffragettes.

Note the boy smoking! There are many images of her postcards in Weston Library.

Connections with LDS and Salt Lake City

• The father-in-law of one of my great aunts, George Thomas DAYER, was born in Newport, Monmouthshire in 1848.
• He travelled to America in 1868 following the example of his Aunt Ann SPOONER née DAYER, a widow, who emigrated with three of her children in March 1854 on board the Golconda from Liverpool to New Orleans with all the passengers heading for Salt Lake City.
• Researching her children revealed that her daughter Sarah Jane later married Benjamin Franklyn JOHNSON becoming the last of his 7 wives – all living together.  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9271792/benjamin_franklin-johnson
• George applied for citizenship of the USA in 1869 – this document was found on Ancestry.
• He married in Salt Lake City in 1873, and they had a son there in 1874. But by 1881 he and his family were back in Bristol. The moral of this story is how interesting it can be to research some people who may not be direct ancestors but shed a light on the conditions of the time.

Course on Family History Research

The Weston-super-Mare Family History Centre run by the LDS at 11, Ellenborough Road, North is offering a course designed to teach people the benefits of Family Search and how to get the best from the site. This is due to start on Wednesday 16^th October from 7.00p.m. to 8.00p.m.
Member Christine Fulfit Reid will confirm details.

Other Aids to Family History Research

Some of the TV offerings about researching families are classed as entertainment but on Wednesday Oct 9^th at 9.0p.m. on ITV1 is the first edition of another series of DNA Journeys which promises to surprise the participants with its findings.  Do these programmes help you in your research?

Next Zoom Workshop

This will be on Wednesday 23rd October at 7.30 p.m. and will be "An Introduction to the Family and Community Historical Research Society" by Brita Wood, its membership Secretary. 

The aims of this Society are to promote and communicate research in family and Community History, with a particular emmphasis on the contribution of locally based Micro-studies, especially through collaborative research,  Over the years, major projects have resulted in books on the Swing Riots, 19th Century Allotments, and Almshouses and a number of mini -projects have proved immensely popular, with 30-40% of Society Members taking part"

All our full members will be notified of the signing on details nearer the date. Would any of you be interested in taking part in a mini-project?

Zoom Workshop in September

The Video of the September Workshop is yet to be uploaded but once itis all full members will be able tp watch it.

Finally

What do you advise other members to do to further their research during October? Can you suggest methods of breaking down brick walls?  All Comments wil be welcome as will omissions and corrections to this newsletter.  Have fun with your research and let us know how you are getting on.

Can I start this newsletter by offering my condolences to two of my cousins who lost their husbands recently. There are times when the current family is more important than researching the past.   We also send our best wishes for a speedy recovery from his operation to Committee member, Bill CAPLE who has freely given so much of his time to this society.  Thank you,  Bill!

Review of August

We’ve had a spasmodic Summer weatherwise. What did you do during August to add to your family tree?  Where are you stuck?  How can the Family History Society help you? Did you visit the Society’s stand at the Hutton Show last week? How can you help others who have connections in this area?  Have you ever posted a request for help either on the Research Forum or on the Facebook Group?  

New Items on Ancestry

Most of these are updating – note the death index now goes up to 2023. 

Somerset Wills - see above

The index to Somerset Wills goes to 2001 but it is an index not transcriptions of Wills.  However, you can obtain copies from the Somerset Archives if you find an ancestor in the list.  You could ask for a copy to be brought to Weston Library when the North Somerset Archivist visits on September 5th. 

Local History 

When you have discovered where your grandparents or great grandparents were born it is often helpful to investigate that area of the country.  This can reveal the types of occupations which were available to your ancestors and the conditions under which they lived. How many shared houses?  Look at the whole page of the relevant census to see what occupations their neighbours had.  

Have you considered a One Place Study? or is someone else looking in detail at the area which interests you?

You may find a Facebook group covering the area in which your ancestors lived.  Many of the contributions may be about more recent times but usually there is someone interested in the history of the area who will be prepared to help you. 

Take a look at the web site of the ALHA (Avon Local History Association) for details of local groups who belong .  Do you read the ALHA Newsletters which are available on our web site? 

Tithe Maps

I find that the Genealogist is excellent for detail about Tithe Maps.  Not only are there maps but also the Apportionment Lists showing both Landowner and Occupier. If you have member of your family mentioned on the 1841 census the chances are that you may find the property on the Tithe Map.                                                See below Plot 477 is the Royal Hotel owned by 

John REEVES.  He also owned Plots 480 (later The Italian Gardens) and 476 (now Grosvenor Hotel).

Extract from the Apportionment Book (The Genealogist)

Harvest

Harvest Festivals and Harvest Home events start in late August and are usually well documented in the newspapers. The earliest one was usually at Lympsham.

This is from the Weston Gazette Pictorial Review of 1934 showing the Lympsham Harvest Home where it appears to have been raining!   Do you think that the bottom right photo shows “Uncle Tom Cobleigh and All”? – see newspaper article.

A Newspaper account shows the results of the sports activities – Do you recognise any names?  

My mother often spoke about her father’s family who lived in Cam in Gloucestershire near Dursley. In 1944 or 45 we spent the Summer there and in August I remember “helping” with the harvest.  The fields were cut with a harvester and binder pulled by a horse.  We collected the sheaves of corn and stacked them in stooks ready for collection.  

Picture from “Harvest Time in Cornwall” which is exactly how I remember it in Gloucestershire. 

Who Do You Think You Are?

When you watch “Who Do You Think You are?” the last few have admitted that they really know nothing past their grandparents.  Many people come to research their family history when they retire and when younger seem not to have been interested so did not ask any questions about their forebears. Do you know where your parents and grandparents were born? – have you been to that place or have a picture to add to your tree?   You can use the free site Goggle Street View to find the site today – sometimes the buildings are still there.

For example, I was born in a Private Nursing Home in Hampstead Road, Brislington on a very cold Saturday, in December 1938.  It was so cold that weekend that the husband of the Matron had to come in especially to make sure that the boilers were well stoked to keep the temperature at a level suitable for newborn babies.

A Web page dealing with the History of Weather supports this information with this quote 

1938 (18th to 26th December): BEST 'WHITE CHRISTMAS' OF THE 20TH CENTURY

During the very severe December of 1938, over a foot of snow fell in places over the eastern part of Britain, and to the west, it was in the realms of 2 feet! Snow fell variously from the 18th until the 26th, and with little of the traffic pounding of recent years, contributed to a fine, winter event.

This was where I was born at 54 Kensington Road, Brislington, Bristol. From 1938 Street Directory of Bristol and Google Street View.

It looks as if it has been recently extended  but on the 1939 Register there are 7 redacted entries inferring that at least 7 mothers had recently given birth.  It was normal at that time for mothers to spend 14 days after birth “Lying in” and being cared for.  The Matron in 1939 was a Bridget HOLMES and her husband was a plumber!  I forgot to ask whether Mum and I were discharged before Christmas, but we went to my father’s parents in Stapleton for a while.

Researching in Weston-super-Mare

When I married, my father-in-law, Arthur HASE, told me that his father, John Millard HASE had been born near the Victoria Hotel in Regent Street  - His birth certificate revealed that John had been born in Laura Buildings which ran off Regent Street, next to the Victoria Hotel. You can read more about Laura Buildings on our web site 

Perhaps I’m lucky in that my husband’s family arrived in Weston in the 1850s and (apart from spelling variations) has been relatively easy to trace. 

John had set up in business as a Fly Proprietor while living at Laura Buildings and using the yard of the Victoria Hotel as a base.  He also provided stabling for visitors.

When John married in 1885, he and his wife (Mary Ann PUDDY) moved into a new house at 19 Whitecross Road. From the 1891 Census the house was called “Gordon Villa”.

John built stables at the back of the house with access from Albert Road to continue in business.  This now operates as a garage at 10 Albert Road

  Gordon Villa, 19, Whitecross Road.

Using Newspapers

In Dec 1907,  Mary Ann HASE, wife of John, died leaving him with a young family.  Arthur was the youngest, born in 1905.  John needed a housekeeper to look after him and his family .  This advertisement appeared in Feb 1908. 

Newspapers are valuable aids.  Not all Weston newspapers are online, but they are available on film in Weston Library.  If you know the date of an event you can search them.  Give yourself plenty of time to do this as it can be quite time consuming because there is always something more interesting in a neighbouring column!

By 1911 Susan SANDERS had been appointed who remained with the family for many years. She was a valued member of the family. 

1939 Register

The 1939 Register was taken at the end of September 1939 to list all residents and to use the information in order to issue Identity Cards and Ration Books for use during WW2.  The Register was kept up to date with changes of surnames for women after marriage and changes of addresses. 

As a former teacher of what was then called Domestic Science, I find the amount of food which was allowed under Rationing very interesting. I have several books published during and after the War such as “The ABC of Cookery”, The Manual of Nutrition” and “Better Home Management” which reflect the position held by women in society at that time. In a Chapter entitled “Food Values and Menu Planning” is this comment.

“Knowing how to cook meals is not enough, nor is it sufficient to serve meals which only satisfy hunger. Foods have definite functions in the body, and it is necessary to ensure that the choice of foods in the daily menu covers these needs.”

Allotments were used and land in public parks was used to grow more veg and potatoes We grew many vegetables in our garden to supplement the rations including peas and beans which gave vegetable proteins.  Vegetables were delivered to the door by horse and cart from nearby market gardens and allotments.

I remember my mother adding offal, which was not rationed, such as liver, hearts, fish roe, rabbit  to the menu – she tried tripe, but we didn’t like it!  She preserved eggs from neighbour’s hens in isinglass or waterglass. Waterglass is sodium silicate. Eggs were submerged in solutions of waterglass, and a gel of silicic acid formed, also sealing the pores of the eggshell. Beans were salted in large glass jars.  What other ways of preservation do you know of? 

Of course, my memory may be suspect but not surprisingly I don’t remember seeing obese people. I don’t know how many cases of type 2 diabetes were recorded at that time.

Life in the 1940/50s

It has to be remembered that the expected way of life during and just after the War was very different to today. Most families ate together – the same food, sitting at a table – there was no fast food bought in  – except perhaps some fish and chips.  Women had managed their homes while the men were serving away.  It was also at this time that many girls who became pregnant were sent to Mother and Baby Homes and their babies were adopted. See “Long Lost Families” etc. It was seen as a disgrace to the family to have an illegitimate child.  Even before this period if a daughter produced a baby, her parents often treated it as theirs, baptised it as theirs, and the child did not know that their elder sister was their mother.

DNA Testing

As there are, as yet, no censuses covering this period until the 1951 Census is released it may be difficult to trace some members of your family without the help of DNA testing. This has proved a lifeline for many people. Have you tried it yet?  

Next Society Meetings

Visit of North Somerset Archivist

Thursday 5th September 2024 Sessions are open from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm, and from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm For more information contact somersetarchives@swheritage.org.uk

Library Help Session

Saturday, 7th September 2024 14:00 - 15:30 At Weston-super-Mare Library with free help offered by our experienced members.

Physical Members' Meeting

Wednesday, 11th September 2024 14:30 - 16:30 At Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall when the speaker will be Peter Towey who will discuss Non-Conformist Records.

Zoom Workshop

Wednesday 25th September 2024 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. Topic to be announced

Please feel free to add any ommissions. comments or answer any of the questions posed in this newsletter, either as a comment on our web site or by posting to the FaceBook Group. 

Welcome to another month.  When you research your family, every month has its own importance. This month sees our wedding anniversary – 63 years – and on the same day our son and daughter-in-law celebrate 35 years. Love and Congratulations to them.

It is interesting to note how marriages have changed over the years.  Not only is the traditional church wedding in decline but there are fewer marriages happening. One wonders how difficult it will be to trace ancestors without these records in place.

September visit to Mendip Hospital
Sadly, the proposed visit to the Cemetery of the Mendip Hospital on Wed Sept 11^th has had to be cancelled through lack of interest from our members and friends.
This cemetery https://mendiphospitalcemetery.org.uk/ is well worth a visit and the volunteers who run it are extremely helpful. The Exhibition in the Chapel gives a fascinating insight into the lives of the people who were inmates at this hospital. It is open every Sunday and Wednesday from April until the end of September, 11am until 3.45pm. Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the cemetery and the chapel. Admission is free but they would be grateful if you could leave a donation toward the ongoing care of this special place.

Some who died there were buried in Weston Cemetery – details of those can be found on our web site. 

September Members' Meeting
In place of the visit - at Our Lady Of Lourdes Church Hall on Sept 11th, Peter Towey will be speaking about Non-Conformist Records, What they are and where to find them. meeting as usual at 2.30 - 4.30 p.m.

Deaths at 100 Fishponds Road
The Workhouse at Eastville, Bristol, known as 100, Fishponds Road was designed by the same architect as the Axbridge Workhouse, but it did have its own burial ground.  Recently much research has been undertaken by the Bristol Radical History Group and the list of burials which took place there has been put online.  https://www.brh.org.uk/site/articles/rosemary-green-burial-ground-data/

Landing of German Plane at Lulsgate
After posting about this plane and the MEACON in Lympsham both on our web site and on the Facebook Group I received comments and promises of more information from other researchers. This is a new area for me and I was intrigued by the detailed research it has revealed.  Many thanks for those who contributed and I look forward to receiving more information.

Olympics

Any mention of the Olympics and Weston always brings up Paulo Radmilovic who is buried in Weston Cemetery and a blue badge is attached to the Imperial Hotel where he was the landlord for many years.

Wikipedia recounts  Paolo Francesco Radmilovic (5 March 1886 – 29 September 1968)….. He represented Great Britain at four editions of Summer Olympics. He won four Olympic titles in a 22-year Olympic career. He won four gold medals across three successive Games a record which stood for a Great Britain Olympic athlete until broken by Sir Steve Redgrave when he won his fifth gold medal in 2000.  In 1928, he became the first person to compete for Britain at five Olympic Games, a record that would remain until surpassed in 1976.  Does your family have Olympic connections?
 
The only Olympian I have knowingly met was the Show Jumper, Foxhunter, with his rider Harry Llewellyn who won the only Gold medal gained by GB at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.  This was at a local horse show in South Wales.

VENN Family
Local Newspapers do not seem to publish pictures of marriages as they used to but in 1931 the Weston Gazette included this photograph of John and Emily VENN of Brent Knoll who were celebrating their Golden Wedding with their 9 children and many grandchildren. Is anyone researching this family?

The nine children are grouped at the back.  Six daughters and three sons.  The 1911 census shows that they actually had 10 children but one had died.  Always look at the original entry as that information is not included in transcriptions.

Although VENN is a name which is local – a Hannah VENN born in Wedmore, was my husband’s 3 x great grandmother -  it is surprising that no one has entered it as a Surname Interest on our website although several members of the Facebook group have submitted it to the List of Surnames included under Files on that group.

John VENN was born in Wick St Lawrence in 1856, the son of James & Martha VENN nee MORGAN.  By using the free GRO site it is possible to find mother’s maiden name.https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp  

In April 1881, just after the census was taken, John VENN married an Emily HAYES at Wick St Lawrence Church. Image from Ancestry.

By following the VENN family on censuses, it can be seen that when their first son, James Alexander, was born in Portbury in 1882 he was named after both of his grandfathers. The family then moved to Wick St Lawrence where Sophia Kate and Albert were born. 

Researching this family has shown that both C of E and Non-Conformist records should be searched.

It appears that although James VENN, father of John, had been the Parish Clerk and Sexton of Wick St Lawrence.  (found by searching Baptismal records of Wick St Lawrence as it is shown as father’s occupation when children of James & Martha were christened). John and Emily decided to use the Methodist Chapels at Wick St Lawrence and Westbury on Trym for the christenings of some of their children.

A former Methodist Chapel in Wick St Lawrence.

 See below for some non-conformist christenings of VENN children taken from Ancestry.

No christenings for James Alexander VENN, Sophia Kate VENN nor for Herbert VENN (the child who died) have been found  although the burial of Herbert was found at Holy Trinity Westbury on Trym in 1898 with a note to say that he was Wesleyan. 

The Burial Amendment Act of 1880 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1880/41/pdfs/ukpga_18800041_en.pdf  states:

Part of this VENN family can be found on Ancestry and although not complete the tree does contain some photographs of James Alexander and his family which might be useful.
John and his wife died in 1932/33 at their home in Brent Knoll and newspaper accounts confirm his links to the Methodist Church.

 Activities during August
When this Society was founded in 1983 it was decided that our members would not want to attend meetings in August because of the holiday season and other calls on their time.  September, being the start of the academic year was considered the time when people would start thinking of new activities.  Courses explaining the ways and means of researching family history were offered by Societies, Further Education Colleges, Adult Education Centres, the WEA, the U3A and other providers.
Today things are different. I wonder how many undertake a course of study to discover the best methods for research and to understand the records which are available?

Of course, it is possible to study alone but the guidance of someone who has experience and knowledge of the history of the subject is a tremendous advantage. What is your opinion on this subject?  

The records we commonly use were not originally created for our use but in many cases as an aid to national and local government. The National Archives and County Record Offices are the repositories where such documents are kept. Visits to these places can be exciting and productive.  It is still important, if possible, to view the original document as transcriptions can be misleading and not everything is available online.  Overseers’ Accounts are rarely available online and can be the most useful documents in detailing life in a parish. Handwritten documents can be difficult to read and there are courses on reading them.  Today AI may be used to transcribe them which can also lead to difficulties!

Who Do You Think You Are?
This programme has been going for 20 years and the next series Is due to start on BBC 1 on Thursday, the 15^th August at 9.00 p.m. featuring Vicky McClure who has worked to promote support for Dementia alongside her acting career.  We have to remember that the many family history related programmes which are broadcast are designed to entertain rather than to educate a broad audience and perhaps you are left wanting more detail about how the links were found.

Such programmes like Long Lost Families and DNA Journeys are sponsored by Commercial enterprises such as Ancestry and FindmyPast.  However, they do serve as a stimulant for future research and often focus on the social implications of life in the past.   Which are your favourite programmes?

80^th Anniversary of D Day - Exhibition
In Taunton Library from August 12^th – 24^th will be an exhibition which details for the first time the top-secret work in the hydrographic department during World War 2. It is brought to light in photographs, documents, artifacts and medals which will be on display. A new book by Dr Adrian Webb entitled “Churchill’s Secret Chart Makers” will be available and he has been booked to talk to our Society in 2025.

Hutton Show
On August 28^th the Society will be hosting a stand at the annual Hutton “Taste of Somerset Show”.  Members of our Society will be there to answer any questions about how to research your Family History and to enjoy all that the show has to offer.  The show will be at St Mary’s Field, and we will be there from 11.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m. 
If you know of any village shows in the locality which would welcome a stand from our society, please let us know as it all helps to advertise our interests and gives us publicity.

Flower Shows
August is the month for Flower Shows and you can often find ancestors as prizewinners in newspaper accounts. This is part of the list from the Blagdon Flower Show of 1909. Some names appear more than once.  Are any of your ancestors there?

Finally
Apologies for the lateness of this newsletter – I’ve been sidetracked!!  As it’s August there will be no Free Help Session, Society meeting  or Zoom meetings during August but there will be a Free Help Session at the Library on the first Saturday in September – Sept 7^th. 

You can always ask questions on our Research Forum or on the Facebook Group!

Please feel free to add any comments pointing out errors and/or omissions.  Enjoy your Summer.

As I write this, I am watching parent seagulls who nest each year on the roof of a neighbour.  It looks as if they only have one young this year, but this small dark chick wakes up each time one of them returns to the nest demanding to be fed. It has just had to be rescued by the parent as it ventured rather too near the edge of the roof. I think they are a little earlier nesting this year but just as noisy! Both parents are very attentive.

Thank you for attending the Zoom Workshop I led in June.  It clashed with Football and an Election Debate, so it was interesting to see who attended!  I still would appreciate any comments.

After that Zoom Workshop on “The Poor Laws and Axbridge Workhouse” I posted a photograph of all the Guardians and Staff of Axbridge Workhouse taken when it officially closed as a Workhouse in 1930.  It is accompanied by a list of all the people featured on the photograph and can be seen if you scroll to the bottom of this page of our web site http://www.wsmfhs.org.uk/custom_page.php?pID=17

•          I note that one of the Guardians (for Churchill) was - T Sidney HILL – after whom the Alms  House which I mentioned in the talk in Churchill had been named. 
•          Do you recognise any of the names?
•          I still have to add the 1921 census return.

I mentioned Settlement Acts and this was a rather tongue in cheek offering to Overseers on how to prevent Settlements being granted in their parishes.

The Duties of the Parish Overseer

Extracts from “The Justice of the Peace and the Parish Officer”

by Dr Robert Burn, published in 1755.

·         To keep an extraordinary lookout, to prevent persons coming to inhabit without certificates, and to fly to the Justices to remove them, and if a man brings a certificate, then to caution all the inhabitants not to let him a farm of £10 a year, and to take care to keep him out of all parish offices.

·         To warn them, if they hire servants, to hire them half yearly, or by the month, or by the week or by the day rather than in any way that shall give them settlement.  Of if they do hire them for the year, then to endeavour to pick a quarrel with them before the years end, and so get rid of them.

·         To bind out poor children apprentices, no matter to whom, or to what trade, but to take special care that the master lives in another parish.

·         To grant a portion to the reputed father of a bastard child on condition that he marry the mother.

Also

·         To see that the poor report to church and bring their children there to be instructed.

·         To contract with a master, that he shall procure apprentices to be taught to read and write.

·         To provide a stock of materials to set the poor to work.

To see the aged and impotent comfortably sustained, the sick healed, and all of them clothed with neatness and decency.

Belgian Refugees in Weston-super-Mare

A question was asked on the Facebook Group about Belgian Refugees in Weston.  During WW1 there were about 100 Belgian Refugees billeted in Weston and five of them are remembered on a tomb stone in Weston Cemetery.                                        

George Pierre BLONDIL or BLONDEEL who died aged 1 year on the 8^th June 1915.  According to our records he was the infant son of James and Maria BLONDEL who were living at 71, Clifton Road when he died.  He was buried in Plot Tu 1850.

It was worth the £3.00 to satisfy my curiosity as to cause of death and to find that it was an Uncle, J STOOP, who was present when he died. Was he another Refugee? The father’s name is different from that given by the Cemetery as well.

Others mentions on tombstone:

Louise GRASMICHEL, aged 63 – died 5^th Oct 1915 at 1 Milton Terrace, Milton Road
Michel GRASMICHEL, aged 58  - died 1^st Dec 1915 at Bristol Hotel, Locking Road
Jean Georges ZAIRES, aged 51 – died 15^th April 1916 at 3, Worthy Place
Anna Teresa GEUSKENS, aged 72 – died 28^th Nov 1916 at 1, Clevedon Terrace, Weston

There is very little about Refugees in Weston in the British Newspaper Archives but I think that is because the Mercury and Gazette have not yet been added for that period.  There is quite a lot about places covered by other newspapers including arrangements being made for their support when they arrived in the Autumn of 1914.

There is a painting belonging to Weston Museum, painted by Alfred LEETE of Refugees being welcomed into this country. This is an amended version.  The original is probably at Taunton but do inquire at the Museum about it.  I happened to be having a coffee in the museum several years ago when it arrived, and it caused quite a stir.  So different in style from Alfred Leete’s normal cartoons and his famous WW1 poster.

"Sanctuary or the Ever Open Door"

Events in July

General Election

Don’t forget your Photo ID when voting on the 4^th July.

Universal suffrage for all men and women over the age of 21 became lawful in 1928 and the next General Election in 1929 resulted in a hung parliament.

Another important General Election took place in 1945 at the end of WW2 which you can read about on https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zgmf2nb/revision/4

Free Help Session

Free Help Session Sat 6^th July at Weston Library.  The Library holds a great many items to aid your research.  It pays you to consult their maps, printed versions of Brian Austin’s research, Electoral Rolls, Street Directories not to mention the files on People and Places in this area. Perhaps you can add to this – What have you found useful?

Society Meeting

Society meeting on Wednesday 10^th July at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall when Ted Udall. a prominent member of the Somerset & Dorset FHS, will talk about the Social History of the Parish Register.  Non-members are welcome at this meeting.

 Still one of the best books on this subject is “The Parish Chest” by W E TATE originally published in 1946.  I have a reprint of the 3^rd edition from 1983.

My first introduction to a Parish Chest was in the 1970s when many Parish Records were still kept in their home parish churches and not yet moved to County Record Offices. 

My grandfather had told me that his grandfather, Thomas LONG,  had been born in Bitton in about 1818.

Although situated in Gloucestershire, Bitton came under the Bishopric of Bristol but then the registers for Bitton were kept in the original Parish Chest – Not unlike the one featured on the cover of this book.

 I made arrangements to visit the church and was thrilled to see the registers which had been indexed by the incumbent and so were relatively easy to search.  I could not only see the records but I could smell them!  The rather musty smell of parchment which had been entombed in the wooden chest.  You don’t get that on the internet!

Zoom Workshop

The next Zoom Workshop will be on Wednesday 24^th July at 7.30 p.m. and will be led by Alan Moorhouse on “How to organise a One Name Study”.   If you have ever been tempted to see whether your surname could feature as a One-Name Study, take a look at https://one-name.org/ and then attend this meeting. All paid up members will receive joining information prior to the meeting.

New Releases on Ancestry

Have you tried any of these?

Findmypast

Findmypast has published some interesting information about Home Children during June.  https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/home-children-burial-index-hazelbrae During the June Zoom meeting I mentioned a young family whose mother died giving birth on Good Friday 1911 and all the children, including the newborn baby, were subsequently admitted to Axbridge Workhouse. 
I traced this family and discovered that in 1920 two of them, Isaac and Violet  GAINEY were emigrated to Canada by Dr Barnardos as part of the Home Children Scheme. 

In 2017, Shirley Hodgson published a great book entitled “Bristol’s Pauper Children” which outlined her research into British Home Children with emphasis on the local conditions in this country at that time – which I thoroughly recommend.

The Genealogist

While commemorating D Day, these records were released after my last Newsletter.  Many people remember the American soldiers based in Weston leading up to D Day and the United States WWII Army Enlistment Records (1938-1946) have been added to the Genealogist Site.

Familysearch

Have you tried using AI to enhance your research?  Try looking at https://www.familysearch.org/en/labs/ This offers a chance to try several new aspects of research including AI.  I have to say that I’m a little worried about the use of AI but have had some remarkable results if the questions are carefully worded. It could be of use when breaking down brick walls.  What have been your experiences?   I know that some people have successfully used it to transcribe wills and other documents but I haven’t yet so can’t comment.

Future Events – in September

At the moment it looks as if there will be no events organised by this Society during August except for having a Stall at the ever popular Hutton Food Festival on Wednesday, August 28th at St Mary's Field, Hutton.  We shall be there from 11.00a.m. until 5.00p.m. ready to answer any queries about family history and will look forward to meeting you.  Keep an eye on the Web Site for any further  announcements about events. 

The next Free Help Session at the Library after the July one will be on Saturday 7^th September.  Jenny is still waiting for replies about the proposed visit to the Mendip  Hospital Chapel and Cemetery on Wed 11th September.  See http://www.wsmfhs.org.uk/calendar_view.php?nID=1069 for details.

The September Zoom Meeting should be on the 25^th September topic to be decided.

Why not use August to do what is traditionally supposed to be the activity of all family historians – i.e. visiting the places frequented by your ancestors including finding their graves.  Make time to talk to older people about their experiences before it is too late and talk to younger relatives about your own lives not forgetting to ask them about their own experiences.  How do school days today differ from those we remember?  What activities are popular and how do they deal with social media and the ever-present phones?

But before August we have to negotiate July with gardening, sporting events and holidays not to mention politics to contend with – all offering a distraction from researching our own family history.  Good Luck and enjoy the Summer.

By the way, the Seagulls have now changed their normal squalk to a more gentle chirrup as they temp their youngster with who knows what they have just brought back to the nest!

Not the ones I'm watching but very similar!