A Glemsford A - Z

OK, A - W really.

It seems like a good idea to publish a list of the families being researched by people who have made an entry on this Blog, so far.

I am developing the links back to the relevant month when the name first appeared in this form of the Family History page, and will add, correct and update this list as often as necessary.

Allen
Argent
Beevis
Berry
Boggis
Bonny
Boreham
Brown (several shades)
Browne
Byford
Clarke (not me)
Cook
Craske
Crick
Dare
Deeks
Farrow
Golding
Goody
Hempstead
Hartley
Humm
King
Mann
Morling
Nelson
Oakley
Page
Pearman
Pettit
Platt
Scott
Slater
Smart
Strutt
Suttle
Theobald
Thompson
Turner
Twinn
Underwood
Watkinson

Quite a list and growing at quite a rate. Keep the information flowing ...

Goody Family

Arthur Rees has contacted me with this query:

I wonder if someone can be of assistance to me. I am researching my wife's Family History, with a maiden name of Platt.

Her Great,Great, Grandfather was George Platt. In 1843 he married Alithea Goody (also variously known as Martha, Alethea and Alicia Goody), in St Leonards, Shoreditch, London.

I am trying to find more details of her. According to the census of 1841 onwards, it lists her birth place as Long Melford, but there are no records of her there. On the site of the Latter Day Saints, it tells me that she was born on 4th October 1821 in Glemsford, and was Christened there on the 6th October 1821. It lists her fathers name as Joseph Goody, who was born about 1791, and her mothers name is given as Mary Ann, who was born in1795.

At the time of her marriage in London, Joseph Goody was listed as being a Horse Hair Manufacturer, she was a Horse Hair Sewer, and George Platt was a Chair Stuffer.

I am interested in finding out anything about the family, and how they may have become involved with a London man. I can find no details of Joseph Goody, apart from what I have said above, so I have no knowledge of who Mary Ann was, or whether the whole family moved to London.

One of the witnesses at the wedding is listed as a female called P. Goody. The residence at the time of the wedding for both George Platt and Alithea Goody was given as No.9 Williams Street, which I assume to be in or near Shoreditch. The marriage was according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church after Banns.

So far, I have drawn something of a blank, except for the 1861 Census which seems to have the elderly Joseph and Mary An (sic) lodging on Egremont Street, and a possible sighting of Mary in 1871 in the Sudbury Workhouse.

So, does anyone out there know anything? Usual route for answers, please.

Steve Clarke

Glemsford Local History Society Newsletter

I know that the main web site sometimes becomes a bit difficult to navigate (although judicious use of the "Back" button can help), but I hope people are taking time to read the on-line version of the Glemsford Local History Society's Newsletter/Magazine.

You can reach it at this address, and the latest version includes several fascinating newspaper "cuttings" and a couple of wonderful photographs, courtesy of John Slater.

Congratulations to Patrick and his team for this fine production.

Steve Clarke

Oakley Family

Ben Oakley has been in touch:

I am researching the Oakleys in Glemsford.

I currently have my self, Ben Oakley b.1978, linked back to Jarmin Oakley b.1772 via Nigel, Edward, Ben, Harry, Henry and William.

It is fairly 'bare bones' at the moment so any padding would be helpful.

I would appreciate being added to your page.

Searching through the archives, I see a few names that I am already in contact with so it should prove fruitful.

Well done on a good site and I hope it continues.

My pleasure, Ben. Thanks for the comment.

As usual, anyone who wishes to get in touch can either leave a message/comment here or email me.

Steve Clarke

Travelling to Work: Glemsford to Sherborne

My interest in the migration of Glemsford people in the Nineteenth Century has been re-ignited by Angela Russell's research into the family of Walter James Brown.

He was married to Susan Ann Middleditch. Angela's research shows that they were mainly employed in the silk industry in Glemsford (although living in Sudbury).
Whereas Walter's brother George, and sister Joanna Maria (married to George Craske), by the 1901 census had moved their respective families to Eccles in Lancashire, Walter James moved his complete family of eight daughters and one son, sometime between 1891 and 1897, to Sherborne in Dorset.

Here in 1901 Walter is recorded as overlooker at the Silk factory and all his daughters were silk weavers.

Angela goes on to ask: did any other families move to Dorset? was the silk industry at Glemsford in decline then?

If there is anyone reading this who can shed light on this, and the silk industry in Sherborne in particular, please let us know.

And I would add other questions to those: how did ordinary factory workers find out that employment was available in other parts of the country? - how did they travel? - were the relatively-new railways a factor in making people more mobile? - did people like the Browns and Craskes travel with the intention of staying permanently? - how did they sort out accommodation?.

I know some of these questions seem naive, but I doubt whether we should treat the answers as taken for granted or, in any sense, obvious.

So: if anyone has anything else to add to the question of Suffolk migrants, please get in touch - whether with concrete evidence or simply family anecdote.

Steve Clarke

Travelling to work

I have become increasingingly fascinated by a particular aspect of the lives of Glemsford people, particularly in the later stages of the Nineteenth Century.

Perhaps it shouldn't surpise me, but I am always intrigued by the distances families moved away from the village, presumably in search of work.

People moving to London is almost expected many girls went to go into service, but recent researches and family hunts have shown Glemsford people turning up all over Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, but also in Lancashire - the Browns and Craskes in particular, in Yorkshire, and now in Dorset. Most times, it seems to be the working skills - weaving, for example - that have taken the family to their new homes.

My study of the school log books also shows a steady, if unspectacular, trickle of families out of the village.

Now here's a thought: such migration might make a fascinating study for someone.
I'd be delighted to hear from anyone who might follow up the idea.

Steve Clarke

Strutt and Scott

It's something of a novelty to be reaching back to the 16th Century on these pages.

Donna Bailey (email address with me, as always) has asked me to add this search request.

I am trying to identify the correct parents for Julian/Juliann SCOTT who married John STRUTT on 21 Oct 1578 in Glemsford.

I think she may be the daughter of Richard and Joan SCOTT m. 8 Oct 1556 in Glemsford, but I have
only found evidence of children Dorothy & Joan (twins) and William for this couple.

I am also looking for the parents of Joanne IPSWICH who married Ambrose BIGGS on 3 Jun 1576 in Glemsford.

I also have an elusive HALLS family that aren't from Glemsford but are in the area. William HALLS married Margery BIGGS on 13 May 1628 in Glemsford.

They had a daughter Anna in 1629 in Glemsford and also a daughter Rebecca in 1641 in Hartest (my direct line). This is a very large gap between children so I am assuming there are more children baptised in nearby parishes.

If anyone can help me with any of these families I would love to hear from them.

Thanks for the posting, Donna.

Steve Clarke