Theobald families

Cheryl Polzin contacted me with a query about Walter (b.1843) and Sarah (b. 1842) Theobald, and their family, Harry, Arthur and Virginia.

I was able to find this:

It looks as though the Theobald family moved from Glemsford to east London between 1881 and 1891.

The censuses for '91 and 1901 show the family living first in Geere Road, then in East Road, in what is now the London Borough of Newham.

The two roads appear to be quite close to each other.

In 1891 Walter is listed as a Railway Works Timekeeper, and the two sons were Clerks, while Virginia was dressmaker.

In 1901, Walter is listed as Timekeeper, LT&S Rly Loco Works (LT&S = London Tilbury and Southend Railway Co., which runs straight through the area).

Arthur is shown as a clerk - unfortunately some of the other details about his job are illegible. Virginia was a waitress.

Also in 1901, Harry was living in 3 rooms at 40 Mansfield Road, St Pancras, with his wife Katherine (30) and their 2 year old child, Harry. Harry senior was an accountant.

As far as I can make out, they married in 1896 in West Ham. Katherine was a schoolmistress in 1891 in West Ham/Forest Gate.
She was born in Forest Gate. I have to be a bit cautious about this, because two Kates were married on the same part of the register, but I base my identification of this Katherine from her birth in Forest Gate, and my previous experience of the way the register details are recorded.
I've also tracked the other pair (William Stock and Kate Smith) in 91 and 01, and am fairly sure I've pinned them down. Anyway, a marriage certificate would prove it. If it wasn't Katherine Davis, then it was Kate Smith.

I had a similar problem looking for Walter and Sarah's marriage, but am reasonably confident that it took place in 1864, and that Sarah was Sarah Bigg, but she may have been Wilson - again, purchasing the certificate would confirm which.

Cheryl is also looking for:
Ann Theobald (never married) had 3 children -
Ann Elizabeth b 22/5/1846,
Hester b 1/8/1852,
George Theobald b 8/4/1855
and
Hester Theobald had a son Felix William Theobald bapt 25/8/1872.

If anyone can assist with this search for the Theobalds, please contact Cheryl (who is in Australia) via me.

Steve Clarke

Suffolk Soap: Mann and Boggis

Graham Mann has contacted me.

He noticed a posting on the old family history pages as follows:

Kirsty Stevens sent this request:I am researching the Mann family from Glemsford back in the 1700's. The family appear to have been soap and candle makers in the village so if anyone has heard or has any connections with this family then they can contact me

Graham continues:
My family (MANN) came from this part of Suffolk. My Great, Great Grandfather, George Henry Mann was born in Rattlesden in about 1829 and worked in Ixworth as, I believe, a soap maker and confectioner before moving to Essex as Master Baker.

He married Maria Boggis (from Bures St Mary), in about 1857.

I have managed to trace a branch back to 1756, but any 'padding' would be greatly appreciated.
If Kirsty would like to exchange any information I would love to hear from her.

Any information on the Mann (or Boggis) families would be greatly appreciated.

Keep up the good work!

Thanks Graham. He can be contacted via my email address, as usual.
Unfortunately, the email address I have for Kirsty seems to be long defunct, but if she happens to read this ...

Twinn family

"Twinn" is a familiar surname in Glemsford in the Nineteenth Century.

Michael Twinn has contacted me with this query:

I notice several instances of the Twinn family appearing on your site with several mentions including on the War memorial.

Are any of your members researching the Twinn family and if so are they able to link with my side who originated as far back as I have gone in Weston Colville, Cambridgeshire and then West Wratting, Cambridgeshire.

Michael's email address is:
mike.twinn@ntlworld.com

Smart and Slater

A correspondent has contacted me:

Could you or anyone in Glemsford help?

I am trying to find the date and place of birth of William Smart.

He married Florence Slater (born 1889 Glemsford) .

They had two children Cambrai William George ( 1917) and Leslie Cecil .

I have traced the Slaters back to 1700 but need to trace the Smart family.

The Record Office at Bury has no marriage certificate and I can find no birth records for the two boys.

Florence had a sister Ivy who lived on the corner nearly opposite a pub which is no longer there. I believe the house is now called Spindlebrook.

I spent many happy weekends there in the 50's and 60's.

Ivy was married to Ernie and both died in the 80's.

My uncle George as he was known (Cambrai) died in 1982 and his brother Leslie is still alive.

Can anyone help?

I've had a quick rummage through the materials that are available to me and have not emerged with anything yet so:
if anyone can help, please add a comment here, or email me and I will forward it to the researcher.

Strange Weather, Strange Days

Saturday 30 December, 2006, proved a weird day for the metereology of Suffolk. The roof of a new hotel in Haverhill was blasted by what may have been a tornado: that event made the BBC Radio 4 news, but less-publicised was a similar occurrence at about the same time in Glemsford.

Details may be read in the East Anglian Daily Times,

or in the Suffolk Free Press, 4 January 2007.

Mind you, History, as always , suggests that all this has been seen before. The Foxearth site (www.foxearth.org.uk) has, in its newspaper archives, several descriptions of wild weather:

December 1st 1897 Suffolk and Essex Free Press

January 5th 1853 Bury and Norwich Post

December 29th 1824 Bury and Norwich Post

"These are the days of miracles and wonders"

So: this is 2007

A very happy New Year to all readers, visitors, contributors, seekers after wisdom, critics and anyone else who happens to be passing by and felt like dropping in.

It's been a quiet month or so: doubtless preparations for Christmas, Yule and other similar festivities have got in the way, but now that's all over for another 12 months, here's health to all and a crackingly good researchful 2007.

Steve