Glemsford in the Great War

I've mentioned some of this before, but I am still fascinated and would welcome any fresh thoughts on the these issues.

While assisting with other searches, I've found several intriguing but tantalising references to Glemsford in relation to the Great War:

1. Documents in the National Archive make a very brief reference to there having been a Prisoner of War camp in Glemsford, certainly towards the end of the Great War. Does anyone know anything about this?
2. Similar documents refer to government "involvement" in the development of the flax factory/factories. This is less surprising, but does anyone have more details?
3. Elizabeth Simmonds has heard of munitions work being done in the area during that conflict. Again: tantalising - does anyone have any more detailed knowledge?

All answers via me, please! You know you can do it!

SC

Osman Game

Elizabeth Simmonds search for the Game and Adams family (qv) included a particular quest to try to trace the singularly-named "Osman Game". You'd think, wouldn't you, that such a name would be easy meat for even an average internet search engine?

But dear old Google and Yahoo have really struggled, as has Ancestry and all the other proprietory genealogical programmes.

This is what Elizabeth has found, and the little that I have been able to add:

In 1881, Ezra Game - Silk Weaver - and his family were at 65 Melford Road, Sudbury.
Apart from Mary Ann, the family consisted of Virginia C. E. (4), Mabel H. (3) and Esma D. (1) The first two children had been born in Glemsford, but Esma in Sudbury.

A birth: March 1/4, 1882, Sudbury district - the names are given as "Osmond Otho" Game.

By 1891, the family was back in Glemsford, on Hunts Hill, but had probably moved back sometime before, as son Osman, 9, is shown as born in Glemsford.

In 1901, Osman Game was living in Braintree with his uncle Charles Game and Aunt Ruth. Charles was an Engineer in the Silk Factory, Osman was a "Jacquard ?Maker? Card Cutter" - part of the silk manufacturing process.

Apart from the Census, the only vague reference I have found is in the online registers of marriages.

In the March 1/4 of 1918, an Osman Game married someone called Marie M Pallett-Bricknells (or Bricknelle), in Godstone in Surrey. The name being so "individual", we assume this is our Game.

Elizabeth has been told that he had been a school master, but where and when and is this true –who knows. He was in the Dorset Regiment during WW1, in fact he came home from South America to enlist - what was he doing in South America? He married when he was a 2nd Lt. in the Dorset Regiment.

So: if anyone else can help, we'd be really grateful.

SC

Game and Adams Families

In an earlier entry, Elizabeth Simmonds was asking for any information about the background to the Game and Adams families, in particular Virginia Game who was married to Alfred Poole Adams, and the family, in general, of Ezra Game. The name of Osman Game was of particular interest.

I am pleased to be able to report some success with this search.

We can now track the Game family back to the 1841 Census, when Charles and Ann Game and their family were living on Fair Green. Charles was a Silk Weaver. Also in the same household was an 80 year old James Game (probably Charles's father) - so with a click of the mouse button we have a possible trace back to 1761-ish.
Throughout the 19th Century, this Game family and its branches seem to have moved between Glemsford, Colchester and Sudbury, but always with a link to the Silk industry.

A specific answer to Elizabeth's question emerged: in the June ¼ of 1896, Virginia Clementine Elizabeth Game (daughter of Ezra) married Alfred Poole Adams.
In 1901, they lived at 1 St Leonards Rd, Colchester, with their children, Virginia E., Esma D. and Mabel H. (4, 2 and 3 months). The latter two had been born in Colchester, while the young Virginia was born in Glemsford. Alfred was a "Journeyman Carpenter".

I couldn't find the Adams family for certain in 1841, but in 1851 Thomas (60) and Hannah (59) Adams were living on Chequers Lane, with their children Susannah (18) and Thomas (16), and their grandson Alfred (6). Thomas was a "Master Carpenter, employing two men". Hannah was a "Bread baker". Both were Glemford-born. Susannah was a "hand loom weaver" and Thomas (jr) "carpenter's son".

Immediately next door lived George and Sophia Adams, with Ellen, Lavinia, Andrew and Emma - 8, 5, 3 and 1. George was a "Journeyman Carpenter". I wonder if Alfred was George and Sophia's son, shipped next door to create space!

After 1851, the Adams family is relatively easy to trace, and remained, for the most part, in Glemsford with strong links to Carpentry.

This is very much a digest of what Elizabeth knew and what I have been able to add, but if anyone else has an interest in these family groups, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Meanwhile, if anyone knows anything about one Osman Game, we shall be particularly interested!

SC

Hempstead, Byford families

"Barry" writes:

I am researching the Hempstead family, and have just discovered the wonderful local history society 'A Glemsford family in the 19th Century' four part article by Sheila Willmoth.

I am descended from the William Hempstead and Kezia Byford part of the family, and would welcome help from anyone to go back beyond 1800.

Also I intend to visit Glemsford in 2009, and try to view the parish registers - How do I do this?

Thanks for your comment, Barry. Most of the Glemsford registers and related material are in the County Record Office in Bury St Edmunds.

SC

James Blair and the Silk Factory

Colin Young has approached me with this request:

My family is connected with James Blair who was manager at Glemsford Silk Mill, certainly by 1914. The purpose of this note is simply to ask if your Local History Society can furnish me with any details you may have in your records, regarding James Blair and, family members of his. Perhaps there is mention of him in old newspapers or, local trade directories etc?

I am trying to establish when he arrived in the area from Scotland, whereabouts he came from in Scotland and, what became of the family.

Any help you can give me will be most welcomed.

I have been able to find Mr Blair on the 1901 Census, when he was a single man of 31, living at the Silk Factory and employed as a Silk Throwster, but if anyone else can provide more information, I (and Colin) would be very grateful.

SC

Jarmin, Everitt families

I am looking for info on the Jarmin & Everitt families from Glemsford.

I have recently discovered this family name in our tree & notice that for many generations they lived there.

Some names are: Thomas Everitt B 1755, Elizabeth Everitt B 1784, Dorcas Jarmin b 1725, Thomas Jarmin b 1702.

Anything would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you.

Val Schirru
Canada

Anybody with ideas can leave a comment or contact Val via me.

SC

What's In A Name?

I've just been doing some Census-trawling for someone with a family question and, in passing, reminded myself of a couple of odd spellings of familiar place names in the village.

In the 1881 Census, Chequers Lane is recorded as "Chickall Lane", and in the 1871 Census, Fern Hill was "the Farnall".

The 1851 Census refers to Tye Green as "Tithe Green" - I'd always understood there was some dispute about this origin for the name.

The useages are not constant, but it intrigues me to know whether these versions were the original - and if so, where did they come from? - or just a case of the enumerator having trouble writing down the Glemsford accent.

Any thoughts?

SC

Game and Adams Families

I am looking for information re. the Game and Adams families, in particular Virginia Game who was married to Alfred Poole Adams.

Who lived in a third part of the Old House in Chequers Lane.

I believe Ezra Game, father of Virginia, worked at the Silk Mill and later became the landlord of The Plough public house.

Also is anything known of Osman Game, brother of Virginia?

Elizabeth

Any information gratefully received, as usual!

SC

Wiseman Family, again

Peter Rogers has contacted me with some further thoughts and information concerning Sandra's search for the Wiseman family. This is what he said:

Steve,

Read you info ... re: Wiseman family in that region.
I have information on my mother's side (née Wiseman) from an 1881 census. There seems to be some connection.

A John Wiseman, my GG Grand Father was born in Glemsford in 1830 (horse hair curler), married Amelia ?? (b. 1836 Whitechapel London).

They had 7 sons all born in Melford: Charles John, b.1861( Bread Baker), Walter b.1863 (horse hair curler), G William b.1867 (Labourer in factory), Thomas b.1869 (my great grandfather and lived mainly in London?? and married Annie Lewis b. 1869), Arthur b. 1871, James b. 1875, Joseph b. 1878.

John Wiseman may have been a son of Richard, and a twin of James - dates fit??
In 1881 they were living in Cock and Bell Lane, Long Melford.

I have yet to go back to earlier census info to track down more.


Peter Rogers
Canberra, Australia

Yet again, I am delighted, if not amazed, at the power of this medium. Thanks to you all.
If any one else has more to contribute, please let me know. Obviously, I have email addresses for most of my contacts, although I won't, as a rule, publish them here.

SC