Oakley-Ambrose-Jarmin family

Over the last few years, a fascinating discussion has been taking place concerning the possible Romany-Gypsy links with Glemsford family names. A new entry has just been made - follow the link from the title.


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Glemsford in Postcards

I have just uploaded some wonderful pictures of the village, roughly set in the 1930s, from a set of 11 sent to me by Fred Hartley, to whom many thanks.
You can access them via this link.

There are one or two questions that I need help with with regard to these pictures so ...

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Jabez Copsey: a Glemsford fire-raiser

In March 2010, Eric Drake provided some fascinating material about an "incendiary" from Glemsford, Jabez Copsey, who was transported to Australlia for his crimes.

Eric has now got back in touch with even more detail, gleaned from the British Library, which I am delighted to publish here.

This is taken from the Essex Standard of 2 February 1844:

In our account of the two incendiary fires last week, at Glemsford, we mentioned that a man was in custody on suspicion of being concerned in them: he underwent a second examination on Tuesday last, at the Bell Inn, Melford, before the Rev. Dr. Colville and Robert Mapletoft, Esq, when he made a full confession of his guilt, and on his information his accomplice, Stephen Boreham, was also arrested.
Javis Copsey, the man first taken, is a bricklayer’s labourer, aged 22, and Stephen Boreham, a farming labourer, only 18 years of age. Copsey said that he and Boreham set fire to Mr. Shepherd’s premises about six weeks ago; he was in his own house when Boreham came and gave a signal whistle; Copsey’s mother and sister objected to his going, and said he was after no good, but he came out and went up Shepherd’s Lane to the back of the barn, where Boreham set fire to the thatch in two or three places; they then ran off in the direction of Fair Green. 
Three or four days after Boreham asked him “to have another flare up,” and they then planned to set fire to Mr. Mann’s premises, but something occurred to prevent their meeting on the night proposed. They subsequently agreed to set fire to Mr Bigg’s stacks. Boreham went in first and called him (Copsey) to assist; they had seven lucifer matches, and tried six without being able to obtain a light; the seventh ignited, and they fired the stack. The matches were stolen from Mr. Albin’s blacksmith’s shop; Mr. Albin’s apprentice missed the matches, and mentioned it to his master the next morning.
Copsey then proceeded to state that after Boreham had fired Mr. Bigg’s stack they got over the wall and ran across “Grescroft,” where Boreham’s grandfather lived, and where he stopped till he heard the cry of fire, when they went and assisted; they afterwards repaired to the Crown Inn, and and took the beer which was allowed them for helping at the fire. They then went to the Cock public-house, where he gave Boreham a halfpenny to get a pipe of tobacco; after he had lighted his pipe they walked to Mr Allen’s barn, when Boreham asked him to have “another flare up.” He then tore a piece of the lining out of Boreham’s coat, into which they emptied the burning tobacco, and wrapped it up, put it into the barn through a hole in the wall, and pulling some straw over it, ran away; as they were running they met two men, and after that another, named Thomas Chatter, who said to them “There’s another fire yonder,” and they went back with him and helped to extinguish it.
Copsey further stated that Boreham was always after him, and persuading him to join him in firing these premises; he did not know that they had any animosity against any of the parties; he did not know why they did it. It appears that some time back Copsey had obtained some beer by means of a forged order in Mr Shepherd’s name, and was discharged from his work in consequence of it; Boreham had also been out of employ about ten days. 
They were both committed to the County Gaol to take their trial at the ensuing assize. Great credit is due to Mr. Freestone, of Glemsford, for his indefatigable exertions in causing the apprehension of these incendiaries. The frequent fires which have taken place in that parish have filled the whole village with alarm, and the satisfaction of the inhabitants at discovering the perpatrators of these diabolical deeds may be easily conceived. Boreham conducted himself at the examination with the greatest effrontery, and when about starting for gaol called out, “Good bye, gentlemen.”

Fascinating material, and again I am indebted to Eric.
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The Duff Family

Another plea from Australia, this time from Ros:

As with so many others I am delving into my past and have discovered that my mother’s paternal line stems from Alexander Duff snr from Glemsford.

He had a son Alexander who married a Caroline Deacon.

At that time he was part of his father’s Silk Manufacturing business but their relationship seems to have failed after Caroline’s death.

He remarried shortly after and Alexander snr. seems to have changed the business name from “Duff and Son” to Duff and Peacock”.

 I have managed to find a lot of documented information on the son and his children, Alex jnr died in Queensland after emigrating with his daughter Emma and her husband and kids.

This was after what appears to be a history of bankruptcy and petty theft charges with his second wife.

As I said his father appears to have cut him off.

I have also managed to find a lot on the business side of Alexander snr’s life but nothing on his wife, Easther Busby except marriage entries and the baptism entry for their son.

I found Alexander snr with Andrew Peacock in the Spital Square house owned by Duff in 1841 which gave me a rough date of birth and the Foxearth site gave me his death.

I don’t know if they had more than the one child or their parents names and places of birth.

I suppose what I am really hoping is that someone there knows something. I have noticed that you DO get postings from a Jill Duff and I guess I am clutching at any straws that come my way.

Also if anyone would like anything from me I am more than willing to share.

Any contacts via me as usual.

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Watkinson - a familiar Glemsford name

I really love getting emails like this that arrived from Australlia earlier this week, and am posting it in its entirety.
Thanks, Andrew.
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Hi,
I was just passing through the site as my Dad is visiting Glemsford around now while on holiday but I saw you had a growing list of things for the Watkinson line which we're part of.
Its a little sketchy if this helps, but what we know is:

Enoch Watkinson (mar) Mary Ann Betts - I think Enoch was also from a large family .
4 Children: Arthur, Heber, Flora or Florence & Eliza. I'm told Angel St was where they lived - but that's sketchy.

Arthur had children: Raymond, Auria, David & Martin; Heber died young-ish but without children; Flora is not known ( aside from that she worked as a lady in waiting for the viceroy of India, so unlikely had any children)
and Eliza married Cecil Claude Fenn.

Eliza & Cecil Claude had two children: Nina Mary & Jack (no middle name). They moved to Western Australia early 20th century, although Nina was born 1919 in the UK and was a toddler on the boat (Cecil had previously moved to Australia).

Nina has no children but married Leslie Alfred Hart
Jack married Violet Marjory Jones and had two children - Peter John & Leonie Anne


The interest comes from a line on the blog from Sue Yannakopoulos (http://glemsfordfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Watkinson#5742260034904382251) who mentioned her grandmother Florence who went to India around 1919, it might always be a different Florence, but the Florence/Flora from our line went to India at that time. If its a connection, we are descended from Flora's sister Eliza - Flora is a big black hole in the info we have.

It might be nothing but we are interested in any info about the family line for the Watkinsons - Nina is the last living link we have to that family (shes 92) and Jack died a few years back. Peter John & Leonie Anne are 50/60's in age.

You can pass on our details if there is any interest, although we don't have that much info save a photo album and a 92 year old relative with a memory thats fading fast.

Kind Regards

Andrew Fenn
Kalamunda Shire
Western Australia.

So: if anyone has more to offer, please contact me at the usual address: admin@glemsford.org.uk
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Byford Family

I have received this enquiry from Jill Minter, and have already pointed her in the direction of the Hempsteads, but if other people wish to get in touch with Jill, please let me know.
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My name is Jill Minter and I have recently found your website as I have been researching a line of Byfords at Glemsford. I am fairly new to this and have little experience as yet, but I noticed that it was mentioned that the Byford family have a long history at Glemsford, but there is nothing else mentioned. Is it just that I am missing something or there is no more information on your site.

I've also mentioned the Google search box on the "front page" of www.glemsford.org.uk. which can come in handy on occasions like this - particularly given how messy these pages can become over the years!

Why Bells Lane?

Last year, in an article on the main Glemsford History Website, I posed a question about the naming of Bells Lane.

Proving that the internet is still fulfilling its original intended function, Jenny Wear has been in touch with the following additions to our collective knowledge:

During my searches at the Bury Record Office, over the past couple of years, I have come across The Six Bells, Glemsford.

The period is mainly 1752-1776 and the Public House also crops up in the Ipswich Journal between 1761 and 1776 (thanks to the Foxearth LHS).

I'm pretty sure the place was named after the six bells of St Mary's and the lane then after the pub/hostelry.

It must have occupied a good plot as horse and sheep fairs were held there regularly; unfortunately it was too early for the Tithe map and there is a dearth of other maps for that period.

 

Thanks, Jenny. Another question with a possible answer, and more questions to be looked at - all at the same time. Now, about those horse and sheep fairs ...

 

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Chatters and Scott families

Clive Scott has contacted me from Texas:
(with apologies for a delay in posting)

I am looking for any information about Emily Selina Chatters and her husband William Henry Scott.
Emily was born in Glemsford on December 29, 1891 and married William in Wandsworth London on 25 Nov, 1916.
She died in Glemsford in 1965 at 47 Brook Street. She also lived in Chequers Lane, and may have worked at the silk works when younger.
William was born in London in October 1895.
Scotts did live next door to Emily in Chequers Lane, were these relatives of William?
Emily's father was Leonard and her mother Jane Brown.
William's family appear to have come from the Channel Islands were the trail goes cold.

If anyone can help Clive with his search, please get in touch via me - admin@glemsford.org.uk

Hambling family

Mavis Douglas has contacted me:


I have been researching my paternal family history for some years.

Recently I discovered a Jonathan Hambling born 1624 - just recorded - of Suffolk. Researching even further I have come across a Johannes Hambling Christened 21.12.1624 at Glemsford, Suffolk.

Is it possible there is someone out there who might have some knowledge of the Hambling clan and what part they played within the village?

I have discovered variations of the surname dating back to the 11th Century living in Essex; and there is even a Sir, but so far have no knowledge as to whether all the Hamblings of East Anglia are actually related. A future project I suspect!

As always, if anyone can help Mavis, please get in touch via admin@glemsford.org.uk


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Park Farm

Mya Holmes (contactable through me at admin@glemsford.org.uk) has asked:

"... if you have any information on the history of Park Farm in Glemsford.

I would like to know the names of the families who lived there from 1500 onward if possible and if you know of any deaths?"

If any researchers are looking at Park Farm, please do get in touch.


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