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Chris Smith - 19th June 2021 - 12:34

Correction re. sale of Three Ways by Harold Idiens in 1952. This house was in fact sold by Mr and Mrs Idiens in August 1952, the principal reason being new residential building was to commence immediately next door to them. Mrs Idiens committed suicide in August 1952 and Mr Idiens followed the same action in January 1953.

Sarah Lysaght - 5th June 2021 - 10:59

I am excited to have received in the post this morning, T C Sparrow's book 'Digging for a living.' Although I do not have family from the area, I have connections to market gardening in Cheshire and I'm keen to learn more about this subject. I grow a small crop of assorted fruit and vegetables in my back garden each year and suspect this book will increase my knowledge. I can't wait to start reading. Many thanks to John Sharp for dealing with my request so promptly.

Hope you enjoy the book!  If you have any queries, having read the book, don't hesitate to get in touch.  We also have more articles about market gardening on the website.

Thank you. Your website is very informative. I have started to read some of the letters written by the school children. What beautiful writing they had and such a sense of community. There is so much information on this site, it may take me sometime to digest it all. Thank you, again.

Martin Clements - 22nd May 2021 - 11:28

Hi would anyone know of any photo's of a Henry Samuel Clements Master Butcher of Evesham (my grandad who I have never seen a picture of) who worked for John Byrd high st. Fred Stratford bridge st. and Wheatley the butchers in Evesham and Badsey. At one time they lived in the cottages called Tower View.

Peter Russell - 15th May 2021 - 13:50

Can any member confirm that Margaret Moisey, dau. of George Moisey and Julia nee Gardner, was the same person who married Hans Werau in 1942 in the Wallingford Reg. District? In 1947 Hans changed his name to John Warren. Any information would be very gratefully received.

Alexandra Withnall - 15th May 2021 - 18:33

In reply to by Peter Russell

Hi Peter

Can I ask what your interest is? Yes, your information is correct - I am their daughter. My father who was known as John Christopher Peter Warren died in 1980 and my mother in 2012 at the age of 97. I think you have the date of his naturalisation wrong - I’ve always understood it was 1942 - certainly before I was born in 1944.
Best wishes, Alex Withnall (nee Warren).

Hello Alex,
Thank you for your very prompt reply. My interest in your father stems from the internment identity card of his sister, Ilse Sara (aka Elizabeth) Werau - later Mrs William Marshall, which is illustrated in a book about evacuees during WW2 to a village in Nottinghamshire that is due to be published shortly. As a contributor and curious genealogist by nature Ilse’s and Hans’ story, particularly as they were children of Artur Marcell Werau, caught my attention. I have thought of penning a few words about them for a future newsletter or journal of the local history society. My 1947 reference your father was taken from the ‘London Gazette’, 25 April 1947, which published his change of name not naturalisation. I’d be happy to continue this correspondence privately if preferred.
Best regards,
Peter

William George Harris - 21st April 2021 - 19:18

"Uncle Des" was my Great-Grandmother's (Hilda Mae Harris nee Freeman) uncle. Until today I never knew my Great-Grandmother's real last name. She was born in the house in Wickesham, in the room with the bay window. I have a copy of this picture with her note on the back. She identified the house as being in Stratford-upon-Avon, but I always knew that they had lied about their name and obscured their background.

I knew my great grandmother, who died when I was 15. She lived with us.

I was flabbergasted to see a picture of this house on this page. The same picture is framed on my wall at home here in Maine, USA.

William George Harris II
Grand Organist of the Grand Lodge of Maine, AF&AM

Further to my reply in April, my colleague, Peter Stewart has delved one further generation back in the Pickering family. George Pickering's grandfather was also named George. He had married Dinah Parsons in 1821 and she was recorded as a widow in the 1851 census, but there seems to be no death record for George. A 'George Pickering' was found guilty of larceny at Worcester Court in 1848 and transported, almost certainly to Australia. It may be that the Pickering family hid this fact from the emigration officials when they went to the USA, in 1906, by changing their name to Freeman. This is only speculation, but a possibility. A footnote has been added to the article with this information.

Susan Machin - 3rd April 2021 - 3:40

I am looking for any info regarding Elizabeth Stanley (b. 1823 Demerara and possibly later named Eliza Machin) who was located at Feild Farm in the 1841 census with the Hopkins family.

Are you getting muddled up with another website?  I'm afraid we do not have anyone by the name of Elizabeth/Eliza Stanley or Machin on our census returns.

Sorry, I can’t find exactly how I got here, but I clicked on a link which lead me here. She was at Field farm in 1841, but I guess that isn’t included in your site. I’m in the U.S. and know very little about the area. I would be very grateful for any more info. She is coming up in different searches, but I can’t find any details so far. I think she is the ancestor that I’m looking for, but I don’t have verification of the name Stanley, except that it is a prominent middle and first name in the family and our Eliza was born in Demerara in 1823. Thank you- Susan

This website is dedicated to the villages of Badsey, Aldington and Wickhamford in Worcestershire, England.  I see that Demerara is now part of Guyana.  There must be hundreds of Elizabeth Stanleys both on the American continent and in the UK, so you will need to check your sources very carefully.  There must also be hundreds of Field Farms in the world.  Our Field Farm in Wickhamford certainly never had an Elizabeth Stanley staying there.  Good luck with your researches.

I’m so sorry. I was looking for Offanham Field Farm and Badsey was the only one I found and I was thinking it was part of the larger area of Offanham. I had no idea that there were many Field Farms, not knowing anything about that or the area. It is difficult to find ancestors. It takes a lot of hunting, when there is no verbal family history.
Thank you

Val McKenzie - 2nd April 2021 - 23:27

Hi
I can tell you that the Revd Daniel Jones was either the son or the son-in law of Jane Thomas of Brynhope, Strata Florida, Cardiganshire. Jane died in 1800. His daughter Jane Margaretta was Jane Thomas' grandaughter.
The Revd Daniel was also related to Nathaniel Jones of Brynhope who was the nephew of Jane Thomas. Nathaniel died in 1801.
The Reverend Daniel Jones and his daughter Jane Margaretta are mentioned in both of the wills of the above. And Badsey is given as Daniel's address in the will of Nathaniel Jones.
Both wills are held at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth and available to view online:
- Jane Thomas: https://viewer.library.wales/257464#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&manifest=https%3A%2F%…
- Nathaniel Jones: https://viewer.library.wales/851659#?c=&m=&s=&cv=1&manifest=https%3A%2F

I hope this is of interest. - I came across your website whilst researching the Jones family of Brynhope in connection with my own ancestor, John Lloyd of Brynhope, whose 'sister' Catherine was married to Nathaniel's brother, John.
Best regards
Val

Val McKenzie - 2nd April 2021 - 22:22

Hi
I can tell you that the Revd Daniel Jones was either the son or the son-in law of Jane Thomas of Brynhope, Strata Florida, Cardiganshire. Jane died in 1800. His daughter Jane Margaretta was Jane thomas' grandaughter.
The Revd Daniel was also related to Nathianiel Jones of Brynhope who was the nephew of Jane Thomas. Nathaniel died in 1801.
The Reverend Daniel Jones and his daughter Jane Margaretta are mentioned in both of the wills of the above. And Bardsey is given as Daniel's address in the will of Nathaniel Jones.
Both wills are held aat the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth and available to view online:
- Jane Thomas: https://viewer.library.wales/257464#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&manifest=https%3A%2F%…
- Nathaniel Jones: https://viewer.library.wales/851659#?c=&m=&s=&cv=1&manifest=https%3A%2F…

I hope this is of interest. - I came across your website as I am researching the Jones family of Brynhope in connection with my own ancestor, John Lloyd of Brynhope, whose 'sister' Catherine was married to Nathaniel's brother, John.
Best regards
Val

Peter G Knight - 31st March 2021 - 21:19

I have lived in USA for more than 30 years, and with one of my daughters spent quite some time researching our ancestors. My daughter found an article in your website from 1939 on the death of Mary Ann Knight (nee Collett) wife of then living Charles Knight. I have been aware for a long time how many Knights are in Badsey (I looked at the gravestones). I myself was born in Evesham and lived to age 17 in Harvington. Charles Knight was the older brother of my grandfather, Walter, who died in Harvington in December 1939. If any of your readers would like to share information, I would like to hear from them. I may be contacted via yaffy@sbcglobal.net

Admin - 1st April 2021 - 16:24

In reply to by Peter G Knight

Thank you for your message.  I’ve had a quick look on Ancestry to see how your grandfather fits into the Knights of Badsey.  Unfortunately, your branch of the Knight family never appears to have lived in Badsey (Knight is an extremely common name throughout the Vale of Evesham).  Walter Knight (1875-1939) born at Elmley Castle, and his older brother, Charles Knight (1860-1944) born at Bishampton, were the children of William and Ellen Knight.  The Mary Ann Knight (née Collett) you refer to in your comment was the wife of Charles Knight (1861-1944), born and died at Badsey, who was the son of Richard and Jane Knight.  An attempt to sort out the multitude of Knights may be seen in the article: Knight – A Top Ten Name in Badsey.

Stephen Due - 15th March 2021 - 23:52

I enjoyed reading the biography of Robert Hamilton Grant Irvine on your site. I'm gathering information about his father, who visited Australia 1849-1850. He is part of my larger project to record the lives of over four thousand surgeons who came out to the Australian colonies in the nineteenth century. Anyone interested can see my work in progress online at the Australian Medical Pioneers Index

Michelle hudson - 27th February 2021 - 12:27

Wow loved reading about Rosway in the Letters so much history in my house

Admin - 27th February 2021 - 13:08

In reply to by Michelle hudson

Lovely to hear from you.  Do you have a photo of Rosway which we could add?  It would be good to see what the house looks like.  If you have something, please would you send to history@badsey.net.

 

Michael Downes - 13th February 2021 - 17:04

Actually, re Hubert Charles Courtney Tanner, I wanted to reproduce the photos on the website page captioned 'Frederick Courtney Tanner and his wife Ethelwyn Florence Tanner (née Mourilyan) at their wedding in 1911'. If you could pass on that message I would be grateful. I have asked Marlborough College Archivist for photos etc of Hubert. I've also asked for permission to reproduce a Christmas card sent by Hubert and his wife Anne from HMS Grafton. It's amazing what one can dig up on the internet.

'Hubert died on 9th May 1940'. This should be 29th May on the website.

Best wishes Michael

I have emailed a family member with regard to permission. and one of us will get back to you.  In the meantime, I have amended Hubert's death date and added a little bit more information about HMS Grafton.

Caroline Smith - 13th February 2021 - 16:10

As one of Tony Royle’s grandchildren, (still living locally!) I was delighted to read your very interesting article about his life. I would love to see some of his paintings/ink drawings. Particularly the one which I was very pleased to see hanging in the blacksmith’s workshop, on visiting to have our horse’s shoe put back on in the 90’s! Sadly, I expect this disappeared when the property was sold/vacated. I do have a couple of ink drawings of Badsey that I could dig out for your records, if you would like. I remember visiting Tony’s home in Badsey as a very small child, and know he and Una were very happy there. Thank you again for your very interesting article. Best wishes.
Caroline Smith.

Lovely to hear from a member of Tony Royle’s family.  When writing the article, I did leave a message on the Lambiek Comiclopedia website, hoping to hear from a family member, but that did not produce any results.  The only paintings/drawings we know of are those shown in the article.  If you have others, we would be very happy to include these – the best thing would be to scan them and send to history@badsey.net.

Good evening Maureen,
This is all quite exciting to discover all these things about my grandfather.
I am David George Bindon Royle, eldest son of Peter Bindon Royle. Heather is my eldest sister and Caroline is the youngest. We also have a brother named Vincent.
Tony Royle died when I was eight years old. I miss him even after all these years. When we lived at Wiliersey near Broadway, mother would drop us off at grandpa’s to baby sit while she did the shopping in nearby Evesham. Grandpa would keep us entertained by taking us for walks around to see the blacksmith in Badsey which we found fascinating.
Back at the Little Cottage, he would introduce us to his canary who would sing its little heart out in his conservatory. Then it would be a trip out into his garden to watch the goldfish in the pond. Such precious memories.
I have a number of his paintings. My favourite being the one he painted of the Cupid throwing a snow ball at a very pretty young lady. We believe the lady depicted in the painting is his first wife Lola.

Thank you Maureen for bringing my grandpa to the forefront of my memories. God bless you.

David Royle.

Michael Downes - 12th February 2021 - 12:05

I decided to write profiles for the war dead whose names are on the war memorial in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, where I live. Frustrating to see that nobody here had any information about H.Tanner, and the Devon Heritage website even lists him as Not yet confirmed. Eventually, an online mention of Budleigh Salterton in connection with his WW1 veteran father drew me to Hubert, where I found your excellent profile. What a brilliant site. Thank you. Discovering it was a real breakthrough. But what a sad story.

Thank you for your kind comments about the website and glad to hear that you found the information useful.  In the past, I have corresponded with a member of Hubert’s family (the son of his sister, Ethelwyn) about the Tanner and Mourilyan families.  I have alerted him to your message, in case he can be of further assistance.

BOB BAKKERS - 20th January 2021 - 10:51

In regards to Harry Drax Bloxham, He arrived in Melbourne aboard the 'Troubadour' on the 10th of August 1851, His brothers James and Arthur, had already established themselves as squatters in NSW and Victoria. Harry, becomes a sub branch manager of the London Chartered Bank Melbourne. He becomes the Manager of the London Chartered Bank Sydney in March of 1860, arriving there by the 'Wonga Wonga' 1Mar1860, and will still hold this position in 1864. In August of 1863, He will be involved in the forgery case of a Mr Chubb, manager clerk for the firm J W Byrnes and Co. who have business with squatters in Queensland and who have their accounts with his bank. In 1864 he will have acquired pastoral runs in the Leichhardt and Kennedy districts of Queensland. He will die in Melbourne on the11th of June 1875 and is buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery.

Adrian James Harte - 12th February 2021 - 5:40

In reply to by BOB BAKKERS

Many thanks for the details on Harry Drax Bloxham and his life in Australia. I am currently trying to establish whether Harry Drax was my great great grandfather. Or perhaps it was his brother, Edward J Bloxham?