Dear Snowball – Private John Bertram Leslie HARRISON WW1 postcard – are you connected?

Another recent postcard find was the one below sent during World War 1 on 18th September 1917 from Halifax to ‘Dear Snowball’ in Dorset from Elsie.

The address on the postcard is:

Private J B L HARRISON 1220, Royal Naval Camp, Blandford in Dorset.

The message reads:

Dear Snowball, Many thanks for card. The brooch is very well thank you. I am going to take it to be re-silvered as it has nearly all come off. It has worn very well though and love … it in every day since you gave it to me. Hope you enjoyed yourself when you went out to tea. Love from Elsie xxxxxx

On further investigation J B L HARRISON is John Bertram Leslie HARRISON who was born on the 31st July 1895 in the Burton on Trent Registration District.

John enlisted on 22nd November 1915 to the Royal Marine Light Infantry: Plymouth Division Short Service with the Register Number of 1220 which matches with the postcard.

Taking the research further back John’s parents were John HARRISON and Mary Ellen HARRISON (nee IDILL) who married in the Burton Registration District on 19th January 1892.

John survived the War and I have found a marriage for him in the Brentford Middlesex Registration District in the October quarter of 1929 to Winifred G DURDLE.

John died on 6th August 1958 aged 63 and his Probate record, as below, reads:

HARRISON John Bertram Leslie of 72 Woodland Gardens Isleworth Middlesex died 6th August 1958 at Clacton and District Hospital Clacton-on-Sea Essex Administration London 2 January to Winifred Gertrude Harrison widow

Source: England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administration) 1858-1966, 1973-1995

Does anyone have a connection John Bertram Leslie HARRISON as it would be great to reunite this old postcard with a  family member if possible?

Simon LAST

http://www.charnwood-genealogy.com

charnwoodresearch@virginmedia.com

 

Mr & Mrs C W SNOWDON Silver Wedding 1910 Ashton under Lyne

Another recent super photographic postcard find was of a Silver Wedding group taken in 1910 in Ashton under Lyne in Lancashire.

The information on the reverse of the postcard reads Limehurst House, Ashton under Lyne Xmas 1910 – With Hearty Greetings from Mr & Mrs C W SNOWDON – Silver Wedding Group.

Knowing when the marriage hopefully took place I quickly found the marriage of Charles William SNOWDON to Eliza BRADLEY in the June quarter of 1885 in the Ashton Registration District.

The 1911 census, as below, shows the SNOWDON family living at Limehurst House in Ashton under Lyne with Charles and Eliza having been married for 25 full years – matches completely with the photograph.

Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1911 England Census Source Citation: Class: RG14; Piece: 24325

Charles’s occupation is shown as a Butter Merchant and confirms that him and Eliza have had ten children, nine of who are still living – this therefore means that the nine other people shown in the photograph are their children and their names and ages in 1911 can be confirmed as:

Charles Ernest aged 26, Emily aged 24, Bessie aged 20, Gertrude aged 19, Edith aged 14, Constance aged 14, Noel Hamilton aged 12, Cyril Cunliffe aged 10 and Hugo Jack SNOWDON aged 8.

Their father Charles William SNOWDON was born in Haltwhistle in Northumberland.

As always if you have a connection to the SNOWDON family please make contact, as it would be great to reunite this lovely anniversary photograph with a family member if possible.

Simon LAST

http://www.charnwood-genealogy.com

charnwoodresearch@virginmedia.com

 

Well Known Local Dover School Mistress – Miss R K CLOUT

Another interesting photographic postcard find was of a well known local School Mistress from Dover Miss R K CLOUT taken on 10th December 1923.

The writing on back says that Miss R K CLOUT (Well Known Local School Mistress) is sitting in the back row, left hand side facing.

Miss Ruby Kathleen CLOUT was born in Dover Kent in the July quarter of 1904 and I have found her baptism record from 18th August 1904 at Charlton near Dover – her parents are named as Frank Colston and Clara Esther CLOUT.

Frank Colston CLOUT married Clara Esther GOODWIN in the October quarter of 1892 in the Dover Registration District.

The 1911 census, as below, shows Ruby aged 6 living with her parents Frank and Clara and sister Lillian Clara Louisa CLOUT aged 17, at 68 Maison Dieu Road in Charlton near Dover – Frank’s occupation is shown as an Ironmongers Branch Manager.

Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1911 England Census Source Citation: Class: RG14; Piece: 4605; Schedule Number: 11

The writing on the reverse of the postcard says that Ruby died in October 1980 at home in Salisbury Road in Dover and from this IO have found her Probate record, as below, which confirms that she died 15th September at 28 Salisbury Road in Dover.

Source Information: Ancestry.com. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995. Original data: Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England. London, England © Crown copyright.

Do you have a connection to Ruby and her CLOUT and GOODWIN ancestors – if so please get in touch as I would love to reunite this lovely photo postcard with a family member if possible.

Simon LAST

http://www.charnwood-genealogy.com

charnwoodresearch@virginmedia.com

Herbert SIMPSON from Harrogate WW1 Postcard

Another recent postcard find is of Birk Crag in Harrogate in Yorkshire sent to Gunner Herbert SIMPSON regimental number 89543 at a Military Camp in Aldershot during World War 1 – it was sent from his son Walter.

The message reads:

Dear Dad, Just a line to tell you I am all right …. is very poorly. I wish I were with you. Are you going to be moved from Aldershot Ta Ta from Walter with love

Having his Regimental number of 89543 I quickly found a World War 1 Medal Card for Herbert SIMPSON, as below:

Source Information: Ancestry.com. British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 Original data: Army Medal Office. WWI Medal Index Cards. In the care of The Western Front Association website

From this I found his World War Service Record, again as below, which shows Herbert aged 29 years and six months, with his address as 12 Willow Grove, Bilton near Harrogate in Yorkshire and his occupation is shown as a Postman. His Regiment is shown as the Royal Garrison Artillery.

Source Information: Ancestry.com. British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920 Original data: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO). War Office: Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ (Microfilm Copies); (The National Archives Microfilm Publication WO363); Records created or inherited by the War Office, Armed Forces, Judge Advocate General, and related bodies;

It also confirms that Herbert married Sarah Ann KERSHAW on13th May 1909 in Doncaster and that he had a son called Walter born on 25th May 1907 in Doncaster, which fits with the postcard.

The 1911 census, as below, shows the family living at 29 Birch Grove in Harrogate.

Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1911 England Census Source Citation: Class: RG14; Piece: 25919

More investigation is needed to see if Herbert SIMPSON survived World War 1 and I will update in due course.

However in the meantime do you have a connection to the SIMPSON or KERSHAW families from Harrogate in Yorkshire, as I will happily reunite this WW1 postcard with a relative if I can?

Simon LAST

http://www.charnwood-genealogy.com

charnwoodresearch@virginmedia.com

Are you related to Reginald and Edith ECCLES nee BREARLEY from Elland?

Another fascinating photographic postcard I found at the Postcard Fair in Bury St Edmunds at the weekend was a wedding photograph taken by A RUSSELL at the Southend Studio in Elland.

Living in Southend-on-Sea in Essex the ‘Southend’ word caught my attention, but when I turned the postcard over someone had written in biro, obviously at a much later date, the names Reggie ECCLES and Edith BRIERLEY.

Knowing that Elland is in Yorkshire I was sure that with some basic research I could find out more about this beautiful photograph and the wedding day of this very smart couple.

I quickly found the marriage record for Reginald ECCLES to Edith Agnes Ready Hough BREARLEY – note the correct spelling rather than BRIERLEY as written on the postcard.

Reginald and Edith married on the 31st March 1912 at St Mary’s Church in Elland, as below:

Source Information: Ancestry.com. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935 Source Citation: West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; Old Reference Number: D79/45; New Reference Number: WDP79/45

The 1911 census, again as below, shows Edith Agnes Ready Hough BREARLEY aged 29, born approximately 1882, living at 9 Albert Street in Elland and her occupation was a Blouse Machinist. Her parents are shown as Charles and Mary Elizabeth BREARLEY and she has a sister Emily aged 26 – her father’s occupation is a Card Manufacturer.

Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1911 England Census Source Citation: Class: RG14; Piece: 26400

Using this census information I found Edith’s baptism record in Elland on 13th November 1881, as below:

Source Information: Ancestry.com. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910 Source Citation: West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; Old Reference Number: D79/12; New Reference Number: WDP79/12

Edith Agnes Ready Hough ECCLES died on the 3rd March 1929 aged 48 and her Probate record shows her address as 43 Albert Street in Elland and probate was granted to her husband Reginald ECCLES occupation Joiner.

Source Information: Ancestry.com. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995 Original data: Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England. London, England © Crown copyright.

Do you have a connection to the BREARLEY or ECCLES families mentioned, as I would again like to reunite this fantastic photograph with a family member if possible.

Again I have found possible family tree matches on Ancestry and have sent messages so I will keep you updated with any developments as always.

Simon LAST

http://www.charnwood-genealogy.com

charnwoodresearch@virginmedia.com

Hannah FOSTER nee SNELLING born 9th November 1832 in Wortham in Suffolk – any connection?

I was at a postcard fair in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk over the weekend and as well as searching the topographical postcards boxes, I can never resist looking in the people or social history sections as well.

As you know I love all these beautiful old photographs and find it so sad that there are so many that we will never know who they are to make a family tree match – therefore any with the slightest mention of a name, place or date catch my eye!!

One I found at the weekend, as below, had on the back the most amazing amount of information to enable research:

The writing on the back states:

This photo was taken at Dover 10-10-14 of  Hannah FOSTER nee SNELLING born at Wortham Suffolk November 9th 1832

This means Hannah was aged 82 and as indicated living in Dover in 1914 – could I find any links to her Suffolk family!!

Using Ancestry I quickly discovered that Hannah SNELLING was baptised in Wortham Suffolk on 24th February 1833 the daughter of John and Frances SNELLING.

Hannah aged 19 married Frederick William FOSTER who was aged 21 in Wortham Suffolk on 16th December 1851.

The 1861 census, as below, shows Hannah and Frederick FOSTER living in Hastings in Sussex with children Frederick William aged 8 and Fanny P aged 2.

Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1861 England Census Source Citation: Class: RG 9; Piece: 560; Folio: 136; Page: 40; GSU roll: 542661

The 1901 census shows her living at Hill House, High Street in Hastings Sussex aged 68 a widow and living with her was her son Augustus FOSTER aged 31, whose occupation was a teacher.

Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1901 England Census Source Citation: Class: RG13; Piece: 865; Folio: 30; Page: 10

By the 1911 census she is aged 78 and still living at 79 High Street in Hastings in Sussex, but is shown on her own, however is shows she had been married for 40 years and had had seven children five of whom were still alive, as below;

Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1911 England Census Source Citation: Class: RG14; Piece: 4737; Schedule Number: 17

Hannah died aged 87 the 2nd January 1920 at 79 High Street in Hastings in Sussex. Her Probate record names her son Frederick William FOSTER whose occupation was a Painter.

Source Information: Ancestry.com. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995

This is an amazing photograph that I would love to reunite with a FOSTER or SNELLING family member if possible – I have found mention of Hannah in a few family trees on Ancestry so I will message accordingly.

I wonder what the occasion of the photograph, taken by Dover Photographer Charles HARRIS was on 10th October 1914 – did Hnnah have a relative going off to World War 1 who wanted a photographic memory of her possibly?

I will keep you updated!

Simon LAST

http://www.charnwood-genealogy.com

charnwoodresearch@virginmedia.com

Do you have a link to these Ipswich photographs?

Amongst my other finds at the Fair in Woking on Saturday were two old photographs both taken by photographers in Ipswich in Suffolk.

The first was taken by WHITEHEAD and has the name Mrs Edwin MAKIN written in pencil on the back – are you related to a MAKIN family with links to Ipswich in Suffolk?

The second was taken by H WALTERS of 117 Crown Street in Ipswich and on the back is written lent by F PRATT – was this for a local Ipswich display and somehow the photograph did not make its way back to the lender.

Do you know an F PRATT?

If you can provide any information or could have any links to these Ipswich Suffolk photographs it would be great to hear from you.

Simon LAST

http://www.charnwood-genealogy.com

charnwood-research@virginmedia.com