You may have seen a lot birthplace pedigree charts posted online recently.
I created charts for my own and my husband’s family’s countries of birth knowing that it would visually represent something that I think is pretty rare.
My pedigree:
My husband’s pedigree:
Notice anything?
5 generations of English heritage on both the maternal and paternal sides, all the way through.
And this pattern has continued further back too. In fact, the ONLY ancestor I’ve discovered not born in England (so far) was born in America (6th generation) to English parents, due to her father’s service in the British military. Surely, she is considered English too?
Either way, I’d like to know anyone else who has this. I’ve been led to believe it’s pretty rare due to a programme aired (ten years ago now) where people who thought they were completely English found out they were anything but.
Is it so rare?
If you would like to compile your own chart, head to AnceStories for a pre-made template.
While researching gypsy ancestors, I discovered some interesting reports on local ‘gipsy’ happenings. The weddings must have been as much of a spectacle then as they are now (thanks to television programmes like ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’).
Oh, if only there were photographs!
…The bride wore a gorgeous dress of maroon plush, surmounted by an immense hat covered with waving ostrich feathers. Her bridesmaid was attired in a costume of golden plush. The bridegroom and his friend were in velvet with vermilion neckties…
The Leek Post, 20 Aug 1898, p8Tamworth Herald, 23 Dec 1882, p6Tamworth Herald, 23 Aug 1890, p6
This fourth wedding was a lot less ostentatious but nonetheless interesting:
Tamworth Herald, 27 July 1878, p4
And lastly, the funeral. The journalist obviously thought the deceased’s death was interesting enough to write about, but apparently not enough to include her name:
I am fortunate enough that part of my family history – the WREFORDs – was already recorded years ago. Long before I came along, George WREFORD of Gray’s Inn, Barrister at Law was the family historian. He compiled a ‘Pedigree and Sketch of the Wreford Family of Clannaborough and Morchard Bishop, Devonshire’ back in 1888 and a revised edition, ‘Records and Pedigree of the Wreford Family of Devonshire’ in 1909.
Genealogy was a completely different’ kettle of fish’ back then and I (as well as many of my Wreford cousins, I’m sure) am grateful that George took the time to do it. But I can’t have him taking all my fun, so over the years I’ve fact-checked, evidenced and fleshed out the details pertaining to my direct line.
You can access physical copies at the West Country Studies Library in Exeter but I have chosen to include the pages pertaining to my line here. You can access these via the top menu or click here to start.
Looks like George may have been trying to raise some money for his emigration to New Zealand:
Wreford v. Manning.-The plaintiff, George Wreford, now of Tiverton, sued Mr. John Manning, high bailiff of this Court, for the recovery of £2 odd, which he alleged to be due for the keep of a horse, &c. – Mr. Shapland for plaintiff. – Mr. Manning said the claim was four years old; it dated Feb., 1861, and plaintiff passed the Insolvent Debtors’ Court on the 23rd April in that year, so that whatever was due to the estate belonged to his creditors. – After repeated and ineffectual attempts to elicit from the plaintiff the dates when Mr. Manning put his horses to pasturage and when they were withdrawn, &c., his Honour determined to adjourn the case, that a bill of particulars might be furnished. If he had to make out the account it might take him a week. -Mr. Shapland: – Not quite so long as that. -His Honour: I will not make out the account for him; the rule requires that he shall furnish a bill of particulars with dates, &c., and not merely: To keep of horse, £2. -Case adjourned.
And a couple columns over…
Wreford v Cummings. – An action for the recovery of £2 8s., alleged to be due from Mrs.Cummings, of Witheridge, for two months keep of a cow and 10s. on some other account. – The latter claim was disallowed, as plaintiff was a bankrupt at the time the debt was said to have been contracted, and the money (if due at all) belonged to his creditors.-Mr. Manning (the high bailiff) said he had put in two executions in virtue of which Wreford had been sold up. He (Mr.M.) took the fields in question of him, and allowed him for the rent in the settlement.-Plaintiff said he never made a bargain with any body.-His Honour:-Then you are not in a position to sue any body. Judgment for the defendant.
North Devon Journal – 17 Nov 1864, p6 [South Molton County Courts]
One good thing about researching family with an uncommon name is that it can make trawling through newspapers a bit easier. Such was the case, when I did a blanket search for EBBANS in the British Newspaper Archive. Among the genealogical gems found (more on those in later posts), was a coal mining accident that killed a relative in 1909.
ESSINGTON MINER BURIED ALIVE.-An inquiry was held by Mr. T. A. Stokes (County Coroner) at Newtown, on Wednesday afternoon, concerning the death of Thomas Ebbans (31), lately residing at Walsall Road, Newtown, Essington, who was accidentally killed at Holly Bank Colliery on Monday, owing to a sudden fall of coal. – Mr. Felton, Deputy-Inspector of Mines, was present; and Mr. H. H. Jackson (Messrs. Stanley and Jackson) represented the widow. Mr. J. C. Forrest, manager of the colliery company was also present. – William Mitton, a miner, engaged at the colliery, said he was working with the deceased man when the accident occurred. He was loading, and deceased was working on the face of the coal. Deceased put a hole in the face in proparation [sic] for a shot to be fired, and then asked for a “sprag” to put into the coal. Before witness could hand over the “sprag” some tons of coal fell, and the man was buried. Witness had to jump away to save his life. An alarm was raised, and Ebbans was got out. Replying to the Coroner, witness said it was customary to undermine the coal in the way described. Everything was done in the usual way. – Questioned by the Deputy-Inspector of Mines, witness said he could not account for a pick which was found on the ground immediately after the accident. He did not see the deceased using a pick. -Edwin Thomas, night fireman, said he examined the district between five and six o’clock on Monday morning, and found everything in order. So far as his observations went the coal was then safe. -Police-constable Albert Buckham, stationed at Essington, said he examined the body after the accident, and found that the man’s right thigh and ribs were fractured, and the neck apparently dislocated. -The Coroner remarked that the deceased appeared to have taken every precaution. – “Accidental death” was the verdict returned.
Walsall Advertiser – Saturday 29 May 1909, p11
A sprag – a prop to support a mine roof.
As if the event wasn’t tragic enough, a little bit of research showed that his wife was left with at least one young child, possibly two, under 4 years of age. They had only been married 5 years.
The 1911 census had her and her young child staying with her parents. Interesting to note that it says she had 3 children born alive – 2 still living. Had she been pregnant at the time of the accident?
1911 Census – Sarah EBBANS (widow of Thomas EBBANS)
I’m interested in what happened to Sarah Jane (nee DUTTON) and other wives who found themselves in similar tragic situations. Did the coal companies look after them in any way? Was the fact that Thomas’ widow had a solicitor usual in these cases? Unfortunately, the fantastic ‘Coalmining History Resource Centre‘ didn’t seem to list this particular accident – although I may have searched it ‘incorrectly’ as the search function seemed a bit limited. If you have coalmining ancestors, I recommend you give the site a look. And if you know of any resources that might help me, please let me know.
Holly Bank Colliery brickWest Midlands Division Map 119 A & B
My husband’s pedigree:
