Whoa! Some Investigating To Do

I finally stumbled upon a family of significance.

It seems possible that I'm descended from the Sydenham family of Dorset, wealthy landowners some of which fought in the Civil war in the 17th century. Records in the tree on www.familysearch.org reach back as far as 1087.

Links to investigate:

http://www.thedorsetpage.com/history/Sydenhams/Sydenhams.htm

http://www.renderplus.com/hartgen/htm/de-hungerford.htm

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/community/gettextimage.php?id=7765 Royal connections and murder?

Howick's of Sussex

On 21 September 1828, Edith Howick married William Bundy in Bosham, Sussex, according to the Parish register transcripts I have.

Thus far, I've been unable to establish the parents of Edith Howick.

I did start a small study of the Howicks in the Bosham area through the Census records, anticipating the small number of them to be related. www.familysearch.org includes unverified records submitted by users, some of which list:

Edith Howick, born 3 July 1812 in Bosham, Sussex. Her parents are listed as
John Howick born 10 July 1781 in Stoughton, Sussex and
Mary Ann Sydenham born 1791 in Bosham.

Whilst I concur with the John and Mary Ann, the Sydenham bit just doesn't quite fit.

1. There are two Mary Ann Sydenham records in my Bosham Parish register transcriptions: Mary Anne Sydingham born to William and Elizabeth in 1791 in Bosham and Mary Ann Sydenham born 1803 to John and Ann (Summers, I'm pretty sure), also in Bosham. I'm pretty confident that this John is the son of William and Elizabeth anyhow, should that be important.
2. My parish record transcriptions don't list a Bosham marriage for John Howick marrying anyone, let alone Mary Ann Sydenham. However, they do list Mary Ann Sydenham marrying Francis Stephens from Birdham on 21 February 1809.
3. I can't find Francis Stephens from Birdham in the 1841 or 1851 Census records, or a Mary Ann Stephens for that matter either.
4. There is a marriage of John Howick and Mary Ann Sydenham on 4th July 1811 in Westbourne, with a William Sydenham as a Witness (see point 1). This looks like a much more likely candidate. Westbourne is just 4.1 miles from Stoughton and 6.1 miles (on current roads) from Bosham.

So, it's pretty likely that the familysearch records are correct on the parentage, but wrong on their marriage date and location. Which means that my small Howick study has not been in vain either! :D

George William Tillison

George William Tillison

The mystery of George's disappearance through the Census records is unveilled through a little careful investigation.

I had found a George Tillison, amongst others in Nottinghamshire prior to George William's birth in 1873, and also a death record for the same in 1873. On a hunch, I checked for Marriages for George's wife, Susannah around the same period: She married James Ryves in East Retford, Nottinghamshire in JAS 1875.

If further proof were needed, Susanah then appears with James in 1881 George Ryves (this is George William Tillison) and his sister Alice. A marriage is recorded in JFM 1892 in East Retford for Alice Ryves, or rather, Alice Tellison Ryves, marrying Fred Johnson.

After I discovered all of this, George William's birth certificate arrived in the post to confirm the lot. All the loose ends tied up.

Except one: Who did George William Tillison marry to then produce Frederick William Tillison, my Great grandfather?

It struck me as I started this post: George William Ryves? Sure enough: OND 1889 in Chorlton, Lancashire - George William T Ryves marrying Mary Hollingsworth. Mary appears in the 1881 Census, confirming her birth location and year of birth. These details match the mother of Frederick in 1891: Scotter, Lincolnshire in 1871.

:D

William Watkinson (b1841, Great Grimsby)

Button-Fly Genes: William Watkinson (b1841, Great Grimsby)

It's nice to be right, huh?

Jack Field Watkinson

According to the Free BMD Birth register:

Born: Jul-Sep 1903 in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England

There's a strong possibility that Jack is the son of Robert William Watkinson (c1866, Horncastle, Lincolnshire) and Matilda Jane Field (c1870, Steyning, Sussex).

I need some proof!

Robert and Matilda are my great, great grandparents.

William Watkinson (b1841, Great Grimsby)

I have William married to Georgiana Whitton in AMJ 1870 in Spilsby, Lincolnshire and have established the relevent Census records in the years after to confirm the marriage and children. However, I've been unable to confirm his records in 1861 and 1851 and although I can find a record for a William Watkinson in Lincolnshire in 1841, I now can't be sure that it's the same person, not being able to verify the surrounding family - he's just one year old in the 1841 Census!

In 1851, there is William Wintringham (possible mistranscription) b1839 in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. He appears to be residing in a Wesleyan College. This could make sense as the family surrounding 1841 Census William cite marriages in the Wesleyan Chapel. A John Wintringham b1840, Grimsby, is also listed - this doesn't support any data I have so far.

In 1861, William Watkinson, b1841 in Lincoln is a Marine in Woolwich Dockyard, Kent.

In 1871, he then appears with Georgiana and their children. His occupation: Pipe Maker. Coincidentally (?) the parents and one of the siblings in 1841 are Pipe Makers.

William Martin - found at last?

Button-Fly Genes: A Cautionary Tale

Right: I think that I've found my William Martin, with his father John (the Labourer, not the Mariner), mother Sarah and brothers George and Thomas.

They appear in the 1841 Census in Bosham, all the men are Agricultural Labourers.

• John Martin c1784
• Sarah Martin c1788
• George Martin c1824
• Thomas Martin c1826
• William Martin c1828

As I now know that the family are from Old Fishbourne and being a little more cautious (isn't hindsight great!), I'm going to obtain the Fishbourne Parish records before tracing anything through.

William Martin - Help!

After getting stuck trying to find William Martin, I called upon the help of the Parish Record Transcription Society, as follows: -

I'd be most grateful if you could locate the baptism record and parents of William Martin. I have the following references:

Bosham Marriage register (PRTSOC) married Mary Anne Bunday 12/12/1857 aged 30, Labourer from Fishbourne.
His father is listed as John Martin, also a Labourer.
1861 Census: Born Sidlesham, Sussex 1829
1871 Census: Born Lyminster, Sussex, 1829
1881 Census: Born Birdham, Sussex, 1830
1891 Census: Born Chichester, Sussex 1828
1901 Census: Born Burdham, Sussex 1829

I have the transcribed Fishbourne Parish records and couldn't find William in there. I hope you can help.

Thanks in anticipation


Mark Tillison

Tangled Twine

David Twine, born c1784 in Bosham to William Twine and Susanna Dudding, married Catherine Kitty Lee in Bosham on 9 July 1807, according to the Bosham Parish records.

The next record I can find is in Alverstoke, Gosport 1841 (mistranscribed):

• David Irvine b c1781
• Catherine Irvine b c1781
• Amelia Irvine b c1826 in Alverstoke
• Emma Irvine b c1826 in Alverstoke

In 1851:

• Davis Twine b c1779 in Brtham (assume Bosham)
• Catharine Twine b c1780 in Chichester
• Amelia Gorinder b c1827 Gosport (Fairly positive that this is mistranscribed, too)
• William Gorinder b c1822 Gosport
• James b c1839 (Pretty sure this should be 1849)
• Robert b c1840

In the FreeBMD Marriage Index:
Amelia Twine m William Charles Norman Oct-Dec 1848
No other Amelia Twine present in the right area/time period. William Norman is the only William in the same location and quarter.

In 1861:

• William Norman is visiting with
• James Norman b c1850 Gosport
• Emma Norman b c1855 Gosport

In the FreeBMD Death Index:
Amelia Norman, Apr-Jun 1858 Portsea Island

So now I could do with access to the Alverstoke parish records too...

Hannah Oakshot(t)

Born c1810 in Bosham, Sussex to George Oakshot(t) and Mary Twine.

I think Hannah married Richard Marsh, based on the 1851 Census, but as they are likely to have been married pre-1837 I'm unable to confirm for sure.

According to the following Census records, Richard was born in 1807 in Westbourne.

Whilst I have both the Bosham and Westbourne Parish Registers, their marriage doesn't appear in either.

I guess this will have to wait until I can verify the marriage record through some other Parish record.