Bibliography - Family Historian - 2011
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Sussex Family Historian, vol. 19 no. 5, edited by Trevor Hanson, published March 2011 (pp.202-248, Sussex Family History Group, ISSN: 0260-4175) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508846] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

Great Aunt Caroline, by Rosie Ansell, published March 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 5, article, pp.203-205) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508846] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

When I first started family history I acquired some notes that my uncle had compiled when he was looking into the subject in the 1970s. One of these was a sheet listing the children of my great-great-grandmother Phoebe HENDLEY. Of her 14 children 13 were illegitimate and only two were boys.
So, even though three of these daughters died as children, my father had a large number of great aunts, but only four seemed to feature in his memories and in the store of family photos that he had. Of the remaining four Aunt Alice must have been known to his family as all her children feature in my grandmother's birthday book. Aunt Molly, who never married, and Aunt Daisy, who lived in Tunbridge Wells, were never mentioned.
Of Aunt Caroline all we knew was that she married Henry CARE and had three children, who featured prominently in the family photographs of tiny grandmother's family - Violet, who was a similar age to my grandmother, Stanley, who was killed a week before the end of WWI, and Margaret, who lived with one of the aunts who was mentioned and known about.

Voyages of William Boniface Boniface, by Barbara Osbourne, published March 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 5, article, pp.206-207) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508846] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

After finding the valuation of property and inventory of Captain William BONIFACE's household furniture and sundry articles I was interested to find out more about him and his way of life.
William was born in Hailsham on 19 July 1831 the fourth child of George BONIFACE and Frances DUNK (his father being the son of William BONIFACE and Elizabeth WOODS). He was baptised in St Mary's parish church on 28 August 1831, when the vicar asked the family to give the child's name William's father replied, 'William Boniface' and this the vicar duly named him. Thereafter on all official documents he is thus called William Boniface BONIFACE.

Obituary: Philip Lucas 1922-2011, by Colin Excell, published March 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 5, article, p.208) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508846] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

The only way was up!, by Keith Brewer, published March 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 5, article, pp.210-211) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508846] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

When tracing a family tree, unexpected situations may be found, and such was the case for my father-in-law, Henry John COWLEY. Henry John, known to family and friends as 'John', was born on 26 December 1898 in the Newhaven Poor Law Union Workhouse to Mildred COWLEY (b about 1878), an unmarried domestic servant of Rottingdean. There is no name for his father on the birth certificate, although on his subsequent marriage certificate, he gives his father as Joseph COWLEY (deceased). Joseph (1844-1930) was in fact Mildred's father, and Henry's grandfather.

Divorce for the common man, by Alison Caffyn, published March 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 5, article, pp.212-215) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508846] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

The sale of wives, as if they were cattle, is not a thing of fiction although just how many wives were sold like this is not known. Wife sales were word of mouth affairs leaving little evidence behind, much of the information about them comes from newspaper reports and people's memories. There would have been many wife sales which did not get reported, but based on newspaper reports there were at least 387 wife sales during the 18th and 19th centuries; not a huge number but similar to the number of divorces granted by Act of Parliament during the same period.
To understand the circumstances that enabled wife sales to exist it helps to understand the customs of marriage and divorce. Common law marriage was prevalent before 1604 where traditions such as broom jumping and hand fasting were acceptable forms of marriage often followed by a blessing at the Parish Church. Over time the church became more involved in marriage traditions setting their own rules on the process, however common law or irregular marriage continued until 1753.

Family stories: how accurate are they?, by Trevor Hill, published March 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 5, article, pp.219-221) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508846] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

Back in 1963 my 90-year-old grandmother lived in Hailsham with her son and his family and so I visited them and collected what family information they could remember. I remember my grandfather James Thomas HILL, and know that he had been a gardener in Upper Dicker, but he died of cancer in 1942 so I could not tap into his memory. From the family I learnt that he was born on the 20 December 1871 in Westminster and that when he was ten he had moved to Crawley in Sussex where he was a choirboy in the Parish Church. By 1903, when he married Sarah Jane CHILTON, he had joined the congregation of the Strict and Particular Baptist chapel at Lower Dicker. We all have our own particular view of the world and for Sarah Jane morality was seen through the eyes of a Strict and Particular Baptist. It is not surprising therefore to discover that some of the information from my father about some of his cousins being on the stage in Brighton was carefully swept under the carpet. Among my Calvinist ancestors theatres, cinemas, dance halls and public houses were all regarded as 'dens of sin'.

The draper, sailor and the pauper, by John Cherry, published March 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 5, article, pp.222-223) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508846] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

It is the 'holy grail' of family historians - finding a 'gateway ancestor' who opens up all sorts of connections. A WEBB ancestor I was researching had a maternal ancestor with the name SHAKESPEARE traceable back to the days of 'The Bard' with some interesting connections to him. Another maternal ancestor was traceable back to the Norman Invasion. Them was just one link to confirm.

Milling connections: the Harris family of Patcham, by Carolyn Wheeler, published March 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 5, article, pp.226-229) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508846] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

I grew up in the village of Patcham in the 1940s and my father, Roy HARRIS, with his brother, Frank, ran HARRIS's bakery, grocers and post office. I was proud that the beautiful windmill, depicted on my school badge and a picturesque sight on the hill above the village, had been built by my great-grandfather, Joseph HARRIS. But knowledge of Joseph's background was sketchy: we believed that he had come from Lewes to Patcham, become apprenticed to a miller, learnt his trade and subsequently established a successful business, and that he had eventually died of pneumonia in 1903 after foolishly struggling up the hill to tend to the mill in a terrible storm.

White plague, by Susan Martin, published March 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 5, article, pp.231-235) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508846] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

l am pretty sure that every reader will have at least one ancestor or close relative of an ancestor whose death certificate gives the cause of death as phthisis, or as we know it now tuberculosis. Our ancestors would probably have named it, if they dared acknowledge it, consumption. This little story is surely one which was replicated in many other families in the 19th century.
Lucy STALLARD was born Lucy TRIMMER and baptised in Harting parish church on 9 February 1835. Her parents were Peter TRIMMER (1789-1855) (my great-great-grandmother's cousin) and Ann EAMES (1789-1876). Lucy grew up in the village situated on the Hampshire border, the youngest of nine children. Her father was an agricultural labourer. Like many girls from the village she went into domestic service, and at the age of 16 as the 1851 census shows she was working as a domestic servant to the widowed Richard HEASEY, of Manor Farm, Greatham. This Greatham was not the one near Pulborough, but about seven miles north from Harting over the Hampshire border, east from Alton. Another domestic servant Jane HARRIS (born BOOKER) a 26-year-old widow also came from Harting. Perhaps Lucy got her position through Jane.

The early Kenward family of Mayfield and nearby parishes, by John Howes, published March 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 5, article, pp.236-243) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508846] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

One of my maternal great-grandmothers was Mary Ann Elizabeth KENWARD, born in Burstow, Surrey in 1862 where she was buried in 1947. Although her immediate family was all from Surrey her roots were in Sussex. Her grandfather, Josiah KENWARD was christened in Fletching on 4 June 1775, one of at least 13 children born to Richard and Ann KENWARD. Sometime between the christening of Daniel KENWARD on 21 January 1780 in Fletching and the christening of Sarah KENWARD on 2 December 1781, Richard and Ann moved from Fletching to Lingfield. He was described as a fanner in his will and was probably the tenant at Felcourt Farm in Lingfield where his eldest surviving son, Richard was farming in 1841. Richard's ancestors had lived in Fletching since at least 1606 and can be accurately traced to another Richard KENWARD who married Joan ALLCHIN in Rotherfield on 8 May 1581. Less certain is the identification of this Richard as one christened in neighbouring Framfield on 11 February 1542/3 and possibly a descendent of the Robert KENWARD who died there in 1539 as discussed below.

Sussex Family Historian, vol. 19 no. 6, edited by Trevor Hanson, published June 2011 (pp.250-300, Sussex Family History Group, ISSN: 0260-4175) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508847] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

Blind alleys, by Roger Bristow, published June 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 6, article, pp.251-253) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508847] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

Every so often in carrying out family research, one comes across an interesting sideline that is little or nothing to do with the main research but which, nevertheless, provides fascinating reading.
My great-aunt Agnes BRISTOW (1874-1957) provides two such stories. Agnes was the third child of Mark BRISTOW (1849-1925), the East Hoathly village carrier (for an account of Mark's life as a carrier at East Hoathly see the article written by his son, Clement (1879-1954) (Agnes's brother and my grandfather) in the Sussex County Magazine, Vol 14, No 7 (July 1940), pp 246-248). Agnes was eight years old when her mother (Frances Maria nee WOOD) died in 1882 soon after giving birth to twins (one of whom survived) leaving eight children. The following year Mark BRISTOW married the widow Jane BARROWCLIFFE (nee TOMSETT). Jane had four children: Bertha Jane (b 1864), Charles H (b 1869), Fanny A (b 1872), Emily Edith (11 1874). Mrs BARROWCLIFFE's two youngest girls came to live with Mark and his eight children at East Hoathly. She was 'a most lovable person and treated his children as her own'.

It all started with two photographs, by Simon Evans, published June 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 6, article, pp.254-257) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508847] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

One of the great fortunes of my family history research has been the passing down of the family photograph albums to me as family archivist. A very precious example is the album that belonged to my grandmother Florrie COLLINS and by her father before her, Edward Reeves COLLINS, who was a keen amateur photographer in the 1890s and 1900s. Unfortunately as is the case with most of these old albums, the majority of the photos are not annotated and we risk never knowing who these wonderful Victorian figures were. This is the story of how two photographs held enough information to track down those pictured, and to tell a little story of a pair of difficult lives.
Nestling in the album were two adjacent and similar photographs: Left: Annotated by my grandmother "Aunt Matilda", later "Mrs MILES, standing" and Right Not annotated but identified as "Mrs READ, sitting".

A poet in the family, by Helen Swyer, published June 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 6, article, pp.260-263) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508847] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

When my uncle (Harry Isaac WOOLGAR (1920-2002) died we found a little treasure trove of family items amongst his possessions. One was the KILHAM family bible (described in Sussex Family Historian Vol 17 No 5, March 2007). Recently my attention turned to one of the other books.
This one is tastefully bound in red, and it must be admitted showed little sign of being read since its publication in 1907! It was printed for private circulation amongst the family which I suspect means it was what we would call today 'a vanity publication'. The book is titled Thoughts on various subjects in prose and verse together with A sketch of my life and is by Stephen HUBBARD of Hastings. The book has the handwritten dedication 'Mrs and Miss KILHAM with the author's best wishes'.

New fields to conquer, by Rosemarie Tribe, published June 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 6, article, pp.264-267) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508847] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

Susan Martin's 'White Plague' article in the last issue inspired this piece, it set me thinking of the one person in my family that had it. Susan ETHERINGTON, seventh child in the family she was born in 1861 and sadly died aged 15 in 1876 of phthisis otherwise consumption. From there it set me thinking of her siblings - having been a migrant myself they always interested me.

A family conundrum, by Gordon Williams, published June 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 6, article, pp.276-278) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508847] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

Despite the fact that the distaff side of family ancestors is usually more difficult to run to ground, it is the male side of my family that has given me grief ever since I started this wild goose chase for ancestors more than three decades ago.
Grandfather Henry WILLIAMS is characterized mainly by what we do not know about him prior to his arrival in Canada, probably in late 1902. His date of birth is problematical: according to anecdotal family information, he was born on 4 May 1867, but census records in both England and Canada have him four or five years younger. His place of birth is also unknown, possibly in Sussex, maybe in Brighton; his father's given name is unknown but perhaps was Stephen; his mother's surname may have been YOUNGER, but her given name is unknown. Henry apparently had siblings, but their number and names are unknown. He and his family should be in the 1881 and 1891 English censuses but there are only tempting possibilities among the dozens of individuals with his very common name. Family anecdotes suggest a brother emigrated to the USA, perhaps to Utah, and another to Australia or New Zealand. When I was eight or ten years old he would tell me stories (which I don't remember) about the Downs, Brighton and Croydon, but those locations cover a lot of southern England and their significance, if any, is unknown!

The Vienne family in Sussex, by Michael Burchall, published June 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 6, article, pp.279-286) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508847] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

The medieval knightly family of VIENNE that was prominent in Sussex in the 13th and 14th centuries has received little attention in the past. A number of county histories have included mention of the family; more recently, Dr T P Hudson has dealt with the family's holding of Cudlow manor, and I have published a short study of Sir Peter de VIENNE as sheriff of Surrey and Sussex.
Edward Hasted suggested in 1798 that the VIENNE family originated from Vienne in Dauphine but it is more likely, in view of the family's early connection with the family of St JOHN of Halnaker who came from St Jean-le-Thomas, Manche, arr.Avranches, that the family originated from Vains, Manche, arr.Avranches, cant.Sartilly.

The Foreman farmers and bakers, by Peter Foreman, published June 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 6, article, pp.288-293) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508847] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

I have always wanted to find out more about my ancestors. Of my four grandparents, only my grandfather FOREMAN was still living at the time of my birth and I do not remember him, as I was only five when he died. Both my parents died relatively young and long before my interest in the family tree developed. Consequently I have had few personal sources to feed on.

A knotty Butting, by Martin Mitchell, published June 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 6, article, p.295) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508847] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

My step-children's great-great-great-great-grandparents are illustrative of an unusual situation - nowhere have I found a BOTTING in the right context; whereas I'm quite often spoilt for choice, so widespread and numerous is the BOTTING clan.

Sussex Family Historian, vol. 19 no. 7, edited by Trevor Hanson, published September 2011 (pp.302-354, Sussex Family History Group, ISSN: 0260-4175) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508848] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

A long line of Thomas Brookers, by Phillipa Brooker, published September 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 7, article, pp.304-307) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508848] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

In the past there were many BROOKER families to be found in the Worth area (ref. www.thesussexweald.org) the first BROOKER entry in the parish register, the baptism of John son of William and Agnes, bears the date 17 August 1572. BROOKER is an old Sussex surname meaning 'dweller by the Brook'. Worth was a parish of scattered farms and woodlands with two large estates Crabbet or the Manor of Worth (owned successively by the SMITH, GALE and BLUNT families) and Rowfant (owned by the WHITFIELD, GOODWIN, BETHUNE and LAMPTON families). It was a centre for the charcoal/iron industry in Tudor and Stuart times. Leonard GALE who purchased Crabbet in 1698 was the son of Leonard GALE the ironmaster of Tinsley forge. Robert WHITFIELD also an ironmaster had Rowfant forge in 1574. The BETHUNEs held the advowson and produced three generations of vicars in the 18th and 19th centuries (Revd George BETHUNE, Revd George Maximilian BETHUNE, Revd George Cuddington BETHUNE). From 1699 for the purpose of rate assessment the parish was divided into three parts: West End, Middle and Burleigh Arches. There were usually two overseers appointed for each part. The population in 1835 was 1,850 and the acreage 12,400.

Where there's a will, by Sue Coward, published September 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 7, article, pp.312-317) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508848] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

For many years I'd known that Ann GREVATT, baptised at Easebourne in 1710, became the wife of Augustine OLDER, but only because she is described as such in her father's will dated 1734. I always intended to take a closer look at the family but my connection is somewhat convoluted through Ann GREVATT's sister Mary marrying William TODMAN at Lodsworth in 1741, two years after their father John GREVATT had died. I have to confess I'd done little, beyond tracking down a copy of Augustine's will., when a new member of SFHG registered an interest in the son, also Augustine, who was baptised at Fernhurst in 1734. Recorded as Austin HOLDER, he married Phoebe FOSTER at Tillington in 1759.

A Sawyer success, by Nigel Sawyer, published September 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 7, article, pp.318-319) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508848] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

As you may have read in previous articles for over ten years I have been stuck at the marriage of John SAWYER to the Ann TURLEY in Battle (1705). Both were from Etchingham but neither appears to have been born there, although the incompleteness of the parish records and Bishop's Transcripts mean I cannot be 100% sure John was not. John and Ann only appear to have had three children, Mary who died as an infant, John (my ancestor 1705) and George (1712) who inherited from his father. The boys were christened in Etchingham and Mary was buried there (1708) although I have not found a christening record for her.

Hounsells, Foords and Boys, by Keith Foord, published September 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 7, article, pp.320-325) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508848] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

For the last two years Rosalie Raftis of Perth, Australia and the author have been extensively researching our families by email collaboration. We had found that we had common ancestors named HOUNSELL. HOUNSELL is a rare name (except in Dorset - with a large website: www.hounsell.org.uk), but there is a separate focus originating from Rye. From this two distinct HOUNSELL lines exist in New Zealand. There are also many descendants in Australia related to a single Sussex HOUNSELL, Anne Eleanor of Battle. Descendants in both Australia and New Zealand considerably outnumber Sussex HOUNSELLs. It was noted that only one Sussex HOUNSELL immigrated to North America and he returned a year later, but that the emigration pattern of the Dorset HOUNSELLs was mainly to North America, particularly to Newfoundland, Canada.
HOUNSELLs have several ancestral links with the BOYS via marriages, in the author's case a double link via the FOORD family.

Steers in 19th century Lancing, by Susan Martin, published September 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 7, article, pp.328-332) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508848] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

During the 19th century all the families in the coastal village of Lancing apart from one were descended from my ancestor Thomas STEER who settled in the village with his bride Martha MERRIT in 1798. There had been STEERs recorded in the parish registers earlier but no family spanning more than one generation.

Somersetshire embarkation, by Roy Grant, published September 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 7, article, p.333) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508848] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

In recent correspondence with a POTTER descendent on the Sussex Rootschat network, I discovered that the following Register of Emigrant Labourers applying for a free passage to South Australia, March 1839 showed quite a number of Sussex families that were leaving for Australia aboard a ship called the Somersetshire. The lady very kindly gave me the opportunity to note the trades, names, ages, and the ages of any children that accompanied them, as well as places in Sussex where they resided.

A Rusbridge mystery, by Clem Frank, published September 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 7, article, pp.334-336) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508848] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

Nearly all of us have eight great-great-grandmothers, but I and those of my generation in my family are unusual in that two of the eight were a 'Miss RUSBRIDGE'.

Don't spurn oral history, by Bill Wakelin-King, published September 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 7, article, pp.336-337) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508848] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

My mother was an inveterate story teller and as a late-come child of her mid 40s I was subjected to a constant repetition of oft-told family tales; so much in fact that I tended to escape whenever possible. In spite of this avoidance strategy, I managed to imbibe much of this history whether I wanted to or not, but more importantly, I fortunately taped my mother's history and her recollection of my father's family history before she returned from Australia to England in 1997, where she died shortly thereafter.

A short history of the family of Elizabeth Mason, by Helen Whittle, published September 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 7, article, pp.338-344) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508848] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

Towards the end of 2010 I was asked by the Greek Orthodox Community of the Church of St Demetrius at Edmonton to trace the family of Elizabeth MASON (died 1907, St Leonards on Sea) who had, by her will, left the money for the building of the Church (then an Anglican Church), in connection with their wish to commemorate Mrs MASON at the centenary of the building. The research was far from easy as Elizabeth and her husband had no children and, for a long time, I was unable to find her maiden surname but, as you will see, eventually I unravelled this very interesting family who 'made good'. I have not identified the marriage entry, although there is a possible entry listed in Steyning district September quarter 1859.

Jevington Jigg, by Rosalind Hodge, published September 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 7, article, pp.346-347) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508848] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

Earlier this year I received an enquiry about the famous smuggler 'Jevington Jigg' from an author wanting to verify facts for use in a new book on Sussex walks. Enclosed was a long article from a book about smuggling and I soon realised that what had been published about 'Jigg' was a combination of supposition and pure fiction with character's names, properties and the dates not matching what documentary evidence exists.
'Jigg' was a mysterious 18th century character about which them is scant documentary evidence. Them has been a great amount of poetic licence and romanticism attached to many stories written about him, which is hardly surprising given the nature of smuggling and it all makes for a 'good tale'. There is no doubt he existed and was involved in smuggling along a stretch of the coast around Beachy Head, Birling Gap and Crowlink. So, reading the article made me curious about the real 'Jevington Jigg' usually referred to as James PETTIT (or PETTETT).

Sussex Family Historian, vol. 19 no. 8, edited by Trevor Hanson, published December 2011 (pp.354-404, Sussex Family History Group, ISSN: 0260-4175) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508849] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

The sad family of Richard Saunders , by Laurie Saunders, published December 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 8, article, pp.355-357) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508849] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

On a whim, in 1995 I decided to research my family history. At that time I had a very hazy and distant recollection of my paternal grandmother Emily SAUNDERS (nee CORNEY) who died when I was little. Also fond memories of my maternal grandmother Edith Mary Louise BARTLEY (nee GODLEY), but in a family history sense, not much else.

A Christmas tale, by Eileen Kirby, published December 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 8, article, pp.360-361) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508849] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

Martha CHRISTMAS my great-great-grandmother was baptised at Ewhurst, East Sussex on 3 April 1814, daughter of George GOODSELL and Martha, née ASHDOWN, who was married 19 July 1796 at Brede. George's parents were George and Sarah GOODSELL and he was baptised at Ewhurst 3 December 1775. His wife, Martha, was the daughter of Thomas and Mary ASHDOWN, nee CATT, and was baptised at Westfield 13 June 1779, her parents having married there 22 April 1772.

A sad tale of intrigue and deceit, by Don Burgess, published December 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 8, article, pp.362-363) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508849] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

About one o'clock in the morning of 5 April 1827, about four or five dusky figures could be seen emerging from the end of Chesterfield Street, Brighton, and making their way to the rear of the new mansions being built along what is now known as Marine Parade. They didn't know it at the time, but they were being watched by the local Headborough and some of his colleagues, who had been tipped-off to keep watch thereabouts and were in hiding. The figures made their way to the rear of Lansdown House, where they appropriated several items that were hanging there, and then disappeared from whence they came.
About seven o'clock the next morning, there came a loud knocking on the door of the house of John BURGESS, alias COOPER, in Chesterfield Street. The law officers had come looking for evidence of a crime committed the night before. They found him with a lad of 14 named Henry AYLING. In their bedroom they found what they were looking for, a leg and neck of mutton which had been purloined the night before from where it had been left hanging in a cool place behind the mansion by the cook to Sir Robert WILMOT of Lansdown Place.

Putting a name to the face, by Judith Mooney, published December 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 8, article, pp.363-364) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508849] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

Over several years before she died, my husband and I began removing - with her approval! - interesting family history material found in my mother's house. There was what turned out to be a large amount of information on her family going back into the mid 1800s, which 'put flesh on the bones' of about three generations of people (and now takes up quite a bit of space in our loft!).

A railway worker, a steamer, the RNVR & WWI, by Dennis Plank, published December 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 8, article, pp.365-367) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508849] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

My grandfather, George PLANK, died at Brighton in 1965 aged 79. I was 13 at the time and my memories of him were as an old man. The word 'genealogy' was not in my vocabulary and I knew nothing of his life. Even by the time my father died in 1982 (after the genealogical bug had bitten me) I only knew that George had worked as a railway goods porter at Brighton all his life.

Harry Tate . . . who am I?, by Ray George, published December 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 8, article, pp.369-371) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508849] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

Readers of my previous article (SFH March 2008) were left wondering whether I would ever discover the true identity of Harry TATE with so little information to go on. What information do I have? Firstly, my mother told me that his birthday was 20 December. The age given on his marriage certificate and in censuses all agree that the year is 1877. His place of birth in the 1891 census is given as Paddington and in the 1901 census as Kilburn. I've heard of Paddington, but where is Kilburn? To help me, I purchased some Alan Godfrey reproductions of the old 1:2500 Ordnance Survey maps. The National Gazetteer for 1868 tells me that Kilburn is a hamlet and suburban district in the parishes of Hampstead and Willesden 2½ miles from Hyde Park corner. Kilburn is north of Maida Vale along the Edgware Road and lies just across the boundary with the parish of Paddington. Indeed a parish map of Paddington from 1836 shows that fields of Kilburn Farm occupy the northern tip of the parish. But which registration district should I search? Paddington was in the Registration District of Kensington, Hampstead in the Registration District of Hampstead and Willesden in the Registration District of Hendon.

The Emperor Napoleon's Medal, by Brenda Joyce, published December 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 8, article, pp.372-375) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508849] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

During World War Two my mother and I were staying with her parents while my father was serving overseas. As I was the only grandchild living with them I was totally spoil.. Every evening before I went to bed my grandmother, Florence ARNELL, would tell me stories about her family in Selsey - exciting stories of smuggling, shipwrecks, daring rescues at sea, fatal accidents, a convict sent to Australia, a murder and even a medal awarded to her cousin by the Emperor Napoleon. I loved these stories, absolutely enthralled. They would invariably begin "I remember when . . .".

An unexpected discovery, by David Pearce, published December 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 8, article, pp.376-377) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508849] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

We all uncover facts and hitherto unknown information as family historians about our ancestors that our forebears might well have been shocked by. Researching my family history I discovered that my paternal great-grandparents, David James and Sarah Ann, had the same surname - PEARCE - when they married on 16 October 1875 in Brighton Register Office and on their marriage certificate they were described as widower and widow. I knew from censuses that David James had three brothers. Abraham, John and Alfred and from David and Sarah's marriage certificate that her maiden name was CRITTALL.

Pillars of the Primitive Methodist Church, by Peter Foreman, published December 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 8, article, pp.380-383) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508849] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

When I started researching my ancestors I had no trouble tracing my father's Horsham forebears through the censuses back to 1841 and beyond through other sources. Both my parents died many years ago and I knew very little about my mother's family apart from having a vague idea that a Methodist minister was in the branches of her tree somewhere.
My mother's parents were William SMITH and Eva May DENNES but they both died before I was born. I was able to locate and trace my grandmother's family back to her grandfather William PIKE, 1805-1886, who was the subject of an article I wrote for the March 2010 issue of Sussex Family Historian. My grandmother Eva May was the daughter of Fanny PIKE, who was born in Hastings in 1852, and Thomas DENNES, a blacksmith, who was born in Hailsham in 1851.

Enterprise and adversity, by Carolyn Wheeler, published December 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 8, article, pp.384-388) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508849] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

My paternal grandmother, née Alice Ada EWER, born in 1881, was a sweet unassuming woman who apparently knew little about her origins, which, as I discovered, were so interesting that, had she known, she would surely have passed the information on to her children and grandchildren.

Bates, Beats, Bettes . . . it's all in the name, by Linda James, published December 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 8, article, pp.388-389) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508849] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

My grandfather William BATES was in his 70s when I was born, but as my father had died when I was two years old he played a significant part in my early years. I remember shucking peas and preparing both runner and broad beans with him from his garden as he taught me about plants and told me something of his family.

Alice Sophia De Val, by Ray Tuck, published December 2011 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 19 no. 8, article, p.390) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15860] & The Keep [LIB/508849] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.

Alice Sophia De VAL was born 13 May 1864 at 10 Model Buildings, Brighton. The buildings were built to house the poorer working class along the lines of the Peabody Trust Buildings in London. Her parents were Edwin Louis De VAL and Elizabeth MATTHEWS. Her paternal grandfather was Francis Edmund De VAL, who was the first curator of the Brighton Pavilion. It was through the efforts of Francis that many of the fixtures and fittings are on show today. As a reward he was given the post as curator which he held up to his death.