Joy Davis (6057) is  trying to trace her great grandmother, Betsey WHITTALL, who was born at The Weir in the parish of Clun in 1848. She was unmarried and living with her family in Newport Street, Clun, when she gave birth to Joy’s grandfather, John Price Whittall, in 1871. John grew up in Clun Workhouse, but Joy has been unable to find a  record of Betsey after 1871. Did she die young or did she marry at some stage? If you know anything that may help solve this mystery, then:

Email our editor for him to forward your message: editor @ sfhs.org.uk - Remove spaces to use

Wellington John DAVIES

Susan Liddle (4335) would appreciate some help in finding information about John DAVIES, b1810-1817 at Wellington. He  married Elizabeth Davies  (Davies/Davis was actually her maiden name) b 1816-1819 at  Wellington. John's father was Thomas DAVIES, a Bricklayer. Elizabeth’s father was Richard DAVIES, a Collier. John and Elizabeth married at  Oakengates, Shifnal/Dawley in 1839.

You can contact Susan via email: sa_liddle @ yahoo.co.uk - Remove spaces to use

Richard BEDDOW Baptism

Anne L Harvey (4806) writes from again. In our March 2006 issue (p 39) she asked for help with her research into a possible baptism of Richard BEDDOW, born either 1803 or 1813. She tells us that she has now traced his son, Richard BEDDOW Jnr (born Ellesemere, 1836) on the 1851 census for Wardle, Cheshire. He was  living with his grandfather - yet another Richard BEDDOW - (born Worthenbury, Flintshire, C1765).

This means that Anne has been able to skip back a generation. However, a check on the Worthenbury parish records has failed to find the missing baptism, so I still need to find it.  If anyone can help Anne, she would be delighted to hear from you.

Her email address is anne_harvey @ tiscali.co.uk - Remove spaces to use

What's behind Rhodes Avenue and Attwood Terrace?

A different kind of query comes from Sheila Morris (5745), who says that whilst looking through some information about Dawley she came across Rhodes Avenue and Attwood Terrace.  She would be pleased to hear from anyone who could tell her how these streets got their names, as she has RHODES and her husband has ATTWOOD in their family histories. Both families came from Dawley in the 1800s.

Avis (Chadd) HUGHES

Barbara Thomas (5276) is trying to track down any information re her Grandad William Joseph THOMAS's cousin -  Avis [CHADD] HUGHES. Barbara is unsure which side of the family Avis descends from, the THOMAS, MOSS, WILLIAMS PRICE or JONES families. She believes that  Avis was born Avis R Chadd in December quarter 1911 in the district of Hereford, possibly the daughter of George Chadd and Mary Ann [Hughes] Chadd. She came across a marriage record for her parents in 1905 December quarter in the district of Ledbury.

Barbara traced a George Chadd living with his family in 1891 at 49 Happy Land, Ledbury. His parents were James and Emma Chadd. Ten years prior they were also living at Happy Land, but at number 50. George was listed as age 3 months. According to the census he was born in Ledbury about 1881. By 1901 they had moved, but were still living in Ledbury. Unfortunately the name of the road is very difficult to read on the census form. George was listed as aged 20 years and a Postman like his father, though James was now retired.

Avis married Mered Hughes, possibly in Prestatyn, around the late 1940s. They had a daughter Ruth Chadd, who married a policeman whose name was Barry. Barbara doesn’t know Ruth’s married name, but she does know that in the 1970s and 80s the family were living at Oakengates near Telford. Evidently her Great Aunt Betty [Thomas] MALLOWS visited and stayed with them for a holiday at that time. If you can cast any light on this, then:

Email our editor for him to forward your message: editor @ sfhs.org.uk - Remove spaces to use

GOTLOTHA/GOLLOGOTHA/GOLLOTHA

Harry Andrews (250) has a family mystery that you may be able to help him with. Writing from Cheshire he tells us that his great grandfather William ANDREWS married Jane HEATH (nee LE[I]GH) at Meole Brace, Shropshire in 1849.  Her grandfather Robert LE[I]GH married Ann ****  on 3 June 1764, by licence, at St Alkmund’s, Shrewsbury. Ann’s surname remains a mystery: in the parish register she is recorded as Ann GOTLOTHA. The marriage Bond and Allegation have survived, wherein her surname is written as GOLLOGOTHA and GOLLOTHA respectively. Harry would welcome any comments concerning these surnames, which produce no hits in Google.

Which Valendine married Edmund?

Valendine PENN (b 1801) married Samuel DEAKIN (b 1786) and this couple were the 2 x great Grandparents of Julie M. Andrews (4819).

 They had six children. The fourth - Valendine Deakin - was born at Wem and bap  7 May, 1825 at Grinshall (Salop). She married William MEAKIN (b 1825) and they had five children:

Valendine (male) 27 Aug1854 at Mucklestone (Staffs); Valendine (female) bap 27 August 1854 at Woore (Salop);  Alfred born at Aston 1858; Mary Ellen born at Aston 1862 and bap Woore 21Sep, 1862 and Frederick George born at Aston 1863.

 By the time of the 1881 census (RG11/2673, fo 91) Valendine (b 1825) was a widow and a farmer of 170 acres at Lea Head, employing two labourers and two boys.  Her son Alfred and daughter Mary were living with her.  In 1881 Frederick was a draper’s apprentice living at 46 & 47 Ironmarket, Newcastle Under Lyme.

 Monumental Inscriptions at Woore:

William MEAKIN of Lea Head Farm, Aston, 25/02/1869 aged 43 years.
Frederick George, youngest son of the late William Meakin of Lea Head 25/02/1883
Valendine relict of the late William Meakin 5/04/1825  -  24/9/1894

Also in the 1881 census (RG11/3388, fo 11)
Valendine Meakin, born Mucklestone in 1855, was the wife of Edmund Meakin, born at Woolstanton (Staffs) circa 1843 and were living in Derby.  They had three sons, the eldest aged three years, all born in Derby.

 Julie’s problem is, which Valendine married Edmund and was he a relative?

 Geoff: Our previous editor, Sue Harvey, points out that Woore lies in the ancient parish of Mucklestone, and suggests that the male Valendine baptism entry referred to above may be a mistake in the register that was not corrected at the time.

 If you can help Julie with this conundrum, please

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BLUCK Derby Winner?

I met a member at the society’s Open Day in June, who posed an unusual question. I let Olive Broadfield (5791) put it in her own words:

 “With a BLUCK cousin in Perth, Australia, is a silver trophy with, engraved in a shield,  'MUNSLOW   OCT 18   1836'.  On the opposite side is engraved a jockey riding a galloping horse.  It has been handed down from her father-in-law who emigrated to Australia.  He was Harry BLUCK & my mother's uncle.  Before I knew anything of this cup, my mother had told us that a relative 'had won the Derby'!  Many years ago I looked up the surname Bluck in the winners' book & having drawn a blank, I thought no more about it until I saw this cup for myself in 2004. It is now intriguing me!  Harry must have been given it by his father Samuel Bluck, as a family memento.  He in turn was the son of Samuel Bluck born Munslow 1781 & died Bromfield 1866.  This Samuel, my 2 x  great grandfather, was a successful breeder of mainly Hereford cattle.  The fact that there is a horse on the cup leads me to suppose it was not a prize for cattle!  I would love to find out more about this cup.  Could someone suggest where I might search to find an answer ?”

If you can help Olive she can be contacted by email: olive @ obroadfield.freeserve.co.uk  - Remove spaces to use

Becky SMOUT accused of Witchcraft

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