Comments

I know that you contacted the Kewstoke History Group and visited the Library in Weston the last time you asked about these people.  I'm not sure whether you already know this or would be interested in the subsequent owner of Norton Beauchamp House who I believe to be Lt Col Gordon FLEMMING who was married to Dorothy Mary SMYTH-PIGOTT, the daughter of Cecil Hugh SMYTH-PIGOTT who was a young Squire of Weston but died in 1893, only one year after his father.  Cecil, when only 7 or 8 played a prominent part in the opening of Birnbeck Pier. 

Col Gordon Flemming OBE, M.C. served during WW1 in the Gordon Highlanders but later became Hon Col of the 4th Batt Somerset L.I.  Several articles about his activities in Weston can be found in the British Newspaper Archives and his wife was active raising money for the new Hospital in 1928.  By the 1939 Register, Dorothy FLEMMING is to be found living at the house in Kewstoke with 3 of her children and several servants. Gordon is not at home.

The Western Daily Press of 6th August 1937 had this appreciation of Col FLEMMING.

Colonel Gordon Flemming. O.B.E., is gazetted as taking over the Honorary Colonecy of the 4th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry (T.A.) from the Marquis of Bath. Colonel Gordon Flemming 0.B.E . MC.. a son of Sidney Flemming, of London and Cobham, Surrey. He was born in 1885 and educated at Clifton and R.M.C. He married Dorothy Mary, daughter of Cecil Hugh Smyth Pigott, J.P.. of Brocklev Hall, Somerset, He joined the Duke of Wellington's Regiment 1905, Gordon Highlanders 1916 served the Great War 1914-9, and was mentioned six times in despatches. He was gazetted Captain in 1916, Brevt.Major 1918, and retired with the rank of Major. entered the Reserve of Officers 1922.and became Colonel (Territorial Army) in 1927 and was Deputy-Lieutenant of Somerset 1933. He commanded the Somerset Light Infantrv (T.A.) 1923-31. During the War he was awarded the Croix de Guerre

The address of Brigadier and Mrs Gordon FLEMMING was still given as Norton Beauchamp in 1947 when there was an announcement of the engagement on one of their daughters, but it is possible that they may have separated as in 1951 Gordon was named in a divorce petition. There are advertisements for the sale of Norton Beauchamp House in 1955. Gordon FLEMMING died in Hastings in 1974 and Dorothy died in Yorkshire just short of her 100th birthday in 1989.

(Looks like this comment was deleted accidentally--reposting)

Thank you Pat and Angela. What an excellent breakthrough. I was almost certain that Sarah had to be another sister, and that marriage is the one more piece of info that makes the circumstantial evidence overwhelming. Still, of course, no evidence they're all the children of Henry And Frances (STOCK)... but maybe something will move it in that direction.

And Pat, you probably already know this, but just in case it has eluded you--Joseph STOCK and Lidia (WOOKEY) did have a daughter, "Sofia," baptised 24 Jun 1803 at St. Leonard's in Shipham. I didn't know anything later about her, but Sophia who married William HARES sounds like a match.

Thanks again. Every little bit helps!!

Oh--and to clarify--Henry the elder, potential *father* of Sarah, Ann, Frances, and Henry the miner, was the one described as a mariner, in 1802.

Too many Henrys.  :)

I have just received a message from one of our members, Angela Crathorne, that she has found the marriage of Philip HEMBERY to Sarah LEWIS on the 17 Nov 1836 at St Mary Redcliffe in Bristol.  Thank you Angela!  It was not unusual for people from North Somerset to go to Bristol to get married.  

I am interested in your problem because I have STOCK, HARES and LEWIS from Shipham in my husband’s direct line.  I can see that you have done a considerable amount of research into these complicated families and I'm not sure that this will advance your research!

When, on the 21st June 1846, Henry HASE married Selina HARES in Shipham Parish Church the marriage was witnessed by Marianne LEWIS and Joseph HARES.  Selina was the daughter of William HARES and Sophia STOCK.  I do not have a marriage for William HARES & Sophia, but her maiden name of STOCK is given for their children born after 1837.

Could the witness, Marianne LEWIS, be the Mary Ann LEWIS, daughter of the Henry LEWIS and Phoebe STOCK who you mention were married in 1825?  By the time Mary Ann was christened – just 3 months after their marriage - Henry was described as a miner not a mariner.

I believe that Sophia STOCK and Phoebe STOCK were sisters, the daughters of Joseph STOCK and Lydia WOOKEY

I agree with your reasoning about the sisters of Henry LEWIS and you are correct in assuming that a Sarah LEWIS was the partner of Philip HEMBURY (or variant) – I haven’t found a marriage for them but from the 1841 census they have a daughter called Emily and the GRO Index gives her mother’s maiden name as LEWIS.

There are some mariners with the surname LEWIS in Easton in Gordano, which is now called Pill and was the home for many Channel Pilots but that might just be a red herring.  My only other suggestion for the parentage of Henry LEWIS and his sisters is that they were non-conformist.

First of all, looking at the 1851 census, I think that Grace's occupation was entered as "Pauper late servant" meaning that she was now in receipt of support but had perviously been a servant.  I love the imaginative way in which you had interepreted it!

I have taken a look at the Overseers' Accounts for Banwell but unfortunately they do not cover the period when you think that John might have emigrated.  By the 1850s the Poor Law was not totally in the hands of the parishes but was administered by the Axbridge Poor Law Union. and had been since 1834.

You are correct in that some parishes found it cheaper to support emigration than face the cost of  life-long support for some of their parishioners and Banwell was one parish which did do this.

If you have not already done so, take a look at the pages of Banwell History which does contain a link to Roy Rice who may well be able to help more information about the HOWELL family.