Comments

I've taken a look at the UK Police Gazette for 1921 (on Ancestry) and apart from the criminal aspect you are very lucky to have a photograph of her and such a brilliant description of them both!!

Using the date of birth for Louisa FELL given in the article you can find her on the 1911 census and discover that she said that she was married to an Oscar FELL and had two children (named in the article). Also gives her birthplace as Manchester - Can't find that marriage - do you know her maiden name?

I don't know of any Ice cream  firms near Weston called Podesta - the nearest I can get is FELLA'S Ice Cream in Regent Street from the 1940s - perhaps someone else might have other suggestions.

Did Joseph GASKELL and Louisa have children?  If you could trace them they may know more about the family.  But as they could still be alive please do not post any information about them online.

I did look at the HARRILL family some years ago when I saw some of the documents in the Somerset Record Office concerning the Thomas HARRILL Charity.  

As far as I could work out the Thomas HARRILL, born in about 1766, who you mention, was the son of yet another Thomas HARRILL (sometimes HARRIL or HARREL or HORRILL etc.) and his first wife Mary DORY.  The Wills of Thomas HARRILL senior (who died 1824) and his second wife Jemima (who died 1837) explain the makeup of his two families.

I believe that your Thomas was born in Brislington and christened at St Luke's Church, Brislington on the 4th Jan 1767.  He married Jane TAYLOR at St James Church Bristol on Christmas Eve 1790 and their children, Thomas and Charles Taylor were both christened at the same church.  Thomas, Jane, both their sons and their wives were all buried at Uphill.

In 1832 a Thomas HARRILL living at Newton St Loe, was the Parish Clerk and was entitled to vote - I think this is the one who later moved to the Weston area.  The connection between Brislington and Newton St Loe may well have been the GORE-LANGTON family who owned land in both places.  Look at the tithe maps for more details.

At that time I didn't look at the descendants of this Thomas HARRILL - what is your connection?  My interest is that I was born in Brislington and was married at St Luke's!

If you put "Thomas Harrill Uphill" into Google you will get a number of seemingly relevant "hits".

Dave Erasmus

Hi David,

I have William John Sperring in my family tree (born 1888 in Weston) son of William Sperring and Alice Gilmore. Siblings include Florence Jane born in Burnham 1890.  I live in Lympsham (where William John's grandfather (John) and G Grandfather Samuel lived (I am descended from Samuel)).

I have had a look in the online newpaper archive and have found a probate notice for William John Sperring in Bristol but no useful details. However, I have also found a record of a marriage for a William John but the age on the certificate is 9 years out (recorded as aged 26 when married in 1900) - I suspect this is the William John who died in 1956 in Bristol but will try to confirm.

Have you got details for the siblings and parents etc - you should be able to see my research (I am wbtkp4 on Ancestry).  Duncan and I are in touch and we exchange notes.  I am happy to help where if I can.

Regards

Lisa Bishop