Research Forum

 On the 3^rd February 1819 William HASE married Rebecca MILLARD in St James Church in the Horsefair in Bristol.  Rebecca’s father James MILLARD was a Coach driver on the Bristol to Exeter stage coach route which passed through Cross near Axbridge.  Rebecca was born in either Cross or Compton Bishop and was christened at Compton Bishop Church as Rebecca Parfrey MILLARD on the 17^th December 1801 d/o James & Jane MILLARD.

James MILLARD had married Jane PARFREY on the 14^th October 1787 in the Parish Church in Axbridge and appears on the 1841 census as an 80 year-old farmer living at Cross with Elizabeth aged 60 who is actually a later wife who he had married 19^th September 1832 in Compton Bishop.  Jane had died in 1809.  When James MILLARD died in December 1845 his death was registered by a neighbour, Rebecca CAPLE.

Rebecca CAPLE, née SELWOOD, the wife of William CAPLE, was born in Compton Bishop in 1784, the daughter of John SELWOOD and Grace PARFREY who were married in Compton Bishop in 1781.  Is this a coincidence or was Grace PARFREY related to Jane PARFREY – sisters perhaps? - which would make Rebecca CAPLE née SELWOOD a niece by marriage to James MILLARD

Just to confuse the issue! - a year after Grace SELWOOD (mother of Rebecca) died in 1786 her widower John SELWOOD married Ann PARFREY who was the daughter of a William & Grace PARFREY!  Were Jane, Grace and Ann sisters?  I can only find a christening in Badgworth for Ann.

I cannot be sure of the parents of either James MILLARD or Jane PARFREY.  Can anyone help? 

I am looking for the baptism and parents of Caroline MOSS who married my 3 x great grandfather John KIMMINS 13 May 1845 in Congresbury. According to various census Caroline was born abt 1823 Winscombe. Her father was listed as deceased on her marriage certificate. Witnesses were Henry & Mary Ann MOSS. Any help appreciated.

Graham

I see that this is a new name in our members' interests. If you look in the Axbridge Workhouse Records which I have put under Members' Research there is mention of Ann & Agnes YEELES both from Churchill who were inmates around 1881.  Agnes was born in the Workhouse, the daughter of Ann (sometimes called Elizabeth Ann) 28 July 1880 and Ann also appears to have a son James Luke in about 1888.

What are not entered yet are the entries of Ann YEELES in the punishment book of the Workhouse.  She must have been a spirited young lady - she refused to work in the Laundry and was put on bread and water amongst other entries! I would love to know what happened to Ann and her family.

Pat

A query at the Library.  Does anyone know where members of the Royal Worcester Regiment were billeted when they were stationed in Weston-super-Mare in April 1916?

Weston was used as a training base. There is a photograph of troops digging a demonstration trench on Weston beach in 1914-15 in "Weston-super-Mare, A Pictorial History" by Sharon Poole but nothing for 1916. 

We will pass on any helpful suggestions at our next library session.  Thank you.

Is anyone researching John KING who was christened in Chapel Allerton 14th Jan 1755 and was buried in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Weston-super-Mare 1st Aug 1828?  This drawing of him was done by a Charlotte Wilson who visited Weston in 1826 and wrote a book describing her experiences in the resort at that time which can be read online here .

The book is called Somersetshire Dialogues: Or, Reminiscences of the Old Farm House at Weston-super-Mare and is an affectionate look at the people of Weston through the eyes of a more sophisticated Londoner. 

As I understand it John KING was married twice, the first time to an Anne COCK on the 23rd April 1793 at Wedmore.  I think she was buried at Chapel Allerton in 1800 and John was married again to a widow, Sarah HARSE (nee HAM) in 1802 in Chapel Allerton.  They must have moved into Weston shortly afterwards because their sons, Joseph, Silvester and Stephen where christened at St John's in 1803, 1806 and 1808 repectively.  John's wife Sarah, is mentioned in the book - so is  Hannah, a niece.  Does anyone know who her parents were?

In The Village of Weston-super-Mare - Historical Notes by Ernest Baker there is an account of interviews which Ernest Baker did with elderly inhabitants of Weston in 1882-1883 one of whom mentions the KING family.  Mrs HOWELL recounts:

" I must tell you a little about Farmer King.  Just before he came to Weston he was left a widower with two children, Matthew and Hannah..... he then must needs marry again, and this time he married a widow named Hurst, who had four children, John, George, Sarah and Elizabeth, they afterwards had three more, George, Silvester and Joseph"

I can find Matthew's christening in Wedmore in 1795 but I can't find a suitable christening for a Hannah - but perhaps she could be the niece that Charlotte Wilson writes about.  Mrs Howell says that Farmer KING married a widow HURST - HURST and HARSE are often confused. I've found christenings for 3 sons for them but one of them is called Stephen not George.  Can anyone sort his family out?

I know that one of his great grand daughters, Emma KING married Alfred HASE in 1884 in Emmanuel Church but there must be many other descendents of Farmer KING.

I've had a query from New Zealand about Alfred Sercombe GRIFFIN who wrote two books with a Scouting theme.  In 1917 he was living at 51 Upper Church Road, Weston and later moved to Winscombe where he died in 1943.  The question being asked is "Was he involved in Scouting in Weston when he lived here?".

He was born in Bath in 1878 and was a Chemist.  He was married in Bath in 1912 and had two children who were born in Weston in 1914 and 1917. The enquirer, who is writing a book about 100 years of British Boy Scout Fictional Literature, would like to include a photograph of (Alfred) Sercombe GRIFFIN.  Can anyone help with this or with a source for Scouting History of Weston-super-Mare?