News & Information

As I write this, I am watching parent seagulls who nest each year on the roof of a neighbour.  It looks as if they only have one young this year, but this small dark chick wakes up each time one of them returns to the nest demanding to be fed. It has just had to be rescued by the parent as it ventured rather too near the edge of the roof. I think they are a little earlier nesting this year but just as noisy! Both parents are very attentive.

Thank you for attending the Zoom Workshop I led in June.  It clashed with Football and an Election Debate, so it was interesting to see who attended!  I still would appreciate any comments.

After that Zoom Workshop on “The Poor Laws and Axbridge Workhouse” I posted a photograph of all the Guardians and Staff of Axbridge Workhouse taken when it officially closed as a Workhouse in 1930.  It is accompanied by a list of all the people featured on the photograph and can be seen if you scroll to the bottom of this page of our web site http://www.wsmfhs.org.uk/custom_page.php?pID=17

•          I note that one of the Guardians (for Churchill) was - T Sidney HILL – after whom the Alms  House which I mentioned in the talk in Churchill had been named. 
•          Do you recognise any of the names?
•          I still have to add the 1921 census return.

I mentioned Settlement Acts and this was a rather tongue in cheek offering to Overseers on how to prevent Settlements being granted in their parishes.

The Duties of the Parish Overseer

Extracts from “The Justice of the Peace and the Parish Officer”

by Dr Robert Burn, published in 1755.

·         To keep an extraordinary lookout, to prevent persons coming to inhabit without certificates, and to fly to the Justices to remove them, and if a man brings a certificate, then to caution all the inhabitants not to let him a farm of £10 a year, and to take care to keep him out of all parish offices.

·         To warn them, if they hire servants, to hire them half yearly, or by the month, or by the week or by the day rather than in any way that shall give them settlement.  Of if they do hire them for the year, then to endeavour to pick a quarrel with them before the years end, and so get rid of them.

·         To bind out poor children apprentices, no matter to whom, or to what trade, but to take special care that the master lives in another parish.

·         To grant a portion to the reputed father of a bastard child on condition that he marry the mother.

Also

·         To see that the poor report to church and bring their children there to be instructed.

·         To contract with a master, that he shall procure apprentices to be taught to read and write.

·         To provide a stock of materials to set the poor to work.

To see the aged and impotent comfortably sustained, the sick healed, and all of them clothed with neatness and decency.

Belgian Refugees in Weston-super-Mare

A question was asked on the Facebook Group about Belgian Refugees in Weston.  During WW1 there were about 100 Belgian Refugees billeted in Weston and five of them are remembered on a tomb stone in Weston Cemetery.                                        

George Pierre BLONDIL or BLONDEEL who died aged 1 year on the 8^th June 1915.  According to our records he was the infant son of James and Maria BLONDEL who were living at 71, Clifton Road when he died.  He was buried in Plot Tu 1850.

It was worth the £3.00 to satisfy my curiosity as to cause of death and to find that it was an Uncle, J STOOP, who was present when he died. Was he another Refugee? The father’s name is different from that given by the Cemetery as well.

Others mentions on tombstone:

Louise GRASMICHEL, aged 63 – died 5^th Oct 1915 at 1 Milton Terrace, Milton Road
Michel GRASMICHEL, aged 58  - died 1^st Dec 1915 at Bristol Hotel, Locking Road
Jean Georges ZAIRES, aged 51 – died 15^th April 1916 at 3, Worthy Place
Anna Teresa GEUSKENS, aged 72 – died 28^th Nov 1916 at 1, Clevedon Terrace, Weston

There is very little about Refugees in Weston in the British Newspaper Archives but I think that is because the Mercury and Gazette have not yet been added for that period.  There is quite a lot about places covered by other newspapers including arrangements being made for their support when they arrived in the Autumn of 1914.

There is a painting belonging to Weston Museum, painted by Alfred LEETE of Refugees being welcomed into this country. This is an amended version.  The original is probably at Taunton but do inquire at the Museum about it.  I happened to be having a coffee in the museum several years ago when it arrived, and it caused quite a stir.  So different in style from Alfred Leete’s normal cartoons and his famous WW1 poster.

"Sanctuary or the Ever Open Door"

Events in July

General Election

Don’t forget your Photo ID when voting on the 4^th July.

Universal suffrage for all men and women over the age of 21 became lawful in 1928 and the next General Election in 1929 resulted in a hung parliament.

Another important General Election took place in 1945 at the end of WW2 which you can read about on https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zgmf2nb/revision/4

Free Help Session

Free Help Session Sat 6^th July at Weston Library.  The Library holds a great many items to aid your research.  It pays you to consult their maps, printed versions of Brian Austin’s research, Electoral Rolls, Street Directories not to mention the files on People and Places in this area. Perhaps you can add to this – What have you found useful?

Society Meeting

Society meeting on Wednesday 10^th July at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall when Ted Udall. a prominent member of the Somerset & Dorset FHS, will talk about the Social History of the Parish Register.  Non-members are welcome at this meeting.

 Still one of the best books on this subject is “The Parish Chest” by W E TATE originally published in 1946.  I have a reprint of the 3^rd edition from 1983.

My first introduction to a Parish Chest was in the 1970s when many Parish Records were still kept in their home parish churches and not yet moved to County Record Offices. 

My grandfather had told me that his grandfather, Thomas LONG,  had been born in Bitton in about 1818.

Although situated in Gloucestershire, Bitton came under the Bishopric of Bristol but then the registers for Bitton were kept in the original Parish Chest – Not unlike the one featured on the cover of this book.

 I made arrangements to visit the church and was thrilled to see the registers which had been indexed by the incumbent and so were relatively easy to search.  I could not only see the records but I could smell them!  The rather musty smell of parchment which had been entombed in the wooden chest.  You don’t get that on the internet!

Zoom Workshop

The next Zoom Workshop will be on Wednesday 24^th July at 7.30 p.m. and will be led by Alan Moorhouse on “How to organise a One Name Study”.   If you have ever been tempted to see whether your surname could feature as a One-Name Study, take a look at https://one-name.org/ and then attend this meeting. All paid up members will receive joining information prior to the meeting.

New Releases on Ancestry

Have you tried any of these?

Findmypast

Findmypast has published some interesting information about Home Children during June.  https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/home-children-burial-index-hazelbrae During the June Zoom meeting I mentioned a young family whose mother died giving birth on Good Friday 1911 and all the children, including the newborn baby, were subsequently admitted to Axbridge Workhouse. 
I traced this family and discovered that in 1920 two of them, Isaac and Violet  GAINEY were emigrated to Canada by Dr Barnardos as part of the Home Children Scheme. 

In 2017, Shirley Hodgson published a great book entitled “Bristol’s Pauper Children” which outlined her research into British Home Children with emphasis on the local conditions in this country at that time – which I thoroughly recommend.

The Genealogist

While commemorating D Day, these records were released after my last Newsletter.  Many people remember the American soldiers based in Weston leading up to D Day and the United States WWII Army Enlistment Records (1938-1946) have been added to the Genealogist Site.

Familysearch

Have you tried using AI to enhance your research?  Try looking at https://www.familysearch.org/en/labs/ This offers a chance to try several new aspects of research including AI.  I have to say that I’m a little worried about the use of AI but have had some remarkable results if the questions are carefully worded. It could be of use when breaking down brick walls.  What have been your experiences?   I know that some people have successfully used it to transcribe wills and other documents but I haven’t yet so can’t comment.

Future Events – in September

At the moment it looks as if there will be no events organised by this Society during August except for having a Stall at the ever popular Hutton Food Festival on Wednesday, August 28th at St Mary's Field, Hutton.  We shall be there from 11.00a.m. until 5.00p.m. ready to answer any queries about family history and will look forward to meeting you.  Keep an eye on the Web Site for any further  announcements about events. 

The next Free Help Session at the Library after the July one will be on Saturday 7^th September.  Jenny is still waiting for replies about the proposed visit to the Mendip  Hospital Chapel and Cemetery on Wed 11th September.  See http://www.wsmfhs.org.uk/calendar_view.php?nID=1069 for details.

The September Zoom Meeting should be on the 25^th September topic to be decided.

Why not use August to do what is traditionally supposed to be the activity of all family historians – i.e. visiting the places frequented by your ancestors including finding their graves.  Make time to talk to older people about their experiences before it is too late and talk to younger relatives about your own lives not forgetting to ask them about their own experiences.  How do school days today differ from those we remember?  What activities are popular and how do they deal with social media and the ever-present phones?

But before August we have to negotiate July with gardening, sporting events and holidays not to mention politics to contend with – all offering a distraction from researching our own family history.  Good Luck and enjoy the Summer.

By the way, the Seagulls have now changed their normal squalk to a more gentle chirrup as they temp their youngster with who knows what they have just brought back to the nest!

Not the ones I'm watching but very similar!

Following the Workshop last evening, I have just uploaded a document with a rather poor image of the Guardians and Staff of Axbridge Union Workhouse taken as the Workhouse Closed in 1930.  It includes a list of the names of all the Guardians and Staff. Do you recognise anyone?  You can see it on this page.   See Axbridge Union Guardians 1930.

To Commemorate the 80th anniversary of D Day Findmypast is free for everyone from 10.00am today, June 6th until Monday. Ancestry also has free Military records available. See The Lost Cousins Newsletter for more details. https://lostcousins.com/newsletters2/jun24news.htm

150^th Newsletter

I was surprised when it was pointed out to me that this would be my 150th attempt to write a newsletter. I hope that you find some of my ramblings useful!

• With the media now full of electioneering, have you wondered if your ancestors had a vote and if so, how they used it? You can find more about this on FamilySearch   https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/England_Poll_Books_1694_to_1872,_Electoral_Registers_1832_to_the_Present_-_International_Institute    It's interesting to see that in 1846 Weston was part of the Congresbury Poll District as were Worle, Hutton, Locking, Wrington, Yatton etc.
• Were any of your female relatives Suffragettes? 
• When interviewing family members these are the sort of questions you might use. https://support.ancestry.com/s/article/Questions-for-Interviewing-Family-Members?language=en_US

Facebook – Writing up Family History
There have been some interesting postings about the ways in which your Family History could be written up.  Probably as many different suggestions as there are people.  It seems that the best way can differ depending upon the intended readership.  Some suggested including information about how you did it, some started with an individual and worked back, while others started with the oldest ancestor and worked down to the present day.  Whichever way you choose make sure that all your hard work is not lost and is recorded for your descendants and relatives.
What do you suggest?

D Day
As we celebrate the 80th anniversary of D Day.  What memories do your family have of this time? Were any of your family involved?  I was only 4½ years old, but I can remember seeing American soldiers in Bristol.  Many Americans were stationed in Weston, and I believe some camped in Ellenborough Park during the day but went out to the countryside at night. Others were billeted in Hotels such as the Cairo, and some with families like the evacuees.

• There is an article in this week’s Mercury about one woman’s experiences during the war https://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/24342892.woman-recounts-memories-weston-world-war-two/
• There is a roll of honour for the British who lost their lived in the Normandy Campaign https://www.britishnormandymemorial.org/roll-of-honour/
• The Magazine Family Tree looks at D Day from the American perspective and as there may have been marriages (and certainly children) from the American GIs.
  https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQVwnZnCBsTdzbqXCvJFrHrvZTk

Looking through the Weston Newspapers I came across this article – and there are others. 

• Capt John Braithwaite lived at 35 Nithsdale Road.  I think his mother was a widow, Mrs Emily D Braithwaite, born 22 Aug 1887.  His father, Bernard Leigh BRAITHWAITE died just before John was born in 1919 – probably from Spanish ‘Flu.   I wonder why the father was buried at Bitton?  The mother was buried at East Brent.

Other Serving Soldiers
It was the first time that I saw my mother cry when my father was called up just before Christmas 1942.  Of course, I didn’t know then that she was pregnant with my sister.  My father was not involved in the Normandy Landings as his regiment was part of the diversionary attack in Italy on Monte Cassino in 1944.  Like many others who served he did not speak of his experiences, so after his death I sent for his Army Record.  When it eventually came, I discovered he spent his initial time in the Primary Training Wing. This letter had arrived at that time.   

He wrote to me several times from there to explain what he was doing, and to encourage me to wear a gas mark  and to eat up my food!  He had previously served in the Home Guard.  He was then transferred to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry at the Infantry Training Centre where he trained as a signaller.  I seems that my mother was telling tales!

I have many more letters from him, even after he was wounded - several in rhyme.  Unfortunately, I do not have my mother’s letters.  I was lucky in that he did come home – so many who were part of D Day did not. 

Blitz in Weston
In October last year we were approached by the Royal British Legion to identify any relations or friends of those who died during the Blitz in Weston.  We know that not all the people who are buried in the Cemetery were from Weston but they are keen to get as many there as possible. As I was involved in designing the notice on the Civilian Graves Plot I am including this in case you might spot a name which rings a bell.

Memorial Service in Weston Cemetery – 3.00pm, Sunday 9^th June
If you would like to attend, please contact the Branch representative on 01934 709564 or e-mail r.potter60@talktalk.net

Saturday Help Session
A reminder that on Saturday 1^st June our helpers will be at the Library from 2.00 until 3.30 to assist anyone with their research.  You do not have to be a member to come along.  The library has  a great many items which can be helpful as well as the ability to use Ancestry and Findmypast.

North Somerset Archivist
If you find a document that you wish to consult is at the Somerset Archives (not everything is available online) the next visit of the North Somerset Archivist is on Thursday next. Thursday 6 June and then again on Thursday 5 September and Thursday 5 December.  Sessions are open from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm, and from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm For more information contact somersetarchives@swheritage.org.uk  Let them know what it is that you would like them to bring to the library – use their online catalogue to identify the document. https://somerset-cat.swheritage.org.uk/

New Releases from Ancestry

The Poor Registers for Scotland look like a complete set and some of you may also be interested in the England Cricket Players – I see that it includes Lauren Filer

New releases on The Genealogist.
https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/news/2024/

New releases rom Findmypast
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/womens-navy-coastguard-records With the refurbishment of the Old Pier you may find something of interest in these records.

Prices of BMD Certificates
The prices of certificates and digital or PDF images have all gone up.

The online digital image at £3.00 (if available) is still the same as a cup of coffee!

The next Society Meeting
The next meeting will be on Wednesday 12^th June and will feature the Agricultural Revolution  of 1700-1850 with speaker Jim Pimpernell.  It was important to achieve a high level of productivity and the old 3 field system was overhauled.  As Somerset was predominantly agricultural-based many of our ancestor would have been working on the land. As usual the meeting will be at our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall from 2.30 pm until 5,00 pm.  Visitors are welcome.

The next Zoom Workshop
I will be leading the next Zoom Workshop on Wednesday 26^th June, and it will be about the Poor Law with examples from the Axbridge Poor Law Union and Axbridge Workhouse.  I asked last month if anyone had specific queries about the way in which the poor were treated but I had few replies or comments posted.  It’s not too late to add your queries if you have any.

Visit to Mendip Hospital Cemetery
In the last newsletter Jenny gave warning about a planned visit in September.  Have you all replied to her?

Summer
It is now officially Summer so traditionally family historians go off researching the areas where their families lived.  Don’t forget that you belong to a Society whose members would like to hear how you are getting on.  Please post your comments and advice to other members which you think maybe helpful.