General Register Office (GRO) announces new phone number. Archaic Medical Terms. Continuing with The Royal Academy Pictures-a supplement to The Magazine of Art (founded in 1838) 1894 Edition (Part 3)-Constance Mary Beard born 1893, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. Change of Speaker at NWKFHS Dartford Branch Meeting on 7th January, 2012.

General Register Office (GRO) announces new phone number.

The Federation of Family History Societies reports that the GRO has announced that from 5 January 2012 the existing phone number 0845 603 7788 for ordering certificates or making enquiries will stop and a new number 0300 123 1837 will come into use.

The new number also reflects when civil registration started in England and Wales (1837) and the hope is that this new number will be easier to remember. This is not a 'Free' phone number but one of the numbers specially designated for use by public bodies and not-for-profit organisations.

Archaic Medical Terms.

When researching our ancestors an aspect that is sometimes difficult to understand is the cause of death given on a death certificate or in Church records.  Rudy's List of Archaic Medical Terms is a site that is worth checking. It is regularly updated and also contains medical terms for other countries such as Germany.

Old World Diseases at Genealogy Today might also be helpful in looking for the meaning of old medical terms.

Continuing with The Royal Academy Pictures-a supplement to The Magazine of Art (founded in 1838) 1894 Edition (Part 3).

Constance Mary Beard born 1893, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.

Constance Mary Beard was born to Walter and Caroline Susannah, nee MacKinder, Beard in 1893 and registered in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.

Her parents are shown at Gainsborough in 1891:

Walter Beard Head Male 33 abt 1858 Lincoln Lincolnshire
Caroline S Beard Wife Female 29 abt 1862 Gosberton Lincolnshire
Ellen Tindall Servant Female 21 abt 1870 Morton Lincolnshire

Her mother, Caroline Susannah, nee MacKinder, Beard died in 1896 at Gainsborough.

The 1901 census shows her living with her uncle at St Mary le Wigfordre, Lincolnshire:

Charles John Beard Head 48 abt 1853 Male Lincoln Lincolnshire
Margaret Beard Wife 43 abt 1858 Female Friskney Lincolnshire
Karoline Paill Year 19 abt 1882 Female Vienna Austrian Sub
Constance M Beard Niece 7 abt 1894 Female Gainsborough Lincolnshire Jessie Wilson Servant 20 abt 1881 Female Torrington Lincolnshire 

The 1911 census shows she is a pupil at Grove House, Westgate-On-Sea, Garlinge

Margate, Kent:

Beard, Constance, Boarder, Single, F 17, 1894, School, Lincolns Gainsborough.

Change of Speaker at NWKFHS Dartford Branch Meeting on 7th January, 2012.

There has been a change of speaker at the Dartford Branch of the North West Kent Family History Society for the 7th January 2012.   Stephen Humphrey will give a talk on "The Old Industrial Heart of London's Historic Borough - Southwark" in place of Dr Patricia Dark who had been due to give a talk on "Southwark, London's most historic borough".

Christmas and the Victorians. What the Victorians read at Christmas. Christmas Dinner. History of Christmas.

Christmas and the Victorians.

The Victorians were responsible for building upon the original Christmas Traditions and forming our 'modern' idea of Christmas. From the 1840's Christmas Cards, stories (Charles Dickens among others) and the realisation of business about the potential of opportunities to increase sales all combined to create Christmas as we know it now.

The increase of Christmas Cards, due to cheaper production and postage costs, and the production of cheaper books were to encourage the Middle Class to adopt this 'new' version of Christmas.   

Gradually the Victorian idea of Christmas spread to all levels in Society.

What the Victorians read at Christmas.

What the Victorians read at Christmas at the V&A  Website is a good place to start to see how your Victorian Ancestors and family celebrated Christmas.

A Victorian Christmas.

Time-Travel Britain. com also has information with pictures and links to further information at A Victorian Christmas

Christmas Dinner.

Victorian Christmas not only gives you a good idea of what would have been served (for those who could afford it) but also some recipes for such dishes as Plum Pudding, Roast Goose and Mincemeat.

History of Christmas.

The BBC web page at History of Christmas also has interesting information and links to other sites.

I hope that you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

Lane's Masonic Records-1717-1894. The Ancient Order of Foresters. Continuing with The Royal Academy Pictures-a supplement to The Magazine of Art (founded in 1838) 1893 Edition (Part 2).Harry Frank Griffin. Born 5 December 1890, Lambeth, Surrey.

Lane's Masonic Records.

Many of us had family members who joined the Free Mason. If you are looking for information about the Lodge they may have belonged to or trying to find a Lodge in the area that they lived or worked this site could be the one to help.

Published by the United Grand Lodge of England in 1895 it lists all the lodges established by the English Grand Lodges from the foundation of the first Grand Lodge in 1717 until 1894.

This on line version is a joint venture between the Library and Museum of Freemasonry and the Humanities Research Institute at The University of Sheffield.   Lane's Masonic Records.

The Ancient Order of Foresters.

The Ancient Order of Foresters began in 1834, but it began as an older society called the Royal Foresters formed in the 18th century.

The Society began  purely as a sociable society until the members decided that they had a duty to assist their fellow men who fell into need "as they walked through the forests of life".

When a breadwinner fell ill, could not work and, therefore, received no wages or Illness and death left families destitute. The relief of this need has been the main purpose of the Foresters throughout their long history. Members payed, initially, a few pence a week into a common fund from which sick pay and funeral grants could be drawn.

Many of our ancestors were members of the Foresters. The Foresters Heritage Trust website is full of information that could help you researching this aspect of an ancestors life, It gives details of the archives and museum and how to make research enquiries.

Continuing with The Royal Academy Pictures-a supplement to The Magazine of Art (founded in 1838) 1893 Edition (Part 2).

 

Harry Frank Griffin. Born 5 December 1890, Lambeth, Surrey.

 

Harry Frank Griffin was born on 5th December 1890 in Lambeth, Surrey and baptised
at St John the Evangelist, Lambeth on 29 June 1891. Parents were Henry Griffin, Clerk,

and  Susannah Griffin. Their address was given as 29 Loughborough Park, Brixton.

The 1891 census gives the following details:

29 Loughborough Park Road.

Henry Griffin Head, Merchants Clerk, Male 35 abt 1856 Lambeth Surrey
Susan Griffin Wife Female 35 abt 1856 Lambeth Surrey
Harry Griffin Son Male 11/12 abt 1890 Lambeth Surrey
Elizabeth Bull Niece Female 13 abt 1878 Wandsworth Surrey
Sarah Perridge Cousin Female 29 abt 1862 Soulbury Buckinghamshire

Catherine Pressnell Visitor Female 60 abt 1831 Soulbury Buckinghamshire
Clara Raynor Servant Female 16 abt 1875 Allhallows Kent

Kent Photo Archive. The War & Peace Collection-Almost 4000 WWII and 1950's photo's of Kent. Continuing with The Royal Academy Pictures-a supplement to The Magazine of Art (founded in 1838) 1892 Edition (Part 4)-MASTER SAMUELL. of Ahdi, I8, Lower Fort Street "Sydney. Jan. 15, 1892.

Kent Photo Archive.

The Kent Photo Archive is a site worth looking at for Victorian and Edwardian pictures of Churches and Towns of Kent. There is a Medway Collection, Ashford and Snodland Collections as well as well as other places in Kent. Kent Photo Archive

The War & Peace Collection-Almost 4000 WWII and 1950's photo's of Kent.

Through the same site you can access almost 4000 photographs, the majority taken in Kent during WWII and into the 1950's. "The Rex Cadman Collection of Glass Plate images depicting military personnel and equipment, wartime training and civilian life before, during and after the Second World War".  War and Peace Photographs

Kent Photo Archive archives .is also asking for any help in identification of location and or people for those photographs that they have no information about.

Continuing with The Royal Academy Pictures-a supplement to The Magazine of Art (founded in 1838) 1892 Edition (Part 4).

Master Samuell of  Ahdi, I8, Lower Fort Street "Sydney. Jan. 15, 1892

 

" Ahdi, I8, Lower Fort Street  "Sydney. Jan. 15, 1892.

MR. Mellin,-Dear Sir,--It has been my intention for some months to write and tell you how very much I appreciate your splendid FOOD FOR INFANTS. My eldest boy I gave it continually, and is now two-and-a.half years of age. He is considered to be very strong and a fine boy. I send you a photo herewith, so you will be able to judge for yourself. l\Iy second was a premature birth, and was not expected to survive for months. As soon as he could take food I began giving him Mellins. at first one teaspoonful a day; now he has nine teaspoonfuls, is ten months old, and improving daily. It assimulated with my own nourishment perfectly. I have also taken:it myself-with good results. I cannot speak too highly of your preparation, and would recommend it to all and everyone. You can make whatever use you please of this letter for publication, also photo. if you would like it. Would you kindly forward me the Portrait Album of Children you mention in your advertisement, also a sample of your Biscuits, which I cannot purchase here, and greatly

oblige, " Yours sincerely. D SAMUELL

Kent Underground Research Group-Kent Villages and Mines. UNDERGROUNDKENT-from the Napoleonic Wars through to WWII exploring and documenting underground and military sites in Kent. Continuing with The Royal Academy Pictures-a supplement to The Magazine of Art (founded in 1838) 1892 Edition (Part 4)-Dorothy Evelyn Kennard born 1890, Abergavenny, Wales.

Kent Underground Research Group.

If you are interested in local/family history, this website is worthwhile looking at.  Villages often grew up around mining sites, sites that have now disappeared or stopped working. Chalk Mines, Coal Mines, Deneholes, Domestic Facilities, and various other mines, such as Flint, Fullers Earth, Iron , Limestone, Tunnels & Secret Passages and Wells are all covered by articles and photographs.  Kent Underground

UNDERGROUNDKENT.

This is another site full of information and photographs that provide a lot of background information for family historians, including videos. Especially if your ancestors and family served in the British Army and Navy in Kent. The site covers the period from the Napoleonic Wars through to WWII exploring and documenting underground and military sites in Kent.

It also covers some counties outside of Kent. Underground Kent

Continuing with The Royal Academy Pictures-a supplement to The Magazine of Art (founded in 1838) 1892 Edition (Part 4).

Published in Victorian Times it provided pictures of various artists, some of which illustrated the lives of 'ordinary' people. It also carried advertisements some of which included letters and in some instances photographs of family members. One such advertisement was for Mellin's Emulsion a food for "Delicate Children and Weakly Adults". The advert contained letters from users praising the product. The letters also contained the names and addresses of the writers plus photographs of the children who 'benefited' from the food. These letters and photographs came from all over the country and as far a field as Australia.

Dorothy Evelyn Kennard born 1890, Abergavenny, Wales.

                                          " Llwynda Court, Abergavenny, Aug. 2, 1891.

Mrs. R. W Kennard has much pleasure in sending a photo of her baby girl, aged 7 months, to Messrs. Mellin. Mrs. Kennard has fed the child entirely on Messrs. Mellin's Food since it was nine weeks old, and since then the child has never ailed anything. She has four teeth, which she has cut without the slightest trouble, and she is as big as most children double her age. .Mrs. Kennard may mention that the child was most delicate, so much so that at a fortnight old she was privately baptised. She now is nearly nine months old and weighs 23 Ibs"

1891 census gives the following information for Llwynda Court, Abergavenny, Wales.

Robert William Kennard Head 33 abt 1858 Male Paddington London England
Rose Nicholl Kennard Wife 32 abt 1859 Female Reigate Surrey England
Gwendolen Mary Kennard Daughter 6 abt 1885 Female Reigate Surrey England
Dorothy Evelyn Kennard Daughter 5  months abt 1890 Female Abegavenny Monmouthshire Wales
Edith Charlott Hegan Cousin 42 abt 1849 Female Hann Weald Middlesex England
Charles John Hegan Visitor 46 abt 1845 Male Paris add add
Emillie Louie Richards Visitor 27 abt 1864 Female County Wicklon add Ireland
Louisa Davies Servant 39 abt 1852 Female Bradfield Berkshire England
Annie Mary Mail Servant 29 abt 1862 Female Madley Herefordshire England
Ruth Jerkins Servant 21 abt 1870 Female Blaenavon Monmouthshire Wales
Mary Williams Servant 21 abt 1870 Female Rowlstone Herefordshire England
Mary Ashton Servant 56 abt 1835 Female Ramerethen, Llandilo 
Harry Brydges Servant 16 abt 1875 Male Ledbury Herefordshire England
Bertha Burger Servant 17 abt 1874 Female Switzerland

Robert William Kennard, Gentleman, married Rose Nichols Byass on 2 Aug 1881 at Paddington St John, Westminster. His address at marriage was 20 Hyde Park Terrace and hers was given as Dalesford, Worcestershire. Names of the fathers, Howard John Kennard, Gentleman and Robert Nicholl Byass.

The Peoples Post-new series on BBC Radio 4 from 5-23 December 2011. Bexley Archaeological Group. Continuing with The Royal Academy Pictures-a supplement to The Magazine of Art (founded in 1838) 1892 Edition (Part 4). Ida Violet Pattinson born 1891 Coedpoeth, Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales.

The Peoples Post-new series on BBC Radio 4 from 5-23 December 2011.

On Monday 5 December a new series on BBC Radio 4 stated. The Peoples Post  a 15 part series exploring the history of the postal service through the people that use and work for it. The series begins in the 16th century in the reign of Henry VIII and explores some of the key moments in the nearly 500 years since then. Each weekday there will be a new 15 minute episode touching on a different part of this fascinating and evolving story. The programmes are being broadcast at 1.45pm until 23 December.

Bexley Archaeological Group.

When researching our family history we sooner or later arrive at the stage where we wish to know more about the background of their lives. Where they worked, lived, the surrounding area and people as well as what influenced them, what entertainment was available to them.

Local Archaeological sites can contain a lot of such information and are always worth taking a look at. The Bexley Archaeological Group has some interesting information about the Bexley, Kent area and publications that are available for sale.

Continuing with The Royal Academy Pictures-a supplement to The Magazine of Art (founded in 1838) 1892 Edition (Part 4).

Published in Victorian Times it provided pictures of various artists, some of which illustrated the lives of 'ordinary' people. It also carried advertisements some of which included letters and in some instances photographs of family members. One such advertisement was for Mellin's Emulsion a food for "Delicate Children and Weakly Adults". The advert contained letters from users praising the product. The letters also contained the names and addresses of the writers plus photographs of the children who 'benefited' from the food. These letters and photographs came from all over the country and as far a field as Australia.

Ida Violet Pattinson  born 1891 Coedpoeth, Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales.

                           Beehive House, Coedpoeth, Wrexham, December 26, 1891

'G. Mellin, Esq.

Dear Sir,-I have pleasure in enclosing our baby's photo. She is nine months old, fed entirely on Mellins Food, and never had a day's illness in her life, which speaks volumes for your Food. Have recommended it to several of our friends, who speak of it as ' Excellent.'

You are at liberty to make use of this letter and photo. Kindly acknowledge receipt, and oblige

Yours very truly,

GEO. PATTINSON."

1891 census for Beehive, Coedpoeth, Wrexham :

George Pattinson Head 31, Grocer and Draper, abt 1860 Male Foset? Staffordshire England
Mary E Pattinson Wife 28 abt 1863 Female Broughton Denbighshire Wales
Ida Violet Pattinson Daughter 2/12 abt 1891 Female Coedpoeth Denbighshire Wales
Jane Woodfine Servant 16 abt 1875 Female Mold Flintshire Wales

George Pattinson married Mary Elizabeth Harrop in 1890 at Wrexham.

Marriages Jun 1890 Harrop  Mary Elizabeth     Wrexham  11b 497   
PATTINSON  George     Wrexham  11b 497   

Lost Pubs in Kent. Daisy Margaret D Gentle born 1890, Stratford, Essex.J T Morris Wood's Hotel, Grahamstown, South Africa. 1890.

Lost Pubs Project.

If your ancestors or some of their family worked in a pub and you are looking for background information or photographs, especially if the pub has closed down maybe demolished you could try this site. Lost Pubs website. It has photographs of many Kent pubs that have been closed. Kent Lost Pubs

The Lost Pubs Projects also cover many other counties you can find the index at Lost Pubs Project

Continuing with The Royal Academy Pictures-a supplement to The Magazine of Art (founded in 1838) 1892 Edition (Part 4).

Published in Victorian Times it provided pictures of various artists, some of which illustrated the lives of 'ordinary' people. It also carried advertisements some of which included letters and in some instances photographs of family members. One such advertisement was for Mellin's Emulsion a food for "Delicate Children and Weakly Adults". The advert contained letters from users praising the product. The letters also contained the names and addresses of the writers plus photographs of the children who 'benefited' from the food. These letters and photographs came from all over the country and as far a field as Australia.

Daisy Margaret D Gentle born 1890, Stratford, Essex.

" 48, Louise Road, Water Lane, "Stratford, E. 1st Feb. 

Dear Sir, -I enclose you a photo of our baby girl, Dorothy Gentle, she having been fed on your Food for the last twelve months, being obliged to resort to the feeding bottle. I was recommended your Food by a friend of mine. The photo was taken when she was six months old, and I think you will see by the condition of the child it will speak well for its excellency. I have always persuaded my friends to use it, as am sure it cannot be too highly recommended for infants.
Yours faithfully,
AUGUSTUS GENTLE.
To G. MELLlN, Esq."

Free BMD shows she was registered in the Dec quarter of 1890 as  Daisy Margaret D(orothy)  Gentle ref:  W. Ham  4a 25

The 1891 census shows the family living at 48 Louise Road, Stratford.

Augustus Gentle, Tailor, Head Male 22 abt 1869 Midhurst, Sussex
Louise Po Gentle Wife Female 22 abt 1869 Bow, London
Daisy Margaret Gentle Daughter Female 6 months old abt 1890 Stratford, Essex.

In 1901 the family were living at: All Saints Green, Norwich, Norfolk.

Augustus Gentle, Assistant Tailor, Head 32 abt 1869 Male Midhurst Sussex.

Daisy Gentle Wife 32 abt 1869 Female Bow Middlesex.

Dorothy Gentle Daughter 10 abt 1891 Female Strafford Essex.

In 1911 the family are listed as:

GENTLE, Augustus Head Married M 42 1869 Tailor Cutter Midhurst Sussex   
GENTLE, Louise Sarah Daisy Wife Married F 42 1869  Bow Middlesex
GENTLE, Daisy Dorothy Margaret Daughter Single F 20 1891 Cashier Stratford Essex 
Address: 2 Dunbar Road Forest Gate, Essex

Augustus Gentle married Louisa Sarah D(aisy) Ward in 1888 at Westham, Essex.    

Free BMD ref: Marriages Dec 1888  GENTLE  Augustus     W. Ham  4a 172   

WARD  Louisa Sarah D     W. Ham  4a 172

J T Morris Wood's Hotel, Grahamstown, South Africa. 1890.

"Wood's Hotel, Grahamstown, South Africa, 1st Dec., 1890.

G. MELLlN, Esq.

Dear Sir,-I have much pleasure in sending you the photo of my little son, who I believe would have died but for your Food, which was the only thing he could keep down for a long time, and now he is very strong and hearty. He Iives upon it yet; he is two years old now. We tried him without it a short time back, but it would not do, he had to have it again, and still lives on it.

Yours truly.

J. T. MORRIS."