Just a short post to increase awareness that the Armorial of Jersey by J. B. Payne is now publicly available via the Internet Archive.
The Armorial consists of alphabetical short notes (often accompanied by pedigrees) of Jersey Island families. Some of the entries (such as for the Hammond family) are quite short and others (de Carteret, Lempriere) run for many pages. Unfortunately there are very few dates noted in the pedigrees. Later research has showed that some of the information was incorrect but also that much of it was accurate. Payne wanted to publish a revised edition of the Armorial to correct inaccuracies but could not obtain funding. Certainly the Armorial of Jersey is an important starting point for those wanting to research ancestors in Jersey.
There are multiple ways of viewing the Armorial and one can download a pdf in colour (40 MB) or in black and white (34 MB).
For printing pages I found that the colour pdf version seems better than the black and white. I would not have expected this, thinking the colour of the pages would obscure the light text. However the black text turns out to be very pale at times in the monochrome version when printed.
Although it is pale at times in the colour version of the pdf, to me it's more readable.
I'd also recommend enlarging the view to better view the page content.
The pdfs are searchable.
For my own research the Armorial includes the family of my great-great grandfather William Montgomery Gosset (he is present in the pedigree given for the Gosset family), as well as the families of many of his ancestors.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Friday, February 13, 2009
Two Steps Forward and One Step Back...
My previous post was about William Perry, servant then schoolmaster, son of John Perry, gentleman, living at Marylebone at the time of his marriage in 1840, then moving to Louth, Lincolnshire with his wife Mary Ann (nee Smith), before dying some time between 1847 and the 1851 census. So what of his widow Mary Ann Perry. We do know a bit more about her family, the Smiths.
Mary Ann Smith was born in 1810 or 1811 (going by the ages in successive censuses and age on her death certificate) in Hammersmith, Middlesex. Her father (as named on her marriage certificate) was Samuel Smith, truss maker.
She had a sister, Sarah Smith, who was born 1812 or 1813 in Hammersmith.
Mary Ann's marriage was witnessed by Harriet Smith, likely her other known sister Harriet Smith who was born 1822 or 1823 at Epsom in Surrey.
Mary Ann Smith was one of my great great great grandmothers. A couple of years ago I discovered that her sister Sarah Smith was also one of my great great great grandmothers.
The provenance follows.
My great great grandfather, William Henry Perry, pharmaceutical chemist, was born 15 November 1842 at Louth Lincolnshire, and was christened there on 11 December 1842. He was the son of William Perry and Mary Ann Smith. As noted, Mary Ann Smith's father was Samuel Smith, truss maker.
On 23 August 1870 William Henry Perry married my great great grandmother, Martha Harriet Loveday.
Martha Harriet Loveday was born 8 November 1846 at Surrey Street, Croydon, Surrey, and christened 16 December 1846 at St John the Baptist Church, Croydon. She was the daughter of Samuel Loveday, servant and later coffee house keeper, and his wife Sarah Smith.
Samuel Loveday and Sarah Smith had married 31 March 1842 at Lewisham Parish Church in Kent. From the marriage certificate Samuel Loveday's father was William Loveday, shoe maker. Sarah Smith's father was Samuel Smith, truss maker. The marriage was witnessed by James Loveday and Martha Loveday. They might have been brother and sister to Samuel Loveday.
When I saw the marriage certificates of Mary Ann Smith and Sarah Smith, and the presence of Samuel Smith, truss maker, on both of them, I suspected that William Henry Perry and Martha Harriet Loveday might have been cousins, both being grandchildren of Samuel Smith, truss maker and his wife. I could not be certain, as Smith is not an uncommon name, and I knew of two fairly contemporary Samuel Smiths who were truss makers.
For Martha's family, I knew that Samuel and Sarah Loveday (Sarah is shown at left) had at least six children born at Croydon, Surrey:
Sarah Elizabeth Loveday (1843-1847);
Benjamin James Loveday (1845-1891);
Martha Harriet Loveday (1846-1919);
Samuel Henry Loveday (1848-1849);
Samuel George Loveday (b. 1852);
Henry Loveday (b. 1857).
The confirmation that William and Martha were cousins came with the 1861 census. At 21 Market Place, Louth, Lincolnshire was listed the household of Mary Ann Perry, aged 50, widow, "Dealer in Glass China and Other Miscellaneous".
Also there was her sister Harriet Smith, aged 38, unmarried, School Mistress.
Then were listed Mary Ann's children: Wm Henry, 18, Apprentice (Chemist); Mary Ann, 16, Pupil Teacher; Emily, 14, "No Occupation"; and George Fred, 13, Errand Boy.
The next listings for Mary Ann Perry's household, were three Loveday males all described as "Nephew" and all born at Croydon, Surrey: Benjamin J., 16, occupation given as "Royal Navy"; Samuel G., 9, Scholar; and Henry, aged 3, with occupation understandably left blank.
These of course matched Martha Loveday's brothers. Martha herself, aged 14, was in the household of her parents at 21 Surrey Street in Croydon, the only child in the listing.
Her father's information was that he was aged 40, and a "Keeper of Coffee Dining Room", being born in Devonshire, at Uffculum (Uffcombe). His wife Sarah was aged 49.
So, from this I had narrowed the number of ancestors in that line, with two great great great grandmothers being sisters, so I only had two trace one family. However, that family was surnamed Smith...as noted above, not the most uncommon name!
Mary Ann Smith was born in 1810 or 1811 (going by the ages in successive censuses and age on her death certificate) in Hammersmith, Middlesex. Her father (as named on her marriage certificate) was Samuel Smith, truss maker.
She had a sister, Sarah Smith, who was born 1812 or 1813 in Hammersmith.
Mary Ann's marriage was witnessed by Harriet Smith, likely her other known sister Harriet Smith who was born 1822 or 1823 at Epsom in Surrey.
Mary Ann Smith was one of my great great great grandmothers. A couple of years ago I discovered that her sister Sarah Smith was also one of my great great great grandmothers.
The provenance follows.
My great great grandfather, William Henry Perry, pharmaceutical chemist, was born 15 November 1842 at Louth Lincolnshire, and was christened there on 11 December 1842. He was the son of William Perry and Mary Ann Smith. As noted, Mary Ann Smith's father was Samuel Smith, truss maker.
On 23 August 1870 William Henry Perry married my great great grandmother, Martha Harriet Loveday.
Martha Harriet Loveday was born 8 November 1846 at Surrey Street, Croydon, Surrey, and christened 16 December 1846 at St John the Baptist Church, Croydon. She was the daughter of Samuel Loveday, servant and later coffee house keeper, and his wife Sarah Smith.
Samuel Loveday and Sarah Smith had married 31 March 1842 at Lewisham Parish Church in Kent. From the marriage certificate Samuel Loveday's father was William Loveday, shoe maker. Sarah Smith's father was Samuel Smith, truss maker. The marriage was witnessed by James Loveday and Martha Loveday. They might have been brother and sister to Samuel Loveday.
When I saw the marriage certificates of Mary Ann Smith and Sarah Smith, and the presence of Samuel Smith, truss maker, on both of them, I suspected that William Henry Perry and Martha Harriet Loveday might have been cousins, both being grandchildren of Samuel Smith, truss maker and his wife. I could not be certain, as Smith is not an uncommon name, and I knew of two fairly contemporary Samuel Smiths who were truss makers.
For Martha's family, I knew that Samuel and Sarah Loveday (Sarah is shown at left) had at least six children born at Croydon, Surrey:Sarah Elizabeth Loveday (1843-1847);
Benjamin James Loveday (1845-1891);
Martha Harriet Loveday (1846-1919);
Samuel Henry Loveday (1848-1849);
Samuel George Loveday (b. 1852);
Henry Loveday (b. 1857).
The confirmation that William and Martha were cousins came with the 1861 census. At 21 Market Place, Louth, Lincolnshire was listed the household of Mary Ann Perry, aged 50, widow, "Dealer in Glass China and Other Miscellaneous".
Also there was her sister Harriet Smith, aged 38, unmarried, School Mistress.
Then were listed Mary Ann's children: Wm Henry, 18, Apprentice (Chemist); Mary Ann, 16, Pupil Teacher; Emily, 14, "No Occupation"; and George Fred, 13, Errand Boy.
The next listings for Mary Ann Perry's household, were three Loveday males all described as "Nephew" and all born at Croydon, Surrey: Benjamin J., 16, occupation given as "Royal Navy"; Samuel G., 9, Scholar; and Henry, aged 3, with occupation understandably left blank.
These of course matched Martha Loveday's brothers. Martha herself, aged 14, was in the household of her parents at 21 Surrey Street in Croydon, the only child in the listing.
Her father's information was that he was aged 40, and a "Keeper of Coffee Dining Room", being born in Devonshire, at Uffculum (Uffcombe). His wife Sarah was aged 49.
So, from this I had narrowed the number of ancestors in that line, with two great great great grandmothers being sisters, so I only had two trace one family. However, that family was surnamed Smith...as noted above, not the most uncommon name!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
William Perry (died between 1847 and 1851) - A Brick Wall
Well, having outlined some progresses made in my family tree research and blogging about the bits and pieces I have found, time for the dreaded genealogical "brick walls", where you get to a certain point and cannot go further. I have a few of those.
One of them is the family of a great great great grandfather, William Perry.
Thus far I have learned that William Perry was living in St Marylebone in London and was a servant and a bachelor when he married Mary Ann Smith, spinster, on 23 December 1840. He was a bachelor at the time of marriage.
Of his family up to the point of marriage I know that his father was John Perry, who was a "Gentleman" (a rank or profession that seems to cover a multitude of possibilities). One of the witnesses to his marriage was a "Thomas Perry", who may have been a brother, or uncle, or cousin.
By 1842 William and Mary Ann Perry had moved to Louth in Lincolnshire where William became a schoolmaster and Mary Ann a schoolmistress. Their four children were born at Louth: William Henry (1842-1908); Mary Ann (b. 1844); Emily (1846-1908); and George Frederick (1847-1881).
William Perry died by the time of the 1851 census when his wife Mary Ann was listed as a widow. He does not seem to have died in the Louth district, and there were several men named William Perry who died between 1847 and 1851.
That he died before the 1851 census means that his birthplace was not recorded in a census. I cannot locate a William and Mary Perry in the 1841 census that would seem to fit this couple, nor do I know exactly when they made the move to Louth, nor where they lived immediately after marriage (i.e. the 1841 census year). Not sure where to go from there. As he was a schoolmaster, perhaps there might be records for the school, although I do not know if this was at Louth. As I said, a brick wall.
I do know slightly more about his wife's Smith family, which given the pervasiveness of Smiths in England I think is quite something, although the brick wall soon looms for that family too. It also brought up an incidence of cousinal intermarriage.
One of them is the family of a great great great grandfather, William Perry.
Thus far I have learned that William Perry was living in St Marylebone in London and was a servant and a bachelor when he married Mary Ann Smith, spinster, on 23 December 1840. He was a bachelor at the time of marriage.
Of his family up to the point of marriage I know that his father was John Perry, who was a "Gentleman" (a rank or profession that seems to cover a multitude of possibilities). One of the witnesses to his marriage was a "Thomas Perry", who may have been a brother, or uncle, or cousin.
By 1842 William and Mary Ann Perry had moved to Louth in Lincolnshire where William became a schoolmaster and Mary Ann a schoolmistress. Their four children were born at Louth: William Henry (1842-1908); Mary Ann (b. 1844); Emily (1846-1908); and George Frederick (1847-1881).
William Perry died by the time of the 1851 census when his wife Mary Ann was listed as a widow. He does not seem to have died in the Louth district, and there were several men named William Perry who died between 1847 and 1851.
That he died before the 1851 census means that his birthplace was not recorded in a census. I cannot locate a William and Mary Perry in the 1841 census that would seem to fit this couple, nor do I know exactly when they made the move to Louth, nor where they lived immediately after marriage (i.e. the 1841 census year). Not sure where to go from there. As he was a schoolmaster, perhaps there might be records for the school, although I do not know if this was at Louth. As I said, a brick wall.
I do know slightly more about his wife's Smith family, which given the pervasiveness of Smiths in England I think is quite something, although the brick wall soon looms for that family too. It also brought up an incidence of cousinal intermarriage.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Thomas Breedon Woodfield (born 1801; died 1845)
A brief post, on what happens when you decide to search for a name just to see what you find. Quite a wee while after I discovered the http://www.a2a.org.uk/ site (now at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a). I thought one particular day I'd put in the name of an ancestor with a fairly unique name to see what might happen. The ancestor I chose was a great great great grandfather, Thomas Breedon Woodfield (1801-1845), who married Mary Marshall at Cranfield, Bedfordshire, 28 January 1823 (IGI). They were the parents of several children, their son John Thomas Woodfield (1835-1908), my great great grandfather, migrating to New Zealand with his wife Jemima (nee Iliffe) on the Clontarf, arriving in March 1860.
So, I put in the name Thomas Breedon Woodfield into the a2a search box, expecting little or nothing to come of it. All I really knew of his background to that point, was that his parents were John and Sarah Woodfield.
The result of putting his name into the search box was a draft release of land from Thomas and his wife Mary. The major find, genealogically, was that the release described how Thomas had come by the property; the land had been purchased in 1785 by Shadrach Taylor, miller, of Avon Dassett, Warwickshire, who was the grandfather of Thomas Breedon Woodfield.
That gave me the maiden name of Sarah Woodfield (Thomas' mother). Going again to IGI, I located a marriage date for John Woodfield and Sarah Taylor, 14 April 1800, Warmington, Warwickshire.
I then wondered about the name of the grandfather, Shadrach Taylor. It seemed unusual enough that putting that into a2a might be worth it, especially as I seemed to have the location of Avon Dassett in Warwickshire to narrow results down. So I put that in.
Up came a will for a John Haines, yeoman, of Avon Dassett, Warwickshire, for 1st May 1776.
The will named his heirs:
his daughter Martha, wife of John Townshend;
grandson William Townshend (evidently son of Martha and John);
grandson Joseph Haines, who was son of John Haines' son, another Joseph Haines, who was himself deceased;
son John Haines;
daughter Elizabeth Bishop, wife of Austin Bishop of Weston Turvill, Buckinghamshire;
daughter Ann Paxford, wife of William Paxford, of Finmore, Oxfordshire;
Children of Ann Paxford by her first husband (all unnamed);
daughter Sarah Denston, wife of the Rev. John Denston;
daughter Mary Haines of Avon Dassett;
daughter Joanna Collins of Avon Dassett;
and daughter "Esther Taylor, wife of Shadrach Taylor of Avon Dassett".
The executor of the will of John Haines were his nephews John Hitchcock, of Ratley, yeoman, "and kinsman John Haines junior of Avon Dassett". This last named John Haines junior causes some considerable confusion when one tries to sort out one John Haines from another, as the John Haines junior seems to be different from John Haines the son of John Haines, yeoman of Avon Dassett.
Anyway, I presume the Shadrach Taylor, miller, of Avon Dassett, purchasing land in 1785 is the same as the one named in the 1776 will.
IGI has a marriage record for Shadrach Tayler and Esther Haines as marrying at Avon Dassett, 23 June 1774.
There was a christening record for a Sarah Taylor as taking place in August 1774 at Avon Dassett with parents Shadrach Taylor and Esther, so that seems to show a tie in with Sarah (Taylor) Woodfield being the daughter of this Shadrach and Esther Taylor.
Putting the name John Haines into a2a also seemed to bring up his parents. There was a probate for the will of a Joseph Hains or Haines of Avon Dassett, yeoman, for 22 August 1739. This named the legatees as his wife Martha, daughter Martha and son-in-law William Hitchcock, son John Haines, executor, and grandson Joseph Haines.
Remember that the John Haines of 1776 had a nephew John Hitchcock of Ratley, and here we have a John Haines with sister and brother-in-law being Martha and William Hitchcock (i.e. their son would be his nephew), as well as the younger Joseph Haines, who was deceased by 1776.
This corroborates IGI:
John Hains, christened 27 December 1698 at Avon Dassett, parents Joseph and Martha;
Martha Hains, christened 1 December 1700 at Avon Dassett, parents Joseph and Martha;
Martha Hains marriage to William Hitchcock, Avon Dassett, 16 May 1723.
Other material from IGI that possibly (or probably?) relates to this family:
Martha Haines marriage to John Townshend, 19 February 1750, Bloxham, Oxfordshire (no day or month)
Elizabeth Haines marriage to Augustine Bishop, 8 February 1755, Avon Dassett
Sarah Haines marriage to John Denston, 1760, Avon Dassett (no day or month)
Joanna Haines marriage to John Collins, 24 Februaruy 1756, Avon Dassett.
So, I put in the name Thomas Breedon Woodfield into the a2a search box, expecting little or nothing to come of it. All I really knew of his background to that point, was that his parents were John and Sarah Woodfield.
The result of putting his name into the search box was a draft release of land from Thomas and his wife Mary. The major find, genealogically, was that the release described how Thomas had come by the property; the land had been purchased in 1785 by Shadrach Taylor, miller, of Avon Dassett, Warwickshire, who was the grandfather of Thomas Breedon Woodfield.
That gave me the maiden name of Sarah Woodfield (Thomas' mother). Going again to IGI, I located a marriage date for John Woodfield and Sarah Taylor, 14 April 1800, Warmington, Warwickshire.
I then wondered about the name of the grandfather, Shadrach Taylor. It seemed unusual enough that putting that into a2a might be worth it, especially as I seemed to have the location of Avon Dassett in Warwickshire to narrow results down. So I put that in.
Up came a will for a John Haines, yeoman, of Avon Dassett, Warwickshire, for 1st May 1776.
The will named his heirs:
his daughter Martha, wife of John Townshend;
grandson William Townshend (evidently son of Martha and John);
grandson Joseph Haines, who was son of John Haines' son, another Joseph Haines, who was himself deceased;
son John Haines;
daughter Elizabeth Bishop, wife of Austin Bishop of Weston Turvill, Buckinghamshire;
daughter Ann Paxford, wife of William Paxford, of Finmore, Oxfordshire;
Children of Ann Paxford by her first husband (all unnamed);
daughter Sarah Denston, wife of the Rev. John Denston;
daughter Mary Haines of Avon Dassett;
daughter Joanna Collins of Avon Dassett;
and daughter "Esther Taylor, wife of Shadrach Taylor of Avon Dassett".
The executor of the will of John Haines were his nephews John Hitchcock, of Ratley, yeoman, "and kinsman John Haines junior of Avon Dassett". This last named John Haines junior causes some considerable confusion when one tries to sort out one John Haines from another, as the John Haines junior seems to be different from John Haines the son of John Haines, yeoman of Avon Dassett.
Anyway, I presume the Shadrach Taylor, miller, of Avon Dassett, purchasing land in 1785 is the same as the one named in the 1776 will.
IGI has a marriage record for Shadrach Tayler and Esther Haines as marrying at Avon Dassett, 23 June 1774.
There was a christening record for a Sarah Taylor as taking place in August 1774 at Avon Dassett with parents Shadrach Taylor and Esther, so that seems to show a tie in with Sarah (Taylor) Woodfield being the daughter of this Shadrach and Esther Taylor.
Putting the name John Haines into a2a also seemed to bring up his parents. There was a probate for the will of a Joseph Hains or Haines of Avon Dassett, yeoman, for 22 August 1739. This named the legatees as his wife Martha, daughter Martha and son-in-law William Hitchcock, son John Haines, executor, and grandson Joseph Haines.
Remember that the John Haines of 1776 had a nephew John Hitchcock of Ratley, and here we have a John Haines with sister and brother-in-law being Martha and William Hitchcock (i.e. their son would be his nephew), as well as the younger Joseph Haines, who was deceased by 1776.
This corroborates IGI:
John Hains, christened 27 December 1698 at Avon Dassett, parents Joseph and Martha;
Martha Hains, christened 1 December 1700 at Avon Dassett, parents Joseph and Martha;
Martha Hains marriage to William Hitchcock, Avon Dassett, 16 May 1723.
Other material from IGI that possibly (or probably?) relates to this family:
Martha Haines marriage to John Townshend, 19 February 1750, Bloxham, Oxfordshire (no day or month)
Elizabeth Haines marriage to Augustine Bishop, 8 February 1755, Avon Dassett
Sarah Haines marriage to John Denston, 1760, Avon Dassett (no day or month)
Joanna Haines marriage to John Collins, 24 Februaruy 1756, Avon Dassett.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Major Hull (born 1733; died 1813)
Now a little information on an ancestor I had no knowledge of a half decade ago, a British redcoat, who seems to have begun a tradition of army service in his family.
Trevor Hull (the major) was born in Ireland in 1733, the son of Edward Hull (1694-1748) and Ann Parker (d. 1752). Edward Hull was in the service of the Lords Hillsborough (later Marquesses of Downshire), who were surnamed Hill and that had inherited their estates from the Trevor family. The head of the family at the time of Trevor Hull's birth was Trevor Hill. This is undoubtedly from whence the future Major Hull received his first name. This was not an isolated incident. In a later generation his lordship was Arthur Hill, and there was an Arthur Hill Hull present in the Hull family.
Regimental records and military announcements give something of an overview of his progression through the ranks. Regimental histories give some idea of where he served, as does the obituary which appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine, Volume LXIII, covering January to June 1813, page 92. This is available via Google Book Search. I quote the obituary at length below as it gives some idea of his career and character:
"Jan. 7. At Southampton, aged 79, Trevor Hull, esq, one of his Majesty's Gentlemen Ushers of the Privy Chamber. He entered into the army in 1756 as Ensign of the 43rd regiment, and served under the Earl of Loudon, Lord Amherst, the immortal Wolfe, General Murray, &c. in the several campaigns, battles, and sieges, which annexed Acadia, Louisburgh, and Canada, to the British Empire. He afterwards served under Generals Walsh and Monckton at the taking of Martinique and the other French India islands, and with the Earl of Albemarle at the Havannah. He returned to Europe with his regiment in 1773, and retired from the Army, after the American War, with the rank of Major, being soon afterwards appointed Gentleman Usherof his Majesty's Privy Chamber, in which station he continued till his death. It may be truly said of this most worthy and amiable gentleman, that he was not only respected, but highly valued by his superiors, and esteemed and loved by his acquaintance and friends; and that he was a loyal subject, a faithful friend, an honest man, and a pious Christian".
He served in the 43rd Regiment of Foot for some 12 years then was exchanged to the 36th regiment in 1768. In 1764 the 36th regiment had been posted to Jamaica in the West Indies. Presumably Trevor Hull joined his new colleagues there until the regiment was recalled in 1773. The 36th was then sent to Ireland, the country of Hull's birthplace.
Interestingly, pieces of information from different sources would seem to corroborate this. To work backwards, the House of Commons included a report on Irish tontines, a form of government bonds issued in three different years. For 1773 subscription were listed Edward Hull and Ann Hull, being the "only son" and "only daughter" of Trevor Hull and Ann Gibbons, with their address being Middlesex. Edward Hull was 2 years old (giving a birthdate of 1771 or so) and Ann Hull was 3 years old (i.e. birthdate of about 1770).
I was intrigued by the mention of Ann Gibbons. I had not seen this name before. If she was the mother of Edward and Ann, was she also the mother of Maria Hull, wife of John Robert Woodriff? Maria was not listed in the tontines subscription so presumably was born after 1773. Was she much older than her husband who was born 1790? The Irish tontines were issued in 1775 and 1777 as well, but there is no Maria Hull among the subscribers. This might mean she was born after 1777, or perhaps that her father missed out on the later issues.
A later listing of subscribers in the 1800s (by which time Maria Hull would have been born) still described Ann (by now Ann Durell) as the "only daughter" of her parents. However, it also described her father as "Captain Trevor Hull" when he had retired as a major some years previously. Perhaps the details of her marriage were added to the listing, but the original details were kept (i.e. her father's rank at the time the bond was taken out in 1773 and the description of her as "only daughter")? So, the question is was Ann Gibbons the mother of Maria Hull or not.
Another question is why the mother's name was given as Ann Gibbons? Shouldn't she have been Ann Hull instead? Certainly the other subscribers in the 1773 listing seemed to be the children of a "Mr and Mrs" (i.e. the mother had the same surname as the father).
I then found a webpage listing Jamaican baptisms for the late 1700s and early 1800s. Remember, if Trevor Hull physically joined the 36th Regiment in 1768 he would have been stationed in Jamaica from 1768 to 1773. There is a baptism on the page giving the following information:
"Ann HALL b. 29 Oct 1770 bap. 18 Feb 1771 fa. Trevor HALL mo. Ann GIBBONS free mulatto".
Could Ann Hall born 1770 the daughter of Trevor Hall and Ann Gibbons be the same person as Ann Hull born about 1770 the daughter of Trevor Hull and Ann Gibbons, with the presumption that if Trevor Hull was with his regiment he would have been in Jamaica at this time? Or is it just a coincidence?
Admittedly the surname listed is Hall not Hull but I have seen that transcription error previously. There are other Halls in the register, so there was a family of that name in Jamaica. However, perhaps this helps explain the transcription error, if Hull appeared among several people surnamed Hall. I do not know how one would go about verifying this.
Another problem - IF these are Hulls and not Halls - is that there is no Edward Hull/Hall in the register, which one might expect if he was born in Jamaica in 1771, given that the 36th regiment was not in England until 1773. Whether the baptism is absent because of missing records or whether this just confirms that the baptism register entry for Ann Hall does not relate to Trevor Hull's family at all...??? Or is it just too coincidental not to have been his family. Arrrgh!
Anyway, back to firmer detail. Scots magazine, dated November 1780 (via Google Book Search) which carried announcements from the War-office reported on 25 November a list of Majors in the Army including
"Trevor Hull, of 36th foot".
This was his last promotion, before he left the army sometime in the next decade. He was appointed a Gentleman Usher of the Privy Chamber in September 1789 (recorded as "Hull, T." in The Public Rooms - Gentlemen Ushers of the Privy Chamber 1660-1837).
He died 7 January 1813. Some sources give 14 January 1813, but the 7 January is from the obituary that appeared in "Gentleman's Magazine".
I mentioned he seems to have begun a tradition of service in the army for the Hull family. The career of his nephew Major General Trevor Hull (1760-1816) has been mentioned already, with the confusion that arises between the two men with the same name. There were other members of the family who served.
Major Hull's brother Edward Hull (another child of Edward Hull and Ann Parker) also served in the 43rd Regiment of Foot but died 2 May 1775 from wounds sustained at the Battle of Lexington which took place on 19 April. This was at the outset of the Revolutionary War of Independence, and Lieutenant Edward Hull, 43rd Foot, is said to have been the first British officer to have died in that campaign.
The major had a brother Anthony Hull (1722-1795) who married Alice Watson. Their son James Watson Hull (1758-1831) also served in 43rd Foot, becoming a Captain.
Another Edward Hull (the Major's son) served in the 43rd, becoming a Lieutenant Colonel and leading the regiment at the Battle of Coa (also known as Corunna), 24 July 1810. A small ivory set portrait of Lt. Col. Edward Hull, which had been brought out to New Zealand by his niece Maria's family, was sold at auction in 2008.
From the death certificate of Maria Asia Hull Gosset (nee Woodriff) I knew that her mother was named Maria Hull. This was confirmed when I had contact with a Woodriff cousin who had obtained the naval record of John Robert Woodriff (Maria Hull's husband). The record also included a letter dated 1810 from a "Duke of York" to a "Major Hull" concerning the death overseas of the latter's son, a Lieutenant Colonel Hull.
Learning of this made me revisit the family tree of Le Vavasseur dit Durell that had appeared in J. B. Payne's Armorial of Jersey. That item had Thomas Durell (b. 1759) marrying in 1819 "Ann, dau. of Major Hull". IGI records their marriage as taking place 12 August 1819, at St Giles, Camberwell, in Surrey. Thomas had a sister Rachel Durell. She was the grandmother of James William Gosset. James's wife Maria Asia Hull Woodriff was the daughter of John Robert Woodriff and Maria Hull, and now a letter to a Major Hull had turned up in the papers of Maria Hull's husband.
My wonderful Woodriff relative had investigated this and through a researcher had obtained British Army listings which showed that a Lieutenant Colonel Edward Hull of the 43rd Regiment of Foot had fallen at the Battle of Coa in Portugal, 24 July 1810. A book about the 43rd Regiment contained further information, namely brief genealogies of families that had significant ties to the Regiment. Included here were the Hulls - including Edward Hull and his father Trevor Hull. According to the army listings Trevor Hull had been a Captain in the 43rd Regiment, and a Major in the 36th Regiment. There was some confusion in the Army listings as Trevor Hull's career seemed to have spanned over fifty years and he seemed to have repeated some promotions a decade or so apart in time.
I then looked at Burke's Family Index (the index to Burke's Peerage and Landed Gentry) as you never know what might turn up, and sure enough there was an entry in 1952 for Hulls of Carnbane, which detailed an Irish family, and included two Trevor Hulls, an uncle and nephew, who had served in British regiments. This explained the apparent repetition in the careers of Trevor Hull; the listings had conflated the two men, making it seem like one person had had a long career with repeated promotions (i.e. became a captain twice some years apart), where instead two men had had careers in different generations. The elder Trevor Hull had become a Major and the nephew had gone on to become a Major General.
Trevor Hull (the major) was born in Ireland in 1733, the son of Edward Hull (1694-1748) and Ann Parker (d. 1752). Edward Hull was in the service of the Lords Hillsborough (later Marquesses of Downshire), who were surnamed Hill and that had inherited their estates from the Trevor family. The head of the family at the time of Trevor Hull's birth was Trevor Hill. This is undoubtedly from whence the future Major Hull received his first name. This was not an isolated incident. In a later generation his lordship was Arthur Hill, and there was an Arthur Hill Hull present in the Hull family.
Regimental records and military announcements give something of an overview of his progression through the ranks. Regimental histories give some idea of where he served, as does the obituary which appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine, Volume LXIII, covering January to June 1813, page 92. This is available via Google Book Search. I quote the obituary at length below as it gives some idea of his career and character:
"Jan. 7. At Southampton, aged 79, Trevor Hull, esq, one of his Majesty's Gentlemen Ushers of the Privy Chamber. He entered into the army in 1756 as Ensign of the 43rd regiment, and served under the Earl of Loudon, Lord Amherst, the immortal Wolfe, General Murray, &c. in the several campaigns, battles, and sieges, which annexed Acadia, Louisburgh, and Canada, to the British Empire. He afterwards served under Generals Walsh and Monckton at the taking of Martinique and the other French India islands, and with the Earl of Albemarle at the Havannah. He returned to Europe with his regiment in 1773, and retired from the Army, after the American War, with the rank of Major, being soon afterwards appointed Gentleman Usherof his Majesty's Privy Chamber, in which station he continued till his death. It may be truly said of this most worthy and amiable gentleman, that he was not only respected, but highly valued by his superiors, and esteemed and loved by his acquaintance and friends; and that he was a loyal subject, a faithful friend, an honest man, and a pious Christian".
He served in the 43rd Regiment of Foot for some 12 years then was exchanged to the 36th regiment in 1768. In 1764 the 36th regiment had been posted to Jamaica in the West Indies. Presumably Trevor Hull joined his new colleagues there until the regiment was recalled in 1773. The 36th was then sent to Ireland, the country of Hull's birthplace.
Interestingly, pieces of information from different sources would seem to corroborate this. To work backwards, the House of Commons included a report on Irish tontines, a form of government bonds issued in three different years. For 1773 subscription were listed Edward Hull and Ann Hull, being the "only son" and "only daughter" of Trevor Hull and Ann Gibbons, with their address being Middlesex. Edward Hull was 2 years old (giving a birthdate of 1771 or so) and Ann Hull was 3 years old (i.e. birthdate of about 1770).
I was intrigued by the mention of Ann Gibbons. I had not seen this name before. If she was the mother of Edward and Ann, was she also the mother of Maria Hull, wife of John Robert Woodriff? Maria was not listed in the tontines subscription so presumably was born after 1773. Was she much older than her husband who was born 1790? The Irish tontines were issued in 1775 and 1777 as well, but there is no Maria Hull among the subscribers. This might mean she was born after 1777, or perhaps that her father missed out on the later issues.
A later listing of subscribers in the 1800s (by which time Maria Hull would have been born) still described Ann (by now Ann Durell) as the "only daughter" of her parents. However, it also described her father as "Captain Trevor Hull" when he had retired as a major some years previously. Perhaps the details of her marriage were added to the listing, but the original details were kept (i.e. her father's rank at the time the bond was taken out in 1773 and the description of her as "only daughter")? So, the question is was Ann Gibbons the mother of Maria Hull or not.
Another question is why the mother's name was given as Ann Gibbons? Shouldn't she have been Ann Hull instead? Certainly the other subscribers in the 1773 listing seemed to be the children of a "Mr and Mrs" (i.e. the mother had the same surname as the father).
I then found a webpage listing Jamaican baptisms for the late 1700s and early 1800s. Remember, if Trevor Hull physically joined the 36th Regiment in 1768 he would have been stationed in Jamaica from 1768 to 1773. There is a baptism on the page giving the following information:
"Ann HALL b. 29 Oct 1770 bap. 18 Feb 1771 fa. Trevor HALL mo. Ann GIBBONS free mulatto".
Could Ann Hall born 1770 the daughter of Trevor Hall and Ann Gibbons be the same person as Ann Hull born about 1770 the daughter of Trevor Hull and Ann Gibbons, with the presumption that if Trevor Hull was with his regiment he would have been in Jamaica at this time? Or is it just a coincidence?
Admittedly the surname listed is Hall not Hull but I have seen that transcription error previously. There are other Halls in the register, so there was a family of that name in Jamaica. However, perhaps this helps explain the transcription error, if Hull appeared among several people surnamed Hall. I do not know how one would go about verifying this.
Another problem - IF these are Hulls and not Halls - is that there is no Edward Hull/Hall in the register, which one might expect if he was born in Jamaica in 1771, given that the 36th regiment was not in England until 1773. Whether the baptism is absent because of missing records or whether this just confirms that the baptism register entry for Ann Hall does not relate to Trevor Hull's family at all...??? Or is it just too coincidental not to have been his family. Arrrgh!
Anyway, back to firmer detail. Scots magazine, dated November 1780 (via Google Book Search) which carried announcements from the War-office reported on 25 November a list of Majors in the Army including
"Trevor Hull, of 36th foot".
This was his last promotion, before he left the army sometime in the next decade. He was appointed a Gentleman Usher of the Privy Chamber in September 1789 (recorded as "Hull, T." in The Public Rooms - Gentlemen Ushers of the Privy Chamber 1660-1837).
He died 7 January 1813. Some sources give 14 January 1813, but the 7 January is from the obituary that appeared in "Gentleman's Magazine".
I mentioned he seems to have begun a tradition of service in the army for the Hull family. The career of his nephew Major General Trevor Hull (1760-1816) has been mentioned already, with the confusion that arises between the two men with the same name. There were other members of the family who served.
Major Hull's brother Edward Hull (another child of Edward Hull and Ann Parker) also served in the 43rd Regiment of Foot but died 2 May 1775 from wounds sustained at the Battle of Lexington which took place on 19 April. This was at the outset of the Revolutionary War of Independence, and Lieutenant Edward Hull, 43rd Foot, is said to have been the first British officer to have died in that campaign.
The major had a brother Anthony Hull (1722-1795) who married Alice Watson. Their son James Watson Hull (1758-1831) also served in 43rd Foot, becoming a Captain.
Another Edward Hull (the Major's son) served in the 43rd, becoming a Lieutenant Colonel and leading the regiment at the Battle of Coa (also known as Corunna), 24 July 1810. A small ivory set portrait of Lt. Col. Edward Hull, which had been brought out to New Zealand by his niece Maria's family, was sold at auction in 2008.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Gosset / Baker / McDonald or MacDonald
A brief post, just putting up two photos of my great great grandparents. To be elaborated on later.
Annie Venetia Baker (1861-1924):
She was daughter to Michael Baker (1840-1928) and his wife Maria Munhall (1841-1911). Annie was born in New Zealand, as were her parents.
And her husband, William Montgomery Gosset (1854-1930):
He was a bank clerk, and son to James William Gosset (1818-1888) and his wife Maria Asia Hull Woodriff (1819-1878). William was born in Ireland, his parents in Jersey and England respectively. William appears to have migrated to New Zealand in 1871. In the cemetery record for his 1930 interment it is stated he had been in New Zealand for 39 years.
The couple married in Gisborne, New Zealand, in a Catholic Church, 11 January 1880, going on to have five children - three sons and two daughters.
The five children were
Frederick Steyn Gosset (1881-1958);
Celeste Venetia Gosset (1883-1951) (my great grandmother);
William Montgomery Gosset (1884-1972);
Mona Rebecca Gosset (1887-1968);
Arthur Maunhall Gosset (1891-1968).
This couple divorced in 1894, the matter being finalised in 1896. The photo of Annie Baker above is from the file on the divorce at the Auckland branch of Archives New Zealand.
In 1898 Annie Venetia Baker married a Scottish decorator, Alexander James MacDonald (son of James Alexander MacDonald, confectioner, and his wife Sarah Jane Strahan - this information is from the 1898 marriage certificate). They had five children, two daughters and three sons.
In the historical births register, the surname had the spelling McDonald rather than MacDonald
Four of the children can be located in the online register search:
Adele Kahn McDonald (born 1899) (edit - actually Adele Kahupo McDonald)
Hector McDonald (b. 1900)
Homa Elaine McDonald (born 1904)
Annie Venetia Baker (1861-1924):
She was daughter to Michael Baker (1840-1928) and his wife Maria Munhall (1841-1911). Annie was born in New Zealand, as were her parents.
And her husband, William Montgomery Gosset (1854-1930):
He was a bank clerk, and son to James William Gosset (1818-1888) and his wife Maria Asia Hull Woodriff (1819-1878). William was born in Ireland, his parents in Jersey and England respectively. William appears to have migrated to New Zealand in 1871. In the cemetery record for his 1930 interment it is stated he had been in New Zealand for 39 years.
The couple married in Gisborne, New Zealand, in a Catholic Church, 11 January 1880, going on to have five children - three sons and two daughters.
The five children were
Frederick Steyn Gosset (1881-1958);
Celeste Venetia Gosset (1883-1951) (my great grandmother);
William Montgomery Gosset (1884-1972);
Mona Rebecca Gosset (1887-1968);
Arthur Maunhall Gosset (1891-1968).
This couple divorced in 1894, the matter being finalised in 1896. The photo of Annie Baker above is from the file on the divorce at the Auckland branch of Archives New Zealand.
In 1898 Annie Venetia Baker married a Scottish decorator, Alexander James MacDonald (son of James Alexander MacDonald, confectioner, and his wife Sarah Jane Strahan - this information is from the 1898 marriage certificate). They had five children, two daughters and three sons.
In the historical births register, the surname had the spelling McDonald rather than MacDonald
Four of the children can be located in the online register search:
Adele Kahn McDonald (born 1899) (edit - actually Adele Kahupo McDonald)
Hector McDonald (b. 1900)
Homa Elaine McDonald (born 1904)
Cyril Ian McDonald (b. 1905)
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Major General J W Gosset, R.E. : Part Two
Well, a l-o-n-g time between posts (see Part One - in August!!), which left Major General James William Gosset in some limbo, having last left him in 1871, apparently retired to his birthplace on the island of Jersey with his family. However, he did not remain there for too long after the census was taken. I do not know the reason but it seems that in 1871 and 1872 the James William Gosset family made the move to the other side of the world, to New Zealand. It seems the first to make the move was the eldest son, James Woodriff Gosset. The searchable Auckland Area Passenger Arrivals (available from the website of Auckland City Libraries) shows that the 18 year old James W. Gossett travelled on the ship Ballarat, which departed London 1 May 1869 and arrived in Auckland on 9 August 1869. The only other "James W. Gossett" in the family was James William, and he is shown as arriving with his family in 1872. Although it could be difficult to distinguish between father and son with the same first name and middle initial, James William Gosset is referred to in arrivals as Major General Gosset. He and Mrs Gosset (nee Maria Asia Hull Woodriff) arrived on the ship Caduceus on 2 February 1872, accompanied by three daughters and two sons. They are referred to in the arrivals by title (Mr or Miss) and initials. So for the daughters we have G., M. M. and M. A. (for Gertrude, Maria Margaret and Mary Asia). For sons we have A. C. and A. H. (Arthur Charleton and Alfred Hobson).
There is one child as yet unaccounted for: William Montgomery Gosset, my great great grandfather. There is an "H. M. Gossett" arriving on the ship Countess of Kintore on 26 September 1871. It is not shown if this was a Miss, Mrs, or Mr. I do wonder if H. M. is a transcription error for W. M., although that might just be wishful thinking on my part. Perhaps William arrived at another port entirely, or is just missing from the arrivals database. However, in his cemetery record in 1930 it is stated that he had been in New Zealand for 39 years, which fits with arriving in 1871. Either way he seems to have travelled to New Zealand separately to his eldest brother James Woodriff, or the rest of his family. Again, the reasons for their departure are not known to me. Upon arrival the Gossets seem to have become involved in the Auckland social scene. The searchable database Papers Past gives lists of party attendees for various functions (an early version of today's social pages?). These lists include Major General and Mrs Gosset at various parties, often accompanied by one or more of their children.
Although James William Gosset had left Jersey for the colonies he was still able to receive his Imperial war pension, with the proviso that he could be called upon for defence if that was warranted (a clause for all those receiving military pensions). He became active in the Freemasons in Auckland, in the Prince of Wales Lodge. His involvement was such that he received a medal engraved with his name and rank. From the trademe site that carried his portrait:
The Gosset family in Auckland lost one of its members when 25 year Gertrude Gosset died 28 January 1874 (five days after her birthday) and was buried in St Stephen's Cemetery. James William Gosset lost his wife and his mother in 1878. On 26 January of that year, Maria Asia Hull Gosset, nee Woodriff, died at Parnell, Auckland. The cause of death was cancer. On 8 February Margaret Gosset, nee Hammond, died on Jersey. This was communicated to her son a little while afterwards. We know this as a death notice for her appeared in the New Zealand Herald, her son marking her passing a world away.
In 1880 two of the Gosset sons were married. Perhaps the first was William Montgomery Gosset who married Annie Venetia Baker in Gisborne, in a Catholic Church, on 11 January 1880. The choice of a Catholic Church is interesting as the Gossets had strong Anglican Church ties hitherto. James William Gosset's brother Rev. Clement Hammond Gosset was an Anglican cleric, and four of their sisters/half-sisters had married Anglican clergymen: Laura Gosset to Rev. Isaac Henry Gosset (a fourth cousin); Anna Magdalen Gosset to Rev. William Brock; Mary Gosset to Rev. James Tanner; and Elizabeth Gosset to Rev. William Craddock Hall.
William's brother Alfred Hobson Gosset also married that year, to Catherine Bertha Gudgeon. The next year, 1881, saw two more Gosset children marry: James Woodriff Gosset to Ada Beattie; Mary Asia Gosset to Arthur Bushe Christian (my grandmother Olive knew that her grandfather William had a sister married to "Mr. Christian", but no other details).
1883 saw another death visited on the family when 27 year old Arthur Charleton Gosset died. This was followed in 1885 by the marriage of the last Gosset of that generation, Maria Margaret. She married William Goldie, who among other things was gardener at the Auckland Domain.
On 5 March 1888 James William Gosset himself passed away. An obituary under G at a site called Auckland Deaths gives the following snapshot of him:
"GOSSETT Major General Gossett, late of the Indian service, died at his residence, St Stephen's Avenue, Parnell, on Monday night. General Gossett arrived in Auckland after the first Katikati special settlement was established, and since then his figure has been one of the best-known in Auckland. His fine physique and military bearing always attracted attention, and his general manner and happy disposition gained for him hosts of friends everywhere. The immediate cause of death was cancer. He leaves several sons and daughters, all grown up, to mourn his death, one of his daughters being Mrs Goldie, wife of the curator of the Domain. General Gossett, since his arrival in Auckland, has been an active member of the Masonic fraternity, and held office for several years in the Prince of Wales Lodge. It is understood that, by General Gossett's own desire, there will be no demonstration, Masonic, or military, at his funeral."
Here then, has been something of what has been learned by me of the life of one of my great great great grandfathers. It is certainly more than I know of several others of that generation in my family tree. There might be others who come across this page who are also descended from this gentleman. If so, I'd encourage them to make contact in the comments section of this blog.
There is one child as yet unaccounted for: William Montgomery Gosset, my great great grandfather. There is an "H. M. Gossett" arriving on the ship Countess of Kintore on 26 September 1871. It is not shown if this was a Miss, Mrs, or Mr. I do wonder if H. M. is a transcription error for W. M., although that might just be wishful thinking on my part. Perhaps William arrived at another port entirely, or is just missing from the arrivals database. However, in his cemetery record in 1930 it is stated that he had been in New Zealand for 39 years, which fits with arriving in 1871. Either way he seems to have travelled to New Zealand separately to his eldest brother James Woodriff, or the rest of his family. Again, the reasons for their departure are not known to me. Upon arrival the Gossets seem to have become involved in the Auckland social scene. The searchable database Papers Past gives lists of party attendees for various functions (an early version of today's social pages?). These lists include Major General and Mrs Gosset at various parties, often accompanied by one or more of their children.
Although James William Gosset had left Jersey for the colonies he was still able to receive his Imperial war pension, with the proviso that he could be called upon for defence if that was warranted (a clause for all those receiving military pensions). He became active in the Freemasons in Auckland, in the Prince of Wales Lodge. His involvement was such that he received a medal engraved with his name and rank. From the trademe site that carried his portrait:
The Gosset family in Auckland lost one of its members when 25 year Gertrude Gosset died 28 January 1874 (five days after her birthday) and was buried in St Stephen's Cemetery. James William Gosset lost his wife and his mother in 1878. On 26 January of that year, Maria Asia Hull Gosset, nee Woodriff, died at Parnell, Auckland. The cause of death was cancer. On 8 February Margaret Gosset, nee Hammond, died on Jersey. This was communicated to her son a little while afterwards. We know this as a death notice for her appeared in the New Zealand Herald, her son marking her passing a world away.
In 1880 two of the Gosset sons were married. Perhaps the first was William Montgomery Gosset who married Annie Venetia Baker in Gisborne, in a Catholic Church, on 11 January 1880. The choice of a Catholic Church is interesting as the Gossets had strong Anglican Church ties hitherto. James William Gosset's brother Rev. Clement Hammond Gosset was an Anglican cleric, and four of their sisters/half-sisters had married Anglican clergymen: Laura Gosset to Rev. Isaac Henry Gosset (a fourth cousin); Anna Magdalen Gosset to Rev. William Brock; Mary Gosset to Rev. James Tanner; and Elizabeth Gosset to Rev. William Craddock Hall.
William's brother Alfred Hobson Gosset also married that year, to Catherine Bertha Gudgeon. The next year, 1881, saw two more Gosset children marry: James Woodriff Gosset to Ada Beattie; Mary Asia Gosset to Arthur Bushe Christian (my grandmother Olive knew that her grandfather William had a sister married to "Mr. Christian", but no other details).
1883 saw another death visited on the family when 27 year old Arthur Charleton Gosset died. This was followed in 1885 by the marriage of the last Gosset of that generation, Maria Margaret. She married William Goldie, who among other things was gardener at the Auckland Domain.
On 5 March 1888 James William Gosset himself passed away. An obituary under G at a site called Auckland Deaths gives the following snapshot of him:
"GOSSETT Major General Gossett, late of the Indian service, died at his residence, St Stephen's Avenue, Parnell, on Monday night. General Gossett arrived in Auckland after the first Katikati special settlement was established, and since then his figure has been one of the best-known in Auckland. His fine physique and military bearing always attracted attention, and his general manner and happy disposition gained for him hosts of friends everywhere. The immediate cause of death was cancer. He leaves several sons and daughters, all grown up, to mourn his death, one of his daughters being Mrs Goldie, wife of the curator of the Domain. General Gossett, since his arrival in Auckland, has been an active member of the Masonic fraternity, and held office for several years in the Prince of Wales Lodge. It is understood that, by General Gossett's own desire, there will be no demonstration, Masonic, or military, at his funeral."
Here then, has been something of what has been learned by me of the life of one of my great great great grandfathers. It is certainly more than I know of several others of that generation in my family tree. There might be others who come across this page who are also descended from this gentleman. If so, I'd encourage them to make contact in the comments section of this blog.
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