Olliff Family History Book

My most recent voluntary job is helping a friend compile her research into a readable Family History book. 

Yes I do voluntary sometimes, it keeps my style of formatting up to standard for a start, it's also enjoyable looking for the odd piece of information.

Well this Olliff family were from Buckinghamshire, Great & Little Missenden to be precise, both beautiful villages that are 3 miles apart.  Both have Saxon era parish church's that are sublime when you see the photographs that are online.

The family line starts with James Olliff, born in 1765 and ends up with one of his grandsons migrating to New Zealand in 1863 where he was part owner of a brewery as well as a shareholder manager of various gold mines.

William was born in 1840 in London, was apprenticed to a corn factor where he met his future wife Martha.  They had quite a lot of children, and today their lines still flourish in and around Auckland, one descendant (Sharon) who has researched for this book.

There is a lot to tell about this family, some went to America and Canada so now there are cousins the world over.  Lets hope this will help connect more of them.

Sharon's line came to New Zealand meaning that most of the book is based on the history of the emigration, their lives here in New Zealand and how the line has grown  Below is the cover of the finished book with a picture of William & Martha.

The book has some history of the villages where Sharon's family line came from, along with photos, shipping, war information and businesses.  At the back of the book is a descendant report of all the different lines that are connected to Sharon's.

It has been enjoyable to help Sharon and I look forward to her next book.

St Mary's Churchyard, Sandbach, Cheshire, England - Headstone Transcribing

 

I had through that the church was part Saxon, however I now think I was told it was Norman, only the end bit with the roof is added on.

 

If you walk around the church, the other side is just as big and also full of headstones

 

On the left hand side of this photo are the headstones that I have been concentrating on, there are a few more that need cleaning then I will start on the oldest headstones form the 1600s that are mainly lying down on the right side of the path

I have started to transcribe the headstones in St Mary's churchyard, it is going to be a long job to say the least.  The first stint gave me approx. 65 headstones 21 of those needed cleaning.  I was to find that the 21 were more than that a few weeks later.

On Friday I transcribed 45 headstones with ease, the following day I decided I would clean some of the 21 from my first trip........OMG what a job, most were covered in moss like carpet, one took 45 minutes to clean and read.  I ended up with sore fingers, sore back and rather dirty, never seen ingrained soil on my hands for many years never mind the dirty notebook.  Oh yes I found a few extra hidden headstones too, never mind taken a day off to recover just have to hope that the rain stays away.

I will take some photos of the headstones that I have done along with some before and after photos as I progress.  My data base as over 200 names so far.  If anyone wants to help............lol.

 Most of the above headstones are the ones that I have already cleaned, the broken on in this 2nd to last photo took 45 mins to clean and transcribe.

 

My next mission...........just hoping it isn't raining tomorrow

Brereton' of Haslington Family History Book

I have recently started to research about the Brereton Family of Haslington, Wybunbury, Rhyl, Swansea, Rugby, Queensland Australia and Canada.  That is as far as this one family got.

The family at this time start with Thomas Brereton who married Ellen Whitmore in 1814.  If you are related to this couple please contact me.  The book will take some time in writing and researching.  I would love to add as many family photographs as well as certificates and family stories, happy or sad.  All things will be acknowledged in the book.

So far I have started with the Brereton name and whence it is supposed to have come, though various authors have different ideas, so all I find will go into the book and you will be able to make up your own mind.  However all the Brereton's the world over are related to the Brereton's of Cheshire who where here from 1066.  The Brereton Hall we see today was built in Queen Elizabeth's time.

I will add a few photos as my research progresses.  At present I would like to thank Clare & Micky and Kim for their assistance.  Also Alison, Elizabeth and Tina who have helped update the descendant report.

Poole Family

Finally book three is finished.  The Poole Family of Ashleworth, Gloucestershire has been printed off, bound.  To be posted in the morning.

 

I have had a few hiccups with this book, including late information and photographs that would not print nicely, they had to be changed into black and white photos and enhanced, putting them back into the book with the correct information beside it.

 

People should be aware that research is a challenge, we can only provide you with a story when you send all the details you know, this information needs to be sent at the start.  If the client can go back as far as 1911 then there is a better chance of discovering more through the 1911 census.  Do you know how many people are in a family, their names, who they married etc and want them included then include this with your first lot of  details at the start of the research, a last minute dash is then not needed.

 

I am happy with my latest book, though I think it could have been so much more.  With only one line shown this time.  I have actually started four lines that included SMITH, TUFFLEY, HYETT and POOLE.  If anyone has an interest in these surnames please let me know.

 

I will add some photographs of Ashleworth Village at some stage.  Ashleworth it is a scenic village with some very old buildings including a Tithe Barn and a Church that dates back to Saxon times.

 

 

Poole Family of Ashleworth, Gloucestershire, England

After all this time, the direct line for the Poole Family of Ashleworth is just about finished.  The bookis formatted. It will include:-

A small history of Ashleworth
Two Reports,  Ancestor & Descendant Reports
Family Photos
Certificates
Census
Probates and Inquests.

I have more than on line for this family, though at this time they have only requested the direct Poole line. It has been an interesting journey proving who is who, cousins marrying never mind one brother in law marrying his sister in law which in those days was illegal.  This is when you find couples marrying outside of their town or village, some even go as far as a nother county to marry.

One lady has 3 illigit children before her marriage, i wouldlove to know if her husband knew about them, with Asheleworth been such a small place i would think so.

Hoping that the book will be enjoyed.

Claire

Since the last time I was on my blog, I have published another book, this time for my mother in law.  Her line is from Ireland, and we all know how hard that is to do.  I have been very lucky that a cousin on my husbands line (Jannene) has researched much of the Irish back in Ireland already and was quite happy to exchange information.  That was a few years back now.

Anyway I finally decided to publish the book and update the tree as much as possible, and had some fantastic luck.  I established that two of the Hill brothers were in the 57th Foot Regiment (West Middlesex) also known as the "Die Hards"  I always knew that one brother died during the Maori Land Wars (Taranaki), however I didnt have when they arrived in New Zealand (Jan 1861) until about a week ago, not only do I now know when they arrived I also know the names of the ships.  I have found articles on the regiment and one photo of them in 1864, in which the oldest brother maybe in. 

Another researcher found some photographs of the eldest brother, it was lovely to put a name to a face.  My husbands line arrived in 1875 as a widower with 4 children, however the other two brothers were here by 1870 and I have yet to find them, sadly Hill is a very common name to research.  I will find them one day though.

My mother in law loved the book, and we are going to go through it again in a few weeks time.  Whilst I was at my mother in laws I was shown a photo and there is a great possibility that the gentleman is my husbands great grandfather William Hill who was born in Ireland in 1867.

Here is hoping and thank you all for reading.

George Poole

Thought it about time I updated the page!!

George Poole is slowly but surely turning into a very interesting man.  I now have a very possible first marriage for him (thanks to sue for the image).  This shows that he was a Postman in 1893 when he married Sarah Ann Dobbins.  They were both residing at the same address too in Gloucester.  What really got me though was the name of Sarah Anne Dobbins father.  He was called JOB DOBBINS.  Why you may ask, well Job married a lady called Jane Pool.  She was the Aunty of George Poole.

It is amazing what one document can tell you.  I wonder if they married in Gloucester because they were cousins or not.  There witnesses must of been friends, they are certainly not family.

George & Sarah show up in Ashleworth where I presume their daughter was born in 1896.  Their daughter died in 1897 from  a type of TB/Wasting desease.  Her mother died by 1899.  Still have to check that out!!  George of course remarried in 1900.