Tuesday, 10 May 2011
A Postscript
It is pleasing to live in a village. I have not been here years enough to become part of the furniture and known to all and sundry but I do have a lot of family about and know a lot of other people by sight. One of my visitors from the antipodes changed his camera card whilst we were going round the churchyard at St Mary's the other day. The old one must have missed his pocket as he put it away as it was found there and passed to Diane Chant, whose son keeps the grass cut and looks after things generally. After all her boy might know whose it was. In fact, since I was in a few of the pictures, Diane knew to phone me, and I collected the card from her. All three brothers are in this picture so whose card? I am sure one of them will let me know when they read this! Thanks very much to the finder.
Labels: Environs, Genealogy, Somerset
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Visitors to Stoke-sub-Hamdon
When I was looking at the computer a few days ago I realised that one of my Australian cousins had come on a visit to Somerset and not let me offer hospitality. By a coincidence the next day I received an e-mail from his mother so, naturally I mentioned that I should have liked to have met him. This brought to light that that cousin had moved on to Italy but that his brothers were in Edinburgh! We made contact and they included a visit to Stoke-sub-Hamdon, their ancestral home village, on their way to Paris to meet with other members of their family who were also touring from Victoria.
I have had a suggestion about the picture from one wife but, alas, too late: one should be covering his ears, the next his eyes and the third his mouth! The three of them are sitting on a seat in St Mary's churchyard which was used by their mum when she came over last time.
After they left I went over to Greylake and saw whimbrel for the first time.
Labels: Environs, Genealogy, Somerset
Friday, 22 April 2011
Parking problem
Quite how I was expected to get out of my garage on Sunday morning was a problem. The car was not there when I got up but must have sneaked in whilst I was having breakfast. Such parking is illegal because it restricts egress and It was in order for me to phone the police to report the matter. Sunday, of course, it is a bit difficult and it was a case of: "We'll see what we can do. Please let us know if the vehicle moves." In the event the thoughtless girl who had parked returned about an hour later from the house she had been visiting up the street and I told her she had been reported. My neighbours who have the red and blue vehicles park circumspectly so create no problem. The blue car would have had great difficulty getting out on Sunday, however, and would have needed to call upon the owner of the next vehicle along to move to allow enough room to get out.Friday, 21 January 2011
A family funeral
The church at Broadway is rather small so there was an overflow of some sixty or so people standing in the churchyard listening and joining in the service, which was relayed by speakers, as the community said farewell to cousin Arleene's husband, Peter. Born in 1955 he had lived in the village all his life and been brought up on the family farm which he later operated.
Tribute was paid to his generous nature, his humour, and his love of a cup of tea, which had earned him the nickname of 'Fred' after the character in the Bernard Cribbins 1962 song: "Right, said Fred."
He was a family man and proud of his daughter's achievements in sport and academia. His picture which was used on the order of service was taken at her graduation and reflects his admiration.
Labels: Environs, Genealogy, Somerset
Saturday, 2 October 2010
A Postmaster from Battersea
As always, I am pleased when a cousin comes to see me. This is the third time Ron has been this way in the last fifteen months so he must like it here. I got a phone call a few days before to invite me to lunch and we had a good chat.Since then I have made contact with others in his line from my 2xg aunt Jane. Pity, but he couldn't help with the enigma of the picture left by cousin Graham. It is a picture collected by Lewis Chant, Graham's grandfather when he was over here about 1900 checking on wool prices. and is captioned 'Postmaster Chant'. As the picture was taken in Battersea and bears a strong resemblance to Frederick Isaac Chant it looks as if it should be one of Jane's children.
Saturday, 25 September 2010
Visitor
Monday 20th and I got an early phone call from a Gaylard descendant from Stoke-sub-Hamdon. Carolan had thought she would have to give us a miss whilst on holiday over here this time but had not realised how near we were to the Somerset place where she was staying with friends. I think she enjoyed her day, all the more because she was seeing places that had not been on the itinerary.
Departure
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Ned left on the Tuesday. It had been quite a busy weekend taking in the trips I have mentioned already and also meeting cousins Gordon and Graham from a South Australian line. They were with me when Ned arrived much later than anticipated on the Friday and treated us to a meal at the Phelips Arms on the following day. There was entertainment by a couple of local lads on guitars and I forgot to tell the three of them that one was their cousin Luke! Ned was well laden with his camping gear and was planning to get to Chepstow that evening when he left me.
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Cousin Wendy
St Mary's at Stoke-sub-Hamdon had standing room only as the village came to say goodbye to Wendy Margetts on Thursday the 8th. She was born Wendy Fowler in 1944 to Robert Fowler and wife Dorothy Mary (Doll) née Comer. Wendy's grandmother was my great, great aunt, Annie Mary Comer née Fane.
It was apparent from the outset that this was to be no ordinary service as the pall bearers came in to 'The Hills Are Alive With The Sound Of Music' from Julie Andrews. Indeed her family wanted this to be a celebration in memory of Wendy rather than to mourn her departure.
The Reverend lady who conducted affairs gave a short introduction then there was a familiar hymn to a tune which was totally unfamiliar to me. The service continued with a memorial address written by one of Wendy's long time friends followed by a reminiscence by her sister Mary and memories from daughter Jacqueline. Another of Wendy's friends then told of their childhood pranks and misdemeanours before we had a final hymn.
It seems a shame that in an increasing number of instances now there is no collection of the names of those attending so that the family has that record to cherish.
It was apparent from the outset that this was to be no ordinary service as the pall bearers came in to 'The Hills Are Alive With The Sound Of Music' from Julie Andrews. Indeed her family wanted this to be a celebration in memory of Wendy rather than to mourn her departure.
The Reverend lady who conducted affairs gave a short introduction then there was a familiar hymn to a tune which was totally unfamiliar to me. The service continued with a memorial address written by one of Wendy's long time friends followed by a reminiscence by her sister Mary and memories from daughter Jacqueline. Another of Wendy's friends then told of their childhood pranks and misdemeanours before we had a final hymn.
It seems a shame that in an increasing number of instances now there is no collection of the names of those attending so that the family has that record to cherish.
Labels: Environs, Genealogy, Somerset
Thursday, 24 June 2010
The Washerwoman of Barrington
When my late cousin David Chant and I were discussing a particular William Chant from Stoke-sub-Hamdon we always knew which of the many we meant by differentiating the family using his wife's census description. William does not appear with Elizabeth (Male) in any of the censuses and the only references we have to them are the marriage at St Mary's in Stoke and his name on the children's birth certificates.They had six children and after William's death the family moved to Australia. There is a large tree coming from the children, particularly Alexander, who fathered thirteen. Trouble is that we do not know which William he might be, so cannot take the line back further or say if that family is related to mine or any other known one.
On Monday one of Alexander's great grandchildren came to see me and I took him, a namesake, and his wife to those local places we thought would be of interest. We stopped at St Mary's but also went to look at the church and graveyard at Barrington, and then went on to look at the estate where a great many of the Barrington labourers must have worked, including members of John's family. Barrington Court is now owned by the National Trust.
Here is John with the house in the background.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-barringtoncourt
Labels: Environs, Genealogy, National Trust, Somerset
Monday, 21 June 2010
Women who made a difference
Last weekend saw the annual flower festival in the church at Chiselborough. It is always interesting to see a theme in place and how the arrangers have interpreted it. Women who have made a difference was this year and I can think of several others I should like to have seen on display. To be fair there was a suffragette, but instead of Emmeline Pankhurst, how about Laura Ormiston Chant? She earned the enmity of Winston Churchill and the censure of George Bernard Shaw, among others. http://womenshistory.about.com/library/etext/bl_1893_pwr_chant.htm
Then there is my third cousin Sylvia, a professor at the London School of Economics. Sylvia is quite a prolific author (with others) in the field of improving the lot of women in the third world and is a not infrequent visitor to conferences on the subject. http://www2.lse.ac.uk/researchAndExpertise/Experts/profile.aspx?KeyValue=s.chant@lse.ac.uk
A third example of a Chant with a mission is Margaret. Her family line is from Odcombe, although she is American. Her father-in-law was Greek Prime Minister, her husband was Greek Prime Minister and her son is the current Greek Prime Minister. http://wiki.phantis.com/index.php/Margaret_Papandreou
Labels: Environs, Genealogy, Somerset
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
William Dampier 1651-1715
The Dampier name, whilst not common, is quite well known in my area of Somerset. William Dampier was from East Coker.
Today I went to Sparkford where there are a couple of Dampier family graves. They may well prove to belong to an unrelated line.
The only possible connection I have in the tree at the present time is where a John Dampier from Chard married a Charlotte Loving from Hawkchurch in 1804. My cousin Michael Loving's grandfather came from Hawkchurch so there is the possibility of a match. Whenever I see the Dampier name I think of the explorer and wonder if there is this oblique connection.
Labels: Devon, Dorset, Environs, Gravestones, Somerset
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Gale Family
Gale is a very common name in my parts of Somerset and Dorset. George Claremont Gale was my second cousin, coming from my great aunt Emma's family after emigration. He came from Canada to serve in the second world war and was posted as missing in action. He is commemorated on the Air Force Memorial at Runnymede.The name just visible on this stone at Bourton, near the Somerset/Wiltshire border is George Gideon Gale. He is from another part of my tree. This George was the son of Gideon and brother of Igdaliah. Igdaliah married Rosina Chant, daughter of Dan Chant who used to have 'The Duke of Cornwall' in Stoke-sub-Hamdon.
Although I have not identified Igdaliah and Rosina's resting place, his father is buried at St Mary's in Stoke.
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1270553
Labels: Environs, Genealogy, Gravestones, Somerset
Friday, 11 December 2009
"The Phelips Arms" at Montacute
My cousin Kathryn advised trying 'The Phelips Arms' for a meal when cousin Maureen and husband Bert were with me a few weeks back. We had a good meal there and it was excellent value.For the last couple of years cousin Marcia, her husband, Melvyn, and I have had a birthday celebration meal at a local pub so this year I suggested that we come here and that Kathryn join us. Time passed very quickly with meals we all enjoyed interspersed with a good deal of chat.
For me 'The Phelips Arms' has a special significance as when viewed at the time of the 1861 census the landlords were my great grandparents, William and Elizabeth Stanton. Also present was my grandmother aged nine months. William was a butcher by trade but he and his wife were in training to take over 'The Rose and Crown' at Birdsmoorgate in Dorset from his parents when they retired. My grandmother was later passed over to her childless aunt Sarah at 'The Fleur de Lis' in Stoke-sub-Hamdon for upbringing and training in the licenced trade. Eventually she ran the 'Fleur' and her four children, including my father, were born there.
http://www.thephelipsarms.co.uk/
Saturday, 28 November 2009
50th Anniversary
I am not a great one for parties as I am usually the sort of wet blanket who does not get invited a second time if someone has been so unwise as to provide a first time! I am getting better at it, though! Since I retired the topics of conversation do not involve solely what went on at work.I had received an invitation to a 50th wedding anniversary party for this evening and was very pleased to go to meet some new people. Being almost a stranger to the area I had expected to know nobody except my host and hostess but, being in a country town, where many people know each other, this was not the case and there was a cousin of a cousin there with his wife. The company with whom I sat at table was very agreeable as well, so I enjoyed myself.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=136620&id=577621329&l=6f4e605baa
Friday, 24 July 2009
Constitutional
Yes, I was good again today and walked up the hill.This viewpoint marker shows the number of miles to the different hills and dales to which it points. It was erected to mark the golden jubilee of Her Majesty.
I am still amazed that the quarrymen are allowed to take so much stone from the hill, particularly when they are so close to the public amenity area. Some of the stone is reconstituted and used as facing for the new properties in the village. It will take many years for them to mellow to the colour of the older buildings, if they ever do given the way the stone has been treated.
There are a good many wild flowers up on the hill and they provide a feast for bees and other insects.
Quite frankly I do not know if this is a five spot burnet or a six spot burnet. I have looked at pictures of both and can not tell the difference.
It is on a teasel and there are many of those growing on the hill. The craft people often pick the heads and dry them to make ornaments. Hedgehogs are a favourite, naturally.
Teasels used to be used set in holders for carding wool.
Labels: Environs
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