By George Solly
16/02/26 From Maureen
I’ve had a query from a David Miles about the Sole family of Elham. David thinks that this family are descendants of Robert Solley and Alice Gibbon who married in Shepherdswell in 1563. This is the only instance in the records that he’s so far shared with me where the surname appears as Solley rather than Sole, and I’m not sure if being unable to find a Robert Sole marriage he hasn’t just settled on Solley as the nearest approximation. Do you have anything on record about this couple?
Reply
Hi Maureen
Looked through my database of Sollys and have found an Alice Gibbon but born about 50 years later. Numerous Robert Solleys but none that match, sorry. Maybe it was indeed a Sole
16/12/25 Dear George
In 2024, I was in touch with you about some research I have been doing on George Christopher Solley (from Sandwich, Kent).
You very kindly replied (below).
I have now finished an article which deals with his life (around 10,000 words) and it is due to be published in Archaeologia Cantiana next year. I will certainly forward you and your society a copy or link to the article.
The editor would like to include the photograph attached – which I found on the Sole Society’s site in an article by Lynne Burlingham.
The provenance of the photo would of course be credited. I am writing to ask whether you – or Lynne – would be able to grant permission for the publication of the photo.
All the very best and season’s greetings
John Bulaitis
I managed to contact Lynne, and here is her reply:
Dear George
Apologies for the delay in replying to your email, mainly due to the upheaval of Christmas!
I am happy for John Bulaitis to use the photo in his article BUT I have a feeling it may not have originated from my own family photos. While researching my Solley family history ((my maiden name was Solley) I was in touch with many different people, some closely related and others more distantly connected and in the process much family information including photos was exchanged. It is quite a few years since I have actively been researching the family history, so some details are rather vague now but I still have several boxes of family history stored away. I would be happy for John to contact me if he is interested in any further information I may have about GCS, although it might take me a while to sort through the boxes to find specific information. I would also be very interested in a copy of his article or a link to it.
On a more personal note, I hope you and your family are all well. Sadly my husband died in February 2024. Since then I have downsized and moved to a very nice retirement flat at St Monica’s not far away and close to the Downs. I have been here just over a year and have settled in, am happy here and keeping well.
Reply from John Bulatis
Dear George
Thanks very much for this – and I’m pleased you managed to make contact with Lynne.
I’ll use the photo – and credit it to Lynne. If in the unlikely event of someone else popping up to claim copyright, the editors of the publication will certainly engage with them.
The article is in the hands of the editors at present. It will appear in the next issue of Archaeologia Cantiana
https://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/journal
I’ll let you have details and a link as soon as I have them.
All the best and – once again – thanks for your help.
John Bulaitis