By Diana Kennedy
By Diana KennedyWe welcome two new members to the Sole Society, Joe Bates and Gillian Carberry who are both researching the Sewell name.
Joe Bates corresponded with me a about 14years ago regarding his Sewell Family. I was able to give Joe information on his line back to the marriage of Daniel Sewell and Elizabeth Bowler in 1664, in Hedenham, Norfolk. Now Joe says that a number of brick walls are starting to slow him down. He is therefore going back to add documentation to all of the information he has and is hoping to extend his research for his children and grandchildren. We did have quite a lot on this rather large family but I do not think much has been added in recent years. Most of the original information would have come from the IGI and census details. As Joe lives in America it is difficult to see the records and I have suggested he contacts the Norfolk FHS as he has not been able to find much on family search or ancestry.
New Member Gillian Carberry saw an article on our website written by member Jean Cooper. (Soul Search December 2006) The article concerned a photograph that Jean owned. Gillian also has a copy of the same photograph with a letter identifying the group. Gillian says that they share a common ancestry, from Abraham Sewell born 1841 in Hamsterley, Duham, who married Hannah Armory in 1862. Both Gillian and Jean are the 2xgreat granddaughters of Abraham’s son, John Thomas Sewell. Gillian asked if I would put her in touch with Jean. Unfortunately I have so far been unable to contact Jean as my emails keep being returned. So if anyone has recently changed their email address don’t forget to let the Society know.
Both Edward Fenn and Colin Peters and are descended from the Alston family of Suffolk and Essex and have an interest in the Sewell families of Little Maplestead and Great Henny, Essex, who married into the Alston family. Edward wanted to know whether there is any evidence existing of the two families being related. He went on to say that it is almost certain, as is a relationship between the Alstons of Newton & Edwardstone, Suffolk, is proven by DNA match but not by a genealogy, after 100yrs of search. Looking through the records we do have members of this family in both the Suffolk and Essex records and it certainly looks as if there is some overlap and the families are connected. I sent the trees to Edward and he is looking to combine the two.