LETTERS & MESSAGES
from Members
This article was originally published in the April 2007 edition of Soul Search, the journal of The Sole Society
From Roger Chalk - Isle of Wight Record Office
I thought our members might like to know, if they did not already, that the Isle of Wight Record Office have a complete card index of every single person living on the Island since about 1580. The records include all baptisms, marriages and deaths for the thirty two parishes.
For the last two years I have been doing my family tree and have nearly finished it. But I have never been able to find out much about my Great Grandmother, Jessie Louisa Jolliffe, who was born in East Cowes, I.O.W. in 1863, the wife of George Henry Sewell. The Internet has almost nothing on the Isle of Wight, and both Portsmouth and Winchester, the Hampshire and National Records Offices, have nothing on their files.
Up to now I had given up hope as I know how difficult it is to look at parish records on micro-fiche and it was not really on to spend a long time on the Island.
When I rang Sue Oatley at the I.O.W. Record Office in Newport, she explained that they will find the first baptism and sibling free of charge! The rest would be at £15 an hour, but she said that about two hours research with the card index, of course, would take you back to the sixteenth century if indeed your family lived there that long.
Further details can be obtained from:
Sue Oatley
I.O.W. County Record Office
26 Hillside
Newport
I.O.W.
PO30 2EB Tel: 01983 823820 or 823821
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From Joan Gaskin - Marriage Challenge
The Guild of One Name Studies is undertaking a Marriage Challenge, in which members who live near Records Offices volunteer to look up 1837-1911 marriage details for other members when we send information from the General Register Office marriage index. Many Registration Districts have been completed or are in progress. Examples are some of the London Districts (such as Islington, Lambeth and Stepney), as well as Districts as far apart as Bristol, Liverpool, Halifax, Norwich, Canterbury and Southampton. For names being studied, visit the GOONS website at:
http://www.one-name.org GOONS members are always willing to answer enquiries.
One of the many faux certificates I have received is for a marriage at St Leonard's, Mundford (Thetford Registration District) on 24 April 1869 between George DRAKE and Hannah TUCK. The witnesses were William SEWELL and Mary Ann WHITE. Does anyone know of a connection between William SEWELL and the couple? You can contact me by email through one of the web pages below.
BOWHAY One-Name Study: www.one-name.org/profiles/bowhay.html
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From SUFFOLK ROOTS, December 2006, vol 32, No.3
Sent in by Mrs E.F.Salt
1570 Norwich Census of the Poor
John Sewel of 50 yeris, cobbler, that hath no work, & Elizabeth, his wife, of 70 yeris, that spyn white warpe: & daughter of 13 yeris. That spyn white warpe, & hath dwelt here this 10 yeres, and came from Bongeye. Resides Thorntons House, 3d a week. Very pore.
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From Diana Sewell - Besthorpe Needy - Overseers Accounts
Excerpt from the Norfolk Family History Society
Some 'garls' in trouble did make it to the altar. ..... Some men were determined to get away but the Overseers were more determined not to let the father get off lightly! Take the case of John SEWELL. The story starts in 1795 when Elizabeth STEVENSON is paid lying-in expenses and 15 weeks disbursements for her child by Sewell. A journey to Hethel to take out a warrant against Sewell is closely followed by a journey to Wymondham Bridewell to fetch Sewell. In the meantime Elizabeth Stevenson is paid another 11 weeks money for upkeep of her child, which incidentally is entered in the baptism register of Besthorpe as 15th Feb. 1795. James son of John & Elizabeth STEVENSON. (Note: They must have settled down together as another child Robert son of John & Elizabeth Sewell was baptized 21st May 1797 at Besthorpe.)