Great Grandparents

Mar

2014

William Edmund Downing to Mary Letter, 1917

This letter was written to Mary Downing by her father congratulating her on the award of the “Royal Red Cross Medal”. He addresses her as ‘Bobkins’ which ties in with the 1889 letter to Mary from WL Browne where she is addressed as Miss ‘Bobbie’ Downing. This letter gives an insight into the personality of William Edmund Downing. Continue reading →

Nov

2008

Great Grandparents

There are eight Great Grandparents. Continue reading →

Oct

2008

Elizabeth Jane Treleaven

Elizabeth Jane Treleaven, known as Ginny, was born at 23 Claremont Street in Plymouth in 1854. Her father, George Treleaven, was a Ropemaker in the Royal Navy. Continue reading →

Oct

2008

Hannah Pitt Showell

Hannah Pitt Showell was born in Oldbury on 2 Mar 1855. She was the eldest of thirteen children of Walter Showell and his wife Sarah (née Hartill). Her father was a successful brewery owner in the town of Oldbury. Continue reading →

Oct

2008

Margaret Sarah Chiswick

Margaret Sarah Chiswick was born in Poplar on 29 Sep 1851 the eldest daughter of Daniel Chiswick and Margaret Lucas. Her father was a cooper, whose family had practised the trade in Bethnal Green for more than a century. Continue reading →

Oct

2008

William Edmund Downing

William Edmund Downing was born in Smethwick in 1849 the second son of William Downing and his first wife Emma Clifton. His mother died when he was only 2. Both he and his elder brother, George, went into the family business as Maltsters. Continue reading →

Oct

2008

Florence Eliza Marten

Florence Eliza Marten was born on 8 May 1858, the second daughter of Henry John Marten and his first wife Frances Anne Dimmack. She was brought up in the family home at Penn Hall, near Wolverhampton, moving first to Parkfield House, Penn Fields and then to ‘The Birches‘ in Codsall in about 1875. Continue reading →

Sep

2008

Henry Edwin Palmer

Henry Edwin Palmer was born on 28 Sep 1858 the youngest son of Charles Palmer, a naval signalman based in Plymouth. At the age of 21 he married Elizabeth Jane Treleaven (Ginny) up in London – even though she too was from Plymouth. Continue reading →

Aug

2008

Henry Evans

Henry Evans was born on 2 Jun 1840 at Pendeford Hall. We believe he attended Bridgnorth school. By the time his father died in 1859 the future seemed uncertain and the family was forced to relinquish the tenancy of Pendeford Hall. Continue reading →

Aug

2008

Thomas Morgan

Thomas Morgan was born in Jamaica Street in the centre of Bristol on 14 Mar 1850 and was the first of the Morgans to move to London and pursue a literate career. His grandfather Isaac Morgan originally came from Luccombe on the edge of Exmoor. Continue reading →

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