Brewing Controversy: The Contested Will of Charles JARVIS and 19th Century Inheritance

Birth and Early Life

Charles JARVIS was born in Bursledon, Hampshire, Great Britain. His birth occurred before official registration began in England, so all that is known is that it happened before his baptism.

His baptism occurred on 4 May 1806 in the Parish Church of Bursledon, which was then and still is St. Leonard’s. The image for the actual baptismal register records his name as Charles JERVIS. His father was Richard, and his mother was Elizabeth.[1]

Transcription of Baptism, Bursledon Parish Registers

Jervis - Charles son of Richard & Elizabeth 4 May

Marriage

Charles JARVIS was a bachelor when he married Sarah STEPHENS, a parish spinster, on 4 September 1832. The ceremony was conducted by George MORRIS, the curate at the time, in the parish church. Charles and Sarah signed the marriage register, and the witnesses to the marriage were Charles BAILEY, Mary PRICE, Thomas BERRYMON, and Ann STONE.[2][3]

Transcription of Marriage, Charles JARVIS and Sarah STEPHENS, Bursledon Parish Registers

The original register entry and the Bishops’ Transcript images are on Ancestry, and both are useful for transcribing the records. Neither the bride, groom, nor witnesses signed with a mark indicating they could read and write. However, where the signatures on the parish register are challenging to read, the names are more clearly written on the Bishop’s Transcript, which was copied with one hand. So far, none of the witness relationships have been verified, and neither have Sarah’s parents or exact place of birth. However, investigating other families may reveal her parents over time.

1841 Census

In the 1841 Census for the Parish of Bursledon, Charles JARVIS was the head of his household. Charles, aged around 30, worked as a sawyer, suggesting he cut timber into boards or planks. His birthplace is in the same county, indicating he was born in Hampshire, which is already confirmed by his baptism. Living with Charles is Sarah JARVIS, a female also aged approximately 30 years, who is likely his wife, as evidenced by their marriage record. However, this census year does not explicitly state their relationship. Like Charles, Sarah was also born in Hampshire. The marriage details indicate that she was living in the parish of Bursledon, but at this point, it’s not clear if she was also born there.[4]

Additionally, a young girl named Ann MAJOR, aged ten, is listed as part of the household. Her role within the household is not specified, but she could be a relative or a child under their care. Ann, too, was born in Hampshire.

The census provides limited details, and adults’ ages were rounded to the nearest five years. His baptism record better confirms Charles’ age, and it was known that he was 35 at the time of this census; what is known about Sarah’s age right now is that she could also be slightly older than 30.

Transcription of 1841 Census of England & Wales, Charles JARVIS (head)

City or Borough of _________________________

Parish or Township of Bursledon

PLACE	HOUSES Uninhabited or Building	HOUSES Inhabited	NAMES of each Person who abode therein the preceding Night.	SEX	AGE*	PROFESSION, TRADE, EMPLOYMENT or of INDEPENDENT MEANS	Born in same County (Y/N)	Born in Scotland, Ireland, or Foreign Parts
		1	Charles Jarvis	Male	30	Sawyer	Y
			Sarah Jarvis	Female	30		Y
			Ann Major	Female	10		Y

*The ages of people over 15 years old were usually rounded down to the nearest 5 years. For example, someone 24 years would have their age listed as 20, and someone 27 years old would have their age listed as 25.

It is unclear from this census which cottage they lived in; the location of the Jolly Sailor pub, where they eventually end up, was reportedly a vicarage during this census year until 1845.[5] However, the exact date will need to be verified as the only good source of the date it became a pub and its previous use is from what is written on Wikipedia, which is sourced through an unsourced pub guide. Though given other evidence of when Charles himself started brewing, these dates do seem to align. In this census, there is only one address marked, which is Elm Lodge, and given the proximity of this address on the subsequent page to this household, it would be very close to this area and likely at the top of Land’s End, where the High Street is today.

Early Career

Sawyer

On the 1841 Census, Charles JARVIS was recorded as a sawyer, though he only briefly worked in this field. In a community reliant on shipbuilding, Charles might have been expected to engage in this trade. A sawyer in the 19th century United Kingdom was a skilled labourer responsible for cutting timber, often working in saw pits before the advent of steam-powered sawmills. This trade required significant physical strength and skill, typically acquired through apprenticeships with experienced craftsmen like carpenters or wheelwrights. Sawyers were crucial in supplying timber for various industries, including construction and shipbuilding, which were vital to the economy at the time. However, the rise of steam-powered sawmills during the Industrial Revolution replaced manual labour, leading to a decline in demand for traditional sawyers and affecting their job security and wages.[6][7]

County Parochial Constable

Charles JARVIS became a parochial constable for Bursledon in the Southampton division, as reported in the Hampshire Advertiser on 8 April 1843. He and William SUTTON were appointed as part of a broader selection of constables for various divisions within Southampton.[8]

Transcription of notice from the Hampshire Advertiser, 8 April 1843

Duties of a County Parochial Constable in the 1840s

The role of a county parochial constable in the 1840s involved several key responsibilities:

• Preserving Peace and Preventing Crime: Constables were primarily responsible for maintaining peace and preventing the commission of crimes within their parish. They had the authority to arrest individuals suspected of intending to commit a felony or found committing misdemeanours.[9][10][11]

• Executing Warrants and Orders: They were required to execute warrants and court orders issued by justices of the peace, sheriffs, and coroners. These orders might have included apprehending offenders and ensuring they were brought before the courts.[9][10]

• Monitoring Public Houses: Constables had to ensure that public and beer houses were closed during specified times, such as church services and certain public holidays. They were also tasked with reporting any breaches of the law by public house keepers to the magistrates.[9][10]

• Handling Vagrants and Beggars: Constables were expected to implement laws regarding vagrants and beggars, which included punishing them and ensuring they did not burden parish resources.[9][10]

• Community Policing: They were often unpaid and served in addition to their regular jobs, meaning they were part of the communities they policed.[9][10]

Potential Conflict of Interest or Mistaken Identity?

Charles JARVIS eventually became a brewer and a publican. He was fined in 1846 for keeping his pub open too late, a role that constables monitored.[12] Some accounts suggest that the Jolly Sailor didn’t become a licensed public house until 1845, so it is unlikely that he held these dual roles in 1843, nor is it known how long he had the constable position.[5]

If JARVIS was both a publican and a parochial constable, it could have presented a conflict of interest. JARVIS would have been responsible for running an inn or alehouse as a publican. The duties of a parochial constable included maintaining order in such establishments and ensuring compliance with laws regarding public houses, such as preventing excessive drinking or disorderly conduct.[9][10]

Managing conflicts of interest effectively is crucial to maintaining public trust and ensuring that public duties are carried out with integrity. In the 19th century, the management of such conflicts relied heavily on personal integrity and transparency, as formal systems for managing conflicts of interest were less developed than they are today.

It is also worth noting that another Charles JARVIS was living in Bursledon at the same time. This Charles would have been in his 20s around the time, and it’s possible that this constable could also have been him, but that’s not clear from this article. The other Charles is probably his nephew, and we will learn more about him later as he becomes pivotal in his probate case. By accounts of this case, these two did not seem to get on, despite their namesake, and maybe if his nephew were the constable in the area, it would explain why! It may be possible to solve this mystery by researching more into his nephew for clues. For example, did this nephew have a relationship with William SUTTON? Maybe they were friends as a result of working together as constables. It is always good practice to know of others who bear the same names in the same area. The dates of the brewer JARVIS don’t rule him out as a constable, but the knowledge of another with his name in the region could.

Brewing Industry

By 1851, Charles was a licensed brewer, making his occupation as a sawyer somewhat short-lived. Although this census does not indicate addresses, he is assumed to live at the Jolly Sailor’s location. It’s unclear from the records exactly when he switched occupations. However, a mention of him receiving a fine for keeping his beer house open too late was published in the Hampshire Advertiser in 1846.[12]

Transcription from the Hampshire Advertiser, 14 November 1846

On Thursday, 14 November 1846, at the Guildhall in Winchester, the County Bench heard the case of Charles JARVIS, described as a publican from Bursledon. JARVIS pleaded guilty to keeping his establishment open beyond the permitted hours. Despite his plea for leniency, Jarvis was fined one pound plus additional costs. At this point in the research, it’s unknown how he came into this occupation and why he decided to get into the brewing industry when he did; however, with the decline of shipbuilding and the onset of steam power replacing his previous job, this probably seemed to him like the right opportunity to embark down this path.

This mention of a pub in the court records is the first known instance of Charles operating as a licensed brewer or publican. It is the closest indication of when he might have moved to the area of the Jolly Sailor on Land’s End; however, this name was only first mentioned as such in the 1871 Census.

In the 1840s and 1850s, the occupation of a licensed brewer in England was characterised by a blend of traditional brewing techniques and emerging industrial advancements. Brewing was a significant industry, with beer being a staple beverage in British society. As a brewer, Charles’ role would have involved managing the entire brewing process, from ingredient selection to fermentation and quality control. Brewers needed a deep understanding of the brewing process, often gained through apprenticeships rather than formal education, although it’s unknown if Charles had this himself. The Beerhouse Act of 1830 also influenced the industry, allowing more people to obtain licenses to brew and sell beer, leading to a proliferation of small breweries and pubs. Brewers were respected community members, providing a vital product central to social life.[13][14]

1851 Census

In the 1851 Census of Bursledon, Charles JARVIS is recorded as the head of his household. He is a 44-year-old married man working as a licensed brewer, and he was born in Bursledon. His wife, Sarah JARVIS, is living with him, who is 45 years old and a native of Bursledon. Also residing in the household is Charles’ 78-year-old mother, Elizabeth JARVIS, who is listed as a widow. Additionally, a lodger named William SHEPPARD is a 40-year-old unmarried master mariner born in Newport, Isle of Wight.[15]

Transcription of 1851 Census of England & Wales, Charles JARVIS (head)

Parish or Township of Bursledon

Ecclesiastical District of

City or Borough of

Town of

Village of Bursledon

No. of Householder's Schedule	Name of Street, Place, or Road and Name or No. of House	Name and Surname of each Person who abode in the house on the night of the 30th March, 1851	Relation to the Head of Family	Condition	Sex	Age	Rank, profession or Occupation	Where Born	Whether Blind or Deaf & Dumb
39		Charles Jarvis	Head	Mar[ried]	Male	44	Licensed Brewer	Bursledon
		Sarah Jarvis	Wife	Mar[ried]	Female	45		Bursledon
		Elizabeth Jarvis	Mother	Widow	Female	78		Bursledon
		William Sheppard	Lodger	U[nmarried]	Male	40	Master Mariner	Newport

His mother’s name matches the one on his baptism, which is more evidence that the baptism found is correct in his instance. This record also confirms that Charles’ father died at least before the census date in 1851. The birth years will be more accurate here for the 1851 Census, and the place of birth will be listed with more than just a county reference.

1861 Census

By the time of the 1861 Census, ten years from the previous census, Charles JARVIS remained the head of his household in Bursledon, though his circumstances had slightly changed. Now 54, Charles continues his work in the local community, but his occupation has expanded to that of a grocer and brewer. His wife Sarah, now 55, is recorded as being born in West Cowes on the Isle of Wight rather than Bursledon. The household has seen some changes; Charles’ mother, Elizabeth, is no longer listed, suggesting she may have died. However, the household now includes their 10-year-old nephew, John BEAVIS, who is attending school and was born in Bursledon. William SHEPPARD, the lodger from ten years prior, is still part of the household. He is now noted as a 50-year-old visitor, still unmarried, and continuing his work as a master mariner from Newport.[16]

Transcription of 1861 Census of England & Wales, Charles JARVIS (head)

The undermentioned Houses are situate within the Boundaries of the

Parish: or Township Bursledon

City or Municipal Borough of

Municipal Ward of

Parliamentary Borough of

Town of

Hamlet or Tything, &c., of

Ecclesiastical District of

No. of Schedule	Road, Street, &c., and No. or Name of House	HOUSES Inhabited	HOUSES Uninhabited (U.), or Building (B)	Name and Surname of each Person	Relation to Head of Family	Condition	Sex	Age	Rank, Profession, or Occupation	Where Born	Whether Blind, or Deaf-and-Dumb
71	Retail Beer House	1		Charles Jarvis	Head	Mar[ried]	M	54	Grocer & Brewer	Bursledon, Hants
				Sarah Jarvis	Wife	Mar[ried]	F	55		West Cowes, I of Wight
				John Beavis	Nephew		M	10	Scholar	Bursledon, Hants
				William Sheppard	Visitor	Unm[arried]	M	50	Master Mariner	Newport, I of Wight

Later Life and Incidents

Grocer and Brewer

While Charles has maintained his brewing credentials, he is also recognised as a grocer on the 1861 Census. A dual role as a grocer and brewer would have introduced new dynamics to his occupation. The brewing industry was evolving, influenced by technological advancements and the consolidation of larger breweries, which might have made it difficult for small-scale brewers like Charles to compete with these larger producers. As a grocer, he would have been part of a trade expanding its range of products, driven by the growing availability of goods from the British Empire and innovations in food preservation and packaging. This dual role required balancing the production and sale of beer with managing a grocery business, catering to the needs of a local community that relied on both staples and speciality goods and Charles’ location on the River Hamble would have been ideal for getting these goods straight from the boats into his business.[17]

Victim of theft

The article from the Hampshire Advertiser, dated 2 January 1869, provides a detailed account of several legal cases heard at the Southampton County Bench, including one involving Charles’ business.[18]

The case involving Charles centred around the theft of a cask of beer on 24 December 1868. He became the victim when BUCKLAND, an employee, was delivering a bag of barley meal and had a cask of beer in his cart. After completing the delivery, BUCKLAND returned to find Peter HEATH holding the cask. Although HEATH initially put the cask down after being confronted, the cask disappeared with the help of Henry MARTIN.

Police-constable HARRIS investigated the theft, tracing the men’s tracks and eventually finding the cask hidden nearby. HEATH was taken into custody, and MARTIN was apprehended the following day. During the investigation, it emerged that MARTIN had witnessed HEATH taking the beer but was advised by his father to remain silent. The defence argued that there was no felonious intent, suggesting the act was merely a joke. Ultimately, MARTIN was discharged, while HEATH was committed to trial.

Transcription of events from the Hampshire Advertiser, 2 January 1869

This account mentions several people who may have ties to the local area, including Charles’ employee who was delivering for him that day.

Prize for Hamble River Regatta

However, not all accounts mentioning Charles are about legal troubles. He was mentioned in an article in the Hampshire Advertiser as a prize winner on the Hamble River Regatta in the 1870s, which would have been an event to draw crowds from all over the area.[19]

The Hamble River Regatta (today known as the Hamble Valley Regatta*) is a regular event dating back to 1868, only a few years before the article found in the paper. It has long celebrated maritime culture and community spirit in the Hamble area. This annual event has evolved, becoming a focal point for residents and visitors eager to witness and participate in water-based competitions.

The regatta quickly gained popularity in its early years, drawing the local nobility, clergy, and spectators. The event featured a range of races, including those for pleasure boats, fishing boats, rowing boats, and punts. Musical performances often enhanced the festive atmosphere and concluded with a spectacular fireworks display. And no doubt, with Charles’ pub located directly on the river and easily accessible by boat, this event would have also been a massive draw for his business. By 1961, the regatta had expanded to include land-based activities such as flower shows and sports days, eventually rebranded as Hamble Week in 1997 to emulate more significant sailing events like Cowes Week.[20][21]

The 1870 Hamble River Regatta was no exception to this tradition of excitement and competition. Among the various events, the fishing boat races were a highlight, divided into categories based on boat size. The races were time-based, with a one-minute handicap per foot of boat length, challenging participants to navigate a course marked by vessels moored at strategic points along the river.

In the race for fishing boats not exceeding 21 feet, the Frolic, captained by James MOODY, emerged victorious, followed by the Wasp, helmed by Thomas BEVIS. For smaller fishing boats not exceeding 18 feet, Arthur ROBINSON’s Tom Tit took the first prize. These races exemplified the skill and competitive spirit of the local sailors.

A notable participant in the regatta in 1870 was Charles JARVIS himself, who competed in the rowing barges race. Partnered with Henry HATCHER, they rowed the Fleetwing to a commendable second-place finish. This race, featuring two-person teams, was a testament to the teamwork and endurance of its participants, with the first prize going to John and Iram WILLSHIRE in their barge, Whiting Pout.

The regatta also included a four-oared yacht gigs race, in which Earl of HARDWICKE in the Susan claimed victory. Mr. E. J. SARTORIS, MP, finished second in the Fleetwing after being fouled by a ferry boat, which added some drama to the competition.

Transcription of rankings from the Fishing Boat races of the Hamble River Regatta, Hampshire Advertiser, 24 September 1870

Or is this another case of mistaken identity? It’s possible this could be Charles’ nephew once again. His nephew would have been younger and potentially fitter than the publican, and there has been no reference to a skill or interest in rowing barges, though that’s not to say he didn’t have one! To prove this, careful consideration would need to happen with the nephew. Maybe he had a closer relationship with Henry HATCHER, especially if Henry was closer to the nephew’s age, or the nephew could have had an occupation that more closely aligned with the maritime trade; at the moment, we don’t know. Of course, that’s not to say that our Charles wouldn’t have benefited financially from such a significant event!

The results are only a handful of those published in the paper. There’s a chance to revisit this event for other families in the area, as many who participated would have been local to Bursledon, some already recognisable from names captured in the census records recorded here.

* Somehow, we missed this year’s Regatta despite travelling to the area over the past weekend!

1871 Census

Shortly after the regatta, the 1871 Census was recorded, giving more insight into Charles’ household at the pub this year. Now 66 years old, Charles JARVIS still works as a malt brewer and retailer. His wife, Sarah, is 67 and is noted as the malt brewer’s wife. This census is the first in which their residence is called a Public House. Their household now includes their nephew, Charles BEVIS, who is 21 years old and employed as a general domestic servant, though most likely working with his uncle in the pub or brewery. It is currently unknown if Charles BEVIS from the 1871 Census and John BEAVIS from the 1861 Census are the same people. However, the BEVIS family is connected to Charles, which will require further investigation. William SHEPPARD is also no longer listed in this household, so it is possible he has also died within the last ten years since the previous census, appearing to be a long-term resident of the cottages here.[22]

Transcription of 1871 Census of England & Wales, Charles JARVIS (head)

The undermentioned Houses are situate within the Boundaries of the

Civil Parish or Township of Bursledon

City or Municipal Borough of

Municipal Ward of

Parliamentary Borough of

Town of

Village or Hamlet, &c. of Bursledon

Local Board, or [Improvement Commissioners District] of

Ecclesiastical District of Bursledon

No. of Schedule	ROAD, STREET, &c., and No. or NAME of HOUSE	HOUSES Inhabited	HOUSES Uninhabited (U.) or Building (B.)	NAME and Surname of each Person	RELATION to the Head of the Family	CONDITION	SEX	AGE	Rank, Profession or OCCUPATION	WHERE BORN	Whether 1. Deaf-and-Dumb 2. Blind 3. Imbecile or Idiot 4. Lunatic
89	The Jolley Sailor Public House	1		Charles Jarvis	Head	Mar[ried]	Male	66	Malt-Brewer & Retailer	Hants, Bursledon
				Sarah Jarvis	Wife	Mar[ried]	Female	67	Malt-Brewer & Retailer's Wife	Hants, West Cowes, Isle of Wight
				Charles Bevis	Nephew	Unm[arried]	Male	21	General Domestic Servant	Hants, Bursledon

Final Years and Illness

The years after the 1871 Census took a harsh turn on Charles. Starting in 1872, he was fined again for keeping his pub open too late[23], and by 1875, his health was drastically declining.[24][25]

From his death certificate and reports from newspaper articles after his death, from the early months of 1875, Charles JARVIS began to experience a decline in his health. This deterioration was marked by symptoms later diagnosed as “softening of the brain,” a term used during the 19th century to describe a condition that modern medicine might recognise as cerebral softening or encephalomalacia. This condition involves the degeneration or softening of brain tissue, often resulting from insufficient blood flow or a stroke, leading to neurological impairments. It was usually associated with the aftermath of strokes or other vascular issues affecting the brain. The lack of advanced medical diagnostics meant that such conditions were generally described based on observable symptoms rather than precise medical imaging or tests.[26]

As the months progressed, Charles’ condition worsened, manifesting in partial paralysis and affecting his cognitive abilities. These symptoms were indicative of the severe impact his illness had on his daily life and his ability to manage his affairs. The Hampshire Advertiser article from 18 January 1879 notes that Charles had been suffering from these ailments for approximately eight months before his death, suggesting that his illness began around March or April 1875, also confirmed by his death registration.[24][25]

Charles’ illness undoubtedly significantly strained his personal and professional life. As his health declined, he faced the dual challenges of managing his business and coping with the impending loss of his wife, Sarah JARVIS, who died on 19 November 1875. This period of illness and personal loss culminated in Charles’ decision to revise his will two days later, which was just days before his death on 23 November 1875.[27]

Death of Wife and Charles’ Death

Charles’ wife, Sarah, died on 19 November 1875 in Bursledon, Hampshire.[28] Two days later, on 21 November 1875, Charles gave instructions to draft a new will.[27] He initially drafted a will in 1849[24], leaving everything to his wife; however, when she died and with no children, he changed his will to leave everything to his nieces and nephews, instructing nephew Richard JARVIS, a baker and grocer of Netley to have the cottage, orchard, and gardens situated near the Church in Bursledon. He also requested his nephew Charles BEVIS to receive the pub business, including the cottages, outhouses and adjoining land. The rest was to be divided equally among his nieces and nephews.

Transcription of Charles JARVIS’ final will dated 21 November 1875

Charles must have felt his imminent death, which is why he quickly changed his will because, after this event, he died only two days later.

Transcription of Death Registration, South Stoneham, Hampshire, 1875

According to his death registration, Charles JARVIS, a 69-year-old brewer, died on 23 November 1875 in Bursledon. His death was attributed to softening of the brain, a condition he endured for eight months. The cause of death was certified by Alfred PERN, a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and a Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians. The death was reported by Charles BEVIS, who was present at the time of JARVIS’ death. The following day, on 24 November 1875, the death was officially registered by William Henry GOODRIDGE, the registrar for the district.

A notice for both Charles and Sarah appeared in the newspaper shortly after, and they were buried in St. Leonard’s Churchyard the same day.[28][29][30]

Transcription of the death notice that appeared in the Hampshire Advertiser on 4 December 1875 for both Charles and Sarah

Transcription of their burial registers showing they were buried together on 28 November 1875

As of yet, very little information is known about Sarah, including whether she was born in Bursledon or Isle of Wight, as revealed by the discrepancy in census record information; a death registration record does exist for her, and at some point, this should be obtained to determine more the events of these final days; however, the following probate case was well publicised in the newspapers and gave some insight, albeit conflicting, into his health and state of mind.

Probate and Legal Proceedings

Charles’ probate drew out for many years after this; lengthy and highly publicised accounts of his final days, provided by descriptions of the legal proceedings in the newspapers, are available from at least three different newspaper sources.[24][31][32]

The probate case “ANNETT v. JARVIS” began in the Probate Division of the High Court of Justice, presided over by Sir James HANNEN and a common jury. This case involved the will of Charles JARVIS, a brewer from Bursledon, whose estate was contested after his death on 23 November 1875. The plaintiffs, George ANNETT and John SPARSHOTT were the executors named in JARVIS’ will, and they sought to uphold its validity against challenges posed by the defendant, referred to as Charles JARVIS, heir-at-law (not to be confused with Charles JARVIS, the testator!) In this case, the heir-at-law is the JARVIS from the case title, believed to be a nephew and represented in these articles by his wife, Mary, as his guardian, as he was admitted into an asylum at the time of the trial. The series of articles is rich with names of relatives and neighbours, which will prove helpful to the overarching research.

The proceedings were significant due to the complexities surrounding the mental capacity of Charles JARVIS at the time the will was executed. The defence argued that JARVIS was not of sound mind when he made his will on 21 November 1875, just two days before his death. The case drew attention due to the conflicting testimonies regarding JARVIS’ mental state, as well as the implications for the distribution of his estate, which was valued under £450 after being resworn.

Sir James HANNEN, known for his astute handling of probate cases, guided the proceedings with a focus on the evidence presented by both sides. The common jury played a crucial role in assessing the credibility of the witnesses and the validity of the claims made by the defence. Ultimately, the jury favoured the plaintiffs, confirming the will’s validity and allowing the executors to distribute the estate according to the testator’s wishes. This decision underscored the importance of clear testamentary intentions and the challenges of contesting wills based on mental capacity claims in the 19th century.

There can be a lot of detail in cases like this. Especially with probate cases, the names of close family, friends, or neighbours can emerge. Below is an account of the people and a description of their roles in the trial.

List of People Involved in the Probate Case of Charles Jarvis

1. Charles Jarvis - The testator (deceased).

2. Sarah Jarvis - Charles Jarvis’s wife (deceased).

3. George Annett - Carpenter, executor of the will. Charles instructed George to draft the new will when he came to make Sarah’s coffin; he also testified that the testator was of sound mind when the will was drafted.

4. John Sparshott - Grocer, co-executor of the will. Corroborated the testimony of George ANNETT and also mentioned that Charles asked him previously to draft a new will. However, Dr PERN, the attending physician, advised him not to do so due to the complexity of the estate, so he declined during the first instance.

5. Charles Jarvis (heir-at-law) - Nephew to Charles JARVIS, the testator. He was also not present in court as he was described as a ‘lunatic’ and in an asylum. He was represented by his wife, Mary. He claimed he was due half of the estate; inheritance rules would have determined this if the testator had not followed the new will. Although the entire family tree is yet to be mapped completely to understand full inheritance rights, there may be some validity in this, assuming the new will was not upheld, which is why the heir-at-law was fighting for the new will to be overturned.

6. Mary Jarvis - Wife and guardian of JARVIS (heir-at-law). She testified the testator was not of sound mind when the will was made.

7. Richard Jarvis - Nephew of the testator. His uncle wished him a house with an orchard and garden with the new will. He testified that his uncle was of sound mind and was present at the will’s signing. He also sat with him the night before his death.

8. Charles Bevis - Son of the testator’s niece, Ann BEVIS. His uncle wished him to have the pub with the new will. This detail of BEVIS’ relationship will be beneficial when researching the next generation of pub ownership, as it is known that BEVIS was already occupying the pub before his uncle’s death. His uncle was priming him to take over the business.

9. Dr. Pern - Attending physician of the testator. He confirmed his medical condition and argued that he was not in any condition to make a valid will.

10. William Boyes - Witness to the will. Confirmed the execution process and believed the testator to be sane when the will was executed, despite the testator not being able to sign with anything but a mark as his hand was “shaky”.

11. Edward White - Witness to the will. He also confirmed the execution process, though he raised concerns about the order of the signatures. He claimed he was fetched after the will was read over and did not know the contents, being informed that this was an unusual request. He believed the witnesses signed the will before the testator did, believing BOYES to have made a similar statement, but BOYES denied this was the case.

12. Mrs. Forrest - Niece of the testator’s wife (Sarah JARVIS). Recounted instances of the testator raving and confused after his wife’s death, even claiming that he would have killed her if he had been violent but not remembering the details of the trauma.

13. George Noulton - Husband of one of the testator’s nieces. He was in the room when the will was signed and testified that he was of sound mind. He also provided testimony on Charles JARVIS, heir-at-law, saying he came to see the testator just before his death. George had told Charles, the testator, that he had come to see him, but he said: “Ah, he’s a bad one; he’s served me cruel.” He stated then that he knew Charles, heir-at-law, had differences with his uncle. He also maintained that the will was signed in the correct order and witnessed appropriately.

14. Charles Richards - Relationship not specified and supported George NOULTON’s testimony.

15. Mrs. Noulton - Niece of Charles Jarvis. She also supported George NOULTON’s testimony.

16. Rev. Mr. Lewis - Vicar of Bursledon, acquaintance of the testator. Testified that he saw Charles shortly before his death and concluded he was of sound mind and never saw anything to suggest otherwise.

17. Keziah Stephens - Relative to the testator, the specific relationship was not stated, but given Sarah Jarvis’ maiden name, it was likely a relation on her side. She believed him to be not in sound mind to make a will.

18. Mrs. Luff - Relationship not specified. He also thought the testator was not sound enough to execute a will.

Legal Representatives

1. Mr. Inderwick, Q.C. - Counsel for the plaintiffs. Believed there was enough supporting evidence to confirm that the testator knew what he was doing when he drafted the new will.

2. Mr. Dunlop Hill - Counsel for the plaintiffs.

3. Dr Deane, Q.C. - Counsel for the defendant. The defence tried to provide evidence that the heir-at-law was due half of the estate and that the new will was obtained under duress.

4. Mr. Bayford - Counsel for the defendant.

Judicial Figure

1. Sir James Hannen - President of the Probate Court. The jury ruled in favour of the plaintiffs in this case; in his summation, the judge claimed despite the discrepancy in testimony by one witness to how the will was signed, this was only one statement out of many that disagreed with the order of the events. He also restated one statement by the testator before his death, and in the excitement of witnessing the will, the testator told the group, “I have left you all something: don’t quarrel, don’t quarrel.” To Sir HANNEN, this was proof that Charles knew what he was doing when he drafted this new will and was aware of the effect this was having on the family in the room. Finally, the testimony from Reverend LEWIS seemed to be the strongest of all, with the Reverend visiting a day before the new will was signed and recounting that he also believed the testator to be in a sound mind. There would have been no cause for the judge to assume that the community vicar would intend to lie to the court.

   The most complete account of the court record, with witness statements, is from the following transcribed article from the Hampshire Independent, 18 January 1879

Order of Inheritance

Cases like this become necessary in genealogical research, as does the order of inheritance. While there is a great deal of genealogical information presented in the facts of this case, there is a lot left out, too. Charles had “some fourteen” nieces and nephews, with Charles BEVIS himself being the nephew of a niece; it was probably essential for him to create this new will if he wanted this particular nephew to keep the pub he had been living and working in, if not then BEVIS would have had to give up the pub with that estate then divided between his mother and his other aunts and uncles. So what would have happened if the will would have been deemed unsuitable in 1875? Well, with his spouse deceased and no children, we know his parents are probably already deceased, and let’s assume his remaining brothers and sisters are also deceased (based on the fact the heir-at-law, in this case, was a nephew and not a brother or sister, which would have been next in line). In this instance if any siblings had predeceased the individual, their children (the deceased’s nieces and nephews) would have inherited their parent’s share.[33]

From this, we can surmise a couple of things about relationships not mentioned, such as how many siblings the testator might have had, which is at least up to two (there could, of course, be more if he had any siblings who, like him, also died with no children). If the nephew was believed to be the heir-at-law and thought he was entitled to half of the estate, that could also assume he was the only living nephew of that relationship who would have been the testator’s brother (his surname was also JARVIS). There is, however, another JARVIS in this case, Richard JARVIS, who is also a nephew. If he had been the brother of Charles JARVIS, heir-at-law, he would have been entitled to half of what Charles JARVIS, heir-at-law, received, but this wasn’t mentioned. What are some assumptions to make here? Richard JARVIS could be a son of the heir-at-law, which could be why he was also explicitly called out in this will. He could also be the son of another male sibling of the testator. In this case, the following steps would be to build the family trees further to work out the puzzle pieces. Of course, many of these names are on census records in Bursledon, too, so over time, the details of this inheritance case may fall together as we get more research on neighbours and relatives from the records we have.

Next Steps for the Research

There are so many different ways to branch out here at this point! Do I continue looking into the residents of the pub, or do I try to determine the relationships of his nieces and nephews? Researching every single name in this court case could send me down a wild goose chase. After transcribing my census records from this time, I do happen to know many of them are on here, so in my case, I have decided to continue down my list for the Jolly Sailor and the households I believe existed on Land’s End, specifically.

• Sarah STEPHENS - I have started researching her but haven’t gotten far. I haven’t been able to verify her birth location, which means I also don’t know her parents’ names. However, this Keziah STEPHENS from the probate case above shares her maiden surname. She also lives nearby in Bursledon, so I have decided to wait and see if I can connect with her through this family later.

• Elizabeth JARVIS - I have also started researching Elizabeth. I know her maiden name, but I have some conflicting information. Charles’ father was Richard, and I noticed him in some pre-1841 records searches. It’s also possible that other relatives in Bursledon will reveal more information about Elizabeth and Richard, too. In this case, I would also like to table the research to get to a point where I can move back to another generation to where I am now.

• William SHEPPARD - I have already started researching William; he, like Charles, also didn’t have any children. He was a master mariner, and I found some interesting news articles about him that I am eager to share. William is an excellent example of the merchant marine story in Bursledon. I have some experience with this, and the types of records available here to discover more about them. I am also excited to share stories of people in history who haven’t had children because I think these people are very often overlooked in genealogy research. As the Charles JARVIS probate case proves, I also believe these people can significantly impact their relatives’ lives, even if we don’t uncover it immediately in our research.

• Charles BEVIS - I will get to Charles BEVIS as he was the heir to the pub and ran it for many years beyond his uncle’s death. I have been considering working through some of these records generationally, though, and what I mean by that maybe instead of working through one household at a time, working through one household in earlier census years (1851, 1861, 1871) before moving on to later census years (1881, 1891, and 1900). This way, I can better understand how families change over time. It also gives me more time to research the pub itself, as it will be an underlying thread through this journey of discovery.

• Charles JARVIS (the nephew) - I might consider sidestepping to research the nephew to learn more about him. I don’t think he lived on Land’s End, but he did live in Bursledon. While I can be confident any article mentioning the brewer or the pub is related to this Charles, there’s at least two articles that could relate to the nephew and the only way to be sure is to research him too. I’m also curious if there’s something in the theory that if the nephew was a constable and always ratting out his uncle for keeping his pub open too late, then maybe there was something in this alleged fued that they had.

• I’m going to the archives! It is currently Heritage Open Days in the United Kingdom, and the archive has some events this weekend. The Open Day would be a great opportunity to pop into the Hampshire Archives and prepare my card. I may not do any record searching then, but with the archives being open and events going on, it’s an excellent opportunity to see how they can help me in my research.

Citations:

[1] Baptisms (PR) England. Bursledon, Hampshire. 04 May 1806. JERVIS, Charles. Anglican Parish Registers; Reference: 83130/1/3. Hampshire Archives and Local Studies, Winchester, England, UK. Collection: Hampshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1536-1812. http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 30 August 2024.

[2] Marriages (PR) England. Bursledon, Hampshire. 04 September 1832. JARVIS, Charles and STEPHENS, Sarah. Parish Registers. Reference: 83130/1/2. Hampshire Archives and Local Studies, Winchester, England, UK. Collection: Hampshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921. http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 02 September 2024.

[3] Marriages (PR) England. Bursledon, Hampshire. 04 September 1832. JARVIS, Charles and STEPHENS, Sarah. Bishops’ Transcripts. Reference: 21m65/F8/47/2. Hampshire Archives and Local Studies, Winchester, England, UK. Collection: Hampshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921. http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 02 September 2024.

[4] Census records. England. Bursledon, Hampshire. 06 June 1841. JARVIS, Charles (head). PN 402. BN 6. FL 9. SN 1113. p. 19. National Archives, Kew, England. http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 02 September 2024.

[5] Wikipedia Contributors. The Jolly Sailor, Bursledon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jolly_Sailor,_Bursledon : accessed 04 September 2024.

[6] Doric Columns: The History & Heritage of the City of Aberdeen. Sawyers Trade Observations of the 1800s. https://doriccolumns.wordpress.com/industry/sawmills/sawyer-trade/ : accessed 04 September 2024.

[7] Mayhew, Henry. (1850) Letter LIX. Collection: The Morning Chronicle: Labour and the Poor, 1849-50. https://www.victorianlondon.org/mayhew/mayhew59.htm : accessed 04 September 2024.

[8] Hampshire Advertiser. (1843) County Parochial Constable. Hampshire Advertiser. 08 April. p. 2h. Collection: Newspapers. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 03 September 2024.

[9] Wikipedia Contributors. Parish constable. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parish_constable : accessed 05 September 2024.

[10] FamilySearch Wiki. England Occupations Law and Order, Constables, Police. https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/England_Occupations_Law_and_Order,_Constables,_Police_-_International_Institute : accessed 05 September 2024.

[11] Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2016) ‘Constable: petty constable’. In: Encyclopedia Britannica. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. https://www.britannica.com/topic/constable : accessed 05 September 2024.

[12] Hampshire Advertiser. (1846) County Bench. Hampshire Advertiser. 14 November. p. 5c. Collection: Newspapers. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 03 September 2024.

[13] Wikipedia Contributors. Beerhouse Act 1830. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beerhouse_Act_1830 : accessed 05 September 2024.

[14] Brewery History Society. Strategy for the Historic Industrial Environment The Brewing Industry. 2010. https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/brewing-industry/ : accessed 05 September 2024.

[15] Census records. England. Bursledon, Hampshire. 30 March 1851. JARVIS, Charles (head). PN 1670. FL 97. SN 39. ED 4. p. 11. National Archives, Kew, England. http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 02 September 2024.

[16] Census records. England, Bursledon, Hampshire. 07 April 1861. JARVIS, Charles (head). PN 680. FL 10. SN 71. ED 1. p. 14. National Archives, Kew, England. http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 22 August 2024.

[17] Poelmans, E. and Swinnen, J.F.M. (2011) A Brief Economic History of Beer. The Economics of Beer. October. pp. 3-28. doi:/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199693801.003.0001 : accessed 09 September 2024.

[18] Hampshire Advertiser. (1868) Southampton County Bench. Hampshire Advertiser. 02 January. p. 5f. Collection: Newspapers. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 03 September 2024.

[19] Hampshire Advertiser. (1870) Hamble River Regatta: Fishing Boats. Hampshire Advertiser. 24 September. p. 6b. Collection: Newspapers. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 03 September 2024.

[20] Hamble Local History Society. Maritime Hamble. http://www.hamblehistory.org.uk/community/hamble-local-history-society-12978/maritime-hamble/ : accessed 09 September 2024.

[21] Hamble Valley Regatta. History. http://bursledonregatta.org/history/ : accessed 09 September 2024.

[22] Census records. England, Bursledon, Hampshire. 02 April 1871. JARVIS, Charles  (head). PN 1195. FL 11. SN 89. p. 16. National Archives, Kew, England. http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 22 August 2024.

[23] Hampshire Advertiser. (1872) County Bench. Hampshire Advertiser. 24 February. p. 6e. Collection: Newspapers. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 03 September 2024.

[24] Hampshire Independent. (1879) Probate Suit from Bursledon. Hampshire Independent. 18 January. p. 5c-d. Collection: Newspapers. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 11 September 2024.

[25] Deaths (CR) England. RD South Stoneham, Hampshire. 23 November 1875. JARVIS, Charles. Vol. 2c. p. 30. www.gro.gov.uk : accessed 03 September 2024.

[26] Wikipedia Contributors. Encephalomalacia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encephalomalacia : accessed 09 September 2024.

[27] Testamentary records. England. 20 December 1875. JARVIS, Charles. Will and Grant of Administration. https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk : accessed 03 September 2024.

[28] Death announcements. (1875) Hampshire Advertiser. 04 December. JARVIS, Charles and JARVIS, Sarah. p. 4c. Collection: Newspapers. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 03 September 2024.

[29] Burials (PR) England. Bursledon, Hampshire. 28 November 1875. JARVIS, Charles and JARVIS, Sarah. Parish Registers. Year Range: 1813-1891. Hampshire Archives and Local Studies, Winchester, England, UK. Collection: Hampshire, England, Church of England Burials, 1813-1921. http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 03 September 2024.

[30] Monumental inscriptions. England. St Leonard Churchyard, Bursledon, Hampshire. 23 November 1875. JARVIS, Charles. Collection: Billion Graves Cemetery Index. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 11 September 2024.

[31] Hampshire Post and Southsea Observer. (1879) Bursledon-A Will Cause. Hampshire Post and Southsea Observer. 24 January. p. 7b. Collection: Newspapers. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 03 September 2024.

[32] Hampshire Advertiser. (1879) Local Probate Suit. Hampshire Advertiser. 18 January. p. 6b-c. Collection: Newspapers. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 02 September 2024.

[33] The Gazette. What are the intestacy rules in England and Wales?. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/wills-and-probate/content/103523 : accessed 11 September 2024.

Behind the Scenes: Tools and Techniques for Historical Research

There are many factors to consider when starting a project of this size. Therefore, I wanted to share a little about my tools and methodology so far. Beginning a substantial research project can be overwhelming but also thrilling for me. The thrill comes from uncovering new information through research and structuring it into something dynamic and valuable. This process engages my brain's User Experience Design aspect, a task that I naturally enjoy.

Ordnance Survey (n.d.). Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sheet LXVI. OS Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952. Available at: https://maps.nls.uk/view/102343125 [Accessed 28 Aug. 2024]. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland. Using and sharing maps is one consideration in organising your one-place study research. This map from 1871 shows some of the area of my study interest, but the sheet that contains Land's End isn't available on the National Library of Scotland and is only viewable on commercial sites.

Organising My Research

As I'm still in the early stages of my research, I've outlined a few key activities for this research below.

Census Analysis

One activity is analysing census data from 1851 to 1891 for the Jolly Sailor pub and the surrounding Land's End Road area. This will involve creating a database of residents, identifying long-term residents, and examining family relationships. I've already started this task and have completed three census years, with the information partially transcribed and available on the site.

While I can't share images of the census records, I can provide them in transcription form. I'm initially adding them to the site in a static table format, but I may consider making them more interactive.

Additionally, I'm adding records from the entire village, not just the area where I believe Land's End is located. This is because the census records themselves don't contain any address or street information, so the only way to know where the enumerator was for each household is to plot their journey on a map. I've already started with the 1871 records, so these will be available for the entire village when this post goes out.

You can find a link to my Census Transcription pages on my site. I am still determining how to organise and display the individual census transcription pages, as I’m not happy with how they are backend organised on my website. I may migrate these to Notion pages instead, but I would like to maintain the landing page on my website. The Notion app is a good solution because my notes are already here, which I will detail below.

Family Relationships

I employ genealogical methods to uncover potential family connections between households and construct family trees. My research may extend beyond Bursledon, so I must be cautious about delving too deeply into each individual's background. I contemplated investigating parents and siblings to aid in locating pertinent records about a person. However, if these individuals don't have ties to the area of interest, I will handle their details more lightly than I would if they were from Bursledon. Additionally, in cases where I initially can't find records about a person, I've noted that individuals with the same surnames further down my list may prove more valuable to my research and may only necessitate waiting to develop their relationships further.

Local History Research

I plan to search local archives and libraries to locate maps, photographs, and news articles related to the pub, its residents, and the people living in nearby cottages. Last week, I was thrilled to discover that up to four listed buildings are in my research area, with two located next to the pub! Did you know that Historic England has an archive in Swindon? I only found out about this recently myself! I was recently in touch, and while their image archive is a little less helpful for me and this area, it could be useful for others. The archive has a lot of images of the historic brickworks, and it also has modern photos of some of the listed buildings I’m interested in in my research area; however, for artefacts from the period, I will probably have to visit the Hampshire Archives instead (located in Winchester). If you are interested in searching the Historic England photographs, there are two resources to try. The catalogue already has many images online, but if not, you can visit the archives to view them yourself. There is also the Architectural Red Box Collection, which is organised by place name. Sadly, there is not much for Bursledon here, There are a few interesting photos of the church, but I noted some areas had results in the few hundred!

Occupational and Economic Study

I plan to conduct an occupational and economic study, which involves categorising and analysing residents' occupations and researching typical wages to understand the commercial landscape. These studies provide a holistic view of the community's economic situation. I have noticed clusters of occupations related to the industries I mentioned in my previous post from the census records. Apart from the apparent maritime efforts, the recent discovery of strawberry farming and brickworks indicates that they, too, play a significant role in the community's economy.

Considering the area's proximity to the River Hamble and the prevalence of merchant marines in Land's End, I will still investigate the connections to maritime industries and their influence on the resident population.

Contextual Research on Pubs and Inns

In my research, I aim to explore the broader role of pubs and inns in 19th-century communities by comparing them with similar studies on other licensed buildings. One of the pubs I plan to examine is the Jolly Sailor, which still operates as a pub, and is a listed building in the area. I also intend to investigate two other inns to gain a more comprehensive understanding. I recently came across the New Inn (later Greywell), a significant public house at the top of Land's End. At the bottom of Land's End, I found a reference to the Ship Inn, which appears to have ceased operation after the 1880s. There was also one other public house in Bursledon, at the junction where the bridge comes across from Swanwick (originally called the Swan Inn), that I may consider including in this, too. Bursledon had plenty of public houses or inns for such a small village!

Starting the Research

I started my research by examining the census records of 1861, 1871, and 1881. These records offer insight into the occupations of the residents during this significant period. Selecting a reference point is challenging because specific landmarks are sparse in these censuses. The New Inn, Jolly Sailor, and Hatchett's Farm are essential reference points. However, the Ship Inn poses a mystery that I intend to investigate further, as I have only been able to locate it on a map rather than in a census return.

Maps

I have a detailed map from the OS 1:2500 County Series, First Edition maps, published from 1855 to 1896. It guides my research, but I can't share it due to copyright restrictions for any of my digital images. I want to recreate this map using data from this census to track families' movements for each census year. I use a commercial tool called Historic Digimap for most of my map-based research, but it's only available to academic network users. I prefer it because it lets me easily view map products in different scales and by decade. However, I know this will not be available to more casual researchers. The National Library of Scotland has excellent map resources, but the maps I need for this area of research still need to be scanned. Luckily, I live near the British Library, which has a fantastic map room. Even closer to me, the National Archives also has these county series maps, so I'll probably photograph these myself soon. I'm excited to create my map based on my research. The actual maps in question should be out of copyright, but sharing digital images of anything that falls under Crown Copyright is complicated at the best of times.

Databases and organisation

I've also created a detailed database to organise information on residents, using tools like Notion and Airtable for data management and analysis. This structured approach helps identify patterns in residency, family connections, and economic roles.

Tools and Techniques

• RootsMagic: My research does not rely solely on genealogical software. I diversify between tools because I have developed specific sourcing and researching methods. However, I prefer RootsMagic as my main genealogy database and a combination of online database subscriptions, including Ancestry and FindMyPast. When creating family trees, I often draw these myself in Adobe Illustrator, which makes it easy to rely on something other than a genealogical software package.

• Notion: I use Notion to keep my primary notes and maintain a database of people, integrating pages into database views. My favourite part about Notion is that it is flexible and free for personal use. Many people like to keep their research notes in their genealogy databases, but this has never worked very well for me, mainly because these tools are not good with formatting. One of the best features of Notion is that I can type and format as I like, and if I need to copy and paste text someplace else, it copies in Markdown. If you’re unfamiliar with Markdown and do a lot of writing with different tools (I also use Word and Scrivener), I recommend learning more about it. The best use case for Markdown is that it supports tables, which I use a lot in transcriptions, so having my notes in simple formatting language makes it much easier to copy and paste between programs that may have their weird table markup.

• Airtable: As a paid subscriber, I use Airtable to analyse data and create citations using my pre-built formulas. Its features overlap slightly, but I think it complements Notion’s, giving me even more flexibility in managing my research. Because I use this tool for various other tasks, I am more than willing to pay for it, but a free version is also available. I believe Airtable’s database features are more potent than Notion’s, but I use both for different tasks. I look at Airtable as a necessity when I am working with larger structured datasets. I have also developed my citation creator using Airtable because their formulas are robust and easy to use. Notion’s databases are good for structuring content because I can create pages on any number of items, so, with Notion, I use databases here to organise notes and large chunks of writing in more meaningful ways.

• AI tools (various): I'm sure there's a future blog post about how I use these tools, but the primary way I use them these days is for transcriptions of documents. The two stand-outs for transcriptions are Gemini for transcribing from images (and even translating when dealing with documents in a different language). I also use Chat-GPT for census transcriptions. Over the last year, I have developed a method that has cut down the effort in transcribing standard records like census, birth, marriage, or death. However, it has also allowed me to create templates that take simple language prompts that give me complete transcriptions. Since I cannot share images from census records (again, copyright in this country is a minefield), having these transcription tables is necessary. Transcription is my least favourite task, but having created these templates for transcribing records means I have more than halved the time it takes me to do them. Given the number of records, I will need to transcribe for a project this size, this takes some of the struggles out of a task I otherwise loathe. As an aside, I only use this method for non-living people, and I do opt out of options that ask you to contribute back by training the model; while I appreciate the ease of use with these tools, I am mindful that the data in these records are of real people. Although that said, many, if not all, of the genealogy database companies are already using these tools. They are undoubtedly built on the same models we’re already using in things like Gemini and Chat-GPT, as these are some of the largest and commercially available to them right now, and it might not be clear in their policies how they’re using sharing their data back to third parties either. It is good practice always to understand the terms of conditions and privacy policies of any tool you use, including commercial genealogy databases.

My main research database has started in Notion and is currently organised by household, with fields for names, census years, occupations, and relationships. This digital approach allows for adaptability and efficiency, eliminating the need for paper records. I know many genealogists swear by their paper files. However, I have never preferred keeping paper records, so my digital organisational style and need for flexible systems have primarily echoed this.

Next Steps

Currently, I'm transcribing census records to track the enumerator's path and sort out which households lived where on the map. I have also signed up for my Archives Card to visit the Hampshire Archives, and I need to go in and get my reader’s card soon; I hope to get to that in the next month. After that, I plan to spend a working day in the National Archives and visit the map room, which I don't usually frequent. I typically work in the research library instead. However, the map room at the National Archives is closer and more accessible, even though it's less comprehensive than the British Library. Speaking of the National Archives, I find their Discovery Catalogue useful as a federated archives search, which means I can easily see resources that might be relevant across archives all over the country.

As I continue my research, I am excited about the prospect of uncovering more fascinating details about the history of the Jolly Sailor pub and the surrounding community. I look forward to delving further into the archives, connecting the dots between residents and their occupations, and gaining a deeper understanding of Bursledon's social and economic fabric. This project has already been an enriching journey, and I am eager to see where it leads next.

Discovering Bursledon: A Journey Through History and Heritage

 

My journey into the heart of Bursledon's maritime history began with a simple curiosity about my husband's ancestors. Little did I know, this would lead me down a fascinating path exploring the village's storied connection to the merchant marines, industry, and agriculture. Through my earlier research, I gained insights into how to trace people in the merchant marines. I also discovered a deep fascination with Bursledon, particularly the street where I believe his family lived—today known as Land's End Rd.

On every census, the family was enumerated near the Jolly Sailor pub, one of the few anchor points available for determining who lived in which of the several cottages both on the road and in the village. After locating images of the road and using Street View maps, plus a quick visit during the lockdown (unfortunately, the pub wasn't open yet!), I could see why those in the maritime trade would be drawn to Bursledon. The pub and cottages sit directly on the riverside, offering easy access to the river for their trade.

Flickr. (2024). 1900s Postcard: The River, Bursledon, Hampshire. [online] Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/147645911@N08/32568204417/in/photolist-RBWyvP-2ihbWx4/ [Accessed 27 Aug. 2024]. Postcard scan by Mark Crombie, posted on Flickr. Upscaled for use in this post by myself. Photograph dated late 1800s or early 1900s, indicative of the types of cottages found along the River Hamble, possibly even on Land's End Road itself.

Historical Insights

Bursledon, a village in Hampshire, England, has a rich history shaped by its strategic location on the River Hamble and the surrounding woodlands. This setting made Bursledon an ideal site for shipbuilding, which became a significant part of its history. The village's name has evolved over centuries, becoming Brixendona in the 12th century, Burstlesden in the 14th century, and Bristelden in the 16th century. The name likely derives from Old English, meaning "Hill associated with a man called Beorhtsige".[1][2]

Shipbuilding and Merchant Heritage

Bursledon's prominence in shipbuilding began as early as the 14th century. The first substantial ship, the St George, was launched in 1338 in the presence of King Edward III. The village continued to be a hub for naval shipbuilding, with notable figures such as William Wyatt and Philemon Ewer contributing significantly to the industry. Ewer's shipyard produced several Royal Navy vessels in the 18th century, including the HMS Elephant, crucial in the Battle of Copenhagen under Lord Nelson.[2][3][4]

By the late 18th century, George Parsons was another figure in Bursledon's shipbuilding history, constructing numerous naval ships between 1780 and 1807. However, the shipbuilding industry in Bursledon declined by the 1870s, shifting the local economy towards agriculture, particularly strawberry farming. Despite this decline, there is still evidence of merchant trade during this time.[4]

The River Hamble was a vital highway for merchant ships transporting goods like brick and iron. It played a role in the broader maritime trade network, with goods distributed locally and beyond. Merchant shipbuilders in Bursledon occasionally received contracts to build naval vessels, although this was a risky endeavour, leading to financial difficulties for these shipbuilders.[4]

Agricultural and Industrial Development

Following the decline of shipbuilding, Bursledon became known for its agricultural output, especially strawberries. The village was pivotal in the strawberry trade, transporting the fruit to London and other parts of the country. The strawberry season was so important that local events, such as coronations, were postponed until after the harvest.[2]

In the late 19th century, Bursledon Brickworks was established, becoming a significant industrial site. The Brickworks, founded in 1897, produced the renowned Fareham red brick and is now preserved as the Bursledon Brickworks Museum, showcasing Victorian industrial heritage.[2][5]

Cultural Significance

Bursledon has also been a cultural landmark, serving as a filming location for the 1980s BBC TV series Howards' Way, including the pub. This series highlighted the village's maritime heritage and picturesque setting. Although unfamiliar with this show myself, as an American, this cultural reference is only small aside in this overall research.[6]

Researching Family Ties

I'm researching the period in Bursledon between 1840 and 1900 when my husband's family lived there. I've reviewed census records from 1861 to 1881, noting families of interest. More census years will be added as I go and where necessary, but I had wanted to focus to start on these years as the anchoring point for my research.

From these records, I've noted that a few mainstay families lived there through these decades and did not move. Their occupations match what I've depicted here, with a mix of agriculture or greengrocers, mariners, and brickworkers. The families are connected by marriage or blood relationships, forming a tight-knit community during this time.

Reflection

Exploring Bursledon's history so far has deepened my understanding of my husband's heritage and enriched my appreciation for this community's enduring legacy. With its maritime past and agricultural heritage, this village continues to captivate me as I uncover more about the lives of those who once called it home.

Citations:

[1] Mills, A.D. (2011). Bursledon. In: A Dictionary of British Place Names. [online] Oxford University Press. Available at: https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199609086.001.0001/acref-9780199609086-e-2541 [Accessed 19 Aug. 2024].

[2] British-history.ac.uk. (2024). Parishes: Bursledon | British History Online. [online] Available at: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/hants/vol3/pp283-284 [Accessed 19 Aug. 2024].

[3] Shurlock, B. (2021). Barry Shurlock feature on the history of Hamble, Hampshire. [online] Hampshire Chronicle. Available at: https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/19396656.barry-shurlock-feature-history-hamble-hampshire/ [Accessed 19 Aug. 2024].

[4] Hamble History Society (2020). History of the River at Bursledon. Hamble Village Magazine, [online] (333), Mar., pp.25–27. Available at: https://hambleparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Mar-20.pdf [Accessed 19 Aug. 2024].

[5] Keats, M. (2024). The Brickworks Museum - The only steam driven brickworks in the UK. [online] The Brickworks Museum. Available at: https://thebrickworksmuseum.org/ [Accessed 20 Aug. 2024].

[6] Glaister, G. and Prior, A. (1985). Howards' Way. [online] IMDb. Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0134250/ [Accessed 20 Aug. 2024].

Other sites of interest:

Maritime Archaeology Trust. (2023). Hamble River - Maritime Archaeology Trust. [online] Available at: https://maritimearchaeologytrust.org/projects-research/hamble-river/ [Accessed 19 Aug. 2024].

If you look past the website's unusability, you will find some fascinating information on Hamble River archaeology here. The interactive map is challenging but has astonishing information on particular findings in this area.

Eastleigh Borough Council (2012). Old Bursledon Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Proposals: Supplementary Planning Document. [online] Available at: https://www.eastleigh.gov.uk/media/1961/old-bursledon-appraisal-and-management-proposals.pdf [Accessed 19 Aug. 2024].

This is a less exciting document, but there is a reference to Land's End Road and the Jolly Sailor pub in Bursledon Pool Conservation Area. The maps and photographs are helpful, and there is an excellent account of places of listed buildings or locations of historical significance.

Anchoring History: Embarking on a One-Place Study of Land's End, Bursledon

After a long hiatus, I'm excited to dive back into my blog with a new focus that combines my passion for genealogy and local history. My interests have been scattered over the past few years, and my family research has taken a backseat. However, my recent studies at the University of Strathclyde in Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies have reignited my enthusiasm. Having completed the certificate and now pursuing the diploma, I've been inspired to embark on a new research project that promises to be both challenging and rewarding.

My focus is the area around the Jolly Sailor Pub in Bursledon, Hampshire—a location significant to my husband's family. This project is about tracing family trees and understanding the community and the stories of those who lived there. The Jolly Sailor Pub, a Grade II listed building, is a historical anchor in this community. I've discovered that many families remained in the area over several decades, making it ideal for this type of study.

Land’s End, Bursledon, an early postcard. (n.d.). Available at: https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/19407776.look-hamble-river-years/#gallery1 [Accessed 19 Aug. 2024]. The postcard was attributed to the Bursledon Local History Group in the original article. The date is unknown, but it is possibly the late 19th century. The photograph shows boats in low tide along the River Hamble, the building in the background could be the Jolly Sailor, but currently unknown.

In my research, I've also encountered the concept of a One-Place Study, which aligns perfectly with my goals. This approach combines family and local history, focusing on a specific geographic location over time. It allows me to explore the area's physical and social contexts, providing a comprehensive understanding of the people and events that shaped it.

As genealogists, we often focus narrowly on our ancestors. However, a One-Place Study encourages us to look at the broader picture. By examining the lives of neighbours and other community members, we gain valuable insights that can impact our understanding of our family histories. For example, the estate of the first person I plan to highlight was involved in a long and bitter probate dispute, which included the pub itself. The original owner had no children, but his will was changed only days before his death to transfer everything to his fourteen nieces and nephews. This story illustrates how interconnected lives can be and how much context we might miss if we don't look beyond our direct ancestors.

In this series, I'll share my journey as I delve into the history of Land's End and the families who lived there. I'll start with an overview of the area, the pub, and the road, followed by my research methodology and organisation of the families. While I have a clear starting point with the pub, the locations of other cottages will hopefully emerge as part of the journey. This exploration promises to be both a challenge and an adventure, and I look forward to sharing my findings with you.

Learn more on One-Place studies:

[1] Baldwin, J. (2023). Unlocking local history with a one place study. [online] Findmypast.co.uk. Available at: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/history/introduction-to-one-place-studies [Accessed 19 Aug. 2024].

[2] Philibert-Ortega, G. (2024). Genealogy 101: One-Place Studies. [online] GenealogyBank. Available at: https://blog.genealogybank.com/genealogy-101-one-place-studies.html [Accessed 19 Aug. 2024].

[3] Society for One-Place Studies. (2024). What is a One-Place Study? - Society for One-Place Studies. [online] Available at: https://www.one-place-studies.org/about/what-is-a-one-place-study/ [Accessed 19 Aug. 2024].

[4] Society for One-Place Studies. (2022). 10 Steps to a One-Place Study - Society for One-Place Studies. [online] Available at: https://www.one-place-studies.org/articles/10-steps-to-a-one-place-study/ [Accessed 19 Aug. 2024].

New marriage record mug design

Sometime before Christmas, my cousin asked me to add her grandparent’s (my great aunt and uncle) marriage record to a mug. I hadn’t had one designed for a record like this, so I took it up as a challenge! The result is now in my shop for anybody to order.

These mugs are a bit more unique than the census mugs, as not every marriage record is the same, so because of that, I’ve come up with a couple of different layout options that depend on the dimensions of the original record.

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Using my grandparent’s license, I created a side-by-side layout that uses the mug's entire width. This layout would suit US records where they appear on ledger style books often bound in portrait orientation.

I wanted to accommodate UK style registers, so I’ve finally opened my shop for UK shipping. UK registers are usually bound in a landscape orientation and appear longer than they are taller. In this case, I’ve come up with another layout where the records fit comfortably across the mug's width.

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Obviously, this is not an exclusive sample. Marriage records come in all shapes and sizes, so as with my census mugs, I will always send over a proof of the design before sending off to printing to be sure you’re happy the design and layout.

The mugs come in two different sizes, and I’ve also introduced a few different colour options.

If you’re interested in these mug designs, you will have to provide me with the marriage record, but if you’re unsure how to find it yourself, I offer an additional search service to help you. If you have a record you will need to provide me with a high-resolution scan, no less than 300 dpi and preferably black and white or greyscale. Or if you have a link to a record with an image from either Ancestry, FindMyPast, or FamilySearch, you can send me that. Please note that the image may not be available depending on the database, or you may have actually found an index record rather than a record with a full image. If you’re not sure what you’ve found, please get in touch, and I’ll let you know if it is suitable or if more research is needed.

If you have any other ideas for records or products you’d like to see, please get in touch! I have several different ideas in the backlog for my shop, but I was more than happy to accommodate my cousin on this mug design. I had a lot of fun doing it too!

Quick View

Customized Marriage Record Mug

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Prices are indicated if you supply me the marriage record. If you do not have a record and would like me to search for one, please order a record search before ordering a mug.

Mugs ship from the US or the UK. Please allow an additional week for design and fulfilment.

Simple record searching

One of the more popular requests I’ve had from clients in the past is to search for individual records. Usually, it’s something like a birth record or an immigration record. Typically I start with the online databases, but then I branch out into other resources when I am not able to locate things online.

These types of services can be challenging to cost up, especially for US resources, where there isn’t one place to go for birth, marriage, or death records that aren’t online. That’s why I decided to add a new service to my website that covers the cost of searching for the record itself. This includes the record if it is available online, or a report with next steps if the record might be available elsewhere. I’ve also made it so you can purchase this service directly from my site.

One benefit of hiring a genealogist, even when searching for online records, is that we subscribe to all of the things, so you don’t have to. A couple of months ago, for example, I managed to find that some of my husband’s family had parish records online on FindMyPast, they also had electoral rolls that Ancestry didn’t seem to have for that area.

Another benefit is I don’t just stop at online resources; I do the extra legwork to determine if the record is even available at all or find the best cost on getting the record. I do find it frustrating when one department or agency is charging ridiculous fees for a record when I’ve also discovered that a local or state archives also has the same record for no cost. While it’s not possible to visit archives in the US myself (though I have some flexibility to in the UK, travel restrictions aside), I have actually hired local genealogists to retrieve records for me at a cost cheaper than if I had ordered the same record through a vital records office in the same state.

Unfortunately, not everything is available at all, which is something I know all too well with my Kentucky ancestors. Kentucky is one of those states that both started and stopped registering individuals, and even when it was required, not all counties complied. Of course, it can make your research more difficult. Still, it is beneficial to understand the ins and outs of birth, marriage, or death registration of a particular area of research, which is why I always dig into when these registration dates start and stop, and what other sources might be available where a specific individual record is not. The search fee is non-refundable in these instances, but it’s also why I wanted to keep this low cost to you.

If you’re interested in locating a record for a family member, or if you’re curious why you can’t find something, this service could be a great place to start.

Personalized 1940 US Census Mug, launching my gift shop!

I’m really excited to launch my new genealogy gift shop, starting with my first product, my personalized 1940 US Census Mug. There’s only one product to start but more to come over time.

Customized 1940 US Census Mug

I started this little side project over the last year. My main business is as a UX Design contractor, it’s a great job, and I get to work with design teams on all sorts of different projects, but it also gives me the flexibility to learn and improve my skills, mostly as a designer. This last year has also given me some time to be more creative and apply those skills to my side businesses and hobbies. I thought that this was a great opportunity to combine the two things I love to do, family history research and design!

Why the 1940 US Census?

The 1940 US Census is the latest census record we have access to at the moment. If you’re starting in family history research, it’s one of the first documents you’ll discover that will begin to open up more avenues for research on your family tree. Depending on your age, you may find your parents, grandparents, and almost certainly your great grandparents in these records. Only one set of my grandparents were born in the US. Still, both my grandmother and grandfather on my father’s side are represented in this census, and both were born just before 1940, they are also the youngest in their respective families so I can get the full picture of their families at the time, from parents down to all of their siblings! Another benefit of the 1940 US Census is that it is the only census that asks where the family were residing five years prior (1935), so if your family moved during the decade between 1930 and 1940, you could use this migration as a starting point for your search of the 1930 Census. You also get the birth states (or countries) of the family members, which is useful for tracking your great-grandparents back even further.

How do you locate the 1940 US Census?

The best place to start is with an Ancestry search, and the good news is the 1940 Census recordset is free on Ancestry (at the time of writing), so you don’t need a paid account to view these images. You will still need a free Ancestry account though.

The quickest way to get the record is to enter the details that you may know about your ancestor born before 1940. In the example shown here I know my grandfather was born and lived in Toledo, so I entered his name in first and last name box with and in the Any Event box I entered 1940 with Toledo, Lucas, Ohio as the keywords.

Searching the US Federal Census Collection on Ancestry.

Of course, I can add in more detail like date of birth or name of any additional relatives, but I like to start broad with my search strategies and modify them as I need to. In this case, I already know that my grandfather was born in Toledo in 1934, so this is a good start. Using the Any Event field and entering 1940 will prioritize me the 1940 census years in my results of this collection.

Ancestry brings up my grandfather as the first result.

I got my intended results here with my grandfather at the top, so no need to adjust my search. Also, I can see my great-uncle and great-grandfather from the same family in these results (due to their middle initial, ‘H’, it looks like). We then get into the more unrelated results after this. I can also go straight to the image, which is what we’re looking for.

Just a note, you can search up to this point without having an Ancestry account, but to view or download the image you will need to create or sign in to your account from here.

After logging into your Ancestry account you are able to view or download the full census image.

From here you can view your record which will include the entire household plus their neighbors. You can also flip to other pages in the census, or access the tools to download the image for your records. Top tip, when using census records it is always good practice to look at the full record and the neighbors because you never know if you’ll find other family members living close by!

If you’re using the record for your census mug, you can send me the link to this page or record with the family name, and I can get the record to edit from here.

Of course, you don’t have to use Ancestry for this search, or even to start your family tree. Once you get past a few recordsets, you will need to start paying for an Ancestry account to view images. FamilySearch, however, lets you view and download most things for free, including census records (some records might require physical access to a Family History Center to view, but they are still free). The biggest difference between FamilySearch and Ancestry though is that FamilySearch trees are completely collaborative, so anybody can add to your family tree (think of it like one massive family tree that anybody can add to or edit with source documentation). This sort of collaboration can be a blessing and a curse. My standard practice is to use both sites, but if you want the ability to search records for free, I recommend FamilySearch, and if you want to have more control over your family trees, I recommend Ancestry.

What about these mugs?

I use the original census image to design the mug to highlight the family or household you would like to feature. I personalize each record by hand by clearing up some of the dust, scratches, or smudges that appear, without changing or editing the original document details. I then ensure that as much of the important details feature on the mug as I can. Each record is different, so each mug will be different! I have chosen a high-quality printer that can ship directly to you, but before I put any final details to print, I will make sure you see a mockup version, so you know what you’re getting.

The mugs come in two sizes, 11 oz, or 15 oz, and they are microwave and dishwasher safe.

To start, I’m only shipping to the US, but I hope to add a UK specific mug and supplier soon! If you have any ideas of things you would like designed or printed, feel free to contact me through my site to see what I can do for you.

Customized 1940 US Census Mug

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Working around a paywall, an example with military records

If you’re familiar with Ancestry’s suite of products in the United States, you might be aware that most of their military records are locked away behind a website called fold3. We can get useful documents like draft registration cards in our Ancestry searches and hints. Still, some of the more specific military records are often indexed or shown exclusively on this additional paid site. Well, that is what I thought anyway, it turns out there are some records you can still get from Ancestry if you know to look for them there!

A bit of disclosure here, I do pay for my Ancestry membership, so if you don’t pay for Ancestry, you’ll struggle to see most images on their site. I don’t have a lot of fascinating military history in my family, that I’m aware of, so I never saw much use for a fold3 account, previously. This is also not a discouragement to pay for additional sites like fold3 where it would be helpful to you. I do pay the extra amount for Newspapers.com, another of Ancestry’s products because it is the most comprehensive access I have to newspapers in the US and I use it frequently. Though not being somebody that does do a lot of military searches, when I discovered this little workaround, specifically for World War I transport records from my great-grandfather, I was pretty excited. 

My great-grandfather was drafted into World War I, and for the longest time, I had another record for him from a source of Ohio Soldiers in WWI. I never really dug into his military history until recently, so this source just sort of sat on my tree. 

Entry for Henry Blanton from Ohio Soldiers in WWI, 1917-1918 (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005).

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I did do a little browse on fold3 for his name, I had never used the site before, but I do find their interface for browsing really good, and it’s nice to see that I can access this without paying for full access. I started by typing in his name, I selected World War I from the left side. Right away I can tell there’s little relevance to the Henry Blanton that I’m searching for. Also, draft registration cards are already available to me on Ancestry, but I was almost immediately drawn to the place options on the side of the screen.

Searching for entries on Henry Blanton for World War I, fold3.com

If I selected ‘See All’, I could see more of the options on the screen and drill down to them, which I found useful. I clicked on that and of course ‘Toledo, OH’ immediately stood out to me, and it only had three records here.  

Filter by place, fold3.com

I clicked on that to see the three results, and bingo, this is the correct Henry Blanton. One was his draft registration card, which I already had, but I could see there were two army transport records available, which I didn’t have.  

Searching for Henry Blanton in World War I by place, Toledo, Ohio, fold3.com

Just a note about this search technique, it’s not exactly foolproof, and I think I did get a bit lucky because Henry’s next of kin was his brother, George, who was living in Toledo on both of his journeys. However, when I looked into George’s records, his transport would have come up under Louisville, where his sister was listed as next of kin. But what digging around in a different database did get me was a bit more evidence that I hadn’t found by just using Ancestry searches alone.

At this point, I have evidence that more records might be available, but I’m stuck to view them unless I sign up and pay for fold3. But then I got thinking, so many of these databases now (and most of them I do pay for), have an overlap of records, maybe I’m able to view the images elsewhere instead. I did a little Google search for the image set, and behold, Ancestry already has them!

Searching for the US Army Transport Service Passenger Lists in Google verified that Ancestry also had these images.

I have to say they’re being a little cheeky here with some of their databases, only allowing some of them to be indexed with easy search tools, but the ones they want you to pay more to access they make you work to find on their own main website. But this is the business model I’ve grown accustomed to with Ancestry.

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I went at the search knowing he probably had two records in this database, so bearing that in mind, I think this is also an excellent example of how to not stop at one technique, because my initial search actually only brought up one of those records. I thought the quickest way to locate it would be to use his service number, which I had on his Ohio Soldiers entry, so I got that number and then marked it down into the search box for service number (easy peasy). 

Searching the US Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists by service number

Ancestry.com, U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939.

Ok, one record came up, but why not two? Also, one of these is clearly my great-grandfather, one of these is clearly not.

Results from searching by service number brings up one correct record and one incorrect one, Ancestry.com, U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939.

I decided next to go with a similar search strategy to my fold3 one to find the second record, which was his name and include the keyword ‘Toledo’. I could now see that this was coming up because his brother in Toledo was listed as next of kin. 

Searching by name, Henry Blanton, and keyword, Toledo, Ancestry.com, U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939.

I got the result I needed this time, and from here, I could easily see why his service number was not coming up on the previous search.

Locating his incoming transport record revealed that his service number was literally transcribed with commas, preventing it from showing in my previous search, Ancestry.com, U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939.

The actual record on his return journey has the service numbers listed with commas separating the parts of it. The person who indexed this record did an exact transcription, so typing in this number on its own resulted in this one being excluded from my search with only the service number. It’s always good practice to document your searches so you can recreate them again at a later date.

I could have typed in his name and eventually found him in the list, with a less common name like his that does work fine, but keywords can help you narrow down if you know how to use them. Also, while my great-grandfather went by Henry, his full name was William Henry. If your ancestor has nicknames or name variations, a name search alone might bring up unexpected results.

The discovery of his transport records, especially his outgoing one, unlocked a few more findings of my great-grandfather’s travel to France. The most exciting was a discovery that the George Washington, the transport ship that took him to France, had its own daily newsletter. I was able to locate every issue of that newsletter from my great-grandfather’s journey and read the same words he was reading on board the ship over 100 years ago. Sometimes it is worth digging a little deeper!

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My suggestion though is if you think there’s a source locked behind a paywall, try searching another site you might have access to, or doing a Google search on the title to see if it’s been scanned at an archive or library and available for free online. A lot of records are freely available on FamilySearch, for example, so even if your preference for family trees is Ancestry like mine is, you may find you can view the images of those same records using a free FamilySearch account. I wouldn’t go as far as posting those images back on Ancestry, I’m not aware of them actively discouraging people from posting them back to your trees, but I expect they could do to protect the access rights they give you to those same images. Also, I find that they clutter up my searches to see a lot of these popping up from other users in my search results. If you’re using them for your own research, you’re better off organising them locally so you can refer to them later.

The complexities of DNA ethnicity estimations

Every month there’s been a helpful column in Family Tree magazine about using DNA to help discover more about your Ancestors. This month’s DNA Workshop has a great case study explaining how the various testing companies calculate ethnicity differently. I have thought that it is unfortunate that the DNA test’s most significant selling point is ethnicity because there are a variety of reasons why they could be inaccurate or vary from company to company. A company’s ethnicity result is only going to be as accurate as their panels. Ancestry, for example, skews more toward US and UK customers, so their source data will follow migration patterns relevant to their base customers. Also, it’s not uncommon to see your ethnicity results change over time as a testing company updates their science. Over on MyHeritage, you can see more of a European mix of DNA matches, and I do happen to know that their customers can skew more broadly into other countries because the resources they have available are more useful to those customers.

The March issue of Family Tree Magazine has some useful content for people interested in using DNA for their family history research.

Looking at my results on Ancestry, I don’t find them all that surprising. My mom’s side is still a bit of an unknown to me, but as she does come from Germany herself, it’s not a surprise that Europe features highly on my results. My dad’s side is 50% Kentucky (Colonial US), 37.5% Germany/Prussia (probably Eastern European skewed), and 12.5% Canadian (possibly via Scotland). So again, the United Kingdom (English) for the Kentucky side and Scotland via Canada migrations make sense to me here. Also, I have been able to trace a Kentucky line to Norway as well, so the Scandinavian connection also matches my research. France and Baltic estimations are where this might deviate the most from other services, but I don’t find them completely surprising. I haven’t found any evidence of these in my family, though, and the low numbers make me think they could be outliers. From this, I certainly wouldn’t go out and declare that I’m French in origin because I don’t know, or I wouldn’t entirely trust the data.

My DNA estimation as it appears in Ancestry.com on March 2020

Comparing that to the MyHeritage results, they’re similar, but not the same. First of all, the Nigerian result is a bit of a surprise, but the size is so small, I would be willing to treat that as an outlier anyway. One of the more practical differences between testing companies is, of course, that DNA doesn’t know borders, and also borders as we know them today change over time. Because of this, it’s interesting to see how each company treats the exercise of labelling regions. Also, where those regions intersect as borders change over time is difficult to plot in a meaningful way to a customer (Ancestry does get credit for trying, but this can’t possibly be an exact science). What I do find particularly interesting about the MyHeritage results compared to the Ancestry ones is that MyHeritage specifically calls out English ancestry. Still, not Scottish, which I do know exists, so they’ve differentiated these places as separate regions, where I expect the borders to be more fluid. Then looking at Ancestry’s numbers again, they split “Germanic Europe” away from “East European”, but many of my “Germanic” ancestors were from the area that Ancestry has labelled “East European”.

My DNA estimation as it appears on MyHeritage.com as of March 2020

An excellent example of border and culture fluidity would be with my Prussian ancestors. Geographically, some would have been in what is known as Germany today, and others would be in what is Poland, however, all of them were German-speaking. These border changes are why researching your early German ancestors can be difficult, not exclusively because the availability of documentation today varies based on where they were born. Still, also culturally, I would never think of the ones that came from what is now Poland to be Polish because the culture they handed down to me through my ancestors was very much German. Even on census records in the US, these particular Eastern European ancestors would have either self-labelled as Prussian or German during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Ancestry defines this region as Eastern Europe and Russia with the origins primarily located in: Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine; however all of my relatives from this region were probably German speaking.

I take these results with a pinch of salt. My research with DNA almost always focuses on my DNA matches, but the ethnicity results are not entirely useless in focused genealogical research. Where they have been useful for me is how migrations compare specifically with my match list. From these comparisons, I might be able to pick up clues to help me pinpoint a possible link to unknown matches, especially if those matches do not have trees attached to their match profiles. I would, however, say that if your only reason for getting a DNA test is to find out if you have Viking heritage, then your money might be better spent elsewhere. I just logged on to Ancestry ethnicity results for the first time in a while, and they had yet another update to their results with new science. Just because you tested with Viking heritage when you initially joined, doesn’t always mean you’ll still be a Viking the next time you log in! This science is frequently changing, though, and the accuracy will get better over time. However, for right now for it to be of use to mostly genealogical research, we still have to use it as a reasonable assumption rather than hard science.

The story of Marie and Thomas

Marie and Thomas are my second-great grandparents on my father’s maternal side of the family.

I’ve been doing family history research for a long time, and I think most family historians will tell you that the real stories of our ancestors rarely emerge. The internet has made it easier to dig up the tidbits though with more and more newspaper archives going online. Before accessing these articles online, researchers would have to flip through endless reels of microfilm at the local library, trying to locate any information we can about the people we might be related to.

I had been researching my Kentucky relatives since I had started in on my Ancestry account. The Kentucky side is my father’s paternal side. One of my cousins had started some research and gave my grandfather a book of information, and that’s when I initially began my genealogy journey. I signed up to an Ancestry account right away and have been doing this for 12-13 years now. The Kentucky ancestors didn’t give up many secrets though, and it wasn’t until a few years ago, with a message from one of my cousins on Ancestry, did I start digging into the wild world on the other side of my dad’s family. Little did I know that my father’s maternal side not only had secrets, but a lot of them were so much out in the open, it has been a difficult task keeping track of everything.

The story of Marie and Thomas is not happy. Their story is also one that’s still unfolding for me, so I can’t even tell all of it here now. But using a long series of newspaper articles that my cousin gave to me, and a few other records, I have been able to piece together a timeline for these two.

My second great-grandmother married Thomas after she arrived in the United States from Germany. She came to live with her brother, Otto, in Port Huron, Michigan. She was pregnant with her first child, Freda, on the ship over from Hamburg. Though this story doesn’t begin with Marie, it starts with Thomas, born in St. Catherine’s, Canada in 1863 and brought to Port Huron, Michigan by his parents when he was probably about 4 or 5, along with some of his other siblings.

 

^{Map of Port Huron, Michigan - Port Huron is on the bottom of the 'thumb' in Michigan and over the border from Canada.}

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Life of crime

The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan). 1 Jun 1877. p 4.

Thomas begins his life of crime

Age 14 - 1 Jun 1877

Thomas, also known as ‘Tosh’ in many of the accounts of him, was first mentioned in the Port Huron newspapers in 1877, starting his life of crime the age of 14.

He was selling obscene literature in Sarnia, Canada, just over the river from Port Huron, and caught by local authorities there.

Because of his age, or maybe because this was his first offence, he was “set at liberty by the Goaler about five p. m.” and let go “evidently ignorant of the grave position in which he was placed.” There were no warrants against him, at least none in the town of Sarnia, but Thomas becomes a well-known figure from this point forward in Port Huron.

Thomas arrested, his father is convicted

Age 20 - 11 Jan 1884

The paper reports Thomas’ arrest for robbery in 1884. This news article is the first and only time that his father, Richard, covers for Thomas and takes any blame for his son’s misdoings.

It’s not completely clear why Richard takes the blame for his son. However, a clue might be in a military record found for Thomas around the same time, plus the information only briefly mentioned in the last paragraph of this article. “The son was afterward re-arrested on a charge of being a deserter from a Western military post, and will be delivered to the authorities at Fort Wayne by Constable Cox.”

The military record both confirms his desertion as well as his discharge from Fort Wayne.

The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan). 11 Jan 1884. p. 2

Thomas’ military record is challenging to read, but his official enlistment date is 18 September 1883. He is noted both as a sailor but also what looks like the ‘Mounted Service’. I know his father was a sailmaker, and military was probably an expectation for Thomas at this time. Though his military record also states that he deserted on 25 September 1883, only a few days after enlistment. Then he’s back again on 10 January 1884, which corresponds to the information in the article, published a day after.

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Thomas Lenthall; Register of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M233, 81 rolls); Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780’s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Thomas’ military career was incredibly short-lived after this, he was discharged only a few months later, probably around the time that his father was finishing his 90-day jail sentence (the handwriting looks like March 1884). I think there might be the possibility of a plea bargain here, maybe Richard went to jail in order to get his son back into the military. Though with such a short-lived military career, it does make me wonder how he was discharged so quickly.

While Thomas did not carry the military tradition through, both of his brothers did. I do have additional colourful accounts of both brothers from their station in Cleveland. One brother even landing himself a stay in Eastern State Penitentiary in Pennsylvania. Rest assured there are stories to be found in the entire family here.

The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan). 24 Nov 1888. p 4.

Thomas on trial and sent back to jail

Age 25 - 24 Nov 1888

Thomas charged again with breaking and entering. The jury here seems unsure on whether to convict him. I like that instead of releasing him, they send him “back to jail until the next term of court, when he will be tried again.”

It’s interesting to me, after going through all of these articles, that there is even one sympathetic member of this jury towards him. But this is still early days for Thomas.

Thomas arrested for the 27th time

Age 27 - 1 Dec 1890

The tone of the articles starts to change around 1890. During these years you get the sense that The Times Herald, and even Thomas himself, begins to embrace his minor celebrity around Port Huron. This fact though is one of the sad tragedies of Marie’s eventual fate. By the time the two of them met, she was already doomed to a lifetime of public exposure, putting the lowest parts of her life out in the open for the entire community to witness.

The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan). 1 Dec 1890. p 5.

The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan). 20 Jun 1891. p 5.

Thomas and others arrested for burglarising Murray’s saloon

Age 28 - 20 Jun 1891

This article is two for the price of one. It seems in one paragraph Thomas is arrested for burglary with a few others, while in the next he’s being accused directly by the paper that he was a thief in a different robbery.

I have a lot of feelings going through these articles, but one of them is the questionable indifference that The Times Herald has to journalistic integrity during this time. So many of these news snippets are the most mundane thing you’ve ever read, stuff like “Mrs Petigrew is visiting her sister from Chicago this weekend.” (yawn). But when they latch onto something else in another snippet, they go for it.

I’m not saying that Thomas has zero guilt, but I do wonder if being egged on by the newspaper in some of these situations created what he eventually became. I do get the sense that Thomas liked seeing his name in the papers, even if it was for the most despicable reasons.

Thomas borrows money for the Chicago Exhibition

Age 29 - 6 Mar 1893

Known as the Columbian Exhibition, the world’s fair in Chicago celebrated the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ voyage to “The New World”.¹ Thomas has petitioned the poor master’s office for a loan to travel to the fair and work as a janitor. They did grant the money with the condition he pays it back.

In context, it’s difficult not to feel from this that Thomas is taking everybody for a ride again, though he does pay back the money. There’s no follow up to this though. There’s nothing that says he did go to Chicago (maybe he got lucky with gambling before anybody knew wiser). But I like the slight optimism in this article. You do get the feeling that perhaps he has turned a corner and is on the up. And it could be for a short time he had. We don’t hear much from him until he marries Marie, at least nothing that found reported in the papers during the next few years.

The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan). 6 Mar 1893. p 5.

“Lenthal says he is doing well and expects to become a millionaire during the fair.”

— The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan)

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Thomas meets Marie

Marie was born in 1877 in Danzig, then known to be a part of Prussia, but now is considered Poland. She is one of three ancestors on my dad’s side of the family that came to the United States from Prussia, all of them German-speaking. The other two settled in Toledo, Ohio, and my great grandmother, Marie’s second daughter, Clara, would eventually marry their son.

Marie travelled from Hamburg, Germany and arrived in New York in April 1899; her passage possibly paid for by her brother, Otto, established already in Port Huron. I know from records that Marie travelled on her own. I also know from records that she had a daughter, Freda, born shortly after her arrival, I believe around September 1899, which would mean that Marie was likely pregnant as she made the journey. I don’t know anything more about the circumstances in which she left, or what happened with Freda’s father, but just imagining this experience on her own while carrying a child seems remarkable to me today, especially two weeks across the Atlantic by ship.

Thomas and Marie marry

Thomas is 36 and Marie is 22 - 9 Feb 1900

There was quite a buzz around this event. It’s probably evident by now that Thomas doesn’t do much quietly.

Thomas borrows money for his marriage license

6 Feb 1900

It turns out Thomas didn’t make his millions after all from the Chicago Exhibition, because before he could marry, he was in the county clerk’s office trying to bargain a marriage license off of them. He eventually finds the funds and the two were married three days later.

The article states that they only met on Sunday night, which was two days before the article’s publication. So in less than a week, the two had met and were married.

There’s a bit of insight in this article that he was afraid if he didn’t act, then she would back out of the marriage. It would be interesting to know what Marie was thinking during this time, having arrived in the country the year before and with a baby at home.

The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan). 6 Feb 1900. p 6

“As he was leaving the clerk’s office, he volunteered the information [that] he was in an awful hurry for fear she would go back on him.”

— The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan)

Kalamazoo Gazette (Kalamazoo, Michigan). 11 Feb 1900.

Thomas calls in an interpreter

11 Feb 1900

A bit of additional insight comes from the Kalamazoo Gazette. It turns out that the marriage license was in German and Thomas had to call in an interpreter. I’ve only recently been in contact with the church where Marie was a member, but the name of the clergyman on the register does not match the sitting reverend at the time according to church history. It is not impossible, though, and I could still get something back from the church in Port Huron demonstrating their actual marriage. Thomas and his family did not seem all that religious, so I initially did assume this wasn’t a church wedding, but Marie’s family undoubtedly was.

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Tragedy strikes Marie

Baby Freda passes away

Age between 9 and 11 months - 8 Aug 1900

Only six months into her marriage, her baby is now dead. Freda was just under a year when she passes away from cholera. The cousin who initially contacted me is a great-granddaughter of Otto, and she told me that they buried the baby near them, her mother probably also nearby. My cousin also remarked that her grandmother recalled the funeral of Freda and how sad it was to see the tiny coffin.

I don’t have Freda’s birth record; I don’t think it was ever registered in the state of Michigan (it’s possible that Marie didn’t know she needed to do this). However I’m hopeful that their church in Port Huron will have her baptism. The 1900 Census, which was taken two months before Freda’s death has her age at eight months, so assumes she was born September 1899. This record says that Freda was nine months old, so that would put her birthdate in November 1899.

While the father listed here is Thomas, there’s no possible way he could be her biological father. Marie was the informant, so she may have only put Thomas as the father because they were married at this time.

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Freda J. Lentha (6 Aug 1900). Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics; Lansing, Michigan; Death Records

The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan). 13 Aug 1900. p 1.

Marie tries to commit suicide

Age 23 - 13 Aug 1900

Things don’t get better for Marie, and I think this article has always brought me so much sadness and anger, for so many reasons. I guess again I’m critical of The Times Herald for making my second great-grandmother’s depression front-page news. I should also point out that this is the first time that the paper had Thomas’ name published on the front page, and it won’t be the last concerning Marie either.

I can’t imagine Marie’s sadness at this point. It must have been awful for her, and then to have her grief plastered on the local news though I am also grateful to Dr Patrick for saving her life. I think it was this article that started to make me realise that our near misses in life often happen before we are even born.

Marie suffers injuries from a fall

Age 23 - 27 Aug 1900

Marie dodges fate again when she fell from a streetcar no more than two weeks after her suicide attempt. A Dr Cote saved her this time, and the article mentioned she was “injured internally”.

Again plastered on the front page, Mrs Thomas Lenthal “lies at the point of death.” They claim that “her condition was delicate before the fall and she is now in a precarious state.”

I have a lot of opinions about how the paper presents this story, and I always feel that Marie was a bystander in this exposure. I have wondered though if people reading this article would have been sympathetic to Marie, or would they only be interested because of the man she married?

The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan). 27 Aug 1900. p 1.

The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan). 30 Aug 1900. p 6.

Marie leaves Thomas

Marie is 23, and Thomas is 37 - 30 Aug 1900

I like to think that this is the point that Marie decides to take back control of her life. This point is also where I believe Thomas’ true despicable nature shines through. Only a few days after his wife’s second near-death experience, and weeks after she lost her baby, he is in the newspaper office crying to them about how he feels like he’s the victim in all of this.

“He told The Times that since his recent marriage his life had not been as pleasant as he had anticipated. His baby died for want of care, his wife once attempted suicide and on Sunday last had fallen from a street car. To cap the climax she had deserted him.”

Good for you, Marie.

“Lenthal for 29 years has been a vagabond and has a police record a yard long. Most any self-respecting woman would commit suicide rather than live with him.”

— The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan)

There’s much more to this story, as my great-grandmother isn’t even born yet. But this is a good place for a cliff-hanger.

To be continued…

References

1. “World’s Columbian Exposition.” Wikipedia, 25 Feb. 2020, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World's_Columbian_Exposition

A House Through Time

I just recently finished the second series of A House Through Time on BBC iPlayer, a fascinating program that chronicles the history of one house from the moment it was built up until present day. I watched the first season sometime last year and was immediately captivated with the idea. As genealogists we tend to follow the lives of families as they move from house to house or place to place, but the to look at all of the lives that lived in one house through time adds a whole new dimension onto the history of a place and the families that had once lived there.

This series they're in Newcastle on Ravensworth Terrace. The stories through the house's history do not disappoint. The second series is still available on iPlayer and I do recommend all four episodes. The previous series is not available at the moment, but I'm sure it will come back around in the future, so I would keep a lookout for that one too.