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Kerrie	I am trying to confirm some details re my GG Grandparents who came from the Somerset area. I have their immigration details of 1853 (per Trafalgar to NSW) and am unable to be certain of the town my GG Grandmother came from. The papers seem to clearly read as Acton or Anton Somerset. I have been unable to locate a town by this name there and am wondering if it was common habit to refer to Iron Acton as just Acton. The names of my ancestors are: Charles FRANKS of Acton (or Anton) Somerset My GG Grandmother was Martha STEELE (or Steel) of Nunney, Somerset Married in Frome 1848 ( I am awaiting the arrival of the marriage certificate which I have applied for from GRO) Of their 3 children born in England, 2 , aged 3 and 2 at time of departure, were born in Laverton and the last in Heywood, Wiltshire listed as an infant (not long before they emigrated to NSW.) If you could help clarify the likely place name and perhaps tell me a little about it or forward me an online link I would be most grateful.
Eric Chapman	My Great Great Grandfather was a Clement CHAMPENEY born 1818 in Wedmore Somerset, he was a Farmer. I know he had one daughter Louisa CHAMPENEY who died shortly after giving birth to My Great Grandfather Harry CHAPMAN. Louisa married a George CHAPMAN born 1831 in Winscombe Somerset. Any help would be most welcome.
Julie	I am researching my husband's family and several members are buried in the Uphill Churchyard - Mary Elizabeth DIX and her husband Fred DIX; Horatio Edgar COOPER and his wife Minnie Dix COOPER (my husband's grandparents); Ernest MARCROFT and his wife Tryphena MARCROFT; Ernest's parents Joseph and Fanny Elizabeth MARCROFT; Also some of Ernest's sisters - Fanny Elizabeth; Helen and sister in law Lucy Ann MARCROFT (married to Charles Albert MARCROFT who died in Passchendaele .. we recently visited the churchyard and the inscriptions on the graves are very hard to read - is there a map or a plan of the churchyard indicating who and where people are buried. Also interested in Charles Albert MARCROFT - according to one site found on the Internet, he is commemorated on the Uphill World War One Memorial, but we couldn't find his name at all - he is actually buried in the Tyne Cot War Cemetery, but his widow Lucy Ann was living in Uphill at the time of the Memorial being built. Any help at all would be gratefully received.
Jaime	I am working on my family tree and I have found data on my family in two different areas of Somerset. But I can't seem to find any more information on my great-great-great-great grandfather John WHITE who was born in Clutton, Somerset, England. All I know is that he was born in 1777 and married to an Anna. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Jan Foss	I have been trying to find a birth record for Jennie Mable HEARST (spelling may vary) born 27 Sep 1870 supposedly in Somerset. She came to US abt 1889 and married William ELDRED - I have information from her marriage on but need to find her birth. Oral tradition was that she came to US with an older brother and perhaps a sister and that her father was a '"vetinarian " or more likely a Ferrier in England - again supposedly was credited as being the first one to set a horse's leg verses shooting the horse- it was thought his name was John. The 1900 census says she immigrated in 1889; the 1910 census put it at 1870; the 1930 census put her coming in 1880. Family members remember her talking about coming over as a young child so I would guess somewhere between 1880-1889 (she married William 3 Sept 1889. It was also believed she was a cook for the Leavenworth KS Warden's family. ANY information that would help me find her birth in England would be great!
Chris	I am researching the name PENNY and my search has led me to the Radstock area of Somerset,now I am stuck. I have a marriage for Robert PENNY and Ann HORLER for September 21st 1795, in St. Nicholas Church, Radstock. Robert shown as "from Kilmersden" and Ann "from Buckland Dinham". I have not been able to find either of their births/baptisms. Any help would be gratefully received.
John Fisher	I am researching the life of Fanny NEWMAN, my Great Grandmother. Her Father was William NEWMAN who was a tinsmith in Wincanton, and in 1861 owned "The Bear Inn" in Wincanton. Fanny was born on September 8th 1848. She does not appear with her family in the 1861 census. It is known that she went to New Zealand where she married George Arthur OBORN, on May 11 1868. Her Mother has the surname of GREEN and I am seeking the history on her Mother's side. I am also trying to find out how and when she travelled to New Zealand. Any assistance would be gratefully appreciated.
Rosie	My great grandmother was Elizabeth HIPPISLEY born 23/9/1856 in Yatton. On her marriage certificate her father John is described as a plate layer. I believe this John may have been bom about 1820, again in Yatton but then it all becomes rather confusing as there were different HIPPISLEY families in the area and some being Quakers. I would like to find John's wife, parents and siblings if possible so if anyone out there can help I'd be very grateful.
Richard Anderson	I'm looking for the parents of my 3rd great-grandfather, John CRIDGE. He was born in 1790 in Chard (near Taunton). His parents might be Thomas CRIDGE and Sarah CHANNING. John was a carpenter. He married Maria BEATON on March 19, 1826 at St. Mary Magdalene in Taunton. The CRIDGEs lived at Harmony Row in Thurlbear until they immigrated to New York in 1832. Also, does anyone have access to pre 1832 Somerset directories? I'd love to know if any CRIDGEs are listed in Chard and at Harmony Row. For more information check out my web page at findagrave.com Any help would be gratefully appreciated.
Diane and Graham	I am trying to find any records for my great grandfather William George DARBY born C1859 Taunton, Somerset and his family. I have not been able to locate any birth/christening records or any census record prior to 1891. Here is the information I have so far: Marriage certificate for George DERBY & Susan POMEROY – married 03 April 1889 Registers Office, Stoke Damerel, Devon. George’s age is listed as 30yrs on the marriage certificate. Fathers name is listed as Samuel DERBY. The occupation for George is listed as labourer. I’m not sure of his father Samuel’s occupation as it is hard to read but looks like Malaster. Death certificate of Susan DARBY (nee POMEROY) – husband shown as William George DARBY occupation general labourer who was present at time of death. Living at time of death Blindwell, Millbrook, Cornwall 1901 census – George DARBY listed as born c1865 Taunton Somerset. Occupation listed as clay quarry man. 1891 census – George DERBEY listed as born c1857 Marilan Somerset (have not been able to locate a place called Marilan). Occupation listed as general laborer Children of George DARBY & Susan POMEROY were all born Millbrook, Cornwall and are Maud 1891, George 1897, Mabel 1898 & Samuel 1900. According to the 1911 census there was a 5^th child (deceased) this could be Elizabeth born St. Germans Cornwall 1889. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
William Pope	I would appreciate any leads to my ggggg grandfather, James POPE, born about 1720 in England, married to Mary LNU, about 1746 possibly in Smarden, Kent, England, died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, sometime after 1760. He and his wife had three sons, George Whitefield POPE, possibly christened September 22, 1751, in Taunton St. Mary, Somerset, England; Richard, born about 1748 in England; and, Charles, born in England between 1746 and 1748. A report in the Rowan County, North Carolina library says that James POPE was related to Alexander POPE, the poet, but I have not found anything to back this up. Mary POPE, by then a widow, settled with her three sons in Guilford County, North Carolina, between 1775 and 1780. George Whitefield POPE became a prominent Baptist minister in North Carolina, and died about 1818. I do not know what became of his brothers, Richard and Charles, other than they also apparently took up residence in Guilford County, North Carolina. Mary POPE, the widow of James POPE died in Guilford County, North Carolina, date of death unknown.
Shirley Allen	I have for some time been researching my family and have one branch that comes from St Cuthbert, Wells. My GG Grandfather was John Henry COX a mariner born in Wells, we have a copy of a death record for his father Henry COX which showed him as a garden worker and that he was 'accidentally killed' age 30 record date 31st January 1848 (ref No 1661) however I cannot find any BMD death details and cannot therefore request a death certificate. Could anyone suggest a way forward with this? I shall be coming to Shepton Mallet area in May this year and would like to visit the local records office to continue my search. I have details that Henry Married Jane PETVIN from Street and my GG Grandfather John Henry COX was born c1842, I now know he had a sister Ann born c1844 and a brother Charles c1847 and I have copies of their baptism records but have been unable to find any further details for them. Could someone please direct me to the relevant office's. I have just joined the Somerset & Dorset FHS and am waiting for their confirmation of my membership.
Andy Wooton	I am researching one Stephen GUNNING B 1815-1887 who was resident in and around Wells Somerset in St Cuthbert Out. He married a woman with the name of a Hebrew origin - Tirzah. I am trying to find out if there was a Jewish community in the area at the time or if it was a fashionable thing to take a Hebrew based name. Tirzah means delightful-pleasant. Would be grateful for any information. Thanks in anticipation.
Valerie	I am seeking information about my great grandfather, Thomas JEFFERIES (JEFFRIES) who was born in Crewkerne, Somerset, UK, in 1838. I have no knowledge of his parents or siblings, have not been able to find him on the census or bmd, but am told that as a young boy he emigrated (or stowed away) and jumped ship in Newfoundland, Canada. The first documentary evidence I have is of his marriage to Jane Langdon on Exploits Island, Newfoundland in December 1867. Any further information would be most welcome. Many thanks.
Douglas Wisner	My Grandfather Douglas LLEWELLYN was born on November 24 1881, in Bath, to Salome LLEWELLYN, a teacher of music, The Father was not listed. I am unable to find any records on Salome LLEWELLYN in any BMD, 1881 or any other census returns. Any help on how I may be able to trace my Grandmother would be gratefully appreciated.
Alice Lockwood Brenner	I am trying to find more information on the following WEBB Families: James WEBB b. Oct 28, 1826 in Somerset England married Ruth ROBINSON b. Feb 19 1829 in Somerset, England. James WEBB's father was Jonathan WEBB b. 1805 who married Elizabeth ROUSE b. 1805. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks to all in advance.
Beverly	John O. ROOKE was born 28 Oct 1814 son of William ROOKE and Sarah CRIDGE. He was apparently christened at Stogumber. Left England abt 1837 and came into Canada and then United States. I have an 1841 Eng Census which a Wm ROOK and a Sarah ROOK. This is all the start I have to find my William, Sarah and family. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Sue	My brick wall is that I know my ggg grandmother was born in the Taunton area about 1789. Her names was Sarah DIBBLE. I have found 3 Sarahs born/baptized around that time in Lydeard St Lawrence. My Sarah married Henry WILLOUGHBY in Cheltenham 9th April 1817. I hope that there may be someone at the Somerset end who knows that their DIBBLE family moved to Cheltenham. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear from you.
Kenneth Poole	My great-great-grandfather WILLIAM POOLE was baptised in Bridgewater, Somerset, on 3 January 1800. His father JOHN was married to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Sarah PRIOR, on 13 December 1782 and buried, I think, on 1 March 1840. Is there any further information about him or his forebears. My guess is that he is a grandson or great grandson of JOHN , who married Grizil SEALY in 1688. Any help with this brick wall would be gratefully appreciated.

This page was last updated: November 26, 2009