Sharon stated James had a brother Benjamin. The only Benjamin West on IGI with father Richard was christened 1820 at Sutton on Trent in Nottinghamshire. There was also a James 1819 and Joseph 1822. But if she has the right person in 1851 and 1861 census the stated birthplace is Clerkenwell. The 1861 occupation which includes painter could be consistent with glass decorating. There is a James ch1818 in Camomile St London with parents Richard and Martha. There are three other children but no Benjamin. I think we need to know what happened to James after 1861. I can't find them in 1871 or 1881 Peter

Sutton on Trent is only a few miles down the road from me so if there are any local photos needed please contact me Dave V -----Original Message----- From: bedford-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:bedford-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Peter Booth Sent: 22 February 2010 13:07 To: bedford@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [BDF] James WEST Sharon stated James had a brother Benjamin. The only Benjamin West on IGI with father Richard was christened 1820 at Sutton on Trent in Nottinghamshire. There was also a James 1819 and Joseph 1822. But if she has the right person in 1851 and 1861 census the stated birthplace is Clerkenwell. The 1861 occupation which includes painter could be consistent with glass decorating. There is a James ch1818 in Camomile St London with parents Richard and Martha. There are three other children but no Benjamin. I think we need to know what happened to James after 1861. I can't find them in 1871 or 1881 Peter The List Guidelines http://bedfordrootsweb.blogspot.com/ The Bedfordshire Surnames List http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~hughw/bedf.html ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BEDFORD-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.435 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2701 - Release Date: 02/21/10 07:34:00

Hello Sharon, There seems to be a great degree of uncertainty here about the BDF Connection, which is possibly not helped by the differences in how you worded it in your 2 introductory questions: on 13 Feb as Tavistock ROAD, Bedford; and on 22 Feb as Tavistock STREET, Bedford. Both cannot be right, but there's no way of telling which is the wrong one. Do you have any documentary source to support either one that you could share with us? Then come the present-day street names - via Google Maps.... Tavistock STREET Nothing in the London area; but one in Bedford [part of the A6] Tavistock ROAD Nothing anywhere in BDF, but in London there's one in Notting Hill - which (probably entirely coincidentally) is joined by a St Lukes Road... Tavistock SQUARE and Tavistock PLACE [approx ¼ mile North of the British Museum, and part of the (former?) Duke of Bedford's Estate - and with their names unchanged since at least 1851] Perhaps also coincidentally, Theobalds Road - the site of James WEST's later Studio - is within ¾ mile of the latter two... Throw in that James' birth was consistently given as Clerkenwell, MDX in the 1851 & 1861; that he married in Islington, MDX in 1842 - giving his address as the one he was recorded at in 1851; was also living in Islington in 1861 - where all his children were shown as being born; and that both addresses were in reasonably easy reach of the British Museum [which in all probability would be a good place for someone with his reported occupations to obtain commissions] the chances of his ever having been in the City of Bedford would seem to be rather small. Granted there's the element of Hitchin Church - which was never in BDF, although not far from it - but if he was involved in stained-glass-window design there'd be little *need* for him to be doing much on-site, beyond *very carefully* measuring the apertures before he started, and - perhaps - supervising their installation once completed. The apparent "disappearance" of the family after 1861 - taken with the knowledge that Frank and Edward went to New Zealand - tends to the belief that perhaps all of them emigrated [if not necessarily directly to New Zealand] during the 1860s. But, unfortunately, the number of WESTs in circulation makes it a great deal harder to find any individuals :-( Another possible problem is that James may well not have worked on his own account, being instead an employee whose name may not have figured on the final work. It's possible that the book "Stained Glass Marks and Monographs" [published by NADFAS of 8 Guildford St, London, WC1N 1DA] which gives "short biographical information on many designers and firms" just *might* give helpful details. < http://www.nadfas.org.uk/default.asp?section=171 > HTH. Gus