Hi Jim Thanks for the early Beese information. I don't at the moment have a direct link back to these particular Beese, but I'm sure the information will be useful when I have established more of my ancestry back to the 1700's. Best wishes Leonard -----Original Message----- From: bristol_and_district-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:bristol_and_district-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of jim goodman Sent: 08 March 2010 04:43 To: bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [B&D] Beese or Bees Family 1781 poll finds two BEES Thomas a brazier in St Mary Redclift and William a cordwainer in Bedminster jim On 6-Mar-10, at 8:48 AM, DALE LEWIS wrote: > Hi Leonard > I too am looking for a Bees. Sophia Sophia who married George > Barnes around 1845. George was a Stone Mason of Penndennis Road, > Mangotsfield. > We also have totally un related Bees to Sophia in Keynsham. > Any good? > Dale >> >> Regards >> >> Leonard >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com >> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the >> subject and the body of the message >> > > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the > message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

I'm back again with my HARRIS enquiries to ask for your help once again. You may remember a few weeks ago I was trying to ascertain whether a William Henry HARRIS born Bristol c1822 was the son of Henry HARRIS a Coppersmith - Henry's name and occupation taken from William's marriage cert. Members on this list were kind enough to confirm for me that a Henry HARRIS married an Elizabeth SANDOVER in May 1823 at Temple, Bristol. Also that a Henry HARRIS, musician, and Elizabeth HARRIS baptised a son William Henry on 22 May 1825 at Temple Bristol, his birth date given as 3 Sep 1824. Same couple had a son, Charles, baptised April 1829 in St Thomas. My gt gt grandfather, was a William Henry HARRIS born Bristol c1822 according to various census records and his 1888 death cert gives age as 67, i.e. birth date circa 1821 - informant was his daughter. In 1851, 61, 71 and 1888 William Henry lived in St Margaret Westminster. Now there is a Henry HARRIS, Coppersmith/Brazier/Tinman, living in St Margaret Westminster in 1851 (widower and 5 children with him) and 1861 (married - but no wife enumerated with him, nor any of his children). He's at the same address in both census records. The 5 children with him in 1851 were born 1833, 1838, 1839, 1841 and 1845. I obtained the birth cert for Edwin Alfred HARRIS, the son born 1841 and the mother is given as Mary Ann HARRIS formerly RADFORD, not Elizabeth SANDOVER as I was hoping to find. Now I don't know whether to buy the birth cert for the daughter born 1833 and see if Mary Ann RADFORD is also her mother, my thinking being that perhaps Henry's first wife (Elizabeth) died and he remarried and started a new family with Mary. There's no HARRIS/RADFORD marriage on the IGI or FreeBMD, but if Henry had married Mary Ann prior to the 1833 daughter being born, then the marriage was before registration anyway. Perhaps I just want this all to fit so that the Henry HARRIS living in St Margaret Westminster is "mine"!! Perhaps it's simply a coincidence that his name is Henry, and he's a coppersmith and he lives in the same parish as my William Henry HARRIS. I have looked for Henry and the children in 1841 but cannot find them - at least not on Ancestry. Perhaps they have been mistranscribed. I've also tried wildcards but to no avail. If someone has access to a different transcript of the 1841 census, perhaps he may show up on there. I don't know where to go from here and would really appreciate some advice please. Many thanks Chris, Sydney Australia

You don't say if you've looked for the 5 children elsewhere in the 1861 census? If he is "genuinely" a widower in 1861 then the youngest might be in an orphanage/workhouse and they often only give initials so that's not easy. Have you looked for either of his "wives" to check if they are around and have just left him. The oldest children might well have married - have you looked for their marriages? Alternatively they will be away working. I know it's not easy with a name like HARRIS! Liz www.btinternet.com/~e.newbery OPC for Street, Somerset ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris & George Jamieson" <chrisstanley024@ozemail.com.au> > I'm back again with my HARRIS enquiries to ask for your help once again.

Hi Mike Yes, it is still called a Marriage in the church. I married in a Catholic Church (I am not Catholic) but we were told that the priest was a Cannon and was licenced to perform marriages. That was in 1966 and it was still unusual. I've looked at the Church Registers in Bristol RO and can't remember if I've actually seen Marriages for the Pro-Cathedral - I rather think not as I don't have an actual marriage date for my MIL and FIL, just the Quarter. If I'd seen the records I know I would have all the details. My MILs Irish mother married in the Register Office in 1915 but I doubt they would have gone to the Church as she was ex-communicated:-) She was married to someone else but had 6 children by the man she eventually married! Oh, isn't family history interesting. Liz www.btinternet.com/~e.newbery OPC for Street, Somerset ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Gould" <mike.gould@ndirect.co.uk> To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 7:46 AM Subject: Re: [B&D] Marriage (?) entry in Latin > Hi Liz, > > Thanks for your reply. I was interested to see that in your example the > church service was still called a marriage, even though the "official" > marriage had already taken place. Your possible reasons make a lot of > sense, so I think one of them is probably the right one. > > Thanks for your help, > > Best wishes, > > Mike > > > -----Original Message----- > From: bristol_and_district-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:bristol_and_district-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Liz > Sent: 07 March 2010 19:25 > To: bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [B&D] Marriage (?) entry in Latin > > Hi Mike > > Certainly the Catholic Church were using the Latin names at that stage so > you are quite right there. The marriage that you have from the GRO would > probably be in the Register Office as the Catholic priests were not > licenced > > to perform marriages at that stage. Even my SIL had to go to the > Register's > > Office in 1962 - they then went to the Pro Cathedral where they had a > marriage in the Catholic Church...this was the same day. It may well be > that your ancestor went to the Register Office and thought that was that, > then if they went to have their children baptised the Priest may well have > found that they hadn't had a church wedding! Perhaps they didn't realise > they had to do that or, as you say, may be one or both of them converted > and > > it was suggested they should marry in the church? > > Liz > www.btinternet.com/~e.newbery > OPC for Street, Somerset > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Mike Gould" <mike.gould@ndirect.co.uk> > To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2010 7:09 PM > Subject: [B&D] Marriage (?) entry in Latin > > >> >> Hi All, >> >> Having done some searching of the pilot family search site, I came across >> a >> record that puzzles me. It clearly concerns some relatives of mine - >> Lily >> GOULD and George BULLOCK - but their names are all written in a Latin >> form - >> Lilianum & Georgium - and the date given (1925) is 2 years after the GRO >> registration of their marriage. So although it is listed under >> Marriages, > >> I >> don't think it can be one. >> >> Can anyone help ? Is this perhaps a Catholic service where one or both >> have >> converted to catholicism and is a blessing of their marriage ? > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Hi Liz, Thanks for your reply. I was interested to see that in your example the church service was still called a marriage, even though the "official" marriage had already taken place. Your possible reasons make a lot of sense, so I think one of them is probably the right one. Thanks for your help, Best wishes, Mike -----Original Message----- From: bristol_and_district-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:bristol_and_district-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Liz Sent: 07 March 2010 19:25 To: bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [B&D] Marriage (?) entry in Latin Hi Mike Certainly the Catholic Church were using the Latin names at that stage so you are quite right there. The marriage that you have from the GRO would probably be in the Register Office as the Catholic priests were not licenced to perform marriages at that stage. Even my SIL had to go to the Register's Office in 1962 - they then went to the Pro Cathedral where they had a marriage in the Catholic Church...this was the same day. It may well be that your ancestor went to the Register Office and thought that was that, then if they went to have their children baptised the Priest may well have found that they hadn't had a church wedding! Perhaps they didn't realise they had to do that or, as you say, may be one or both of them converted and it was suggested they should marry in the church? Liz www.btinternet.com/~e.newbery OPC for Street, Somerset ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Gould" <mike.gould@ndirect.co.uk> To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2010 7:09 PM Subject: [B&D] Marriage (?) entry in Latin > > Hi All, > > Having done some searching of the pilot family search site, I came across > a > record that puzzles me. It clearly concerns some relatives of mine - Lily > GOULD and George BULLOCK - but their names are all written in a Latin > form - > Lilianum & Georgium - and the date given (1925) is 2 years after the GRO > registration of their marriage. So although it is listed under Marriages, > I > don't think it can be one. > > Can anyone help ? Is this perhaps a Catholic service where one or both > have > converted to catholicism and is a blessing of their marriage ?

1781 poll finds two BEES Thomas a brazier in St Mary Redclift and William a cordwainer in Bedminster jim On 6-Mar-10, at 8:48 AM, DALE LEWIS wrote: > Hi Leonard > I too am looking for a Bees. Sophia Sophia who married George > Barnes around 1845. George was a Stone Mason of Penndennis Road, > Mangotsfield. > We also have totally un related Bees to Sophia in Keynsham. > Any good? > Dale >> >> Regards >> >> Leonard >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com >> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the >> subject and the body of the message >> > > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the > message

a later 1754 poll book in Temple is a Charles BEES a weaver On 6-Mar-10, at 8:48 AM, DALE LEWIS wrote: > Hi Leonard > I too am looking for a Bees. Sophia Sophia who married George > Barnes around 1845. George was a Stone Mason of Penndennis Road, > Mangotsfield. > We also have totally un related Bees to Sophia in Keynsham. > Any good? > Dale > > --- On Sat, 6/3/10, Leonard Skinner > <leonard.skinner@btinternet.com> wrote: > >> From: Leonard Skinner <leonard.skinner@btinternet.com> >> Subject: [B&D] Beese or Bees Family >> To: BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT@rootsweb.com >> Date: Saturday, 6 March, 2010, 11:45 >> Dear List >>

Hi Mike Certainly the Catholic Church were using the Latin names at that stage so you are quite right there. The marriage that you have from the GRO would probably be in the Register Office as the Catholic priests were not licenced to perform marriages at that stage. Even my SIL had to go to the Register's Office in 1962 - they then went to the Pro Cathedral where they had a marriage in the Catholic Church...this was the same day. It may well be that your ancestor went to the Register Office and thought that was that, then if they went to have their children baptised the Priest may well have found that they hadn't had a church wedding! Perhaps they didn't realise they had to do that or, as you say, may be one or both of them converted and it was suggested they should marry in the church? Liz www.btinternet.com/~e.newbery OPC for Street, Somerset ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Gould" <mike.gould@ndirect.co.uk> To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2010 7:09 PM Subject: [B&D] Marriage (?) entry in Latin > > Hi All, > > Having done some searching of the pilot family search site, I came across > a > record that puzzles me. It clearly concerns some relatives of mine - Lily > GOULD and George BULLOCK - but their names are all written in a Latin > form - > Lilianum & Georgium - and the date given (1925) is 2 years after the GRO > registration of their marriage. So although it is listed under Marriages, > I > don't think it can be one. > > Can anyone help ? Is this perhaps a Catholic service where one or both > have > converted to catholicism and is a blessing of their marriage ? The name > of > the church isn't given, unfortunately. > > Best wishes, > > Mike Gould > Leicestershire > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Hi All, Having done some searching of the pilot family search site, I came across a record that puzzles me. It clearly concerns some relatives of mine - Lily GOULD and George BULLOCK - but their names are all written in a Latin form - Lilianum & Georgium - and the date given (1925) is 2 years after the GRO registration of their marriage. So although it is listed under Marriages, I don't think it can be one. Can anyone help ? Is this perhaps a Catholic service where one or both have converted to catholicism and is a blessing of their marriage ? The name of the church isn't given, unfortunately. Best wishes, Mike Gould Leicestershire

Hi Dale I do not have any information on a Sophia Bees - George Barnes marriage. My Beese (Bees) are from one of the Keynsham families. I would be very happy to swap any information on the Keynsham Bees with you. Regards Leonard -----Original Message----- From: bristol_and_district-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:bristol_and_district-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of DALE LEWIS Sent: 06 March 2010 16:48 To: bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [B&D] Beese or Bees Family Hi Leonard I too am looking for a Bees. Sophia Sophia who married George Barnes around 1845. George was a Stone Mason of Penndennis Road, Mangotsfield. We also have totally un related Bees to Sophia in Keynsham. Any good? Dale --- On Sat, 6/3/10, Leonard Skinner <leonard.skinner@btinternet.com> wrote: > From: Leonard Skinner <leonard.skinner@btinternet.com> > Subject: [B&D] Beese or Bees Family > To: BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT@rootsweb.com > Date: Saturday, 6 March, 2010, 11:45 > Dear List > > > > I am hoping someone can help me with my Beese family brick > wall. The > information I have is that William Beese married Phoebe > (Febe) Garland at St > James, Mangotsfield on 29 Apr 1781. William died on the 5 > Mar 1839 aged 83 > in Soundwell, Mangotsfield. I have this information from > his Death > Certificate and his burial is listed in the BAFHS South > Gloucester Burial > Index. > > > > I have no information at all about Phoebe Beese nee > Garland. Her death is > not listed in the latest BAFHS Bristol Burial Registers > 1754-1812 nor in the > South Gloucester Burial Index. From the where death of her > husband took > place I would have expected her to be buried at > Mangotsfield. There is a > death recorded on the GRO Death Index for a Phoebe Beese in > 1846 in the > Bedminster Registration District. However I cannot find a > Phoebe Beese in > the 1841 census images that I have (unfortunately no name > index). > > > > Could sks with access to Mangotsfield Burial records after > 1812 check to see > if Phoebe (Febe) Beese was buried there. It would also be a > great help if > anyone could find the Phoebe Beese who died in 1846 in the > 1841 census. > > > > Regards > > Leonard > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the > subject and the body of the message > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi Leonard I too am looking for a Bees. Sophia Sophia who married George Barnes around 1845. George was a Stone Mason of Penndennis Road, Mangotsfield. We also have totally un related Bees to Sophia in Keynsham. Any good? Dale --- On Sat, 6/3/10, Leonard Skinner <leonard.skinner@btinternet.com> wrote: > From: Leonard Skinner <leonard.skinner@btinternet.com> > Subject: [B&D] Beese or Bees Family > To: BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT@rootsweb.com > Date: Saturday, 6 March, 2010, 11:45 > Dear List > > > > I am hoping someone can help me with my Beese family brick > wall. The > information I have is that William Beese married Phoebe > (Febe) Garland at St > James, Mangotsfield on 29 Apr 1781. William died on the 5 > Mar 1839 aged 83 > in Soundwell, Mangotsfield. I have this information from > his Death > Certificate and his burial is listed in the BAFHS South > Gloucester Burial > Index. > > > > I have no information at all about Phoebe Beese nee > Garland. Her death is > not listed in the latest BAFHS Bristol Burial Registers > 1754-1812 nor in the > South Gloucester Burial Index. From the where death of her > husband took > place I would have expected her to be buried at > Mangotsfield. There is a > death recorded on the GRO Death Index for a Phoebe Beese in > 1846 in the > Bedminster Registration District. However I cannot find a > Phoebe Beese in > the 1841 census images that I have (unfortunately no name > index). > > > > Could sks with access to Mangotsfield Burial records after > 1812 check to see > if Phoebe (Febe) Beese was buried there. It would also be a > great help if > anyone could find the Phoebe Beese who died in 1846 in the > 1841 census. > > > > Regards > > Leonard > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the > subject and the body of the message >

I recently joined the project and have tended to transcribe a page or two each day, depending on the weather. I suspect the reason Bristol is in the list is because they were one of the last to allow their registers to be filmed in the late 1980s and they were never added to the IGI. You cannot select exactly which records you want to index apart from selecting "Bristol". So far I have done burials, christenings and marriages from Stapleton, Bedminster and two Christchurches. It is very easy and only a subset of the data is transcribed. I think the idea is that if you identify someone in the index you can then download the image which contains the extra data such as occupation, address and other details which could help identify the correct person. For some events such as marriage it will give free access to an image of the original document for which the GRO certificate is a copy. Chris Jefferies Cheltenham Glos -----Original Message----- From: bristol_and_district-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:bristol_and_district-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Phil Warn Sent: 06 March 2010 12:15 PM To: bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com Subject: [B&D] Family Search Indexing - Bristol Dear all, At the risk at seeming immodest, I have resumed after a year gap, doing indexing for this project. The results will appear on the pilot site. <http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#start> The batches I am doing at the moment are for Knowle. More precisely for the period 1837 to 1900. The scans are very clear and it really is a doddle! However, the Mormon Church is omitting to transcribe occupation oif father and home address. So, I have asked them why? There are several UK projects on the go, I did Cheshire last year - Bristol was not in the list. BTW, U spotted a BEES baptism there in 1885 Thanks Phil ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-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: 9.0.733 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2721 - Release Date: 03/06/10 07:39:00

Dear all, At the risk at seeming immodest, I have resumed after a year gap, doing indexing for this project. The results will appear on the pilot site. <http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#start> The batches I am doing at the moment are for Knowle. More precisely for the period 1837 to 1900. The scans are very clear and it really is a doddle! However, the Mormon Church is omitting to transcribe occupation oif father and home address. So, I have asked them why? There are several UK projects on the go, I did Cheshire last year - Bristol was not in the list. BTW, U spotted a BEES baptism there in 1885 Thanks Phil

Dear List I am hoping someone can help me with my Beese family brick wall. The information I have is that William Beese married Phoebe (Febe) Garland at St James, Mangotsfield on 29 Apr 1781. William died on the 5 Mar 1839 aged 83 in Soundwell, Mangotsfield. I have this information from his Death Certificate and his burial is listed in the BAFHS South Gloucester Burial Index. I have no information at all about Phoebe Beese nee Garland. Her death is not listed in the latest BAFHS Bristol Burial Registers 1754-1812 nor in the South Gloucester Burial Index. From the where death of her husband took place I would have expected her to be buried at Mangotsfield. There is a death recorded on the GRO Death Index for a Phoebe Beese in 1846 in the Bedminster Registration District. However I cannot find a Phoebe Beese in the 1841 census images that I have (unfortunately no name index). Could sks with access to Mangotsfield Burial records after 1812 check to see if Phoebe (Febe) Beese was buried there. It would also be a great help if anyone could find the Phoebe Beese who died in 1846 in the 1841 census. Regards Leonard

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: FFHS-NEWS Third Edition of the National Burial Index is now available Date: Sat, 06 Mar 2010 09:26:30 -0000 From: News from the Federation of Family History Societies *The Federation of Family History Societies is pleased to announce that the Third Edition of the National Burial Index (NBI3) is now available. *NBI3 is available on a single CD and contains over 18 Million burial records. Copies are available from FFHS at a price of £30 for first time purchasers and £15 for upgrades from NBI2. For further information and details of how to order please visit our website www.ffhs.org.uk click on the NBI3 Image on the Home Page to download the order form. Marian French Publicity Officer 5th March 2010 -------- Original Message ends -------- -- Charani (UK) OPC for Walton, Greinton and Clutton, SOM Asst OPC for Ashcott and Shapwick, SOM http://wsom-opc.org.uk

That is quite a list you have given me. Some of these names, such as Roberts, have far too many listed to even begin to type them out. Can you be more specific? Only one listed for EWEN: Ann EWENS, Parish of St. Augustine Kathleen ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Powter" <mikepowter@gmail.com> To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2010 12:10 AM Subject: Re: [B&D] 1696 bristol > Hello Kathleen, > > Greetings from sunny Sydney, Australia ... and thank you for your offer of > help. I would be grateful if you could look up for me the following > surnames > EWEN > LEYSON > MANNING > RICHARDSON > ROBERTS > SUTHERLAND > > Many thanks. > > Mike Powter > > On Fri, Feb 19, 2010 at 8:25 AM, KATHLEEN LOPEZ > <kathleen.lopez@rogers.com>wrote: > >> I have just bought a copy of: >> "THE INHABITANTS OF BRISTOL IN 1696" >> >> This includes names gathered in 1694 fot taxing burials, births, >> marriages >> , bachelors of 25 years of age and upwards and childless widowers to >> raise >> money to finance the war against France. It became known as "The Marriage >> Act". >> >> It is arranged according to parishes and includes the names of children. >> >> If anyone has a family that they are interested in, I am willing to have >> a >> "look see" on their behalf. >> Kathleen >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Great to hear the Pier's nearly finished. My grandparents met on the pier in the 1920's - so if it wasn't for the pier I might not be around! Rosalie Balfour Maidenhead -----Original Message----- From: bristol_and_district-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:bristol_and_district-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Charani Sent: 05 March 2010 17:22 To: B+D List Subject: [B&D] Weston's pier On a more serious note: many of you will remember the fire that destroyed Weston super Mare's pier in July 2008. The topping out ceremony took place last month on the pier's highest point. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/8497046.stm -- Charani (UK) OPC for Walton, Greinton and Clutton, SOM Asst OPC for Ashcott and Shapwick, SOM http://wsom-opc.org.uk ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

On a more serious note: many of you will remember the fire that destroyed Weston super Mare's pier in July 2008. The topping out ceremony took place last month on the pier's highest point. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/8497046.stm -- Charani (UK) OPC for Walton, Greinton and Clutton, SOM Asst OPC for Ashcott and Shapwick, SOM http://wsom-opc.org.uk

In the past any woman (or even a man) who had skills in natural medicine could have been deemed a witch. There were other reasons for accusing someone of being a witch too. Just for fun, Wookey's Witch and the BBC have got together to pose a little quiz to see how much you know about witches. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/somerset/hi/tv_and_radio/newsid_8494000/8494096.stm Does anyone have an ancestor who was accused of witchcraft? -- Charani (UK) OPC for Walton, Greinton and Clutton, SOM Asst OPC for Ashcott and Shapwick, SOM http://wsom-opc.org.uk

Liz wrote: > Thanks Charani. I wondered when it would be moving. The scheduled opening date is 6 Sept but that's dependent on the building schedule remaining on schedule. > I think it will be > easier for me as it will be on the South side of Taunton. I have friends > with a B&B within a reasonable distance and reasonably priced...they are > also interested in family history! It's a longer run from the motorway now, however, there are a lot of changes going on in Taunton so it might not be that much longer in the end. > How easy will it be for those who can only attend by public transport? There's a Park & Ride service that will go out there from the town centre and also from near the motorway. I've not taken a run out there yet but I've been told it stops very close to the new Heritage Centre. It's the Silk Mills service that people need to take. There's also a regular bus service. -- Charani (UK) OPC for Walton, Greinton and Clutton, SOM Asst OPC for Ashcott and Shapwick, SOM http://wsom-opc.org.uk