LYDIA YOUNG, born at Wotton-under-Edge, Glos, c1827-9, and CHARLES RABBITTS, born Cloford c1830-1, married at St John's, Frome, on 23 July 1854. Both were then of the parish of Frome (information from Stella Young's website "YOUNG marriages in Frome", http://www.fromeresearch.org.uk/) Lydia was the daughter of JOSIAH YOUNG, weaver, and Charles was the son of JOHN RABBITTS, wheelwright. The witnesses were ANDREW and SARAH YOUNG, who were my great-grandparents (Andrew YOUNG and Sarah MEAD, married at Rodden on Apr 12 1852). Lydia was Andrew Young's elder sister, so she was a great- great-aunt of mine. Charles Rabbitts must have joined the army soon after the marriage and been sent to India, for he was a recipient of the Indian Mutiny Medal (Indian Mutiny Medal Roll 1857-59 at the Friends of British India website). He was a sergeant in the 3rd Battalion the Rifle Brigade and presumably took part in the Relief of Lucknow. I have not found the couple in either 1861 or 71 but the IGI shows that they had a son, JONATHAN STEPHEN RABBITTS, born at Lucknow, West Bengal, India, on 5 Nov 1874 - some 20 years after their marriage and when Lydia must have been in her early 40s. I have found no other children. By 1881 they were back in England and living in Brandy Lane, Frome. Charles was described as an iron founder's labourer and a pensioner of the 40th Regiment and Jonathan S Rabbitts was then aged six. Charles Rabbitts died at Frome in 1885, aged 54, and his widow Lydia must have gone up to Bradford, Yorks, to be near her brother Andrew, who had moved there for work in the 1870s. She appears in Bradford with her son John, then 16, in the 1891 census. Lydia died at Bradford in 1897 and I can find no trace of Jonathan (or John) in either 1901 or 1911. However, the passenger lists at Findmypast of people leaving England between 1890-1960 have a J. S. Rabbitts, single man, joiner, born about 1875, sailing for South Africa aboard the ship GAIKA from Southampton on 20 Aug 1904. I think this was very likely Jonathan Stephen Rabbitts and I wonder whether, with his father being a long-serving professional soldier, he might also have joined the army and been in the Boer War in 1901 (which accounts for many men missing from that census), returned to England and then decided to go back to South Africa? Both YOUNG and RABBITTS were very prolific families at Frome (there were 68 Youngs and 74 Rabbitts, including variants, there in the 1851 census). I have chapter- and-verse on the Youngs and the Meads of Frome, but I am intrigued to know what happened to my distant cousin Jonathan Stephen Rabbitts, the son of Charles and Lydia? Did he die in South Africa, was he married out there and are there any descendants? I've checked out a few South African websites and not found him as yet. I just wondered whether there are any YOUNG and / or RABBITTS researchers here? Given the number of Youngs and Rabbitts at Frome, there surely must be! Many thanks, in hopeful anticipation. With apologies for the length of this message but I always like to spell out in full what I already know. -- Roy Stockdill Genealogical researcher, writer & lecturer Newbies' Guide to Genealogy & Family History: www.genuki.org.uk/gs/Newbie.html "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." OSCAR WILDE

Thanks Josephine - it gives a good feeling to find others enjoying the website, it make the effort worthwhile, especially when you are not related. If anybody living in the Bristol area finds a household brush - in a junk shop, antique shop, or where ever - with the BB and Boar logo or ABC logo on it then please let me know. Regards, Geoff At 13:17 31/10/2010, Josephine Jeremiah wrote: There has been reference to brushmakers on the list and, as my 2x grandfather was a brushmaker, I thought I'd have a quick look at brushmaking in Bristol. In doing so, I've come across the following interesting web page on E. Brison and Co. http://www.wedmore.org.uk/brison/e-brison.htm It's worth a look for the letter head and illustrations even if you don't have an interest in brushmaking. Josephine Geoffrey T. Stone, FSG Braintree, Essex, UK One-Name Study of WEDMORE - worldwide. http://www.wedmore.org.uk

I am trying to identify the widow, Elizabeth Smith, born 1834 Monckton Combe who, in 1871 & 1881 was at Ivy Cottages there with three children. The 1841 census there has an Elizabeth Watts age 7 with her parents William, an aglab, and his wife Ann. In 1851 that Elizabeth was 16 and living in, in service, in another house in Monckton Combe. That census shows William Watts & Ann there with their own children AND "twins, Ellen Smith and James Smith aged 1 year, born Walcot, Somerset". The 1861 census shows Elizabeth Watts 26, single, at home with William & Ann. No twin Smiths were there. In 1863 a William Smith married an Elizabeth Jane Watts in the Bath area. There is no indication of their identities but it seems likely that the twin Smiths may have been the illegitimate children of Elizabeth Watts who later on married William Smith, who obviously died before the 1971 census took place. I would be extremely grateful if someone could please identify the widow Elizabeth Smith, and perhaps see if the twin Smiths had been baptised. Joe Emery. Ox.FHS member 1391

There has been reference to brushmakers on the list and, as my 2x grandfather was a brushmaker, I thought I'd have a quick look at brushmaking in Bristol. In doing so, I've come across the following interesting web page on E. Brison and Co. http://www.wedmore.org.uk/brison/e-brison.htm It's worth a look for the letter head and illustrations even if you don't have an interest in brushmaking. Josephine -- Josephine Jeremiah www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com

> >Ian was in the background, taking photos as usual, Edna. > >He's put some captioned photographs, on our web site, of the 50th >Anniversary Celebration of the opening of Downend Library: > >http://www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com/bristolbits/bristol/downend.htm Hi Josephine and Ian Thank you for making the pictures available. So nice to see you again, Josephine. Looks like it was lots of fun and a good day for all. Best wishes Marjorie

On Sun, 31 Oct 2010 01:53:06 +0100, liverpud <liverpud-49@rogers.com> wrote: > Now we want to see the photos... Ian was in the background, taking photos as usual, Edna. He's put some captioned photographs, on our web site, of the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the opening of Downend Library: http://www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com/bristolbits/bristol/downend.htm Josephine -- Josephine Jeremiah www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com

Hello Josephine, Following a suggestion from Bernice, I was on the point of Googling for Brushmakers Society when your post popped-up. The articles on the Society's web site are indeed interest and I'm grateful to have the link to the organisation. Many thanks, Roland -----Original Message----- From: bristol_and_somerset-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:bristol_and_somerset-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Josephine Jeremiah Sent: 30 October 2010 23:37 To: bristol_and_somerset@rootsweb.com Subject: [B&S] The Society of Brushmakers' Descendants (was KITCHEN, DUFFETT and FOWLER) On Fri, 29 Oct 2010 22:36:18 +0100, <Bernpeg@aol.com> wrote: > I have Bristol brushmakers and their origins were in Exeter. Bernice's reference to Exeter has reminded me that I have a brushmaker ancestor from Exeter, too. He was my 2x great-grandfather, Thomas WHITE, who, by 1881, was living in Bedminster. I've just had a look at the web site of The Society of Brushmakers' Descendants. http://www.brushmakers.com/ There's an an interesting article there. To see it click on Brushmaker or Tramp. Josephine -- Josephine Jeremiah www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BRISTOL_AND_SOMERSET-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

This is from the Mariners Rootsweb list. http://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/cospatrick.html It's about the tragic loss of a ship, the Cospatrick, on its way from London to New Zealand. Several Somerset names among the lost passengers and crew. Robyn

Thanks Ian and Josephine, for the photos at Downend Library. Your donation of the book The Bristol Avon - a Pictorial History is truly a fine gift. http://www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com/bristolbits/bristol/downend.htm (;-)) Edna - Ottawa

Hello Bernice, Thank you very much for the additional information especially that concerning the brushmakers and their descendants; as you say this clearly a task for Google. The name of Kent as a commercial brush maker rings a bell; it was a one time a prominent brand, but I have not seen it advertised for many years. Best wishes from a bright, but cloudy East Anglia. Roland -----Original Message----- From: bristol_and_somerset-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:bristol_and_somerset-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Bernpeg@aol.com Sent: 30 October 2010 14:21 To: bristol_and_somerset@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [B&S] KITCHEN, DUFFETT and FOWLER Hello Roland The wills at Bristol Record ... snip, snip

Apologies, apologies. See what you get when receiving congratulations from a genealogist! LOL, Edna - Ottawa ----- Original Message ----- From: "Josephine Jeremiah" <jojeremiah@dsl.pipex.com> To: <bristol_and_somerset@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, October 31, 2010 4:19 AM Subject: Re: [B&S] 50th Anniversary of Downend Library celebrated today On Sun, 31 Oct 2010 01:53:06 +0100, liverpud <liverpud-49@rogers.com> wrote: > Congratulations for being the first to take out a book at Downend > Cemetery. Now we want to see the photos... Ian said 'Cemetery?', but I know you have relatives buried in the cemetery at Westerleigh Road, Downend, Edna, so the cemetery must have been in the back of your mind as you read about the library. If I see an online report about the 50th anniversary celebration at Downend Library, yesterday, I will let you know. Josephine -- Josephine Jeremiah www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com

On Sun, 31 Oct 2010 00:22:20 +0100, Robyn Horan <robynvh2@gmail.com> wrote: > This is from the Mariners Rootsweb list. > > http://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/cospatrick.html > > It's about the tragic loss of a ship, the Cospatrick, on its way from > London to New Zealand. Several Somerset names among the lost > passengers and crew. Thank you for this, Robyn. It led me to accounts of the sinking of the Cospatrick, from the Illustrated London News, which make grim reading. http://www.theshipslist.com/accounts/cospatrick.html Josephine -- Josephine Jeremiah www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com

On Sun, 31 Oct 2010 01:53:06 +0100, liverpud <liverpud-49@rogers.com> wrote: > Congratulations for being the first to take out a book at Downend > Cemetery. Now we want to see the photos... Ian said 'Cemetery?', but I know you have relatives buried in the cemetery at Westerleigh Road, Downend, Edna, so the cemetery must have been in the back of your mind as you read about the library. If I see an online report about the 50th anniversary celebration at Downend Library, yesterday, I will let you know. Josephine -- Josephine Jeremiah www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com

On Sat, 30 Oct 2010 23:59:33 +0100, <Bernpeg@aol.com> wrote: > Congratulations Josephine on taking out the first book from Downend > library and what an honur to be invited back for the anniversary > celebrations. > I'll look out for your photo in the local newspapers. > Bernice in Downend Yes, it was exciting to be invited back for the anniversary celebration and Downend Library was packed. To mark the occasion, I presented the library with a signed copy of my book, 'The Bristol Avon: A Pictorial History', but I had no idea that I was going to be presented with a copy of the very book I had taken out 50 years ago as the library's first customer. What a kind thought that was! Lots of photographs were taken, so you will probably see one of the event in the Evening Post during the coming week. Josephine -- Josephine Jeremiah www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com

On Sat, 30 Oct 2010 23:52:20 +0100, Pat Hase <pat@pathase.demon.co.uk> wrote: > What an appropriate momento of the occasion. I'm sure you'll treasure it > and how great that they found you again! > Every time I hear "The Old Clockmaker" by Charles Williams - I'm taken > back to Children's Hour and "Jennings at School" which was always so > exciting and one of my favourite serials on that programme. Yes, half a century ago, the television serial about Jennings at school was one of one of my favourites, too. In 1960, I was given 'Jennings Little Hut' as a school prize for cursive handwriting, so reading more Jennings books by Anthony Buckeridge became my aim. The day before Downend Library opened in 1960, people were allowed into the library to have a look at what was on the shelves. I spotted the book, 'Jennings as usual', during this time for browsing, so on the day of opening I went straight in, picked it off the shelf and took it to the counter. Then an Evening Post photographer recorded, for posterity, the library's first book being issued to me. Josephine -- Josephine Jeremiah www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com

What an appropriate momento of the occasion. I'm sure you'll treasure it and how great that they found you again! Every time I hear "The Old Clockmaker" by Charles Williams - I'm taken back to Children's Hour and "Jennings at School" which was always so exciting and one of my favourite serials on that programme. Pat ----- Original Message ----- From: "Josephine Jeremiah" <jojeremiah@dsl.pipex.com> To: <bristol_and_somerset@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, October 30, 2010 10:56 PM Subject: [B&S] 50th Anniversary of Downend Library celebrated today > Half a century ago, Downend Library in South Gloucestershire was opened. > Today, the 50th anniversary of the library was celebrated by users of the > library and past and present staff. Councillor Janet Biggin, the Chair of > South Gloucestershire Council, welcomed guests and there was music from > the Westerly Showband. > > I was among the guests invited to the event, held in Downend Library this > morning, as I was the first person to take out a book from the new library > 50 years ago. The title of the children's book I had chosen was 'Jennings > as usual' by Anthony Buckeridge. A photographer from the Evening Post took > a picture of me receiving it from a member of the library staff and the > photograph appeared in this Bristol newspaper later that day. > > I still read children's fiction and among my favourite authors are the > ones whose books I enjoyed reading from the library in my youth. So you > can imagine how surprised and pleased I was today, when the librarian at > Downend Library presented me with a copy of the very same book which I had > taken out of the library all those years ago. Another photographer was at > hand to record the occasion. > > I am going to enjoy and treasure this addition to my bookshelves and > relive a bit of my past as I read it. > > Josephine > > -- > Josephine Jeremiah > www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BRISTOL_AND_SOMERSET-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

On Fri, 29 Oct 2010 22:36:18 +0100, <Bernpeg@aol.com> wrote: > I have Bristol brushmakers and their origins were in Exeter. Bernice's reference to Exeter has reminded me that I have a brushmaker ancestor from Exeter, too. He was my 2x great-grandfather, Thomas WHITE, who, by 1881, was living in Bedminster. I've just had a look at the web site of The Society of Brushmakers' Descendants. http://www.brushmakers.com/ There's an an interesting article there. To see it click on Brushmaker or Tramp. Josephine -- Josephine Jeremiah www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com

Half a century ago, Downend Library in South Gloucestershire was opened. Today, the 50th anniversary of the library was celebrated by users of the library and past and present staff. Councillor Janet Biggin, the Chair of South Gloucestershire Council, welcomed guests and there was music from the Westerly Showband. I was among the guests invited to the event, held in Downend Library this morning, as I was the first person to take out a book from the new library 50 years ago. The title of the children's book I had chosen was 'Jennings as usual' by Anthony Buckeridge. A photographer from the Evening Post took a picture of me receiving it from a member of the library staff and the photograph appeared in this Bristol newspaper later that day. I still read children's fiction and among my favourite authors are the ones whose books I enjoyed reading from the library in my youth. So you can imagine how surprised and pleased I was today, when the librarian at Downend Library presented me with a copy of the very same book which I had taken out of the library all those years ago. Another photographer was at hand to record the occasion. I am going to enjoy and treasure this addition to my bookshelves and relive a bit of my past as I read it. Josephine -- Josephine Jeremiah www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com

Congratulations for being the first to take out a book at Downend Cemetery. Now we want to see the photos... Three cheers!!! Edna - Ottawa ----- Original Message ----- From: "Josephine Jeremiah" <jojeremiah@dsl.pipex.com> To: <bristol_and_somerset@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, October 30, 2010 5:56 PM Subject: [B&S] 50th Anniversary of Downend Library celebrated today Half a century ago, Downend Library in South Gloucestershire was opened. Today, the 50th anniversary of the library was celebrated by users of the library and past and present staff. Councillor Janet Biggin, the Chair of South Gloucestershire Council, welcomed guests and there was music from the Westerly Showband. I was among the guests invited to the event, held in Downend Library this morning, as I was the first person to take out a book from the new library 50 years ago. The title of the children's book I had chosen was 'Jennings as usual' by Anthony Buckeridge. A photographer from the Evening Post took a picture of me receiving it from a member of the library staff and the photograph appeared in this Bristol newspaper later that day. I still read children's fiction and among my favourite authors are the ones whose books I enjoyed reading from the library in my youth. So you can imagine how surprised and pleased I was today, when the librarian at Downend Library presented me with a copy of the very same book which I had taken out of the library all those years ago. Another photographer was at hand to record the occasion. I am going to enjoy and treasure this addition to my bookshelves and relive a bit of my past as I read it. Josephine -- Josephine Jeremiah www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com

Congratulations Josephine on taking out the first book from Downend library and what an honur to be invited back for the anniversary celebrations. I'll look out for your photo in the local newspapers. Bernice in Downend