Hello Lavinia seekers I speak as someone who has something in common with her. First, I have Cutts ancestry, if not the name. Second, I was born in Whitwell and left there shortly afterwards.... in my case 3 weeks afterwards (and I have a brother who wasn't born in Whitwell but does live in Retford). Now, brought up in the late 20th century I know perfectly well I was born there - my parents told me and I have a birth certificate with my name and place of birth on to remind me. But born 150 years earlier, to a census official asking me my birthplace as an adult I'd have surely said Croydon, where I alighted for my sins when I was 4 and stayed till I married. So, Brian, right as you doubtless are to fret about it, I'd conclude that the two are identical with a 99% probability. As you perhaps have done. Rare christian names are interesting, esp if we can find a reason for their first use. Believe it or not, I have an ancestor named Tycho after the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe. And last week I was musing aloud on some stuff someone had sent me on a v different line - 'Omar, Omar - I wonder where that comes from?' My family history widow, who normally ignores such mutterings, promptly said 'What year?'.....'1776' says I. 'Oh that's easy', says she, 'South Sea Islander, came back with Captain Cook, painted by Reynolds and a few others'. So where does Lavinia come from?! Character in a novel? Madame doesn't know that one.... Do you?! Peter ----- Original Message ----- From: Brian Berrington <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 4:58 PM Subject: [CUTTS] RE: Another Lavinia and George of Retford > Hi Mavis > > Thanks for the interesting info and I hope you have a successful couple of > days in London. > > I'm fairly sure now that the clue to what happened to my Lavinia's family > after about 1800, lies in the Wollaton parish records. > As you know, she was married in Wollaton Church in 1821 so presumably she > and at least some of her family were living there at that time. I've only > been able to trace two of her brothers; William c. Whitewell 1795 who we > know died in Retford in 1871 and John c. Shirland 1781. I'm sure there must > have been more. Her father George would have been about 70 at the time of > her marriage and may well have died by then although her mother Francis was > still alive at 85 and living with William in E Retford in 1841. > > Now comes the interesting bit of speculation; a John Cutts appears in the 81 > census in HM Prison, St John St Nottingham. He was aged 44, married and he > was a chimney sweep when he wasn't doing time, what is more to the point he > was born in Wollaton in about 1837! > > Lavinia's brother John probably married abt 1806 and perhaps his son abt. > 1832. Could naughty John the sweep be Lavinia's nephew? I'll see if I can > find his birth in the GRO fiche when I visit Stafford records office next > week. > > Do you have any records of Cutts at Wollaton or know anyone who might have > access to the parish records? It would be interesting to see how many Cutts > appear there from say 1800 on. > > The one awkward point is why did Lavinia give her place of birth as being > Retford when she was born in Whitewell and was living in Wollaton when she > married Robert Berrington. > > > Cheers, Brian >