Looking at the results of a search with the key word 'WEYMOUTH' on the National Archives Documents on line wills site I found 'Will of Alexander Selkirk or Silkerk [1676 - 1721] Mate of His Majesty's ship Weymouth of Plymstock Devon.' Not strictly for the Dorset list I know but interesting that the original for 'Robinson Crusoe' left a will! This search criteria brings up over 1000 results and 'DORSET, gives over 14700 wills. Not all are for the town or county since addresses for example which include these words are returned. John Rogan in Wiltshire

Hello Debby, Thank you for locating the school photographs. I will contact Mr Lane, arrange a visit to view and report back. John Rogan in Wiltshire.

I am forwarding a copy of an email that David Lane has tried unsuccessfully to send to the list regarding the location of the old photographs: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hi All is not lost. Some, or all of the Weymouth Grammar School photographs in question are located in Weymouth Museum in Brewers Quay. They are not on general display but safely housed on shelves in the storeroom. I work as a volunteer in the museum and had a quick look at them today. Their are a number of "whole school" photographs ranging in date from 1921 to 1977. Thier are also a number of team photographs (football etc.) as well a the casts from various productions of the Middle School Dramatic Society - mainly Gilbert & Sullivan. Please contact me off list with any specific queries and I will try and help. Viewing would have to be by appointment and again contact me for details in the first instance. David Lane Weymouth UK david.lane@zetnet.co.uk --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.779 / Virus Database: 526 - Release Date: 19/10/2004

Hello Debby, It will be very interesting to learn if the historical bits from the old WGS site are with the new school. Even before trying the DRO in Dorchester, a friend contacted a Budmouth School governor who was unable to find any trace of the photographs. The plot thickens! John Rogan in Wiltshire

I have yet to check this out fully, but my two elder children both attend or attended Budmouth which took over as the Grammar School and I remember seeing something like a Roll of Honour on the wall there. My children say that there is indeed an old Roll of Honour on the wall in the entrance hall just after you go through reception. I also remember there being several old photographs along the corridor nearby - I spent some time looking at them while waiting for my son to finish football practice a few years back. I will try to investigate this further asap and report back. Regards to all Debby Subject: [DOR-LIFE] Re Weymouth Grammar School photographs > Geoff wrote > > 'Those panoramic photos were still there in 1962 when I left, in fact the > whole corridor opposite the gym' was covered in them, together with > photos > of the G&S operas and the first XI football teams.' > > I had completely forgotten the team photographs and the Roll of Honour > boards in the Hall. > > The displayed photographs I recall were of the staff and pupils pre the > 1939 > - 45 war. The first (I think) post war was taken in March 1948 so should > include everyone in the school at that time. "Cocker" C F Linnitt was > the Head > Master and "Isabelle Annabelle Clarabelle" I A C Riggs was Head Mistress" --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.776 / Virus Database: 523 - Release Date: 12/10/2004

See: http://www.regiments.org/regiments/na-canada/inf/780newf.htm HTH someone. Viv England DYSTONIA SOCIETY M00226 www.dystonia.org.uk SDFHS 9551 U Looking for LANE, Holnest 1729+/-, Hermitage 1765+/-, Leigh 1808+, Longfleet 1881+/-, Kinson 1884+, all in Dorset --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.776 / Virus Database: 523 - Release Date: 12/10/2004

Geoff wrote 'Those panoramic photos were still there in 1962 when I left, in fact the whole corridor opposite the gym' was covered in them, together with photos of the G&S operas and the first XI football teams.' I had completely forgotten the team photographs and the Roll of Honour boards in the Hall. The displayed photographs I recall were of the staff and pupils pre the 1939 - 45 war. The first (I think) post war was taken in March 1948 so should include everyone in the school at that time. "Cocker" C F Linnitt was the Head Master and "Isabelle Annabelle Clarabelle" I A C Riggs was Head Mistress" It has been suggested to me that some of the WGS items may have been lodged with the organisers of the display at the old brewery in Hope Square. Does any one have any knowledge of this or a contact name or 'phone number there please which I can follow through? I believe the local newspaper "The Echo" has featured stories on the iron gates which disappeared when the school was demolished but have now been located. Maybe I should try a letter to the editor. It would be particularly pleasing to find the Honour Boards. On your query re your brothers Geoff, well, I remember this time when the forty strong police riot squad... But perhaps I should write you privately on this! Only kidding! Richard mentions the possibility of PRANKERDs at the WGS. I have the 5th form class lists for 1949 and partial lists for 1947 and 1943 in none of which are there any pupils of this surname. John Rogan in Wiltshire.

John: If you get an answer to your question, I would be keen to know it. It's always possible that some of my PRANKERD individuals went to Weymouth Grammar. I do hope the photos have not been destroyed as some have suggested. Regards Richard >There were, at least up to 1949, a series of framed school photographs hung >along the wall in the ground floor corridor of the Weymouth Grammar School >main school building in Alma Road. > >For some time I have been trying to trace these. They seem not to be with >the school, or deposited in the County Record Office at Dorchester. > >Has anyone any suggestions as to where they may be now? > >John Rogan in Wiltshire. > >______________________________

Regards Rebecca Jansen

Could anyone help us with bits of information concerning the Robert and John Ryves families and their times in Blandford Forum? They lived from ABT 1490 through ABT1550 in that area. I have heard that there is some kind of inscription pertaining to the Ryves in the Fifehead Neville church and wonder what that is. We will share any information we receive with other Reeves and be most grateful for it. -Judy

Hello John & List Those panoramic photos were still there in 1962 when I left, in fact the whole corridor opposite the gym' was covered in them, together with photos of the G&S operas and the first XI football teams. I'm afraid they must all have gone the same way as the Roll of Honour lists that were in the gym/assembly hall, that is in the demolition man's lorry, for whom it was all so much rubbish. When I finish this mail I will google WOGs (Weymouth Old Grammarians!), who just MAY have been contacted, or made some effort themselves at salvaging something. There was even someone on the list who admitting to a certain proud satisfaction at having been able to participate in vandalising the remains of the place! I have the photos for 1956 and 1958, and I believe they were the last to be taken. I can't offer to copy them for you because after enquiry, and a very strange look from the photographer, I got a quote which was way above my means, and in any case the copy would not be in the original format. I'll be back if I find any useful hints. By the way, two of my big Everest brothers would have been at WGS in 1949. Any memories? Regards Geoff

There were, at least up to 1949, a series of framed school photographs hung along the wall in the ground floor corridor of the Weymouth Grammar School main school building in Alma Road. For some time I have been trying to trace these. They seem not to be with the school, or deposited in the County Record Office at Dorchester. Has anyone any suggestions as to where they may be now? John Rogan in Wiltshire.

Hello all I have a little booklet here specifically about the Blandford fire of 1731 written by the then curator of the museum (1987), Benjamin Cox. It says: the fire "started on the afternoon of 4 June 1731and destroyed the parish church, the almshouses near the church, the school, the town hall, and all but a dozen of the town's houses, public buildings and business properties. Parts of Blandford St. Mary and Bryanston near Blandford Bridge were also destroyed. Properties not destroyed were the Old House in the Close, the Ryves almshouses, Dale House and other buildings at the upper end of Salisbury Street and Whitecliff Mill Street." It also says that the fire ended the epidemic of smallpox that was raging in Blandford at the time. An account of the fire was made in 1735 by a witness who said that the fire started on the outside of a soap-boiler's house and the conjecture was that sparks fell from a chimney onto the thatch. This house stood on rising ground where four streets meet, not far from the middle of the town. There are lists of those whose houses etc were destroyed in Bryanston and Blandford St. Mary and those in Lower Bryanston. A list of those who died as a result of the fire or shortly afterwards and a very long list of the inhabitants of Blandford who lost their houses etc with assessments. The only Ryves mentioned is Ann in the Blandford list whose damages were assessed at £268.0.0 I think the Ranston estate is further out and I don't think it was affected, but I could be wrong. Debby > Hello, > I'm from the Ryves line in Blandford and have read just a little about the > fire in 1713 and the rebuilding of the town by the Bastard family. > > Can anyone describe how that got started and something about what it was > like to be in the midst of that fire and what happened to the people who > were burned out of their homes? Just how widespread was it? > > I understand it destroyed the Ryves' Damory Court but did it also take > their Ranston Estate? > > Thanks. Judy --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.775 / Virus Database: 522 - Release Date: 08/10/2004

Debby, Good job! What a lot of information you sent. We'll put it on one of the Reeves' websites popular in the US. A lot of us willl be interested to read this. Thanks so very much. Gratefully - Judy

Christine, How responsive this group is! Thank you so much for your reply. We are very interested in any stories about the fire from Blanford and any information would be of interest to us. Gratefully - Judy ----- Original Message ----- From: Christine Poole <c.poole@shaw.ca> To: <ENG-DORSET-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, October 08, 2004 5:03 PM Subject: [DOR-LIFE] re: Fire in Blandford > I am originally from Blandford ( my family live there still) The fire > was supposed to have started in a baker (or butchers shop) in East > street. I am not sure if you know but the Rhyves name changed to Reeves > (date unkn.) and are a well known paint firm (artist materials). As I > look through my Blandford info I will check for you - also any questions > that I can't answer perhaps my family can. I do know any orphans and > parents unknown were given the surname Blandford. Hope this helps, > Christine in Calgary, Canada > > > ==== ENG-DORSET-LIFE Mailing List ==== > The Dorset Genweb pages can be found at: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~engdor/ > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > >

I am originally from Blandford ( my family live there still) The fire was supposed to have started in a baker (or butchers shop) in East street. I am not sure if you know but the Rhyves name changed to Reeves (date unkn.) and are a well known paint firm (artist materials). As I look through my Blandford info I will check for you - also any questions that I can't answer perhaps my family can. I do know any orphans and parents unknown were given the surname Blandford. Hope this helps, Christine in Calgary, Canada

Was the great fire not in 1731? It destroyed a lot of the links that I need to trace my PARSONS family further back. Iain, Brampton, Cumbria.

Whoops. Realized as soon as I sent it off that the date of the fire was 1731 not 1713....Sorry

Hello, I'm from the Ryves line in Blandford and have read just a little about the fire in 1713 and the rebuilding of the town by the Bastard family. Can anyone describe how that got started and something about what it was like to be in the midst of that fire and what happened to the people who were burned out of their homes? Just how widespread was it? I understand it destroyed the Ryves' Damory Court but did it also take their Ranston Estate? Thanks. Judy

Hi John, Although not researching this family, have found the following which may be of interest. In 1851 Census for Parish of Compton Abbas 1851 Folio 192 Staples Silvanus, age 50, b1800 Farnham Ag Lab " " , age 20, b1831 Compton Abbas Ag Lab " James age 15, b1836 " " " " " Benjamin age 11 b 1840 " " Scholar " Charles age 9 b 1842 " " " From BVRI Silvanus Staples married Marina Weeks, 30 Jul 1826 recorded Hanley, Dorset. FHL Film 1279499. 1811-1837 Christenings Slyvanus Staples, 6 Mar 1831 at Compton Abbas Dorset Parents Sylvanus Staples and Marina FHL 1279492. 1826-1849 John 26 Oct 1828 William 20 Feb 1833 James 26 May 1835 Hannah Jane 12 May 1837, Death 1 Mar 1838 Benjamin 20 Apr 1839 Charles 27 Mar 1842. All above details as for Slyvanus, all spellings as per lists. Kind regards, Lynne, Sydney. ----- Original Message ----- From: "J Weeks" <jwweeks@ozemail.com.au> To: <ENG-DORSET-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2004 5:05 PM Subject: [DOR-LIFE] STABLES > Hello to all, > I am looking for a STAPLES marriage that could have been in COMPTON ABBAS > or any of the ABBAS areas. > > Sylvanus STAPLES was born at Compton Abbas 1830/31 and is believed to have > migrated to Canada with one of his brothers. He married a MARY O'DELL > there in 1865. Had a son (Sylvanus). Nothing more is known of him. > > BUT in the 1881 census there is a Sylvanus STAPLES with his wife, > "SUSANNAH" and family living at MELBURY ABBAS. Age wise it could be the > same Sylvanus. > > Any STAPLES researchers out there who might have a record of the marriage > of the MELBURY ABBAS family? > > Any marriage details could throw some light on this one. > > In the 1881 census the eldest child at MELBURY ABBAS is 13 years old which > puts the possible marriage date at around 1867/68. > > > John > In beautiful Canberra. > Capitol of OZ > > > > ==== ENG-DORSET-LIFE Mailing List ==== > Look at the website for the Office of National Statistics for information > about the census and ordering certificates > http://www.statistics.gov.uk > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > >