Would SKS please confirm that Mary GOUGH was baptised at St James, Bream on 22nd January, 1792. Does the Church have a long and interesting history? Robin in Australia Email: [email protected]

Evening all, Does anybody have any information on the cemetery records at Sellack Marsh? regards Colin _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

A couple of listers have asked me to give more information on local newspapers in the Forest, and I thought this might be of use to others. The major source for newspapers of all stripes is The British Library, Newspaper Library, Colindale, London. They have a website with a searchable database of their holdings. Go to : http://www.bl.uk/collections/newspaper/newscat.html Colindale is certainly where I examined those Forest papers I've had time to check. In the provinces it may be more difficult. Certainly when I asked at the Local Studies Centre at Gloucester Central Library last year they had no Forest papers, which surprised me. The British Library sell microfilm copies of much of their holdings. No idea of cost, but I imagine they sell to individuals as well as institutions. Maybe a group of researchers could club together, or a local history society pay for it from their funds. Whether the original publishers still exist, have files of their published output, and allow access I don't know. That's a matter for a bit of research. All this would well repay the effort. The newspapers really do contain a wealth of family history data. A long-term plan might be to index the names contained in each issue, but it's a task for a sizeable workforce. I look forward to that day, Keith Chandler Oxfordshire

Cathy Bryan asked : << Has anyone looked at this or other local papers for family information? Is it worth doing? >> Having been researching among the 19th century local newspapers for a quarter century it sometimes amazes me that genealogists aren't constantly searching this source. Given that for the majority of us our ancestors were working class labourers or small craftsmen who leave little to mark their passing, the provincial press is perhaps the greatest single source for contextualising the lives of people in the past. And within those newspapers, the most rewarding of sections is that which reports on the regional petty sessions. And don't believe for a moment that your ancestors never appeared in magistrates' court. Not all were drunkards and wife beaters (though some were), but outwardly respectable craftsmen and farmers ended up before the Bench, for such offences as allowing their sheep to stray on the highway, or leaving their horse and cart blocking the road. I guess the main reason why family researchers leave this source alone is its hit and miss quality, never knowing if you will turn up anything relevant. Just today, for example, I spent five hours with the 'Abingdon and Reading Herald' for the years 1871-1873. Of the many hundreds of individual cases I examined - in greater or lesser detail - I resurfaced with fewer than thirty relevant examples. But then I'm researching over 800 individuals in Oxfordshire and all adjacent counties. So, important yes, but impossible to hone in on specifics. That said, the example cited by Cathy, 'Forest of Dean Mercury', is hardly of any use at all for genealogical purposes, its subtitle being 'A journal devoted to the interests of labour'. Excellent for labour and union researchers, however. But the Forest is covered by many papers which ARE essential for family history research, including : Chepstow Express Cinderford Journal Coleford Times [identical to Cinderford Journal] Dean Forest Mercury Lydney Journal [identical to Chepstow Express] Lydney Observer Good hunting, Keith Chandler Oxfordshire researching 40 or 50 individuals in the Forest

Looking through lists of newspapers available at the Newspaper Library in London, I came across a reference to The Forest of Dean Examiner which was published between 2 Aug 1873 and 5 Oct 1877. Has anyone looked at this or other local papers for family information? Is it worth doing? Cathy Bryan [email protected]

I am seeking info on my husbands greatgrandparents Mabel Malsom and Charles Hayward who I think came from the Cinderford area.Mabel was born 4/4/1884 and died 3/1/1969 in Berryhill.Their daughter was called Martha ,born19/5/1905.She married Hubert Brain who died in 1965.It would be great to hear from anyone researching the families. Best wishes Sue Brain.

Hi listers Does anybody know a site where a picture of Monmouth Workhouse is? Thanks Colin _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

James Merrick lived most of his adult life in Yorkshire but his place of birth was Newent. Family tradition is that he walked from the Forest of Dean to the Yorks coalfields looking for work with his gaffer. My earliest record is of his marriage in 1877. He seemed to be a little inconsistent with his age giving a date of birth anything from 1853 to 1856. His father was also James and was described as deceased on the marriage certificate. I have been unable to trace a registration for his birth. Can anyone throw any light on Merricks in Newent? Cathy Bryan [email protected]

I believe that Nora Beach was born at Bream about 1890. She married Arthur Isles and on November 30th., 1915 their son Donald Arthur Isles was born. At that time they were living at Hillcrest Yorkley. Nora died 5.5.1933 and was buried at Bream. Is Nora on anyone's list and can anyone help with the date of her marriage to Arthur please? I would be very grateful for any help or suggestions. John

Nora Beach was probably born at Bream about about 1890. She married Arthur Isles, a grocer, and they lived at Hillcrest Yorkley where their son Donald Arthur was born on 30.11.1915. Is Nora on anyone's list please and does anyone, by any chance know the date of the marriage which, I assume was at Bream also. Nora died 5.5.1933 and is buried at Bream. Any help would be greatly appreciated. John

Probably Parkend Parish Church, but, Moseley Green being where it is, Viney Hill, Blakeney and Lydney are all possible. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Shirley Askins" <[email protected]> To: <> Sent: 10 May 2001 08:53 Subject: Re: [FoD] Moseley Green > I have recently discovered that my great grandmother Lucy ROBERTS died at > Mosely Green September 1921. Would sks advise which cemetery would be most > likely for her burial. > > Many thanks > > > Shirley Askins >

Hi Everyone I am trying to help a friend here in Australia who is unable to find the birth of Elizabeth Sophia COLLINS (we have searched St.Caths) who in the 1891 census gives her place of birth as Sedbury. Her father is Charles COLLINS and his occupation is butcher. At her marriage in 1884 it gives her age as 40 and her father as deceased. I am unable to find her in 1881 atall. I wonder if anyone has access to the 1851 census for Sedbury? I think Sedbury is part of Gloucester? As far as we can see her age in 1851 would be about 7yrs but this may vary slightly. Many thanks for any help. Jeannie in Western Australia Interests: HANCOCK (Alkington, GLS) WORKMAN (Alkington, GLS) John Hancock married Maria Workman 27 Jan 1842 _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

I have recently discovered that my great grandmother Lucy ROBERTS died at Mosely Green September 1921. Would sks advise which cemetery would be most likely for her burial. Many thanks Shirley Askins

Hi FOD listers Does anybody have any information on FROWENS living at Sellack Marsh from about 1850 onwards? I am particularly looking for a place of residence if on any census. Thanks Colin _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

Hi Geoff I thoroughly enjoyed your site - particularly the reference to The George Inn Yorkley. I was delighted to find a photograph of The George Inn, Yorkley as I recently visited what is now called George Road. I went there to photograph my first home (Bream View) and was wishing very much that I had a photograph of The George Inn as I had spent many an hour playing in the cellar among the barrels - no Health & Safety in those days! The last landlord you have listed was my grandfather, Horace Ellway. He died on 18 Dec 1951 when my grandmother Margaret Baxter ELLWAY (known as "Meg") took over the licence - still with Stroud Brewery. She left in October 1957 and Desmond STRATFORD was the next licensee for about a year, followed by Ben TRAFFORD (for possibly 5 or 6 yrs?). The licensee prior to my grandparents was George JAMES (his wife Polly was Margaret Ellway's aunt). **If anyone knows anything of this couple I would be really pleased to hear from them.** Evelyn Beard (nee Smyth) Researching: ELLWAY/ELWAY, West Dean, Gloucestershire SMYTH, Dublin City and Saggart HYLAND, Dublin City LAING, Glasgow; Stepney, East London & Tonbridge Wells SAUNDERS, Stepney, East London; Hythe and Tonbridge Wells, Kent

Hi all The Forest of Dean Mining Site has had a recent (and long-awaited) update. N-S now up and working on the rest. Go to: http://www.users.waitrose.com/~iapope/Coalopen.html Ian _______________________________________ Ian Pope Cartographer Oxford Centre for Cartography & Geographical Information Sciences School of Planning Oxford Brookes University Gipsy Lane Oxford 01865-483368 Chairman, Forest of Dean Local History Society http://www.forestofdeanhistory.co.uk _______________________________________

Thereis a good selection of Forest views on John Wilkes' website, but someone was asking recently about the Biblins: have a look at http://ds.dial.pipex.com/john.wilkes/biblins.jpg Alan Watkins

Hi listers Is any KS able to help with a lookup on census' / lists etc for any FROWENS in Aston Ingham / Ledbury from 1841 up for me? Many thanks Colin _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

My aunt who is 86 years old told me she would love to have information on her father's family before she "goes". All she knows is that his name was William George Ward born 1885 in the Forest of Dean. Would SKS look up this name in the 1891 census for me please? I would be most grateful. Thanks. from Glenda Ontario, Canada

Hello all I've posted this to a couple of lists because I'm really stuck and need as much help as possible. I have been unable to find a couple of Death / Burial records that are vital for me. They happened within the last 60 years. How do I go about getting a grave site location if its not on the burials index and I only have death dates? Is there an Official record of burial sites and can some kind soul give me an idiots guide on how to go about searching it? Many Thanks Colin _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.