Forwarded from List Owner From: Mel Bailey [mailto:[email protected]] Subject: Forest of Dean list Hi Folks, I have only recently joined this list, and am hoping that some kind person can offer some assistance. My great-grandfather was William Henry MEEK who, according to a copy of his birth certificate, was born on the 17th August 1854 at Stinders, East Dean. His parents were William MEEK and Martha Ann (nee WATKINS) who married in Gloucester in October 1853. I am interested in finding more details about Stinders at that time. What sort of place was it? Assuming that William sen'r was an employee at that site does anybody know the whereabouts of any staff records etc. that survive? William Henry was stated to be a collier at the time of his marriage at Durham in 1877. However at the time of the birth of his 11 children over the following 20 year period he was described as a bootmaker. His father-in-law Edward WATKINS was described as a boot maker / cordwainer on the 1841, 51, and 61 census returns for Ruardean, although he was described as a schoolmaster on his daughter's marriage certificate! Any information on the above named persons, or their relatives, will be gratefully received. Happy hunting in the Forest! Mel & Sue Bailey, Hertfordshire