Hello again Annette, I don't know if you have the 1851 census information for any of your STAINES family, so I have listed what I have found below in case you haven't: PRO Ref: HO107/1707, folio 279, pages 14/15 Therfield (small village next to Kelshall) John FOSTER Head Unm 23 Farmer Watford Herts Charles STAINES Servant Unm 45 Agricultural Labourer Kelshall Herts PRO Ref: HO107/1707, folio 238, page 12 Schedule 47, Village, Kelshall Joseph STANES Head Mar 46 Ag Lab Herts Kelshall Anna do Wife Mar 43 Village Schoolmistress do do Amos do Son 11 do do William do Son 8 Scholar do do George do Son 6 do do do Sarah Ann do Daur 1 do do Schedule 48, Village, Kelshall Sarah STANES Head Widow 73 Domestic Duties Essex Little Bury George do Son Unm 33 Ag Lab Herts Kelshall PRO Ref: HO107/1707, folio 240, page 16 Schedule 65, Village, Kelshall James STANES Head Mar 39 Ag Lab Herts Kelshall Emma do Wife Mar 33 Domestic Duties do Therfield Mary Ann do Daur 9 do Kelshall Eliza Ann do Daur 7 do do Matilda do Daur 6 do do Celina do Daur 4 do do Agnes Sarah do Daur 2 do do On the IGI there is the marriage of a Mary STAINES to John KENSEY at Meldreth, Cambridge (not far from Kelshall) on 3 January 1835 and according to the 1851 census this Mary KENSEY was born in Kelshall abt 1809. Let me know if you would like the details. There is also the marriage of an Eliza STANES to a Thomas ATKINS in Kelshall on 22 November 1838 and here is the 1851 census record for her: PRO Ref: HO107/1707, folio 237, page 10 Schedule 42, Village, Kelshall Thomas ATKINS Head Mar 36 Ag Lab Herts Kelshall Eliza do Wife Mar 36 Domestic Duties do do Charles do Son 11 do do John do Son 9 Scholar do do Alfred do Son 6 do do do Albert do Son 4 do do do Sarah do Daur 2 do do I can't find any trace of Thomas on the 1851. Hope this helps in some way. Janet. ----- Original Message ----- From: "annette wilkinson" <ewo29845@bigpond.com> To: <ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2005 8:43 PM Subject: Re: [HRT] Staines Family. > Hi Janet. > How are you. > The info I got here is that. > Joseph Staines was born in 1764 and Died 22 Apr 1822 and his wife Sarah > Player was born in 1778 at Littlebury, Essex and died in 1865, They got > married 13 Oct 1800. > Their Children are. > Elizabeth B:26 Dec 1800 D:4 Mar 1801 at Kelshall > Thomas b:1802 Kelshall. > Joseph b: 1803 d:1864 in Kelshall > Charles b: 1806 in Kelshall > Mary b: 1809 in Kelshall > James b: 1812 in Keshall > Eliza b: 1815 in Kelshall > George b: 1818 in Kelshall > > That is what I got from a cousin of mine. > From Annette. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Janet Booth" <janbooth@dsl.pipex.com> > To: <ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2005 9:24 PM > Subject: Re: [HRT] Staines Family. > > >> Hello Annette, >> >> According to the Militia Lists of Kelshall, there is a record of a Joseph >> STANES listed as follows: >> >> 1783 Joseph STANES Kelshall Servant >> 1784 Joseph STANES Kelshall Servant >> 1785 Joseph STANES Kelshall Labourer >> >> The term Servant generally indicates not a live in Servant but someone >> who >> is unmarried, so it would appear that this Joseph married somewhere > between >> 1784 and 1785. Looking on the IGI, there is a marriage on 24 June 1784 >> to > a >> Sarah Draper in Kelshall. Could Joseph snr have been married twice?? > There >> are no other STANES (or variations thereof) in the Militia Lists of >> Kelshall. Do you have the 1851 census records for Joseph jnr and his > mother >> Sarah Player?? If not let me know and I will give you the details. >> Sarah >> appears to have been born in Little Bury, Essex according to the 1851 and > is >> aged 73 and a widow. There are no PLAYERs listed in the Militita Lists >> of >> Kelshall. >> >> Hope this helps in some small way. >> >> Janet. >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "annette wilkinson" <ewo29845@bigpond.com> >> To: <ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Friday, November 04, 2005 12:31 PM >> Subject: [HRT] Staines Family. >> >> >> > Hi Everyone. >> > How are you. >> > I am looking for the Staines Family that lived in Kelshall. >> > There is a Joseph Staines that married a Sarah Player in 1800 in > Kelshall. >> > I know there children. >> > But I don't know there parents. >> > Please help. >> >>From Annette. >> > >> > >> > ==== ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE Mailing List ==== >> > This list is for the discussion of Genealogy and History, primarily >> > regarding the English County of Hertfordshire. Discussion of migration >> > patterns, immigration, heraldry, historical sketches, census data, > wills, >> > family Bibles, vital records, web sites, etc. involving this area is >> > encouraged. >> > >> >> >> ==== ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE Mailing List ==== >> For any updates our info about the status of this list go to >> http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com >> > > > ==== ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE Mailing List ==== > TRY to keep quoting to a minimum. "Quoting" is repeating text of the > message you are replying to. Some quoting is necessary to remind other > readers what the thread is about but do try to use good judgement. >

Hi Janet. How are you. The info I got here is that. Joseph Staines was born in 1764 and Died 22 Apr 1822 and his wife Sarah Player was born in 1778 at Littlebury, Essex and died in 1865, They got married 13 Oct 1800. Their Children are. Elizabeth B:26 Dec 1800 D:4 Mar 1801 at Kelshall Thomas b:1802 Kelshall. Joseph b: 1803 d:1864 in Kelshall Charles b: 1806 in Kelshall Mary b: 1809 in Kelshall James b: 1812 in Keshall Eliza b: 1815 in Kelshall George b: 1818 in Kelshall That is what I got from a cousin of mine. From Annette. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Janet Booth" <janbooth@dsl.pipex.com> To: <ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2005 9:24 PM Subject: Re: [HRT] Staines Family. > Hello Annette, > > According to the Militia Lists of Kelshall, there is a record of a Joseph > STANES listed as follows: > > 1783 Joseph STANES Kelshall Servant > 1784 Joseph STANES Kelshall Servant > 1785 Joseph STANES Kelshall Labourer > > The term Servant generally indicates not a live in Servant but someone who > is unmarried, so it would appear that this Joseph married somewhere between > 1784 and 1785. Looking on the IGI, there is a marriage on 24 June 1784 to a > Sarah Draper in Kelshall. Could Joseph snr have been married twice?? There > are no other STANES (or variations thereof) in the Militia Lists of > Kelshall. Do you have the 1851 census records for Joseph jnr and his mother > Sarah Player?? If not let me know and I will give you the details. Sarah > appears to have been born in Little Bury, Essex according to the 1851 and is > aged 73 and a widow. There are no PLAYERs listed in the Militita Lists of > Kelshall. > > Hope this helps in some small way. > > Janet. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "annette wilkinson" <ewo29845@bigpond.com> > To: <ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Friday, November 04, 2005 12:31 PM > Subject: [HRT] Staines Family. > > > > Hi Everyone. > > How are you. > > I am looking for the Staines Family that lived in Kelshall. > > There is a Joseph Staines that married a Sarah Player in 1800 in Kelshall. > > I know there children. > > But I don't know there parents. > > Please help. > >>From Annette. > > > > > > ==== ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE Mailing List ==== > > This list is for the discussion of Genealogy and History, primarily > > regarding the English County of Hertfordshire. Discussion of migration > > patterns, immigration, heraldry, historical sketches, census data, wills, > > family Bibles, vital records, web sites, etc. involving this area is > > encouraged. > > > > > ==== ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE Mailing List ==== > For any updates our info about the status of this list go to > http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com >

Baker, Waltham Cross I am attempting to discover further information regarding the family of Harry Baker, Fruiterer and Greengrocer, Eleanor Cross Road, Waltham Cross. He appears to have had at least 3 partners, and a large number of children, between about 1871 and 1901. His son, also Harry, complicates the picture, as he seems to have carried on the family business during Harry senior's travels (Herefordshire 1893, Pontypridd 1893/4, North Shields 1894/6?). He married my Ggrandmother, Annie Limbe (Savigar) in Hereford in 1893, but by the 1901 census had returned to Waltham Cross and was living with Ellen Baker (Andrews) as man and wife. Ellen Andrews was living with Harry Baker senior as housekeeper in the 1881 census, after the death of his first wife. Does anyone have any further information about this large family with it's long lived business interests in the Waltham Cross area? (There is still a reference to H Baker, Fruiterer and Greengrocer, Eleanor Cross Road, in the Herefordshire Trade Directory for 1914.) Any further information would be gratefully received. Many thanks Ray Green

I wish you well,in trying to track Ashby's from Aldbury,as far as I can remember,they appeared in the 1700's and I could not find out where from. Aldbury is a small village and has not changed much over last 100 years. Researching Ashby from Watford and surrounding districts. Watford is 10 or so miles,from Aldbury Nick Ashby Sharon Starkey wrote: >Would anyone have knowledge of the family of Walter ASHBY (b. 1843 at Aldbury, Herts) who was a farmer of 500+ acres at Studham from about 1875? His wife was Eliza BAILEY (b.1846 at Studham, d.1899 Studham). They were married at Studham October 17, 1871. > >Children of Walter and Eliza Ashby were: > Gertrude J. Ashby, b. 1873 Aldbury > William Henry Ashby, b 1875 Aldbury > Florence Lizzie Ashby, b. 1879 Studham, Herts > John Ashby, b. 1880 Studham > Thomas Ashby, 1883 Studham > Annie Ashby, 1884 Studham > Marion Ashby, 1886 Studham > Daisy Ashby, 1889 Studham > >Florence Lizzie Ashby married Frank Thomas King in 1906 at St. Mary the Virgin parish church at Oxford University. In 1912 they emigrated to Canada. Florence died in Alberta, Canada in 1938. Florence Ashby and Frank King were my grandparents. > >I have no knowedge of the members of the family of Florence Ashby aside from the above vital statistics, and I would be very interested to know anything about her family. > > >Thankyou for any information. > >Sharon Starkey, nee King >Vancouver Island, BC, Canada > > >==== ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE Mailing List ==== >For any updates our info about the status of this list go to >http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com > > > > > >

Hi Maureen. How are you. Thank you. From Annette in n.s.w. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Player" <player6@bigpond.com> To: <ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2005 5:30 AM Subject: Re: [HRT] Staines Family. > Hi Annette, > > My husband's family can be traced back to Henry Player born 1801 in > Hertfordshire. I'll check on the rest of the family and get back to you in > case there is any mention of Sarah. > > Cheers Maureen, Sydney > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "annette wilkinson" <ewo29845@bigpond.com> > To: <ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Friday, November 04, 2005 11:31 PM > Subject: [HRT] Staines Family. > > > > Hi Everyone. > > How are you. > > I am looking for the Staines Family that lived in Kelshall. > > There is a Joseph Staines that married a Sarah Player in 1800 in Kelshall. > > I know there children. > > But I don't know there parents. > > Please help. > >>From Annette. > > > > > > ==== ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE Mailing List ==== > > This list is for the discussion of Genealogy and History, primarily > > regarding the English County of Hertfordshire. Discussion of migration > > patterns, immigration, heraldry, historical sketches, census data, wills, > > family Bibles, vital records, web sites, etc. involving this area is > > encouraged. > > > > > ==== ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE Mailing List ==== > Hertfordshire FHS: > http://www.btinternet.com/~hfphs/index.htm >

Hello Annette, According to the Militia Lists of Kelshall, there is a record of a Joseph STANES listed as follows: 1783 Joseph STANES Kelshall Servant 1784 Joseph STANES Kelshall Servant 1785 Joseph STANES Kelshall Labourer The term Servant generally indicates not a live in Servant but someone who is unmarried, so it would appear that this Joseph married somewhere between 1784 and 1785. Looking on the IGI, there is a marriage on 24 June 1784 to a Sarah Draper in Kelshall. Could Joseph snr have been married twice?? There are no other STANES (or variations thereof) in the Militia Lists of Kelshall. Do you have the 1851 census records for Joseph jnr and his mother Sarah Player?? If not let me know and I will give you the details. Sarah appears to have been born in Little Bury, Essex according to the 1851 and is aged 73 and a widow. There are no PLAYERs listed in the Militita Lists of Kelshall. Hope this helps in some small way. Janet. ----- Original Message ----- From: "annette wilkinson" <ewo29845@bigpond.com> To: <ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, November 04, 2005 12:31 PM Subject: [HRT] Staines Family. > Hi Everyone. > How are you. > I am looking for the Staines Family that lived in Kelshall. > There is a Joseph Staines that married a Sarah Player in 1800 in Kelshall. > I know there children. > But I don't know there parents. > Please help. >>From Annette. > > > ==== ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE Mailing List ==== > This list is for the discussion of Genealogy and History, primarily > regarding the English County of Hertfordshire. Discussion of migration > patterns, immigration, heraldry, historical sketches, census data, wills, > family Bibles, vital records, web sites, etc. involving this area is > encouraged. >

Hi Annette, My husband's family can be traced back to Henry Player born 1801 in Hertfordshire. I'll check on the rest of the family and get back to you in case there is any mention of Sarah. Cheers Maureen, Sydney ----- Original Message ----- From: "annette wilkinson" <ewo29845@bigpond.com> To: <ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, November 04, 2005 11:31 PM Subject: [HRT] Staines Family. > Hi Everyone. > How are you. > I am looking for the Staines Family that lived in Kelshall. > There is a Joseph Staines that married a Sarah Player in 1800 in Kelshall. > I know there children. > But I don't know there parents. > Please help. >>From Annette. > > > ==== ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE Mailing List ==== > This list is for the discussion of Genealogy and History, primarily > regarding the English County of Hertfordshire. Discussion of migration > patterns, immigration, heraldry, historical sketches, census data, wills, > family Bibles, vital records, web sites, etc. involving this area is > encouraged. >

Hi Everyone. How are you. I am looking for the Staines Family that lived in Kelshall. There is a Joseph Staines that married a Sarah Player in 1800 in Kelshall. I know there children. But I don't know there parents. Please help. From Annette.

That is one of the most interesting items I have read for a long time. Thanks Phil. My only connection with Herts is back in 1850s when two women in my family lived at Nascot Cottage and in Bushey. Other than that I know nothing of the county. And all you write is absolutely fascinating. Pat ----- Original Message ----- From: "Phil How" <phil@howlight.co.uk> To: <ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, October 31, 2005 10:34 PM Subject: [HRT] Croxley Mills > Indeed Croxley Mills existed. > It stood on the South bank of the Grand Union Canal, between the > Rickmansworth Road, and Croxley Moor. It was accessed at the Watford end > by "Beggar's Bush Lane", and at the Croxley end by Mill Lane, and Croxley > Common Moor. It was the first paper mill in the world to take in raw > material (mainly rags) at one end, and send out shop ready paper at the > other. "Croxley script" writing paper was produced there, as were "Three > Candles" manuscript paper, and some "Basildon Bond", as well as many of > the specialty papers. There were other brands which I cannot remember the > names of. > The Dickinson family, lived in Croxley, though they did not originate > there. > There was a war memorial there for those employees that lost their lives > in the 2 world wars. > The location of the site at Croxley was crucial to it's success. > Like all Dickinson's Mills, it was on the Grand Union Canal, which meant > that raw materials could be brought in by barge from all over the country. > Massive amounts of coal were used in the boilers there, which was brought > by barge from the coal fields in the North. There used to be a huge > conveyer belt system, which ran 24 hours a day, to carry the coal from the > stock pile at Common Moor Lock, to the boilers some 1/4 of a mile away. > Rags and cotton waste (the main raw materials for paper in the early days) > were also brought in by barge from the cotton mills in the North. > The other main resource needed was water, which was readily available from > the river Gade, which runs along at the side of Croxley Moor. The river > became very polluted at one stage, but after great efforts were made in > the 1950s and 60s, with the clean air acts, this was virtually eliminated > by the 1970s, and of course has completely vanished with the closure of > the Mills. > The paper, in huge rolls, was taken to London by canal for use, amongst > other things, in the newspaper industry. > Much of the paper was also sent to "Sun Printers", which was the other > main employer in the immediate area. The company, along with Odham's Press > in North Watford, eventually became part of the infamous Robert Maxwell > empire > The huge printworks on the corner of Whippendell Rd, and Greenhill > Crescent has been demolished in the last couple of years, and redeveloped > into the "Rising Sun" Hotel, Industrial Units, and housing. The old Sun > clockhouse, where the workers used to clock in for their shifts, still > stands on a piece of ground opposite the Hotel, and clearly visible from > the roundabout there. > I worked at the mills for several years until sadly they closed in 1980, > due to ongoing losses caused mainly by restrictive work practices, high > wages, and too many strikes. It was a major employer in the area, with > well over 1,000 people employed directly at the mill, at it's peak, and > many other jobs dependant upon the mill. Many generations of families in > Croxley worked at the Mills, and the closure was a big blow to the > village. The character of the village has changed a lot since then. A > large number of people moved away to find other work, though a lot of > ex-employees still live in Croxley. My old friend Tom French was one of > the 4 shift managers at the mills when they closed, and he still lives a > stone's throw from where the Mills stood. He became a piano tuner, which > is perhaps an extreme example of the diversification of trades which > people branched into after the loss of the security of lifetime employment > at the mills. > Until the Mills were built, Croxley was a fairly small, though ancient > village, the first reference to it being when it was given to an employee > of King Offa! > The main produce of Croxley were Cherries and Water Cress, but with the > Mills came much prosperity, and a huge expansion of the village. Dickinson > Square and Dickinson Avenue were built specifically for Mill workers, > along with the Dickinson's Co-operative store, which is now the Co-op. > There was a building on the corner of Dickinson Square and New Rd, > opposite the Co-op, known as the Guild Hall, which was Dickinson's social > club. It was a large Green corrugated Iron Building which burnt down in > the 1960s. Some flats were built there, which are named after the Guild > Hall. > John Dickinson also built the Methodist Church in Croxley, and Yorke Rd > School, both of which I (and my 2 brothers) attended. The school was > closed down in the 1960s, at the end of the post war baby boom, but still > stands on the corner of Yorke Rd and the Watford Rd, next to the Duke of > Yorke pub. There was another school the other side of the pub, also built > by John Dickinson, but that was demolished some years ago and replaced by > some large houses, the roofs of which I can see from my back bedroom > window.He encouraged employees to become literate, and built the original > Croxley Library by the old post office on Croxley parade, also long > gone.He was a great benefactor to the area > Dickinson's Playing Fields are still very much a part of Croxley life, > with the Croxley Guild of Sport still running football and cricket teams. > The clubhouse (commonly known as Dicko,s) was originally built for > employees of John Dickinson. The main entrance to the fields was through > the massive and splendid wrought iron gates which still stand on the East > side of the Green, opposite the Artichoke pub. > So, as you can see from this brief (?) message, Croxley Mills really did > exist! > > Regards > Phil HOW. (Born, Bred, and still living in Croxley) > > > ==== ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE Mailing List ==== > To POST a message to this list use the address: > > eng-hertfordshire-l@rootsweb.com > > 2) To SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE send a message to: > > ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE-L-request@rootsweb.com (if you are in mail mode i.e. > receiving > the messages individually or want them individually) or > > ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE-D-request@rootsweb.com (if you are in digest mode i.e. > receiving a digest of multiple messages or want this mode) > > In the BODY of the message (not the subject line) type the word subscribe > or unsubscribe. > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.12.7/159 - Release Date: 2/11/2005 > >

Hello listers, Still trying to tie up a few loose ends with my SEARLEs.Is there anyone with access to 1841 census who could do a look up for me? Can find William SEARLE born abt 1821, married Sarah BRADFORD in 1841 on the 1851 census and these and descendants on further census and up to present. I need to definitely connect William with John SEARLE born 1797. I sent for William and Sarah's marriage certificate, but fathers' names and occupations were not entered. As they were married 12th December 1841, am hoping that William was still living at home on census day. Family address in 1831 was Dell Lane, Bishops Stortford. Any help would be gratefully received. ----------------------------------------- Email sent from www.ntlworld.com Virus-checked using McAfee(R) Software Visit www.ntlworld.com/security for more information

Hi Arthur I have a Brian Charles Mortlock supposedly born Hertford c1802. He married 1. Mary Guy and then 2. my connection Anne Ridley in 1867 and then again in 1871 to Emma Maria Urlwin. He was a Master Builder as was Ann Ridley's father. A submitted entry on the IGI ascerts him as being the son of Thomas Mortlock and Elizabeth Turner along with others christened in St Andrew's Hertford. Let me know if you would like further information. Regards Elizabeth Dolan Palmer wrote: >I am new to the List. I am looking for a Peter MORTLOCK who I believe to >have been born in Hatfield Herts/Essex? in c 1800, also brother James born c >1802. I believe they later moved to Suffolk, around 1822. Can anyone help >with Hatfield registers, or a Hertfordshire Baptism Index? Many thanks, >Arthur Palmer in NZ > > >==== ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE Mailing List ==== >For any updates our info about the status of this list go to >http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com > > > > >

My interest is with Susan Meekcoms born 1806 (I believe) in Berkhampshire, Herts. She married Henry Catt in 1866 in London. Susan's father was Henry Meekcoms and her mother was a Susan Taylor (who later married a Chart, then a Carter) before she married Henry. All these henry's and Susans are a little confusing to me! If anyone knows of this Meekcoms family or anyone connected, please email me via the List. Thanks. Lianne Hunter (nee Catt) in Victoria, BC Canada

I wonder is the John Dickinson paper mill at Apsley still in operation. I worked there on leaving school - as did so many - but what a great place to start in a new work world Pearl in Tasmania.

Philip, I have the Militia Lists for Hitchin. Would you like me to look up any names for you. Regards Robyn Brisbane, Australia -----Original Message----- From: EWRAYSURE@aol.com [mailto:EWRAYSURE@aol.com] Sent: Monday, 31 October 2005 9:21 AM To: ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [HRT] Herts Militia Lists - Hamlets of Preston and Langley Could someone advise exactly what areas are covered when the Militia Lists specify Preston and Langley in the district of Hitchin, please. For example, for what area would Poynders Green males be recorded? Philip ==== ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE Mailing List ==== Hertfordshire FHS: http://www.btinternet.com/~hfphs/index.htm

Hiya, Has anyone got access to the parish registers of Sawbridgeworth, I am looking for any children born to Richard Hudswell (Hudgewell) and Jean between the years of 1640 and 1680, any help would be appreciated, thanks so much Pam www.hudgill.co.uk

Donald, Thanks for your reply. My problem is that parts of the hamlet of Preston was within three parish boundaries! Philip

Robyn, Many thanks for your kind offer. I too have the three Hitchin Militia booklets ( and 15 more for other areas!). I find they are a great source of information. Philip

I don't have this particular List, but those I do have include a sketch map showing the places referred to in the List. The lists are by parish (as existing in the 1700s) and you will need to know the parish to locate the males of a particular hamlet: it should be the same as their baptisms, marriages and burials appear. Donald Massey ----- Original Message ----- > Could someone advise exactly what areas are covered when > the Militia Lists specify Preston and Langley in the district of Hitchin, > please. > > For example, for what area would Poynders Green males be > recorded?

Looking for any information on the convict that was sent to Australia, that is birth, parents etc William THOMAS was convicted of robbery and assault on 15 June 1800 in Hertford, 28 July 1800 sentenced to death, was commuted to Transportation for Life, sailed from Spithead, Isle of Wight 12 Feb 1802 in the "Coromandel", arrived in Sydney 13 June 1802. . -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.361 / Virus Database: 267.12.6/151 - Release Date: 28/10/2005

Indeed Croxley Mills existed. It stood on the South bank of the Grand Union Canal, between the Rickmansworth Road, and Croxley Moor. It was accessed at the Watford end by "Beggar's Bush Lane", and at the Croxley end by Mill Lane, and Croxley Common Moor. It was the first paper mill in the world to take in raw material (mainly rags) at one end, and send out shop ready paper at the other. "Croxley script" writing paper was produced there, as were "Three Candles" manuscript paper, and some "Basildon Bond", as well as many of the specialty papers. There were other brands which I cannot remember the names of. The Dickinson family, lived in Croxley, though they did not originate there. There was a war memorial there for those employees that lost their lives in the 2 world wars. The location of the site at Croxley was crucial to it's success. Like all Dickinson's Mills, it was on the Grand Union Canal, which meant that raw materials could be brought in by barge from all over the country. Massive amounts of coal were used in the boilers there, which was brought by barge from the coal fields in the North. There used to be a huge conveyer belt system, which ran 24 hours a day, to carry the coal from the stock pile at Common Moor Lock, to the boilers some 1/4 of a mile away. Rags and cotton waste (the main raw materials for paper in the early days) were also brought in by barge from the cotton mills in the North. The other main resource needed was water, which was readily available from the river Gade, which runs along at the side of Croxley Moor. The river became very polluted at one stage, but after great efforts were made in the 1950s and 60s, with the clean air acts, this was virtually eliminated by the 1970s, and of course has completely vanished with the closure of the Mills. The paper, in huge rolls, was taken to London by canal for use, amongst other things, in the newspaper industry. Much of the paper was also sent to "Sun Printers", which was the other main employer in the immediate area. The company, along with Odham's Press in North Watford, eventually became part of the infamous Robert Maxwell empire The huge printworks on the corner of Whippendell Rd, and Greenhill Crescent has been demolished in the last couple of years, and redeveloped into the "Rising Sun" Hotel, Industrial Units, and housing. The old Sun clockhouse, where the workers used to clock in for their shifts, still stands on a piece of ground opposite the Hotel, and clearly visible from the roundabout there. I worked at the mills for several years until sadly they closed in 1980, due to ongoing losses caused mainly by restrictive work practices, high wages, and too many strikes. It was a major employer in the area, with well over 1,000 people employed directly at the mill, at it's peak, and many other jobs dependant upon the mill. Many generations of families in Croxley worked at the Mills, and the closure was a big blow to the village. The character of the village has changed a lot since then. A large number of people moved away to find other work, though a lot of ex-employees still live in Croxley. My old friend Tom French was one of the 4 shift managers at the mills when they closed, and he still lives a stone's throw from where the Mills stood. He became a piano tuner, which is perhaps an extreme example of the diversification of trades which people branched into after the loss of the security of lifetime employment at the mills. Until the Mills were built, Croxley was a fairly small, though ancient village, the first reference to it being when it was given to an employee of King Offa! The main produce of Croxley were Cherries and Water Cress, but with the Mills came much prosperity, and a huge expansion of the village. Dickinson Square and Dickinson Avenue were built specifically for Mill workers, along with the Dickinson's Co-operative store, which is now the Co-op. There was a building on the corner of Dickinson Square and New Rd, opposite the Co-op, known as the Guild Hall, which was Dickinson's social club. It was a large Green corrugated Iron Building which burnt down in the 1960s. Some flats were built there, which are named after the Guild Hall. John Dickinson also built the Methodist Church in Croxley, and Yorke Rd School, both of which I (and my 2 brothers) attended. The school was closed down in the 1960s, at the end of the post war baby boom, but still stands on the corner of Yorke Rd and the Watford Rd, next to the Duke of Yorke pub. There was another school the other side of the pub, also built by John Dickinson, but that was demolished some years ago and replaced by some large houses, the roofs of which I can see from my back bedroom window.He encouraged employees to become literate, and built the original Croxley Library by the old post office on Croxley parade, also long gone.He was a great benefactor to the area Dickinson's Playing Fields are still very much a part of Croxley life, with the Croxley Guild of Sport still running football and cricket teams. The clubhouse (commonly known as Dicko,s) was originally built for employees of John Dickinson. The main entrance to the fields was through the massive and splendid wrought iron gates which still stand on the East side of the Green, opposite the Artichoke pub. So, as you can see from this brief (?) message, Croxley Mills really did exist! Regards Phil HOW. (Born, Bred, and still living in Croxley)