>From the start of the war in 1939 there was a lot of enemy aircraft activity off the essex coast laying mines including the revolutionary new magnetic mine that was to cause such devastation to our inshore merchant fleet. Given the nature of the Essex Coast where marsh merges with the sea and the large number of small quays used by coastal shipping some of the mines were dropped on land rather than the sea/estuary . Although mines were quite different to bombs in construction and use they were both dropped by planes and both achieved a large explosion destroying buildings and killing people. Whilst the messages stating that bombs were not dropped on essex until later in 1940 is technically correct mines certainly were dropped and casualties listed in early 1940 along the Essex Coastline. In his book - Battle over Essex written in 1946 specifically about the air war - RF Thompson details a mining raid in November 1939 where a magnetic mine was recovered on the sandy coast at Shoeburyness which is part of the Southend conurbation. The Times newspaper archive records instances of mine damage but probably more specifically - Jan 30 1940 A mine struck the promenade at Southend on Sea yesterday and did a good deal of damage. The explosion shook the whole of the town. Over an area of about 1/4 mile a number of windows were broken. In a number of houses ceilings were cracked and a number of them fell, ornaments and other articles were broken, furniture was lifted bodily across rooms and doors were blown open. A resident said " I knew nothing about it until I woke up lying on the floor among the splintered glass from the windows. My bed had been flung across the floor and every article of furniture had been thrown over. The front door which had been securely locked was blown open and the panels broken" Significantly there is no mention in the article of casualties - Given the scale of the damage there were likely to be casualties or even fatalities if ceilings collapsed. Whether this omission was due to the War Censor or the Times we don't know. It could be the incident that Ros is looking for but there may well have been other incidents at Southend that were not reported. Peter www.essex-family-history.co.uk OPC for Burnham on Crouch and the Dengie 100

It should be fairly easy to obtain on interlibrary loan all three volumes of "The Blitz then and now", edited by Winston G. Ramsey, The ELAN Catalogue shows that complete sets of lending copies are held at the following libraries: Basildon, Billericay, Braintree, Brentwood, Clacton, Colchester, Prettygate, Harlow, Loughton, Witham Numerous odd volumes are also scattered around other Essex libraries Best wishes Peter Moll Tortola British Virgin Islands Tony Brown wrote 23/07/2008 > You may also find useful, if you can get them in a library, a series of > books which were published in 1980 entitled The Blitz Then and Now which > give a day by day account of air raids through out the country. There are 3 > volumes - Vol 1 deals with Sept 1939 - Sept 1940. > > I only have vol 2 (don't ask - it's a long story!) so can't help > specifically with Jan 1940 > > Regards > > Tony >

In a message dated Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:26:09 +0100 GMT Daylight Time, "Tony Brown" <ask.tony@btinternet.com> writes: I am prepared to be shot down in flames but as a long time resident of Southend I do not think there is a specifically Catholic cemetery in the town. There is an area within Southend Cemetery that I believe is dedicated to Roman Catholic burials. However, I am not sure if it was 'set aside' back in the 1940s. North Road Burial Ground may have been in use at that time, but all the records are held at the Southend Cemetery office in Sutton Road. DaveD I raise money for charity just by searching the web! www.everyclick.com is an internet search engine with a big difference - it donates half its revenues to charity, please support them too!

January 1940 saw very few civilians killed in the UK. Most were on lightships in the Channel/North Sea. I can't see any civilians killed in Southend before April 1940. Caroline ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tony Brown" <ask.tony@btinternet.com> To: "'Ros Lumley'" <roslumley@hotmail.com>; <Essex-UK@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 5:26 PM Subject: Re: [Ess] Southend and WWII > Ros > > I am prepared to be shot down in flames but as a long time resident of > Southend I do not think there is a specifically Catholic cemetery in the > town. > > I have a copy of Kelly's directory for 1939 so could check if and where > your > g-grandmother was living in Southend in 1939 if this is any use to you. > Contact me off list if you would like me to see if I can find her then. > > Regards > > Tony > > -----Original Message----- > From: essex-uk-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:essex-uk-bounces@rootsweb.com] > On Behalf Of Ros Lumley > Sent: 23 July 2008 03:56 > To: Essex-UK@rootsweb.com > Subject: [Ess] Southend and WWII > > Hi there, > > > > I was wondering if anyone knew where WWII data sources and documents would > be held for Essex? I have recently found out that a g-grandmother was > killed > in a bombing in Jan 1940 but I don't think anyone was bombing England > then. > The family lived in Southend in the 20s so I am presuming they were still > there as the lady in question allegedly refused to be moved to the Isle of > Sheppey because she wanted to sleep in her own bed. I am also looking for > any sources for Catholic cemeteries in the same area. I am based on > Australia so am looking for sources online or available through a FHC. > > > > Many thanks in advance > > > Ros > > > > Researching Booth, Canning, Dale, Doody, Eyles, Freer, Leech, Lumley, > Noel, > Povall, Woodforde > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Any problems, please contact the List Admin: Essex-UK-admin@rootsweb.com > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > ESSEX-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes > in the subject and the body of the message > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Any problems, please contact the List Admin: Essex-UK-admin@rootsweb.com > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > ESSEX-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Ros I am prepared to be shot down in flames but as a long time resident of Southend I do not think there is a specifically Catholic cemetery in the town. I have a copy of Kelly's directory for 1939 so could check if and where your g-grandmother was living in Southend in 1939 if this is any use to you. Contact me off list if you would like me to see if I can find her then. Regards Tony -----Original Message----- From: essex-uk-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:essex-uk-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Ros Lumley Sent: 23 July 2008 03:56 To: Essex-UK@rootsweb.com Subject: [Ess] Southend and WWII Hi there, I was wondering if anyone knew where WWII data sources and documents would be held for Essex? I have recently found out that a g-grandmother was killed in a bombing in Jan 1940 but I don't think anyone was bombing England then. The family lived in Southend in the 20s so I am presuming they were still there as the lady in question allegedly refused to be moved to the Isle of Sheppey because she wanted to sleep in her own bed. I am also looking for any sources for Catholic cemeteries in the same area. I am based on Australia so am looking for sources online or available through a FHC. Many thanks in advance Ros Researching Booth, Canning, Dale, Doody, Eyles, Freer, Leech, Lumley, Noel, Povall, Woodforde ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Any problems, please contact the List Admin: Essex-UK-admin@rootsweb.com ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ESSEX-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

You may also find useful, if you can get them in a library, a series of books which were published in 1980 entitled The Blitz Then and Now which give a day by day account of air raids through out the country. There are 3 volumes - Vol 1 deals with Sept 1939 - Sept 1940. I only have vol 2 (don't ask - it's a long story!) so can't help specifically with Jan 1940 Regards Tony -----Original Message----- From: essex-uk-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:essex-uk-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Peter Layzell Sent: 23 July 2008 10:45 To: ESSEX-UK@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [Ess] Southend and WWII Sorry all for the previous message - In the previous message I had left the E-mail stationary on which appears to have upset the rootweb server.I have sent again as I know several of you sensibly prefer not to open attachements to e-mails - Peter **************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** **** I live in Burnham on Crouch which is just across the River Crouch from Southend and I can confirm that bombs fell on this area in 1940. Eastern Essex ended up as a target in two ways - Firstly being on the coastline nearest to Europe it was filled with Naval installations , Army camps and RAF stations; secondly being on the coast it was the first and last point of contact for German aircraft with the land of the UK and so German bombers often dropped any leftover bombs on our area rather than take them back to Germany and admit failure. Mostly they hit fields but sometimes they landed on houses etc. In my area more casualties occurred because of these random drops that deliberate acts!! Southend Museum have a records specifically relating to Southend in WW2 - A nice E-mail may encourage them to provide details for you http://www.southendmuseums.co.uk/ An incident file exists for the whole of essex that records enemy activity during the whole of WW2 - It is a really great resource as it will certainly records your bombing. The best place to access it is via Essex Records Office - http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/MainMenu.asp then search Southend incident file. If you contact Essex Records Office and explain what you would like they can arrange a researcher to check out the details although there may well be a small fee for this service. Peter www.essex-family-history.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Any problems, please contact the List Admin: Essex-UK-admin@rootsweb.com ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ESSEX-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Thanks to everyone who replied to my e-mail regarding the Parsons family from Shoebury and Southchurch area. Thanks Sue and Carol, for there advise. Anyone else researching Parsons family, or Kennets. A. Croft.

Is there someone on the list who once wrote to me about the Jackson family of Clavering, some of whom emigrated to Australia? I have lost the contact so if anyone reading this is interested in this emigrant family of Jacksons (also connected to Wisbey, etc) please get in touch. Jacqueline Cooper Clavering Local History Recorder www.claveringonline.org.uk www.recordinguttlesfordhistory.org.uk

Hi there, I was wondering if anyone knew where WWII data sources and documents would be held for Essex? I have recently found out that a g-grandmother was killed in a bombing in Jan 1940 but I don't think anyone was bombing England then. The family lived in Southend in the 20s so I am presuming they were still there as the lady in question allegedly refused to be moved to the Isle of Sheppey because she wanted to sleep in her own bed. I am also looking for any sources for Catholic cemeteries in the same area. I am based on Australia so am looking for sources online or available through a FHC. Many thanks in advance Ros Researching Booth, Canning, Dale, Doody, Eyles, Freer, Leech, Lumley, Noel, Povall, Woodforde

Sorry all for the previous message - In the previous message I had left the E-mail stationary on which appears to have upset the rootweb server.I have sent again as I know several of you sensibly prefer not to open attachements to e-mails - Peter **************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** **** I live in Burnham on Crouch which is just across the River Crouch from Southend and I can confirm that bombs fell on this area in 1940. Eastern Essex ended up as a target in two ways - Firstly being on the coastline nearest to Europe it was filled with Naval installations , Army camps and RAF stations; secondly being on the coast it was the first and last point of contact for German aircraft with the land of the UK and so German bombers often dropped any leftover bombs on our area rather than take them back to Germany and admit failure. Mostly they hit fields but sometimes they landed on houses etc. In my area more casualties occurred because of these random drops that deliberate acts!! Southend Museum have a records specifically relating to Southend in WW2 - A nice E-mail may encourage them to provide details for you http://www.southendmuseums.co.uk/ An incident file exists for the whole of essex that records enemy activity during the whole of WW2 - It is a really great resource as it will certainly records your bombing. The best place to access it is via Essex Records Office - http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/MainMenu.asp then search Southend incident file. If you contact Essex Records Office and explain what you would like they can arrange a researcher to check out the details although there may well be a small fee for this service. Peter www.essex-family-history.co.uk

Hello Ros You might try http://www.goring1941.freeserve.co.uk/ where there is a register of Essex persons killed in WW2 Dick Mathews Ros Lumley wrote: > Hi there, > > > > I was wondering if anyone knew where WWII data sources and documents would > be held for Essex? I have recently found out that a g-grandmother was killed > in a bombing in Jan 1940 but I don't think anyone was bombing England then. > The family lived in Southend in the 20s so I am presuming they were still > there as the lady in question allegedly refused to be moved to the Isle of > Sheppey because she wanted to sleep in her own bed. I am also looking for > any sources for Catholic cemeteries in the same area. I am based on > Australia so am looking for sources online or available through a FHC. > > > > Many thanks in advance > > > Ros > > > > Researching Booth, Canning, Dale, Doody, Eyles, Freer, Leech, Lumley, Noel, > Povall, Woodforde > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Any problems, please contact the List Admin: Essex-UK-admin@rootsweb.com > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ESSEX-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com > Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.5.5/1568 - Release Date: 7/23/2008 6:55 AM > > >

Hi, Ros You could try the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, their address is http://www.cwgc.org/. My great aunt was killed in a factory bombing in Chelmsford in 1944 and her details are on it, so it would be worth a try. Nadine Bournemouth ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ros Lumley" <roslumley@hotmail.com> To: <Essex-UK@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 3:56 AM Subject: [Ess] Southend and WWII > Hi there, > > > > I was wondering if anyone knew where WWII data sources and documents would > be held for Essex? I have recently found out that a g-grandmother was > killed > in a bombing in Jan 1940 but I don't think anyone was bombing England > then. > The family lived in Southend in the 20s so I am presuming they were still > there as the lady in question allegedly refused to be moved to the Isle of > Sheppey because she wanted to sleep in her own bed. I am also looking for > any sources for Catholic cemeteries in the same area. I am based on > Australia so am looking for sources online or available through a FHC. > > > > Many thanks in advance > > > Ros > > > > Researching Booth, Canning, Dale, Doody, Eyles, Freer, Leech, Lumley, > Noel, > Povall, Woodforde > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Any problems, please contact the List Admin: Essex-UK-admin@rootsweb.com > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > ESSEX-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.526 / Virus Database: 270.5.4/1566 - Release Date: 22/07/2008 > 06:00 > >

Whilst researching the Stambourne PRs yesterday I found the following marriage. It may help anyone researching the families but it may also cheer up romantics like me! Marriage 1st November 1683 John Boutell aged 85 years and Dorcas[?] Ffitch Wid aged 83 were married. Regards, Gwyn -- Gwyn Bailey OPC for Springfield, Essex

I have the 1730 burial register entry for Shelley Wankford - 28 Feb. Does anyone know if the churchyard burial plot numbers/locations listing still exists. I doubt a 1730 grave stone would have survived and as such hoping to be able to locate burial location via church/churchwarden records. Is anyone a parishoner at St Peter&St Thomas' Church who could check for me? Any help very greatly appreciated. David Vesey Canada

Sorry List. I forgot to mention that Both Donald John Clampin, and Muriel Reade are both deceased. Thank you Holly for pointing that out to me. Shelley

Thanks for all the replies re the above pub. They have answered all my questions. Dinah Harvey

I am now searching for member's of the READE family who had a Muriel E. READE that married Donald John CLAMPIN Between July & Aug 1966. If anyone on the list has this lady in their family tree please contact me. Shelley

One of our Recorders has this interesting item you may like to know about - as it is to raise money for a very good cause I hope it is in order to mention it on the list. Please get in touch with him direct if it interests you. Jacky www.recordinguttlesfordhistory.org.uk ----- Original Message ----- From: MICHAEL SOUTHGATE I have been offered a family bible to raise money for Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital. The bible was presented to Walter BARKER and Minnie Elizabeth CHAPMAN, by the Rector of Radwinter, John Frederick Watkinson (Fred) BULLOCK, on the occasion of their marriage on 1st June 1907. It contains no family history but it is inscribed and signed by Fred Bullock. The Radwinter registers tell us that Walter and Minnie had four children, Roland Lewis (1908), Frederick Walter (1911), Kathleen Ivy Elizabeth (1913) and Violet Elsie (1916). Frederick Walter married Katherine Lucy ADAMS in 1935. Violet Elsie married George Frederick James TURPIN in 1942 and they had a daughter, Brenda Kathleen in 1953, who married Michael John Davidson in 1972. There may be a possible descendant who may wish to make an offer for the bible. If so please get in touch.

Hello, I believe that I have extensive information on this family. Unfortunately the file is at my home in Switzerland, and I'm currently working in Swansea, Wales. I'll contact you when I've managed to look up the information. Regards, Charles Fuller. jo mason wrote: > Please is anyone researching the family of Andrew FULLER who died before > 1752, according to the 1752 will of his brother Thomas of Saffron Walden > [Andrew ?late of Melbourn Cambs] > > His children alive in 1752 > Andrew, Samuel , Mary & Jane the wife of ...BAINES of Colchester. ? a baker. > > I am trying to find a family member Thomas FULLER widr who died 1820 in > Kensington, mother-in-law Mary DAVIES of Bishops Stortford, and left his > property to the descendants of the Saffron Walden FULLER's but cannot find > where he fits! > > Thanks > Jo in Leics

I have an ancestor of my wife who I think was born Stifford about 1786. The information is not well documented and I am wondering how to proceed. Person in question is Mary Ann LINZELL who I think married Samuel DYE in Essex in Oct 1813, but again the information is not documented. I suspect that the marriage would be in Stifford. The family moved to Cambridgeshire at some time before 1841, so my usual information sources are not helping. As far as I can tell there is no Online Parish Clerk for Stifford. Can anyone suggest where I should look next? ==John ffitch