BlankDear Listers, Ken asked for 'time spans' in response to my first message-see bottom of page. Immediately below is all the info I have, some info I think is safe however, some is family hearsay! There are many gaps as to the Hunts my ancestors served with, some have only one or two Hunts or none, here goes: GODDARD ancestors: * GGGGF William GODDARD b???? - I have no details of William's time as a Hunt Servant (HS) * GGGF Benjamin GODDARD b ????? (married Jane SAVIN 18 Aug 1847, St Giles, Oxford) - HS at: Bicester & Warden Hill, Oxfordshire c1858 * GGF Harry Edwin GODDARD b1858 Stratton Audley, Oxfordshire - HS at: North Warwickshire c1881 Tynedale, Corbridge, Northumberland c1884 Ledbury, Herefordshire c 1897 Dunhallow, Ireland c1903 Harry's brothers: William GODDARD b1851 Stratton Audley, Oxfordshire - HS at: Heythrop, Oxfordshire c1881 Eggesford, Devon c1891 Thomas Edwin GODDARD b1851 Stratton Audley, Oxfordshire - HS at: Blankey, Lincolnshire c1881 * GF Benjamin GODDARD b1888, Cricklade, Wilts - HS from 1900 with Dunhallow, Ireland, retired 1957 from Chiddingfold Hunt, Surrey. He served with: Essex Union, Harlow 1905 Duke of Beaufort, Badminton,1907 North Cotswold, Broadway, Worcs 1908 Tickham, Faversham, Kent 1910 Garth or Old Berkshire or ???????, Tynedale, Corbridge, Northumberland c1920 Cumberland Farmers, Carlisle 1924 Holderness, Yorks 1933 Chiddingfold Farmers, Surrey 1936 Crawley & Horsham, Sussex c1943 Surrey Union, Ockley 1948 Benjamin was the last HS to ride in a point-to-point race in England at Tickham. HS were seen as professional riders & ban from riding in point-to-points in 1935. He also played the role of John Peel at the 'John Peel Centenary' celebrations at Caldbeck, Cumberland Oct 18, 1929. Benjamin's brothers: Edward Cornish GODDARD b 1889, Cricklade, Wilts - HS from c1901 Carmarthenshire, retired 1955 from Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester - served with: Carmarthenshire, Carmarthen c1902 VWH, Cricklade, Wilts 19?? Avon Vale, Trowbridge, Wilts c1919 VWH, Cirencester, Gloucs 1934 Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, Gloucs c1945 James GODDARD b1895 Cricklade, Wilts - HS from c1907 Old Berkshire, retired 196? from Surrey Union - served with: Old Berkshire, Wantage c1907 Lady Craven's Harriers, Kintbury, Berks 19?? Duke of Beaufort, Badminton, Gloucs 19?? Southdown, Ringmer, Sussex 19?? Old Berkshire, Wantage 19?? Belvior, Grantham, Lincs 19?? North Hereford, Bodenham 1930 Southdown, Ringmer, Sussex 1936 Surrey Union, Ockley 19?? * My Uncle (Benjamin's son) - HS at: Jack GODDARD born 1913 at Tickham Hunt, Kent served with Badsworth, Pontefract, Yorks 193? CORNISH ancestors: *GGGF Nicholas CORNISH b1832 Exeter, Devon - HS at: ????? (Careby, Lincolnshire) c1865 Tynedale, Corbridge, Northumberland c1881 TAYLOR ancestors: * My father: Joseph TAYLOR b 1909, Streetlam, N Yorks - HS from c1934 Bedale, Northallerton, N Yorks & retired from Chiddingfold Hunt 1939. Also found but not sure if my ancestors: John C GODDARD b1849 ????? Oxford - HS at: ???? Weaverham Cum Milton, Cheshire c1881 Jack GODDARD b???? - HS at: Quorn, Leicestershire c1863-66 J GODDARD b???? - HS at: ????? c 1894 I would appreciate any help you can offer, I feel I have a mammoth task ahead of me. Kind regards - Sue Taylor, Coalpit Bank, Telford, UK ******************************************************************* This is the original message I sent: Dear Listers, Do you know of any research into the movements/careers of (Fox) Hunt Servants? I would appreciate any information you could pass my way as I have a major task in tracing the generations before my GF(s). Many of my ancestors where Hunt Servants, GODDARD, CORNISH, TAYLOR, employed by different Hunts throughout Britain. My GF Benjamin GODDARD argued that the GODDARD family had the longest association with foxhunting than any other family. There nomadic lifestyle has made it difficult to trace them as they have lived in so many places, often only for a year or two. To give you an 'easy' example: my GGM Annie CORNISH born Exeter, Devon, married (& met) in Hexham, Northumberland, my GGF Harry GODDARD born Stratton Audley, Oxfordshire. Harry served with Hunts in Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Essex, Lincolnshire, Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Hampshire, Gloucestershire ........ & Ireland and died in Wiltshire after having the Black Horse Pub, Burton Hill, Malmesbury, Wilts. I do have a 1936/7 Baily's Hunting Directory (£10 second-hand!) which includes limited info on my GGF, GF & 2 G Uncles, the local Fam Hist Centre only has more recent copies and Baily's only goes back to 1873ish. I have written to various Hunts associated with my family but had not response. Many thanks for any help - Sue Taylor, Coalpit Bank, Telford