Previous years' entries are still viewable by clicking on either
|
|
The quickest method of finding a person, place or date on this page is to click 'Edit'
then 'Find', enter the required details, and click 'Find Next'.
|
|
|
|
2005
|
|
DECEMBER 2005
|
|||||
31 Dec 2005
|
Eddie Moore (from the UK) emailed me to say;-
"Hi Jon, Firstly a big thank you for your web site, secondly apologies for the
following ramble, but I guess as a family historian you are used to this.
I have just been reading through your Web site on the Powditch family, and am
now confident that Victoria E Stepney ( the daughter of William Henry Stepney +
Jemima Powditch) is one and the same as Victoria my Gt,Gt Grandmother, more
specifically my maternal Grandmother's paternal Grandmother.
Not until reading through your site was I able to confirm the threads that I had,
had enough links to make a firm connection.
I had seen your site a couple of years ago but only given it a brief perusal,
because I had not convinced myself that the info I had was strong enough to
make the link. I had found a .ged Family Tree online that had a Victoria E
Stepney with the Powditch line, and searched Powditch via Google intrigued by
an entry of James 'The Trinity Man', this lead me to your site. I'm kicking myself
now, had I read more than chapter 5, (e.g. chapter 4), I would have seen the
confirmation of Victoria's birth in the US. This US nationality had been one of the
few verbal family history facts that my Grandmother had often mentioned to my
mother.
Until recently I had not been able to confirm Victoria's birth details, I have yet to
find any Victoria E Stepney via US birth records, only recently had I found an
entry in the UK 1851 Census that gave me the mother Jemima and another child
Jemima also born in the US, but no father, it looked as if they had emigrated, but
returned. I thought that William Henry may have died in the US and the
Stepney's had returned, but you seem to found that not to be the case.
With the new 1841 and 1851 census indexes I had more points to cross
reference and this time made the leap to conclude that Victoria is one and the
same
As you seem to have been compiling descendent info, I can give some details on
Victoria
Victoria married Charles Measures (of Huntingdon) in Camberwell, South London
on 1st November 1868
My Grandmother's father was Victoria's 2nd child named Charles Edward
Measures, he was heavily involved in the Fabian Society and apparently a
personal friend of Sidney Webb. As you may know the Fabian Society was the
forerunner to the labour party. Both Charles Snr. and Charles Edward were living
in the Camberwell / Walworth area close to the current Labour party HQ
The family business of both Charles were Coach Builders and Painters."
|
||||
23 Dec 2005
|
Terry Kirkman (from Dorset, UK) on whose family ancestry the 2005 Powditch
Christmas card was based, emailed to say;-
"Congratulations on a super Christmas card which arrived yesterday with extra
copies. This is one Christmas card that will certainly NOT be recycled in the new
year! One of the extra copies has already been given to my eldest daughter who popped in on a lightning visit this morning. She is the one daughter who is
interested in our family history and is grateful that I have the time to spare to
research it.
I note on the marriage certificate that one of the witnesses present was a William
Taylor. On my grandfather's birth certificate - by the way, did you receive a copy
of it in with your Christmas card I sent? - his father's profession is stated as
steward to W. Taylor esq., Patna. Interesting....By the way, Mary Elizabeth's age
is shown as 25 but as she was born is 1833 would she not have been around
26-7? I guess that is something to sort out in the new year. In the meantime would
it possible for you to e-mail me a copy of the document to add to my increasing
pile of paper?"
|
||||
22 Dec 2005
|
Chris Fletcher (from UK) emailed to tell me Kathleen's surname.
"Just wanted to let you know that it is Kathleen Fernley. Her husband was Bob
and he died a few years ago. can't remember how long. They did not have any
children. My cousin Betty Peet(Manctelow)looked after her, Betty's mum was
Nell Powditch (Manctelow). Nell was Aunt Kath's and my dad's sister."
|
||||
22 Dec 2005
|
Chris Worpole (from UK) emailed me some photographs, and also asked whether
anyone has any photos amongst their family collections, of Robert John Metcalf
Powditch.
"Months ago you asked for photos of Powditchs, so I have sent you some of my
parents' wedding and of my Mum as a baby and her parents. Do you know
anyone who has photos of Robert John Metcalf Powditch, who is my great
grandfather?"
|
||||
20 Dec 2005
|
Derek McBride (who usually lives in Canada) emailed to wish Seasonal Greetings,
but this year, from Korea!
"I want to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. As usual
I am late or sometimes miss sending greetings, but this year I have a good
excuse, I am sitting in Seoul, Korea. My last two months were spent living in a
ger (yurt) in northeastern Mongolia. Mongolia is the home of Genghis Khan and
a beautiful, fascinating country."
|
||||
18 Dec 2005
|
Kevin Peppin (from Utah, USA) emailed me to say;-
"Thank you for your email. I do not remember how I got on your email list. I
have enjoyed your emails/letters. I had to go back and find out how I was linked
to the Powditch lines. It appears it is through Thelma Victoria MOYLE. She
married Harold Powditch on 12 Feb 1927 Norwood, , South Australia, Australia
and he was born about 1904. No other info. The had at least two children, no
names. These children would be my 8th cousin, if all lines are correct. I think
some how you have me living in Australia. I live in the US, in the state of Utah."
|
||||
17 Dec 2005
|
Terry Kirkman (from Dorset, UK) emailed to say;-
"Many thanks for the e-mail re the trials and tribulations suffered in producing the
Christmas card. The best laid plans..... Never mind I still look forward to seeing it.
As regard the "taster" you mentioned regarding the occupation of William Henry
Kelly, this has added another challenge for me. I am still wondering why Mary
Elizabeth waited over three years before my grandfather (the firstborn) was
conceived bearing in mind the large families that were prevalent then. Now you
have posed another question. If William Henry Kelly was a sergeant in the 19th
at the time of his marriage, at what time did he take employment as a steward to
a W Taylor on the Maharajah's estate? Dare I write to the present Maharajah, for
I think they still exist, to see if they have any reference in their archives? I will
send you a (poor) copy of my grandfather's birth certificate - just to add to your
mountain of paper to be sorted. Perhaps Santa will give you a "round tuit" in your
stocking! All the best to you and your family for the festive season. Terry."
|
||||
16 Dec 2005
|
Faye Edwards (Melbourne, Australia) emailed me to say;-
"Whoops, sorry if I overlooked telling you about Aunty Cath. Her details are
Catherine Jouvelet B: September 18th, 1919 Died: October 2nd, 2005
Aged 86 years. Buried: October 7th, 2005 Altona Cemetery, Altona North,
Melbourne, Victoria. Uncle Leon is living with his son Raymond Jouvelet &
Daughter-in-law Barbara."
|
||||
15 Dec 2005
|
Faye Edwards (Melbourne, Australia) emailed me to say;-
"Just thought I would let you know that our cousin, Lorraine Marie Kile nee
Jouvelet passed away on 14/12/05. Her son Peter Kile has been communicating
with you. She has had arthritis for many years and has spent approx. 20 years
confined to the house practically bed ridden. Her Funeral is tomorrow 16/12/05.
I guess Peter will be in contact with you and we will probably meet him tomorrow
for the first time."
|
||||
8 Dec 2005
|
Faye Edwards (Melbourne, Australia) followed up an earlier message to me by
asking;-
"I know you have enough on your plate but would like to ask a question.
I was delighted to find out from Glenda that you explained to her where we fit into
the Powditch Family but after thinking about it I remembered that a while ago I
contacted you after looking at page 124 in the book which you gave me'
Norfolk Pedigrees compiled by Patrick Palgrave -Moore' and was excited
because I thought that I had discovered our ancestors by tracing the Family line
back from James William Powditch born 1837 in King's Lynn.
At that stage you said that the information printed concerning our line had not
been proven and Patrick had made an assumption and printed it so after that
we were still in limbo.
My query is, since then have you been able to confirm that the information
regarding our ancestors which Patrick compiled is correct? I do hope so, as for
years we have been yearning to know our ancestry line."
|
||||
3 Dec 2005
|
Barry Cairns from Australia wrote;-
"Some quick comments on your last: I did omit the spelling as Mary Ann Welsh
which I had noticed but forgot to mention.
You’re doing my senile thing – you typed Fred and Mary’s first child as Henry
rather than Frederick Walsh Drennan.
Betty McGrath had a copy of the certificate of Mary Drennan’s death and her age
was given as 48. This was #1838 in the St Pancras registration district, subdistrict
Regents Park, Co Mx. The Informant’s address was 39 Devonshire Place
Brighton but the place of death was 12 Albany St, Regents Park. Betty thought
her usual address was Brighton but this may well have been a friend visiting
from Brighton unless Regents Park was a clinic, hospital, or nursing home.
The name of the informant was unknown to me.
However this would suggest Mary Ann was born in 1790: still the middle sister, but
if married as Walsh and as a spinster unlikely to have been married to Sharpe.
There is nothing (so far – so many “so far”s) to show that the other two girls were
also in Kingston (with or without their father).
It is interesting that the Australian Dictionary of Biography entry for Drennan has
him entering the army as an assistant commissary on 10 Apr 1809, serving in
Canada during American war, and being promoted Deputy-Commissary on
23 Apr 1814. Posted to Jamaica and incurred deficiency in accounts. Alice died
in Kingston in 1807. Perhaps he entered the Commissary in Jamaica? Perhaps
an Army List from about 1809-10 may help.
And now to the real reason to write so soon.
It is the result of a spare hour in Melbourne near the State Library of Victoria. I had missed that they had the Times Digital Archive on-line:
Saturday 10 Sep 1831 Page 4 Issue 14640 Column C
Deaths
On Sunday 4th Instant, in the bloom of girlhood, Mary Anne, only daughter of
Frederick Drennan Esq, after an illness of five days, which she bore with
fortitude abd resignation worthy of a better world. This beautiful and amiable
young lady was not only noted for the sweetness and generosity of her
disposition, which made her beloved by all those who had the happiness to
know her, but was also possessed of abilities that would have done honour to
any age; and, amongst other marks of her genius, has left behind her a
volume of small but exquisite poems, which are shortly to be published.
Tuesday 17 Feb 1835 Page 4 Issue 15716 Column B
Died
On 14[?]th Inst (the anniversary of his birthday) after a most severe and protracted
illness, which he bore with the greatest fortitude, Frederick Walsh Drennan, Esq,
deeply regretted by his parents and friends, to whom he was greatly endeared by
his affectionate and amiable disposition, which was evinced on all occasions by
the most tender and dutiful attention to the former, and the utmost warmth and
generosity of feeling towards the latter. This young gentleman was possessed of
a fine genius, and was the author of several most beautiful poetical effusions,
which have already appeared, as well as of others full of exquisite beauties, which
remain to be published.
OTHERS!
Wednesday 3 Apr 1793 page 4 issue 2575 column A Ireland, Dublin,
March 28
House of Lords
Lord Dillon about Dr James Reynolds, in custody of Usher of Black Rod
for contumacious conduct towards the Committee appointed by their
Lordships.
Reynolds was a doctor who had been called by a secret committee to give
evidence and had refuse. He had a partnership with another doctor (not
Dr Drennan) also called to the committee. Dr Drennan called upon Dr
Reynolds during his pre-trial custody. Reynolds committed to Kilmainham
gaol (not Newgate, acceding to Reynols request).
Tuesday 20 May 1794 page 3 issue 2993 column A
Dr Drennan lately arrested in Ireland, on a charge of having caused the publication
of a seditious libel, has been admitted to bail, himself in £1000, and two sureties
of £500 each.
Tuesday 1 Jul 1794 page 93 issue 940701 Column B
Court of King' Bench, Ireland, Wednesday 25 June
Trial of Dr William Drennan
William Drennan published on 17 and 20 December 1792 a libel An
Address of the Society of United Irshmen
Jury – not guilty
Saturday 4 August 1866 page 10 Issue 25568 Column G
Dr Drennan's lines quoted:
"O Sons of Green Erin lament for the time
When religion was war, and our country a crime,
When men in God's image inverted His plan,
And moulded their God in the image of man."
Wednesday 4 October 1815 page 1 Issue 9642 Column A
Advertisement
Fugitive pieces, in verse and prose, by William Drennan
[My interpretation: William Drennan appears unlikely to be Frederick Drennan's
father: William Drennan (1754-1820), a physician, poet, educationalist and
political radical, was one of the chief architects of the Society of United Irishmen.
He is also known as the first to refer in print to Ireland as "the emerald isle". In
1800 Drennan married Sarah Swanwick, a member of a dissenting family from
Shropshire. His marriage brought him into the circle of such literary, reformist
and Unitarian figures in the north-west of England as William Roscoe and
William Shepherd. In 1807 Drennan retired from medicine and returned from
Dublin to Belfast.]
Wednesday 29 April 181 page 3 issue 10343 Column B
Advertisement
Deputy Commissary-General Frederick Drennan is appointed senior officer
of the Commissary at New South Wales.
There are other unrelated references to Drennans in the Digital Archive, and
mostly in Ireland.
There were Drennan snippets in the Archive from near Belfast but I discounted
them for various reasons but mostly because of date.
Bye for now! Barry."
|
||||
NOVEMBER 2005
|
|||||
24 Nov 2005
|
John Woodland (from Australia) emailed me with details of his interest and
research into John Diston Powles;-
"My interest in John Diston Powles goes back some years now! I was a geologist
before my early (involuntary) retirement in 1999 . For about 20 years prior to this,
I was involved in exploration and gold mining in Victoria - including work at the
town of Clunes.
This was the site of the Port Phillip and Colonial Gold Mining Company's highly
successful gold mine between 1857-91. The Port Phillip Company was the only
success story out of about 70 London-based companies floated during the 'gold
bubble' of the early 1850s.
After retiring I decided to put some of my knowledge to use, so I wrote a book on
the company, published in mid-2001 to coincide with the 150th anniversary of
gold discovery in Victoria. At the same time I completed an M.A. in history at
La Trobe University - this is accessible online at www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/thesis/
I am now doing my PhD at La Trobe, on the first phase of company gold mining in
Australia, looking at all the London-based 'gold bubble' companies plus a
number formed in Australia.
The Powles connection is that J.D.Powles promoted the Port Phillip Company,
and became its chairman and a major shareholder until his death in 1867. He
was the uncle of Rivett Henry Bland, who was the Australian director of the
company, and directly responsible for its success here.
Powles promoted/chaired/directed and was a major shareholder in at least 15
other companies, (I'm still coming across them!) many in Latin America, between
1824 and about 1860. They included the English and Australian Copper
Company, formerly [Low's] Patent Copper Company which operated the Spitty
smelters before moving to Burra, South Australia; and the St. John d'el Rey
Mining Company, which developed one of the world's biggest gold mines at
Morro Velho, Brazil. I keep coming across links between him and other
companies, and fellow directors such as Henry William Schneider [Barrow-in -
Furness] and James Vetch [Real del Monte, Mexico].
My present references to the Mexican and South American Company are largely
letters written to The Times and the [London] Mining Journal by one of Powles
critics, Christopher Richardson.
I intend to use J. D. Powles to illustrate the role played by 19th century company
promoters and directors. To this end, I am seeking any information I can get on
him, especially anything that will give me a feel for him as a person. I came
across the 'John Wiston Poles - Mexican and South American Company'
connection by Googling; the particular web address that led me to you was
Sorry about the length of this email, but there is a lot to try to explain! I would be
grateful for any help you can give me."
|
||||
23 Nov 2005
|
Anna Manucci (from Bologna, Italy) who had previously emailed me regarding
the 1835 Earthquake/Tsunami in Chile, replied to my follow-up to her, as follows;-
"Thank you very much for the prompt information you send me, and happy to
read that in some way I could help you.
We didn't write articles about this tsunami, we just prepared a presentation at
University for high school students, so we didn't find anything new about this
tsunami.
You can find some tsunami data in the web site
and others information on this article:
Wm. H. Berninghausen (1962), Tsunami reported from the West coast of south
America 1562-1960, BSSA Vol 52, No 4, pp 915-921.
If you are interested in what we do this is our web site, we have to complete it
but you can find some works.
if you need other information contact us."
|
||||
19 Nov 2005
|
John Woodland (from Australia) emailed me re research he is undertaking.
"I am researching John Diston Powles and his entrepreneurial activities as part of
my PhD thesis. I am interested in any information about his promotion and
management of Latin American companies, including the Mexican and South
American Company. I would be grateful for any help you could provide. Thanks."
|
||||
16 Nov 2005
|
Cathrynne Powditch (from Bristol, UK) emailed to say and ask;-
"I am the grand-daughter of Thomas Rees Powditch who was born in Splott,
Cardiff in 1919.
I was just wondering whether you had any information on my Grand-father, for I
never met him as he passed away 4 years before I was born. Any information
would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks."
|
||||
16 Nov 2005
|
Jack Farley (from UK) had a section on the BBC website relating to his involvement
in the RAF during WW2, and of one of his fellow crew members. I had emailed Jack
to see what further information he could remember from that time, and this was his reply.
"I can not remember Powditch's first name, but he was a member of Stan Weir's
crew ,like myself - a wireless operator / air gunner
We were part of the squadron detachment that flew from Donna Nook, in
Lincolnshire, to take part in the 1000 bomber raid in 1942 on Bremen."
N.B. 'Powditch's first name' was John, and he lived in Cardiff (South Wales) up to
his death
|
||||
14 Nov 2005
|
Peter Higginbotham (from UK) who has a fantastic website relating to
Workhouses and Training Ships, emailed to say that he has "incorporated the
discharge cert. into my training ships web page with an acknowledgment to
yourself."
The 'Certificate referred to, is that for Robert Henry James Rumbles Powditch, who
was "trained in the art of seamanship", on board the Training Ship "Arethusa"
based at Greenhithe.
Further information regarding Robert, can be read online within Chapter 11 of my
book "Peerless Powditch's; Vol 3., 'Norfolk Vacated' (Gower, 1989), pp166-167
(q.v. www.powditch.plus.com/PeerlessPowditch/chapter_11.htm ) but details
from the Certificate the wording of which was contained within a border of chain
links - was worded as follows;-
Front of Certificate
Back of Certificate
also, under the heading of "DESCRIPTION", we find that
Robert Henry James Rumbles Powditch was described as;-
Robert left the Training Ships In 1909 - when he was aged 17 years old (despite
the age of "21" stated on the Certificate)
|
||||
13 Nov 2005
|
Marjorie Powditch (from Cardiff, Wales) emailed to say;-
"Thank you so much for your last e-mail, so interesting, I must say you work very
hard on getting all the information that you do."
|
||||
7 Nov 2005
|
Sheila Mughal (from UK) emailed me re our Mort connection to the Jones family.
"Hi John:
We have quite a few Morts from Wales on our website www.mortfamily.net and
we are now wondering if there is a Welsh connection to this name. Just to let you
know we are here if anyone does have an interest in this name. Sheila"
|
||||
7 Nov 2005
|
Alan Powditch (from Narberth, Wales) emailed to say;-
"Just to let you know that Robert asked me to tell you that Leanne is expecting."
|
||||
6 Nov 2005
|
Mitchell Owens (from Sharon Springs, NY USA) emailed to say that he was trying
to access images taken by my employer (from the 1960s) for a forthcoming book;-
"I am trying to track down the archives of Millar & Harris, in the hopes of searching
through it for images required for a forthcoming book about the English decorator
Syrie Maugham. I came across your website and hoped that, as a former
employee of M&H, you might have an idea about the fate of M&H's collections."
|
||||
5 Nov 2005
|
I don't know who sent the following email, as unfortunately the sender omitted to
include his or her name and any other information!
"I appriciate your project. It`s cool"
(This message was on a feedback form.but regrettably no further details were
provided!)
|
||||
3 Nov 2005
|
Terry Kirkman (from Dorset, UK) emailed to say;-
"Many thanks for the latest (October) eNewsletter - received all present and
correct.
On reading through the newsletter, I realised that now we have established my
grandfather's connection to the Powditch family, there is another batch of
descendants in Australia from a different source.
My Grandfather Kelly had four surviving children - two sons and two daughters.
The younger daughter, Dorothy Minnie, married my father Frank Kirkman in
1919 in East Wretham, Norfolk. Her sister Olive Winifred married Albert Lewin
Miller also in East Wretham in 1920. My Auntie Olive (Bobby) and Uncle 'Bert
moved to North London where their only child, Joy was born.
Joy eventually married Douglas Brailsford and they moved with their three
children to Rayleigh, Essex in the 1960's. On retirement, my Auntie and Uncle
moved next door to them in Rayleigh. Joy and Douglas then emigrated to
Australia hoping that their parents would follow but Uncle Bert died suddenly and
so they built a granny annexe in Australia for my Auntie.
My Auntie died there in Adelaide in 1988 and sadly my cousin Joy died earlier
this year. However the rest of the family still reside in Adelaide and of course the
three children are now grown up with families of their own. So yet another branch
of the Powditch family can be added to the tree. I hope my explanation of the
lineage is clear."
|
||||
2 Nov 2005
|
Robin Ewbank (from Hampshire, UK) replied to a message I'd sent to him re
Murray Macdonald in South Africa and his Macdonald ancestry;-
"Thanks. I will contact Murray. I did a lot more work on the tree since I sent it to you.
So here it is again, including the earlier generations (same file name as before
but updated; look for the Macdonald page)."
|
||||
2 Nov 2005
|
Faye and Bob Edwards (from Melbourne, Australia) sent an email reagarding their
Powditch ancestry and re some information I had provided;-
"Glenda rang to let me know about our long lost ancestors. We are thrilled to have
a connection at last.
We don't know where James born 1813 died but we feel that from Grandma's
family stories he was probably was living in New Zealand at one stage. He
was a mystery man. He disappeared from the English Census and then
Pleasance remarried.
Lovely to receive our long awaited connection. I notice that you have a question
mark as to the husband of Cassandra. Would his name be on the marriage
certificate which you have?"
|
||||
1 Nov 2005
|
Barry Cairns (from Australia) emailed to say;-
"I do appreciate watching the progress of the website and the connections that are
developing. Naturally I am ever hopeful that more may surface about William
Powditch in Australia, and about his descendants.
The recent references to Pennington Powditch interest me. When William
Powditch was in Newcastle there was also a Joseph Pennington. He came to
Australia in 1822 on the “Heroine” with his wife Ann, his daughter Julia, and
Sarah his wife’s daughter by her first marriage. Sarah married the Reverend
George Middleton of Newcastle and they were my gggparents.
Joseph was drowned in 1827 while working for the AA Coy at Port Stephens.
I was not aware of any significant connection between Willliam and Joseph
although they would have met through Powditch & Boucher.
So I am curious about the origin of the name and the possible connection of this
Pennington Powditch to Joseph Pennington.
To explore this would you pass on my enquiry to one or all of the sisters of Julia
Dawson?"
|
||||
OCTOBER 2005
|
|||||
30 Oct 2005
|
Haydn Powditch (from UK) emailed to ask;-
"Did Mum ever show you a Picture of my father (Thomas Rees Powditch)? I will
have to see if I can photograph some and send them to you. I think there is one
or two of him somewhere with his army buddies, but I am not sure about that.
Will have to ask Mum, see if we can find them."
|
||||
20 Oct 2005
|
Kris and Andy have named their daughter, 'Aimee Grace' - two lovely names for a
really beautiful baby!
|
||||
20 Oct 2005
|
Kathy Noble (from Tasmania) emailed re her Barnes ancestors. (Kathy and I had
already been in correspondence re her forbears, although I had offered to add more
of what she was trying to discover, in one of my eNewsletters. The following is a
synopsis of what she is hoping to discover);-
"Hello John, and great to hear from you, and for your very kind offer to include my
request in your newsletter. That is very much appreciated, and hopefully it may
bring some results in the future.
I am looking for the Marriage, Death and Will of Philip Edward Barnes [or any
other useful information], in case anyone can follow it up for [or provide it to] me.
Philip Edward Barnes died on 2nd October 1860 at Copiapo, Chile. He was
buried at the English cemetery at Herradura.
On his grave it says 'Erected by his affectionate wife', and a book inscription says
(in French) Caroline Barnes, given by her affectionate husband, P Edward Barnes,
October 1857. However there is no record of any marriage of Philip Edward
Barnes in the GRO and overseas records.
Neither have I been able to find a death certificate, or record of any will. I was told
there was a fire in Santiago at some time that may have destroyed some records.
If anyone is able to assist me in finding a marriage or death record, or a will, in
Chile, for Philip Edward Barnes, I would be most grateful.
Kind regards, Kathy Noble"
If anyone can help re the above, please email me at
 and I will pass the details to Kathy. Thank you.
|
||||
19 Oct 2005
|
Anna Manucci (from Bologna, Italy) emailed me to ask;-
"Dear webmaster,
I'm a research grant holder at University of Bologna, Italy, my research group deals
with tsunamis.
I'm collecting material about the 1835 earthquake-tsunami [i.e. the one which
occurred in Chile] to popularize tsunami science for high school students.
Thank you very much
Anna Manucci
Department of Physics, Sector of Geophysics
University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy"
I have already replied to the above request, but should you have any more information
which might help Anna, in her quest, please can you contact me, as I do have full
contact details for her. Thank you
|
||||
17 Oct 2005
|
Robin Ewbank (from Hampshire, UK) emailed to ask;-
"Did you find the MacDonalds you were looking for?
I suspect that Angus's father Lt Col Reginald Percy MacDonald of Kingsburgh
(1856-1917 died S Africa 17.12.1917) could have married one in South Africa as
one record I have is that Flora Powditch MacDonald was his sister. She married
Frederick Albert Hossack and had descendants. There is some confusion on the
MacDonald site between the families of Clarence Reginald M, youngest son of
Robert Mackenzie M, and his 1st cousin above, Reginald Percy M, son of John
Collins M.
I am also descended from John Collins M through Reginald Percy's sister
Florence Ellie M (born Lucknow august 1857 during the siege). If you do find any
of the family do let me know, as I am quite closely related."
|
||||
14 Oct 2005
|
Pat Cook (from UK) emailed to advise;-
"My mother Ivy Powditch wife of Frederick (Bronc) Powditch who lived at
Legbourne Louth Lincs died aged 84yrs on 20th November 2001 and laid to
rest at Legbourne churchyard."
|
||||
13 Oct 2005
|
Sue Poulson (from Telford, UK) emailed the following information;-
"Thanks for the latest epistle! Plenty to keep me going again.
I have printed off some info. on the POWDITCH names from the CD of Army Roll
of Honour 1939-45 and Soldiers died in the Great War 1914-1919. I have added
the list from the CWGC site so that you can see there are sometimes a few
additional facts. I do look-ups from these CD's which I have on loan as a member
of the Shropshire FHS. Thought there might be some new info. for you.
Also I have a relative in Perth, Australia so I will ask her for any Powditch names
in the Perth Telephone directory, partic[u;arly re] Geoffrey Peter Powditch.
Any luck with my Rosamund Powditch yet?"
|
||||
Sunday
9 Oct 2005
|
Our second Grandchild was born this morning; a gorgeous baby girl!
Still to be named, she entered this world at just before 6.32am today, weighing
7lb 10oz, and having fair hair and dark eyes.
Her Mum (our daughter Kristian) and her husband (Andrew) are well, if exhausted,
and the baby is well, too - and needless to say, all grandparents are ecstatic!
Joshua is looking forward to meeting his baby 'thister' later this morning, and to
seeing his Mummy again.
|
||||
4 Oct 2005
|
Nick Twohill (from Auckland, New Zealand) emailed to update me on his thesis,
and also to provide some useful information;-
"I'm currently working on the Introduction part of my thesis, and had cause to pull
out Gordon Greenwood's book off the Auckland University library shelf to check
a reference. You probably know it already, but just in case you don't, details are:
Gordon Greenwood, Early American-Australian Relations, (Melbourne
University Press in association with Oxford University Press, 1944).
There are references to 'Powditch' in Chapter 6 entitled 'New South Wales and
Spanish America' and in a list in the appendix.
All the best, Nick."
|
||||
SEPTEMBER 2005
|
|||||
30 Sep 2005
|
Katherine Wood (from Sydney, Australia) emailed me to say;-
"My connection to the Powditch Family is...: Grandfather was Thomas James
Powditch born 1886 in Australia"
|
||||
27 Sep 2005
|
Hazel Norquay (from Toowoomba, Australia) emailed me to say;-
"Powditch Connection: Mother Elgin Joyce Powditch, Grandfather Thomas James
Powditch, GGG Garret Jarvis Powditch"
|
||||
24 Sep 2005
|
Julia Dawson (from Canberra, Australia) emailed me to say;-
"Powditch Connection: Grandfather was Thomas James Powditch 1886 - 1962,
born Lismore NSW"
|
||||
23 Sep 2005
|
Julie Perry (from UK) emailed with the following Powditch/Stephens information;-
"I emailed you ages ago regarding the Powditch link with my Stephens family
research. I said I would update you with information regarding Elizabeth Mary
Stephens, wife of Wells Kendle Powditch. Sorry it has taken so long but here goes.
A brief family history of Elizabeth Mary Stephens. B 1844. D 1891
Elizabeth Mary was born in 1844 in East Looe, Cornwall, the eldest child of
William Stephens (b1822. d1843) and Caroline Laundry (b1820).
She had 7 brothers and 4 sisters and was known to the family as Mary.
(William c1846, Albert 1847, Melinda c1849, James c1851, Caroline 1853,
Julia c1855, Richard c1857, Joseph c1860, Fredrick c1862, Walter c1864,
Minnie c1866)
The family moved around following work, William started work as a Blacksmith,
the craft of his father, but soon progressed to an Engineer and on his death
certificate his occupation is listed as a Marine Engineer. From 1843 to1845 the
family lived in East Looe, Cornwall. In 1846 they moved to Plymouth returning to
Cambourne in 1851 where they remained until 1854. In 1855 they where living in
Woolwich but then moved to St Peter Port, Guernsey in approx 1861.
In1864 they were to be found in Poplar, London but by 1871 they where back in
Penzance. I can find no trace of William and Caroline in the 1891 census but
when William died in 1897 the family where in Penzance, Cornwall.
I have no evidence to suggest that Elizabeth Mary stayed in Guernsey when the
family returned to England, there is no occupation listed for her on the Guernsey
census, so like you I am inclined to believe that they met in Poplar and Elizabeth
Mary’s stay in Guernsey was pure coincidence.
Elizabeth Mary and Wells have used two traditional Stephen’s family names when
christening their children, Wells Joseph and Minnie, Joseph was the name of
Elizabeth Mary’s maternal grandfather and also one of Williams’s brother’s.
Minnie was Mary’s youngest sister and several of Elizabeth Mary’s siblings have </ | ||||