#On This Day - 11th December

Today, my 8x great grandfather, John Christmas was baptized in 1664 in Dallington, Sussex, England.  

The same year he was baptized, England witnessed a significant political shift with the passing of the Triennial Parliaments Act, which mandated that Parliament be called at least once every three years.

John was the son of Richard Christmas (circa 1626, buried 1680) and Susan Baucombe (circa 1624- ). On June 1, 1686, he married Mary Morris in Battle, Sussex, England. Together, they had seven children, one of whom was Mary Christmas. You'll hear more about her later in this Advent Calendar 2024.

On December 11, 1688, a significant event occurred when King James II was captured in Kent. He was attempting to flee to France following William of Orange's landing in England. Local fishermen in Faversham detained him and held him for three days before authorities took him into custody. This event was part of the larger context of the Glorious Revolution, which changed the course of English history by ending the reign of James II and bringing William and Mary to the throne.

John Christmas lived through a time of great political and social change. Rural working men, like John, did not gain the right to vote until at least the 1880s. It's a reminder of how long the journey toward democratic rights has been.While he might not have been directly affected by the high-stakes drama of kings and parliaments, his life in Sussex would have been  inevitably influenced the society he lived in from the laws that governed him to the shifting monarchies.

There is a Christmas Farm on the main road from Dallington to Battle.  I wonder if there is any connection?  Another item for the To Do list!!

Christmas Farm in 2013

You might be interested to visit this fairly new Dallington One Place Study website and thanks go to the OPS owner for supplying the fact about Christmas Farm.   https://dallingtonhistory.uk/

#On This Day - 10th December

Today I remember Sarah Weston my 2x great aunt, who was born on this day in 1852 in Etchingham, East Sussex, England.   The year Sarah was born saw the Great Ormond St Hospital for Sick Children, London, admitting it's first patient; the Great Northern Railway openning London King's Cross station, the largest in Europe at this time. and finally the last fatal duel on English soil took place on Priest Hill, between Englefield Green and Old Windsor.

Sarah was the daughter of Samuel Weston (c. 1806-1894) and Sarah Newick (1818-1897). She was baptized in Etchingham on February 6, 1853.  She was an older sister of my great grandfather, Albert Weston who I have mentioned before during this Advent Blog.  Sarah was 2 years old when Albert was born.  She lived a long life, reaching the age of 94 years and 8 days, passing away in December 1946. She never married.

Burial image for Etchingham Parish Church Register

On this Day:

1868: The world's first traffic lights were installed in Parliament Square, Westminster, London. During the day they worked by semaphore and at night by colored gas lamps. They symbolized the progress of technology but Etchingham was a small rural village and was unlikely to have had them.

The political landscape of England saw a significant change during her lifetime. The Earl of Derby resigned as Prime Minister following the defeat of his budget, and the Earl of Aberdeen took his place. While Sarah's early years were spent in the quiet village of Etchingham, the country around her was experiencing shifts in leadership that would shape its future.

#On This Day - 9th December

On this day in 1821 Ann Yielding was buried in Battle, East Sussex, England.  1821 was an eventful year so I am highlighting two English events.  Firstly George IV was crowned king of the United  Kingdom on July 19th and secondly John Constable completed his famous painting, The Hay Wain, in April/May . It's doubtful Ann knew about Constable or his paintings, considering her simple country life.

Ann Yielding, the daughter of Richard Yielding (c. 1770- ) and Elizabeth Sinden (1766-1843), was baptised in Battle on 24 May 1799. 

Ann was my 5x great aunt on my grandmother's father's side and also my 4th cousin 6x removed through the same grandmother's mother's side!

On this same day, December 9, in 1608, John Milton was born in Cheapside, London. Milton is most famous for his epic poem "Paradise Lost," published in 1667, well before Ann's time. He was also a strong supporter of freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Additionally, Milton served as a civil servant under Oliver Cromwell during the Commonwealth of England. 

The Hay Wain

I really don't know much at all about Ann as she desn't appear in any census records which came after she died so I thought I would expand the post to talk about the traditions we had when I was a child. 

We always had our Christmas dinner in the middle of the day; it didn't matter if we had been to midnight service, my Mum still got up really early to get the turkey into cook so there was plenty of time later on for my Dad to carve the turkey whilst she was cooking roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, roast parsnips, stuffing and yorkshire puddings.  The extras that got added to our plates were a few crisps or Pringles when they were popular, bread sauce, a lovely home made flavoursome gravy, cranberry sauce and vegetables which were always carrots and sprouts and had been cooked on top of the hob.  Afterwards we had a home made Christmas Pudding to which had been added "old ale" from the pub and brandy butter.  When we were very small we were given custard and the adults had brandy butter.  We were only allowed that as teeenagers!!

#One This Day - 8th December

Today, I'm thinking about the life and times of my great grandparents, Albert Weston and Annie Gadd, who married on this day in 1877 in Etchingham, Sussex, England. Their marriage was witnessed by Philip Goodwin and Louisa Keely, Annie's mother's sister.

In this year Anna Sewell's novel, Black Beauty, was published.  Were they readers like me?  

That year also witnessed the devastating Blantyre Mining disaster in Scotland, which left 92 widows and 250 fatherless children. Although the Westons were not miners, this tragic event adds to our family's historical connection to the coal industry through Frank Weston, a coalman.  He was my grandfather and Albert and Annie's son. The mining disasters of the time remind us of the harsh realities faced by many working families in the 19th century.

Albert and Annie were both born in Etchingham. Between 1886 and 1891, they moved to Salehurst, living at Park Farm with their four children and Annie's parents. By 1901, they had relocated to Redlands Farm in Salehurst, where Albert worked as a carter. This move from Etchingham to Salehurst and the subsequent shifts within the village reflect the mobility and adaptability required by rural families during that period. Between 1921 and 1931, they moved once more, this time to Lodge Farm, where Albert  passed away. Annie lived for another year and died at 3 Council Cottages in Robertsbridge. Their journey from one farm to another signifies the agrarian lifestyle that was their existence.

On this day in 1864, the Clifton Suspension Bridge was opened. While it is unlikely that Albert and Annie ever traveled over this iconic bridge, as they were simple country folk, it stands as a testament to the engineering marvels of their era.

Fast forward to the same day in 1980, and we find a family coincidence. Nearly fifty years after the deaths of Albert and Annie, their great great grandson was born in England, though far from Sussex. This date also marks the tragic death of John Lennon, a significant cultural figure whose influence on music and society was profound.

You can find out a little more about Albert and Annie  here and see a photo of them.

#On This Day - 7th December

Today, I think about William Henry Clark, my great x 2 great uncle, who was baptized on this day, 7th December, in Udimore, Sussex, England. William was the younger brother of my 2x great grandfather, Richard Douch clark.

William Henry Clark was born in 1845, a year marked by noteworthy events in Sussex. During the construction of the Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings Railway, a cutting was made across the Priory site in Lewes, where the burial cists of William de Warenne and his wife Gundrada were found. This discovery provided a unique glimpse into the medieval history of the region. The railway construction itself was part of a broader effort to connect towns and cities, boosting trade and communication. Lewes, approximately 40 miles from Udimore.  Maybe William would have become aware of the importance railways played in econmic growth when the line extended through to the nearby town of Rye in the 1850s and later extended through to Ashford in Kent.

William was the son of Henry Clark (1812-1908) and Ann Maria Douch (1820-1882). His father, Henry, lived to the remarkable age of 96, passing away in Ore Workhouse in 1908.  Henry was buried in an unmarked communal grave as a pauper. It made me wonder about why Henry suffered these  hardships, living in poverty. Did he go into the workhouse because there was no family to help him? I know some of his children had died but not all of them.  More research needed!!

On December 7:

1872, HMS Challenger departed from Sheerness on the north Kent coast, embarking on an expedition to explore the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the deep sea. This trip was important for oceanography and scientific exploration.

In 1909, Bakelite, invented Leo Baekeland , was patented.  It was the first thermosetting plastic that could be set into a shape permanently. This invention started the plastics industry and changed manufacturing and daily life for many people.  The original Bakelite was brown and was still in use in homes during my childhood.  Once a bakelite telephone junction box in my childhood home was shattered when lightening hit the telegrap pole outside the house and the lightening travelled to earth along the telephone wire into our house.  It was quite  bang and there were bits of bakelite scattered in the hallway.

In 1916, David Lloyd George replaced H. H. Asquith as British Prime Minister, leading a coalition Conservative government. His leadership during World War I was crucial in navigating the country through one of its most challenging periods.  Was William still alive at this time?  I have yet to research him further.

Udimore Church

#On This Day - 6th December

Today, let's reflect on the life of my great grandmother on my maternal side, Ellen Eldridge, who was born on this day in 1868 in Bodiam, Sussex, England.

The last public hanging of a woman in Britain happened in 1868. Frances Kidder was hung outside Maidstone Prison by William Calcraft for drowning her stepdaughter.

Ellen Eldridge was the daughter of William Eldridge (1843-1868) and Caroline Poile (1847-1927) and was baptised a month later in Bodiam on 3 Jan 1869.  Before marriage she was a domestic servant and had lived in Stonegate. She married George William Clark, a postman in Salehurst on 28 Sep 1889 when he was 20 and she was 20. One of the marriage witnesses was William Good who was her step father; her mother Caroline having married him after her first husband, William Eldridge had died.  George and Ellen built their life together in Hastings, where they raised their children until Ellen's untimely death in June 1905. My mother often recounted how her mother, Ellen's only daughter, had to care for her brothers until George remarried in 1907.

On this same day in 1882, the renowned English novelist and poet Anthony Trollope passed away. I often wonder if Ellen enjoyed reading his novels and whether she passed on a love of literature through the generations. 

It's unlikely that Ellen ever visited London, but on December 6, 1897, London became the world's first city to host licensed taxicabs. This innovation in transportation marked a milestone in the modernization of urban life, a world away from the rural settings where Ellen lived.

George and Ellen

#On This Day - 5th December

Today, I want to share the story of my 2x great grandmother on my maternal side, Caroline Poile, who was baptized on this day in 1847 in Salehurst, Sussex, England.

The year 1847 was a challenging time, marked by a devastating typhus epidemic that claimed the lives of more than 30,000 people. This epidemic primarily affected Irish immigrants fleeing the Great Famine, who crowded onto unsanitary ships known as "coffin ships" to escape to North America and Canada. These dire conditions facilitated the spread of typhus, adding to the suffering of already desperate families.  The epidemic mainly affected the larger towns and cities in England.

Amidst this, Caroline Poile entered the world on June 25, 1847, in Salehurst. She was the daughter of Thomas Poile (c. 1813- ) and Harriet Stapley (c. 1818-1853).

Caroline's life was a real mix of emotions. She married William Eldridge on September 1, 1866, in Bodiam.  William died just two years into their marriage, leaving Caroline to raise their three children with help from his parents. Despite this, Caroline stayed strong and remarried William Good in 1871. She lived the rest of her life in Sussex and passed away in Battle in November 1927.

It is interesting to note that Christina Rossetti, one of the most important English women poets, was born on this day in 1830. I often wonder if Caroline, like me, enjoyed reading Rossetti's poetry.

Other historical events that occurred around this time were: 

In 1848, the California Gold Rush was officially acknowledged when U.S. President James K. Polk announced to Congress the discovery of significant quantities of gold in California. This event sparked a massive migration and economic upheaval that would have been the talk of the world, even in distant England.

On December 5th, 1952, London experienced the beginning of the Great Smog, a catastrophic air pollution event which caused the city to come to a standstill for four days, resulting in an estimated 4,000 fatalities.

I have a photo from my grandparents wedding in 1920 where they are decked out in their "Sunday Best" and sitting out on the cricket ground in Hastings for their group photo with the people who attend.  I have identified a few people including Frank's parents and also amongst them is Rose's father and her grandmother Caroline.  Next to her is a gentleman of the same sort of age and a natural conclusion to draw is that he was her second husband, William Good.

#One This Day - 4th December

Today, I reflect on the life of my 1st cousin 3x removed on my maternal side, Harriett Newick, who was baptised on 4th December 1853 in Etchingham, Sussex, England.  In this year and the following year that cholera claimed the lives of more than 10,000 people in London and spread further afield.  This epidemic would have had impact on families like the Newicks, who lived relatively close to the capital.

She was the daughter of John Newick (1816-1853) and Mary Sinden (1822-1853) and was born on 17 Feb 1851 in Etchingham, Sussex, England. She married Edward Pope in Eastbourne, Sussex, England in 1880.  Together they joined the Newick family members who had emigrated to America and lived in Portsmouth, New Hampshire where she died  on 24 Jul 1901. 

Tragically, both of Harriett's parents passed away in the year of her baptism, 1853, leaving her orphaned as a small child. This must have been an incredibly difficult period for her.  She was living with an aunt and uncle in the 1861 census record. 

As a genealogist, the task of piecing together the lives of our ancestors often involves solving their personal histories within the broader context of family events. Harriet was baptised 2 years after her birth and after both her parents died .... hmm, this needs further investigation!!  Perhaps her parents didn't want the baptism or couldn't afford it.  Maybe Harriett was already living with that aunt or uncle who wanted her baptised and could afford any expense.

Harriett and Edward joined other Newick family members who had emigrated to America, settling in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Harriett lived out her days there, passing away on July 24, 1901. Her journey from Sussex to New Hampshire shows the adventurous spirit of the Newick family.

Newicks married Westons in the early 1800s and my great great uncle Samuel Weston also emigrated with the family.  There are quite a contingent of them over there in New Hampshire.

In addition 4th December holds other remarkable milestones in America but after she died.  

1918: President Woodrow Wilson set sail for France to attend the Versailles Peace Conference.

1949:  Jeff Bridges, an American actor known for his laid-back personality and his versatility, was born.

#On This Day: 3rd December

Today, I reflect on the life of my 2x great grandmother, Alice Tilbee, who was baptized on this day, 3rd December in 1826 in the village of Charing, Kent. In this year the Menai Suspension Bridge connecting the Isle of Anglesey to the northwest coast of Wales opened. It is considered to be the world's first modern suspension bridge.

Alice Tilbee, the daughter of Henry Tilbee (c. 1798-c. 1866) and Dorcas Vant (c. 1795-c. 1884), was born in 1826 in Charing, Kent, England. She married Samuel White in 1842.  She died of Diseased Lungs; Bronchitis. in Egerton on 14 Mar 1877 aged 52. At that time she was living in Egerton and buried on 18 Mar 1877 in Egerton aged 52.

The name Vant always brings to mind the phrase by Charles Dickens, “Dorcas is willing!” that he used in his book, David Copperfield.  Alice lived her entire life in Kent, moving only as far as Egerton, a nearby village. It is more than likely that Alice couldn't read and so didn't read this book and appreciate the connection I made.

It was on this same day in 1836, a tragic event occurred far from Alice’s home in Kent. The first fatal railway derailment took place at Great Corby near Carlisle in Cumbria, resulting in the deaths of three people. At ten years old, Alice was living in a time when railways were not yet common in Kent. At that age it is likely that she was unaware of this mode of transportation that would soon revolutionize travel and industry.

She witnessed many changes throughout her life, which spanned from 1826 to 1877. Despite these changes, it's doubtful that she ever had electricity in her home or could have imagined the future invention of televisions, telephones and electric appliances.  

(Co-Pilot generated image)

#On This Day - 2nd December

On this day in 1893 my great aunt, Janet MacFarlane (nee Jackson) died in Foxbar, Renfrewshire, Scotland. She was the sister to my grandfather on my father's side.  In this year the Independent Labour Party was founded in Bradford.

She was born on 1 Feb 1860 in Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, Scotland and was the daughter of Robert Jackson (1833- ) and Helen Telfer (c. 1834-1904).

Janet, like many members of the Jackson family, was involved in the weaving industry. Initially, the Jacksons worked from their homes, but as industrialization progressed, they moved closer to Paisley. This shift marked a big change in their lives, from home-based weaving to factory work with large looms and mechanization. 

Janet's life was filled with both happiness and sadness. She married William MacFarlane in April 1893, and they had a daughter later that year. Sadly, Janet died from puerperal fever just six days after giving birth, on December 2, 1893. It's hard to imagine the grief and heavy burden William faced as he was left to care for their newborn daughter alone

Janet's personal life was one of joy and tragedy. She married William MacFarlane in April 1893, and together they welcomed their daughter later in the year. Sadly, Janet passed away just six days after giving birth, on December 2, 1893, due to puerperal fever. It is difficult to imagine the grief and overwhelming responsibilities that William faced as he was left to raise their newborn daughter alone.

On this same day in 1893, the Royal Navy's first destroyer, HMS Havock, was undergoing sea trials in England, marking a pivotal moment in naval history. The HMS Havock was launched in August 1893 and commissioned in January 1894, and it helped show the significant advancements in naval history.

In addition 2nd December holds other remarkable milestones. For instance, on this day in 1972, the first permanent artificial heart transplant was performed, a groundbreaking surgery that took seven hours. More recently, on December 2, 2020, the UK legalized the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, a critical step in combating the global pandemic.

#On This Day - 1st December

On this day in 1867 my 3x great uncle, John Eldridge, married Ellen Andrews in Bodiam, Sussex, England. John, a labourer by trade, and Ellen were both of full age.  In the same year suffrage groups began to be established across Britain when the London National Society for Women's Suffrage was formed.

John Eldridge was the son of Thomas Eldridge (1807-1884) and Maria Hawkings (1807-1871).  He was born about1829 in Ewhurst, Sussex, England.  He died in Ticehurst Reg Dist, Sussex, England in 1886.

John’s younger brother, my 2x great-grandfather William Eldridge, died at 24 from what we now think was anemia. He left behind a wife and two young children, with another on the way. William's death would have greatly affected John, highlighting the tough realities of health in the 19th century. Despite this, John lived into his late fifties, which was considered a good age given the times. John died in 1886.

John’s life covered important historical periods. On December 1, 1887, Arthur Conan Doyle published his first Sherlock Holmes novel, "A Study in Scarlet." This was part of the cultural developments of the time, but it's unlikely that John, an agricultural laborer, would have had the time or ability to read such literature.

Another notable event was the admission of Lady Nancy Astor as the first woman Member of Parliament on 1st December 1919. This landmark event in gender equality occurred after John's death but reflects the social changes that were beginning even in his lifetime.