RECENT MEETINGS AT HARLOW

Essex Society for Family History

RECENT MEETINGS AT HARLOW

June 2008 - The Musical Gardener – Frances Francis

Frances took us all on an extensive journey to trace her maternal grandfather.

She had very little information to work on, mainly that he was a Gardener and played the flute. Her sister had passed on an old photo album belonging to her mother, covering only a few years with brief captions underneath. Frances pointed out how important it was to study the whole photograph, including backgrounds.

With few clues, hard work, perseverance and luck, Frances traced her grandfather to Hertfordshire and Surrey, and told her audience of the many different resources she used.

A packed presentation well received by all.

May 2008 - Workhouses in Essex - John Drury

A very pictorial and informative view of many of the workhouses in our county.
The sad tale of how needy people were housed and cared for by the parish before the advent of Union Workhouses. These were built to the same design throughout the UK. With details of the budget and conditions, the lecture brought home to us how shocking life was in these institutions, but for the old and sick, the infirmary wing in the workhouse became the only place to receive a level care which left a lot to be desired.

April 2008- London and the Mile End in the 18^th Century - Derek Morris

With little information readily available on the Mile End in the 18^th Century Derek had undertaken lots of research for a better understanding of the area in this period. Derek enjoys passing on the results of his efforts and tells of the famous residents and companies who began in the East End of London, including the wealthy merchants, Courtaulds, the East India Company. Also the wonderful information that is available through the records of Sun Insurance Company.

* See Article in Family Tree Magazine Summer 2008 issue on page 24

March 2008 - "WILLS AND PROBATE" by Eric Probert

Information on a much underused tool to family historians was explained by Eric Probert

Many useful web sites were given and ideas of what sort of information can be gained from the simplest of Wills. If you are lucky, you might have numerous pages of information on descendents names, marital state, where they lived, occupations, and what chattels they had to pass on. This all gives a good picture of how they lived.

Don’t forget the Death Duty Registers.

February 2008 - "CLAIMS TO FAME" by Audrey Gillett & Meryl Catty

Audrey and Meryl talked us through their various claims of connections with the famous. Maybe just someone’s friend who know someone famous, but further into the talk, such connections as Scarlet Pimpernel, Wheatstone Bridge, Shelly, Leeds Castle, and various US Presidents were explained. Links with the Titanic disaster, Matthew Hopkins, Witchfinder General, and Mary Toft the lady in the eighteenth century who took many people in with her hoax claim that she bore rabbits, gave us an entertaining afternoon.

January 2008 - The original talk about Dick Turpin planned for January had to be cancelled as sadly, just before the event, the speaker, Stuart Bale, was taken ill and died. We send our condolences to his family..

We were fortunate that Stan Sutherland from Saffron Walden Group was able to step in at short notice with a Quiz. Before he commenced, he kindly gave us some facts about Dick Turpin so that we would not be disappointed. There is much fact/fiction about our local villain. Generally portrayed as a lovable rogue, but quite the contrary. Finally, sentenced to death in York in 1739

Then began our Quiz. Not your usual quiz. Stan gave us a statement of facts and we had to decide whether it was true or a bluff. We learnt several things, some of use, some unusual facts, but none the less informative.

Three teams tied with the winners being decided on a tie-breaker question.

Overall a very enjoyable afternoon. Many thanks to Stan.

Stan ended the meeting by telling us that the Saffron Walden Local History Access Point was in danger of being closed. Most unfortunate.

December 2007 -= Speaker : Peter Lawrence – Villages of East London

Before Peter began his talk, we had a brief question and answer session.

It appeared many of us had the wrong idea of villages of east London, and Peter put us right on several things. There were more than 20 but they were nearer to the City than we realized and did not include Walthamstow, Leyton and Chingford which are and always have been in Essex. Peter gave a very interesting narrative to a collection of slides, commencing with a 1745 map of Bow, the first village from the city, which was the main thoroughfare from London to Essex. This used to be a wide Greenland area used by traders travelling to and from London to feed their animals. Mile End was as implied, a mile from the city.

Various facts were pointed out

	That the District line stations do not correspond with the true areas of Mile End, Stepney, Aldgate and Whitechapel.
	Old Ford Road was the original roman road, not Roman Road.
	A lot of houses had the front rooms turned into shops. East London was full of wealthy merchants who built grand houses.
	Some well known residents include Captain Cook
	Charrington’s who built the brewery, also built houses for their workers.
	The Huguenots brought over many experienced and rich tradesmen who developed the Spitalfields area.
	The Isle of Dogs looked after by shepherds tending their herds and the Wapping area was a large market garden.
	We were reminded to read Pepys' Diaries which gives a wealth of information on life in east London

Sadly World War II destroyed many buildings, and the new Greater London Council devised new borders and many area were lost forever. A few handsome buildings have been restored. More recently the Docklands, although not strictly in the docks area, have been developed.

Overall, Peter gave us a very interesting and informative afternoon. We do hope he returns for another talk on the other villages of London. Our thanks to Peter.

Barbara Harpin

Return to the Harlow Branch page