Geffs Genealogy Update 12 June 2016

Sunday June 12th, 2016 | Geoff

We have just returned from a week’s holiday in the new Forest, and very beautiful it was, too. Not only did we have superb weather, but we made the most of the occasion by visiting a number of very interesting and scenic places. Among the places we visited was Bucklers Hard, a small village situated on the on the Beaulieu River. I had no idea of the fascinating history of this place before our visit, but it is truly fascination, so well worthy of mention in this blog.

For those of a certain vintage the most recent claim to fame of Buckler’s hard was that it was the place where Sir Francis Chichester began and completed his single handed round the world voyage in his yacht – Gipsy Moth IV – in 1966/7, but before that it had a very distinguished history as a shipbuilding village. The first royal naval vessel to be built there was built in the 1680s, and during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries there were very many vessels built in this small hamlet, among them HMS Euryalus, HMS Swiftsure and HMS Agamemnon, all of which fought at Trafalgar in 1805. Nelson commanded HMS Agamemnon for several years in the 1790s, and let it be known that she was his favourite vessel.

With the arrival of steam warships in the nineteenth century the construction of naval vessels at Buckler’s Hard declined, but the hamlet still had a major part to play in this country’s history, as it was here that segments of the Mulberry Harbour, which were towed across the English Channel in readiness for the 1944 D Day landings, were built.

To the modern eye this is a very picturesque and tranquil place. The Georgian cottages, where once lived the tradesmen involved in the building of these wonderful ships, bear witness to the events of the past, and we were able to visit the Shipwright’s Cottage and see the conditions in which these craftsmen lived. Very comfortable for the time, I must say.

We could also see the slipways where these great vessels were launched. All absolutely fascinating, and it made me think of a couple of Bankes descendants who served in the British Navy, either as craftsmen or as crew members.

Although it is fair to say that my knowledge of my Jacobson forebears is a bit sketchy, it seems clear that  Esco Jacobson (c1655-1728) was probably involved in either the building of naval vessels, or their maintenance, being variously described as a shipwright and a carpenter, resident in Stepney. It seems likely that he was working in the East London naval dockyards.

Then there was Bankes Mitchell (c1720-1763), son of Robert Mitchell and Elizabeth, nee Russell. Bankes was a watchmaker of London, and came from what appears to have been a very prosperous family. He was married to Hannah Attwood in 1754, but the available evidence indicates that she had died before 1763. By 1763 he was serving as an Able Seaman on the Royal Navy vessel Alcides, having previously served on the Temeraire. By March of that year he was serving on the Hampton Court, serving in the Caribbean in the Seven Years War. Sadly, on the voyage home Bankes Mitchell became ill and died on 18 August 1763, being buried at sea. I wonder why a gentleman such as Bankes Mitchell became an able seaman in the navy. It seems a very odd career move, and I wonder whether he had fallen on hard times and this had led him to join the British Navy. Alternatively he may have been press-ganged, but this may be unlikely, as I understand that in fact few people were press-ganged into the navy.

I’d love to know more about these people, and hope that I may accomplish this some day.

I have been researching the Bankes Pedigree with very few breaks since about 1991, and have decided that as there are other things that I would like to do, it is now time for me to take a break from this research. This means that my posts to this blog will not be as regular as they have been in the past, and such research as I do will probbaly relate to my direct lines of ancestry, rather than the Bankes Pedigree in general. I shall still be delighted to hear from anybody interested in the Bankes Pedigree or my other direct ancestral lines who would like to contact me, and will respond to any queries as I always have done, so please feel free to contact me.

 

11 responses to “Geffs Genealogy Update 12 June 2016”

  1. tony says:

    Geoff is the following any good to you. I heard you were looking for a Samuel Rand.

    Name: Debora Rand
    Gender: Female
    Christening Date: 29 Aug 1632
    Christening Place: ST ANDREW,HOLBORN,LONDON,ENGLAND
    Birth Date:
    Birthplace:
    Death Date:
    Name Note:
    Race:
    Father’s Name: Samuell Rand
    Father’s Birthplace:
    Father’s Age:
    Mother’s Name: Susan
    Mother’s Birthplace:
    Mother’s Age:
    Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C02083-9
    System Origin: England-ODM
    GS Film number: 374348
    Reference ID: Name: Debora Rand
    Gender: Female
    Christening Date: 29 Aug 1632
    Christening Place: ST ANDREW,HOLBORN,LONDON,ENGLAND
    Birth Date:
    Birthplace:
    Death Date:
    Name Note:
    Race:
    Father’s Name: Samuell Rand
    Father’s Birthplace:
    Father’s Age:
    Mother’s Name: Susan
    Mother’s Birthplace:
    Mother’s Age:
    Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C02083-9
    System Origin: England-ODM
    GS Film number: 374348
    Reference ID:

    Citing this Record:
    “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JMWQ-TB4 : accessed 5 June 2016), Samuell Rand in entry for Debora Rand, 29 Aug 1632; citing ST ANDREW,HOLBORN,LONDON,ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 374,348.

    Name: Samuel Rand
    Maiden Name:
    Event Type: Burial
    Event Date: 1712
    Event Place: , London Borough of Islington, Greater London, England
    Photograph Included: N
    Birth Date:
    Death Date: 10 Apr 1712
    Affiliate Record Identifier: 156271521
    Cemetery: Bunhill Fields Burial Ground

    Citing this Record:
    “Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q291-1GZ5 : accessed 5 June 2016), Samuel Rand, 1712; Burial, , London Borough of Islington, Greater London, England, Bunhill Fields Burial Ground; citing record ID 156271521, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

    • Geoff says:

      Thankyou very much for these entries, Tony. Most interesting, as there are some names therein that tie up with those in our research.

      The Debra Rand baptism would relate to somebody who was a member of the generation before John Bankes and his half siblings, so I can’t judge its possible relevance at the moment. I’ll need to look at the original record re the 1712 burial, to ascertain the age of the deceased. I do know that our John Rand & Sarah Haynes had a son named Samuel, who died young, but he was buried in 1710 at St Giles, Cripplegate. Then, of course, we know that Samuel Rand Snr was around in Chichester in the early 1700s. So many balls in the air, and somewhere in all this lies the answer to the puzzle.

      Thanks again.

    • Geoff says:

      Thanks, again, for these Rand entries, Tony. Much appreciated. I don’t know whether any of them will link to our research, but will certainly keep them on file for future reference.

  2. tony says:

    Geoff is it possible that the following info may tie in with your research into the family tree. I think you are better placed to research the info than I am. Hope this helps you in your quest.

    Name: Henry Rands
    Gender: Male
    Christening Date: 03 Feb 1666
    Christening Place: Yaxley, Huntingdon, England
    Birth Date:
    Birthplace:
    Death Date:
    Name Note:
    Race:
    Father’s Name: Henr. Rands
    Father’s Birthplace:
    Father’s Age:
    Mother’s Name:
    Mother’s Birthplace:
    Mother’s Age:
    Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I02206-7
    System Origin: England-EASy
    GS Film number: 1040731
    Reference ID: item 13
    Citing this Record:
    “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J3LM-4WG : 30 December 2014), Henr. Rands in entry for Henry Rands, 03 Feb 1666; citing Yaxley, Huntingdon, England, reference item 13; FHL microfilm 1,040,731.

    Reference ID:
    Name: Thomas Rands
    Residence Place:
    Residence Note:
    Gender: Male
    Burial Date: 08 Dec 1679
    Burial Place: Yaxley, Huntingdon, England
    Death Date:
    Death Place:
    Age:
    Birth Date:
    Birthplace:
    Occupation:
    Race:
    Marital Status:
    Spouse’s Name:
    Father’s Name: Henr. Rands
    Father’s Birthplace:
    Mother’s Name:
    Mother’s Birthplace:
    Informant’s Name:
    Informant’s Residence:
    Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I02207-0
    System Origin: England-EASy
    GS Film number: 1040731
    Citing this Record:
    “England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JZ1W-BMB : 24 December 2014), Henr. Rands in entry for Thomas Rands, 08 Dec 1679; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 1,040,731.

    Reference ID:
    Name: Rands
    Residence Place:
    Residence Note:
    Gender: Female
    Burial Date: 09 Feb 1673
    Burial Place: Yaxley, Huntingdon, England
    Death Date:
    Death Place:
    Age:
    Birth Date:
    Birthplace:
    Occupation:
    Race:
    Marital Status: Married
    Spouse’s Name: Henry Rands
    Father’s Name:
    Father’s Birthplace:
    Mother’s Name:
    Mother’s Birthplace:
    Informant’s Name:
    Informant’s Residence:
    Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I02207-0
    System Origin: England-EASy
    GS Film number: 1040731
    Citing this Record:
    “England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JZ1W-YJ1 : 24 December 2014), Rands, 09 Feb 1673; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 1,040,731.

    Reference ID:
    Name: Thomas Rands
    Residence Place:
    Residence Note:
    Gender: Male
    Burial Date: 08 Dec 1679
    Burial Place: Yaxley, Huntingdon, England
    Death Date:
    Death Place:
    Age:
    Birth Date:
    Birthplace:
    Occupation:
    Race:
    Marital Status:
    Spouse’s Name:
    Father’s Name: Henr. Rands
    Father’s Birthplace:
    Mother’s Name:
    Mother’s Birthplace:
    Informant’s Name:
    Informant’s Residence:
    Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I02207-0
    System Origin: England-EASy
    GS Film number: 1040731
    Citing this Record:
    “England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JZ1W-BMB : 24 December 2014), Henr. Rands in entry for Thomas Rands, 08 Dec 1679; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 1,040,731.

    Name: Thomas Rands
    Gender: Male
    Christening Date: 15 Oct 1676
    Christening Place: Yaxley, Huntingdon, England
    Birth Date:
    Birthplace:
    Death Date:
    Name Note:
    Race:
    Father’s Name: Henry Rands
    Father’s Birthplace:
    Father’s Age:
    Mother’s Name:
    Mother’s Birthplace:
    Mother’s Age:
    Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I02206-7
    System Origin: England-EASy
    GS Film number: 1040731
    Reference ID: item 13
    Citing this Record:
    “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N85X-H5B : 30 December 2014), Henry Rands in entry for Thomas Rands, 15 Oct 1676; citing Yaxley, Huntingdon, England, reference item 13; FHL microfilm 1,040,731.

    Name: Joseph Rand
    Gender: Male
    Christening Date: 31 Oct 1664
    Christening Place: Yaxley, Huntingdon, England
    Birth Date:
    Birthplace:
    Death Date:
    Name Note:
    Race:
    Father’s Name: Henr. Rand
    Father’s Birthplace:
    Father’s Age:
    Mother’s Name:
    Mother’s Birthplace:
    Mother’s Age:
    Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I02206-7
    System Origin: England-EASy
    GS Film number: 1040731
    Reference ID: item 13
    Citing this Record:
    “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N85X-CZG : 30 December 2014), Henr. Rand in entry for Joseph Rand, 31 Oct 1664; citing Yaxley, Huntingdon, England, reference item 13; FHL microfilm 1,040,731.

    Name: Thomas Rands
    Gender: Male
    Christening Date: 30 Nov 1679
    Christening Place: Yaxley, Huntingdon, England
    Birth Date:
    Birthplace:
    Death Date:
    Name Note:
    Race:
    Father’s Name: Henry Rands
    Father’s Birthplace:
    Father’s Age:
    Mother’s Name:
    Mother’s Birthplace:
    Mother’s Age:
    Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I02206-7
    System Origin: England-EASy
    GS Film number: 1040731
    Reference ID: item 13
    Citing this Record:
    “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N85X-ZX2 : 30 December 2014), Henry Rands in entry for Thomas Rands, 30 Nov 1679; citing Yaxley, Huntingdon, England, reference item 13; FHL microfilm 1,040,731.

    Name: Ann Rands
    Gender: Female
    Christening Date: 11 Oct 1682
    Christening Place: Yaxley, Huntingdon, England
    Birth Date:
    Birthplace:
    Death Date:
    Name Note:
    Race:
    Father’s Name: Henry Rands
    Father’s Birthplace:
    Father’s Age:
    Mother’s Name:
    Mother’s Birthplace:
    Mother’s Age:
    Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I02206-7
    System Origin: England-EASy
    GS Film number: 1040731
    Reference ID: item 13
    Citing this Record:
    “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N85X-89X : 30 December 2014), Henry Rands in entry for Ann Rands, 11 Oct 1682; citing Yaxley, Huntingdon, England, reference item 13; FHL microfilm 1,040,731.
    Name: Elizebeth Rands
    Gender: Female
    Christening Date: 20 May 1671
    Christening Place: Yaxley, Huntingdon, England
    Birth Date:
    Birthplace:
    Death Date:
    Name Note:
    Race:
    Father’s Name: Henry Rands
    Father’s Birthplace:
    Father’s Age:
    Mother’s Name:
    Mother’s Birthplace:
    Mother’s Age:
    Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I02206-7
    System Origin: England-ODM
    GS Film number: 1040731
    Reference ID:
    Citing this Record:
    “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N1RD-X6T : 30 December 2014), Henry Rands in entry for Elizebeth Rands, 20 May 1671; citing Yaxley, Huntingdon, England, reference ; FHL microfilm 1,040,731.

    Name: Ann Rands
    Gender: Female
    Christening Date: 11 Oct 1682
    Christening Place: Yaxley, Huntingdon, England
    Birth Date:
    Birthplace:
    Death Date:
    Name Note:
    Race:
    Father’s Name: Henry Rands
    Father’s Birthplace:
    Father’s Age:
    Mother’s Name:
    Mother’s Birthplace:
    Mother’s Age:
    Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I02206-7
    System Origin: England-ODM
    GS Film number: 1040731
    Reference ID:
    Citing this Record:
    “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JSGV-FYQ : 30 December 2014), Henry Rands in entry for Ann Rands, 11 Oct 1682; citing Yaxley, Huntingdon, England, reference ; FHL microfilm 1,040,731.

    Name: Mary Rands
    Gender: Female
    Christening Date: 21 Nov 1669
    Christening Place: Yaxley, Huntingdon, England
    Birth Date:
    Birthplace:
    Death Date:
    Name Note:
    Race:
    Father’s Name: Henry Rands
    Father’s Birthplace:
    Father’s Age:
    Mother’s Name:
    Mother’s Birthplace:
    Mother’s Age:
    Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I02206-7
    System Origin: England-ODM
    GS Film number: 1040731
    Reference ID:
    Citing this Record:
    “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JQF3-VZS : 30 December 2014), Henry Rands in entry for Mary Rands, 21 Nov 1669; citing Yaxley, Huntingdon, England, reference ; FHL microfilm 1,040,731.

    Name: Elizebeth Rands
    Gender: Female
    Christening Date: 20 May 1671
    Christening Place: Yaxley, Huntingdon, England
    Birth Date:
    Birthplace:
    Death Date:
    Name Note:
    Race:
    Father’s Name: Henry Rands
    Father’s Birthplace:
    Father’s Age:
    Mother’s Name:
    Mother’s Birthplace:
    Mother’s Age:
    Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I02206-7
    System Origin: England-EASy
    GS Film number: 1040731
    Reference ID: item 13
    Citing this Record:
    “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7HT-7XH : 30 December 2014), Henry Rands in entry for Elizebeth Rands, 20 May 1671; citing Yaxley, Huntingdon, England, reference item 13; FHL microfilm 1,040,731.

    Name: John Bankes
    Gender: Male
    Christening Date: 05 Feb 1655
    Christening Place: BROMLEY, KENT, ENGLAND
    Birth Date: 04 Feb 1655
    Birthplace:
    Death Date:
    Name Note:
    Race:
    Father’s Name: Robert Bankes
    Father’s Birthplace:
    Father’s Age:
    Mother’s Name: Mary
    Mother’s Birthplace:
    Mother’s Age:
    Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C14754-1
    System Origin: England-EASy
    GS Film number: 1042453
    Reference ID: item 3
    Citing this Record:
    “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ND48-PHW : 6 December 2014), John Bankes, 05 Feb 1655; citing , reference item 3; FHL microfilm 1,042,453.

  3. Liz Chappell says:

    Hi Geoff,
    Not sure if this is the best way to contact you. but I had difficulty accessing your Facebook page.
    I am a descendant of Sarah Elizabeth Box Drayton, daughter of George Box Drayton 1784-1857, and am currently engaged in writing her biography. Her father was a surgeon and Baptist preacher. I wonder if you have any further information on him and the Baptist school he operated in Gloucester C1840. I will be in England during the summer doing further research and would be interested to meet up with you. I live in Australia, where Sarah emigrated in 1856 after first serving with the Baptist Missionary Society in Jamaica.
    I look forward to your reply.
    Regards, Liz Chappell

    • Geoff says:

      Hi Liz
      Many thanks for your email. It’s good to hear from you, and if I can help you with your research I shall be pleased to do so.

      It is rather strange that you should contact me now, because I was recently contacted by a certain Myron Cheney, who is also descended from Sarah Drayton. I’m wondering whether you have been in touch with Myron. Apart from the information that Myron gave me I have precious little knowledge of Sarah’s life, so if it is possible for me to buy a copy of your book when it is finished, I would certainly be interested in doing so.

      I do have rather more information on Sarah’s father, George Box Drayton, but it is clear that my knowledge of him is far from comprehensive. I had not previously realised that he operated a Baptist school in Gloucester, for instance. If you can tell me what you already know of him that would be helpful, as I could then avoid sending you material that you already have.

      Once again,I thank you for contacting me. I hope that I shall be able to help you in your project.

      Best regards

      Geoff

  4. Myron Cheney says:

    Hi Liz and Geoff
    My great-grandmother was Maria Frances Chappell from Dundee NSW.
    We have a big family (Humphreys) based on the Sunshine Coast Queensland but are all over Australia now
    Would like to contact Liz. One of my cousins made contact with the Chappell family a few years ago while travelling.

  5. Donna Page says:

    Geoff, I would like to contact you privately to pass on some information regarding the Benzoni family.

  6. Tom Culshaw says:

    Pardon my stutter — please ignore this. But do please advise of any links from my previous contribution to current people.

  7. Lorna Adams says:

    I am the granddaughter of Lavinia C who married Edward Williams. I have more information to add to that section of the tree. More children including my mother.

    • Geoff says:

      Sent by email
      Dear Lorna
      Many thanks for your message re Lavinia Cross family history. I think I heard from you some years ago, but cannot trace sending you a reply, in which case I apologise for that.

      I am attaching a printout showing the information I have re your grandmother Lavinia Cross. In order to avoid the possibility of upsetting anybody who may look at my website, I do not show any people born less than 100 years ago, so many of the people shown on the attached do not show on the website.

      I would be delighted if you could send me any more information re your ancestors, and I would add them to my records. If I can help you with any information re the Culshaw line, please let me know.

      Thanks again for your message.
      Best regards

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