13th August 2017

EVENTS  No events this week.

OUR SALEM BASE is open from 9am – 2pm every Tuesday and this week Mark Tebbet is visiting us from Connecticut researching his Rowley family who had a farm at the corner of Cross Street and Low Street in the 1870s living in the farmhouse later to be known as ‘Paradine’s Cottage’.  Philip Jones who also has a direct link to this John Rowley will also be in attendance.

Next week we have a get-together of several interested parties to view our archives on the Green Bus Company/Warstones Coaches with Brian Waters, who was the voluntary conductor on the ‘Summer Friday’ only service from Newport in Shropshire.  Open to everyone.

REQUESTS  Vicki emails in response to the mention of the Bailey family tree in the newsletter of 23rd July ‘My great grandfather was John Henry Bailey(1878-1958), the third son of Thomas Bailey (1836/7-1911?) both of whom were born in Cheslyn Hay.  Thomas married Eliza Brough.’ And Vicki asks if we can provide more information to add to her family tree.

RESPONSES  Our researchers have located all three plots of the Clenton family for Janet.

NEW PHOTOGRAPHS   Several photographs including Sarah Elizabeth Bolton (nee Leach) & Jack Newens (PE-LEA-9), two of the Dundalk Lane Cottages in 1979 (PL-DUN-13&14) and a range of the Dawkins family of 29 Station Street with Gladys and Jack Hill, Eliza & Harmer Dawkins with Bert ‘Bobsy’ Whitehouse, Doris, Albert, Jack Jones and William and Albert in the First World War at the Norton Company Royal Engineers training camp at Luton (PE-DAW-9,10,11,12,13,14,15).  £1 per 7×5 Photographic Print.

ARCHIVE ADDITIONS/ARTEFACTS/DONATIONS  An old Cheslyn Hay plate with seven local scenes donated by Steve Gwilt and a copy of St Mark’s Queen’s Jubilee Souvenir Programme  of 1977.

EXTRACTS FROM CANNOCK ADVERTISER OF 1957 researched by Mike Belcher

Reports and stories of the following Eva Elizabeth & George Whitehouse, of 176 Station Street, William & Isabella Moreton of 105 Station Street, Over 60 Annual Party, Horace Price of 24 Low Street, Mr & Mrs Arthur Davies of 64 Station Street, Cheslyn Hay Over 60 Club entertainment with the names Thompson, Wesley, Evans, Haynes, Cartwright, Preece, Crofts, Brough, Hitchens, Plant, Holmes, Baker, Waltho, Morgan, Reddings, Evans, Barlow & Stokes, family gathering of five churches, Parish Council meeting re complaints about the local pigeon fanciers, William Alfred Follows of 2 Station Street, Frederick Bird of 46 Coppice Lane, Arnold Hawkins, Sam Newell of 86 High Street, Salem centenary year with details of Methodism in Cheslyn Hay going back to 1778, History of Cheslyn Hay from 1668 by Mr E J Homeshaw, Victor Steadman, Dr Louis Dillon Malone, Oscar Anslow of 2 Coppice Lane, Vincent Thompson, prize distribution of the Cheslyn Hay WMC bowls teams with names and a Salem service for the Malayan Teachers College.  Copy of any Newspaper Report £1.

WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK 50/100 YEARS AGO by Mike Belcher

17th August 1967  Meeting of the Cheslyn Hay Over 60 Club involving Mrs H Whitehouse, Mr C Devereux, Mr T Harvey, Mr F Chilton, Mrs Cartwright, Mr J Smith, Mr Ruddick, Mrs D Chilton,  Mrs Waltho, Mrs Lawson, Mrs Knott, Mrs Kingston, Mrs E Plant, Mrs G Plant, Mrs Poxon, Mrs Sheldon, Mrs J Pearson and Mrs Hook.

18th August 1917  Story of the Cheslyn Hay Cricket Club after 30 years with Mr H Hawkins, Jesse Crutchley, A E Elwell and Mr A Benton.

18th August 1917  The adjourned Hospital Sunday collection in connection with the Friendly Society with Fred Altree.

18th August 1917  Parish Council meeting about scavenging in the district.

18th August 1917  John Chadbund, found guilty of serious charges involving Emily Williams, 121, Station Street, Cheslyn Hay, and William Beasley.

MEMORIES  This week we complete Peter Cadman’s humourous recollections of schoolteacher Mrs Corona Price.

trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

EVENTS No events this week.

OUR SALEM BASE is open to everybody from 9am – 2pm every Tuesday.

REQUESTS We have several photographs of the construction of motorways in our archives but it was pointed out last week that the motorway bridge over the M6 at Junction 11 collapsed immediately after it was erected but we no photographs or even any recollections of such an event. Can anyone help with any further information please?

Linda Severi emigrated in the sixties to live in Connecticut 60s and is now researching her Whitehouse family tree going back to her grandfather, James Isaiah Whitehouse and her g-grandfather Job and they were all believed to be christened at the Salem. With many of our members from the Whitehouse family, can anyone link these names to their researches?

RESPONSES We have been able to help Gareth with his Richard Picken’s death at Harrison’s No 3 pit as Mike has located the relevant newspaper report dated 19th September 1953 with all the details.

Likewise with Rob’s enquiry with his George Handel Bailey (b1899) and family. None of those are related to any of our Cheslyn Hay Baileys.

Our researchers are still working on the Rowley family but John Rowley is listed in the 1911 census as’late farmer unemployed’ and he died in 1938. His wife, Rebecca (nee Somerfield) from Bloxwich died in 1924 and his mother was Susannah. Mark also adds more information from Connecticut with ‘Funny thing I was able to track Johns daughters but I could never find anything on his sons Fredrick and George. My g-g-grandfather Edward (Jack) Rowley left England in 1890 and lived in Concord Massachusetts where he died in a farming accident in 1903 when my grandfather was only 18 months old. I was told by my grandfather his uncle (Frederick or George) fought in the Boer war but there is no concrete evidence.’

NEW PHOTOGRAPHS Christine Brown, 1960 Salem Sunday School Rose Queen and full entourage (CH-SAL-216), Great Wyrley School netball team in 1950 with Miss Cross, Marion Pee, Margaret Kendall, – Cadman, Barbara Pee, Sheila Fletcher and two unnamed (GW-SCH-238). £1 per 7×5 Photographic Print.

ARCHIVE ADDITIONS/ARTEFACTS/DONATIONS A print out of a Littlewoods Pools cheque to the value of £2,476.14.2d dated 15 March 1949 to the village character Ernie Holmes who lodged at 2 Mount Pleasant with Harriet Hawkins, who kept the fish and chips shop. Story of John Prime, who was the Station Master of our local Cheslyn Hay/Great Wyrley railway station right up to his retirement in 1933.

OLD NEWSPAPERS researched by Dave Washington Farmer John Rowley advert for a cowman (22 Dec 1883), John Moran charged with a serious offence with Thomas William Reeves and John Hicks as witnesses (11 Jul 1884), Thomas Pinson in court (19 Mar 1886), Mary Jellyman found guilty in a serious but hilarious court case with Ann Rogers and Matilda Lawson supporting the charge (19 Mar 1886) and two separate court case with Abraham & Emma Saunders and Thomas Baker, also Edward Horobin with James Scott and Edwin Cooper (28 May 1886).

WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK 50/100 YEARS AGO by Mike Belcher

3rd August 1967 The Cheslyn Hay Group of Entertaining Troupes activities with Christine Wallis and the Gingham Girls, Annettes and the Honeytots.

4th August 1917 Details of exemptions was granted to the following: Fred G Wooton (32), G W Hudson, Laurence C Hawkins (29), Percy Crutchley (35), Harry Taylor (19), Jos Baker (36)and Isaac Stokes (25) and Ernest A Vincent (41).

4th August 1917 Recently the Roll Of Honour at Cheslyn Hay has had more additions.

4th August 1917 The allotments and gardens of Cheslyn Hay with details of the competition winners.

4th August 1917 Amusing story of a visitor calling on a friend in Cheslyn Hay.

4th August 1917 Details of Special Services held on Sunday at the Primitive Methodist Church, Cheslyn Hay.

MEMORIES More stories of the two Ivan Holmes as well as Jummy Holmes

Also reminiscences of the ‘Chums Club’ from Glenys (nee Hammond) with Keith and Sandra Moore.

WWI COMMEMORATION This August we commemorate the death of 40995 Ernest Arthur Roobottom of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, who was killed on 19th July 1917 aged 37, son of George and Sarah Roobottom and husband of Lucy Ann Roobottom, of Low Street, and remembered with honour at the Tyne Cot Memorial.

trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

EVENTS  This month’s speaker is Michael Glasson, who is in charge of Walsall’s number one Visitors Attraction, the Walsall Leather Museum.  A first class speaker and highly knowledgeable on his subject of ‘The Walsall Leather Trade’ Michael will be at the Salem on Thursday, 27th July starting at 7.30pm.  Admittance £1 including refreshments.
OUR SALEM BASE is open to everyone from 9am – 2pm every Tuesday.
REQUESTS  Mark Tebbets is visiting us at the Base on Tuesday, August 15th, from Connecticut.  He contacted us last year re his g-g-grandfather John Rowley and g-grandfather Edward John (Jack) Rowley and is now following up with his family research wanting to see where they lived in 1871 (farm corner of Cross Street/Low Street) and 1881 (Shareshill farm) from the census returns.  Can anyone help?
Gareth Dibble is also looking for any information on the death of his second great-uncle, Richard Picken, who died 14th September 1953 at Harrisons No 3 colliery in Great Wyrley.
And Rob Skerman emails ‘I am doing my family tree and have come across the name George Handel Bailey and Thomas Bailey in your newsletters who I believe are my g-g-grandfather and g-g-granduncle born c1899 and c1893 respectively.  Any information will be most welcome’
RESPONSES   Further to last week’s 1967 newspaper report mentioning the discovery of an old sewing machine in a garden in Park Street there is a follow-up story that developed from it.  Kath and Mac Walmsley cleaned the machine up only to discover the name and address of the patent holders being ‘Foulsham of Boston, Massachusetts’ and have since had a visit from the family.
The power of the internet never ceases to amaze me.  I have just received a reply to an enquiry I included in the newsletter dated 23 May 2010, over seven years ago!  It was in response to ‘The Wyrley Stones’, a book that relates to the finds of a local miner Henry Rigby who kept all the fossils he found in a lifetime down the local pits and he opened a museum in a shed adjoining his house next to the Great Wyrley Labour Club on the Walsall Road when he retired in 1922.  He sold off his collection and I appealed to anyone of the Rigby family if they knew what happened to it.  I have now received an interesting reply from the family and we have received photographs of Henry and his collection.
Our researchers have been looking into last week’s Fishers Farm enquiry with information and names going back to the 17th century.
NEW PHOTOGRAPHS  Eight photographs, donated by Mick Drury, of the Bulls Meadow Colliery site in the field opposite Upper Landywood Lane when it was excavated in April 2009 (PL-UPL-12,13,14,15, 16,17,18,19).  £1 per 7×5 Photographic Print.
ARCHIVE ADDITIONS/ARTEFACTS/DONATIONS  Details of the four Holmes brothers Francis Ivan, Hyla George, James and Noel Holmes all serving in WWII.
OLD NEWSPAPERS researched by Dave Washington  From the Staffs Advertiser a story involving the closure of Cheslyn Hay Choral Society  (15 Nov 1856).
WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK 50/100 YEARS AGO by Mike Belcher
27th July 1967  From an article ‘Glancing Backwards 25 Years – 25th July 1942’ naming
June Evans, Linda Chapman, Winnie Podmore, Nancy Baker, Iris Jenkins, Lily Barker, Betty Sivorn, Doreen Hewitt, Barbara Smith, Joyce and Jocelyn Brough, June James, June Steadman, Sybil Plant and Rita Goodman.
27th July 1967  A visit from Mrs Lorna Sassnett of North Carolina, America visiting her Pee family.
28th July 1917  A sequel to the issuing of a warrant by Cannock Bench for the arrest of Moses Lockett, Queen Street, Cheslyn Hay.  Full story.
MEMORIES  More on the barbers of Cheslyn Hay with stories and memories of Albert Bullivant,  Phineas Baker and Ivan Holmes.  Roger Betts also weighs in with ‘I remember Ivan Holmes from Wyrley Primary School in the 1940s. I was unaware of his later career in hairdressing but I do recall him as an accomplished child piano accordionist.  I particularly remember his gig in about 1950 as the warm-up act at Chums’ Club at the Danilo in Cannock – Saturday mornings, admission sixpence (old money).
trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

EVENTS  There will be no Chat n Char morning this Thursday, 13th July, as it has been replaced by Roger’s trip to York.  Both coaches leave the Salem at 7.30am  and they will start the return journey from York at 5pm.  There are still two places available at £21 per head, which includes entry into the Minster, with a free guided tour, and the Museum, Treasury as well as the Crypts.  If interested contact Roger on 01785 212412 as soon as possible please.

OUR SALEM BASE is open from 9am – 2pm every Tuesday and this week both of our researchers Vi and Jean will be available all morning.

REQUESTS  Bill Thomason emails ‘In my family tree I have a William Wooton, who died in 1890 in Staffordshire and he had a son, Joseph Wooton who married Martha Cartwright (nee Taylor from Willenhall 1836-70) but I cannot find the marriage recorded and Joseph changed his surname to Cartwright and later married Elizabeth Benton, formerly McNally, about 1908.’  And Bill asks if there is any connection with our Wooton family who are mentioned regularly in the newsletters.

RESPONSES  Both of our researchers, Vi and Jean, have liaised together and resolved Norma’s request from last week naming all the eight Bowen children’s births recorded, together with the three deaths.

NEW PHOTOGRAPHS  From the recently donated Geoff Blunt Collection, all taken in the 1990s.  Hawkins Cricket Pavilion (SP-CKT-22), old pit shafts at the Rec (PL-STA-175&176), Coppice Colliery (IN-MHW-28), Kissing Bridge (IN-RAL-43), ancient cottages in Dundalk Lane (PL-DUN-10,11&12), old waterworks buiiding (OR-WTW-10&11), High Street (PL-HIG-18, 88 &129), Wollaston’s old coach house (PE-WOL-9), Wharf Cottage (PL-MNP-34 & 35), Low Street cottages (PL-LOW-45), the Rec (PL-STA-177) and the grave of Frederick & Isabella Gilpin (IN-GIL-67).  £1 per 7×5 Photographic Print.

WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK 50/100 YEARS AGO by Mike Belcher

13th July 1967    An article ‘Glancing Backwards 25 Years – 11th July 1942’   A story about Mrs Edith Thomas of High Street, Cheslyn Hay.

13th July 1967  Retirement of Mrs Corona A Price with background of her career.

13th July 1967  Details of the Hawkins v Harrisons cricket match.

14th July 1917  Charles Bullock, bricklayer, Mount Pleasant, Cheslyn Hay, appeared in court at Cannock.

14th July 1917  Isaiah Pearson, Cheslyn Hay, was summoned by his wife, Bertha Pearson, for desertion with full story.
14th July 1917  The concluding rounds of the bowling competition at Glenthorne, Cheslyn Hay, in aid of the Red Cross Society with full details of the participants and winners.
MEMORIES  More stories on the old Fire Station Garage involving the Ridgway and Lager families and further to Moss Fisher’s recollections on the Fire Station he has now brought up another topic – local barbers.  This time concentrating on Albert Bullivant and Ivan Holmes concluding with ‘I always remember the men being asked if they wanted “anything for the weekend?”  And as Moss says he had no idea of what it meant then and even after such a long passage of time, he still does not understand what it means.  (Answers on a postcard please)
WHAT’S IN OUR ARCHIVES  Documents relating to what appears to be from the interesting life of Martha Tranter from Cheslyn Hay.  She was born 17th June 1744, daughter of Samuel and Susannah Tranter and her two marriages.
GENERAL NEWS  Anyone wishing to become a member for the annual fee of £5 and to receive this newsletter with full details under all the headings every Sunday morning at 9am please contact me through my email address below.  Many thanks.
trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net