EVENTS This month’s speaker is Sue Bray, the curator of Samuel Johnson House in Lichfield who will be giving a talk about Samuel Johnson’s life entitled ‘A Delve into the Dictionary’ and will include a light hearted quiz. Thursday 28th February at 7.30pm at the Salem. £1 including refreshments.

OUR SALEM BASE is open from 9am – 2pm every Tuesday and this week we welcome Steve Evans and his family who are travelling down from Carlisle on Monday to spend Tuesday with us researching their Evans and Lawson families. Steve is interested in what records we hold on the Mount Zion Methodist Chapel, the Pinfold Lane log books throughout the war years and the Cheslyn Hay Working Mens Club. We will also have on hand members with local knowledge going back to these times and we look forward to escorting the family around the village. Anyone who are connected to these families will all be most welcome. Steve’s father, also Steve, was a keen bowls player and his mother Eva Lawson was originally born in Bridgtown.

REQUESTS Roger Winfer emails a request to view the range of local maps we have now installed ‘on the cloud’ with his particular interest being of Shareshill showing roads and properties around the 1880s. This will be dealt with by our archivists Graham and Daz at our Base on Tuesday.

RESPONSES Sylvia Parsons visited Cheslyn Hay during the week but unfortunately called when our Base wasn’t open, so we were unable to show her round the Cheslyn Hay cemetery where her family ancestors were buried. However since our last contact with us in January Sylvia has had more success in her research of her Jukes family and confirms that Thomas & Susanna Jukes (Dukes) are her ancestors and although she does not have a birth certificate for Job, Sylvia has wills of his brothers who name him and his wife Maria. Also Sylvia has Birth, Death and Marriage Certificates as well as Wills relating to her family ancestry and has kindly offered to donate copies of these to our archives for the benefit of other members researching her family.

APPEAL Although our coach trip to Liverpool’s World Museum to see the Terracotta Army was sold out immediately, we’ve have just received three cancellations. The date is Thursday, 12th July leaving the Salem at 8am and is £25 a seat inclusive of entrance to the museum. Please phone Roger on 01785 212412 or 07928070061 if interested.

ARCHIVE ADDITIONS/ARTEFACTS/DONATIONS Certificates and records all relating to the Perks & Rhodes families plus a nightdress case and spectacles from the 1870s. Also letters from John H Garratt and James Henry Cadman and newspaper cuttings on a dispute with farmer Edgar Hackett concerning the public footpath that ran along the disused railroad in New Horse Road and Great Wyrley.

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

20th June 1968 Cannock Advertiser The Cheslyn Hay Wednesday afternoon Art and Needlework class to disband.

20th June 1968 Accident concerning Graham Barry Ralph Pearce of Five Bars, Woodman Lane, Cheslyn Hay.

20th June 1968 Success of the Gingham Girls, the Katrinas and the Honeytots at the National Championship Competition in Oswestry with names of the individuals.

22nd June 1918 Cannock Chase Courier Details of the newly formed Prisoner of War Fund.

WWI COMMEMORATION researched by Bob Brevitt This July we commemorate the death of 12162 Joseph Thomas Holland of the 184thTunnelling Company of the Royal Engineers who was killed on 21st August 1918 aged 31, son of Joseph and Mary Holland, and husband of Beatrice of 148 Station Street, Cheslyn Hay, and buried with honour at the Lijssenhoek Military Cemetery.

JOSEPH THOMAS HOLLAND researched by Bob Brevitt Bob adds details of the final days of this soldier as from this extract from ‘The True and Faithful Men’ by Ken Wayman.

trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

EVENTS  This month’s Chat n Char is on Thursday 14th June at 10.00am in the Main Hall of the Salem with Roger in charge as usual.

OUR SALEM BASE is open from 9am – 2pm every Tuesday.  Researchers always available to help any enquiries.  Everyone welcome.

REQUESTS  None received this week.

RESPONSES  An immediate response to Ann Molloy’s request of last week came from Daz, our researcher and archivist, who confirms that ‘the cottages referred to owned by John Stokes in the mid 19th Century were later to become one property of 2 Littlewood Road, known later as Bowyer’s farm. We were kindly donated copies of these deeds to the old farm which mention the Stokes family and looking at the maps it seems the cottages were pulled down at some stage and the farm house built to replace them.’  We are now producing copies of the map showing the cottages and later, the farm, for both Ann and Trevor Bate.  We also received an email from Margaret Wilson who wonders if ‘my Stokes/Hodgekins/Bate family links in with your  enquiry as the reply from Trevor Bate does confirm my suspicions.  I seem to have a maze of Whitehouse and Bate lines interweaving in a very confusing manner.  My tree looks more like a plait in some places than a tree!’  I am now arranging for all interested parties to share information.

Vicki’s memories of her grandfather Jack Sishton collecting his Christmas pensioner’s bonus of £10 in the seventies proved correct with members recalling other pubs and clubs operating similar schemes.

And we’ve had a couple of names added to Vanessa’s stories of nicknames through the memories of her grandfather, Christopher Lawson.  It was Tom Perks of the Lot known as ‘Slam’, James Walker of Bridgtown was always called ‘Smiler’ and Herbie was the well known undertaker George Herbert Hudson.

NEW PHOTOGRAPHS  Photographs of the Potts family including Pat, Joe & Robert Potts, Phoebe & Pauline Baker, Pat, Horace & Emma Marshall, Johnny Smith & Charlie Worsey (PE-POT-10,11,12,13,14,15).  Two of the Poxons in service during the war Alan David & Wilfred Harry Poxon (PE-POX-10,11),  Glenys Hammond as the 1950 Blossom Queen (PE-HAM-5) and one together with her sister Marilyn and mother Gladys Baker (PE-HAM-6).  £1 per 6×4 Photographic Print.

ARCHIVE ADDITIONS/ARTEFACTS/DONATIONS  History of Old Heath Hayes for our library and a raft of old newspapers for our collection donated by Geoff Sellman.

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

6th June 1968  Cannock Advertiser  Six paragraphs of this year’s carnival naming countless people taking part together with the Carnival Queen and her attendants.  Also all the activities, floats, stallholders and all the winners.  (More information available on request)

8th June 1918  Cannock Chase Courier  An award by His Majesty the King of a Victoria Cross, which has considerable interest to the people of Cannock district, is that bestowed on Second Lieutenant Cecil Leonard Knox, of the Royal Engineers, son of Mr Jaz Knox JP, and Managing Director of Messrs G W Lewis Tileries Ltd of Cheslyn Hay.  (Full details of his actions on request)

trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net 

EVENTS  Roger’s coach trip to Alrewas and then Tutbury Castle on the afternoon for a guided tour by the curator Lesley Smith including a cream tea this Thursday 7th June but unfortunately all places were booked weeks ago.

OUR SALEM BASE is open from 9am – 2pm every Tuesday and this week we are helping Bridgtown LHS with their research on all aspects of Hawkins Tileries for their new book on ‘Industry’.

RESPONSES  Further to Jeanette’s request from Virginia in the newsletter dated 8th April re her g-grandfather, John William Jones, of Prees in Shropshire, who married Emma K Butler of Cheslyn Hay, she emails her thanks for the information we have provided for her from one of our members, Gill, who is a direct descendant of Emma and they have been able to exchange much family history.  Jeanette adds that ‘I have to tell you that your help enabled me to drill down into missing family members here in the US and I have found the children and grandchildren of George Jones, born to John and Emma Butler Jones in Cheslyn Hay in 1898.  I have a reunion scheduled with both sides in July.  I cannot wait!  I hope then to have more info on John and Emma and their sons John and George Jones.  I’m told there are several boxes of documents and photos for me to go through!’

Although we have been unable to contact Ann Molloy’s other Australian part of her Isaiah & Sophia Bate family, we have had an immediate response from Trevor Bate, one of our local members, who has extensive research into this family line and they will now be in contact with one another.  Our own records show that ‘Sophia Hodgkins b abt1822 in Cheslyn Hay and christened 20 April 1822 married Isaiah Bate (b abt1821) & christened 14 June 1821.  They married at St Peters in Wolverhampton on 27 Dec 1841.  Ann emails ‘It’s so exciting learning about my Cheslyn Hay relatives as my relatives left to go to Stoke in the mid 1800s.  My dad used to tell me his grandfather walked all the way from Cannock although he could not read track signs.  He was a besom maker, who I believe was Charles Stokes (b1832).  His father was John Stokes who was married to Rebecca Hodgkins, living in Little Wood.  According to the records, he owned two cottages there.  In his 1870 will he stipulated that his daughter Sophia Bate and family were to live in the other cottage for as long as necessary after which it would be sold upon the death of Rebecca.  He died in 1874 and she in 1878.   Sophia remarried and eventually moved.   I would like to find where the cottages stood if possible.’

OLD NEWSPAPERS researched by Dave Washington  All three reports from the Walsall Observer, all dated 1918, and all concerning the First World War involving Councillor Mr Baxter, Second Lieutenant Harold Hawkins and L/Corp George Allen.

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

30th May 1968 Cannock Advertiser   The outcome of the Cheslyn Hay residents petition for the continued use of a petrol filling station for car repairs from the Minister of Housing and Local Government.  Full details.

30th May 1968  The funeral of Mr Dennis Jackson, of 195 Station Street, Cheslyn Hay.

30th May 1968  Information of Talbot S C’s successful football season with B Charlesworth, R Benton, Maginess and Thompson.

1st June 1918 Cannock Chase Courier  Successful year for the allotments particularly mentioning the methods and experiments of M T Wright.

1st June 1918  News that Private George Kingston of Queen Street, had been wounded and was a Prisoner of War.

1st June 1918  At the weekly meeting of the Relief Committee Mrs Harvey had received a letter from Private Norman Jones, who is in Salonica, giving details.

1st June 1918  The Salem Methodist Church and the adjoining Institute are forming a cycling and tennis club for the members with information.

REG WHITTINGHAM  Another one of our long standing members passed away on Saturday, 25th May.  Having celebrated his recent 80th birthday with us at the Base he will be greatly missed for his knowledge and his companionship.  Born locally and educated at Pinfold Lane School, Reg had a lifelong career down the mines working at several of the local pits including Hawkins before finishing at Littleton Colliery as an overman.  He was also one of the last surviving members of the Rescue Services in the area but he will always be appreciated for the time he so generously gave to display his range of fossils and mining equipment at our Annual Exhibitions.

PAT POTTS (nee Marshall)  Funeral of Mrs Pat Potts is at St Mark’s Church at 10am this Tuesday 5th June, followed by interment at Cheslyn Hay Cemetery and a repast at Great Wyrley Old Hall and not last Tuesday as incorrectly reported.

MEMORIES  A poem from Glenys (nee Hammond) of her childhood memories of the tramway, the Slings, the trains, the canal barges and the pubs and the everyday working lives of the old miners.

trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

EVENTS  This Thursday 31 May we have the renowned actress and historian, Lesley Smith, performing as Ann Boleyn, starting at 7.30pm at the Salem Schoolroom.  It is a ticket only occasion but we have had 10 tickets returned priced at £5 and these are available now by phoning Malcolm on 01922 410021 or 07794418295.

OUR SALEM BASE is open from 9am – 2pm every Tuesday.  Everyone welcome.

REQUESTS Having seen the unusual name of Theodosia mentioned last week, Joan Clark from Utah sends in a request ‘My ancestor, Thomas Hicken, was born in Cheslyn Hay and he married a Theodosia “Docy” Wilkinson also from Cheslyn Hay at St Matthews Church in Walsall on 7 January 1757.  They had children including Phoebe, Charlotte and Henry and I would like to correspond with anyone who is related to this family.’

ARCHIVE ADDITIONS/ARTEFACTS/DONATIONS   Birth Certificate of Herbert Baker of 18 Low Street (9 Jun 1899) and his Labour Certificate (17 Mar 1913).  Newspaper cuttings and photographs of Glenys Hammond as Blossom and May Queens in the 1950s with Jennie Lee & Michael Foot together with her sashes.

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

23rd May 1968 Cannock Advertiser  Golden Wedding of Mr and Mrs Tom and Mary Wood of 7 Hill Street and their memories of their lives on the village.

23rd May 1968  Woodman were well on top in their local fixture against Cheslyn Hay, and won by 156 – 102 together with allIndividual scores.

25th May 1918 Cannock Chase Courier  After a somewhat lengthy indisposition, the Rev Shapurji Edalji passed peacefully away at the vicarage, early on Thursday morning.  Article contains full details of his life.

25th May 1918  In affectionate remembrance of Clara Millicent Wooton, with details.

WWI COMMEMORATION researched by Bob Brevitt  This June we commemorate the death of 22977 George Whitefield Bowen of the 13th Battalion of the Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) who was killed on 2nd June 1918 aged 22, son of William and Frances Bowen, of 11 Hatherton Street, Cheslyn Hay, and remembered with honour on the Arras Memorial.

WHAT’S IN OUR ARCHIVES 

This week we are publishing a most captivating poem by Margaret Fletcher on her life in Cheslyn Hay naming all of her favourite shops on the village.

PAT POTTS (nee Marshall)  Pat Potts passed away in her sleep on Monday, 14th May at Watersedge Care Home in Newtown after a two year stay.  Pat was very alert with a quicksilver mind and a wonderful memory before developing dementia but after a fall at Christmas she spent most of her time bed-ridden.  She was 93, born and lived all her life in Hill Street, Cheslyn Hay.  Pat married and had one son Robert, who was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident just six weeks before he was due to get married.  Funeral is at St Mark’s Church at 10am on Tuesday, followed by interment at Cheslyn Hay Cemetery and a repast at Great Wyrley Old Hall.

trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

EVENTS  No events this week but  there are only a handful of tickets left at £5 each for a full house to see Lesley Smith, on Thursday 31 May starting at 7.30pm at the Salem Schoolroom.  It is a ticket only occasion and no-one will be able to pay for entry on the night, so please phone Malcolm on 01922 410021 or 07794418295 if you wish to guarantee your place.

OUR SALEM BASE is open from 9am – 2pm every Tuesday and this week we welcome two researchers.  Phil Jones has information on Edward Morris who was killed in the First World War and is on our War Memorial and Dr Alan Jones is bringing us up to date with his latest research on the Edaljis.

REQUESTS  Ann Molloy from Australia has been able to respond to a request posted by Yvonne, also from Australia, on our website from seven years ago which stated ‘I am trying to find any information on the Isaiah & Sophia Bate family. They had a son Matthew who married Eliza Whitehouse, and a daughter Eliza who was my great grandmother.  Isaiah died in a mining accident in 1864’.

Ann is able to add more information for Yvonne together with a request for help on her Stokes family history, emailing ‘I have been researching my Stokes family tree  and Sophia Stokes married Isaiah Bate and lived in Little Wood.  John and Rebecca Stokes were her parents who lived next door and as John owned both cottages he stated in his will that Sophia should continue living there with her children.  Eventually Sophia remarried and moved on.  In early records Sophia was known as Docey Hodgkins, which is a diminutive game for Theodosia.  It seems it was interchangeable with other names as I think she may have used Dorcas as well.’

RESPONSES  From Vicki Robb who emails ‘Last week’s mention of  ‘uwp th’a bonk’ brings brought back a very pleasant memory’ and Vicki relates a story about her grandfather, Jack Sishton in Wedges Mills.  And new member, Judy from Australia, commenting on the memories of Olive Mary Whitehouse of the 1930s.

ARCHIVE ADDITIONS/ARTEFACTS/DONATIONS  A Cannock Chase Miners Association badge with the date ‘OCTOBER 1910’ which would have been worn on the lapels of their suits.  Donated by Ron Whitehouse, this is the only one we have and will be used in our Miners Display Cabinet for Schools and Exhibitions.

EXTRACT FROM THE BIRMINGHAM MAIL researched by Dave Washington

15 May 1968 (Fifty years ago)  Protests by councillors Mrs M Homeshaw and  D A Stanton against the Walsall Corporation Transport for failing to replace trains lost after the ‘Beeching axe’ with an adequate bus service which now only operate just three  buses a day through Cheslyn Hay and Great Wyrley.

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

16th May 1968 Cannock Advertiser  Mr Ernest Carter of Watling Street, has been appointed Honorary Representative of the Royal Life Saving Society for the county giving a full history of his involvement since 1940.

18th May 1918  Cannock Chase Courier  Details of the replayed final in connection with the Cheslyn Hay Red Cross Society was decided on the Barn Flat Ground, between Cheslyn Hay Institute and Huntington Swifts.

18th May 1918  It was decided to organise a Prisoners of War Fund, and the Chairman with the Acting Secretary, Mr R Brough, to make necessary arrangements with regard to a house to house collection involving Prisoner of War Sergeant Major Bosworth, Privates F Hughes, J Waltho, S Thomas and J Pearce (Wedges Mills).  I

18th May 1918  On Monday a large gathering assembled at the Local Institute on the occasion of the presentation of medals to the Players of the Local Institute Club involving T Wright,  J Perks, P Barker, F Baker, W Dace, W Hawkins, Bert Goodman, P Perry, J Jones, S Perry, W Bull, F Stokes, C Pritchard, J Perry and C Brough.   It was stated that 140 members of the Institute had joined the Colours.

18th May 1918  The first bowling competition took place on the Senior Club Green, on Saturday with results between Mr H Stokes Snr, Mr J Walker, Isaac Clewley and Jos Clewley.

18th May 1918  A meeting of the Victoria Brass Band Committee was held at the Working Men’s Club and Institute on Wednesday evening last, with full details.

18th May 1918  The township has lost a citizen by the name of Ann Lockett, of High Street with information of her 70 years in the district.

WHAT’S IN OUR ARCHIVES   We have a book of short stories kindly donated some time ago by Vanessa Morgan of Redditch who had inherited her grandfather’s memories and stories all recorded for posterity with details of Sid and Christopher Lawson, Chas, Mac, Granddad Bankey, Jonty (killed in Gallipoli), Wilty (died through injuries received in mine soon after war), Jacker, Benjy, Squib, Miff, Chuck, Old Josh, Benjy (who was a servant to the Laird), Jimmy Jar, Smiler, Smacker (old & young), Old Woody, Herby, Pug, Kagg, Sandy Bob, Mickey, Shigger and Herbie the undertaker.’

trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

EVENTS  No events organised for this week but we have almost sold out of places for the appearance of actress and performing historian, Lesley Smith, on Thursday 31 May starting at 7.30pm at the Salem Schoolroom.  It is strictly a ticket only occasion and we have only 19 tickets left priced at £5 and we will not be advertising the event after today.  Our apologies but no-one will be able to pay for entry on the night.  So first come, first served by phoning Malcolm on 01922 410021 or 07794418295 and thank you for your cooperation.

OUR SALEM BASE is open from 9am – 2pm every Tuesday.  Everyone welcome.

REQUESTS  Continuing the interest in our local accent and after Derek’s clarification (see below), Judy mentions ‘uwp th’a bonk’ in relation to up the top end of Station Street which brought memories ‘flooding back of conversations and the wonderful accent in your area’ and Judy asks ‘Are there any recordings of this wonderful way of speaking?’  It’s interesting to observe that all the awareness of the changing language and accents from the Bonk are all from members who have left our area whilst we are quite content to let the years roll by without making any effort to record our own distinctive input into the English language!  And as Judy, in Australia, is researching her own family history starting from Cheslyn Hay says such a recall ‘would be great for the grandkids (and Grandma!)’.  So has anyone any old tape recordings etc of any old ‘bonker’ with a local accent so that more of our past can be preserved for the future?

RESPONSES  And here is the response referred to from Derek Bullock who emigrated to Canada 55 years ago.  ‘Firstly the word ‘duck’ as a term of greeting has nothing at all to do with the winged bird as its origin is from the Saxon word ‘ducas’ which was meant as a term of respect; similar to the Middle English ‘duc’, ‘duk’ which denotes a leader, commander; from which comes the title ‘Duke’ and the Old French word ‘ducheé’ – the territory ruled by a Duke.’  Derek expands on how this endearment is used in other parts of the country and even quoting Shakespeare to support his theory.

ARCHIVE ADDITIONS/ARTEFACTS/DONATIONS   A thought provoking two page report by Dr Alan Jones on his research on ‘Shapurji Edalji’s Religious Road to St Mark’s Church’ covering all his early life in Bombay right through to his ordination followed by all the curacies that he held before his appointment to St Mark’s. (Edalji Collection)

A cavalry sword, donated by Rob Perks three months ago for our School Displays, has created further interest.  We originally thought that it was from the First World War but we now believe it is a sabre and and could have belonged to any 19th century cavalry regiment even going back to the 1860s.

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

Cannock Advertiser – 9th May 1968   Cheslyn Hay group of entertaining troupes opened their 1968 season with the Gingham Girls, Annettes, Honeytots and Katrinas with information on Ann Parsons, Karen Thomas, Marilyn Jackson, Carol Stevens, Karen Harvey, Susan Farr, Linda Shelton, Olwyn Haynes and Julie Westwood.

9th May 1968   News of the Salem Women’s Guild.

Cannock Chase Courier – 11th May 1918   Story of Company Sergeant Major T Lockett his bravery and the recognition he has received.

11th May 1918   The will of Captain Clarence Victor Thomas Hawkins, of Cheslyn Hay, of the South Staffordshire Regiment, whose death occurred on active service in France on September 26th.

11th May 1918   On Saturday afternoon the bowling season commenced at the Talbot Club with details of a winning start against the Vine.

11th May 1918   The Victoria Brass Band Committee held their Annual Hospital Parade on Sunday with details of the collections by Mr A Illidge, £2 17s 6d, Mr J Middleton £2 10s, Mr J Hood £2 2s, Mr Geo Ridgway £1 13s 9d, Mr J Bailey £1 10s 9d, Mr W Hall £1 1s 0d and Mr A Emery 17s 0½. making a grand total of £12 12s 1d.

APPEAL  We are currently building up a ‘Cliff Hooper Collection’ with photographs, programmes and newspaper cuttings of the Gingham Girls and Roger will be making the Cheslyn Hay Carnivals one of the main features in our Annual Exhibtion on October 6th.  In our research we have already listed many of the Carnival Queens and Princesses, namely Judith Dace, Linda Precious, Pat Moreton, Angela Dace, Shelagh Smith, Hilary Simms, Wendy Bates, Carol Horton, Carol Hood, Norma Pope and Letitia Bowater, but we wish to have a complete list of all the queens and princesses, together with any newspaper cuttings, photographs and programmes to borrow for copying to complete the display and for this to remain in our archives for future references.  Anyone with any information or have items of interest please contact me via the email address below or call into the Base any Tuesday.

WHAT’S IN OUR ARCHIVES  The mention of the sad passing of Carrie Summers last week reminded me of the time when I interviewed her and she told me of a story concerning Arnold Hawkins.  She was his personal secretary for many years and it was at the time when he was inviting some quite impressive artists to sing at the Salem.  Carrie recalls that ‘he once invited two truly renowned tenors Heddle Nash and Robert Easton and on the afternoon of the concert Mr Arnold took them on the Gailey Pool in a rowing boat.  It capsized and if it hadn’t been for the presence of Charlie Paradine, who rescued them, these two great tenors could well have had their careers dramatically cut short!’

trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net