EVENTS Highlight of our Speakers Programme this week. The professional entertainer, Ron Popple, is providing us with a ‘Black Country Humour and a Bit if Magic’ night. Thursday, 31st August at the Salem starting at 7.30pm. £1 including refreshments. Not to be missed!

OUR SALEM BASE is open from 9am – 2pm every Tuesday for all enquiries and researches. Everyone welcome.

REQUESTS Diana Pinkett enquires ‘My g-g-grandmother was Sarah Morgan b1849 in Cheslyn Hay, she married Richard Perkins and later lived in Bulwell, Nottingham. Sarah’s parents were Abraham Morgan and Mary Lyons but much of the info I have collected has contradictions around Abel/ Abraham and indeed their religion.’ Can anyone researching this Morgan family assist Diana?

Norma Barta from Michigan in her emailed response, as seen below, adds ‘I see in the newsletters reference to the Pearson family of Cheslyn Hay. My dad, Frank Bowen, and his best friend, Harry Pearson, went to Australia together around 1932. They sailed on the Bendigo and went to Sydney. My dad came back after six months but Harry stayed there for the rest of his life and he married a girl named, Ena, having two sons, one named Ross. I corresponded with Harry right up until his death, when he lived in Hurstville, NSW, and I wonder if any of your local Pearsons have any knowledge of or had any contact with Harry and his family.

RESPONSES Our military researcher, Bob, is able to assist Norma with her enquiries on her uncle, William Robert Bowen and includes full details of his life as well as his military records.

Having contacted Norma with Bob’s research, she emails back ‘I had no idea that Robert was buried in Cheslyn Hay, always thinking that, as both brothers were reported as ‘killed in action’ they would both be buried in France’ adding a gruesome thought on William’s death.
NEW PHOTOGRAPHS Henry Rigby with his fossil collection in 1922 (PE-RIG-1) and Ivan Holmes the accordionist at the Chums Club (PE-HOL-4). £1 per 7×5 Photographic Print.

ARCHIVE ADDITIONS/ARTEFACTS/DONATIONS After last week’s meeting of the Green Bus Company’s enthusiasts we have had a series of newspaper reports, compliment slips and bus tickets from the 1970s donated for our archives.

WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK 100 YEARS AGO by Mike Belcher

1st September 1917 Full details of a Butcher – Elwell marriage.

1st September 1917 Stories of the deaths together with their lives of Private Richard Franks, Private John H Mann and Private Ernest Roobottom.

1st September 1917 In connection with the Local Relief Committee and Red Cross Society bowling Mr T Williams, tobacconist, High Street makes a gesture at his shop.
1st September 1917 On Saturday a bowling competition took place on the Senior Club Bowling Green, which attracted 40 entries with full details.

1st September 1917 Report of Mr T Whitehouse presiding over a meeting of miners at the local Working Men’s Club.
MEMORIES Of Doris Muriel Cooper recollections of the Isolation Hospital and a bomb being dropped together with the memories of Ron Whitehouse, listing the bombs and where they fell around Cheslyn Hay in the war.

WWI COMMEMORATION This September we commemorate the death of 17298 John Henry Mann with full details.

GENERAL NEWS Just another reminder if anyone has not received their ‘Mailchimp’ newsletter (ie the one that is addressed to each member by their Christian name and not as an attachment) on Sunday morning please email me straight away so that I can send it in another format. Last week a few of our members received their newsletter as usual but it contained no content.

trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

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