Aquila Francis and my distant Newfoundland and Nova Scotia connections

Most of my family history revolves around Somerset, and mostly within ten miles of my home town. I have one direct ancestor from Herefordshire and one from the New Forest, neither of which I have had any success in tracing back beyond their parents. So when Newfoundland popped up as a birthplace in a census I began to wonder if I had any very distant cousins here in Canada.

The connection goes back to my g.g.g.g.grandfather Jonas Francis and his wife Mary Thompson. Their son Alfred, born in Ditcheat, Somerset in 1829 is my g.g.g.grandfather. In 1861 [1] Alfred is living in Shepton Mallet, employed as a velvet weaver, and is married with four children, two of whom were born in Pontypridd, so I guess the family had been away for a few years. In 1871 [2] Alfred is now employed as a packer on the Great Western Railway, has one more daughter, Henrietta, and he is also looking after his mother, sister-in-law, and nephew - who was born in Cardiff. This really is the well travelled side of my family.

By 1881, [3] Henrietta is his only child still living at home, but they have now been joined by his nephew, Aquila Francis, aged 20 and born in Hermatra Cove (I am now sure that this is a transcription error), Newfoundland. This is where it gets interesting. If there were any taboos in those days about dating one's first cousin, their hormones got the better of them, because by 1891 [4] Aquila is now given as Alfred's son-in-law, and Aquila and Henrietta have two sons, Jonas and Ernest. The youngest, Jonas, aged 7, was born in Hermitage Bay, Newfoundland, so I can only guess that they had travelled back to visit Aquila's parents. Aquil'a place of birth is now also given as Hermitage Bay.

Some years ago I was told that Aquila's father was also called Aquila, though I never had definite records to prove it. Since then it seems that a lot more data has been made available online and I am pretty sure that this must be the connection: Aquilla Francis was born on 5 December 1858 in Hermitage Cove, and was christened on 21 December 1858 in Hermitage Cove, to Aquilla and Martha Francis. [5][6]

The dates don't quite match the ages given in the census, and there are two l's in Aquila, but until I can find original copies I think this is the best I can do.

Now, it seems that Aquila snr had two, possibly three wives (comments suggest that the handwriting is hard to discern), and many children, one of whom was John Thomas b 18 Dec 1864. [6]  Could this be the 80 year old J. Thomas living with his son Aquilla W. Francis, married to Dessie? [7] There is also a son, Oliver Francis, who must certainly be this gentleman who passed away not too long ago in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, son of Aquilla Wellington and Dessima Mabel (Rose) Francis. [8]

If this is all correct, then I probably have a lot of distant cousins right here in Nova Scotia.

It looks like Aquila (snr), his wife Martha, and Aquilla W's graves can still be found in Hermitage. [9]

To round off a good day, I just found Aquila's (snr) baptism at St Mary Magdalene, Ditcheat, 01 Jan 1815. [10] It would still be nice to find something on the Newfoundland side to tie him back more positively to this. His death record just gives England as his place of birth, [11] though I think the circumstantial evidence is pretty strong. I do get nervous though when I find a baptismal record for another Aquila Francis, just three years later in the same church, but to different parents.[12]

1. UK CENSUS 1861 (7th April 1861)
2. UK CENSUS 1871 (2nd April 1871)
3. UK CENSUS 1881 (Sunday 3rd April 1881)
4. UK CENSUS 1891 (5 April 1891)  
5. http://www.greenaus.com/canada/newfoundland/b811.html 
6. http://dorothystewart.net/newfoundland-mikmaq/comment-page-5/#comment-25498
7. 1945 Census - Hermitage
8. Newfoundland Obit Announcements From Nova Scotia Newspapers Halifax Herald June 2007
9. Stonepics Database Surnames "Foran to Garf"
10. St Mary Magdalene (FreeREG) Aquila to Jonas and Mary bp.01 Jan 1815
11. Register of Deaths Fortune Bay District 1902 - 1906 
12. St Mary Magdalene (FreeREG) Aquila to Hanah and James Francis bp.14 Aug 1818

A curious case

Some days you just get lucky.

When I was in Wells earlier this year I started browsing through copies of old newspapers on microfilm. I wasn't really looking for anything in particular, and the first one I looked at was The Shepton Mallet Journal, Wells Reporter & County Advertiser, Friday January 3, 1890. Imagine my surprise when I come across an article about one Joseph Webb of Croscombe. This I am sure is my great great great grandfather. He is the only Joseph Webb living in Croscombe at the time of the 1891 census, and his son of the same name is no longer there. So here is the story. Not exactly something to be proud of, but possibly the only time any of my ancestors made it into the press.

A CURIOUS CASE

Joseph Webb of Croscombe was charged with stealing a pair of boots, value 7s 6d, on the 24th of Dec., the property of Joseph Badman.

Prosecution who lives at Pilton with Wm. Green, a thatcher, gave his evidence through the latter, as an interpreter, the prosecutor being deaf and having an impediment with his speech.

Joseph Badman is a wood-worker. On Tuesday last he bought a pair of boots of Mr. Stephenson, giving 7s 6d for them. He went to the Hare and Hounds tap, where he saw the defendant. Prosecutor had two pints of ale and went outside the door. He left the boots on the table, telling the defendant to keep them till he came back. He went out a second time, and when he came back the defendant and the boots were gone. He waited about for an hour, but the defendant did not come back.

Defendant said that the prosecutor gave him the boots, and went out; and as he did not come back for two hours, he took them home with him, to send them on to his family the next day.

Mrs. Webb, wife of an ostler at the Hare and Hounds, said that between one and two, she took her husband's dinner to the Hare and Hounds Tap. The old man and the defendant were there. The parcel was in the settle, between them. She heard the prosecutor Badman say he had lost his boots. No one but Webb had gone out.

P.C. Colmer, stationed at Croscombe, said that on the evening in question, he was on duty in Old Wells road, and near Natchet House the prisoner passed him. A parcel fell out of an old coat he was carrying. Witness questioned him as to what it was, and he said it was a pair of boots which he had got from Mr. Chard's at Shepton Mallet. He seemed a little worse for beer. He repeated the story twice.

P.C. Marshalsea proved going to the prisoner's house at Croscombe, and obtaining possession of the boots. His wife said "I knew there was something wrong about them." Prisoner said "I got them for old Joe Badman. He is going to call for them to-morrow morning." On charging prisoner he said, "I didn't steal them; he gave them to me."

Defendant said that the man was tipsy, and witness wasn't much better. He only took care of the boots, at the prosecutor's request. He said that he would call for them the next morning.

P.C. Colmer, recalled, said the defendant was drunk when he met him.

The Bench dismissed the case.

It's hard to tell who was telling the truth isn't it? If anyone knows the other players in this story, do let me know.

The Hare and Hounds was on the cross roads in the middle of Shepton Mallet, opposite the Nat West Bank. It was pulled down in the 1960's.

PARKER memorials, Croscombe

On a trip to Croscombe a few years ago I checked out the graveyard at the church. I found none of my family there, but I did record some PARKER stones which may be of use to some one.

1.

Maria, daughter of Thomas and Anna Elizabeth PARKER of Shepton Mallet, died June 5 1861 aged 17 years.
Also of Arthur PARKER who dies March 18, 1862 aged 7 years.
Also of Fanny the beloved wife of T.W.WHITNEY and daughter of the above T+A PARKER who died June 25 1883 at 33 years
Also of Fanny Louise WHITNEY daughter of the above who died September 28 1909 at 18 years.

2.

Erected by William Hodges PARKER in memory of his father Francis Porch PARKER of the Market Place, Shepton Mallet died Jan 12, 1893 at 66 years.
Also Henry Porch PARKER Jan 25 1837 at 50 years and Elizabeth his wife who dies April 8 1865 at 76.
Also Thomas NORRIS died June 8 1865 at 50 years and Honor Perry NORRIS his wife died April 7 1841 at 21 years
Also Henry NORRIS their son, butcher of Shepton Mallet.

3.

Erected by William Hodges PARKER in loving memory of his mother Jane PARKER, wife of Francis Porch PARKER of Shepton Mallet, died June 5 1866 aged 39 years.

Workhouses

One of the notable institutions of the past was the workhouse. In 1601 the Act for the Relief of the Poor made parishes responsible for looking after their own poor. They continued until 1930 when their responsibilities passed to local authorities at which point many became Public Assistance Institutions and continued to provide accommodation for the elderly, chronic sick, unmarried mothers and vagrants. You can read more about the history of workhouses, and find out much, much more at www.workhouses.org.uk

I haven't found any of my ancestors in a workhouse, not yet at least, but if I do it will most likely be at Wells or Shepton Mallet.