Introduction by Mike J (Vurrister) (General)

by unknown, Tuesday, May 31, 2011, 10:39 (4993 days ago)

Thank's for that Jefff. I'll give it ago later in the week. While I have been compiling this a message has come in from Sue so presumably she will pick this up.

I have already noticed that you seem very helpfull and knowledgeable; and can't help wondering that if you're a Forester why I have not come across you before? I'm pretty active up there myself trying to preserve our right's etc. but I seem to be most famously known for successfully taking the Deputy Gaveller to Glos Crown Court to become a freeminer. I won't go into it anymore here but it didn't go down too well with some of the traditionalists and I still get the occasional flack about it even now!!!

I was particularly interested to read the Teague / Marfell threads. My great grand parents on my mother's side were William and Hannah Martin (ne Teague). I've got Hannah's Bible; Their son William (my great uncle)was killed at Union. Hannah decends from Industrial George and I think william decends from his mining partner ? Martin - I have his first name and the the name of the Mine but can't put my hand on it right now - I did the reaserch some while ago but never succeded in making the final link as I recal; but in the process I found Teagues all over the country and world - It must be one of the Largest extended Forest families ever; and the thought has often occurred why not follow the Burgham's and organise one gigantic reunion?

I begun my working career at Drybrook working for builders, Powell Bros. - Joe and Bert; and the Marfell name quickly became known to me as one of the more important local (Drybrook) families. Later on C 1969 - 71 I worked for RM Douglas on the Ranks site where I became involved with and got to know Basil Marfell of WF Giles Ltd.

The Burgham thread is also interesting - I am in touch with Brian - he first came to see me quite some time back with some Americans; and again just a few weeks ago; and I have since sent him some stuff and answered a few questions for him. Our house is based on the row of cottages that used to be Foundry Cottages - 4 of them; on part of the site of the Upper Furness / Foundry and later Forge run by Thomas Burgham. I knocked the cottages about and extended them into one house but retained the old name; so we own a substantial part of the old furnace site including the Mill Pond which I have more recently dug out and restored. There's much much more for instance I also bought the Lowere Redbrook Tinplate Works. I ran my own mining & civil engineering business there for some time then got permission to develop and demolishid the old buildings between C 1988/90. Im still building there now. It was ownership of these two sites that got me interested and of course being a member of the Teague family helped - The Teagues were strongly connected with both these sites (e.g. founder members and principle users of the Tramway and suppliers of coal); and Redbrook Trow Builder John Hudson married Peter Teague's daughter Elizibeth (this is off the top of my head without checking so I hope Ive got the connections in order?).

As you can see I could go on and on; so I'm very glad to have found this site; but it's time consuming as I'm sure you know? And whether I can devote enough to do justice - I'm not quite certain but I shall certainly make a point of trying to keep up at every opportinity I can find

Appologies for such a lengthly introduction - I did note the rules and will endevour to keep it short and sweet from here on

Best Regards

Mike J