Hi all,

I am researching an Edward NELMES born 1837 in Thornbury.
He married Elizabeth RICKARDS (or RICHARDS) in 1866 in Monmouth.
Elizabeth was born abt 1841, I think in Chepstow.
They're children I have at present are Mary Elizabeth Beatrice NELMES and Harriet Louisa NELMES (from the 1871 census).
I believe they immigrated to NZ in 1876 aboard the Waitangi and settled in Rangiora, Canterbury.
Any help on tracking down these people would be awesome.

Thanks for your time,

Olivia, Duneidn NZ

From Free BMD:

Marriages SEP 1866
Edward Nelmes Monmouth 11a 71
Elizabeth Rickards Monmouth 11a 71

On this site:

Record_ID: 152497
Entry_Number: 298
Year: 1869
Month: Jan
Day: 3
Parents_Surname: NELMS
Child_Forenames: Mary Elizabeth
Fathers_Forename: Edwin
Mothers_Forename: Elizabeth
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: West Dean Gloucester[shire]
Occupation: Labourer
Officiating_Minister: J. Wilson
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: [Baptised at] Bible Xian [sic] Chapel Bream
Notes:
Register_Reference: D2598 5/4
Page_Number: 42
Parish_Chapel: Forest of Dean Bible Christian Circuit
Soundex: N452

Record_ID: 152632
Entry_Number: 426
Year: 1870
Month: Dec
Day: 7
Parents_Surname: NELMS
Child_Forenames: Harriet Louisa
Fathers_Forenames: Edward
Mothers_Forenames: Elizabeth
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Township of West Dean Glo[uce]ster[shire]
Occupation: Labourer
Officiating_Minister: J. Wilson
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: [Baptised at] B[ible] C[hristian] Chapel Bream West Dean
Notes:
Register_Reference: D2598 5/4
Page_Number: 61
Parish_Chapel: Forest of Dean Bible Christian Circuit
Soundex: N452

Record_ID: 152785
Entry_Number: 574
Year: 1872
Month: Oct
Day: 16
Parents_Surname: NELMS
Child_Forenames: Rosa [?] Sarah
Fathers_Forenames: Edward
Mothers_Forenames: Elizabeth
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: West Dean Gloucester[shire]
Occupation: Collier
Officiating_Minister: Thomas Wooleridge
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: [Baptised at] Bream Chapel
Notes: Duplicate Entry number as found on page 82
Register_Reference: D2598 5/4
Page_Number: 82
Parish_Chapel: Forest of Dean Bible Christian Circuit
Soundex: N452

Record_ID: 153002
Entry_Number: 693
Year: 1875
Month: Feb
Day: 3
Parents_Surname: NELMS
Child_Forenames: Oswell James
Fathers_Forenames: Edward
Mothers_Forenames: Elizabeth
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: West Dean Gloucester[shire]
Occupation: Labourer
Officiating_Minister: R[ichard] Vaughan
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: [Baptised at] B[ible] C[hristian] Chapel Bream
Notes: Page Number not stated but is after page 108 in Entry Number order
Register_Reference: D2598 5/4
Page_Number: 0
Parish_Chapel: Forest of Dean Bible Christian Circuit
Soundex: N452

Hi

I think you might find Scribe's Alcove useful (quite a lot of bmd records for Thornbury Nelmes on there):

http://www.scribes-alcove.co.uk/searchpage.php

Regards
Chris

Tracking this individual is a challenge.

NELMES Edward
RICKARDS Elizabeth
Forest of Dean Monmouth Register Office
1866 7 65

The 1871 entry is full of questions :

The Darney's are I think from Blakeney not Berkley
Edward is recorded as from Bream

1871 Bream Tufts
Thos Dorney [DARNEY?] 58 Berkley [Blakeney ?]head
Mary Dorney 62 Berkley
Hannah Brain 90 Berkley mother
Edward Nelmes 35 Bream lodger
Elizabeth Nelmes 30
Harriet L Nelmes 1
Mary Nelmes 2

1851
Thomas Darney abt 1817 Blakeney, Gloucestershire, England Ag Lat Aylburton, Gloucestershire
Mary Darney abt 1812 Blakeney, Gloucestershire, England Lab Wife Aylburton, Gloucestershire

a similar query into NELMES is here

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=thread&id=4200#p4246

by chance an individual is recorded as Edward KNIGHT, I wonder if this is your "NELMES" ancestor ??

1841 Berkley Heath
Elizabeth Knight abt 1840 Gloucestershire, England Berkeley Gloucestershire
James Knight abt 1806 Gloucestershire, England Berkeley Gloucestershire
Sophia Knight abt 1814 Gloucestershire, England Berkeley Gloucestershire
Edward Knight abt 1837 Gloucestershire, England Berkeley Gloucestershire
Anna Mersman abt 1838 Gloucestershire, England Berkeley Gloucestershire
John Nelmes abt 1829 Gloucestershire, England Berkeley Gloucestershire
Thomas Roberts abt 1781 Gloucestershire, England Berkeley Gloucestershire
George Summers abt 1829 Gloucestershire, England Berkeley Gloucestershire

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Trackin g this individual is a challenge.

The 1871 entry is full of questions.

The Darney's are I think from Blakeney not Berkly. Edward is recorded as from Bream

1861 England Census RG9/3982; Folio: 60; Page: 33
Breams Meend

Thomas Darney - Head - Mar - 45 - Labourer - Gloucestershire Berkly
Mary Darney - Wife - Mar - 48 - Gloucestershire Berkly
Joseph Brain - Lodger - Un - 28 - Collier - Gloucestershire Slimbridge
Samuel Brain - Lodger - Un - 22 - Collier - Gloucestershire Slimbridge

From Scribes Alcove (there were lots of Dorney's here in squelchy Berkeley).

NAME: Thomas Dorney BAPTISED: 15 Oct 1814 at Berkeley

FATHER: John MOTHER: Mary
OCCUPATION: Labourer ABODE: Breadstone

No marriage on the site.

---------------------------------------------------
NAME: Mary Brain BAPTISED: 10 Jun 1810 at Berkeley

FATHER: Richard
OCCUPATION: Labourer ABODE: Breadstone
--------------------------------------------------

Hi all, thanks for all the help so far. Having some siblings for Mary is great, they are all listed in NZ records so they're all a match!

Edward is still troubling, I have found this 1841 census record:

1841 census transcription details for: Tockington, Olveston
National Archive Reference:
RG number: HO107 Piece: 361 Book/Folio: 28 Page: 17
Reg. District: Thornbury Sub District: Almondsbury
Enum. District: Ecclesiastical District:
Parish: Olveston City/Municipal Borough:
Address: Tockington, Olveston
County: Gloucestershire
WOODMAN, Geo M 30 1811 Gloucestershire
WOODMAN, Hannah F 30 1811 Gloucestershire
NELMS, Edmond M 4 1837 Gloucestershire

Could possibly be him, but unfortunately no relationships are listed.

Olivia

##Edward Nelmes born 20 Aug 1837, Thornbury
Elizabeth Rickards born 9 Nov 1841, Ayburtton .. ??
Marriage 14 Aug 1866, Monmouthshire
Both are Buried in Rangiora, Sth Island NZ

1841 census - NELMS - Thornbury, Almondsbury
(These are the ONLY NELMS / NELMES living in this wee dot on the map .....)

(Grandparents ??)
Nelms John 1786 Gloucestershire Thornbury, Almondsbury
Nelms Hester 1793 Gloucestershire Thornbury, Almondsbury

(Widowed mother ??)
Nelms Susan 1801 Gloucestershire Thornbury, Almondsbury

(Now fatherless boy??)
Nelms Edmond 1837 Gloucestershire Thornbury, Almondsbury

Is ??Edmond NELMS the missing ## Edward NELMES - B 20 Aug 1837, Thornbury .....??

1871 Census - Bream Tufts
Thos Dorney [DARNEY?] 58 Berkley [Blakeney ?]head
Mary Dorney 62 Berkley
Hannah Brain 90 Berkley mother
##Edward Nelmes 35 Bream lodger
Elizabeth Nelmes 30
Harriet L Nelmes 1
Mary Nelmes 2

Thank you for reading this - Sorry if this seems so jumbled and dis-jointed ..... but it is the best we can do thus far....

Maree S Gordon

tappets AT vodafone.net.nz SKYPE matamatamaree

1841 census Tockington, Olveston

WOODMAN, Geo M 30 1811 Gloucestershire
WOODMAN, Hannah F 30 1811 Gloucestershire
NELMS, Edmond M 4 1837 Gloucestershire
Address: Tockington, Olveston
County: Gloucestershire

Is there some kind soul able to tell of the relationship/connection

in this household - to each other please ..... ??

Thank you for any help offered here

Maree S Gordon (tappets)

Hi,
in fear of making myself look silly, on the face of it and without knowing anything about them at all (had to lookup to see where Tockington is !), I would assume they are man, wife and perhaps adopted ? son or maybe nephew ?.
However I assume you maybe think otherwise ?.

Unfortunately the area is just outside of the Forest's PR coverage area, being t'other side of the Severn from Chepstow etc and almost Bristol. Also being somewhat "pre" 1837 so beyond what I can find wrt other free websites etc that I use (sorry dont have subscription to Ancestry etc). I have searched FreeBMD and GlosBMD but no luck, altho to say there are several George Woodman PRs in the Bristol area around 1840 or so, altho none appear to be relevant here.

Tricky !

Have you found them in the 1851 census, that may help clarify ?

Re the history of the area itself, this site looks useful.
http://www.mabbott.org.uk/tockington-jm.htm

UPDATE !
Just realised your title says Woodward, whereas the post says Woodman (which is what I've been searching). Which is correct, please ?

FURTHER Googling "Tockington Woodward" gave this reference which may well be relevant, again off the above Mabbott website;

"The Inhabitants of Olveston, Glos in 1742

The population at that time was estimated as 588 persons in Olveston and Tockington. The census was compiled by the Rev Christopher Shute, Vicar of Olveston. (He obviously does not like Quakers!!) The transcription was published in the Bristol and Avon FHS Journal No 15 Spring 1979.

Tockington

The Tything of Tockington

Samuel ADAMS, wife, man and maid

*Edward NELMES at Auckley in the Marsh, wife, maid, man and a little girl

and a little further along

John WOODWARD of Haw Lane (labourer) wife and two children and Mary NEAL and her daughter

Methusalem EDWARDS (labourer) in one of the Town houses, wife, and 2 children

*Samuel NELMES (labourer) at the first house on the right hand as one goes in Tockington from Olveston, wife and 2 children "

http://www.mabbott.org.uk/villages.htm

It seems that you will be wise to contact the Bristol & Avon FH Society, they may have more information pre 1841.
http://www.bafhs.org.uk/index.php
They may even be available online
http://www.findmypast.co.uk/content/ffhs/bristol-avon

Good luck !

1841 census Tockington, Olveston

WOODMAN, Geo M 30 1811 Gloucestershire
WOODMAN, Hannah F 30 1811 Gloucestershire
NELMS, Edmond M 4 1837 Gloucestershire
Address: Tockington, Olveston
County: Gloucestershire

Is there some kind soul able to tell of the relationship/connection

in this household - to each other please ..... ??

Thank you for any help offered here

Maree S Gordon (tappets)

In the 1841 census no relationships are recorded - often unsafe to make assumptions !

This Edmond appear in 1881 which is why I had ruled him out in earlier research 2008 as a possible EDWARD who marries and heads to NZ.

1881
Edmund Nelmes abt 1837 Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England Head Berkeley, Gloucestershire
Mary Ann Nelmes abt 1836 Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England Wife Berkeley, Gloucestershire
Edmund Nelmes abt 1869 Dursley, Gloucestershire, England Son Berkeley, Gloucestershire
Sarah Ann Nelmes abt 1870 Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Berkeley, Gloucestershire

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Is the 1841 census of Thornbury Workhouse available with staff and residents names given please ..... ??

Am rather inclined towards thinking that EDMOND NELMS - 4yrs old - was living there in 1841.....

Thank you for any help offered here

Maree S Gordon (tappets)

Is the 1841 census of Thornbury Workhouse available with staff and residents names given please ..... ??

Am rather inclined towards thinking that EDMOND NELMS - 4yrs old - was living there in 1841.....

Thank you for any help offered here

Maree S Gordon (tappets)

Yes it was enumerated

The Governor /Matron are John and Mary Thompson aged 50; there are 3 double pages of inmates none look like Edward / Edmond Nelms.

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Thank you "slowhands" - that eliminates Thornbury Workhouse....

Who else was living with these folks please ..... ??

1841 census Tockington, Olveston
WOODMAN, Geo M 30 1811 Gloucestershire
WOODMAN, Hannah F 30 1811 Gloucestershire
NELMS, Edmond M 4 1837 Gloucestershire
Address: Tockington, Olveston
County: Gloucestershire

Maree S Gordon (tappets)

Thank you "slowhands" - that eliminates Thornbury Workhouse....

Who else was living with these folks please ..... ??

1841 census Tockington, Olveston
WOODMAN, Geo M 30 1811 Gloucestershire
WOODMAN, Hannah F 30 1811 Gloucestershire
NELMS, Edmond M 4 1837 Gloucestershire
Address: Tockington, Olveston
County: Gloucestershire

Maree S Gordon (tappets)

The census marks suggest that this is everyone in that "unit"

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

The census marks suggest that this is everyone in that "unit"

Many thanks again "slowhands" .....

Another request please ..... ??

1841 census -

Susan NELMS - B 1801 Gloucestershire Thornbury, Almondsbury

Who is she living with please ( widowed )

Maree S Gordon (tappets)

The census marks suggest that these folk are living together but in separate rooms :-

Jno Turner abt 1801 Gloucestershire, England Almondsbury, Gloucestershire Publican

Eliza Turner abt 1796 Gloucestershire, England Almondsbury, Gloucestershire

Mary Bull abt 1826 Gloucestershire, England Almondsbury, Gloucestershire

R Codrington abt 1826 Gloucestershire, England Almondsbury, Gloucestershire M S [male servant]

Susan Nelius abt 1801 Almondsbury, Gloucestershire, England Almondsbury, Gloucestershire F S [ female servant]

John Stallard abt 1781 Gloucestershire, England Almondsbury, Gloucestershire Ag Lab

Thomas Walter abt 1801 Gloucestershire, England Almondsbury, Gloucestershire Shoe Maker

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Thank you "slowhands" .....

This is definitely the mother of Edmond NELMS - M - 4 - 1837 Gloucestershire.....

Susan Nelius 1801 Almondsbury, Gloucestershire, England Almondsbury, Gloucestershire F S [ female servant]

Susan NELMS and Hannah WOODMAN were sisters .... maiden surname was POWER

Which explains why the wee laddie was with them in 1841 census ......

Just as a point of interest - I also descend from ancient Forest of Dean families

KEAR / PAINTER / EDWARDS / BURTON / LEG/GE / SOOLEY / BYETT / HALL / JAMES

Maree S Gordon (tappets)