I have the following information about my CLOSE family that were married in St. Briavels.

Would appreciate any further information about both the CLOSE and JENKINS families especially any references to ships that John CLOSE served on.

1845 John Close marries Mary Ann Jenkins at St. Briavels, Gloucestershire. John (bachelor) and Mary Ann (spinster) resided at Hudnalls, St. Briavels and they both signed the marriage certificate. John's father was John Close, a farmer from Hudnalls whilst Mary Ann's father was Joseph Jenkins a labourer. John was employed as a Ship Carpenter. J J Barlow was the officiating Minister and the witnesses were William Drayton and Eliza Onerton and the marriage was carried-out after banns. St. Briavels ggg-grandfather

1850 John Joseph Close, son of John and Mary Ann Close (nee Jenkins) was born in Newport, Monmouthshire Newport gg-grandfather

1861 Living at Mariners Leigh House, High Street, St. Woolos, Newport, Monmouthshire (could this be the Murenger House which is in High Street?) - John Close (head) - age 36 - Ships Carpenter and Innkeeper, Mary Ann Close (wife) - age 36, William Close (son) - age 14, John Close (son) - age 10, George Close (son) - age 8, Hannah Close (daughter) - age 7, Charles Close (son) - age 4, James Close (son) - aged 3, Walter Close (son) - age 1, Harriett Close (daughter) - aged 6 months. Newport ggg-grandfather

1871 Living at Dolphin Street (Green Grocer's shop), St. Woolos, Newport, Monmouthshire - John Close (head) - age 47, Mary-Ann Close (nee Jenkins) (wife) - age 47, John Close (son) - age 20, James Close (son) - age 13, Walter Close (son) - age 12, Harriett Close (daughter) - age 11, Mary Jane Close (daughter) - age 9, Thomas Henry Close (son) - age 6, Sarah Ann Close (daughter) - age 2. Newport ggg-grandfather

1874 John Joseph Close marries Ellen Avery in Newport, Monmouthshire Newport gg-grandfather

1876 Rose-Ellen Close, daughter of John Joseph and Ellen Close (nee Avery) is born in Newport, Monmouthshire. She is born in Newport Docks and her father was a seaman. Newport great-grandmother

1888 John Joseph Close age 38, widower of Ellen Close (nee Avery) dies at Newport, Monmouthshire Newport gg-grandfather

1897 Rose-Ellen Close marries Frederick Ludlow at the Register Office in Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire Ebbw Vale great-grandmother

1908 John Close age 83, widower of Mary Ann Close (nee Jenkins) dies in Newport, Monmouthshire Newport ggg-grandfather

1944 Rose-Ellen Ludlow (nee Close), wife of Frederick Ludlow dies in Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire. Ebbw Vale great-grandmother

Thanks

Tony Griffiths
Caldicot
Monmouthshire

I have just looked in the Royal Navy Service Records on the National Archives Documentsonline and there are six pages of John Crosses. However, the only one I could see in the Forest area was born Dursley. Might be worth your while looking there if you think he was in the Royal Navy - it does cost £3.50 to get the full record so you need to be sure you have found the right one. I am not sure whether the Merchant Navy service records are on line but you could look there as well. I got distracted while I was looking as I found the Royal Marines were now digitised and needed to look up a family member who I found. I am going on holiday for three weeks tomorrow so sorry I didn't have time to look any further.

Sheila