Hi my grandad was Sidney Rivers known as swanee . His ashes are in the forest church yard. i know nothing about his family at apart from the fact that my nan is called Elizabeth Lucy ( Pritchard i think ). They had 3 children Sandra carol and brenda. Lived in ruardean drybrook and cinderford before he died. I have been told that there are relations buried in the churchyard - i believe his grandparents tho im not entirely sure . My mum thought the names were Nehemiah and Elizabeth. But i have no dates or anything and really dont know where to begin.

If anyone can give me any info to help me start my search i would appreciate it so much.

Joanne Booth

Hello Joanne
I have just had a quick look on ancestry.co.uk for Sidney, and found the following birth, death and marriage indices and refs., which may be your grandpa.

Birth
Sidney J RIVERS
Westbury on Severn
April to June quarter 1917,
mothers surname Harris
GRO ref 6a/417

Marriage
Sidney J RIVERS to Lucy E PRITCHARD
Forest of Dean
July to Sept Quarter 1949
GRO ref 7b/1107

Death
Sidney James RIVERS ( born 25 April 1917)
Forest of Dean 482/1
Dcd December 2003 age 86
Register no 45 Entry 156

If your grandma Rivers is still alive, suggest you start having a chat to her about what you are doing and gently get her reminiscing about past times, so that you can note down family events and dates, if possible.

Hope this will help you get started.

Cheers, Celia

Hi Joanne

Possible contender:=
Name: Sidney J Rivers
Mother's Maiden Surname: Harris
Date of Registration: Apr May Jun 1917
Registration district: Westbury S
Registration county: Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire
Volume Number: 6a
Page Number: 417 (click to see others on page)

Parents William Wallace Rivers and Elizabeth Ellen Harris

Dave

I came across a Jordan Rivers living in Lydbrook in I think the 1851 census? The Canadian guy who had transcribed it had commented "There must be a story here" The Forest 1851 census he transcribed used to be on-line for free 5 or 6 years ago, maybe it still is? Fred

Previous River's thread → http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=thread&id=5245

The Nehemiah and Elizabeth HARRIS referred to in this thread were buried at Holy Trinity Churchyard, Drybrook. The grave, consisting of kerbs, may still exist. The MIs read - In loving memory of my dear wife Elizabeth Harris died Oct. 14. 1937 aged 78 years. Asleep in Jesus. Also of Nehemiah beloved husband of Elizabeth Harris died March 4th. 1941 aged 92 years. Peace perfect peace.
I think Nehemiah's stated age may be wrong, 92 years would indicate his birth being in 1849 when the censuses say about 1858.

Dear Celia
Thanks for having a look for me x ive asked my gran but she doesnt kno much more than william and elizabeth beling grampy sids parents and elizabeth's parents ( his grandparents )being those whose grave is also in the forest church ( nehemiah and elizabeth harris. my mum thought that his family moved here from wales so the birth place being westbury was a bit of a surprise x thank you for your helpx i believe my granddad has a sister still alive who lives by the church so i think she is going to be my next port of call .Many thanks for your help
Joanne

Dear Dave
thank you for your help x im trying to find the dates of deaths for william and elizabeth. My mum thinks they were cremated in glos so i have some where to start x many thanks x

Name: Sidney James Rivers
Birth Date: 25 Apr 1917
Death Registration Month/Year: Dec 2003
Age at death (estimated): 86
Registration district: Forest of Dean
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Register number: 45
District and Subdistrict: 482/1
Entry number: 156

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

Joanne

please refer to my previous response to Jo Booth from Xmas 2006

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=thread&id=5245

for details of William Wallace RIVERS and Elizabeth Ellen HARRIS

additional information

Name: Elizabeth E Harris
Name: William W Rivers
Year of Registration: 1910
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Basford
County: Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire
Volume: 7b
Page: 466

1911
RIVERS WILLIAM WALLACE M 1887 24 Pontypridd Glamorganshire
RIVERS ELIZABETH ELLEN F 1888 23 Pontypridd Glamorganshire

View Record Name Date of Registration District County Order Record View Image

William E Rivers 1911 Jul-Aug-Sep Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan

Linda M Rivers 1912 Jul-Aug-Sep Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan

Irene M Rivers 1914 Oct-Nov-Dec Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan

Sidney J Rivers Apr May Jun 1917 Westbury S Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire

Lillian B Rivers Oct Nov Dec 1920 Westbury S Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire

Ivy D Rivers Jan Feb Mar 1923 Westbury S Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire

Beatrice A Rivers Jan Feb Mar 1926 Westbury S Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire

Vera E Rivers Oct Nov Dec 1928 Westbury S Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire

Name: William Wallace Rivers
Year of Registration: 1886
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Westbury On Severn
County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 241

Year: 1887
Month: Jan
Day: 16
Parents_Surname: RIVERS
Child_Forenames: William Wallace
Fathers_Forenames: William
Mothers_Forenames: Charlotte
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: The Plump
Occupation: Labourer
Officiating_Minister: William Barker Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: 1887
Notes:
Register_Reference: PFC109 IN 1/4
Page_Number: 184
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook

1891
William Rivers abt 1865 Gloster, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Charlotte Rivers abt 1854 Longhope, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
William Rivers abt 1886 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Maggie Rivers abt 1890 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Charles Lane abt 1869 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Lodger East Dean, Gloucestershire
View Record
Clara Lane abt 1878 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Stepdaughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Alice Lane abt 1880 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Stepdaughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Ada Lane abt 1882 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Stepdaughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Bessie Lane abt 1884 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Stepdaughter East Dean, Gloucestershire

1901 Plump Hill
Charlotte River abt 1854 Longhope, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean Gloucestershire
Maggie Rivers abt 1890 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire
Wallace Rivers abt 1887 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Chas Lane abt 1868 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Boarder East Dean Gloucestershire
John Sterry abt 1825 Longhope, Gloucestershire, England Boarder East Dean Gloucestershire

Name: William W Rivers
Death Registration Month/Year: 1957
Age at death (estimated): 71
Registration district: Forest of Dean
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6b
Page: 470

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

Fred

Thats the Lydbrook JORDAN family - River Jordan in several generations

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=187
http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=683

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

Although I can't see a link by virtue of the threads here so far, it's well possible that the Rivers family you're researching are related to the Rivers family who once owned Parkend Sawmills. I knew them around the early to mid 1950s because the owner, Mr W Rivers, known at least behind his back as "Old Man Rivers", and his son Les, who owned an Aston Martin, used to attend Springfield Methodist Church at Lydney where my grandparents by the name of Essex used to take me.

Unfortunately I have no later information, and in particular I don't known what became of Old Man or Les Rivers when the sawmills were taken over. However, if you want to try for any similarity of physical characteristics, photos on sungreen.co.uk lead you to Les Rivers standing by a sawmills lorry and his father presiding at a Lydney Congregational choir event.

hi thank you for getting in touch . My great grandad was William Rivers but im not aware that he had a son called Les. My granddad sidney son of william was the only surviving son. he had an older brother william but he died when he was a young child. will ask my nan though william as a name does seem to pass through the family. may be a link.
Jo Booth

Name: Leslie W Rivers
Mother's Maiden Surname: Witt
Date of Registration: Jan Feb Mar 1922
Registration district: Monmouth
Registration county: Wales
Volume Number: 11a
Page Number: 35

Name: Leslie William Rivers
Birth Date: 28 Nov 1921
Death Registration Month/Year: Feb 1993
Age at death (estimated): 71
Registration district: Forest of Dean
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Register number: 29
District and Subdistrict: 4821
Entry number: 121

Name: Leslie W Rivers
Spouse : Joyce A Nelms
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1948
Registration district: Forest of Dean
Registration county (inferred): Gloucestershire
Volume Number: 7b
Page Number: 789

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

Thanks. Consistent with my recollection of the age of "Les Rivers", Aston Martin owner, in the early 1950s. The middle name William has possibilities obviously. I didn't know of the marriage to a Nelms.

Hello Jo
I don't know if you will see this message as I know you originally posted about 3 years ago but I found it when I was searching about the family. I am the granddaughter of Sidney's youngest sister Vera who was born in 1928, d 2005. I too would like to know more about the family. I know my Gran was very fond of her parents and siblings and talked lots about them, I just wish I had asked more questions whilst she was still alive. I think I can answer one of your previous questions about the family moving from Wales. My Gran told me that the family were from the Forest but there was a time when work dried up in the Forest mines (not sure why?) so they had to move temporarily to Wales to find work in the pits there. Gran said that some of her older sisters were born there but they must have moved back to the Forest by the time Sid was born in 1917. I think there is now only one of the siblings left alive, Elizabeth, who was the next youngest from Vera. I think there was a total of 9 children born to William and Elizabeth Rivers. Becky.