My great grandfather, Thomas Reed Matthews, b. 1867 in East Dean, came to the U.S. around 1891. He lived in LaSalle for awhile, then finally settled in Oglesby, LaSalle County, Illinois, and was eventually joined by his two sisters, Evelyn Mabel and Clara Annie. Two of his uncles, Tom and Fred Reed, also came to Illinois and settled in Braidwood, Will County. My g grandfather died in 1919 and is buried in the Oakwood Cemetery in LaSalle. His grave is in front of the grave of Selina Reed, daughter of William and Clara Reed who were also from the Forest of Dean.

I grew up in Oglesby and visit there at least once a month. Two weeks ago, I went to Oakwood Cemetery and was surprised to see so many familiar names on headstones--Gibbs, Reeds, Powells, Trumps, etc. It amazes me to think how many people I grew up with that are descendents of people from the Forest of Dean.

My surnames of interest are MATTHEWS, REED (READ), YEMM, BANNISTER. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has connections with the Matthews. I do know that my ggg grandfather was Elijah Matthews and that he married Harriet Bannister in Flaxley in 1842, but have not traced back any further. Thanks.

Susan has sent us some photos of Thomas Matthews and the family home in Ruardean

http://forest-of-dean.net/gallery/ruardean/

I saw your message on the FoD Family History message board. I believe your g.grandfather Thomas and my g.grandfather William Matthews Could have been brothers. William's parents were Thomas and Elisa (nee Read. Get in touch if this interests you.

Best regards

David Meek

Year: 1819
Month: Dec
Day: 25
Parents_Surname: MATTHEWS
Child_Forenames: Elijah
Fathers_Forenames: William
Mothers_Forenames: Hester
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Morse
Occupation: Collier
Officiating_Minister: H. Berkin
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/1
Page_Number: 16
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook

1842
Month: Oct
Day: 22
Grooms_Surname: MATHEWS
Grooms_Forenames: Elijah
Grooms_Age: Full Age
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Collier
Grooms_Residence: Hundred of St Briavels
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Mathews
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: William
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Collier
Brides_Surname: BANNISTER
Brides_Forenames: Harriet
Brides_Age: 18
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: Hundred of St Briavels
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Bannister
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: William
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Licence_or_Banns: [not stated]
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both mark
Witness_1: Mark of James Amos
Witness_2: Jane Amos
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: George B Danbury Off[iciatin]g Min[iste]r
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P145 IN 1/11
Page_Number: 34
Parish_Chapel: Flaxley

1851 Puddlebrook
Elijah Matthews abt 1820 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean Gloucestershire
Harriett Matthews abt 1825 Dean; Forest, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean Gloucestershire
Elijah Matthews abt 1850 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Eliza Matthews abt 1847 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire
Enoch Matthews abt 1843 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Thomas Matthews abt 1845 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean

1861 Puddlebrook
Elijah Matthews abt 1821 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean Gloucestershire
Harriet Matthews abt 1825 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean Gloucestershire
Elijah Matthews abt 1849 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Eliza Matthews abt 1847 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire
Elizabeth Matthews abt 1852 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire
Emma Matthews abt 1859 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire
Enoch Matthews abt 1843 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Hannah Matthews abt 1855 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire
Thomas Matthews abt 1845 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire

Year: 1866
Month: Oct
Day: 28
Grooms_Surname: MATTHEWS
Grooms_Forenames: Thomas
Grooms_Age: 22
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Collier
Grooms_Residence: Ruardean
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Matthews
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Elijah
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Collier
Brides_Surname: REED
Brides_Forenames: Eliza
Brides_Age: 23
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: Ruardean
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Reed
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: James
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Collier
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both Signed
Witness_1: James Reed
Witness_2: Elizabeth Reed
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: William Barker
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/6
Page_Number: 211
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook

MATTHEWS Thomas Reed
MATTHEWS REED
1867 Forest of Dean Westbury on Severn, Newnham 28 368

1871 Ruardean Hill
Thomas Mathews abt 1845 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean Gloucestershire
Eliza Mathews abt 1843 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean Gloucestershire
Thomas R Mathews abt 1868 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
William Mathews abt 1869 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East

1881 Ruardean Hill, Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Elizabeth Matthews abt 1843 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head
Alfred G. Matthews abt 1872 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son
Clara A. Matthews abt 1874 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter
Thomas R. Matthews abt 1868 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son
Williman R. Matthews abt 1869 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son

1891 Ruardean Hill
Matthews, Thomas abt 1844 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean Gloucestershire
Matthews, Eliza abt 1842 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean Gloucestershire
Matthews, Alfred abt 1871 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Matthews, Annie abt 1873 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire
Matthews, Evelyn abt 1886 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire
Matthews, Thomas abt 1868 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire Single Insurance agent

Does anyone have any info on a marriage between Thomas Matthews and Maud Blanch. I can find the marriage listed in the England/Wales marriage index, registered in Westbury on Severn in 1889. However, I cannot find a parish record.

I'd like to find additional info so that I can establish whether this is my g grandfather, Thomas Reed Matthews, b. 1867, son of Thomas and Eliza Reed Matthews, of Ruardean. I've found an 1891 ship's passenger record departing from England to the US which shows a Thomas Matthews and several lines above his name is Maud Matthews. I know my ggrandfather came to the US in 1891.

Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Troyta,
unfortunately you won't find a Parish Record for this Marriage as it was performed in a Registry Office, so beyond the scope of this site's PRs. If you search the Gloucester Archives database you'll find this Record:

Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building Year Register Entry
MATTHEWS Thomas BLANCH Maud Forest of Dean Westbury-on-Severn (FoD) Register Office 1889 9 25

For info, GlosBMD also has the following Births:

Child Surname Child Forename Father Surname Mother Surname Mother's Former Name Year District Office Register Entry
MATTHEWS Thomas Reed MATTHEWS MATTHEWS REED 1867 Forest of Dean Westbury on Severn, Newnham 28 368

Child Surname Child Forename Father Surname Mother Surname Mother's Former Name Year District Office Register Entry
BLANCH Maude BLANCH BLANCH NASH 1870 Forest of Dean Monmouth, Coleford 26 355

It's always worth trying this GlosBMD site as it occasionally has additional BMDs beyond those in this FoDFH site ie Registry Office events etc, plus unlike FreeBMD Marriage Index it also gives the precise Church/Chapel the event took place as well as the general District. Another great advantage over FreeBMD is it can cope with name spelling variations. In my searches I always use all these resources together.
http://ww3.gloucestershire.gov.uk/bmd/MainMenu.aspx

Hope this helps, sorry I couldn't give you more detailed information. I can't find Thomas' Baptism in this FoD PRs either, perhaps the Family were Non-Conformists or just not Churchgoers ?
Glos Archives website also have what I call their Non Conformist Database
http://ww3.gloucestershire.gov.uk/genealogy/Search.aspx
This site's also good at automatically offering spelling variations against the inputted name, handy for Matthews, and like GlosBMD lists the results for easy browsing. However, despite there being several Thomas Matthews listed, again I cannot find yours b1867. That said, I recommend you perform your own searches too.

I must say it sounds to me like you've found their Shipping Record, assuming of course they are "missing" from the following UK Census' and so on. I guess you're doubting it as they're not listed together on the same page, my thoughts too, but ??

Good luck !

Thanks so much. I have a lot of info on my g grandfather, except for this marriage. My grandfather would never talk about it, but my aunt told me that my g grandfather had been married before he married my g grandmother in the US, that his first wife (I'm assuming this is Maud) followed him from England, and that they never divorced. However, no one has proof that this actually happened. So when I found the entry in the index, I wanted to find out if this was indeed him. Would there be an actual marriage record with parents' names and possibly other info recorded so I can be sure it's him? I will be visiting England for the first time during the summer and am planning on visiting Ruardean and the Forest of Dean.

???

1891 Census, East Dean, Bradley Hill
White Horse Inn

Thomas MATTHEWS - 26, Innkeeper, born Salop, Knowbury ** (Salop is Shropshire)
Maud MATTHEWS - 20 - born Glosterh, Ellwood

The marriage certificate from a Register Office, would be no different from a some-one who had been married in Church, and this could be ordered from the GloucestershireBDM site.

Just under the marriage entry on the Gloucestershirebdm

'You can down-load a copy of an application for a certificate here.......'

The certificate should list the father's name and occupation.

--

Knowbury, is a village near Ludlow, Shropshire

Thanks for your help, but this is not my g grandfather. He appears in the 1891 census with his family at Ruardean Hill. This is why I am trying to find out if the marriage bet. Thomas Matthews and Maud Blanch was indeed my g grandfather. While the marriage occurred in 1889, my g grandfather is with his family in 1891, and no wife is there. However, the family story I have been told is that they did not get along, he tried to get out of the marriage, but she wouldn't let him go. I've thought perhaps that this is why her name is listed separately from his on the ship manifest to the US in 1891. I guess the only way I'll find out is by ordering the marriage record. Perhaps the record belongs to this Thomas and Maud and not to my g grandfather at all.

Thanks for your help, but this is not my g grandfather. He appears in the 1891 census with his family at Ruardean Hill. This is why I am trying to find out if the marriage bet. Thomas Matthews and Maud Blanch was indeed my g grandfather. While the marriage occurred in 1889, my g grandfather is with his family in 1891, and no wife is there. However, the family story I have been told is that they did not get along, he tried to get out of the marriage, but she wouldn't let him go. I've thought perhaps that this is why her name is listed separately from his on the ship manifest to the US in 1891. I guess the only way I'll find out is by ordering the marriage record. Perhaps the record belongs to this Thomas and Maud and not to my g grandfather at all.

Your Thomas is an Insurance Agent, on Ruardean Hill, born Ruardean Hill
This Thomas is a Pub landlord in Upper Soudley / Bradley Hill born near Ludlow,on the Herefordshire/Shropshire border with a wife Maud

Possible Thomas from Ludlow area:=
1871 Bennetts End in Cainham
Benjamin Mathews 33
Mary A Mathews 32
Thomas Mathews 6
Samuel Mathews 3
Benjamin Mathews 8 Months
Charlotte Whatmore 11

1881
Benjamin Mathews abt 1826 Bitterley, Shropshire, England Head Cainham, Shropshire
Mary Anne Mathews abt 1836 Bitterley, Shropshire, England Wife Cainham, Shropshire
Thomas Mathews abt 1865 Bitterley, Shropshire, England Son Cainham, Shropshire
Samuel Mathews abt 1868 Bitterley, Shropshire, England Son Cainham, Shropshire
William Mathews abt 1874 Bitterley, Shropshire, England Son Cainham, Shropshire
Ernest Mathews abt 1878 Bitterley, Shropshire, England Son Cainham, Shropshire

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

1871 Census - West Dean, Clearwell, Ellwood

William NASH - 57
Louisa - 60
Ruben - 32
James - 30
William - 20
Louisa - 23
Mary A BLANCH - 25 - daughter
Maude BLANCH - 3 months - grand-daughter
William CRUM - 50

Thanks M,
so looks like the above Birth for Maud was correct ie
Child Surname Child Forename Father Surname Mother Surname Mother's Former Name Year District Office Register Entry
BLANCH Maude BLANCH BLANCH NASH 1870 Forest of Dean Monmouth, Coleford 26 355

FreeBMD Birth Index gives the Date of Registration as July/Aug/Sep:

Surname Given Name District Volume Page Transcribers
----------------------------------------------------------------
Births Sep 1870
----------------------------------------------------------------
Blanch Maude Monmouth 11a 23 chaswh
BLANCH Maude Monmouth 11a 23 NicClarke

Searching a birth of mother Mary Ann Blanch fitting the 1846 birth year doesn't give a good fit anywhere in the UK ( I see many Mary Blanch including Durham particularly), so was she already married on your 1871 above despite no obvious spouse in the household, altho of course it states she's a Daughter ?.

I don't have full Census access but here she is again in 1851, in the same NASH household, so it is her immediate family it seems:

2444 1851 CENSUS HO107/2444 FF.0042-0053 ED.2B COLEFORD 1
Piece: 2444 Folio: 0046 Schedule: 005

Address: Ellwood

NASH William HD M 38 Farmer GLS West Dean (c1813)
NASH Lueza WI M 40 - MON Chepstow (c1811)
NASH Elizabeth DA U 13 Scholar GLS West Dean (c1838)
NASH Reubin SO U 12 Scholar GLS West Dean (c1839)
NASH James SO - 10 Scholar GLS West Dean (c1841)
NASH Eliza DA - 8 - GLS West Dean (c1843)
NASH Mary A. DA - 5 - GLS West Dean (c1846)
NASH Lueza DA - 2 - GLS West Dean (c1849)
NASH William SO - 6M - GLS West Dean (c1850)
REESE William SV U 25 - GLS Lydney Parish (c1826)

Searching her possible Marriage to a Blanch,
GlosBMD gives (Registry Office again, non Conformists I think)

Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building Year Register Entry
BLANCH Thomas NASH Mary Ann Forest of Dean Monmouth Register Office 1870 6 161

Again from FreeBMD, Marriage registered Jan/Feb/March 1870;
Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Marriages Mar 1870 (>99%)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Blanch Thomas Monmouth 11a 58
NASH Mary Ann Monmouth 11a 58

I'm not certain but I suspect this is our Thomas ( a popular family name!) in 1851 Census:

2444 1851 CENSUS HO107/2444 FF.0243-0262 ED.5F COLEFORD 1
Piece: 2444 Folio: 0251 Schedule: 040

Address: Elwood,40

BLANCH William HD M 45 Farmer GLS West Dean (c1806)
BLANCH Sarah WI M 45 - HEF Abbydore [Abbey Dore] (c1806)
BLANCH William SO U 20 Farmer Son GLS Par[ish of] Newland (c1831)
BLANCH Lizzy DA U 18 - GLS Par[ish of] Newland (c1833)
BLANCH John SO U 11 Scholar GLS West Dean (c1840)
BLANCH Sarah DA - 8 Scholar GLS West Dean (c1843)
BLANCH Thomas SO - 6 Scholar GLS West Dean (c1845)
MORGAN Mary SV - 17 House Servant GLS Par[ish of] Newland (c1834)

I cannot find "our" Thomas in the 1881 Census, altho too many to choose from, could this be why ?, from this site's PRs

Record_ID: 9597
Entry_Number: 165
Year: 1870
Month: May
Day: 27
Surname: BLANCH
Forenames: Thomas
Residence: Ellwood
Age_at_death: 25
Officiating_Minister: H. L Parry Vicar
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P88 IN 1/7
Page_No: 22
Parish_Chapel: Clearwell
Soundex: B452

So born abt 1845..
I cannot find an Inquest for him.

All very close datewise but it's possible this is the same Thomas who married Mary Ann just a few months earlier, having fathered Maud about the same time.

I cannot find Mary Ann or Maud BLANCH in the 1881 Census, at least not in the local area using the LDS site, has she remarried ? YES

From GlosBMD
Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building Year Register Entry
BOWER James NASH Mary Ann Forest of Dean Monmouth Register Office 1878 11 43
BOWER James BLANCH Mary Ann Forest of Dean Monmouth Register Office 1878 11 43

Searching 1881 again;

Name: Mary Ann Bower
Age (Original): 35
Gender: Female
Birth Year: 1846
Birthplace: Ellwood, Gloucestershire, England
Relationship to Head of Household: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Inn Keepers Wife
Address: White Horse Inn
Event Place: East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Disability:
Record Type: Household
GS Film number: 1341609
Affiliate Publication Number: RG11
Piece/Folio: 2523 / 63
Page Number: 12
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head James Bower M 50 London, London, Middlesex, England
Wife Mary Ann Bower F 35 Ellwood, Gloucestershire, England
Daughter Maude Bower F 11 Ellwood, Gloucestershire, England

SO, does this mean this cannot be the Maud who married Thomas Matthews in 1889 ??

And a White Horse inn reference, could this be the Bradley Hill (Mitcheldean/Longhope area ?) inn MPG refers to above ???

Off for a lie-down now ! ;-)

Think we need to find out from 'Troyta' more information of Thomas MATTHEWS i.e. age and residence in the USA etc.

The Thomas (the Innkeeper) born Knowbury, Shrops & Maud MATTHEWS in my previous reply - may also have gone to the States...

Not sure who 'this chappie is' he was born in 1864 and his father was Benjamin - but he does get through a few 'wives'

Church of Latter Day Saints -

Thomas MATTHEWS
Death
2 June 1943
Calumet, Houghton, Michigan, United States
Male
78
Married
birth date: 13 November 1864
England
father's name: Benjamin MATTHEWS

-----

Church of Latter Day Saints

Thomas MATTHEWS
christening date: 2 December 1864
St Paul, Knowbury, Shropshire

father's name: Benjamin MATTHEWS
mother's name: Mary Ann

---

From the 'net'

1940 Census, Calumet, Houghton

Thomas MATTHEWS - 75 - Miner - born England
Margaret MATTHEWS - 63 - born England
Albert C MATTHEWS - 29 - born Michigan

1930 Census, Calumet, Houghton

Thomas MATTHEWS 66 (Immigration year 1889) birth date 1864

Margaret MATTHEWS 53 - born England
Albert C MATTHEWS - 18 - born Michigan

1920 Census, Houghton, Michigan

Thomas MATTHEWS - 54, married

Household

Charles TREGELGUS - - 52 born England
Martha TREGELGUS - 46 - born New Jersey
Margaret W MATTHEWS - born England
Albert C MATTHEWS - 9 - born Michigan

1910 Census, Calumet, Houghton

Thomas MATTHEWS - 46 - (doesn't say what year he emigrated)
Alice MATTHEWS - 40 - immigrated 1903

1900 Census, Calumet township, Prescint 2, Houghton, Michigan, United States

Thomas MATHEWS

Birth date: Nov 1864
England

married 10 years
marriage date: 1890

Thomas MATTHEWS - 36 - England
Irene MATTHEWS - 30 - born England (immigration year 1896)

Think we need to find out from 'Troyta' more information of Thomas MATTHEWS i.e. age and residence in the USA etc.

Agreed !

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