Here for 2 days (General)
Hi,
I am in the Forest of Dean for 2 days flying blind, basically. My family tree is all aruond here. They were stone masons and miners (not people who worked the mines but people who owned them). I have a lot of information, but I am searching (obviously) for people that I don't have info on. I say I am "flying blind" because my dad has most of the info. Every time I turn up something, he tells me he already has that. So, I would like to get him something he doesn't already have and can't get online. Any tips? Libraries? Societies? Friends houses? Local wizards? :)
thanks,
Laura
Here for 2 days
Oh, I guess I should mention the family names, eh? :)
The stone masons were Townsend. William was born Sept 1, 1815 in Gloucester. He emigrated to the USA in 1834. He married Harriet Burgess (born December 1816) in 1834 while en route to the USA. Some of the Townsend emigrated, but some remained behind in the Forest of Dean... as least for a while. I am not sure what happened to them. The related families of Townsend can be traced back to the early 1700s in Hewelsfield area mostly, but also St. Briavels. Related family names are: Dibdon, Lorriman, Hopkins, Pricket, Simon.
The miners were Burgess. Harriet Burgess's father was Samuel Burgess, born Jan 6, 1791. He also emigrated to the USA in 1834. He is the son of Thomas Burgess and Sarah Fry. Samuel was born in Bristol, but there was a lot of family movement along the England/Wales border in the Forest of Dean area.
Thanks
Here for 2 days
by jhopkins 
, Friday, June 15, 2012, 03:35 (4547 days ago) @ unknown
Sorry I can't help, because I am in NZ, but I can sympathise because I had not prepared myself sufficiently before I visited the Forest, and therefore did not make the best use of my opportunities. Sad when you come from the uttermost ends of the Earth.
I am descended from the Hopkins and Joseph families - if you have a Phillip and Sarah Hopkins in your genealogy - born approx 1774 - you may want to get in touch. They are my great great great grandparents.
Our Hopkins places are Hudnalls Wood, Aylburton, Bream, and Brockweir. Half the family migrated to NZ in the 1860s.
Good luck!
Here for 2 days
Thanks. I think it's the wrong Hopkins family.
I have been to England before, but focused my search in Gloucester. I didn't really expect to find a lot in the Forest of Dean, but wondered if there were resources I maybe didn't know about. I've actually found a lot of things of interest in local bookstores, but nothing specific to my family and nothing that goes back further than what I already have.
Here for 2 days
by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Friday, June 15, 2012, 07:15 (4547 days ago) @ unknown
Thanks. I think it's the wrong Hopkins family.
I have been to England before, but focused my search in Gloucester. I didn't really expect to find a lot in the Forest of Dean, but wondered if there were resources I maybe didn't know about. I've actually found a lot of things of interest in local bookstores, but nothing specific to my family and nothing that goes back further than what I already have.
have you visited the
Dean Heritage Centre
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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>