Best Wishes,

Roger

Parents were Thomas and Jane (Jenkins?) Griffiths of Newland/Redbrook.

They may have been married at Wonastow, Mon. 31Dec1782.

Children were George (1784-1786), Thomas (1786-1816), John (1788-?), James (1791-?), Frances (1794-?) and Mary Anne (1794-?).

Frances and Mary Anne may well have been twins, baptized same day 17th November. Parent Thomas may have died 1795 and buried 22nd February.

John (born 1788) may have married Elizabeth Reece at Newland 8April 1817. Son, William baptized 28June1818 at Blakeney. Not confirmed.

Roger Griffiths

My friend, Yvonne [nee Harper] was clearing the attic of her father's
bungalow this summer. She came across an old leather suitcase full of
photos, papers, etc. She told me about this, saying, don't know when I'll
get around to looking at them. I'll put them in my loft. So I volunteered.

I have had a fascinating few months.

After sorting photos & more recent letters, I came across about 10 letters
written from San Francisco in 1870s & 80s. The letters started Dear Mother &
were signed H.P.Harper. I looked on 1880 US census & found the family.

The letters are interesting in that many are over written & need
transcribing. The writer has written his letter, then turned the paper 90
degrees & continued writing on top of his previous script.

I have found lots of snippets of info from the letters & been able to trace
them to Newland.

1841 James Newland & widowed mother Hannah living at Scatterford Farm or
House.

1851 James, wife Elizabeth, son Henry Paglar, daughter Maria living at
Scatterford.

No sign of the family in 1861 but 1871 Elizabeth is a housekeeper in
Sussex, married not widowed.

In one of the letters Henry states he would like to return to England, go to
Gloucester Asylum & pay his father's debts.

I looked up 1881 & there is a Harper in Gloucester Asylum, transcribed as
Jno but on original image looks to me more like Jas. However his occupation
is given as butcher not farmer, so think this is not my man.

Have searched for info about James & his demise but found nothing. So would
be really grateful if you could throw any light on this family.

Thanks for info on Scatterford Farm. Am suggesting to Yvonne that she stays
a few nights there B&B to soak up some of her family history.

Sheila

The road then goes West /North into Newland village and on down to Redbrook.

Scatterford Farm
Newland, Gloucestershire GL16 8NG
Tel: 00 44 1594 836562
Fax: 00 44 1594 836323

Beautiful 15th century farmhouse with spacious rooms, good views and delicious breakfasts with home made bread. All rooms en-suite. Half mile from Newland village.

My James Harper married Elizabeth Moon at Newland in 1843. Their children were Henry Paglar and Maria. Henry emigrated to USA, probably 1870.

It is from Henry's letters to his mother that I am finding information. He mentions 'Scatterford' & on 1841 census I have found James living with his mother Hannah at Scatterford, Newland. Presumably it was a farm as his occupation is farmer.

I believe James' father was John Harper.

Maybe there is a connection between these two families.

Sheila Snuggs

I have prepared a descendancy report from James Harper for you, which will include all the detail I have on this line, it runs to 3 pages in Adobe. I have also available the marriage certificate I promised. In order to get it to you I will need your email address. If you send an email to me by clicking on the envelope next to my name, I can reply to you.

Best wishes and good luck with your researches.

Jim Ashton

James Harper & Mary Griffiths also had a daughter Emma Farnaby Harper born 1824. She married Thomas Marfell born 1824, son of Enoch Marfell & Elizabeth Hardwick on 30 August 1845. I have a copy of the marriage certificate. They had 10 children and I have a great deal of information on this family.

Mary nee Griffiths must have died before 1861 as James Harper is on the 1861 Census with a new wife Catherine, he was living with his daughter Julia Emma Marfell. Daughter of Thomas Marfell & Emma Fanaby Harper. Julia Emma Marfell emigrated to USA marrying a Frederick Phelps in Indiana 3 Sep 1899. She died in Indiana 23 Jan 1935.

If you email me using the link shown on my reply, I can send you the details I have, plus a copy of the marriage certificate.

1861 Census West Dean
James Harper 66 Painter Monmouth
Catherine wife 65 Schoolmistress Plymouth
Julia Marfell granddaughter 12 Newland

Jim Ashton

Record_ID: 264021
Entry_Number:
Year: 1794
Month: Nov
Day: 17
Parents_Surname: GRIFFITHS
Child_Forenames: Mary Anne
Fathers_Forenames: Tho[ma]s
Mothers_Forenames: Jane
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Redbrook
Occupation:
Officiating_Minister:
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P227 IN 1/4
Page_Number: 831
Parish_Chapel: Newland
Soundex: G613

Record_ID: 44150
Entry_Number: 632
Year: 1827
Month: May
Day: 4
Parents_Surname: HARPER
Child_Forenames: James
Fathers_Forenames: James
Mothers_Forenames: Mary
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Redbrook
Occupation: Tiler & Plasterer
Officiating_Minister: H Douglas Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P227 IN 1/6
Page_Number: 79
Parish_Chapel: Newland
Soundex: H616