I am the great grandson of Alfred Constance, and therefore the great-great-grandson of James and Jane Constance. I am therefore extremely interested in all that has been written in this forum, and I would like to hear from anyone to exchange information.

I have written a family tree but also the life story of Alfred, from his childhood to his flourishing business as a steam printer in London. I have had considerable help only this week from a researcher in the Hereford Archive Service, which is providing extra leads, particularly about the Nelmes connection.

I look forward to hearing from anyone similarly interested.

Alec.

1901 Census Longhope, Gloucestershire, England
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Henry Gingell Head M 61 Grocer, Longhope, Gloucestershire
Emma Gingell Wife F 47 Longhope, Gloucestershire
David H James Son M 18 Grocer's Assistant, Longhope, Gloucestershire
Evan C James Son M 16 Baker's Assistant, Longhope, Gloucestershire
John W James Son M 11 Longhope, Gloucestershire

His Marriage Record (previous post) has Evan as a "baker" in 1909, see this prior post wrt Longhope bakery, which mentions the Gingell name.
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/fodmembers/index.php?mode=thread&id=46140

Name Henry Gingell
Event Type Census
Event Date 1911
County Gloucestershire
Parish Longhope
Sub-District Newnham
Registration District Westbury On Severn
Gender Male
Age 72
Birthplace Longhope, Gloucestershire
Record Type Household

Name Emma Gingell
Event Type Census
Event Date 1911
County Gloucestershire
Parish Longhope
Sub-District Newnham
Registration District Westbury On Severn
Gender Female
Age 57
Birthplace Longhope, Gloucestershire
Record Type Household

Surname First name(s) Age District Vol Page
Deaths Sep 1921
GINGELL Emma 67 Westbury S 6a 272

Surname First name(s) Age District Vol Page
Deaths Sep 1911
Gingell Henry 72 Westbury S. 6a 349

----------------------

Record_ID: 36174
Entry_Number: 610
Year: 1839
Month: Feb
Day: 10
Parents_Surname: GINGELL
Child_Forenames: Henry
Fathers_Forenames: Joseph
Mothers_Forenames: Elizabeth
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Longhope
Occupation: Publican
Officiating_Minister: R N Raikes Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P206 IN 1/4
Page_Number: 77
Parish_Chapel: Longhope
Soundex: G524

1891 Census, Velthouse Lane, Longhope, Gloucestershire, England
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
James Jackson Head M 46 Shoemaker, Gloucestershire, England
Eliza Jackson Wife F 47 Gloucestershire, England
Emily Jackson Daughter F 14 Gloucestershire, England
Caroline Jackson Daughter F 11 Gloucestershire, England
Alick Jackson Son M 8 Longhope, Gloucestershire, England
Christopher Jackson Son M 4 Gloucestershire, England
Henry Gingel Lodger M 50 G W Railway Plate Layer, Gloucestershire, England

So Henry was also employed by the Railway.

Not sure which pub his father ran when Henry was baptised in 1839, but they lived only yards from Velthouse Lane, on adjacent Mill Lane, south end of the village (& A4136), on Longhope Brook;

1841, Furnace Mill, Longhope Lower, Gloucestershire, England
Joseph Gingell M 40-44 Gloucestershire
Elizabeth Gingell F 35-39 Gloucestershire
William Gingell M 10 Gloucestershire
Elizabeth Gingell F 4 Gloucestershire
Henry Gingell M 2 Gloucestershire
Thomas Gingell M 1 Gloucestershire

Period photo here http://www.forestprints.co.uk/old_furnace_mill.htm
Furnace Mill was a tannery in 1851, see http://www.longhopevillage.co.uk/history/industry/

"Man of Ross, and General Advertiser", Thursday 21st September 1865.

"WANTED, an ENGINE DRIVER.
Messrs J. Constance and Sons, Saw Mills, Longhope, can offer the above place to a person who understands his work in connection therewith. Personal and immediate application is required. A sober, steady, man will have constant employment. Wages 13/. per week, or 12/. per week and half a gallon of cider per day."

As a mechanical engineer with a liking for steam engines and a drop of dry cider, I'm wondering if this was the perfect job for me ?. However I can't help but think the job description may change following an updated Health & Safety Risk Assessment, particularly wrt to "sober" and "cider".... especially as the Driver is effectively responsible for maintaining output of the whole Steam Saw mill.

---------------------------

If anyone has the time I'd be interested, please, to see which "steady and sober" man was driving the mill's stationary engine in the 1871 Census as a result of this advert. The 1881 Census may be freely searched on Ancestry, searching "engine" and "Longhope" gave this hit;

1881 Census, Village, Longhope, Glos.
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
David James Head M 29 Engine Driver Staty. Lea, Herefordshire, England
Emma James Wife F 27 Longhope, Gloucestershire, England.

From this site's PRs;

Record_ID: 9697
Entry_Number: 220
Year: 1879
Month: Jun
Day: 5
Grooms_Surname: JAMES
Grooms_Forenames: David
Grooms_Age: of Full Age
Groom_Condition: Batchelor
Grooms_Occupation: Engine Driver
Grooms_Residence: Longhope
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: James
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: David
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Carpenter
Brides_Surname: WATKINS
Brides_Forenames: Emma
Brides_Age: of Full Age
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: n/s
Brides_Residence: Longhope
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Watkins
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: John
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both Sign
Witness_1: W S Watkins
Witness_2: E Watkins
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: F C Guise Vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P206 IN 1/7
Page_Number: 110
Parish_Chapel: Longhope
Soundex_Groom: J520
Soundex_Bride: W325

It looks like the GWR paid even better than the Saw Mills !;

Record_ID 136105
Entry_Number 781
Year 1882
Month Jun
Day 18
Parents_Surname JAMES
Child_Forenames David Harry
Fathers_Forenames David
Mothers_Forenames Emma
Mothers_Surname
Residence Longhope
Occupation Engine Driver on the Railway
Officiating_Minister F.C.Guise Vicar
Event Baptism
Memoranda
Notes
Register_Reference
Page_Number 98
Parish_Chapel Longhope
Soundex J520

Record_ID 136154
Entry_Number 830
Year 1884
Month Sep
Day 7
Parents_Surname JAMES
Child_Forenames Evan Charles
Fathers_Forenames David
Mothers_Forenames Emma
Mothers_Surname
Residence Longhope
Occupation Engine Driver on the Railway
Officiating_Minister F.C.Guise Vicar
Event Baptism
Memoranda
Notes
Register_Reference
Page_Number 104
Parish_Chapel Longhope
Soundex J520

Record_ID: 1006982
Entry_Number: 310
Year: 1909
Month: May
Day: 31
Grooms_Surname: JAMES
Grooms_Forenames: Evan Charles
Grooms_Age: 24
Groom_Condition: Batchelor
Grooms_Occupation: Baker
Grooms_Residence: The Walk Longhope
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: James
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: David [deceased]
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Engine Driver
Brides_Surname: WEBLEY
Brides_Forenames: Ellen Matilda
Brides_Age: 22
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Residence: The Rectory Longhope
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Webley
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Thomas
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both Sign
Witness_1: Charles Webley
Witness_2: Blanche Williams
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: George Barr M.A. Rector
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P206 IN 1/7
Page_Number: 155
Parish_Chapel: Longhope
Soundex_Groom: J520
Soundex_Bride: W140

Record_ID: 31030
Entry_Number: 357
Year: 1922
Month: Feb
Day: 14
Grooms_Surname: JAMES
Grooms_Forenames: David Harry
Grooms_Age: 39
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Farmer
Grooms_Residence: Longhope
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: James
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: David
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Engine Driver
Brides_Surname: WATKINS
Brides_Forenames: Kate Eliza
Brides_Age: 40
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Residence: Westbury on Severn
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Watkins
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: James
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Gardener
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both sign
Witness_1: John Wilby
Witness_2: Annie Cole
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: Arthur Kelly Vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P354 IN 1/19
Page_Number: 179
Parish_Chapel: Westbury on Severn
Soundex_Groom: J520
Soundex_Bride: W325

So it seems neither son followed their father into the railways, despite the traditional image that boys always wanted to be train drivers. Perhaps he died due to his work ?.
He died before 1909, maybe earlier, I cannot find him in the 1891 or 1901 Census, or his Death Record yet.

But I see wife Emma remarries in 1898;

Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building Year Register Entry
GINGELL Henry WATKINS Emma Forest of Dean Westbury-on-Severn (FoD) Register Office 1898 11 98
GINGELL Henry JAMES Emma Forest of Dean Westbury-on-Severn (FoD) Register Office 1898 11 98

Cannot find a burial for David, or an Inquest or Will, but this may be his death, why so young, I cannot see any mention in the local papers ?;

Death Details
Surname Given Names Age Year Died District Register Entry
JAMES David 46 1897 Westbury on Severn, Newnham (from 1893) 448 1

2 Ackel...... Place"

Ailesbrook Place

www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=thread&id=36499

?

FoD records

Baptism at Ryeford Baptist - 22 August 1809

Jane HILES

parents : Moes & Mary

Notes: Date given is date of birth

---

siblings : Baptism at Ryeford

Elizabeth - 5 March 1812

Mary - 16 October 1815 - born in Weston

---

?

1841 Census, Glos. Mitchell Dean
High Street

Moses HILES age 50 or 58 - Sawyer, not born in County
Elizabeth HILES - 25 - Seamstress, born in County
Benjamin BALL - 23 - Coalminer

1851 England Census
HO107/1960; Folio: 20; Page: 273
Arrow Village, Dymock, Gloster

Lodging with Job Wall and family:

James Constance - Lodger - Mar - 43 - Wooder [sic] Turner - Gloster, Longhope
Alfred Constance - Lodger - U - 15 - Wooder [sic] Turner - Gloster, Longhope

Lichfield St Mary
Staffordshire

Mary A BRIAND - age 27 - born Great Haywood - Staffordshire (just down the road from Tixall)
William - 3
Charles - 1
Henry - 1 month
Edward GUY - 36
Charles ELSMORE - 37
Francis ELSMORE - 22
Harriett DALE - 30 - unmarried Cousin, born Tixall, Staffordshire
Theresa ELSMORE - 14

and on the 1841 census - Harriet is working at Tixall Hall - age 20 - working for William CRUTTENDEN.
Tixall Hall was taken down in 1928/29 - but the huge Gatehouse still remains - see previous link to Tixall & Ingestre website.

just next door is a family of DALE's on the 1841 census

(CLDS Site - Baptism at Tixall, Stafford 5 March 1820, Harriett, parents Joseph & Elizabeth) ***

George - 55
Mary - 40
George - 15
Mary - 14
Joseph - 8
Walter - 2
Treasa - 3 months
Steven - 15

----

Freereg

Marriage at Tixall, Staffordshire, St John the Baptist - 7 May 1827

Joseph DALE, Widower - abode Tixall

married

Mary HARRISON - Widow, Tixall

-----

1841 Census, Tixall Village

Joseph DALE - 45
Mary - 60
Mary - 20
Eliza - 15

Either way I'm sure you'll clear it up,
atb Jeff

# I added some more background info wrt the Saw Mill to my earlier post which hopefully helps, the Directories name a few? James Constances. Certainly the Constance name was a very important one in the village for many years well into the C20th. The Mill is a subject close to my heart as my grandfather worked there boy & man as a turner for many years, as did his father before him, very luckily for me they're in this photo.
http://www.longhopevillage.co.uk/thenandnow/index.asp?album=2&image=4

I still have some of Grampy's pieces which he apparently turned in his spare lunchtimes from scrap leftovers of beech, walnut etc, which explains why the standard lamp is such an interesting variety of colours/grains thro it's constituent sections !. I was impressed to see he'd turned internal & external screwthreads at the ends of the sections to fit them into one long standard with a "table" section midway, clearly they were skilled workers at the Mill. Cutting screwthreads using a metalcutting lathe is difficult, doing so on a lathe which just turns the wood workpiece, so the cutting tools are hand-held rather than bolted-down & machine-moved, must be far harder !.

Glostershire Archives hold several items related to the Constance Mill's history, see
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=040-d3824&cid=0#0

Also see this article giving a modern view of work at the Mill.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday/dblock/GB-368000-219000/page/14

2 Ackel...... Place

CONSTANCE

James - 53 - Woodturner, born Longhope
Harriett - 41 - born Tickstoke? Staffordshire
Martha - 14 * see 1851 census
Joseph NELMES - 30 - Wood turner, born Westbury on Severn
Helen NELMES - 20
James NELMES - 5 months

(? not sure at the moment - if this is James' 2nd marriage ?) because... Freebdm have a Marriage at Hereford 1856 - James CONSTANCE and Harriet DALE

---

1851 Census at Hereford
Blue School Lane

Helen CONSTANCE - servant, unmarried - 18 Houseservant, born Monmouth, Monmouthshire

and next door

Jane CONSTANCE, Head Mar - 41 Wood Turner Wife - born Gloucester, Lea Bailey
Eliza - daughter - 10 - born Monmouth
Martha - daughter - 5 - born Hereford
Thomas - 1 - born Hereford, All Saints

----

Here's the 1841 Census, Wales, Monmouth - Old Dixton Road

CONSTANT

James - 30 - Turner, all not born in County
Jane - 30
Charles - 10
Helen - 10
Alfred - 6
Ruebin - 3 * GlosBDM have a Reuben CONSTANCE - 1838 - mother's maiden name HILES
Eliza - 5m
---

FoD records

Marriage at Monmouth - 22 May 1830

James CONSTANCE, bachelor of this parish

married

Jane HILES - of this parich

by banns.

witnesses: Frederic HERBERT and Jane PRICE

---

Looking at the 1871 Census, James & Harriet CONSTANCE are living in Monmouth, Llantilio Crossenny

Heald Farm

James CONSTANCE - 63, farmer of 350 acres, born Longhope, Glos
Harriet CONSTANCE - 51, born Tixall, Stafford ***
Martha CONSTANCE - 23, born All Saints, Hereford

*** Tixall

http://www.tixall-ingestre-andrews.me.uk/index.html

----

We go to Tixall 3 times a week to play golf at Ingestre Park in Tixall - this is a beautiful small village with a Christopher Wren built local church.

---------

1871 Census, Lonhhope

Pound House

Joseph NELMES - 39 - Stale Maker - born Westbury on Severn
Helen NELMES - 36 - born Mitcheldean
James - 10
Leah - 8
Alfred - 6
Elizabeth - 6 months

----

Gloucestershirebdm

Births: NELMES, mother's maiden name CONSTANCE - all Office: Gloucester Huntley

James - 1860
Leah - 1863
Alfred - 1865
Elizabeth - 1870
Joseph - 1873
Helen - 1876

"England and Wales Census, 1871"
Name: James Constanse
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1871
Gender: Male
Age: 63
Relationship to Head of Household: Self
Birthplace: Longhope, Gloucestershire
Schedule Type: Household
Registration District: Monmouth
Sub-District: Dingestow
Parish: Llantilio Crossenny
County: Monmouthshire
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Self James Constanse M 63 Longhope, Gloucestershire
Wife Harriet Constanse F 51 Foscott, Staffordshire
Daughter Martha Constanse F 23 All Saints, Herefordshire

So this James Constanse aka Constance was born Longhope abt 1808 but has moved out of the immediate area by 1871, although as Longhope's parish Church is All Saints and Longhope is right on the Herefordshire border I wonder if they were still in Longhope when daughter Martha was born in 1848 ?. Eitherway, if you havent already done so I think this family needs further work thro the earlier Census', hopefully finding Helen too.

Same James born abt 1808, now in 1861, so maybe the above All Saints is indeed in Hereford and not the Longhope one ?

"England and Wales Census, 1861"
Name: James Constance
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1861
Gender: Male
Age: 53
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Birthplace: Longhope, Gloucestershire
Schedule Type: Household
Registration District: Hereford
Sub-District: 4 Hereford City
Ecclesiastical Parish: Hereford
Parish: All Saints
Residence County: Herefordshire

----------------------------------------

However there was also another James Constance apparently born a year or two earlier and presumably ? to different parents, again from LDS;

"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975"
Name: James Constance
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 15 Sep 1805
Christening Place: LONGHOPE,GLOUCESTER,ENGLAND
Birth Date:
Birthplace:
Death Date:
Name Note:
Race:
Father's Name: Theophilus Constance
Father's Birthplace:
Father's Age:
Mother's Name: Mary
Mother's Birthplace:
Mother's Age:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C03000-1
System Origin: England-ODM
GS Film number: 425458
Reference ID:

I presume this is the same James, all "born abt 1806";

"England and Wales Census, 1861"
Name: James Constance
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1861
Gender: Male
Age: 55
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Birthplace: Gloucester Longhope
Schedule Type: Household
Registration District: Westbury-On-Severn
Sub-District: 2 Huntley
Ecclesiastical Parish:
Parish: Longhope
Residence County: Gloucestershire

"England and Wales Census, 1871"
Name: James Constance
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1871
Gender: Male
Age: 65
Relationship to Head of Household: Self
Birthplace: Longhope, Gloucestershire
Schedule Type: Household
Registration District: Westbury On Severn
Sub-District: Huntley
Parish: Longhope
County: Gloucestershire
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Self James Constance M 65 Longhope, Gloucestershire
Wife Sophia Constance F 64 Woodham Walter, Essex
Daughter Lucy Elizebeth Constance F 26 Longhope, Gloucestershire

"England and Wales Census, 1881"
Name: James Constance
Age (Original): 75
Gender: Male
Birth Year: 1806
Birthplace: Longhope, Gloucestershire, England
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Wood Turner & Stail Maker And Farmer Employing 22 Men 1 B Oy
Address: 8 Village Street Springfields
Event Place: Longhope, Gloucestershire, England
Disability:
Record Type: Household
GS Film number: 1341609
Affiliate Publication Number: RG11
Piece/Folio: 2525 / 80
Page Number: 8
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head James Constance M 75 Longhope, Gloucestershire, England
Wife Sophia Constance F 74 Woodham Walton, Essex, England
Son James H Constance M 29 Longhope, Gloucestershire, England
Servant Alice Hamblin F 18 Newnham, Gloucestershire, England

Judging by the Occupation note and Address it seems this James Constance is the then head of the James Constance Steam Sawmills which was the main local employer by far, see this Directory etc.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cbennett/longhope1876.htm
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/kellys/Longhope_1879.htm
This photo shows part of the Mill, all under the gaze of Springfield House.
http://www.longhopevillage.co.uk/thenandnow/index.asp?album=2&image=1

The Mill grew from the barrelmaking business of an earlier James Constance c1720. Theophilius, James' son, took over and established the company naming it after his father in 1788. Theophilius is shown as father of "this" James at his 1805 Baptism shown above.
http://www.longhopevillage.co.uk/history/industry/

For a more detailed history see
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/fodmembers/index.php?id=47163

A contempory account of the Mill's business c1904 written for the Gloucester Journal
http://www.coaley.net/indglos_1904/ig190440.pdf

-------------------

I'm sure you already know Bryan, the Longhope Village website may also be able to help you as it carries some Census info plus several Constance grave photos & memorial transcripts.
http://www.longhopevillage.co.uk/familyhistory/

http://www.forest-of-dean.net/gallery/longhope/pages/page_1.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday/dblock/GB-368000-219000/page/14

Hope this helps you if only a little..

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marriages Mar 1856 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSTANCE James Hereford 6a 644
Dale Harriet Hereford 6a 644
Davies Eliza Hereford 6a 644
Faulk Charles Hereford 6a 644

Joseph Nelmes b 1831 was married to Helen (nee Constance) b 1834 and they lived at the Pound House Longhope where my Grandmother Helen was born in 1876.

I believe that Helen Constance was born in Mitcheldean to James Constance b 1808 and Harriet b 1820. It is at this point I seem to get stuck.

Any information will be greatly appreciated.