Swaine

Passing names down the generations

Miss W. Boyd, Chandler, Colgrave, Davey, England, Smith, Swaine , ,

I knew I had Francis Colgrave as a name passed down at least three generations as he is one of my direct ancestors.  But I had to check my home database to find out some statistics for this post to see if names passed down happened in other branches of my trees. I’ve only included those with three or more names the same.

BLYTH, Edwin Tabrum – born 1888, 1937, 1961

BOXHALL, Anne – born 1810, 1840, 1959

BOYD, Frederick – born 1855, 1861, 1880

BROWN, Adam – born 1846, 1890, 1894

CHANDLER, William Charles – born 1829, 1863, 1895, 1923

COLGRAVE, Francis – born 1770, 1806, 1843, 1866, 1903, 1925

COLGRAVE, Joshua – born 1859, 1883, 1986

COLGRAVE, Louisa – born 1863, 1881, 1914

COLGRAVE, Samuel – born 1804, 1829, 1847, 1867

COLGRAVE, Thomas – born 1602, 1640, 1663, 1694

DAVEY, George – born 1865, 1898, 1902, 1930

DAVEY, Harry – born 1878, 1908, 1941, 2012

ENGLAND, Elizabeth – born 1830, 1857, 1900

ENGLAND, Mary Ann – born 1805, 1825, 1861

KILPIN, Richard – born 1724, 1790, 1831

MARU, Eliza – born 1829, 1846, 1863

SMITH, William – born 1840, 1883, 1911

SWAIN, Clement – born 1810, 1825, 1831

SWAIN, John – born 1783, 1808, 1815

Any births from about 1840 onwards will probably be in Tasmania also known as Van Diemens Land. Those prior to 1840 would be mainly in England – the COLGRAVE name in Bedfordshire, the ENGLAND name in West Yorkshire around Rotherham, the KILPIN name in Bedfordshire and the SWAIN name in Kent.

Readers: What name has been passed down in your family? Were you named after an ancestor or close relative?

Letter D challenge

Miss W. Boyd, Colgrave, England, Hearn, Jackson, Smith, Swaine, Tedman, Watkins , ,

1558 Ainscough Origins

Boobelle via Compfight

Direct Line or Descendants

When you began your family history research, what did you start with? Did you begin with yourself and go back one generation at a time following your direct line only? Or did you also look at the descendants of those direct lines?

I know when I began I started just with names, dates and places and going back as far as I could – in fact I got back to 1604 with one line in Bedfordshire, England. I made connections with other researchers by using the Rootsweb emailing lists and also contacting others mentioned in the IGI (International Genealogical Index) and the IGRD (International Genealogical Research Directory). I exchanged information through RAOGK (Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness) where I would do some research in Tasmania for a person in another county of England and they would do research for me in their county.

But nowadays technology has really allowed me to do a lot more research with original records online. Less having to visit an actual archives, at least for the basics of BDM records. But it is fantastic to see so many Historical Societies having a presence online. This now allows me to connect with locals in the areas where my ancestors lived. My family history blog has also created connections with family members I knew nothing about.

By researching the descendants I have found out more about their life as a family and the community they lived in. Trove and other newspaper reports have put flesh on the bones of my family rather than just a list of names, dates and places.

Surnames in my direct line include:

  • WYATT – unknown where born
  • ENGLAND – Rotherham, York, ENG
  • SMITH – Recherche Bay, Tasmania AUS but originally Samoan and given surname Smith
  • DAVEY – Devon, ENG – free settler and down to 7 possible people
  • TEDMAN – London, ENG – waterman
  • CHANDLER – London, ENG – gardeners in Tasmania and at Government House in the 1860’s
  • COLGRAVE –  Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, ENG – back to 1604
  • SOMMERS – Portland, Tasmania, AUS
  • JACKSON – Donegal, Ireland
  • DIXON – London, ENG
  • BOYD – Maker, Cornwall, ENG
  • WATKINS – Hull, Yorkshire, ENG
  • HEARN – Edgeware, London, ENG
  • BRYANT – Rotherhithe, London, ENG
  • BULL – London, ENG
  • SWAIN – Maidstone, Kent, ENG

Readers: Please leave a comment about my post or something beginning with D that relates to your family history or your research.

letter D

William Tedman

Miss W. Swaine, Tedman , ,

William TEDMAN was born in Kensington, London about 1813. By the age of 20, he was 5’6″, had a fresh complexion, round head, brown hair and eyebrows but deep grey eyes. He had an oval visage, medium high forehead, sharp nose, medium wide mouth and round chin. He was a Protestant, could read and write and was a brickmaker by trade.

But in 1833, he was convicted and then transported for 7 years for breaking a box and stealing a coat. He was tried in Middlesex on 14 February 1833. Whilst on the hulk, he was orderly and the surgeon’s report was good. He departed England on 1 December 1833 on the ship John 2.

His conduct record in Van Diemens Land says the following:

7 February 1835 whilst in the employ of Mr COTTON – Disorderly conduct, reprimanded yet very soon after he is to be appointed to the Police as a reward for good conduct in having defended his Master’s house and family from Bushrangers during his absence from home. (See memo of Chief Police Magistrate {C.P.M.} 14 January 1836)

16 January 1837 he was caught allowing women under his charge to get drunk and denying that he was a constable and giving a false name Tread Mill 14 days and pay stopped during that time Assistant Police Magistrate (A.P.M.)

31 January 1837 apprehending John Lawler and putting him in handcuffs and afterwards discharging him without bringing him before a magistrate, also allowing counterfeit coin to be passed in his presence without taking any notice of it, dismissed from the police but acquitted of charge. (A.P.M.) Green Ponds (See memo Lieut Governor 25 February 1837)

16 June 1837 whilst in employ of Mr Mark – drunk only admonished

At some stage he worked in the Engineering Department at ‘Brickfields’ in North Hobart. Whilst working for George Espie he had his Ticket of Leave.

He was given his free certificate No 156 in 1840.

He married Mary Anne Swaine on 26 August 1845.