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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Leicestershire => Topic started by: Pete44 on Wednesday 24 January 07 11:26 GMT (UK)
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I am trying to trace the ancesters of Wm Merritt Gillam born about 1847 in India. He was married to Edith Buller and the family roots appear to be in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire. Grateful for any info.
Pete44
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Hi Pete - Welcome :D
No immediate help but I see he's a pupil (age 9 born Calcutta) at Camberwell in 1851 - there's also a Frank A Gillam age 7 born Madras at the same school.
Tanja :)
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His marriage cert would give you his father's name:
September quarter 1887
Kensington 1a 313
William Merritt A Gillam - Edith Emily Buller
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Hi
Thanks for the India info may come in useful. Already have his fathers name also William but not much help, I shall persevere
Pete44
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Hi Pete I am still puzzleing over this one. There appears to be several members of the Gillam family born in India who appear at various census times in this country - it looks as though there may be a couple over there producing children in the 1840s and sending them back here for schooling etc. I have found an Alexander C born 1846 in 1861 on his uncle Edward Pritchards farm in Chalfont St Peters. The Frank mentioned above I found in 1891 (indexed as Gilliam) with 4 children all born in India, and William himself is listed in 1881 as a merchant for A Kyab b of Burmah. Do you have the actual marriage certificate? and does it give William's fathers occupation?
:-\
Debbie
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Hi Pete
Well at last I think I have found some info for you - I have been surfing around the web for sites dealing with british citizens in India and found this one
http://www.fibis.org/
On there I found the marriage 18th Jan 1841 at Calcutta of Capt. W Gillam of the ship The Braemar to Miss CC Plum
and then the registration of the births of two sons to this couple - unfortunatly the sons aren't named - the dates are 1st November 1841 and 30th May 1843 - and both times the father is Captain W Gillam of The Breamar
I am so pleased to have found something for you at last
:)
Debbie
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I have now realised that it ties in with the info I found on the 1861 census where Alexander C Gillam born 1846 India Madras, was on his uncles farm, uncles widowed sister was also there - her name was Charlotte Plum - aged 69 born Sarratt Herts.
According the IGI Thomas and Charlotte Plum had a daughter baptised Charlotte Caroline Plum in 1815 at St Mary's Whitechaple Stepney.
I am guessing that Charlotte Plum (nee Pritchard) is very likly the grandmother of your William Merritt Gillam
Debbie
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Thanks Debbie you may have found a breakthrough, William Merritt Gillam's father is shown as a Master Mariner on his Wedding Certificate therefore I shall attempt to follow this through.
I have some old letters and notes given to me by my Mother which centres on Countesthorpe where I believe the family were, or maybe still, landowners since the 1600's, they also provide some names from early 1800's but so far no link. It is my intention to visit Countesthorpe in the late summer to do some research if time allows.
Again many thanks I'll let you know how I get on.
Pete44
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Pete - yes please let me know what happens, I have got intrigued by this family over the last couple of days, I have a couple of other ideas I want to try I will let you know if anything comes of them
Debbie
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Debbie, many thanks, Pete44
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me again
I put a request on the Middlesex board for Charlotte in 1851 as I couldn't see her and Meliora found her -
1851 census
HO107/1581 folio 572 page 27
1, Rye Lane St Giles Camberwell
Charlotte Plum Wid age 50 Fundholder b Kent
Alexander C Gilham ? grandson age 5 b East Indies. Brit.
Emma South serv age 19 servant b Kent
Charlotte's age is shown as 50 in the index but I read it as 58 also I read Kent as Herts., the page is dark & smudged.
In 1841 she(45) and Thomas (50) are in St Marys Whitechapel with daughter Eliza (20)
from the IGI they also had a son Frederick Barclay Plum in 1822 - I wonder what happened to him?
Debbie
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Thanks again Debbie
I haven't acted on your info yet but you seem to have some hopeful leads there. I did a Wm Gillam internet search today, hundreds of them, found nothing interesting. Did find a Wm/Charlotte Gillam living in Brighton (1871/81 Census) but convinced no connection. Also looked for anything on 'The Breamar' again no success.
Interesting you mention 'Kent' I have some original letters that originated in Kent in 1907 starting 'My Dear Gillam' which isn't much help, names are mentioned but nothing fits the jigsaw as yet. I also have an original shool certificate from a school in Essex for a William Gillam in 1856, what with the Countesthorpe and India connections can see this being a tough one to crack but makes it all the more challenging.
I'll keep you informed of progress
Pete
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Hi Pete
I have been playing on the PRO web-site wills section today and have turned up a couple more bits
the first is there is a will for Thomas Plum
Officer in the Service of the East and West India Dock Company
of No 216 Whitechapel Road Middlesex
20 October 1846 - I think this could well be Charlotte husband and therefore grandfather of William Merritt Gillam
the other one may not be connected at all but there is a will of Benjamin Gillam Maurice - Surgeon
late of the Madras Army. of Clifton
Gloucestershire
2 Feb 1844
from the IGI
BENJAMIN GILLAM MAURICE
baptised 2 JAN 1792 at Lewins Mead Presbyterian Or Unitarian
Bristol son of Joseph & Elizabeth
Joseph Maurice = Elizabeth Gillam 17th May 1769 at St Nicholas Bristol
Do you know of any Bristol connection? - this may be a red herring though
Debbie
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Debbie you're a gem wish I had your time to spare.
Bristol connection, not as yet but did once have an inquiry from someone looking for a 'Gillam' relative, a vicar, in that area but could see no connection to me, another branch maybe.
I'll get back to you once I've had a chance to digest your info
Again many thanks
Pete
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Hi Debbie
I have managed to trace the paper trail of most of the info you have given me and made sense of it.
Can I ask you where you found the info on your note - 26 Jan at 1712. I have searched the 1851 and 1841 Census's on two websites I have access to and nothing found.
I think I have come to a halt with Wm Gillam Snr, I see there are a few publications on the East India Company, one with index of names (may find something there). I will visit my local Ref Library when time allows, otherwise I will see what I can turn up when I visit Countesthorpe, hopefully in Sept.
Again many thanks for finding the breakthough
Pete
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Hi Pete
The 1841 census reference is HO107/717/4 fo 9 - St Mary Whitechapel
I didn't find the 1851 - but I did check it, HO107/1581 fo ?? (sorry I can't read it) but it is the Peckham area of Camberwell
She is clearly indexed as Charlotte Plum for both entries - fortunatly not a common name.
It seems there are deposited records of the East India Company in the British Library - unfortunatly I don't go to London any more, but perhaps you can find someone who does.
One other thing that came up was I noticed the reference to Soap manufacture on the 1891 census for William M. Is there any earlier history in the family of soap manufacture do you know? I found a reference to a James & Charles Gilham soap makers of London at around the turn of the 1800's and just wondered if there was a link.
Debbie
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snippets from rootsweb mailing lists for india
Imber Elizabeth to Gillam Robert 148 , 90 , 1874
Hirst Kate to Gillam Alfd. Lorne 290 , 118 , 1880
Here are the names from LDS film 1885606, Madras Service Army Lists ca.
1760-1858, Medical Personnel, (M)
MAURICE Benjamin Gillam
from the Bombay Times
Nov 1858
The P & O Co Steam ship BOMBAY
passengers;
from Southampton:
Mesdames Cust infant & serv, Nicholson, Gillam children & serv, Blinkhorn,
Beaumont child and serv, Sadford & son, Hileman, Speed, Townsend, Bristow
child & serv, Murray, Shea , E Rattley, G Garry, J Church..
Something completely different - did you know there was a street in Countesthorpe named Gillam Butts???
old message:knowhere
History of Countesthorpe by Jayne Gillam (Member 87158) on 8-Jun-02
Hello there! Do you have a local historian in Countesthorpe who knows of the areas origins, prominant families from the past etc? I would be grateful if someone could put me in touch with them. Jayne Gillam
http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Leicestershire/Countesthorpe.html
GILLAM Sydney No further information
GILLIAM Joseph Horace Private, 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (27157). Died of wounds 13th September, 1917, aged 31. Born and resident Countesthorpe, enlisted Leicester. Buried at Bethune Cemetery. Lived on The Bank, Countesthorpe.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kayhin/61551c.html
Folio 131 Page 15
73,The Rectory,1,Richard T W Taylor,Head,U,59,,Rector Of St Mewan,Corfton Gloucestershire,,
,,,Anne Gillam,Servnt,U,,51,Housekeeper,Countesthorpe Leicestershire,,
,,,Thomas Gillam,Servnt,W,48,,Farm Bailiff & Gardener,Countesthorpe Leicestershire,,
,,,John Gillam,Pupil,U,19,,(Scholar),Thurlaston Leicestershire,,
,,,Ann M Keam,Servnt,U,,19,Kitchen Maid,St Mewan Cornwall,,
http://www.gritquoy.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I18828&tree=001Master
Lucy Elizabeth Gillam[1]
1877 -
http://www.bmsgh.org/MembersInterests/G.htm
GILLAM +var Countesthorpe
Another 9 pages on Google (search terms: Countesthorpe Gillam)
Good luck
Jan
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Hello Pete,
My ancestors came from Countesthorpe I went over there about 2 years ago I was given the name of a lady that had researched nearly everyone that had lived in Countesthorpe.
My names are Lord and Ringrose. Any way we went over to see her and I believe she said that she was a Gillam, so she would of done the Gillam tree going back as far as she could get
Sue
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Hi Jan
Many thanks for the info, none of the names you mention link in with what I have, at the moment anyway, I will keep your info for future ref.
Many thanks
Pete
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Hi Sue
Thanks for that, I am planning to visit Countesthorpe later in the year I will try to track her down, I have several names from the early 1800's but as yet cannot find a positive link.
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Debbie
Thanks for the reply, the 'Soap' connection I'm afraid I don't know anymore than you but my Mother has confirmed Wm M had something to do with soap at one time nothing more.
I have been thru my old letters again, dated 1907, appears sent from a cousin to a Wm Gillam and has a Genealogy theme mentioning names including a family that has a Wm b.1805, I have estimated Capt Wm Gillam of the Braemar as being born 1810, could be the same I don't know.
Unless something turns up in the meantime don't think I am going to find the link I'm after until I visit Countesthorpe
Pete
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Hi Peter
Using the William 1805 Info - I had a play on the family search site and turned up what looks like your family in the pedigree resource file section - if you go to that section and put 1165036-0506101024122 in the submission number box and Gillam in the surname box - don't fill out anything else just hit search it turns up a list of 127 Gillam submitted as the family of someone in Australia - they include William born 1841 who married Meredith Buller and his father William born 1805 who married ? Plum (they obviously had not found her first name) it then goes back for a further nine generations - obviously it would need checking but it might give you a very good place to start
:D
Debbie
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There's still the other 9 pages on google hits Gillam + Countesthorpe - perhaps there'll be a nugget in there somewhere.
Mike on this board is a mine of information and may be able to help.
Jan
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Me again Pete
I have had a play with the file from the pedegree resources mentioned above and it is looking good - if the info is correct it has Thomas Gillam born 1775 marrying Elizabeth Robinson and them having the following children
Thomas Meadows Gillam in 1804 who went to Australia and was the ancestor of the person who put the info there
William in 1805 - who I think is your William
Eliza 1806 who married M Leggatt Gilbart
Mary Ann 1808 who married William Dowell
Jane 1809 who married John (or Peter) Reid
John Gent Gillam 1812 who married Sarah Illiffe and worked for the railways
Harriot 1814 who married George Robson
Katherine Anna 1815 - may have died young
Anna 1818 who married ? Dehrang
Sophia Ann 1819 who married M. J. Morallee
Elizabeth 1821 who married Joseph Grant
Bennett Thomas Gillam in 1824 - worked for the railways and died in 1906 in Kent
About William Gillam born 1805 it says Captain and Owner of the good ship "Joan of Arc" for years, took to the sea as a proffession and a date of death of 13th May 1859.
It may be that the Australian branch also have letters or papers that mention details of the family for them to have all this information.
Thomas Gillam born 1775 was buried in Countesthorpe 15th September 1833 aged 58 - of 'care and gout'
Debbie
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Debbie
Many Many thanks I think you've cracked it, the one site I had overlooked and the info was there but I'm learning fast.
The list of names you gave me matches the fading handwritten note I have written in 1905.
The envolope reads ' List of my Father's brothers and sisters copied by my Mother' Signed W Gillam Oct 05.
I don't have time to study it at the moment but will definately follow it though, and yes I do know of an Australian connection W M Gillam's son Basil spent most of his life there, his, and his wifes ashes where brought back and interned at Countesthorpe Church.
Pete
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I am looking at the history of my children's line - their great grandfather was Edward Mortimer Gillam Maurice born 1859 in Plymouth, Devon. He emigrated to New Zealand and died in Te Kaha in 1926.
He was a son of Mortimer Maurice and Lavinia Riley who married in 1855 in Clifton, Bristol.
Edward was a grandson of Catherine Cromwell and Mortimer Maurice both born about 1799/1800 and who married in August 1821 in Bristol.
I am certain that Benjamin Gillam Maurice would be a brother of Mortimer, and that Mortimer's parents were Joseph Maurice and Elizabeth Gillam.
Can anyone give me any more details of this family - I know the family were in the ministry as Mortimer Jnr. was a minister of religion, and in an online article I saw recently, Mortimer Snr was a substitute minister at Bridgewater.
I have also seen much on the internet of a Frederick Denison Maurice, also in the ministry who was a son of Michael Maurice and Priscilla Hurry.
Any further information very welcome.
Robin
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Hi Debbie and Pete
I have just read the info on the Gillams
Thanks for filling in some gaps for me
Peta
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Hi - I think I am a direct descendant of William Merritt Gillam - He was born in 1805 and died in Guayaquil Ecuador in 1859, after spending some time in ?India and California(1854) . His grandson, Norman was my grandfather, and had at least 2 brothers (Hope died WW1) and Basil who emigrated to Australia. Norman Merritt Gillam fought in WWI and emigrated soon after, first to South Africa. There he married a relative of the Bullers (need to check my records). He eventually went to Blantyre Nyasaland (now Malawi) where he set up the first Barclays Bank there (early 1920's). from there he went to Beira Mozambique and eventually Umtali Rhodesia (now Mutare zimbabwe) all with Barclays Bank. He eventually returned to the UK in the late 70's where he died in Norfolk. He had 2 children Boyd Merritt b 1924 d 1989, and Fiona Merritt. Boyd Had 5 children of which I am one and I have 2 sons - We all still keep the Merritt in our names. Should you wish further more detailed info I can assist. I would also appreciate any info of williams ancestors as my info ends with him. I look forward to hearing from you
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I have gone through my Grandfathers papers, and Family Bible - This is the info I have
William Gillam b 14/12/1805 d 1858/9 Guayaquil Ecuador
Children: William Merritt Gillam b 1/11/1841? Calcutta
Frank Andrew Gillam b 30/5/1843 Madras
Alexander Charles Gillam b April184? Madras
Alfred Lorn Gillam d 1/7/1849 San Francisco d 22/6/1889
Clara Gillam b 1/12/1852 San Francisco d 1853/4
Charlotte Emily Gillam b 25/3/1856 San Francisco
William Merritt Gillam - married Edith Emily Buller
Children: Basil Merritt Gillam b 6/2/18888 21 Kilburn Park Rd London
Norman Merritt Gillam b 23/7/1889 40 Chepstow Place Bayswater
Grace Dorothy Gillam b 29/2/1892 19 Kensington Manors SW
Hope Francis Merritt Gillam b 5/9/1893 18 Kensingtom Manors SW
d 1918 WWI
Norman Merritt Gillam - married Olive Boyd (Pretoria South Africa) Fought WW1 in Tanganyika East Africa
Children: Boyd Merritt Gillam b 2/3/1924 Blantyre Nyasaland d 7/5/1989 Mutare
Fiona Mary Merritt Gillam b 15/7/1926 Mossel Bay South Africa d 1998 Cape Town
Boyd Merritt Gillam - Married Marjory Frances Ellis Drummond b 20/10/1924 (fought WW11 North Africa and Italy Southern Rhodesian anti Tank Reg.) Dentist
Children: Frances Anne Merritt Gillam 3/8/1953
Louse Barbara Merritt Gillam b 30/11/1955 d 9/10/2008
Brian Merritt Gillam b 11/4/1957 d 17/5/1957
Bruce Norman Merritt Gillam b 8/12/1959
Ritchie Gordon Merritt Gillam b 31/1/1963
Bruce Norman Merritt Gillam married Diana Marie Pijper
Children: Matthew Boyd Merritt Gillam b 20/01/2001
Benjamin Jon Merritt Gillam b 24/4/2002
I have quite a bit of info re the Buller tree should you require it.
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I'm also descended from William Gillam (1805-59). One of his grandsons (the son of Frank Andrew Gillam 1843-1919) is thought to have owned or run an hotel in Lorenco Marques, Mozambique. Might anyone have heard a similar story, please. F.
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Leicester Chronicle
Saturday 8th May 1858
Deaths
On the 13th March, of dysentery, at Guayaquil, South America, aged 50, Captain William Gillem, formerly of Calcutta, son of the late Thomas Gillam Esq. of Countesthorpe.
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Dave - Tks for this snippet of info. My niece travelled through Guayquil last year, she said it was a cesspool, so not surprising he died from dysentry. Rgds
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Hi Ford - My mother has no recollection of my Grandfather knowing his cousin was in LM. I have a friend in LM but don't think I will have much success in finding any info. If you had a name or the name of the hotel it might help Assuming it is still standing. Rgds
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Many thanks, Coils59, for checking with your Mother. We hope to get to LM this coming week and will try to track down the hotel, name as yet unknown. Frank G (1843-1919)'s son was also Frank (1876-1924). His wife Ethel died in 1938. Rgds F.
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you sound as if you are in SA? I am in Zim.
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We were transitting SA from UK en route for LM. Friends helped us seek out the early C20th hotels, but we havent yet identified Frank and Ethel's establishment. Still working on it. Rgds F.
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Hello there,
I am a descendant of William Gillam's (B. 1805) great aunt Catherine Gillam. I am living in Countesthorpe, just down the road from the old family home.
Are you all still here if I continue this thread?
Regards, Susan
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Yes - I'm still here. Was Catherine a sister of William (1746-1828)? Regards F.
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Hello, Ford,
Yes, Catherine was William's older sister, baptised at Countesthorpe on 28th January 1738.
I was fascinated to read this thread about William Merritt; Hetty Schultka gave me a copy of this line the family tree some years ago, but there is nothing for William, only the date 1805. Hetty had done a lot of research into this family (she was a Gillam but descends through a branch that split off centuries ago). She showed me a Marriage Settlement, a map of the Gillam holdings. and helped prepare a presentation which toured the Family History Societies and (I think) museums /libraries.
Do you know much about the family, Ford?
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HI I was googling and found all the Gillam threads. Not sure if any of you will get this msg unless you are a regular to this site.
I have been studying the GILLAm family in Bristol as i have a few in my tree. I have information re Joseph maurice who married Elizabeth GILLAM in Bristol in 1787. She was the daughter of Benjamin GILLAM and Ann Fry who married at St James Bristol 1756. Benjamin was a partner at the Bank of England in Bristol, I have his 13 page will, whcih names a few of the extended family as well as a few of his children.
I am also in NZ so was hoping to make contact with 'King William' in Tauranga if possible.
I descend via a CLARKE family of Bristol who married into the Kift family who were merchants there. They must have socialised with the GILLAMS who owned property at the Quay side in Bristol and held positions in the Bank and in Customs. They were pretty wealthy lot in their day. Ann FRY was from the famous quaker Fry family who owned the huge chocolate factory in Bristol.
I hope I hear back from someone!
Amanda, Christchurch, NZ
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Hi BlueHydrangea.
I have no knowledge of the Bristol Gillams or connection with Countesthorpe, sorry. Hopefully, someone else may know.
Would it be an idea to start a thread on them as it's rather buried here? Good luck with responses.
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I too am unable to help with Bristol Gillams or Countesthorpe information. However, if Coils59 is still there, have discovered the name of the Lourenco Marques hotel - the Club hotel. F.
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To Ford 1960 - I have been offline for sometime - I will ask a friend who lives in LM now Maputo if there is anything left of the hotel as described.
To susieroe - I lived in Clarendon Park, Leicester from 1989 - 1991 whilst working for British Shoe, I often visited a friend who lived in Sutton on the Elm. I wish I had known that Countesthorpe was where I originated from, I would have loved to have walked where they once walked. Hopefully I will be able to make it there before too long.
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Hello again Coils. yes, I know Clarendon Park a little, I worked at Hind's Chemist on Queens Rd. many tears ago! I knew of the BritisH Shoe, a friend of mine worked there, a carpenter/cabinet maker named Tony Snow, did you know him? He made the table for the boardroom.
I've been re-reading this thread, trying to sort it out. The reference to Thomas Meadow's children is not right, could they be William's children, I wonder? Thomas' children were: Asenath, William Jenkins, Mary Louise, Emma Keturah, Henrietta Balson, Arthur Balson, Thomas Edward, John Pretious, and Selena Elizabeth. Do these names ring a bell with anyone?
The obituary for William, son of Thomas Gillam Esq. sounds right. They were yeoman farmers, with an earlier Thomas being given the title of 'Mr.' in the registers, and 'Gentleman' in his Will. They are buried within Countesthorpe Church. Jonathan Gillam, who inherited the manor house, was the last of this line, he had one daughter who died young. I think they had sold off most of their land - which seems to have been most of Countesthorpe! - including the mill, when things became tricky for farming in the 19th century, as he is shown as a market gardener and seedsman.
I have some photos of the house, including one of the rafters carbon-dated to about 1496, but no idea which section I can put them on. two are on Genes Reunited if anyone's a member there.
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I think they could make a drama series about this family!
An obituary in 1946 for Mr. John Pretious Gillam, son of Thomas Meadows, reads:
Cranbrook
OBITUARY
Late Mr. J. P. Gillam
The death occurred on Friday March 1, at the Mt. Barker District Hospital of an old and respected resident of the Cranbrook district in the person of Mr. John Pretious Gillam at the age of 86 years.
The deceased gentleman, the fifth son of the late Mir. and Mrs. Thomas' Meadows Gillam, of Al bany, was born in Albany. Febru ary 17, 1860. Soon after, the family shifted to "Bolganup," Poron gorups, and were engaged in cattle raising for many years. Ruins of the old home at Bolganup remain to this day. At the age of 21, John Gillam came to Tenterden (then known as "Round Swamp"), where he met and married Florence Toovey, the fifth daughter of the late Lomas Toovey, and opened the "Travellers' Rest" Inn. Round Swamp was in those days a staging camp for the Perth-Albany mail coaches. He conducted the inn until after the Great Southern railway was constructed through to Albany; and in 1907 came to Cranbrook where he resided until his death. His wife predeceased him in 1932 Member of the family of eight sons and five daughters reside in the district. In World War I. three sons enlisted, Syd and Hugh members of the First 10th Light Horse, were both killed at Gallipoli in 1915; and Jack (44th Batt.) was decorated for gallantry in France. In World ÍWar No. -2 four sons volunteered for service with the A.I.F., two of whom returned from the Middle East. Fourteen grandsons enlisted in World War II, four of whom made the supreme sacrifice.
A happy recollection of the de ceased gentleman was a kangaroo hunting trip in company with the ?" late King George V. (then Duke of York) and his brother. The Princes were on a tour and put into Albany and expressed the desire to hunt kangaroos. Mr. John Hassell, of Kendenup, organised a hunt, inviting Mr. Gillam to join them. On another occasion, when supplies were urgently required on the goldfields, Mr. Gillam, accompanied by Mr. G. K. Brown, also of Cranbrook, and two other companions, made the trip through to Coolgardie from Broomehill, through practically unknown country via the then little known Holland track. On another occasion he spent a week in Perth as a guest of the "Western Mail" and was loud in his praise of the attention and hospitality of his hosts.
The late Mr. Gillam was interred in the Tenterden Cemetery on Sunday, March 3. The service at the graveside was conducted by Mr. Vaughan Oborne, after a service in the Tenterden Church.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/70501305?searchTerm=gillam&searchLimits=
[I've edited the transcription a bit to make it more readable]
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Here's a picture of John Pretious Gillam, and what he thought of Perth! He's got a look of my brother, who' a little older now at 74!
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/37666943?searchTerm=gillam&searchLimits=
Another son of Thomas Meadows passes away. Lots of family names:
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/70193769?searchTerm=gillam&searchLimits=
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Thank you Coils59 - look forward to hearing whether your friend can identify the Club Hotel in LM. F.
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Ford 1960
Re your query on Lorenco Marques - There is a John Gillam who is a lecturer at Rhodes University in Grahamstown South Africa. I studied there in the early 80's and spoke to him. Being totally ignorant of our heritage I assumed we were not related - he could be of interest to you.
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Ford 1960 - The Club Hotel was demolished about 20 years ago and the current French Cultural Centre is now on that site - This sits next to the steel house built by Eiffel of the Eiffel tower fame. Hope this helps.
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That's really helpful, Coils59. Thank you so much. Sad to learn that the hotel has been demolished, but hope Eiffel's steel house still survives. best wishes, F
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I seem to have two GILLAM families in Countesthorpe but can't find a common ancestor to link these families. One of the earliest ones on my tree is Thomas GILLAM B1616, son of Francis GILLAM, married Mary NORTON B 1618. I can't seem to link him to a number of other GILLAM's I have. I'm related to GILLAM's who came to Australia. Interested to hear from "Susieroe" as all her details are familiar to me. I have a poster of the GILLAM Manor House when it was advertised for sale.
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Hello, Graham, welcome to Rootschat :).
The Gillams are confusing because they seem to have split into 3 families, and seemed to copy each others' names at baptism. A distant Gillam cousin, a Countesthorpe village historian, did a lot of research on the family and gave me a copy of her tree. Forward from Francis, all is clear, but names and relationships before him are fuzzy and don't quite add up. Unfortunately, I lost touch with her and heard that she had sadly died so cannot check with her. But her tree gives Francis as the son of Thomas Gillam who married Elizabeth Francis of Ticknall; he had a brother Robert, born 1515 who married Mary Ward. Francis also had a brother Thomas, about whom nothing is known.
Can you state an example of one or two of your puzzling ones, I'll see if they are on the tree?
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Hi Susieroe
Good to hear from you. I've been doing genealogy for a number of years now but recently concentrating on the GILLAM's. My mother-in-law was a Gillam, daughter of Stanley George who was one of the sons of Alfred Meadows Gillam. My wife and myself have been to England a few times now but on our last visit in 2018, we called into Countesthorpe, saw the Gillam Manor House, spoke to a few people and visited the Church. One one of the memorials there was the name Joseph Horace Gillam died 13 September 1917 in WWI. I've been trying to link him into our Gillams. I've traced his line back to a Thomas Gillam Bap 28 May 1721 at Countesthorpe, he married Ann Bruin on 23 January 1757. Another "Thomas" Gillam ?? and I can't seem to link him to our Gillams. Two Gillam families in the same village....surely not! Joseph's parents were Joseph & Rebecca Gillam of Countesthorpe.
I'm from Perth, Western Australia, I have so much to say we should be communicating via our email address.
What can you tell me about Thomas G?
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Hi Susieroe
Adding to what you mentioned - I have a Thomas Gillam born about 1515, died Gloucestershire 1604, married Elizabeth Francis of Ticknell. They had a son Francis (Franciscus) born about 1570 in Ticknell, Derbyshire. I have Francis being married three times and having a number of children. The Robert born 1515 you mentioned, couldn't be the brother of Francis (there's about a 55 yr gap) but perhaps he was the brother of Thomas?
Best regards
Graham
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Yes, Robert was the brother of Thomas - it's the way I've written it, sorry! But that's the fuzzy bit; if Robert was born about 1515, then Thomas should have been born around then too, which makes him a bit old to have fathered Francis. Possible of course, but I just have a niggle that there's another Thomas in between.
Interesting that you have Thomas dying in Gloucestershire, I've not seen a record of that; I have not found a record of Elizabeth Francis, who was supposed to be a co-heir of Ticknall, she may have been a widow.
The Thomas born 1721 was the son of John and Eleanor Gillam. John was a Yeoman, but of one of the branches that split. Between 1637 and 1711 the parish registers record some parents as Yeoman/Gentleman (your line), some as Yeoman (such as John, above) and others as Labourer. All from one family, all in Countesthorpe, but different branches.
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Hi Susieroe
Yes I have traced Joseph Horace Gillam who died in WWI back to Thomas Gillam b 1721 who married Eleanor Bent but I can't find any link with these Gillam's to ours. I have no doubt they are all related but just have to keep digging to find the Gillam that links the two.
I obtained quite a bit of info from this site including Thomas who married Elizabeth Francis of Ticknall. Go to this site and see what you think? https://ourfamilystorycom.wordpress.com/2017/08/20/the-gillam-family/
I have all my records and ancestors on Ancestory.com.au
My tree is listed as the Wells Family with username GrahamWells 96. All my Gillams are listed here.
Regards Graham
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That site is my blog! :). It was a John Gillam, a farmer, who married Eliner (Eleanor) Bent, at Blaby in 1710. His status was Yeoman in his Will of1730. I have 3 candidates for John:
John, son of Robert Gillam, bapt. 1st April, 1665.
John, son of Thomas and Mary Gillam, bapt. 30th December, 1677.
John, son of Jonas and Elizabeth (nee Sleath) Gillam, bapt. 12th May, 1689.
I've been sitting here trying to wade through the minefield of Gillam parish register entries. The only John listed on the tree I have is Jonas' son. This would suggest that the other 2 are part of the other branch. By no means conclusive though....I'm not helping, am I? :-[
I don't have a subscription to Ancestry at the moment, it's a bit frustrating.
(Just out of interest, where do your Wells family come from, I have Wells on my Mum's side?)
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Hi Susieroe
I had no idea it was your blog!! Does anything need updating in that blog? Yes it is very confusing, particularly when a Thomas has a son called Thomas and so on.....same with John making it hard to decipher which is which!
My Wells come from Tysoe, Compton Wyniates, Ettington in Warwickshire. My great great Grandfather was Robert Newman Wells who sailed from London to Fremantle in 1852. I've been trying to contact a "living" Wells in England for years with no luck, although I've recently established a name of one in Stafford Upon Avon but have no contact details, apart from "writing a good old fashion letter!!".
What part of the world do you come from?
Regards
Graham
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Oh, not my Wells then, they came from Lincolnshire then Leicester. I remember visiting Compton Wynyates house when it was still open, it was lovely.
There are things I could add on my blog; I wish for instance that I could upload photos and documents, but my stupid printer won't perform scans. Did you read about Thomas Meadows and William [Gillam Pioneers] in the separate section? I was wondering actually if you have any different information about them? For one thing, I wondered if they received part of their inheritance to fund their new life; the estate became a lot smaller, reduced to a market garden by the last Gillam, Jonathan's time. There was a book written by one of your relatives over there, it is only available in the library, Albany or Perth, so I don't know what he wrote.
I'm very interested in your earlier mention of Thomas Gillam who married Elizabeth Francis and died in Gloucestershire. Where did you find this, is it family lore? If the Francis family have connections with Gloucestershire it might be the key to finding who Elizabeth was.
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Yes, the Thomas Meadows Gillam, son of Thomas Gillam & Elizabeth Robinson, born Shearsby, Leicestershire came to Albany, Western Australia. He married Elizabeth Selina Jenkins in Albany and had an extensive family from which my mother in law is related. He arrived in WA about 1834 on the "Egypt" and was an agent for PO, bred cattle to provision ships visiting Albany, built a beautiful house there, which still stands today and pioneered the Porongorups (an area south of Perth and north of Albany). Have a number of official records for him and younger brother William.
Don't know anything concerning inheritances etc of the Gillams in Countesthorpe but do have the newspaper ad for the Gillam Manor when it went up for sale in about 1919 (I'll have to retrieve it from my filing cabinet).
Thomas and Elizabeth Francis - concerning death of Thomas, I read that somewhere just recently but will need a bit more research. I have a book on Albany from the early years but if you would like to exchange email addresses, I could provide you with details including the Gillams in Aust.
What part of the world do you reside?
Best regards Graham
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This is the link to 'The Gillam Pioneers' (it doesn't seem to have appeared on my main blog)
https://ourkeatsfamilystory.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-gillam-pioneers.html
I'm sending you a private message.
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All this information has been absolutely amazing to read through, I'm a direct descendant of Thomas Meadows from Albany, and always looking for new information about the family.
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Welcome to Rootschat, caseylouise :). Lovely to meet yet another of our fascinating family.
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Thanks susieroe, your blog and this thread has been so helpful. I had old articles and information about the family given to me as a teenager, but it has been misplaced since :( I'll need to really search everywhere to see if I can find them and illuminate anymore information.