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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => London & Middlesex Lookup Requests => London and Middlesex => England => London & Middlesex Completed Lookup Requests => Topic started by: adee7 on Friday 21 September 07 23:16 BST (UK)
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Two of my ancestors are listed as being born Abt 1620 in Barnard's Inn, Holburn, England. They later married and travelled to Massachusetts, U.S.
I've searched for information about the Inn but found only more recent history.
Would their families have owned the Inn or could the reference be to an area around the Inn?
Kathleen
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It was not an Inn =tavern
Holburn has long been famous as a law quarter of London. In it are situated Grays Inn, Staple Inn and barnard's Inn, together with what used to be the old legal haunts of Thavie's Inn and Furnivals Inn.
Gresham College, founded by Sir Thomas Gresham in 1597 is an independantly funded educational institution based in Barnard's Inn Holburn in the centre of London
For information on "Holburn Inns of Court and Chancery" and what life was like there and a picture of Barnard's Inn (old drawing)-fascinating information
go to
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=45122#s2
Suz
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also this describes the Inns of Chancery
http://www.online-law.co.uk/bar/lincolns/history/innof_chancery.html
Suz
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Suz,
Thanks for the information which looks interesting. I did some searching, but without knowing of Inns of Chancery, I found very little.
Regards, Kathleen
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The members of the Inn, lawyers living without women, employed a small army of servants who lived on site.
The Inn maintained a charity for poor children and those were regularly laid opn the doorstep. A childrens home was run, with women staff. The children were brought up, in turn, to become Inn servants.
The most senior of the servants were very important and well-off, such as the Senior Butler.
So, no - your ancestors did not own the Inn and were probably servants there. About the time you refer to there was a strong Puritan movement which included many lawyers, some of whom were also clergy. Some of those emigated to New England and Pennsylvania particularly and might have taken their servants with them.
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Hack,
Thanks for clarifying this for me. I read the material and realized that of course they didn't own the inn. As you say, they were probably servants as were many of my ancestors. Do you know of any material that would give me more insight into the lives of the 'ordinary' folks there?
Some descendants of the folks I mentioned, the Halladays, were involved in the founding of villages in New England and my Great-Great Grandfather was the first landowner in a town here in Ontario.
Kathleen
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Sorry, Kathleen - that was just a general guide from research I did a few years back. I am sure that Googling Servants Inns of Court will give some interesting results or even Servants Barnard's Inn.
It is now, by the way, Holborn.
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Thanks again, Hack
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Barnards Inn Tavern at no 20 Holborn was in fact an ale house at some time and my great grandfather ran it and appears on the 1881 census. The area must have had rooms or apartments or even houses as there was a confectioner at no 21.
The area has changed over the years but yes the area is primarliy associated with the Law courts. I am at present researching this area and visited Holborn last week,
The numbering system of the properties there are a nightmare and it took me a long while to find no 20.
It does have Barnards Inn engraved over the passage way that leads to Gresham College.
Unfortunately the College was closed so I couldnt look round. if you go on their website it gives you a bit of history to Berhards Inn it self .
I am going to go back ar some stage to visit the British Library close by that may have Newspaper records of the area.
My great grandfather must have had a license so I am endeavouring to find that.
If you need any help dont hesitate in getting in touch.
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[I am a Gresham College employee, which is how I came across this, but I thought that it would be appreciated if I were to fill out some details and to direct people to a couple of resources about Barnard's Inn online].
Since 1991, Barnard's Inn has been the home of Gresham College, London's oldest higher education institution (dating back to 1597, when we were initially based on Cheapside in London). We hold regular free public lectures and events within the hall.
There is a rather detailed description about the hall on our website, which can be found her:
http://www.gresham.ac.uk/form.asp?PageId=40
Here you will find the interesting aside that Charles Dickens uses Barnard's Inn as a setting for parts of 'Great Expectations', which are believed to be accurate descriptions at least of Dickens' feelings about the place (as negative as they are!).
If you are looking for pictures of the Inn, we have some nice picture (inside and out, in sun and snow) on our facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/London-United-Kingdom/Gresham-College/14011689941?v=photos#!/album.php?aid=40886&id=14011689941
I hope that this contributes to the discussion. - James
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Thanks for your information and the thought to reply much apreciated.
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I've been away from RootsChat for a while. Your extra help on this topic is very much appreciated, James and nightnurse.
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This is a bit of a long shot but have any of you found a lawyer called Charles Humphreys b. 1795 was in the "Clan of Lawyers" he was probably related to Christmas Humphreys and Teavers Humphreys though I have not found evidence of this as of yet. Any clues?
I know there was a Charles Humphreys of 5 Barnard Inn, Holborn but I am yet to establish that he was one and the same charles. He apparently was the nephew of Peter Paul Benazech.
Does any of this help anyone at all
Thanks
Charles
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hi
searched for your Charles Humphrey and found the entry to the Grays Inn admissions between 1521 and 1889 in the year 1836
17 Nov 1836 Charles Humphrey Barrister of Law of Lincolns Inn aged 30
Only Son of Charles H .... of Cambridge Banker
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Well that is kind of you.
My Charles Humphreys was born in 1795 and his son Charles was Christened is December 1839.
Sounds like they were part of the same family as it was usual to call the first borne Charles. I have a hunch that if Charles had a cousin or nephew that he may well have called his son Charles just as their fathers would have done before them.
You would happen to know if anyone of these Charles Humphreys worked for W C Humphreys at Humphreys and Percival????
Thanks
Charles
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I should add that I know these a very well to be two separate lines but I can't help thinking they re related.
Charles
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Hi
Where was your Charles born? to give me an idea of who I am looking at.
When did he die and did he appear on the census at all.
Regards Carol
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Hi this is very nice of you.
I can send you some documents that I have over the email.
My email is * and we can communicate this was as I can attach things.
But in answer to your question he appears on the 41 census onwards. Living in Stanford Hill. You can identify him as his wife was Eliza (might have been a short version of Elizabeth) and he had 7 daughters and 3 sons, however, ambrose wasn't born until around 1843. So he doesn't appear on the 1841 census but he does appear on the 1851 of course. He lived at least from 1841 at no. 1 Victoria Place
Here is the possible street name - there is several streets or roads but I can find a place but this gives you the idea. He would have been a reasonably wealthy man.
This is the only Victoria Place in London that I can see but this is Richmond.
Do you have access to acenstry.com.au or do you have access to New.familysearch.org then you could see al things or I can send you a PDF of what it all looks like.
Thank you so much
Charles
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