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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: Gail2005 on Saturday 02 April 11 11:14 BST (UK)
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I'm trying research my line of the Gitsham family. My great grandfather was Alfred Gitsham. He was born in 1883 in Plymouth, Devon, UK.
His wife was Florence Eliza Collins. They had 5 children that I know of: William, Alex, George, Frank & Charles. William, Alex & George (my grandfather) were all killed while serving in WWII.
My Dad was only 1 when his father (George) died and his mother (Veronica Spenceley) remarried John (Jack) Evans in 1945. My grandmother has since passed on and we are finding it extremely difficult trying to go back further then Alfred.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Gail, you are very welcome. Do you have Alfred in 1891 census? I wonder if this is him but different place of birth ???
1891 RG12; Piece: 1682; Folio 53; Page 6
Union Place Exeter
Mary Ann Gitsham married 35 yrs Charwoman
Frederick Gitsham son 12 yrs Errand Boy
William Gitsham son 9 yrs
Alfred Gitsham son 7 yrs
Frank Gitsham son 5 yrs
Charles Gitsham son 3 yrs
Albert Gitsham son 8 months
all born Exeter
Do you have his marriage details- that would give a father's name.
regards
heywood
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I can't see him in 1901 yet, but there are a couple of these boys who are crew members on vessels - do you know his occupation?
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According to the 1881 census, the Father was a John Gitsham - a Thatcher.
Mary Ann sticks to Exeter as her PoB, but Frederick (eldest present in 1891) was born Crediton.
RG11/Piece 2145 Folio 68 Page 4 - Whitestone Parish, Devon in St Thomas Regn District
Back in 1891, John Gitsham is a patient in Devon and Exeter Hospital.
Marriages Jun 1873
BERRY Mary Ann Exeter 5b 167
Gitsham John Exeter 5b 167
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Hi,
There is a record on National archives site , Registers of Seamans Services, for a Alfred Gitsham born 1 November 1884, Exeter. This tallies with his occupation and pob around 1911.
As Heywood suggests best way to be sure is to get marriage certificate.
You can also find him on the 1911 census.
Best wishes
Cathy
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Thank you to all those who replied (and so quickly) :D
Unfortunately I don't have his marriage certificate. Dad was pretty sure Alfred 's place of birth was Plymouth, but as he was only 1 when his own Dad died, so this could easily be wrong.
His son William Alfred Gitsham (b 1911, d 1940) was a leading stoker on the HMS Acasta. I've seen the page on Alexander John Gitsham and also seen the memorial for the Scottish project showing all 3 of Alfred's sons that died in the war. None of this seems to give any more information on Alfred.
I do know that George was a jockey before he went away to war and he was presumed to be killed when the ship he was being held as a POW on was bombed. This information came from other people on other boats in the area. They were all told to go down below and when they came back up George's boat was missing.
I'll follow all of this information up. Please add anymore info if you find it.
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Sorry Kathy, I forgot to reply to your information. Yes, as far as I know he was a Coastguard in the Navy.
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I also remember Dad saying he was in contact with an Yvonne Gitsham (his cousin I think??) in Australia (which is where we live - Dad emigrated in 1970), about 20 years ago. She was able to supply him with a bit futher information but unfortunately it was misplaced when he moved 3 years ago.
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Marriages Mar 1908
COLLINS Florence Eliza Devonport 5b 525
COUCH Annie Burnsford Devonport 5b 525
GITSHAM Alfred Devonport 5b 525
STEPHENS James William Devonport 5b 525
I think Alfred is a Boarder in Devonport 1901 census - spelled/transcribed Gilson .... RG13/Piece 2113 Folio 140 Page 34
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Thank you, much appreciated. It is my Dad's 70th birthday in July and I was hoping to have a poster made up with his famiy tree on it, so all information and any information is wonderful. I'm not very good at researching yet, I only started last weekend when my 12 year old had an assignment to find out about his great, great, great grandfather and it inspired me to continue looking into our family.
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Florence Eliza Collins was in the Stoke District of Devonport in 1901: her Father, Thomas William Collins born c1861, Hitchin, Hertfordshire was a Royal Navy Boatswain (Bosun)
RG13/Piece 2110 Folio 182 Page 31 - Devonport
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Providing we are on the right track- and it certainly looks like it, here is John, aged 10 yrs, Alfred's father.
1861 RG9; Piece: 1475; Folio: 60; Page: 5
Reeds, Newton St Cyres Devon
John Gitsham 47 ys Thatcher b Devon Pinhoe
Elizabeth Gitsham 46 ys b Newton St Cyres
John Gitsham 10 ys b -do-
George Gitsham 6 ys -do-
William Gitsham 3 ys -do-
Sarah Gitsham 10 months -do-
James Lang Uncle widower 71 ys Agricultural labourer
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Free BMD marriages: Possible spouses:
Jun 1873 Exeter 5b 167
Mary Ann Berry
John Gitsham
Grace Mortimore
Joseph Shipley
Dec 1839 Exeter 10 150
a list of spouses but:
John Methrell Gitsham
Elizabeth Stickey Gosling
are possibles
not sure about this 1839- can't see them in 1841
marriage could also be 1838- spouse Elizabeth Vesey :-\
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Good find - cant see them either in 1841 :(
altho' there is a GEO Gitsham a Thatcher, wife Elizabeth - of the right ages in Newton Cyres:-
HO107/Piece 216/Book 6 Civil Parish St Cyres Newton Folio 4 Page 2 @ 'Live Elm'
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All these replies are great, thank you very much. It's getting late over here so I'm off to bed, I'll keep researching and keep checking back.
Thanks everyone.
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Just wondering whether these are the grandparents, they seem quite old to have such young children.
I think I may be missing a generation, but don't know where to look.
Providing we are on the right track- and it certainly looks like it, here is John, aged 10 yrs, Alfred's father.
1861 RG9; Piece: 1475; Folio: 60; Page: 5
Reeds, Newton St Cyres Devon
John Gitsham 47 ys Thatcher b Devon Pinhoe
Elizabeth Gitsham 46 ys b Newton St Cyres
John Gitsham 10 ys b -do-
George Gitsham 6 ys -do-
William Gitsham 3 ys -do-
Sarah Gitsham 10 months -do-
James Lang Uncle widower 71 ys Agricultural labourer
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Here they are in 1851 Class: HO107; Piece: 1887; Folio: 246; Page: 5
Reeds, Newton St Cyres
John Gitsham head 36 ys Thatcher b Pinhoe
Elizabeth Gitsham wife 36 ys Thatcher's wife b Newton St Cyres
Emily Gitsham daur 7 ys -do-
John Tonkins servant 20 ys Thatcher's labourer
James Lang lodger 61 ys Farmer's labourer
Mary Lang lodger 10 ys
As Mort29 says there is a couple - Geo and Elizabeth in 1841 with no children.
There are published trees for this family which give mother as Elizabeth Vesey and several children born who also died between 1841 and 1851. You could check Free BMD for any names which may be the children but only certificates would prove this.
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Thanks
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Regarding George Gitsham:
My Dad was only 1 when his father (George) died and his mother (Veronica Spenceley) remarried John (Jack) Evans in 1945. My grandmother has since passed on and we are finding it extremely difficult trying to go back further then Alfred.
I was told the transport he was on was sunk while crossing from Libya to Italy. My uncle Gordon was also a POW and was friends with George. The group were all taken prisoner after the battle of Tobruk. I heard the story several times when I was young from my uncle, father and mother. I believe my uncle and George were all in the 6th Durham Light Infantry, a Territorial unit that was part of 50 Division.
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John Vesey Gitsham & Mary ann Berry marr: 2/6/1873
Alfred Gitsham Born: 1/11/1883
died: 4/6/1969 aged 86 years.
marr: 1908 @ Devonport.
|Florence Collins
Born: 18/11/1884
died: 28/11/1974 @ East Fortune Hospital,Scotland. aged 90 years.lived in Longniddary in Scotland.
Children:
William Alfred March 1906
Twins: Elsie May and James June 1910
Florence 1911 (died in infancy)
Thomas Charles 10/1/1913
George 1915 died: 1944
Alex 1917 died: 12/11/1945
Frank 5/9/1919
Charles 19/2/1924
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John Vesey Gitsham born: 1/6/1851
died: 1897 (son of John & Elizabeth(Vesey)Gitsham marr: 9/12/1838
marr: Mary Ann Berry 2/6/1873 (born 1855 died: 13/3/1895
Children:
Emily Elizabeth born: 26/9/1874
Lousisa 1875
John(Jack)Charles born:26/12/1876 died: 14/2/1958
Frederick George born: 1879 died: 7/9/1940
William Henry Born: 14/6/1881 died: 15/8/1947
Alfred born: 14/6/1883 died: 4/6/1969
Frank born:5/1/1892 died\; 22/5/1892 aged 6 years
Charles Berry born: 22/11/1887 buries: 5/1/1888
Albert: born: 22/7/1890 died: 1890
Thomas John born:1891
Minnie Born: 7/3/1892 bapt: 23/6/1892 died: 1957
Twins: Annie May born:29/7/1893 went to USA
Florence Mary born:30/7/1893 died:11/3/1982
Albert Edward bpt: sept 1894
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Thank you for this information. Very much appreciated.
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I have the family tree going back to 1480 and daily diary of Alex when he was an oderly in the POW, if you want any more info just ask
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Hi there Gail (and Gitch)
I am Ewan Kerr Gitsham, a great grandson of Alfred and the grandson of Thomas Gitsham, son of Graham Gitsham.
Alfred moved with Florance to a village called Longniddry in Scotland where George and his siblings William, Tommy (my grandfather), Elsie, Alex, Frank and Charles all grew up.
Alex, George and William are all inscribed on a memorial in Longniddry Parish church (see link http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/warmemscot-post-40420.html) and there is a headstone to them in nearby Aberlady church graveyard.
My father was born and brought up in Longniddry as were myself and 3 other siblings and my brother Stephen recently (2010) got married in the church next to the memorial.
Myself I moved away from the village over 22 years ago and now live in New Zealand but I still visit on a regular basis as my parents are still there and will always consider it home. The original house George was brought up in still exists if you were ever interested in visiting (10 wemyss Terrace) although it is vastly changed over the years.
Gitch I am glad to hear you still have Alex's original diary he kept in captivity. We always wondered on our side what happened to it and thought it may have been lost over the years. The official army records show that Alfred signed for it along with 3 notebooks and other papers following his death. After Tommys death I received a copy of it along with one of the original Notebook of prisoners names and addresses he kept whilst at Karenko prison. I would love to meet up with you the next tiome I am back in the UK and compare papers etc if that was ok with you.
Good luck to you both.
Ewan
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Hi Ewan, Nice to hear from you,Yes Alfred was my granddads brother John (Jack) Charles. I went to stay with Uncle Alf and used to help collect the eggs with him.
I would love to meet you sometime when ever you are passing through Sherwood Forest,(I do live in Sherwood Forest, )
I have traced the coat of arms and apparently I forget his name he lives in Blackpool as a bus driver, he had a photo of a coat of arms that was inside a plastic dish. But when I started to trace it it came back as the one I use and it was as near as dam it. If you want to use it you are quite welcome to,it comes from our side of the Gitsham tree.
Take care,
regards, gitch
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Alfred Gitsham is my uncle, he was born in Exeter my grandfather was his brother. Alfred and Flo went to live in Scotland and two of their sons were lost at sea and Alex was taken a prisoner of war in Japan.
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Hi Gitch,
I'm a Gitsham from Australia and read in this forum you have a copy/picture of the Gitsham coat of arms. i was wondering if you would be willing to share it with me?
Jarrod
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Hi Gitch,
Yes keeping well, Thanks. Sorry i can't seem to respond to private messages. My account doesn't have permission.
The Gitsham line that i come from is Gerorge he was the first to arrive in Adelaide, Australia.
Thanks for allowing me to use the coat of arms. Would it be possible for you to email it to me at (*)
Thanks so much.
Jarrod
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