RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Pernod on Tuesday 06 March 12 19:28 GMT (UK)
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Hi, can any Rootschatters out there help me please? My Great Grandfather died on 6th January 1904 in Grayswood in the district of Haslemere, Surrey. He was born in 1872 under the name of Richard Henry Cowthard. He then left the family and 'married' Elizabeth Matthews, daughter of Chorley (Charles) Matthews & Phoebe Matthews nee Deakins. I assume that he did not want his family to find him as he changed his surname to Smith and his death certificate was registered under the name of Smith.
If anybody could find out where he is buried that would be brilliant as I have been looking for over a year now and have not come up with anything - I assume that as he died quite near to Hampshire he could be buried in a Hampshire church.
Any ideas to further my search or any help would be great. Many thanks. :D :D :D
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On the death certificate what does it say in column 7 about the residence of the informant?
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Hi there, column 7 states 'the mark of Elizabeth Smith widow of the deceased, Grayswood, Haslemere' The family were hawkers and travelling showmen so they did not have a fixed address. The death certificate was signed by William A Ardagh MD.
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hi I've just joined this group so I'm not sure if this is on the right place. reading about chore Matthews daughter Elizabeth married a Dicky codard had two sons dickie and billie there dad died when they was young and she remarried a joe castle and had seven more children hope this helps
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Hi Pernod
from the burial register All Saints Grayswood
11th January 1904 Richard Smith of Grayswood aged 29
Hope this helps
Dawn
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Hi there Swingboats & dawnsh, many thanks for your replies.
My granddad was William Cothard, brother of Richard - his mother was Elizabeth Castle, Chorley's daughter. You are right that Elizabeth 'married' Dicky Codard - his real name was Richard Cowthard, his son Richard (Dickie) has Richard Cowthard on his birth certificate, his other son William (Billie) had William Smith on his birth certificate. From family talk it would appear that Richard Cowthard had run away with the fair and did not want to be found hence why he changed the name. Both Richard and William, however, were known as Cothard throughout their lives and both died under the name of Cothard. My granddad Bill died in 2002 aged 100 and is buried at St Botolph's cemetery near Steyning, he lived in Bramber, West Sussex most of his life and often went to fairs and fetes with his swingboats and roundabouts.
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hi pernod if I'm right that makes chorley Matthews your gr granddad. my gr granddad was joe Matthews chorleys brother [married ria harris ] I am helping a distant cousin do a tree on Matthews and there descendant's . any info please feel free to add [over 10;000 names to date] regards swingboats