RootsChat.Com

Quote from: McDaffy on Saturday 09 February 13 20:07 GMT (UK)

Hi there Jacqui

It’s been a while since I visited this site – got distracted by my mothers Scottish side!

I’m intrigued about the Cross Keys – that is the pub that GGG Grandpa Henry Lawrence (b. Abt 1851, Swindon)had at one point.  He and his wife were originally Inn Keepers – he was also a Blacksmith & shoeing smith) at the Curriers Inn (“in the High Street, opposite the Church”).

Anyway, they had 3 children, the eldest of which was Henry Samuel (b. 1871/3).  It was Henry Samuels eldest daughter, Mary (b.1895, Co. Antrim, Ireland), who left the diary.

It seems that GGG Grandpa Henry was married 3 times and had 17 children from these 3 marriages.  According to the diary, 3 girls are in New Zealand.

Again, according to the diary, by 1897, GGG Grandpa Henry was getting itchy feet and wanted  to move up the High Street to the Cross Keys Hotel which had a wine & spirit licence.  He bought William Samuel out of the Army and, in May 1897, he took over the Curriers Arms whilst his father, Henry, moved up to the Cross Keys.

Most of the rest of the diary sheds light on life in the Curriers Arms (eg the blacksmithing & shoeing, the price of beer, the brewery agent, the Gambling Den) and also what happened to Mary when she left home, returned and met G Grandpa Albert(Little).

I don't know if any of that was of any interest to you but I'd love to hear a bit more about who your G Grandparents were and see where I can fit them in.  I'm not sure how to message privately but am happy to give you my personal email address if that is permitted.

Hope to hear from you again
Regards
McDaffy

Hi there, I have just discovered this site and am very interested in the Lawrence family as my mother Emily Rose Harris, nee Lawrence, was born in the Curriers Arms at Wotton Bassett.
There were seven children from the marriage of Sam & Clara, Annie later Little, my mother, Ivy later Boyce, Albert, Fred who died on active service in the first world war,Vera later Wallis and finally Amy later Tuck. So you wil gather from this that Albert & Annie Little were my Aunt & Uncle and lived in Ford St Swindon. They had three children, Fred Ted and Mary who were my cousins. My eldest sister Margaret Ivy James nee Harris was also born in the Curriers Arms on July 1st 1923. She is still alive aged 90 yrs. My other sister Mari Rose died a few years ago aged 76. I am the youngest of the Harris family, John Edward, aged 80 and now live in Cheltenham. several of my cousins from the Lawrence family are still alive and living in and around Swindon. I know that Grampy Sam was also a blacksmith and his forge was behind the Curriers where he also bred a few hounds for the Duke of Beaufort. Hope we can exchange more family info as time goes by.
Regards  John E Harris