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The army records for my great grandfather's brother, Samuel McMurray, state that he was born in Shercock, County Cavan, and a few years ago someone at Cavan Genealogy found his baptism on 22 February 1829.  Samuel's younger brother, my great grandfather Robert McMurray, married Anne Gordon at The Meeting House, Bailieborough, on 8 December 1857 so I am assuming they were Presbyterian.  I have never been able to find the baptism of my grandfather, Robert McMurray, born around 1834, nor that of his younger sister, Elizabeth, born around 1843 and wonder if anyone has access to church records for the Presbyterian church in Shercock or nearby Bailieborough.  According to Samuel's baptism, their parents were Robert and Elizabeth.  Any help would be much appreciated.

Hello Bryan

Trevor's mum, Mary Dickens appears to have died aged 69 in Dec Q 1945 reg Wellingborough which was around the time mum left the LandArmy and her husband Arthur's death appears to be registered Jun Q 1959 aged 85 also Wellingborough.  I have found a photo of the farmhouse at South Hill Farm on http://www.geograph.org.uk and mum recognised it straight away.  There are a few other photos also showing the surrounding area and tracks running up to the farm.

I, too, have found children born Dickens/Holloway in 1952 and 1962 but not yet pinpointed any marriages. 

I agree with you that the birth of Arthur George H Dickens registered Brixworth 1897 is probably 'George' in regard to the 1945 electoral roll.  Brixworth seems to cover a lot of areas including Moulton and Boughton, the birthplaces of 'George' and his father Arthur respectively.

As yet, I've not found a death for 'Trevor's wife, Nora, so she may well still be living.

So much information from both you and Sandy in such a short time.  Thank you.

Christine

Hello Bryan

You have solved the mystery for me and I can't thank you enough! I will see if the name 'Dickens' rings a bell with mum.

I think that mum was probably at South Hill Farm and not Brook Farm thanks to your research.  She joined the Land Army 3 May 1943 and left 31 October 1945 and worked on the same farm whilst she was in Northamptonshire.  She was first billeted at Denton, then moved to Wilbye Grange, of which I've found a photo.  It's such a coincidence that the Dickens lived at both Brook Farm and South Hill Farm.  I'm wondering, though, where Derek Trevor Dickens was in 1939 and 1945, although he did marry in Jun Q 1945 and wonder what date the electoral rolls were taken.

I have looked at old photos and maps of Wellingborough Station and there is a footpath on the left hand side of the track which appears to lead up to Mill Road and then up further to Finedon Road where Brook Farm was.  This was the track which I initially thought my mum would have taken but it seems much more probable, especially in view of the 1945 electoral rolls that she was at South Hill Farm.  This seems to have had much more land around and I have some photos of mum in the fields on the farm if you would like to see them so you know who you've been researching for 

The reason I couldn't find a marriage for a Trevor, father George, is because you found he was actually christened Derek Trevor and his father was Arthur George.  I've think I've found Arthur George Dickens on he 1901 Census living with his parents Arthur and Mary at Weston Favell and on the 1911 they're at Grange Cottages, Overstone.  Not sure about the Brixworth connection as according to the census Arthur Dicken was born at Boughton and his wife Mary at Moulton.

I would never have got any further had it not been your visit to the NRO today.  I had looked at South Hill Farm as being a possibility but thought it was a little too far away. Taking another look at the Ordnance Survey Map 1948, I can now see the lane across from the railway station that leads up to South Hill Farm.  I had a look on Google Earth to see if the farm still stands and it appears that it does, although the track/lane where my mum would have walked up looks to have disappeared and it seems to be accessed from Irthlingborough Road.

Looking at the 1945 electoral roll, it seems my mum was correct when she said that George's parents also lived on the farm and she remembers two brothers living there who may well be the ones listed after the Dickens family.

You've given me so much to go on and my aim is to research more about the Dickens family and try to trace any descendants of Derek Trevor Dickens and his wife and maybe I'll take mum down to see the farm where she worked in the early 1940's.

Once again, thanks for all the work you've done for me, it's much appreciated.

Best Wishes
Christine 

Hi Bryan

Thank you so much.  You've been very helpful!  I was wondering myself if Brook Farm might have other occupants by the 1940's, although I know that many farms did pass through families from one generation to another.

I have spoken to Melody at Wellingborough Museum and we had a really interesting chat.  Thanks to you she knew all about my quest and I've sent her an e-mail with all the info, together with my mum's Land Army certificate and several photos of her in Land Army uniform, two of which were taken in the fields on the farm.  Melody is going to try and send me the photos of the Land Army girls they have at the museum.

I hope, after all this, that I have located the right farm but as far as I can see this is the only one within a 15 minute walk of Wellingborough Station up a track as mum said.

I really appreciate your offer of a visit to the Record Office if possible.  Once again, thanks for your help.

Christine