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« on: Sunday 01 May 16 20:53 BST (UK) »
Hi all. First of all, congratulations Michelle on the impeding arrival of the latest Frnch descendant. Good luck!
I will try and attach a photo of George French junior in the next day or so.
George French senior's first bakery, as far as I can tell, was on Boutport Street in Barnstaple. It's now the offices of estate agents Midwinter Koval so if you Google them you will find a picture of the building.
He then moved to Litchdon Street, 26 I think, which is opposite the alms houses. The building is still there but it's flats now (one for sale at the moment I think - funnily painted pink and yellow property if you look it up online).
His son George seems to have stayed in litchdon street, but George senior and family moved to Queen Street in Barnstaple. Most of that has gone I think. And then they seem to have gone back to Litchdon Street!
George senior's wife Sarah Gillingham is very interesting. She outlived George by about 14 years and lives the latter part of her life in the beautiful old alms houses on Litchdon street.
Don't know if you've researched her at all? She was born in Sidmouth in south Devon, but the Gillingham family came from just over the border in Dorset. Interestingly, I have been able to trace the Gillingham line in Dorset (in the village of Lydlinch) back to the mid 1500s. They also had an alternative surname "Farr" or "Farre" as they were all blacksmiths, a very well respected trade in those days.
One of the Gillingham family had a Hardy (not Thomas, but probably a relative) as a witness at their wedding.
Hope you find this interesting and not a load of info you knew already!!
I walk past George and Sarah's grave on my way to and from work very often and I always say hi
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