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Hi Sandy

Thank you very much for both the transcriptions and the pictures. These are a tremendous help.

We don't come from or live in the area but your work has shown that it is worth going to see this collection before they get a work-out type vicar who thinks he'll pick up these stones just for practice. I wonder who owns them?!? An interesting piece of gen that the Church is 12th Century. Thank you for that. Is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre a different one, or the same?

Many thanks and best wishes

Tormor

Hi Liz

Thank you very much for your exciting reply, after over 30 years poking around, it seems like Pandora's box is opening up.

I am slightly confused as you say Walter Griffiths Hollis, whereas the son we have as Walter George and the father as William Griffiths. I look forward to hearing anything which you can tell me about William G and his first family on your return. You will see my queries to Sandy, which you may be able to answer if he is unable to do so.

From his second "marriage" to Annie, he had four daughters. Annie (known as Queenie), born 9 March 1865, initially married George Hunt whose Dover ferry was bombed by a Zeppelin in the 1st World War. She subsequently married twice more and had two daughters (I think), one of whom is still alive and I have met her and hope to meet her son shortly.

The second daughter was Helen (Nell), born 9 March 1866, married 16 June 1894 George W Scott. She died 30 October 1949. I believe they had 3 sons, all died; the youngest one dying in the Navy in the 1st World War.

The third daugher, Elizabeth Mary, (Aunt Lizzie), born 6 July 1868, married Arthur Eustace, died 21 April 1946. She had 5 children, including twins; only the 3 girls survived, the boys perished in the 1st World War. I am in touch with the last of that line.

The fourth daughter, Emily, born 25 May 1874, married Tom Howell, died 16 August 1950. She had 2 sons.

Do you know if a second family was rumoured? I am convinced that they knew about each other; one of the above had a son, Frank Griffiths! Ostensibly the reason for this was that he was named after a family friend who became an alcoholic, If Frank Hollis was an alcoholic, that would seem to clinch it.

The whole family lived at Camberwell, then in Surrey, described by W G in one of his letters as fair Camberwell, which in those days it was. Annie lived with Emily after W G's death. Do you know anything about Annie? Her father was a mathematical instrument maker. W G was said to have married "beneath himself". However, Ann Sharman was a farmer's daughter. Seems like a bit more camouflage. This is the second attempt at a reply to youas the first onle got wiped. I am not always as prompt as I have many interests so am not always available for a swift response, but will always get back to you as soon as I can.

Best wishes, Tormor

Hi there Ian and lizzieh4350. I too am interested in your querie and any information on William Griffiths Hollis, assuming that this is the family to whom the query relates. I am related to this man, not his Northampton family but his LONDON family, if you get the picture! It has taken me over thirty years to unravel this oneand I have only done so in the past few weeks. In London he was William George Hannen and his "wife" was one Annie More Heane fron Northampton. She was a very upright Godfearing lady who was a Baptist , given that I can not imagine how the situation ever came about. He had four daughters in London and never appears in any of the London family photos, or any of the censii, and now I know why!Apparently he employed 207 people in his fotwear manufacturing  enterprise. Is there a list of emplyees surviving? Does Annie's name appear on it? What was the manufacturing business called and what happened to it?The affair must have started when she was about 17 as the first child was born when she was just 19. Are there any photographs of his Northampton family? What happened to his youngest Frank? What became of the others? Ihope that there is a mausoleum/vault i would love to read the inscriptions, especially if there is a eulogy.After his rightful wife died ,he married Annie in 1893 at Westminster register Office. He used to write poetry to at least one of his daughters and was obvously a very loving father who cared very much for them and in all the pictures which I have they are very well dressed, not just ordinary aceptable dress. I do hope that ther answers to my quries as I want to pursue this and find out more. He lived at 1a Sheep street. So it looks if WGHollis was your relative we are halfcousins removed xtimes!
All the very best yours aye

Tormor