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Messages - christyb

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1
Somerset / Re: Caleb Cotton STEVENS 1842 Winsford Somerset UK
« on: Tuesday 24 September 24 19:41 BST (UK)  »
Hi Annis
Do you remember corresponding with me in August 2013?
It was about Caleb Stevens (born 1842 in Exton or Winsford) and the connection between him and the How(e) family.
I still haven't solved the mystery of where he was between his baptism in 1843 and marriage in 1868. How can someone 'disappear' for 25 years?
I haven't done a lot of research for some time but Caleb still "niggles" at me from time to time.
I hope you & the family are well.
Best wishes
christyb

2
World War Two / Re: Could LAC Donald Pike have been a rear gunner?
« on: Friday 02 October 20 23:37 BST (UK)  »
Thank you all for your information.
I omitted from my original post that on Donald's service record he was at RAF Keevil (no dates) but I assume sometime in 1943 as in June 1943 he was at RAF Cleave. Would these be for specific training?

3
World War Two / Could LAC Donald Pike have been a rear gunner?
« on: Tuesday 29 September 20 22:44 BST (UK)  »
My uncle Donald Robert Pike (Don) enlisted in the RAF in March 1940 at No 2 Recruitment Centre, Cardington.
His service number was MILITIA 958402 and after basic training became a Telephone Operator and was posted with 961 Sqn (21 Air Defence Coastal Command and UK), Dover - Barrage Balloons on 28 August 1940. 
He was recommended for Air Gunner training in 1941 and was selected in August 1942 attending the Aircrew Receiving Centre in Regents Park, London in November of that year.  He attended 14 Initial Training Wing in Bridlington in January 1943 and joined the North African Air Forces (231 Wing) in December 1943.
He was discharged in February 1946. Below are the details taken from his service record:
 
Date of Enlistment 27/03/1940 Service Commences 27/03/1940
Trade A.C.H. General Duties 27/03/1940
Employments (mustering)  A.C.H. Telephone Operator 29/08/1940 Telephonist 29/01/1942
Last Employment (Telephonist) Group III  15/04/1943
Rank;Trade  AC2; ACH/TO 31/12/1940
LAC; ACH/TO     31/12/1941
LAC; Telephonist  31/12/1944
LAC; Telephonist  1945

I always thought, through family stories, that he was a rear gunner on Wellington bombers, however as I understand it rear gunners were usually sergeants or above. Don didn’t achieve a rank above LAC so would this mean he did not complete his aircrew training and remained a telephone operator? 

4
Essex / Re: Rokeby Street and Bridge Road School Stratford
« on: Monday 03 April 17 19:38 BST (UK)  »
Sorry for delay in acknowledging your reply and thank you for the link to the Newham Local Studies Library. I'll give them a try.

5
Essex / Rokeby Street and Bridge Road School Stratford
« on: Friday 24 March 17 17:11 GMT (UK)  »
My step-father attended Bridge Road primary school, Stratford from the age of 5 to 14 (1927 to 1936) Would anyone know if any photos exist of the school and/or pupils?

He was baptised at St Johns Church in 1922. His family lived at 11 Rokeby Street, Stratford until it was destroyed by bombing in 1941, then moved to Somerset where he still lives, aged 94.

If anyone has any photos of the school or pre-war Rokeby Street they would be willing to share he would love to see them.


6
Somerset / Re: Caleb Cotton STEVENS 1842 Winsford Somerset UK
« on: Friday 16 August 13 16:21 BST (UK)  »
Hi again
You asked about Matthew & Mary How's children, they had 8:
Margaret Ann How b Exton 1845 
John How           b Exton 1847   Unmarried in 1881 aged 32 m Sarah Greenslade in 1885
Mary How           b Exton 1852   married James Sydenham (1852) in 1874
Elizabeth Anne How b Exton 1857  possible marriage Robert Middleton orJohn Pope? 1881
George How        b Exton 1858   Unmarried in 1881 aged 22
Henry How        b Exton 1860 
Ann How           b Exton 1864 
Frederick How        b Exton 1868 ? Eva Ann Greenslade married Mar 1891 reg Bridgend

The 1851 census shows them at Exton Shop and from 1861 at Vinnicombe Farm, Exton.

7
Somerset / Re: Caleb Cotton STEVENS 1842 Winsford Somerset UK
« on: Friday 16 August 13 16:12 BST (UK)  »
Hi
Firstly I'm not directly connected to the Stevens family.  It's a bit complicated but Caleb Stevens' wife Louisa Jane Peppin was the daughter of Jane Peppin with her first husband John Peppin.  After John died Jane married John Sully and they had 8 children including Walter, my great-grandfather.  So the families are connected through Jane Sully (Peppin) nee Venn.

As for William Cotton, I have no idea who he was and what happened to him.  If only Caleb had been born the previous year in 1841 we may have had some clues from the census.  I have been unable to establish where Caleb's mother Mary was in 1841, Mary Stevens was a very common name at that time and of course that census did not show where they were born, only if in census county or not.

I have found three Caleb Stevens born around the same time and checked that they are on later census records, ie from 1871 when Caleb first appears at Brompton Regis.

The search goes on!


8
Somerset / Re: Caleb Cotton STEVENS 1842 Winsford Somerset UK
« on: Wednesday 14 August 13 16:21 BST (UK)  »
Hi Annis
I have considered all possibilities, such as Caleb being brought up by William Cotton's family, or a family member, or being renamed, being taken abroad.  I have looked at all Calebs, and 8/9 year olds in Devon and Somerset in 1851. I don't understand why he would have been left off the census on two occasions  especially on the 1861 census at age 18.  As he became a saddler/harness maker he must have served an apprenticeship somewhere.  It's so strange for someone to 'disappear' for 25 years, between his baptism in 1843 to his marriage in Taunton in 1868. 
Caleb married Louisa Jane Peppin who was living with her mother and stepfather, John and Jane Sully, in 1861 at Williton, so they must have been in the same area in the years leading up to their marriage.  They were living in the same area of Taunton when they married.  On their marriage certificate Caleb's father was named as William Stevens which suggests he didn't know about William Cotton, and that he may have been brought up by his grandfather William Stevens or uncle, also William.  The mystery goes on!
I have looked into Caleb's mother Mary's marriage which took place in December 1844 to Matthew Howe, their first child Margaret was born the following year.

I'm sure your head is spinning with all this information so I'll leave it for now, but if you know any more about the family or can help in any way I would be very grateful.
Best wishes.


9
Somerset / Re: Caleb Cotton STEVENS 1842 Winsford Somerset UK
« on: Monday 12 August 13 15:37 BST (UK)  »
Thank you for your reply.  The more I research the Stevens family the more confused I become!
Caleb was baptised at Winsford on 22 January 1843.  On the West Somerset Transcriptions website his name is transcribed as Caleb Coomer Stevens however I checked the name on the register at Somerset Heritage Centre and it is definitely Caleb Cotton Stevens.  There is no father shown on the baptism register but William Cotton is shown as the father on Caleb's birth certificate (and Mary Stevens stated as spinster)

Regarding Mary Hayes' maiden name, perhaps you could appeal to some kind person who is visiting the N Devon Record Office to find their marriage record.

I am in the process of moving house so family history has to take a back seat for a while, however when I am settled I hope to get back into it.

I would love to solve the mystery of Caleb's apparent absence from the 1851 and 1861 census.  His grandchildren were told he was raised by another family - the question is - who?  His granddaughter, now aged 100, would love to know.

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