The world-famous SNOOKs of Lymington

[B.E.]

On a different tack, I believe we've now started to solve one of the other family mysteries - the first wife of Walter Martell Snook. He married Ruth Hawkins (b.Guestling 1883) in the Battle, Sussex, area in 1915. I reckon it was probably actually at Ashburnham where Walter was a gardener and Ruth's father a carpenter on the Ashburnham House estate.

However, there's still no evidence forthcoming of her death - which would have accounted for his proclaimed status as widower when he married my wife's grandmother in 1925. Any clues as to how I go about pinning down when she died? Any stories about anyone whom any of you have researched before who claimed to be a widower in unclear circumstances?

[Daisypetal]

Hi Brian,

If she is this Priscilla, then yes I would expect her to say she was a widow, I would think it would be strange if she said spinster when everyone in Lymington would know that she was the widow BRIGHT of the Wheatsheaf

From marriages certificates I have, I would be hoping it would say

Priscilla BRIGHT Widow  41  Father; ?? ?? DOLPHIN

If it doesn't say that at least you will find out who she was

Go on Brian, just this once

Regards
Daisy

P.S. Who's Priscilla ARMSTRONG

I have been trying to look at the 1898 to see where John BRIGHT is then, as he's at the Wheatsheaf in 1891 and 1901, but I can't get on the site at the moment. Here's the address if you want to have a look later when it will load!

http://www.historicaldirectories.org/

Daisy

[B.E.]

You'd have to be Freud to work out why I said Priscilla Armstrong. I've never heard of the woman!!

I meant Broomfield. Sorry.

Now, be careful about pushing me over the edge on the business of spending money on this mullarkey. I have only this afternoon paid £7 (seven whole quid) just to see if Walter Martell Snook's wife really did die in 1924. I'm desperately hoping she didn't so that Worthing Register Office will have to send my money back! 

But Priscilla Wossername isn't even family. Tell you what, I'll go halves with you now you're even keener than me to find out the truth!!

[B.E.]

Just to let you know that my £7 investment served only to thicken the plot!

Ruth Snook, died March 1924, was "Of Thakeham RD. Wife of Walter Snook a farmer" according to the death certificate, but the informant was HW Fry, The Occupier, The Pines, Thakeham, which is where she died. It looks as though he got her age wrong as well as her husband's occupation, but it does rather suggest that  Ruth and Walter were no longer an item. Whether Ruth and Mr Fry were an item is a different matter! It certainly freed Walter up to remarry in 1925 and might explain why he was unpopular with his second wife's family.

Had she been a servant/housekeeper at the Pines, do you think the "occupation" column would have said so?

Given that there appears to be nothing else that comes close to a record of her death, do you think it's safe to infer that this is the right woman, despite the discrepancies in detail?

[vickyhouse2002]

Henry Snook baptised 27 Feb 1824 Beaulieu, parents William & Ann

Possible siblings (i.e. all have the same parents listed):
Elisabeth 1 Feb 1818
Sarah 24 Jan 1819
George 2 Sep 1821
William 29 Mar 1825
Moses 2 Dec 1832
Alfred 1 Jul 1838

Nell

This family is listed in Comyn's New Forest book in 1817.
William Snooks and Anne (nee Picket)
living at Beaulieu rails with
Elizabeth born Jan 1817
Sarah born dec 1818.

Anne's parents listed as Thomas Picket and Elizabeth (nee Hurle)
Sarah (married Shathe) born 8 Jan 1785 - ill with 4 children
Henry born 21 June 1794
Anne (married Snooke) born 29 Oct 1798
Elizabeth born 18 June 1801   
Lived at Beaulieu Rails.

the other Snook family also lived in Beaulieu rails was
Mary (nee Harris) 1st marriage to Fielder then 2nd marriage to Snook. No mr snook listed.
Zipporah (female) Fielder born 1789 (aged 12 caused a row over boundary dispute between boldre and Beaulieu in 1801)
Jane born 3 Jan 1793
Harriet born Feb 1794
Frances (married Thomas) Feb 1796
William born Feb 1798
Betsey born June 1803

Hope this helps anyone.

[B.E.]

Thanks for taking the trouble to write that all down - as it happens, I think we have it all already, but this thread is so humungously long that I can't blame you for missing it.

I was actually in Beaulieu Rails (ie: East Boldre) at the weekend. Couldn't find any trace of the Snook(s) hovels as shown on Comyn's map, but the ham and eggs at the Turfcutters Arms was very good indeed.

I think Mary Harris/Fielder/Snook was George Snook's wife - but I have no proof. I'd really like to get some provenance for this and try to get back beyond George if possible. Any ideas?

[vickyhouse2002]

Jude James works for the Library at Lymington. They may be able to pass on a message for help if you contact them. Sometimes he can be found working in there. Not sure what he can look up for you but he may have futher details.

[B.E.]

Thanks for the tip. I'll do just that.

[bearkat]

I've lost track of this thread but ............
Here are a couple of SNOOK baptisms from the Beaulieu parish records
Elizabeth Jane daughter of William (grocer)and Jane SNOOK of Bucklers Hard 5 March 1857
William Scanes son of William (publican) and Jane SNOOK of Bucklers Hard 6 February 1859

sorry, the father was Walter