St Cleers, Somerton, SOM

[lynda]

Does anyone here know Somerton in Somerset at all? From certs and the census records I know my EDWARDS' lived in St Cleers but there seems to be a few streets in the town with this name so how do I know which was home to my lot? Also, the above mentioned certs and census don't give a house number just St Cleers so is there anyway I can learn exactly which houses they lived in? I have the same problem for those living in West st. I don't even know if they owned or rented their homes. I am *hoping* to visit the UK later this year and would like to go see Somerton for myself so am trying to get as much info as I can before I leave here.
Thanks!
Lynda

[PLS]

Lynda

My family (Sawtell) also lived in St Cleers - in 1881 this was found from census of that year - have visited area - lots of new housing now but have attached photograph of some of the old houses still there. I was unable to identify the exact houses.Tried counting by moving from houshold to household via census info but with no luck.

I found site www.old-maps.co.uk useful for looking at St. Cleers at that tome.

I found Somerton to be a surprisingly nice small English village. - Best of luck

Paul

[lynda]

Thanks for telling me about St Cleers Paul, I can't find the pic you attached but that's OK. I'm still planning to visit the UK and see it all for myself.
Lynda
Australia

[doidydee]

Hi! We live in Somerton & my husband's family first moved to St Cleers in 1888. The cottage they bought was just referred to as "the Cottage" in the deeds at that time. It was later named Aljoy when his parents (3rd generation)moved in. My husband is a postman, so very familiar with the area. The original St Cleers was just a few cottages though there are lots of new houses there now.What years would the Edwards have been in St Cleers?  It may prove helpful for you to contact local historian Nancy Langmaid who is trying to compile a site re old houses & families in the area?
If we can be of any further help please get in touch. doidydee

[lynda]

hi Doidydee,
thankyou very much for replying. My g grandparents Stephen George and Hannah EDWARDS were living in St Cleers in the 1881 and 1891 census'. Unfortunately the census doesn't give a house number so I don't know just where in St Cleers they lived. My paternal grandfather Joseph Edwards was born there in 1888.

I am also interested in learning whether St Cleer's was the poor end town or whether the families there were doing OK for themselves. Stephen was a thatcher usually but one records lists him as a market gardener and yet another has him as an ag lab. So I wonder what his living conditions were.

Many thanks for giving me Nancy's details, I had not known of her until I found your message and I will certainly contact her.

Lynda
Melbourne
Australia

[doidydee]

Hi! Thanks for your email. Would you be happy to forward me your em add:? My husbands cousin has est your family lived 3 doors from my husbands, now we have to work out in which direction? Can tell you more re the area etc but think it may be easier to em you direct? Thanks Doidydee
ps Have an old pic of my husbands family home, I can em you & obviously can help with at least a recent pic of where your relatives lived once we establish which cottage? So glad to be of some help to some one as we have had so much help fom other people.

[lynda]

hi again, yes please do email me on MODERATOR COMMENT: email address removed to avoid spam and other abuses. Please use personal message system to share email addresses. Thank You
I would love to try an help with anything I can.
Lynda
PS I have emailed Nancy this evening

[PLS]

doidydee
You may also be able to help me on this?

My G G Parents William Sawtell and Eliza Scriven lived in St Cleers at the timne of the 1881 census. William was an agricultural labourer at that time. By 1991 census he had moved to Bancombe Road and was a stone mason. A long shot, but your family may have bought you cottage from him??

Any thoughts?

Paul

[doidydee]

Thanks for your email. Our family the Smiths bought their cottage from Thomas Davey. Quite a bit of land round there belonged to the Davey family. We know exactly which cottage it was as it was in the family until 4 years ago. We are trying to work out with the help of the census exactly which cottage the Edwards lived in? . My husbands family are the Smiths. We still live in Somerton. Where are you? We will be happy to try to help you. doidydee