Watts Yard. Oxford

[DJFRENCH]

sorry !!! Q1 1904

[Julieharris]

Yes I have that.  He was Grandson to Susannah, son of Eli Robert and Annie Ewers.

Will do some diggin around tonight 

[Julieharris]

A huge thank you for Maggie Jo for the following...what a true star.

Kelly's 1939 Directory Private Residents Oxford shows

Ewers Wm. Ernest 29 South Parade.

So now we still have a Ewers living there in 1934, at the moment I need to work out who William Ernest was, it was not one of Susannah's children, but of course it may be a grandson!!!

We only have 40 odd more years to uncover up to the house clearance 

[avm228]

There's a birth reg for a William Ernest Ewers, Dec 1904 Headington 3a 1022...

Anna

[Julieharris]

Hi Anna

Yes I found that also, still trying to work out who's son he was, so far no joy

I may need to apply to the reg office.

Will keep looking for now.

Thank you

[DJFRENCH]

Hi Julie
i also found a baby girl Ewers who was 0 years at death. I looked thru 1901 - 1906 so far. Have you already done it ? All the years i mean ? I will be goin to Oxford soonish with my daughter so if all else fails i will look for you when i go at the study centre.

[Julieharris]

Hi DJ

I have seached all over for Susannah's death but no joy. 

It was suggested to me that I find where Susannah's husband Edward Ewers is buried. We may find Susannah there too??  I think this is a good idea and will start searching for his burial.  We know he died in 1909 and in 1901 he was living in No.29 South Parade.
 
Susannah had 6 sons and 2 daughters. I am still trying to trace William Ernest Ewers who was recorded living in the house in 1934. I think he may have been a grandson to Susannah. She had 6 sons and 2 daughters!  I know it was not my gr grandfather as I have already traced him of course.

I think it would a whole lot easier as I have his death reg is to get his birth cert.  May save many hours of hunting!

I really do hope a members of Susannah's family were still at No.29 when the house clearance took place, that would be so wonderful news.

Julie

[Julieharris]

Hi update for anyone still interested in Watts Yard.

I am still searching for who was living at 29 South Parade in the 1970's to find out who was living there when the bible was found in the house clearance.   I have got hold of a 1973 Kelly Directory and was gutted to find no. 29 is missing!  It has South Side from no. 32 to 44 and North Side no.1 to 28!!!   ahhhhhhhhh.


Anyway back to Watts Yard.  DJ posted this

"bingo...it's mentioned in 21  district 1891 .... but it looks like
Wyatts Yard....the "t's" were not crossed
it says.... all the houses on the woodstock road without distinct names but some times called Wyatt's yard Crappers row etc"

I did have a look at the time and found Crappers living in Watts Yard, Watts living in Crappers Row!!!  so confusing

Anyway I have found Wyatts Yard. Here is the listing from the 1973 KellysDir. I have mapped it on Microsoft Live Search.

So coming out of Oxford along the Woodstock Road....

250 Woodstock Road - St Emunds School

...here is South Parade

254 Wakenell Thos
256 Harris Cyril
260 Cox Alb
268 Red Lion PH
       Alexandra Tennis Courts
272 Woodstock Arms
274 Scrogges E Newsagent

..here is Wyatts Yard

276 Corlatt Wm
276 Summertown Garage (Collier & Sims Prop)

...here is Regiment Road.

Julie

[Julieharris]

Hi to those that followed by search of Watts Yard and the discovery of my gr gr gr grandfathers Robert Harris (1824) bible that was taken from No.29 South Parade in the 1970's following a house clearance.  The gentleman who undertook the house clearance gave the bible to his son about 25 years ago.

I have managed to establish after some months of research that the bible was handed down to Robert's daughter Susannah Harris who married Edward Ewers in 1868.  Susannah and Edward moved into No.29 sometime after 1891. After Susannah death in 1926 their son Herbert lived at No.29 and after his death in 1938 his son William lived there up until 1971.  When William died in 1972 they had moved to Pennywell Drive (death cert).  I am still trying to establish why after all this time the family moved from No.29 and the exact date but am almost sure that when they did move to Pennywell Drive they left the bible behind.

However here is the exciting bit.  The gentleman that had 'looked after' the bible for some 25 odd years before finding a rightful 'heir' decided he would clear his fathers shed out and to his surprise found another bible! This time it was the bible of Susannah Harris (as above)  complete with history. There are many artifacts in the bible including some embriodered bookmarks, peices of silk, stitchings etc.

I was very fortunate to have been united the first bible but am astonished to be united with another.   Who says lightening never strikes twice 

Julie