Skews, James Edward

[Barbarajk]

Hi Kay
No, I didn't see anything on 5 th Regiment on foot.
Anywhere else to look?  Appreciate your guidance on this.  Again fascinating!

Also, would Gravesham/Gravesend have photos in the archives possibly of William Skews the confectioner as mentioned in the article?  Or even his house, number 10?  Are they accessible via Internet?  Would love to see this!

Regards
Barbara

[Barbarajk]

Thank you Jan for the document on Waterloo.  I'm still searching.  I might need to subscribe to Ancestory.com to find more info.  Not sure where to go from here.  But, I am trying to focus right now on William the confectioner from Kent.  It's a very interesting story!  I know where my next trip is going to be ... Can't wait!

[Kay99]

Hello Barbara

Many of the replies with info are from Groom.  It must be confusing with so many people replying. 

I haven't seen the cutting re William, however I haven't seen photographs in newspapers that early.  There might be something on the Kent Archives re the family but I haven't checked what they hold http://www.kent.gov.uk/leisure_and_culture/archives_and_local_history.aspx

Kay

[KSKS]

 William Skews was born in 1789 son of Sarah Skews father not known. William was baptised on 21 Feb 1790 in Bexley Kent. He served in the 5th (Northumberland) Regiment of Foot for 2 years 11 months and took part in the Peninsular War campaigns of Salamanca on 22 July 1812 and Vittoria 21 June 1813. Here he was wounded and lost his left arm. He became a Greenwich Pensioner in 1814. He married Ann Jarrett (b 1811) in 1829 in Plaxol Kent. They had many children William died in Sept 1863 aged 74 of natural causes and his wife in 1864 aged 53.

Regards

KS

[Barbarajk]

Hello K
I am so excited to receive your email!  My name is Barbara Skews Kosick, my father James Edward Skews and my grandfather, Edward Skews.  Edward came to Canada with Jemima Skews in the early 1900's.  I am trying to find information on my English family tree.  I was fortunate to visit Gravesend and Bexley, Kent this past August.  No one I spoke with had any information about the Skews family but it was wonderful to see where my relatives had once lived.  Do you have any additional information K?  I see your last name is Skews.  I would sincerely appreciate any information you would be willing to share!
Best regards,  Barbara Skews

[KSKS]

Hi Barbara

Sure there is a book on the Skews/Skuse family by a Radio presenter called Keith Skuse.
The spelling no so important there 13 variations at the last count. His book is called Cornish Heritage and has a copper coloured sleeve. Highly recommended will fill in lots of gaps. He worked on the book for over 30 years completed in 1983.

[KSKS]

Keith identified the start of the Skews family and the various branches. I'm looking for a connection to William Skews but evidently I am from  different branch of the family. Mine are from Kenwyn in Cornwall and like so many others migrated during the tin and copper mining depression in the mid 1800s. My family moved to the NE coal fields to Durham. The Skews name is derived from the Cornish word 'Skez' meaning shade, shadow.

[KSKS]

My interest in William is his military link. I have researched the 5th Regiment of Foot founded in 1694 and fought throughout the American War of Independance. William's service meant he left before the Battle of Waterloo which as you know was 1815, as a result of injuries received. All regiments were numbered up until 1881 when with Cardwell reforms they all become regionally focused for recruitment. They later became the Northumberland Fusiliers. In Williams day they were a bit special and sometimes referred to as Wellington's bodyguard.

[KSKS]

Is there anything in particular you are interested in?