Illusive Grandad! Henry Jesse Lovell

[Geraldine Girl]

Yes I was very surprised to see him as a Cattle Valuer,quite a different occupation for him. Maybe he lied at his experience in that field,But also from Papers Past he was a judge in Photography section at A@ P show at Orari .Dont think he was a professional photographer ,he did colour photos as did my Dad. So he was a Jack of Trades and Master of none really. He is an Enigma!

[Lucy2]

I also found a H Lovell arriving on Maheno in July 1920 to Auckland he was born circa 1888 and entry was Immigration.From UK. A bit young for mine I guess .

Please be aware that the "Maheno" (arrived Auckland - 20 July 1920) sailed from Sydney,   That would mean that the person H. LOVELL on this voyage, had been in Australia.
[The "Maheno" appears to be the (Union Steam Ship Co. ? ) vessel which made regular trans-Tasman voyages for many years.
It probably wasn't a ship which brought immigrants from the UK in those years. ]

   ~  Lu

[Lucy2]

Yes I was very surprised to see him as a Cattle Valuer,quite a different occupation for him. Maybe he lied at his experience in that field,But also from Papers Past he was a judge in Photography section at A@ P show at Orari .

Hi  ... are you able to give us some dates (or links) relating to these newspaper (and other) finds, please ?

  ~   Lu

[Geraldine Girl]

1939 was the Photography one and at Skipton Bridge as a cattle valuer in 1929 Lu.

[Geraldine Girl]

Archives suggested I look at Wises Directory but I dont have access to that.I cant imagine he would pay a massive fare to NZ so perhaps he had assisted passage or paid his way.My Grandparents dont appear to be wealthy,presuming thats why RSA paid for his entire funeral?

[Fresh Fields]

I think to be a cattle valuer, you would need some background knowledge.  You have your valuers who can get you the best price in cattle from another seller (that is going privately, and not through the cattle sales) or you have the valuers who work on behalf of the meat works.   In saying that, I am not sure how it worked back then, but these days non-farming background people, usually have training. 


Cheers
KHP

KHP as you are aware for 45 years my business has been buying in cattle in store condition and finishing them off for market. In that time I've rub shoulders with hundreds of livestock agents and valuers'. While most had formal, or on the job training, and coming to that industry with a rural background helped, many did not. Anyone could set themselves up as a middle man livestock agent as an independent or seek employment as a staff member of either a Stock & Station Agency, or one of the meat slaughtering and or exporting companies. Seasonal lamb drafting for the UK Christmas market was always an issue getting enough drafters on the road.

All they needed was self confidence and an eye for livestock. Gift of the gab helps in the first instance.

Staying in the industry was the trick, and to do that they had to get results for their client. They were only as good as their last successful hand shake. Many were/are full of promises and don't deliver consistent results therefore there can be a high turnover.

Why I always made myself responsible for the yearly purchasing of replacement livestock.

- Alan.

[Daisypetal]

Hi,

In regards to the Henry MCSPORRAN b.1854 son of Robert and Edith, I think that this could be his death,

Henry MCSPORRAN    Mar Q 1910    Isle of Wight    2b  441
Age:  55

I can see him in all the censuses as unmarried but I wonder if it's possible that he is the Henry in the christening of Henry Jesse SPORRAN b.1880 in Kent?  I can't see any Henry SPORRAN - Amy ??  marriage.

Daisy

[jorose]

For Merchant Seamen, if he served after 1918, there is an index to the record cards which are at Southampton Archives:
https://www.southampton.gov.uk/libraries-museums/local-family-history/southampton-archives/index-merchant-seamen.aspx

You can also search an index of Merchant seamen here, but it won't give as much information as the original cards would.
https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1762440


Presuming that the 'Pritchard' name he didn't pull out of thin air, this man might be of interest.
Henry Pritchard, b. 15 Dec 1881, Poplar, signed up to the Royal Navy 1897:
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6702726

There is no Henry Pritchard birth registration that matches up with that birthdate, as far as I can see (should be registered Dec 1881 or Mar 1882 quarters) - possible he changed his birthdate or didn't know his true birthplace or birthname - often young boys who went into the Navy did so from industrial schools and the like.


Also possibly of interest, this boy in 1891, Harry Pritchard aged 10 living with grandparents:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4QTR-7T2

He is not the "Henry James Pritchard" born 1880 in that area - that's the son of James Pritchard b. 1847 and is with his family in the same census.

Following the family back in time shows they had many children including a 'Kate Pritchard'
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKX9-418Z
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VFDB-VL7

James Pritchard married Elizabeth Blake in 1863. He was married before, so some of the children seen 1871 onwards are his with his first wife:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7C3-44Z

But "Kate" isn't - possibly she was born Blake and was the mother of "Kate Blake" listed as a granddaughter in 1891?

I think "Kate", the younger in 1891 may have been born "Florence Kate S Blake" in 1880. She's not the "Florence K S Pritchard" who married in the area in 1921 - that's a woman born 1895.

It's possible that "Harry Pritchard" in 1891 is the Harry Edward Pritchard born March 1881 Whitechapel district - he appears in the Eling area in 1901:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSXN-G1Y

He is listed as 'boarder' here but "Amelia Abbott" is nee Pritchard so is his aunt if he's from the same family.  He seems to disappear after 1901, or at least I can't find him. Neither can I spot possible sister/cousin Kate/Florence Kate.

[Geraldine Girl]

Interesting theory! Thankyou all so much for participating in this hunt of mine! Thinking outside the square is the way to go for sure. HJL went to great lengths to keep his past a secret it seems so must have been hiding something? Maybe his real first name is Henry and has borrowed the rest? The Pritchard name is Welsh isnt it? Because Dad always said we had Welsh blood we just accepted the fact our Grandad was Welsh.He named me Olwyn for that reason so maybe there is a Welsh connection somewhere???