Pirton Genealogy

Please let the website have details of any new information you get for the benefit and encouragement of others.

Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2003 4:10 PM

Subject: Re: Genealogy News - Pirton website

Thank you so much for that very interesting article. This is unbelievable but Alfred Raymond JENKINS is yet another link in my chain of Pirton ancestors, he is my 1st cousin 3 times removed. His mother Elvina Elizabeth Jenkins nee CARTER was the daughter of Henry HALFPENNY and Rhoda CARTER, and granddaughter of William CARTER and Sarah WOODFIELD, my 3 x G grandparents! It seems Elvina was born about a year before her parents were married, something that happened more often that one would expect back in those times. Thus Brenda and Barbara seem to be my 3rd cousins twice removed.

I am attaching here (see carters or goldsmiths-2v1-(ps004) in the historic photograph archive section) a copy of a photograph that my Grandmother Clara Harris nee CARTER, daughter of George CARTER and Ellen GOLDSMITH, had kept amongst her possessions. Unfortunately I don't know who these people actually are or the year it was taken but could possibly be George and Ellen in Pirton, he died aged 25 January 1883 and was buried in St Mary's graveyard.

I have a little bit of information on Joseph French, he was my 2nd cousin, 3 times removed. Was born in Pirton in 1889, and died in action 4 September 1916 on the Somme, son of William Henry French and Mary Ann Maria (Reynolds) French. Mary Ann was the granddaughter of my 4 x G Grandparents John REYNOLDS (1775) and Ann BONFIELD (1783)

I am very interested in your Walkers, am very excited that you have contacted me. Have been busy all day and it is now 1.30 a.m.!!! so I must
go to bed. Is your file very big? I have so many people on my programme (all from different families) as I do a lot of genealogy so I have over
90,0000 names. With gedcom I have to go through each name individually otherwise I can really mess up my information. If there is no other way I would love the gedcom but I was wondering if the file was not too big could you print it to the harddrive and copy it to a floppy. Because of the amount of information I have I have a very high level of security on my anti-virus and cannot open attachments because of the terrible virus problem around at the moment.

So close to Christmas now it might be a bit awkward for me but as soon as I can I will do a printout of what I have and will actually post it to you if you will send your address. My address is 27 Kooloora Avenue, Harbord, NSW
Australia 2096

From what you say think your George might be the cousin of my George so I will be so grateful for any clarification.

I have Walkers in my family tree from Pirton, several Georges and James, including James Walker who married Selina Goldsmith (my GG Grandparents) in Pirton on February 18, 1860. James was the son of William Walker and Mary Odell, and grandson of Thomas Walker and Ann, if these Walkers are of any interest to you, let me know and I can send you a GEDCOM.

I have just sent you a new link to my website (see above), hopefully this one will work. I have done a lot more research and found that the Goldsmiths and Carters seem to have married into most of the families that lived in Pirton during the 18th & 19th centuries, including the Reynolds, Mennard, Shepherd, Gray, Walker, Males, Young, and Wilshere families etc. Seems to have been a lot of cousins marrying cousins, and I have a feeling that most of the villagers were related to each other somewhere down the line, something that I suppose happened in many small villages in the past.

My maternal Great Grandmother was Ellen Carter, widow, maiden name Goldsmith, who married a Walter Vine as her second husband on 11/9/1886. However I am descended from the first husband, Carter, and would like to trace Ellen and her ancestors if possible. My Grandmother was Clara Carter who was also born in Pirton, prior to 1886, I do not have an actual birth date for her. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you,

Hi Jonty, thanks for your email. I have found out a little bit more, for example that Ellen Goldsmith was born circa 1859, George Carter 1858, and they married in Hitchin 1877, had 3 children, Jane (5), David (3), and Clara (1) at the time of the 1881 census. They had at least 2 more children after 1881, John and Elizabeth, and I can remember visiting my great aunt when I was a young child, in Pirton, I remember a small thatched cottage hidden behind trees. George Carter died at a young age just before 1886, I don't know exactly when. I think I have found a sister for Ellen, Sarah Goldsmith, born 6/2/1856. It would be nice to find information on the Goldsmith parents now and also the Carter side, so that I can go back further in time.

Three Goldsmiths are mentioned in the 1841 census, Geoge age 20, Sarah 18 and Helen 70, all living at Great Green. In 1851 there are 3 Goldsmith families living at Great Green and Little Green, and the Carters first appear, with 3 families originating in Hexton, and all living at Great Green. In 1861 there are the same 3 Goldsmith families, but only 1 Carter family. 1871 we have 4 Goldsmith families and 2 Carter families, and 1881 4 Goldsmiths and 2 Carters. As far as I can see from my research so far other names marrying into the Goldsmith and Carter families are Mabbott, Abbis, Stapleton, Titmuss and Halfpenny.

I am planning a visit to Pirton to maybe look at church records and gravestones. Could you tell me if there is more than one church in the area, the Carter family in 1871 were noted in the census as living 'near the church', other addresses mentioned were Burge End and Wet Lane, are these places still there? Also could you tell me where I might find a detailed history of Pirton.

If you can help in any way or would simply like to get in touch, please email or write at the address above or via me on jontywild@pirton.org.uk
Even if you don't have email, but have a friend or family that do, why not give it a go and contact him that way, you'll be surprised how easy it is! - Jonty

Searching for information of ancestors: Carter, Goldsmith, Mabbott, Abbis, Stapleton, Titmuss and Halfpenny.