7 February 2010

Just the two . . . .

We're starting today with a wedding, so come along with me to the parish church in Somersham in the old county of Huntingdonshire. Today in 1831 this church saw the marriage of Charles Mallison and Martha Bullard; my second cousin four times removed, Martha was the oldest of the seven children of James Bullard & Sarah (nee Fear) who was born in the village in 1813. Charles, a Norfolk boy, transmogrified into a farmer/publican and the couple were to be found at the Three Horse Shoes PH between 1841 and 1861, moving to the Queens Head by 1871. What is it about farmers of the time - they often seemed to have a pub too; maybe the wife ran the pub whilst the husband was out in the fields?? Anyway, Martha died in 1879 and Charles lived on until 1887, still in Somersham. As far as I can see there were no children.

Moving on, but staying on the same side of the family tree, let me introduce you to Thomas Kington. My great-great-great-great-grandfather was the younger of two children of Frederick & Mary and was christened today in 1768 at St Michael's church, Blaston, Leics. He married Sarah Shortland by licence in St Ives in 1792 and they went on to have six children. Sarah died in 1825 in St Ives, and I found Thomas, a butcher, in 1841 living in Bridge Street, head of the household which included his daughter Sophia and her husband Charles Culpin with their family. By 1851 he was in Peeks Yard, St Ives, a retired butcher, sharing his house this time with a housekeeper. He died in March 1853 in St Ives.

Nothing terribly thrilling (no disrespect, ancestors dear!) but I shall rootle around for an exciting detail for later in the week . . . . .

More soon.

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