Chat/message board!
Click Here to add your message or suggest a topic of discussion!
Topic 2 - Continued
Family Ties!
Messages from relations and
descendants of previous village inhabitants looking to share their
knowledge or trace family members.
Subject: Milford family. From:
Susan Milford - USA
message - 14/06/2002 - What a fun and informative website. I have visited a number
of times and always enjoy.
I am researching my husband's family. William A Milford, born Dec 1811, came to USA with his wife Elizabeth Chapple
and her family in 1840. They brought two children with them, also born in High Bickington, Bartholomew b.1838 and
William C b.1836. The boys were christened at Bible Christian Church in Ashreighney. I have so far been unable to link
up to any family there, although I see a number of Milford's in the burial records. Does anyone have any suggestion
as to where I could write for any help with linking up with information about these family roots. Thanks for any
suggestions.
Your village seems like a lovely place. I live in middle America, so I do not forsee a visit soon, but perhaps someday!
Susan Milford
Click Here to reply to this message.
From: jackie freeman
Message - 01/11/2002, I am researching my mothers family and have traced them to High Bickington. my gggggrandfather was
John Milford born 1791 and married Susanna they had a son John Milford born 1828 in Ashreighney and the list goes on.
Thankyou for tombstone details it gives me some dates to use. If anyone knows anything about this line please could they
advise?
Regards Jackie Freeman.
From: Susan Milford
Message - 02/02/2003, Hi Jackie Freeman: I wrote the query about William Milford and family. How do I reach you if you
check back in, so we can compare notes on the Milford family. Susan Milford
P.S. Thanks webmaster--still one of the most thoughtful, informative sites on the web.
From: Charles Cole
Message - 16/11/2003, Hello Jackie,
Fascinated to see you are descended from John Milford who married Susanna Cole of Ashreigney. I have written a book all
about her family, The Cole Family of Ashreigney". Please get in touch:
Charles@upcott65.freeserve.co.uk
Charles Cole
Subject: Clemett family. From:
Peter Simonsen - New Zealand
message - 10/07/2002 - Hi, Great Site.
I was loking at your burial records of Sarah Clemmet (180) she was married to Thomas Clemmet.
I am researching my family history and know that the Clemmets that came to NZ were from Devon, William Thomas Clemett was the
son of Thomas Clemett and Sarah Matthews is this possibly his Mother, do you have any parish records on this family? I would
be very interested to know as my search so far as yielded very little.
Hope you can help
Regards
Peter
Click Here to reply to this message.
From: Webmaster
Peter, tried to send you a message but the email was returned saying your server was not found. Perhaps you can
confirm your email address? Unfortunately we can't confirm if Sarah is the person you are looking for but will let you
know if our research turns anything up later.
From: Shirley Kruse
message - 18/10/2005
Hello Peter!
I just came across your query regarding information you want pertaining to Sarah Matthews Clemett and Thomas Clemett;
also, William Thomas Clemett. I would need some dates of births to establish if we would be related. These names show
up in my family lineage.
My grandmother was a Clemett; her father and mother were from the Devon area in England; I have traced back 6 Generations.
I have been working on our family tree for five years now and the progress has been incredible. Perhaps I can be of help to
you.
Shirley Kruse (Clemett, Brown, Metcalfe)
From: Neville Clemett
message - 24/04/2009
Hello & Greetings from Christchurch, New Zealand.
Christchurch is the largest city (pop approx 400,000) in the South Island of New Zealand My name is Neville Clemett, and though I now reside in Christchurch, my home town in New Zealand is a small seaside village
of some 4000 residents situated about 200 km north of Christchurch, named Kaikoura.
I have read your web page on High Bickington, with interest as my ancestors lived in your region in the 16 - 18th centuries - in the villages of High Bickington, Frithelstock, Newton St Petrock, Little Torrington, Merton
and Bideford.
In 1821, my 2nd Great Grandfather Christopher Clemett was born in High Bickington and he and his family moved to Kaikoura, New Zealand, after a short stay in Ballarat, in Australia. Christopher died in 1908 and is
buried in Kaikoura along with his wife and several of his children.
Of particular interest to me and our extended family is how our family name was derived/changed by Christopher's ancestor Christopher ClemeNT (b 1709 Little Torrington) & his wife Mary Smalle (b 1713 Little
Torrington). Their children were all born / registered in Newton, St Petrock as having the ClemeTT surname rather than their parent's name of ClemeNT.
Possibly it may have been simply due to a transcription error by a Church registrar @ St Petrock. It was this "name change" that resulted in the Clemett family name originating around the world as Christopher &
Mary's children moved from Devon.
Various "Clemett/Clement families in the Torridge region were listed as having rural based vocations such as "farmers, Thatchers, Malsters etc" and seemed to have a very settled life in Devon since the 1600's.
It would be appreciated if any of your associates are able to email me with any information (or web addresses) which may provide details and present day photos on the aforementioned Devon Villages. It would also
be of assistance if I could discover what could have possibly been the reasons or circumstances in the 1840 - 50 period in England which may have caused them to leave what seems to be a very beautiful region in
Devon, to travel and settle on the other side of the world.
Thanking you in anticipation,
Neville Clemett.
Subject: Reverend Plummer. From:
Bernard Plummer
message - 26/07/2002 - To my shame I have only just discovered this Website and I am delighted that H.B. appears
to be thriving my father was rector of H.B. from 1945 to 1974 when he retired although I moved to London in 1959 I still
have many good memories of the village I wish you all well and hope to return some day.
BERNARD
Click Here to reply to this message.
From: Webmaster
Dear Bernard,
Very nice to hear from you, I remember your father well even though I was only of early primary school age when he was
rector, it may have been because he was tall but I remember he always 'put the fear of God' so to speak, into we youngsters.
I remember having been given some pocket money and asking my mother if I could go to the shop and buy sweets with it, she
said no because the shop wasn't open and I must not have believed her as I sneaked out the back door and was stopped by your
father pedalling my tricycle up the High Street still in my pyjama's, he was on his way to prepare for that Sunday mornings
church service. Having explained to me that the shop was closed on a Sunday he took me home for a good ticking off by mum!
I also remember believing he was a magician! This came about when 'Nurse' Stear took me to a communion
service one day, she had explained that communion was for the adults and as I was the only child there I felt I had been
privileged to attend anyway. But when your father asked the congregation, and me in particular to look toward the stained
glass window at the back of the church, which has a round window with a bird on it, and he would make a bird appear from it
I was amazed to see a bird flutter from the window across the church, I think it probably perched on the organ. Of course,
now I am older I realise that the bird had probably found its way into the church through an open window or door and your
father had noticed it in the window and decided to humour me by performing a 'miracle'. He really was quite something and as
I remember was greatly loved and respected by all in the village.
Best wishes, webmaster.
From: Bernard Plummer
message - 07/08/2002
how pleased I am to have received a reply to my message in respect of my mention of my father Arthur Plummer who was one
time rector of High Bickington and I appreciate the kind words.
Today is my birthday and I am delighted to be able to report that my two daughters and their respective fiances have
presented to me a copy of the High Bickington Book. What a wonderful present - I am thrilled to bits.
I see that my brother Robert is mentioned as having contributed. I have not had a great deal of time yet to read through
the book but I have seen pictures of my father, my sister Clare when she was at the local school in the early 1950s and of
the house which was then the rectory, previously the Sycamores or High Bickington House.I could not have wished for a
better present and it will always be a treasure to me.
I do hope that one day soon I may visit the village again. Meanwhile I will follow with interest the chat page and any
other information that appears on this excellent web site.
regards - Bernard Plummer.
From: Linda Aitken (Nee Blackmore)
message - 22/10/2002
Hi Bernard
Although I have looked at the HB Web site occasionally this is the first time I have looked at the messages. Having grown
up in High Bickington and been a regular visitor until my father's death (Tom Blackmore) last year I have a great interest
in the village. It has changed greatly since you and I were children and I too have a copy of the High Bickington Book which
my children have found very interesting. I remember your family very well having lived opposite the Rectory and as a child
spent many hours playing in the house and garden with you and your brothers and sister Clare. A very different life than
today's children. My granddaughter finds it hard to believe that we had no TV or Video then!! I have lived in Scotland
(near Edinburgh) for more than 25 years now, have 2 daughter's, both married, one son who has Downs Syndrome, two step-sons,
one granddaughter and one grandson. Do remember me to your family, especially to Robert & Clare.
Regards Linda Aitken(Blackmore)
Subject: Robert (Bob) Worsley. From:
Robert (Bob) Worsley
message - 28/07/2002 - Lived with my then wife and two sons (Hudson & Ben--then 9yrs & 8yrs, who went to Burrington
School when Avril Brown was Principal, Mrs Russell assisting). Lived in a small winter-let part of the farm behind the pub
in the main drag.It's chimney caught fire one night just to let the antipodean know about life in thatched rural Britain!!!
Owned a CI Travelhome and bought a blue Morgan whilst in the village. Developed a friendship with Fr Paul Barrett and his
wife Rachael at the time. One of your local boys tragically died of Reys Syndrome whilst we were on a holiday from the
village in France--Paul and Rachael were caring for our lads when this happened. In 1996 I passed through the village but
could not locate anyone from 1982/83. Visited the lad's grave on this occassion.
A small coincidence--son Ben--now 28yrs and an ABC (our BBC) journalist in Tasmania [worsley.ben@abc.net.au] has a very
close Aussie friend --primary, secondary school and university--named Warren Yates. Warren was flating in London a couple
of years ago and a flatmate was none other than Gwydian Trevalyn Arthur Shakespeare whose folks were licencees at the
Portsmouth Arms, and he a student at Burrington, back in 1982/83!!!
Hope the village goes well, and please note that High Bickington, Burrington, and Chulmleigh remain magnificent memories for
each of us!!I should give Chittlehamholt a mention as well! Bob Worsley PS Hudson's e mail is --hudworsley@hotmail.com--
Click Here to reply to this message.
From: Glenice Bayliss
15/03/2003 - HI, heard your son Ben Worsley on radio this morning reporting the crash of a light aricraft in Tasmania
I am Glenice Bayliss - nee Worsley we spoke about a year or two ago re Worsley family tree - mine in Tasmania and Ben had
just moved down there.
Regards Glenice
More messages -> > >
