Saturday, August 13, 2005

Barretts

When we were clearing the family house after the deaths of my uncle and aunt, we found a trunk containing various items of interest including some relating to the Barretts. My Grandma Randle was Beatrice Barrett before her marriage. There were two pieces of paper torn from a book with lists of Barrett births and deaths.


The C Oak refered to is, I think, a cousin, Charlotte Oak. Beatrice and Benjamin are the children of Edward Reginald. Their mother died when they were very young so they were 'Granny Reared' as Beatrice put it, by Benjamin and Lydia.

Benjamin and Lydia married in 1852 in Devonport and had six children. Four sons survived childhood, Edward Reginald, David, Joseph and Andrew, born between 1854 and 1863. Benjamin's occupation was cordwainer (shoemaker); but in the 1870s the family seem to have moved from the Plymouth area to Islington, London. In the 1881 census Benjamin and two of his sons, Joseph and Andrew, were working for the GPO as postmen. Edward R. was still living in Plymouth with his wife Mary Jane, and new born daughter Beatrice.

Although there is nothing written on this photo, I feel sure it is B. and L. with their Grandchildren, Beatrice (my grandmother) and Benjamin Junior. Sadly, Benjamin Junior died of peritonitis at the age of sixteen.




I've attempted to upload a copy of the Barrett Family Tree but I think it is going to be too small to be readable. If anyone would like a larger copy, I can email you one.



Family Blog

I've decided to start this blog purely for family history purposes. My research interests are, in the main, RANDLE, WOOD, BARRETT, TEAGUE, EVESON, TITCOMB, KENDRICK, CHAPMAN and their connections. I'll start with a few Randle photos. The first is of the wedding in 1930 of Eddie Randle to Olive Taylor. Seated far right front row is Eddie's mother Beatrice nee Barrett next to her daughter Dorothy. My father Walter is on the far left, Ben Randle fourth from left, Jack Randle second from right. Sadly, Beatrice's husband Tom Randle, died the year before and the wedding had to be postponed.



I still possess the dress that was worn by my grandmother. It is in quite poor condition, but here is a sample of the beaded hem.



This photo was taken in spring 1944. Ben RANDLE had just returned from military duty in North Africa and Palestine. The toddler at the front is myself with my cousins Eileen and Sheila Randle and my auntie Dorothy. Back row Ben Randle, his wife Hilda nee Simkiss, Jack Randle, Alfred Taylor, Marjorie nee Wood(my mother), Beatrice nee Barrett, Walter Randle (my father) and Olive nee Taylor. Missing, probably behind the camera, Eddie Randle.

Now for a more recent picture. This was taken on the occasion of the ruby wedding of my cousin Sheila and her husband Roy in June 1998.


Seated front Rachel and Sam, Sheila and Roy's grandchildren.

Second row - David Eileen's son, Roy, Sheila, Eileen, Annette.

Back row - Second from right, Brian Sheila and Roy's son, third from right Marjorie. Others are Roy's brothers and inlaws.