LETTERS FROM ABROAD

Dear Ed. 24 January 1988

What a thrill it was to receive your letter of last October...

Our family came to New Zealand In 1842. Prior to that they lived in Windsor. Berkshire, England[1]. So far I have been unable to locate them on a Parish film or the 1341 Census. To New Zealand came Francis and his wife Ann and six children. Of these six children my husband Is de- scended from the eldest son again called Francis. He appears to be the only son to have had offspring. One of the unmarried daughters had a son also and we know all his descendants. Two brothers died unmarried and the other appears to have had no children.

A family of Blincowe's arrived in New Zealand In 1874 on the 'Cospatrick" but I do not know where they came from. They were John, Emma. Naomi & Elizabeth.

Also a William & Elizabeth Blincoe arrived In 1857. William died In Mar 1393 leaving wife and 2 daughters. He was age 6o yrs and his death certificate said he was born in Bunbury or Banbury Eng. As there are several places of this name it may be hard to find which one Is meant.

In the index of War deaths (WWI) there Is listed a Roland Geor ge BIInko but I do not know where he comes from at all.

As you can see from this there are not a great deal of Blincoe's In New Zealand and the ma]ority are descended from our family from Berkshire. When they sailed for N Z Francis nave his occupation as being farmer; bricklayers labourer. The family settled in Nelson and most of the first three generations were Involved in gardening of some sort. One member was responsible for years for the Cathedral gardens and my husband's grandfather worked in a flax mill by day (owned by his sister's in-laws) and then worked his own market garden at night often by the light of a lantern. My father-in-law Is also a great gardener and grows many types of flowers and vegetables which he shows with great success. If you mention the name Blincoe In Nelson even today people associate it with good gar- dens. My husband carries on the tradition and grows beautiful orchids, begonias and fuschias. He also provides most of our vegetables using hydroponic methods. He Is Secretary//Treasurer of the the New Zealand Hydroponic Growers As- sociation. He is also a Pharmacist and we own our own business where I also work as a dispensary Tech nician.

Your get together sounded most interesting and if you have copies of the talks given I would love to have a copy.

I would be Interested to receive your newsletter and who knows perhaps one day we will see how our families all fit together. I have always enjoyed puzzles and I think that is why I enjoy genealogy so much, there s always a missing piece to look for.

My main Interest is of course in my own family and I search for all references to the name Rentoul/Rin-toul/Rantoul the latter being the spelling that most of the American branch uses although they came from Rin. toul In Scotland. I am related to the American branch.

It was great to hear from you and I look forward to receiving your next newsletter.

Regards, Pam BlIncoe, Hamilton, New Zealand
[Why don't we P have a Blincoe gathering in New Zealand? - Helen]

Dear Helen, 7 May 1988

Very many thanks for your note and the enclosed BLIN COE/BLENCOW family newsletter. What a wonderful achievement! I was most interested in Don's comments on the Battle of Crecy[2] (26 Aug. 1 346) and Adam's part in it. I know its a family legend, but I have never found proof that Adam was actually at Crecy. That he was squire. standard bearer, steward, ballif or held some position of trust in the household of the the Baron of Greystoke is ob- vlous from the Inquisition post mortem of the Baron who left Adam 100 shillings per annum for the rest of his life to be charged on the estate of Greystoke (l. This must have been for services rendered, loyalty and honesity.

When Ed.lll sailed for France he did not take his northern lords with him as that would have weakened the defence of the border with Scotland, and In fact. the Battle of Neville's Cross[4] 17 Oct. 1346 proves this point. George Wrottesley in his book Crecy and Calais[2], published 1898 gives details of the army before Calais and adds "this army had been reinforced by the retinue of the Earls of Lancaster, Pembroke and others ... and the northern lords such as Lord Lucy the Baron of Greystoke did not join the army before Calais until the defeat of the Scots at Neville's Cross". I would be Interested to know if Don has found other evidence of Adam's participation at Crecy.

Re your James S. who settled In Virginia In 1671. James was not a common family name at that time. The only suitable one I have on record Is BUNCOWE, James of London. Father John, mother Mary, grandmother Temperance who as a widow married Giles Rowl s. She left a will proved 4 Feb. 1653, PROB 111236-155. wherein she mentions 6 grandchildren, children of her son John Blincowe; Temperance; Symon; Hellen; John; James and Mary. They recleved L50 each to be paid on attaining the age of 21.

Symon's will proved 6.11.1665. PROB 111318-137 left James 20 shillings to buy him a ring, i.e. a mourning ring. Symon was a goldsmith of London, unmarried.

Best wishes. Jill Dudbridge. London.

Dear Ed. 11 June 1988

Your phone call was most exciting and I have written a few words as per the enclosed. We did not discuss the topic on which you wanted me to write a few lines, so have combined a series of facts.

As I mentioned In my letter to your sister Helen, I am Intrigued with the James B. who settled In Virginia in 1671. If there is any other snippet of Information on him it may help to pin point him at this end.

1671 is after the Restoration of Charles 11, true also after the plague and fire of London. In London there was a flurry of building new houses which had to be of brick or stone, no wood was allowed in town. There was religious toleration In comparison to the Cromwellian years. The country desired to live in peace. What took James overseas?

Best wishes, Jill Dudbridge.

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