Editor's Letter

Dear Cousins,

The church of Marston St. Lawrence will be remembered by those who attended the Reunion '93 in England. A small little church - it is Blencowe-worthy with it's many stained glass memorial windows, plaques and cemetery headstones commemorating and recognizing Blencowes. Jack Blencowe, of Oxford, England includes an article regarding the refurbishing of the Bells of Marston St. Lawrence. The editor agrees with Jack that this would be a very worthwhile project and with your help we will reach this goal. You will find a form in the back of the letter for your participation.

One of the aims of a Family Genealogical Association is to increase and disseminate the knowledge of the history of that family. The more people involved with research and communication - the more information is made available. The article from Estella Blenko Williams of Pitt Meadows. Canada tells of the migration of her grandfather from England to Canada. Benn Blincoe of Benton, California writes of his findings at Salt Lake City. Hopefully one of our researchers can shed more light on this family. Benn also included a disk of Blencowe information he has gleaned from the Salt Lake City Mormon computer database. As time allows we will check it against the Blencowe databases.

Another article from Jack Blencowe of Oxford, England continues with the story of immigrants from Bichester, England to New York.

Betty Blincoe of Reno, NV alerted us to the June, 1994 National Geographic. Magazine. "Not a spark of pity was shewn to the sick of either sex," wrote Robert Blincoe, who had worked as an indentured apprentice at the Litton Mill in Derbyshire in the early 1800's. "If they dropped down, they were put into a wheelbarrow and wheeled to the 'prentice house... and there left to live or die." Cotton, The King of Fibers, page 71. Betty attended the England'93 reunion.

Enclosed is information and for The YMCA Camp of the Rockies where the Reunion for 1995 will be held. It is suggested that you make a $10.00 per person (or £5.00 to Jack or Maurine) refundable deposit to hold a spot.

Jack Blencowe of Oxford, England would like to give a special welcome to new member David Charles Blencowe of Spratton in Northamptonshire and to his wife Elizabeth.David & Liz were introduced to the Association by Frances Blencowe of White Stome, VA who first net them more than 20 years ago whilst touring England with her late husband. Jack realized that he and David had ancestors who had lived in the same village of Norton in Northamptonshire. David's great-great grandparents John & Anne were schoolteachers in Norton where Jack's great grandfather Joseph spent his life as a shepherd. In 1851 John was the Census-taker for the village and there recorded the names of Joseph and his wife and children. It is probable that John and Anne taught Jack's grandfather John Branson Blencowe to read and write.

John had been born in 1826 in Brington where we visited the church during the 1993 reunion) and married Ann Palmer in Long Buckby in 1844 where she had been born in 1824. Their first son William died in infancy but two other sons, William 1852-1927 and Joseph 1853-1871, lived to maturity and joined the army. Joseph died unmarried in Malta, and William married Anne Sullivan (1856-1905) in Livermore Tipperary where he was a coldier in Livermore Barracks. Their first son John (1883-1914) was born in Limerick and died in Flanders, presumably one of the famous "Old Contemptibles", the first small British Expeditionary Force that crossed the Channel to fight alongside the French against the Kaiser's Army.

Anne must have "followed the flag" for their second son William Joseph (1886-1979), David's grandfather, was born in Jamaica and the third, Ernest George (1888-1910) was born in Natal, South Africa. A daughter and two more sons were born back in Norton where William and Anne returned when soldiering days were over.

Liz and David commented on the family's military tradition, continued by one of their sons who served in the Royal Artillery. Looking back in the 1881 Census records we find William Blincowe, David's g-g-g-father (who had been born in Brington in 1797) living in Brixworth as a widower with one of his grand-daughters. He is described as"Pensioner (Waterloo)". One can imagine him telling tales to his grand children of the cannon fire and the smoke of gunpowder when Wellington's troops faced Napoleon's Grand Army. Perhaps it was he who inspired William and Joseph to "take the Queen's shilling" and join up themselves..

Jack Blencowe, Oxford, ENG

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updated: 20 January 2003