News from Oxford

Ann Taylor (née Hughes) who lives near Chester wrote telling me she had traced her family back to a Blencowe great-grandmother, Eveline Louisa, who had married Thomas Wales. As soon a I saw the tree she enclosed it all fell into place: Eveline was the aunt of our old friend Jill Dudbridge, a younger sister of her father Sidney.

I rang Jill straight away to tell I had discovered a relative for her and she started another enquiry. She had noticed, in the last newsletter, the note from David Blencowe who had mentioned his father Sidney; she wondered whether there might be a connection with her father's older step-brother Harry who had emigrated to Australia about 1924. This idea didn't work, for David's family had been there since before the First World War; however, it gives the opportunity to ask the question: does anyone have any knowledge of Harry, his family, and their descendants? Maybe you folks in Oz could do some digging around.

A search of NSW BDM's uncovered a marriage for Harry S Blencowe and Aileen A.M. Randall in Sydney in 1932.

Anne

An email from Rev Mary Janet Murray in Little Rock AR opened up a little treasure trove of information, Mary Janet, known in the family as ‘Bean’, is the daughter of Louise Blencowe of Lynchburg VA and niece of Frances Blencowe. Many of us will remember Louise and her sister-in-law Fran at several of our reunions, including the one here in Oxford.

I wrote telling her of the correspondence I had had with Thomas Charles Blencowe and Mary Jane Grutzmacher, both of whom I assumed to be her fairly close kin. She replied immediately:

‘Thomas Henry Blencowe was my great grandfather, the pharmacist in Lynchburg. Alfred Henry Blencowe, my grandfather, was a Lynchburg photographer. I don't know if Alfred Henry had a brother Thomas. I do have information in a very old scrapbook about two of Alf's brothers, Frank the pharmacist and an In Memoriam card for Arthur Blencowe who died in Lynchburg on December 12, 1887 at the early age of 26.

I don't know about the Thomas who would have been my father's uncle, but I think we're on the right track for my father used to talk about his cousins who lived in Washington, D.C. and furthermore, he talked about one who was a pilot in what I remember as the Royal Canadian Air Force.

There is a touching newspaper clipping of the marriage of Frank Blencowe and Florence Gertrude Stevens (also a child of English immigrants) and Florrie's tragic death just a few weeks later. It really shows the Victorian love affair with death in the language of the obituary. It is a very sad story — they buried her in her wedding dress. My father said his uncle never recovered from the grief.

“FROM THE ALTAR TO THE TOMB.-The funeral services of the young, and lovely bride-wife of Mr. Frank Blencowe of this city, drew together at Court Street Baptist church yesterday afternoon, a large number of friends and relatives to pay the last tribute of respect and affection to her whose death on Sunday last under most distressing circumstances called forth the tenderest sympathies of our community. Mrs. Blencowe was the second daughter of Mr. John Stevens, an English resident of Amherst County, and had been married but three weeks. Naturally of frail and delicate organization, it was thought that perhaps a visit to Suffolk in early spring had developed malaria in her system and though her friends entertained no serious fears as to the result, the sudden culmination in congestive chills speedily terminated her life. And so the bridal wreath had scarcely faded, before loving hands were busy with funeral flowers. And seldom indeed has “the insatiate archer” drawn a lovelier prize. Beautiful in person, graceful and attractive in manner, gentle and womanly in disposition Florence Stevens had been the object of almost idolatrous affection in her own family. Lately wedded to the man of her choice, she had entered upon the responsibilities of life with the fairest, prospects of happiness, But alas, for human hopes.

The new house so lately entered with bounding step, is now dark and desolate, for she who was its light and joy has been borne out from its threshold forever, and among the objects of beauty and comfort which love had planned and placed for her enjoyment, the young husband sits desolate and alone. . The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Dr. Smith, after which the remains were conveyed to the Presbyterian Cemetery and laid beside those of a sainted mother.”

Tucked inside the scrapbook a photo of a young man dressed in his best duds — a shirt with a high collar. On the back it says ‘Thomas Blencowe, first cousin of Florence, Wallace and Tom’. It goes on to say he was a pilot in the First World War probably in the Canadian military.’

Later Mary Janet wrote: ‘It has been a joy to make contact with Bob, a near relative Blencowe in South Carolina. I also sent an e-mail to Mary Jane Grutzmacher.

Incidentally, according to my grandmother Henrietta Candler, on the second Blencowe trip to the States, the ship ran aground and nearly sank from the damage. She claimed that they had to throw almost everything overboard. For some reason, a green plate was not thrown away. She gave it to me because I was the only girl grandchild and she thought I should have it. It's a good story, but seems that something might have been more helpful to save!

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your work in pulling all the family information together. When I was growing up, I had two cousins. Now, I have Blencowe connections all over.

Fondly,
Mary Janet’

Henry Bennet-Clark, who lives quite nearby, wrote:

(click to enlarge)

My wife, née Virginia Andrewes, inherited a very pretty oval sampler, signed C. Blencowe, which is an oval map of England and Wales, on pale silk and about 15" tall by 12" wide. From the style, it's early 19thC with typically Georgian rather than Victorian lettering and rather quaint spelling such as “Glocester Sh”.

It was inherited from my wife's aunt, Ursula Andrewes (note the spelling) who was daughter of Margaret Hamer (d. c. 1930) and Herbert Andrewes (d. c. 1950). Herbert had family connections with the Reading Palmers of Huntley and Palmers biscuits but before that, into the early 19thC, the trail is distinctly cold.

The sampler is, from the fact that it is of England and Wales, most likely to have been done early in the golden age of sampler sewing by young ladies — i.e. before c. 1850 — so she was probably born between 1810 and 1830.

Any clues about C. Blencowe's ancestry and descendents would be very welcome.

Henry subsequently sent superb photos of the sampler and revised his estimate of its date by about twenty years earlier. ‘C. Blencowe’ is a bit difficult to trace; none of the surnames match any marriages I know made by Blencowe ladies. However, I would guess the work was probably done by one of the Marston St Lawrence families or maybe one of their Sussex offshoot; any suggestions welcome!

John Blenko and his wife have achieved a long-awaited ambition and retired from Kent to Malaga in Spain. There was some temporary confusion for I altered the mailing address of John Blencowe only to find he was still happily settled in Brighton! I reckon we could organise a football match: JOHN Bs versus PETER Bs!

Sad news from Australia with the passing on 31 January of Graeme Blencowe aged 57 from leukaemia. Graeme was born in Leeton, NSW to Philip & Joyce Blencowe but spent most of his life in the Sale area of Victoria. As a Senior Police Sergeant, he served the local community fearlessly in times of disaster including flood and fire. He leaves a wife, Louise, children, Andrew, Elizabeth & Steven and siblings Trevor, Ian & Pam.

Penelope Chapple wrote from Sydney NSW:

‘I have a connection with the Blencowes in that my great-great- grandmother was Louisa Blencowe, born about 1850 in Peckham, Surrey, England. Her father was Thomas Blencowe born about 1806 in Brackley.

Louisa married Alfred Favatt Horley and migrated to Australia with her husband and young family around 1883/4 by HMS Sutcliffe or Sirius. My grandmother Ella Winifred Horley born 2 Oct 1882 was one of their eight children.

Top LH side then clockwise we have Alfred Horley, Louisa Blencowe, Ferdie (the baby), Claude, Harold, Constance and Ella Winifred. C.1884

In the early 1980s, I visited some of my Blencowe relatives in England but have since lost touch.

The connection was my grandmother's cousin ‘Jack’: this was Frederic John Blencowe, born about 1882 in Lambeth. He apparently was a sailor serving with the East India Line. He married Ethel Helen Dawson in England sometime between 1897 & 1910.

Their son Guy, born 1910, died in 1979. I stayed with his widow Sally in Aldeburgh when I visited England in January 1983. She was involved in the committee responsible for the planning of the Benjamin Britten festival. (I am a musician, so all of this was fascinating to me). Guy and Sally's two sons that I also visited were; David and his wife Elaine and Andrew married to Jackie. David & Elaine at the time lived in Woodbridge and Andrew & Jackie lived in Norfolk.

I wonder if any of this detail helps in perhaps reconnecting with this part of the family. If you have any light to shed I would be grateful.’

Penelope Chapple pennyw @ tpg.com.au

I replied to Penny telling what I knew of Captain Jack Blencowe and his family and of the ancestors of Thomas ‘the master shoemaker’ from Brackley. I referred her to Phil Bailey for more information on that line but could not help with the younger relatives; is there a programme called ‘Friends Reunited’? Send Penny an e-mail if you can help.

Jack

Having worked on the tree of Louisa Blencowe with Phil Bailey, I know this letter will cause some excitement. Phil's wife is your second cousin and I am your fourth cousin once removed, Penny

Anne

Colin Hinks has been in touch from New Zealand. He descends from the Blencowes of Mixbury, who can be traced back to William and Anne who lived & baptised children there 1761-79 and would like to hear from others of this branch.

Back Row:Harry Waine, Charley Winter, Harriet Waine. Mid. Row:Elizabeth Waine, James Edward Blencowe with Emily Sophia Blencowe in front. 1899

Colin has discovered that a more recent ancestor came to an unfortunate end. James Edward Blencowe was born in Mixbury in 1877; he married Harriet Clementina Waine in 1899.

James in 1991 he had been working on the land but he went to work in London. In 1905 the poor chap had an accident on a building site and died in Charing Cross Hospital aged only twenty-eight. Harriet took him back to Mixbury for burial; she didn't marry again.

I put Colin in touch with Anne and he's hoping to meet her & others at Port Macquarie.

Yes, Colin plans to combine a visit to his grandchild living in Australia with the Port Macquarie reunion. The Papalii and Tovey families also from New Zealand hope their Western Australian uncles will join them in Port Macquarie.

Anne

A welcome contact came from Jane Websdale whose grandfather Frederick William Blincowe was awarded the Military Cross in World War One and was Mayor (and ‘Bridgemaster’) of Banbury. Interestingly, Jane's family is not related to the Banbury branch; she descends from John Blencowe, the 17/18C Parish Clerk of Whilton.

Loretta Blencowe and her son Peter were sitting in the departure lounge at Vancouver Airport awaiting seat allocation (the flight was fully booked); when ‘Blencowe’ was called a second couple accompanied them to the desk!

The English couple were interested in family history, knew about our Association but were disinclined to join — preferred to ‘go-it-alone’ with their researches. So, an interesting coincidence but no further details; Loretta and Peter had the satisfaction of being given the better seats!

Our webmaster, Benn Blincoe and Peggy have proudly announced the arrival of Samuel Oliver Joseph Blincoe