We are presently in Snowdonia, north Wales, it is freezing, spring has not yet sprung - but the lambs definitely have, snow on top of Mount Snowdon, however this morning I heard from a friend who lives at Ayers Rock/Uluru, and it was only 2.5 degrees there as well - so one must not complain - the scenery here is outstanding and today the sky was blue. Anyway I am over 2 weeks behind with my Blog - so will get onto that.
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After leaving Dartmoor in Devon, we headed for Blunsdon, near Swindon in Wiltshire for 4 days. The goal was to check out the "convict" side of my genealogy - and I must say this is the section I love the most!! Anyway we spent 2 full mornings going through the Parish records at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre - a great centre, no charges except for copying etc, and just so full of relevant information. Admittedly I did have with me a great deal of the info researched by a Great Uncle and Mum some 30 years ago, but managed to confirm a few other details - which set my imagination off and running - why did these 5 brothers and one cousin steal 24 "chooks" (12 cocks and 12 hens - total value 10 pence) in 1818 and were each "transported for the term of 7 years to such part of his Majesty's Dominions beyond the Seas as determined by the Privy Council" (this is the Court documents wording). The boys left behind 3 sisters, and their parents, their father died 2 years later, and their mother 10 years later, and their grandparents had all died in the late 1700's - they are all buried in Froxfield, Wiltshire.
These "villains" were shipped out on the ship "John Barry" - all 142 male convicts arrived safely, and the Ship's Doctor - Surgeon James Bowman was then promoted to Principal Surgeon of these Colonial Settlements. Also on board was Barrister John Bigge, he had been appointed as the first Special Commisioner to investigate all aspects of the Colonial Government - then under the Governorship of Lachlan Macquarie, including the Finances, the Church, the Judiciary and the Convict System. During this 5 month trip, Mr. Bigge took the opportunity to interview our boys, along with many others on the John Barry.
Our particular "villain" was named Thomas, he married a Mary Mcguire, they had 8 children, the eldest two being called Mary and Thomas, this Thomas married an Eliza Eames, and they named their eldest son, Thomas, he married my great grandmother who had been born on the Ship "Helenslee" off the Cape of Good Hope in June 1862 when her parents and family were immigrating from Ireland to Australia, she was named Helensleigh after the ship, and her middle name was Brown, after the Captain of this ship - apparently it was a very "happy and healthy" atmosphere on board. Great Grandfather Thomas died at 43 as a Headmaster in NSW, and their eldest son was my Grandfather (Mum's Dad) - a more gentle man you couldn't meet - he helped his mother bring up his younger 5 siblings from the age of 14.
We headed to the village where this family lived - a tiny place on the A4 - which was the major "coach" route from London to Bath back in the 1700's - well until trains were eventually introduced in mid 1800's.
Our first stop was the little village church, built in the 12th Century of local flint and sarcen stone.
On the roof are Cotswold stone tiles. One of its two bells was re-cast for Queen Victoria's Jubilee in 1887.
My great x 4 grandparents, and great x 5 grandparents are buried in this cemetery.
The gravestones there are nearly all unreadable
Froxfield is a very small village - only 210 residents now, and its peak was 625 in 1841 - there was no school then, and there is again no school now.
YET, beside this "little" old church are 2 huge mansions - The Vicarage, and the Rectory - pictured above and below
Just makes one wonder why these huge residences were necessary to accompany this little church in this little village in those days, yet a little school was not.
Unfortunately, we did not get to see inside the Church - it's doors are locked, one has to meet with the Church warden for "out of service" entry. I actually regret I did not contact him to get entry.
Below are the style of some of the village houses
Thatched roofs are common in this Parish.
During the "Coaching" years, Froxfield actually had 3 Coaching Inns, but today only one remains
The Pelican - built in 1773, it has always been a Free House.
We enjoyed a delightful lunch there one day and spent some time with the Manager who had some knowledge of the history of the Coaching days.
Time, with matching imagination took over. With the help of the Wiltshire History Centre and the 1819 Court papers, I researched "this victim's" Parish records. We then visited his village - Ashbury which is actually located in Berkshire - not Wiltshire, hence the reason this case was held in a Berkshire Court - me assumes.
The victim's surname was Arkell, he had a son called John, who in 1840 started the Arkell Brewery, which features in many Pubs around this area, including the Ashbury Pub above.
So we now believe that these boys stole from someone of "standing" therefore ensuring them a transfer downunder.
The village of Mr. Arkell's is charming.
And is surrounded by "horse racing" studs -
We ventured up to yet another church - Ashbury - did Squire Arkell attend service here???.
Back to our Best Western abode at Blunsdon
Early the next morning we went for a walk in the woods
at the back of the Hotel
A little damp, but refreshing.
We then headed back to the A4 Coaching route - stopping in the gorgeous town of Marlborough for quite a bit of time.
Next stop for lunch was one of the old Coaching Inns - 1500's, called the Waggon and Horses which sits on this same route. Interest is high, as my convict great x 3 Grandfather was eventually heavily involved in horse and carriage "honest" businesses after his pardon in Oz in 1825, did he have these skills before "nicking a few chooks". His son - my great x 2 grandfather was a really accomplished horse team leader - used to run the Gulgong Gold route, opened up a "carrying - by horse and coach business" to and from Mudgee, and was a prime coachman of the Cobb and Co. team - Henry Lawson also mentioned him in one of his stories, bit of a character - Henry said.
So this is all very exciting on this very wet day - then we enter the Waggon and Horse Restaurant/Bar late, menu looks great, we warm up in front of the fire, when a familiar accent says
"Give me your camera and I'll take a shot" - YES this Pub is now managed by a young lady from Katoomba, Blue Mountains in Oz - her name is Becks Rossiter.
We had the most fabulous beef n ale pie and veggies - just superb.
Warmed up, and overloaded with pie
we head to Avebury via these wonderful fields of pink "bells"
Avebury is famous for it's "Stone Circle" - we parked at the local Pub - a tad cold, no one sitting outside!!
This great circle of stones is the largest of its kind in Europe, it was constructed about 2600BC during the Neolithic or New Stone Age.
These photos are a bit "ordinaire" - I didn't wander into the fields - needed some gum boots for that venture, so not a great representation from yours truly.
The village of Avebury is charming
wherever you look.
Then I found out that Avebury Manor is to be promoted on BBC
As the "Manor Reborn" later this year.
It's host - Penelope Keith from the show "To the Manor Born".
And of course the Avebury Church - yes the saying has been ABC (another B Church), well over the last couple of weeks that translates to another B Castle!! - LOVING IT THOUGH.
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