On Nathanville Genealogy

The Famous ~ And not so Famous!

Every family has its black sheep, and so it has its own famous, and not so famous, if one delves deeply enough.

Nathanville has its own collection of the Famous and not so famous; many who from their personal achievements have left their mark in life and on the family; and some of whom are featured below, read and enjoy: -

George Burgess born of a humble background in 1829, Staple Hill, Bristol traveled to America three times before settling down to practiced Phrenology in the Arcades, Bristol from 1861 to 1901. He went to America with his brother-in-law (when he was still a teenager) to finish his apprenticing as a Stone Mason and came back to England as a Phrenologist. He published at least two books on the subject of Phrenology early in his career. Later in life he wrote his own poems and near his retirement started to write his diary which included his immediate family tree back to his grandfather. He kept a scrapbook of newspaper articles covering most of his working life from the 1850's to 1900's. His scrapbook gives insight into his life as a person, as he selected (as anyone would) articles to which he could relate. Articles reflecting his views and topics of interest including Family, Health and Education, Humour, Poetry, Politics and History, Religion, Science and Nature, Temperance (Drink) and Victorian Culture.

It was June 1855 and twenty-year-old Gunner and Driver Thomas Arthur, a member of the Royal Artillery Regiment, was with his artillery battery in an advanced position at Sebastopol. The British were attacking the Russians in an endeavour to capture a place known as the Quarries. Thomas Arthur was in charge of the ammunition magazine but his deeds went well beyond that call of duty. The fighting was intense and he realised that infantry of the 7th Fusiliers were short of ammunition. Despite having to cross open ground, under fire from the enemy, he made repeated runs carrying supplies of ammunition. Eleven days later, he volunteered to lead a party to spike the guns of the Russian artillery who were positioned at the Redan, a fortified gun position. On top of this, there were numerous times when he left the trenches to bring in wounded officers and men. For this combination of heroic actions, he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He later fought in the China War in 1860 and was awarded the Medaille Militaire by the French.

Thomas Arthur's real name was Thomas McArthur. Thomas was born of humble background in 1835 at Abbotsham, Devon but dropped his Scottish connection while serving in the British Army, which wasn't unusual for those times. McArthur, son of Arthur, motto "Fide et Opera (By fidelity and work)". The MacArthur clan lay claim to being the descendants of King Arthur, 5th century!

Sarah is first recorded in the year 1686 in Pitminster, Somerset. The record is not an auspicious one being the entry in the accounts of the overseers of the poor: "Laid out for a guard upon Sarah BRADBEARE and for a horse to carry her to the justice. 3 shillings". The Quarter Sessions record has not been found, but it is known from the parish register of St. Mary and St. Andrew that her "baseborn" son William Bradbeare was baptised on 3rd April 1687 so it was obviously a "bastardly" hearing. The father is not known....

Click Here to read the full story

Published on Nathanville with the kind permission of Tony Milward, “Bradbeer One-name Study" - bradbeerroots@talktalk.net

Many thanks to Stephen Fawcett (one of Sarah's descendants) for the transcription and translation of the Pitminster Overseers of the Poor and Churchwardens accounts.

First published in the Bradbeer Newsletter No. 1O, Autumn 2001.
Also published in the Somerset & Dorset Family History Society Vol.27 No.3

Lillian from a prominent family of wealth and married into a prominent family was the daughter of William George England. She was born on the 6th March 1879, and married Frederick Thomas Jenner on the 1st January 1901. Lillian was from a Quaker family and therefore married under the Quaker faith. One of the many guests to the wedding was Priscilla G Fry, part of the Fry family who owns the Fry's Chocolate factory in Bristol. After their wedding, because her husband was in the Salvation Army they both adopted and religiously followed this faith for the rest of their lives.

In life, Lillian was the pillar of society; she was a local Liberal candidate, and I believe supportive of the suffragette movement (Florence, her oldest daughter certainly was). All her active adult life Lillian consistently worked in the local community and for the community doing whatever she could to help the poor and needy; especially the children.

Eva (Florence Eveline Jenner), daughter of Lillian Maud England and Frederick Thomas Jenner, born into a family of some wealth had an ordinary childhood and led an ordinary life. However, because she was the oldest of eight, she was destined to care for others from childhood. She had to look after her seven siblings (and sometimes other children) on the occasions her mother was in hospital. When she grew up and married she ended-up looking after both mother and mother-in-law late in their lives. And an uncle (Arthur Edward England) visited for a weekend and stayed until he died.

Eva also dedicated her life to the Salvation Army (Staple Hill, Bristol, Corp) where over many years she did her own sermons in the Home League; was the Songster Leader; became responsible for catering; involved herself in the forget-me-not club, and as a dedicated Salvationist worked within the community for the community including visiting the old and sick in hospitals. On several occasions she became 'Lady of the Year' in the local Corp in recognition of her works and dedication to the Salvation Army and local community.

Grace, the daughter of Florence Eveline Jenner and Edward William Burgess Baglin (Florence being the daughter of Lillian Maud England and Edward the grandson of George Burgess). Grace was born into a respectable family, a square peg in a round hole! She found life at home too prim and proper and married young as a means of escape, and although it was a reasonably happy marriage it didn't last!

Like her father she was a socialist supporting Labour most of her life but switching to the Liberal party when Labour became New Labour. She suffered illness most of her life due to diabetes and having split from her husband survived on a meager income from social support. However, she was a happy-go-lucky person looking on the bright side of life (most of the time), and she had a great sense of humour and a vivid imagination; and a flair for writing, no doubt inherited from her great-grandfather (George Burgess), and she was a great inspiration to her children.

Transcripts of many of her letters and poems are published here on Nathanville.

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