Harriet Parkinson (GG Grandmother)

Many thanks to David Wilson (david_wilson2@btconnect.com) for this information on my Parkinson ancestors - Harriet Parkinson b.1845-d.1936 was my GG grandmother, she married Joseph Meredith Foxley b. 1847 (GG grandfather).
Their daughter Elsie Foxley b.1882 (G grandmother) married Jim Faulkner b.1873 and were the parents of my gran Freda Faulkner.


Dear Barbara

I've just come across your website and see that you are related to Harriet Parkinson, born 1845 in Wrenbury. Harriet was the sister of my gg grandfather Thomas Parkinson.

You might be interested in my website below, which tracks the Parkinsons back 3 more generations.

http://www.wilsonfamilytree.net/parkinsonlineage.asp

The Parkinsons were tenant famers in Wrenbury. I'm still building my website so all the info I have is not on there but I do have quite a few more details including info on the exact fields they farmed -here's a link to e-maps of Cheshire which show the fields that were farmed by Thomas Parkinson in Wrenbury Heath.

http://www.wilsonfamilytree.net/parkinsonfamily.asp

I live quite close to Wrenbury and so I've had a chance to drive by the site. The farmhouse doesn't exist any more. Indeed, there are houses now on both sides of the road where Thomas farmed. The fields on the Wrenbury-Ravensmoor Road are still farmland though. If you type Parkinson in to the map search function you'll also find Thomas's sons Samuel and James were also living in Wrenbury Heath at that time. Samuel was renting a house and a couple of fields whilst James was living with another family a few hundred yards away from Thomas.

What I can tell you is that the Parkinsons as a family lived in Wrenbury until about 1900, by which time, for various reasons, they all moved out of the area. My g.g.grandfather Walter Parkinson (Harriet's nephew) left in the 1890s and ended up as a railway station master in Bangor, N.Wales. My grandfather, Bruce was born in N. Wales but eventually moved to Manchester, which is where I was born (the fact that I live in Crewe only 8 miles or so from Wrenbury is a coincidence).


My mother always used to tell me that the Parkinsons were "gentleman farmers"" (her words) and certainly the early generations were tenant farmers. However, the later censuses show them merely as agricultural labourers so I assume at some point the farm tenancy was lost. I guess that's why they all evetually left the area.
One story my mother always used to tell me was that one of the Parkinsons was known as "Mad" Parkinson - something about him riding round the neighbourhood on a horse threatening people. The story is very sketchy and my mum is unfortunately no longer with us. I'd be interested to know though, whether your father passed down any stories on how the Parkinsons lived or what they were like.


Kind regards

David Wilson

Old Tom Cowley

Many thanks to Sylvia for sharing this image of Old Tom Cowley with us...photo shows Tom with his family at the Willows in Mawdesley.

Sylvia goes on to say that she checked his address on the census, "and it is our Tom Cowley, brother of Everilda." Many more images of old Mawdesley can be viewed here: click on "Local History" on the left, then on "Old Photographs"

daughter of Edward & Dortothy (Cowell) Ainscough

On 20 Nov 2010, at 18:06, Anita Smith wrote:

Hi Barbara,
I have enclosed a photo of Elizabeth Ann Ainscough daughter of Edward Ainscough and Dorothy Cowell,
Edward and Dorothy are the grt grt grt grandparents of my husband John Francis Smith we live in Conwy North Wales,
If you want any more information let me know,
Regards Anita Smith

Hi Anita
Thank you for the image, I have added it to the flickr Ainscough collection. It is great to build up a fuller picture of this family. More detail can be found on this blog at:
http://ainscough-familyhistory.blogspot.com/2007/03/edward-dorothy-ainscough-mawdesley.html
Edward is the grandson of James b.1756, who was brother to my ancestor John (who married Margaret Worthington) and Hugh (liqour merchant), of Ormskirk (d.1813).

If you have any census detail, trees or other researched information connected to this family that you feel might benefit others then please forward to me so that I can add it to the box. net facility on the blog.
regards
B

Wrightington - Speakman - Ainscough links

The PDF (guessed Speakman connections) of the tree above can be downloaded from box.net on the right.

On 16 Aug 2010, at 17:35, Tom Massam (tvmassam@yahoo.co.uk) wrote:

Dear Barbara,
Please could you help me or point me in the direction of someone who knows a lot about the Wrightington / Speakmans.
I am looking for the family of Esther Speakman. She married Henry Massam on 4th March 1810, in Scarisbrick with witnesses Henry Dobson, Mary Speakman and Helen Speakman. I know that Esther died in 1813, and her infant son James Massam was taken by an aunt to live with his grandfather (Speakman) in Wrightington. The source did not specify whether the aunt was married or was an aunt by marriage.
I speculate that Esther's parents were Thomas and Ann Speakman and that Esther had sisters Mary (born 1787 - 1791), Elizabeth (born 1782 - 1786) and Dorothy (born 1792 - 1796) so I am searching for birth records of Esther and these ladies - but in spite of scanning many church registers I have not found a record of their births.
Reasons for the speculation:

1. Thomas and Ann were active as godparents in the RC parish of Scarisbrick (1785 - 1787) at a time which would correspond to them being a young married couple at the guessed time of Esther' birth and in the years just before the births of Mary Elizabeth and Dorothy.

2. Mary Elizabeth and Dorothy Speakman were living together at Wrightington Coal Gate in the 1841 census.

3. On 26 Aug 1782, a Thomas Speakman of Dalton married Ann Bullen of Holland at Wigan All Saints (Maybe a repeat marriage following a private RC marriage?).

4. There was a large Bullen family in Scarisbrick.

Another possible connection: Esther's son James Massam became an RC priest and was the first parish priest of Longton near Stoke. Was his vocation influenced by a relative? The 1861 census records Ann Speakman, born in Wrightington 1796/7 as Prioress of St. Dominice priory at Hurst Green. The Dominican records say "Professed at Hartbury Court May 6 1829 Sister Ann Mary Luisa Speakman born 13 March 1797".
Thanks for any help you can give and I hope they fit in with your Speakmans.
Tom Massam, of Scarisbrick. (Cousin of Andrew Scarisbrick).

On 17 Aug 2010, at 11:22, Andrew Scarisbrick wrote:

Hi Barbara
Long time since we've spoken. I hope you are keeping ok.
And Hi Tom... talk about small world. I don't have anything definite to add, but the speculation does seem logical. Plus I maybe have another coincidence in this.
There was another marriage at Wigan All Saints, 1st Feb 1779, between James Speakman of Dalton and Margaret Bullen "of Rightington" (their spelling). Possibly two Speakman brothers marrying two Bullen sisters?
Regards for now,
Andrew

On 17 Aug 2010, at 13:33, Andrew Scarisbrick wrote:

Hi Barbara
Not to confuse you too much, Tom, but I have found another Bullen marriage at Wigan, All Saints, that may interest you. On the7th of March 1791, William Fairclough of Upholland married Mary Bullen of Lathom, witnesses Robt Bullen and John Holt. Their children were baptised at St. James RC, Upholland/Orrell. Their son, Hugh, married Catherine Speakman, daughter of Joseph Speakman and Susannah Ainscough, and Veronica may be interested in these Faircloughs!
Andrew

Harrock Hall - Rigby Link

On 25 Oct 2010, at 05:04, Stephen Pitman (stephen.pitman@gardline.com) wrote:

Dear Barbara
I stumbled upon your website about the Ainscoughs of Harrock Hall when I was doing my own research on my mother's side, the RIGBYES or now RIGBYS.
We have extensive references to afew of our family sirnames, namely Marsden, Rigby, Worthington, Dandye to Parbold, Douglas Chapel where they had pews. An exerpt from 'Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire Vol XLVII.' is copied below with reference to the Rigbys of Harrock. You can also search online for the book by googling it. Do you have any other information on the Rigbys of Harrock, Peter Rigbie de Lathom, or a Tomas Marsden? It seems they were there quite a long time ago. Do you also know how the Ainscoughs aquired Harrock? Would it have been from one of your ancestors marrying Eleanor Rigbye for example, who was left the estate?

I hope to hear from you soon, and hope the information below is helpful to yourself as well.
Kind regards
Stephen Pitman

Historical Notes on Douglas Chapel. 215
... There were a few old oak benches and pews in the chapel, having initials, and dates of the first half of the seventeenth century, notably one with the name ** Nicholas Rigbye" and a date carved upon it. This was in the south-east comer, and was always occupied by the family residing at Harrock Hall." The Parbold Hall pew adjoined this one. The chapel was absolutely devoid of any coats of arms, tablets, brasses, or monuments relating to the founders or any local families, and the inference is that at the time of the Reformation anything of this sort which may have existed was destroyed and ruthlessly swept away. The edifice, as it stood at the time of its demolition, consisted of a plain rectangular nave without M These galleries were built during the incumbenqr of the Rev. John Johnson. — Frivaii papers of Rev. John Price.
« Harrock Hall was in the possession of the Rigbye family anterior to the fifteenth century. The family continued in the male line until the death of Thomas Rigbye, Esq., who in 1775 <^evi8ed Harrock Hall and other estates to his sister Eleanor Rigbye for her life, with remainder to his nephew, the Rev. John Baldwin, M.A., Rector of North Meols, who, in compliance with bis uQC^'s wiUf^tfsumed the surname and arms of Rigbye.— GaslreU's HctUia. Wikipedia - Saint John Rigby - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rigby_(martyr)

On 15 Oct 2010, at 09:40, Noeline Smith (noeline.smith@hotmail.co.uk) wrote:

Hello,
I stumbled across your 'Blogspot' whilst carrying out my own family research. I am not related to you - but found your site very interesting nonetheless!
I believe that I could be descended from the Rigbys of Harrock Hall and it was whilst lookng for information on that that your site cropped up. I have worked my way back to the mid 1600s and although I don't yet have positive proof it is looking very promising.

I have been trying to read the article entitled "Going back to their roots" but the resolution is not fine enough to read on line so I wondered if you would mind very much sending me a copy as it seems to say something about the Rigbys. Also, if you have any other information regarding the Hall (or possibly the Rigbys?!) would you be happy to share that with me or perhaps point me in the right directon. I live near Salisbury, Wiltshire so that makes things a little more tricky - something that's obvious to a 'local' is easily overlooked!
Many thanks,
Noeline Smith (nee Rigby)

On 29 Oct 2010, at 09:29, JOHN COBHAM wrote:

Stephen,
Regarding your enquiry re Harrock Hall & Ainscough/Rigby connection.
Bill Ainscough purchased Harrock Hall from Sir Peter Moores, who owns a lot of the land  around Wrightington & Parbold several years ago & until Bill aquired it it was pretty much run down. PM himself never lived there, he lives at Parbold Hall. So there is no connection between the Ainscoughs & Rigbys. There is a connection with Harrock & St John Rigby, Martyred in the 16th century & each year a Mass is said in the barn at Harrock Hall to commemorate him. I think Eccleston parish church has some records of the old Rigbye family but I couldn't be sure.
Regards
John Cobham

St.Olav Wirral Viking Walk: Saturday July 31st

St. Olav, the “Viking Saint” is the Patron Saint of Scandinavia, and the walk celebrates St. Olav’s day. 13 miles. Good standard of fitness required.
Pilgrims/walkers are also welcome to join in for just part of the walk! – such as the first bit from Neston to Burton, or the last bit across Chester.

Route: Start Church of St. Mary and St. Helen, Neston 9.30am
Via: Burton, Puddington, Shotwick, Welsh Border, Blacon, Chester Canal
End: St. Olave’s Church, Lower Bridge Street, Chester
All walkers/pilgrims come at their own risk and MUST register (free) with the Grosvenor Museum Chester: 01244 402005 or email steve.harding@nottingham.ac.uk

The walk will be led by Norway’s St. Olav Pilgrim Priest

Click here for more information:

Anecdotes from Fairhurst Hall, Parbold

Anthony Travis (ant.travis@gmail.com) shares this amusing anecdote to the Fairhurst Hall story.......
When my father, George Travis, retired in about 1977 he handed all his business suits to his full time gardener. By coincidence it happened that the gardener, a retired coal miner and local Parbold man, was called Matthew Fairhurst. He was known by us as Matt.
Matt took to wearing my father's old suits when working in the grounds at Fairhurst and was often joined by my father, who wore very old and well worn outdoor clothes when they were clearing the leaves, mowing the lawns and generally keeping things in good trim.
Visitors who were unfamiliar with the Hall, which is only visible when one is already well down the drive, would sometimes stop and ask Matt, who was of course the better dressed of the two gardeners, the way to Fairhurst and where to park their car. Matt would reply that he was Mr Fairhurst and point them in the right direction. Naturally the visitors assumed that Matt was the owner.
This confusion was a source of great amusement particularly when the visitors, on meeting my father in the Hall to discuss the purpose of their visit would insist on meeting the owner rather than the gardener.

By the way, when Dr and Mrs Tom Rigg sold Fairhurst Hall they built the house on the land just behind the large stone built barn that is to be found at the southern end of the estate and at the bottom of the main drive.
Tom was a well known and successful pigeon fancier and kept his flock of pigeons in the barn next door to their house. On many occasions he could be seen with a tennis racquet hitting tennis balls high into the sky at the pigeons as they wheeled in circles above the barn. He explained that this technique was to train the pigeons to fly at a good height.
Such was country life!

Being a doctor Tom Rigg was able to treat and sew up wounds suffered by his racing pigeons when they returned from their long flights home. I would sometimes join him and hold the pigeons while he operated on them. They were wonderful creatures. Tom and his wife were the most genial and interesting neighbours one could wish for and helped make Fairhurst a fascinating place to live.
One final point. Did you know that the Hall is haunted? That of course is another story for another time but I can say that I and others were sometimes woken by the sound of strange and unexplained footsteps in the night!
Kindest regards
Anthony

More about Fairhurst Hall, Parbold

• Images show Fairhurst Hall prior to when the part of the right was demolished by Tom Rigg in the early Fifties.
• The 3 pg article appeared in the latter part of the 1960's when the Maiden's lived at Fairhurst and not long before the Travis family acquired it in 1967.
• The Maidens moved to Birkdale, Southport.
• The south facing side of Fairhurst Hall in all its glory during a cold but sunny winter afternoon sometime in the 1980's. Going clockwise from the lower two left hand windows was the dining room, the next two windows to the right with the front door between them was the hall. That front door used to be a window before the Fifties, but before the later 19th century addition to the house was built and subsequently demolished by Tom Rigg, it was the old front door of the Queen Anne house that still remains and was the original Hall. The upper two right hand windows were the spare bedroom, the single window to their left was my bedroom and the two windows to the left were my father-s dressing room and the two upper windows on the left were my parents- bedroom.
• And one from the air at around noon on a hot summer's day sometime in the 1980's.
• Until the mid 1980's there was a large rose bed where the lawn is before the front door. This was removed when the house flooded in 1982 following a sudden downpour when the stream running through the woods above the house and below Parbold Hill overflowed and swept through the garden and covered the Hall's ground floor with mud!

On 13 Jul 2010, at 11:00, ant.travis@gmail.com wrote:

Dear Boobelle
I enjoyed seeing the old Ainscough family photographs on your blog. I knew some of your family back in the 1960's when I lived at Fairhurst Hall.

Martin and May Ainscough and John and Margie Ainscough each lived just up the road from us and John and Margie Ainscough's kids and I were great friends playing tennis at their house on Sunday afternoons and frequently gathering at the Windmill Arms to play tippit and other pub games on Friday evenings with the locals and gang of close friends. I also knew Ossie Ainscough at Casterton Hall. I recall him as a rather fearsome character unlike Martin and John who were the most charming, friendly and welcoming old fellows. Ossie had a daughter (who's name a cannot remember for the time-being). She was quite a character! I particularly remember with great affection Tony, Ruth and Chrissie Ainscough (three of John and Margie's many kids). Please feel free to remember them to me if you are in touch with any of them.
Fairhurst Hall was a wonderful family home.

I don't have any old photos of the Ainscough family but I know who probably does. He's called Richard Lewis who to lived in Parbold in the Sixties and now lives in Shropshire. I think he bumped into Tony Ainscough in Burscough some time ago so may have passed on some memorabilia of the large get togethers we had on long summer Sunday afternoons to play tennis at John and Margie's house. We also used to play croquet on the lawn at Fairhurst.
I probably do have some old photos of Fairhurst somewhere and will try to dig them out and send them to you. The photo you have on your blog was made prior to the extensive changes made by Dr Tom Rigg in the early Fifties where the "newer" part of the house to the right of the photo (where the front door was) was demolished leaving the older part to the left intact. My parents, George and Diana Travis, bought the house in 1967 and renovated it making substantial changes to the interior.
Well beforehand my mother used to play bridge at Fairhurst when May Ainscough was living there. This would have been in the late Thirties and early Forties.
My parents acquired Fairhurst from Ian Maiden (of Maiden Displays) who had bought it from Tom Rigg some years earlier.
Martha Rigg, daughter of Dr and Mrs Tom Rigg married a Parbold resident Ainscough being Peter son of Martin and May Ainscough. Martha also grew up at Fairhurst so there are many more Ainscough family connections with the house than one might think.
Kindest regards
Anthony Travis

e mail: ant.travis@gmail.com

Louisa Earnshaw-Whalley

Hi Barbara
Hope you are well, apologies for not keeping in touch lately, but been a bit busy, as we all seem to be these days. I thought I'd send you a photo of my grandmother to add to your collection - Louisa Gertrude Earnshaw. I think you have her records - born in 1883 in Longridge, Lancashire, daughter of Ann Ainscough and Henry Earnshaw. She was later adopted by her older sister, Helen (b 1871) who was married to John Whalley, hence she became an Earnshaw-Whalley until she married my grandfather William Walsh. An
interesting snippet - Louisa and William were in the same junior school class together aged about 10 in Colne but didn't get together till a lot later - I've got another photo of them as classmates I can send you.
This attached photo was taken about 1900 I think, but that's a guess - she looks to be in her late teens. She had blonde hair, as did my mum and as did I till it got grey - maybe inherited from our Viking past on the Ainscough side?
Anyway, please let me know how you're going, and keep in touch.
Cheers, Richard
Richard Harris
harrisrichard@westnet.com.au

Recollection - exhibition 24 April-5 June 2010

E.H Gooch - his life and adventures

You may recall an earlier blog entry about EH Gooch - the researcher and writer of Ayscoughfee Hall. Bruce Watson (watson.bruce@neuf.fr) has been in touch again regarding a book he has now published about his great grandfather's adventures.

EHG's advenures will fascinate you:-
....on the Canadian Pacific Railway; lumberjacking in North B.C.; his narrow escape from marriage with a too attentive Siwash Indian; fighting at Ypres, Loos and Hohenzollern, adventures at sea and at home, the Home Guard and the 'little ships'......not to mention his father's adventures in New Zealand and Australia at the end of the C19th. Please circulate to any interested parties, libraries, History clubs and any others!
With many thanks, and good reading!
Bruce.
http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000176319


On 13 Apr 2011, at 21:10, sallie kuh (smkuhtfg@yahoo.com) wrote:

Dear Barbara:

I was most interested to read the information on E.H. Gooch of Spalding Lincs. I was a WWII evacuee and lived with Eric Gooch (his son) and his wife and their son, Ted at the Fellmongery on Clay Lake. When I moved there all the pits had been emptied, but the place still existed and was closed for the duration of the War.
Eric Gooch was in the Merchant Navy during the war and unfortunately died in 1956 from a freak accident suffered while holidaying in, I believe, Scotland.
Ted Gooch, his son and I remained friends until Ted's death some years ago. I would be interested in getting in touch with Bruce Watson his grandson and wondered if you had an uptodate address or email.
I am visiting Spalding in a few weeks to check out the places where I spent so much of my young days, and am sure the Spalding will be unrecognizable.
Any information you have would be greatly appreciated as I am a history buff and trying to write my history to pass on to my granddaughters.

Sincerely,
Sallie M. Kuh

Exhibition "Recollection" - Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk

"Recollection" is a group exhibition, Louise Wood is one of eleven artists.
The opening of the exhibition where the 'Ainscough Mill' work will be shown, is at the Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk, down the road from the Burscough mill itself. The exhibiton is on for six weeks.

Chapel Gallery,

St. Helens Rd. Ormskirk,
Lancashire
L39 4QR
01695 571328

Exhibition opening date 23rd April 2010.

http://www.theviewfromthenorth.org/portfolio15774.html

Wanted - stories about the Old Flour Mill

Louise Wood (tlouisewood@tiscali.co.uk) has a request for more information, stories, diaries from the Ainscough Mill....do you know anybody that used to work there or may have old photos or other sources of information. Please contact Louise directly if you can help.
On 23 Feb 2010, at 12:06, tlouisewood@tiscali.co.uk wrote:
Do you have any knowledge of any stories about the mill, accounts from the families perspective? Or ever heard any stories that have been passed down orally of memorable days, or any sayings, that became family sayings that came with the family's ownership of the mill? Or do you know whether any diary was kept while they owned the mill?
Or were any photos ever taken at the mill by the family?
Louise

Exhibition - "Recollection" (based on Ainscough Flour Mill)

On 19 Feb 2010, at 19:16, tlouisewood@tiscali.co.uk wrote:

Hello Barbara
I found your email address on the Ainscough family history website, and I hope you don't mind me contacting you. I am an artist, and I create work about peoples associations to place,
and am currently investigating and recording histories of different people who worked at Ainscough Mill, in Burscough. The piece of work created will be exhibited at The Chapel Gallery, in an exhibition called "Recollection."
I recognize that Hugh Ainscough, was the mills founder and was joined by his brother Richard, and today have visited the Ormskirk library to look at Hugh's funeral (1894) details, being particularly interested in the detail that three of the longest serving workers helped carry his
coffin. I was hoping to contact a member of the Ainscough family perhaps who had knowledge about the history of the mill, or photos? I was given a contact from Mr. P. Tucker, (once divisional director), for a member of the Ainscough family, but unfortunately was unable to make contact.
I would be very grateful for any assistance you might be able to offer me, or if you could direct me towards someone who might have knowledge they are willing to share.
Yours sincerely,
Louise Wood

ps. For your interest I have attached a poster I am using to advertise
the project. The ceramic piece shown, is my last commission in 2009.

More about the Finch family (Mawdesley)

Hi Barbara
The Finch family are definitely from Mawdesley. They are a very old family dating back to middle ages & their ancestor was St John Finch, Martyr. The family home, Lane End House, still there in Mawdesley & occupied by David Finch dates back to the 1500s.
In the roof of the house is a Chapel where Mass was said in the days when it was forbidden to say mass. One of the family, James Finch founded Hayes & Finch, one of the largest suppliers of church furniture, candles vestments etc. Cuthbert Finch in one of the photos is the present David Finch's Grandfather.
One of the photos mentions a priest from Wrightington Hall & in brackets Ainscough family.
It was the Diccinson & Gerrard Family who lived at Wrightington Hall not Ainscoughs. I'll have a further look at some point & see if David Finch knows any of them.
Interestingly this year is the 150th anniversary of the opening of SS Peter & Pauls School & Thomas James, & William Finch were both benefactors & trustees of the school in 1860.
We'll be holding various celebrations & an open day later in the year, I'll keep you posted. I'll speak to David Finch & see if he can identify anyone. There is an old Aunt of his still living in Maghull, in her 90s now (Cuthbert Finch's Daughter) but I don't know how well she is, I'll see if I can find out as it is likely that she may know them.
Perhaps you could pass this on to the sender.
Kind Regards
John Cobham

On 17 Feb 2010, at 19:25, Paul Bridges wrote:
I did further research on this, and found that 11 of the 12 children of Hugh Ainscough & Susannah Fairclough were baptised at Wrightington Hall. The one not mentioned was John.
regards, Paul


On 6 Dec 2010, at 18:58, Mary Ainscough wrote:

I have just had this back from my cousin Mary Joyce. I dont know if you can make any sense of it..........

Uncle Ben Craven [ father of Angela, who married her cousen Peter Finch of Maudsley R I P last year, Angela now lives in a cottage at Maudsley. Pam living in Ireland, Anthony and Mary [ nee Craven ] who are both married and live in Lancs. I don't know how they were related to the Finches but I think Uncle Dick Finch [married to A Aggie ] was Uncle Bens Uncle. I know someone called Alison Westinghouse [of the cooker fame ] who lives down here, her sister stayed in the North and married one of the Finches

Ainscough-Finch Photos 1869-1890s

Hi
I have a lot of photos from an album that I believe belonged to my GGrandmother Elizabeth Finch, who was the daughter of Mary Speakman (neé Ainscough), daughter of Richard Ainscough & Elizabeth Livesey.
These photos are from the late 1860s to the late 1890s, and include some Ainscough family members. There are about 90 of these photos, most of them unidentified. I have attempted to name some of them and estimate the year they were taken. I have copied these photos to a website at:
http://www.magma.ca/~pbridges/

Tony Ainscough suggested I contact you and see if you think it is appropriate for you to add this information to your Ainscough Blog. My interest is in naming the people in the photos.
CAN YOU HELP IDENTIFY ANYBODY?
Paul Bridges - Ottawa, Canada (pbridges@magma.ca)


On 29 Nov 2010, at 19:37, mary holder (member@mlholder.freeserve.co.uk) wrote:

Hi Barbara,
I cam accross your blog/website on the Finch family and was delighted to see a photo of my great great grandmother - Elizabeth Finch (nee Speakman). It appears she was married to William Finch and they had 4 children, one of these being my great grandmother Mary - she Married Charles Craven and had John Craven (my grandfather)...
I will try to spend some time researching Elizabeth's family further - are you also related to Elizabeth???

Would be great to find out more ....

Cheers,
Mary Holder

Who was E.H. Gooch?

Click the title above to link to more information about Ayscoughfee Hall.






Not an Ainscough or an Ayscough but a largely self-taught scholar, Ald. Gooch was well-known as the local historian and published “a History of Spalding,” and “Place Names in Holland, Lincolnshire” including research about Ayscoughfee Hall. His work might be useful to anybody researching the Ayscough links.

Edward Henry Gooch, “Harry” or “Skipper” to his friends, was a Spaldonian gentleman-adventurer and fifth generation fellmonger (dealing in wool and skins.) Born in 1885, he lived through the reign of four monarchs and during the height, and fall, of the British Empire. He was a fervent patriot and his greatest pride was that of being a Lincolnshire man.

He was a soldier, fighting in the trenches of the First World War, struggling to get some sleep on the piled up corpses of his fellows with only the rats to keep him warm. He was gassed and returned to civilian life where he had many an adventure as an amateur sailor. He was shipwrecked a number of times. In WWII he did his bit in the Home Guard and then in the “little ships” before returning to fellmongering.

He partook fully in municipal affairs. Probably one of the most outspoken men in the district, he was a member of the County Council from 1919 and an alderman from 1935. In 1919, he became a member of Spalding Urban Council and sat until 1927. After an interval of 11 years, he again returned to the Urban Council and, until he retired from that body in 1950, occupied several chairmanships and committees. He was Worshipful Master at the Hundred of Elloe Lodge of Freemasons.


His memoirs and some of his extensive historic poetry (presented by his grandson, Bruce Watson) will be published shortly in a book entitled “Gooch of Spalding.”




Bruce Watson (watson.bruce@neuf.fr) lives with his French wife and family in the South of France, where he has published a book of short stories about the French Way of Life called “Life’s not all Wine and Roses” published by Iuniverse and available through W.H.Smiths or Amazon.co.uk (ISBN 0-595-27703-9)

Votre message est prêt à être envoyé avec les fichiers ou liens joints suivants :
masonic dress
Home Guard
Jo's wedding
great grandpa Gooch
grandpa Gooch

From: Shaun Tyas
Date: 9 March 2010 23:32:44 GMT

Dear Barbara,
Thank you for posting the E H Gooch information on your website. I wonder if I could get in touch with whoever is writing / has written the mentioned book on him? Perhaps it is yourself? I have recently been preparing a conference paper about Gooch's book on Lincolnshire Place-Names and it is good to find some basic biographical information, but the bulk of my talk will be about his place-names. He was, of course, a respected local historian, but I fear the majority of his interpretations of the names are simply wrong because he believed they were Celtic. It would be good to have a chat with someone who knows more about him, though. I live in Donington near Spalding, email as above. Unfortunately I have only just discovered your site and my talk is on Saturday!
Best wishes
Shaun Tyas

Angela Withnell 1917-2010

Angela Withnell of Hammersmith died on 13th January 2010 of pneumonia, aged 93 years. Her mother was Annie Ainscough of Lancaster House who married Randall Withnell. (Annie's sister, Mary, also married a Withnell - Thomas. She was killed by a motorbike).
Angela was godmother to Angela Swift, (nee Sidgreaves, grand-daughter of John Ainscough of Briars), who described her as a super person. Her nephew, Sebastian Withnell, has indicated that the funeral is to be at Mortlake Cemetery at 2pm on February 1st.


Just a few more details for those that would like more background information:
Hugh Ainscough (Mary & Tony Ainscough's great grandfather) married Susan Fairclough. Their youngest daughter Ann married Randall Withnell and had 2 Children : Anthony and Angela. Angela did not have any children but her nephew Sebastian frequently called on her in her flat in Hammersmith.