Thankfully, there are and probably always will be nice new little nuggets of family history to be found, just like this one I spotted today.
My eyes have maybe looked over or past this little wooden cupboard in the church at Stonesfield a hundred or more times, but its probably always been there.
Well this thread sat pretty dormant for a good while with a bare family tree and little more than names and dates.
All that changed at the recent History Day where it was an absolute pleasure to share the tree diagram below, full of wonderful faces:
I've come to learn a bit about this line in recent months, Thomas clearly a hugely talented builder who with his brother Ernest built their family homes Stockley View and Spring Villa in 1904, John Albert a.k.a Jack was a fantastic footballer and meticulous gardener and young Thomas a very gifted carpenter. Though the thing that has struck me most as I've talked to various people about the family is that every single person has remarked on how they were truly genuine and lovely Stonesfield people.
Yes, that's the right family. I woke up Sunday morning thinking "Merv had an older brother and an older sister who was called Pat". I was going to send you this information, but you beat me to it! I couldn't remember his mother's or his brother's name, but as soon as I saw "Malcolm" I knew that was correct.
Congratulations on coming up with the correct information so quickly. I never ever thought that I was related to Merv Bartlett. I think if we delve deeply enough we'll find all of Stonesfield has an Oliver connection somewhere down the line.
Yes, here we go with trying to identify the Mervin Bartlett you mention.
Frederick and Beatrice Bartlett (nee Oliver) were born in 1874 and 1873 respectively, so they wouldn't be the parents of your Mervin as late as the 1940's.
I've also previously identified Frederick and Beatrice's children; six girls and one boy, and the son was Frederick. Here's the family:
It's this Frederick, Beatrice and family who are mentioned in Thomas' obituary - Thomas and Beatrice were brother and sister, both children of Albert and Hannah.
Frederick W Bartlett b.1911 however was married in 1935 to Elsie Gardner and together I believe they had three children, including a Mervin J Bartlett in 1943.
On some initial anaylsis here's how I believe this branch then pans out:
You knew Mervin Bartlett I'm guessing? - does this all seem to fit I wonder, a sister called Patricia, brother called Malcolm, parents Frederick and Elsie.
He's an Oliver descendant for sure, he's a distant cousin of yours Barb.
The obituary is interesting. Mr & Mrs Peel lived in the Manor, so I would think that Thomas was well liked and respected if they sent a floral tribute.
What year was Beatrice Bartlett born? Any way of finding out if Fred and Beatrice Bartlett had a son called Mervyn (born around the mid 1940's)?
Do you have a photo of Edward's and Lydia's graves?
I recognize all the people in the photo taken outside the Post Office. Simon moved to Stonesfield after I left the village, and I only met him once or twice, but the other four I remember very well.
Also on this, we find the funeral of Thomas Hanwell Oliver reported in the newspaper.
Familiar names can be seen sending floral tributes, including: Lil and Tom: Tom and Lily Selina Austin (nee Oliver, sister of Thomas Hanwell) Beat, Fred and Family: Fred and Beatrice Bartlett (nee Oliver, sister of Thomas Hanwell) Miriam and Ben: Ben and Miriam Maisey (nee Oliver, sister of Thomas Hanwell) Alice and Joe: Joe and Alice Chamberlain (nee Oliver, sister of Thomas Hanwell) Annie and Albert: Albert and Annie Woodward (nee Oliver, sister of Thomas Hanwell) Willie, Carrie, Alan and Seymour: William Edgar, brother of Thomas Hanwell) and his daughter and sons. Harry, Edie and Family: Harry Oliver (nephew) and wife Edith (nee Turner) (both re: Hanborough Garage, Harry being theson of Ernest who was the brother of brother of Thomas Hanwell)
Oh great, thanks for that info. (This) Thomas' mum was called Maud (nee Fowler) if that rings any bells.
I can only find a birth for Christine at the moment, in 1944, no marriage or death anywhere - umm, will be to do some more digging.
With Thomas dying unmarried, perhaps an only child, and Thomas' father being an only child perhaps this branch has come to an end.
You mentioned 'Marion's Post Office' which reminded me of a picture of saw in a book about Stonesfield. Here are Avis Ulshaw, Jill Moore, Marion Hall, Revd Bertram Calver and Simon Watson and the photo is from 1975 and is all to do with some commemmorative stamps.
I remember Thomas Oliver who lived down Churchfields (across the lane from Marion's Post Office). He never married. I never heard of a sister, so if this is the same Thomas Oliver she must have died very young. I think Thomas was a carpenter. I remember his mother, but don't remember her name. Sorry the information is so sketchy. Frank or Marian Hall would be able to give you more information if this is the right family.
In my experience of trying to locate Oliver graves within Stonesfield churchyard I think its quite rare to find fully legible gravestones for four consecutive generations of an Oliver family line - though I have found that there is at least one, which I thought I'd share.
Here is the direct line over the four generations:
Here are the four gravestones
1 - Albert and Hannah Oliver
2 - Thomas Hanwell and Mary Maud
3 - John Albert and Maud
4 - Thomas Francis Oliver
Placing these people in the family context isn't the question here, in fact we have pictures of Albert, Hannah and Thomas Hanwell in the 'Fantastic Family Photo' article.
I do wonder though if anyone knew of John Albert, his wife Maud (nee Fowler) or knew Thomas Francis or knows his sister Christine?
I'm not able to yet find a marriage for either Thomas or Christine, did they actually marry I wonder? did they have any children, are there descendants out there?
Would appreciate any input.
So again, I do think it's quite unusual to locate four consecutive Oliver generations with legible gravestones, though someone may know of others.
