I went back and read through this whole thread and what makes it even more interesting is that I think Nurse White might have lodged with Titch when she first came to Stonesfield, before she married Jimmy French. Check with Peter French (if you're still in touch with him) to see if he can confirm this. Titch was a teacher before she retired and I remember her driving her car well into her retirement years. Did she and Frank have any children? If you have time it might be interesting to put Frank's family tree on the website, as he was the only one of his family to stay in Stonesfield. (If you've already done this just direct me to the thread!).
Thanks again for the work you do putting the pieces of this family puzzle together.
It's so funny how things are often connected, but you don't they are until some other piece of information comes along and makes it all join up.
I had written:
So, the unidentified Olivers are now:
Albert Oliver, Timber Yard Ellen A Oliver, Woodland View Harry Oliver, 3 Council Houses James Oliver, The Tewer William Oliver, 19 Longore
Then you wrote:
Isn't Woodland View one of the red brick houses (next to Spring Villa) in Churchfields? Also, there was a Mrs. Titchy Oliver living in one of the lanes off Churchfields. I don't remember which house she lived in (maybe that was Woodland View), but my Mum would be able to show you the house as she looked after Titchy when she was still doing Home Care. I don't remember the name of Titchy's husband.
Well, I was talking to Mary and Ron Evins the other afternoon and Ron shed some light on this.
Do you recall at the history day our cousins from Santa Monica and Oak Bay Canada whose grandparents left Stonesfield for Canada leaving one brother, Frank in Stonesfield? Well, I now know that Woodlands View was build by Frank and I also now know that Franks second wife was Ellen Anita, and confirming what you had written above Ron told me she was called Titch!
Sounds like your Mum would have known her quite well, probably didn't know of the family connection, amazing.
Previously within this thread there were separate discussions happening regarding a) James/Jimmy French and his wife Kath the District Nurse and b) Valerie Oliver, daughter of Aubrey Oliver.
What none of us actually realised is that there is more that links these two families than just there mere mention here within this thread.
So, did you kmow that Valerie Oliver, daughter of Aubrey, married an Ernest Bishop and together they had a daughter also named Valarie (Bishop). Well, Valarie Bishop married a chap called Peter French, and who is Peter French?, he's the son of Jimmy and Kath!
This was very kindly pointed out to me by a grandson of Jimmy & Kath/Ernest & Valerie who found this messageboard thread. Fascinating hey!
Lovely photo of Nurse. From what I can recall and Barbara might back me up. Jimmy French was a door to door salesman and collector of monies from people who had bought items on credit from a shop, I think in Oxford. I bought Charles Earlywarm blankets for my bottom drawer from him and had to pay him so much a month. I still have the blankets!!
I think his first wife died around 57/62 and Nursie was his second wife. He was a short, curly haired jovial little man who had a lovely personality. I never knew if he was a local or moved in to Stonesfield after his second marriage.
Barbara - as for your comment about me knowing all the dark good looking boys in Stonesfield - I seem to recall that Colin from the Garage was blond - or perhaps I was blinded by the sports car!!
You're absolutely right on the children of Aubrey and Edna, I think Ron or Ronald is the brothers name you could'nt quite remember:
Aubrey Oliver m. Edna M Breakspear in 1935
Children
Ronald Oliver, b.1935 'poss' m. Diane J Everett in 1963
Valerie A Oliver, b.1938 m. Ernest S Bishop in 1958
Gillian Oliver, 1942 m. Thomas A Mitchell in 1969
Another Oliver descendant used to be good friends with Gillian and I've tried putting them back in contact recently, through one of Gillian's daughter, seems however that she's not that interested in gettong in touch or sharing any info - shame, but she's not the only one out there, I've been met with a few sealed lips recently.
Thanks for those new Oliver leads Barb, I'll take a look at those.
James/Jimmy French and the District Nurse have been mentioned in this thread.
The fantastic Stonesfield millennium book includes the following picture of Nurse White (no first name detailed) who came to Stonesfield and married a Jimmy French:
The books details that she was a very respected district nurse and midwife.
I didn't know that Aubrey was Frederick's son. This means he was my Dad's cousin! I remember the family. Jill was the youngest and she had an older sister who, I think, was Valerie and an older brother whose name I can't remember. I never knew Aubrey was Dempsey's brother.
One thing that puzzles me. On the list, Harry Oliver is listed as living at 3 Council Houses and Ernest W. Oliver at 2 Council Houses. My Uncle Henry is at 1 Council Houses. But in 1958 Flo Partlett (sister to Frank and May) and family were living at #2 and Albie and Evelyn Fowler were living at #3. I don't ever remember Dempsey living next door to my grandparents!
William Oliver, 19 Longore is definitely Billy Oliver married to Audrey with Clive, Fay, Sharon and Ashley.
James Oliver, The Tewer might be related to Doris Bright (nee Oliver). Doris lived down The Tewer so this might be her dad, uncle, or grandfather.
Isn't Woodland View one of the red brick houses (next to Spring Villa) in Churchfields? Also, there was a Mrs. Titchy Oliver living in one of the lanes off Churchfields. I don't remember which house she lived in (maybe that was Woodland View), but my Mum would be able to show you the house as she looked after Titchy when she was still doing Home Care. I don't remember the name of Titchy's husband.
I don't know if any of this helps, or leads to more puzzles. Over to you Shane!
Here are a few comments on the Olivers as to where they fit in, many of these first 7 have been discussed previously on the message board here:
Aubrey Oliver, 8 Longore Ernest W Oliver, 2 Council Houses These two were brothers, both sons of Frederick and Lily Oliver, Frederick was a brother of my own great-granddad Frank. Ernest was better known and Dempsey and married Chrissie Morris and Aubrey married Edna Breakspear.
Cyril Oliver, 13 Combe Road George Oliver, 4 Combe Road Royston G Oliver, 12 Longore All three of these chaps were from the same branch, George and Cyril were brothers, sons of Philip and Minnie Oliver, Royston is George's son, George also had a daughter Kathy who married a Frank Styles. Cyril Oliver is the father of Terry Oliver.
John A Oliver, Spring Villa John Albert if the only son of Thomas Hanwell Oliver, who was the son of Albert and Hannah. Albert also had one son Thomas Francis and Thomas Hanwell, John Albert and Thomas Francis all lived at Spring Villa, Thomas died in 2005.
Ronald W Oliver, White Horse, The Ridings Ronald was the only son of William and Minnie who ran the White Horse.
Where these next 6 sit in the tree is less clear for me so any recollection anyone might have would be useful in helping identify them:
Albert Oliver, Timber Yard Ellen A Oliver, Woodland View - Spinster or married into Oliver's? Harry Oliver, 3 Council Houses - There is Harry Oliver who moved to Handbrough as set up the Garage in 1918, but I don't that he moved back to Stonesfield? James Oliver, The Tewer Stanley F Oliver, Woodstock Road William Oliver, 19 Longore - this might be Bill Oliver, son of Dempsey?
Where to start...Miss Lucy lived in Church Street. One of the houses on the right hand side just before the top of Brook Lane. I don't remember her speaking with a French accent or ever having heard about a "French Connection". She was a sweet, genteel lady who from my pre-teen years looked absolutely ancient (although she was only in her mid-40's at that time!), so I was surprised to hear that she was only 58 when she died.
Thanks for the photo and map locating the Windmill, Shane. I remember seeing the plaque for Windmill House and Broadlands on my walks round the village in May, and have been trying to remember exactly which lane it is. It looks as if might be by Charlie Daw's (Dore? Dawe?) house. Is that correct? (Incidentally I don't see Charlie on the list either - what a character he was. undertaker and "bicycle repair man".) If that is the correct location for the old windmill, then I spent quite a few Sunday mornings right on that spot, because my Dad used to take me down to Charlie Daw's when he needed to get parts for his motor bike and I well remember the swing he had there as well as the hutches with rabbits inside them, but sadly no indication of the old windmill.
Also from the list is Herbert Tidmarsh living at Windmill House. I don't remember a Rosemary Tidmarsh, Irene, but I do remember Jean and Janet but don't remember which Tidmarsh was their father. Maybe they lived at Windmill House!
You're quite right about Alderman's, Irene. It was the garage just down from the White Horse. Malcolm Bartlett's father was Fred and Malcolm had a brother and sister, Merv and Pat. Yes, Jimmy French married the District Nurse and Maurice Golder had a brother Garry and their mother was a "gloveress" - I love that term. PC Jones had a son and daughter, Peter and Valerie and Terry Woodward still lives in the village. He runs the taxi service with Johnny Cross. (You seem to remember all the tall, dark-haired good looking guys, Irene! - watch out Shane!)
Will go through the list a few more times and see if I can find anything else of interest. Thanks for bringing back those memories.
Hi Shane and Barbara, Here we go again - is it a `try and upset Irene time again`? 1958 was a good year, I had already left school and started work at Woodstock. Many of the names I recall..... Alderman - was that the Garage Barbara? Bartlett - maybe Malcolm? Ronald Evins - I remember him well. He was on the photo of the bellringers Barbara. James French - did he marry the District Nurse? Cyril Golder - did he have a son named Maurice (Gilly). Hanks - The Shop Harris - we won`t go there. Hunt - Brian, maybe? PC Jones. Was very interested in Atheletics and used to give advice to us sporty youngsters. Olivers - TOO MANY Scarrot - Trevor comes to mind. Tidmarsh - young lady born about 1939? Rosemary? Woodward - kept a shop. Used to live in Combe. Shirley and Terry.
I've just double checked the original list again and sure enough your Grandparents are not listed - very odd - I can't imagine why, it does suggest there may be further omissions!
Re: Lucy D Etoile, this is my mistake, it is actually Etoile D Lucy, so possibly the Miss Lucy you recall?
I have found a death of an Etoile De La M Lucy in Oxfordshire in 1967, she was aged 58 at death, born in 1909, so about 49/50 in 1958 - do you recall any french connection as her name might suggest perhaps?
Re: Windmill Road, I have discovered in the last couple of weeks that there was in fact a Windmill in Stonesfield once.
Here are a couple of references supporting this:
British History Website The only known mill in Stonesfield was built in the 1820s by William Somerton. A William the miller was recorded in 1279, but no other evidence of a mill in Stonesfield at that time has been found. Somerton's mill changed hands frequently, seems not to have been successful, and closed c. 1850. The stone base of the mill remained in 1930, but it was demolished shortly after.
Oxfordshire Historic Environment Record Site name: Corn Windmill (site of) Summary: Windmill built in 1817 but never really used as a cornmill. Stood until at least until WWI and pulled down in 1950's. Now Windmill Farmhouse
As for the location of the Windmill the coordinates detailed with the Oxfordshire Historic Environment Record place it off Churchfields (see green arrow).
The roadside view does show a private lane leading to the spot of the windmill and a plaque at the lane entrace listing (what I think reads) 'Windmill House' and 'Broadlands':
Perhaps this lane was previously (offically or locally) known as Windmill Road?
This is an interesting list Shane. I know and remember about 90% of the people listed. Where did the list come from? I'm just curious because my Dad and his brother are on the list, but my Grandpa is not.
A couple of questions...the address for James Hopkins is Windmill Rd. Anyone know where that is (was)? I don't recall it at all.
Also, under the "L" is Lucy D Etoile living at 'San Roque'. I ws wondering if that is "Miss Lucy"? Anyone have any other ideas or know who this could be?
You've got me thinking about the village again, and that can't be bad. Thanks Shane.
A recent find uncovered a fascinating 1958 directory of Stonesfield inhabitants.
I'll pick out the Oliver's and those with Oliver connections later but more generally perhaps the list provides and opportunity for some of you to reminisce and recall memories of any of these people?
