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Archiver > CORNISH > 1998-01 > 0884917475


From: "John Coles" <>
Subject: Re: Nicholas Surname
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 98 18:24:35 PST


Hi Ron,

John M. has also replied to you on this, but a few pennyworth of thoughts to add to his comments. I agree about the land journey, but it is worth remembering that
both Newlyn and Falmouth were very busy seaports at the end of the nineteenth Century (which seems to be the date period you are looking at. Small boats and big boats, and a lot of coastal traffic of goods between ports, quite apart from the fishing boats. Falmouth was of particular importance, with a massive proportion of the world's seaborne trade passing within sight of the shore, and one of the world's largest natural harbours (Carrick Roads) to offer shelter from the storms.

By Sea, Falmouth Bay is the next big bay going east from Mount's Bay.

(The other factor, of course, is the railway, which ran from the terminus at Penzance, which is only a 30 minute walk from Newlyn, and the train then went to Truro, from where a branch runs to Falmouth. This was, without doubt, the great 'Age of the Train' and they provided 3 classes of accomodation to cater for most needs!

Flushing, of course, is only just across the harbour from Falmouth, with a ferry (which has been running since the 17th Century) connecting the two. Flushing was the 'upmarket' bit of Falmouth - it is actually a village in it's own right - but this was where the sea captains lived, in elegant houses and with the concomitant social life, whilst the rollicking, wenching, and drinking went on around the quayside pubs down river in Falmouth.

It seems to me that it would be entirely reasonable to at least keep an open mind on this link, and keep searching in both locations. But what is really interesting here, is that this story may well represent a gradual rise up the social classes.

Born Newlyn? which was very much a 'working class' place (in the terms of the day), and then on to Flushing, well up in the social scale, and where the first daughter would have a chance to grow up asa 'young lady'.Perhaps he overstretched the finances, and moved back to Falmouth, or perhaps the commute to work got to be too much. Perhaps Caroline said one day, "James, we've got another child on the way, and we can't afford to live like this, and you've got to get a house nearer the shops."

Perhaps Caroline was the daughter of a sea captain, and they lived with the parents for the first year of marriage, until the first daughter came along, and then moved to Falmouth?

Could well be worth looking in Newlyn for his birth, and Falmouth for the marriage?

Perhaps....Anyway, does this take you any further?

Cheers, John.

John & Anna at Kernow Sound magazine
"The Sounds of Cornwall"


----------
>
> I still have not found James Thomas Nicholas, he may have been born in Newlyn,
> is that near Falmouth?. He was married to Caroline Emily Bowden, I don't know
> any dates. He had a daughter Maud Beatrice in 1903 while living in Falmouth
> and another daughter in 1902 in Flushing, any help would be appriciated I am
> stuck on this one.
> Thanks Ron in Mesa, Arizona. USA.
>
>

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