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Archiver > STEER > 2006-08 > 1155029259


From: "Jack Steer" <>
Subject: Re: [STEER] Huddocks, Westerham, Kent
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 10:27:39 +0100
References: <BAY102-F27375091858C580CBD97B3A3570@phx.gbl>


Margaret,

Thanks for the additional information.

You asked whether I had similar examples in my family. I don't have any
examples where individuals have changed their names. There are quite a lot
of examples where forenames have been shortened. I'm one as I was registered
as John. There are a fair few where the first forename has been dropped, for
example my father, whose first name was Alfred and was always called Jack as
his second name was John. And there are a number who changed their names
around. My grandfather's siblings seem to have done it as a matter of
course. My great aunt Nell was Mary Ellen, Selina Winifred was married and
died as Winifred Selina and Jarvis Wilfred was always known as Wilfred
Jarvis. My grandfather Alfred Samuel also confused the issue slightly by
being married as Alfred Samuel Luscombe STEER. He added the Luscombe in
memory of his late mother, but that's another story. He was also registered
as Alfred Samuel STEER, even though his parents were not married and that is
slightly odd, but as the banns for the marriage had been arranged, perhaps
it was fair enough.

But nowhere do I have any evidence of such a dramatic change as you have
found.

The only major example I can think of occurs in the South Hams vets. There
are quite a number of individuals having changed surnames brought about a
child being baptised as a base child or where the natural father died. But
there is a whole collection of children baptised in Aveton Gifford as
JEWELL, but always known as STEAR. William STEAR and his wife Mary split up
by 1826 at the latest; Mary remained in Kingsbridge, living with her
children for at least some of the remaining years of her life. By about 1825
William took Elizabeth JEWELL as a common law wife and their first child -
Catherine Emma Jewell STEER - was baptised in Plymouth St Andrew in 1826. On
28.7.1841 - eight further children of William STEAR and Elizabeth JEWEL were
baptised in Aveton Gifford and described as the base children of Elizabeth
JEWEL. They had been born at about two-year intervals from 1827-1841. Chris
Burgoyne commented in September 2001 that one of them known as Dr Billy, was
informed by the rector that his name should really have been JEWEL, as a
result of which he never spoke to the rector again!



Regards,

Jack Steer


----- Original Message -----
From: "margaret wilkinson" <>
To: <>; <>
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 10:51 PM
Subject: Re: [STEER] Huddocks, Westerham, Kent


> ''Is it me or does anyone else find it strange that Phyllis or
> Philadelphia seems to change her name almost at will.''
>
> Jack, I have long ago accepted that my Steer family were/(are?!) strange!!
>
> Phillis for Philadelphia I have thought of as a shortened version of a
> rather unusual name, which might otherwise cause comment. You may
> remember me mentioning a very 'dubious' scrap of paper, found in the
> effects of one Edith Beale, who was John and Phillis' great grandaughter,
> on which she gave the following birth and death details, amongst others.
>
> Philis Delphy Steer Born April 1st 1821
> Philis Delphy Steer died October 6th 1860
>
> Edith did not know Phillis, presumably had been told by other family
> members of her name. Possibly indicates that she was known as Phillis in
> everyday life, but an incorrect attempt made at her correct name.
>
> Where the original name of Philadelphia came from, I have no idea; from
> IGI and census info, her siblings appear to have had more common names (
> poss Mary Ann, William, poss Sarah, Philadelphia, Eliza and Harriett
> Humphrey)
> ((possibles are from IGI, others from census and IGI))
>
> 1841 census
> Michael Humphery, M, 50, Ag Lab, Y
> Mary Humphery, F, 50, N
> William Humphery, M, 25, Ag lab, Y
> Eliza Humphery, F, 15, Y
> Harriett Humphery, F, 14, Y
> Edward Humphery, M, 12, Y
> James Humphery, M, 7, Y
> Sophia Humphery, F, 2, Y
> Richard White, M, 20, Ag lab, Y
> Living at Edenbridge St, Edenbridge
> HO107/482/7 Folio 36 p26
>
> Edward and James I have been unable to place, no IGI records, possibly
> also siblings, but with ordinary sounding names!
>
> Sophia does appear in IGI, as follows -
> SOPHIA HUMPHREY
> Christening:
> 16 JUN 1839 Edenbridge, Kent, England
> Mother: MARY HUMPHREY
> C020543 1813 - 1843 1469340 IT 3
>
> So possibly grandaughter of Michael and Mary Humphrey, from the eldest
> daughter, Mary Ann Humphrey, though I have found no other evidence to
> support this.
>
> I did put a query to the list way back in Jan 2005, there were no replies
> at the time, presumably because it sounded so unlikely, but later evidence
> established they were one and the same person.
>
> From: "margaret wilkinson" <>
> Subject: Phillis / Philadelphia HUMPHREY
> Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 08:21:53 +0000
>
> Dear all. A very merry New Year
> John STEER born 1814, Crowhurst , Surrey married Phillis HUMPHREY May 9th
> 1842 according to IGI
> Corresponding search for Phillis, born c. 1822 from census info (1851 aged
> 29, born Edenbridge, Kent) gives no matches
> However, there is an entry for
> Philadelphia HUMPHREY christened 29th April 1821, Edenbridge, Kent
> What is the likelihood of this being the same person?
> Margaret
>
> ''Does anyone have any other examples?''
> I'm sure there will be more response to this, Jack, have you not got any
> examples in your tree?!
>
> I do have a puzzle on my mother's side of the family (not just the Steer
> family who is strange!)
>
> My TUTHILL family of London were born/baptised, married and died as
> TUTHILL, in Parish Records, birth and marriage certificates etc. A fairly
> unusual name, easy to trace in census records you might think.
> Not so! For some as yet unknown reason they used the name of STEPHENS in
> census records! In 1841 the head of family is given as William Tuthill
> STEPHENS and from 1851 to 1901 the family and descendants are given as
> STEPHENS! It took me a while to work this out and accept that they were
> the same, especially as I had no access to the Tuthill STEPHENS 1841
> census record until this year.
> My 2G grandmother, Ure Jane TUTHILL, also appears as Eve STEPHENS, other
> family members given the name of Ure also appear as Eve in some records.
> Whether this is a definite alternative name, or whether enumerator was
> trying to make sense of this unusual name, and came up with 'Eve', I don't
> know, but it is certainly frustrating to know which name to use in search
> engines!!
>
> Her brother had the sense to baptise his children as (first name) Stephens
> TUTHILL, thus helping to provide the connection, and it is not until some
> of these children leave home that they give the correct name of TUTHILL in
> census records.
>
> Margaret
>
>
>
> ----Original Message Follows----
> From: "Jack Steer" <>
> To: "margaret wilkinson"
> <>,<>
> Subject: Re: [STEER] Huddocks, Westerham, Kent
> Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2006 20:33:53 +0100
>
> Margaret,
>
> Many thanks for posting all the revised information.
>
> Is it me or does anyone else find it strange that Phyllis or Philadelphia
> seems to change her name almost at will. She married as Phillis, bur when
> her son is registered by her husband he names her Philadelphia, which I
> believe was the name that she was given at her baptism.
>
> I have two or three great aunts and uncles who were given two forenames at
> baptism and swapped them around when they became adults, but I can't think
> of any similar examples to Philadelphia, apart from her husband
>
> Does anyone have any other examples?
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Jack Steer
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "margaret wilkinson"
> <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Sunday, August 06, 2006 10:38 PM
> Subject: [STEER] Huddocks, Westerham, Kent
>
>
>>Pursuing some enquiries as to where/what Huddocks may have been.
>>
>>1851 census
>>John Steer, Head, Mar, M, 36, Ag Lab, Surrey, Crowhurst
>>Phillis Steer, Wife, Mar, F, 24, Kent, Edenbridge
>>Mary Ann Steer, Daur, F, 7, Scholar, Kent, Westerham
>>George Steer, Son, M, 5, Scholar, Kent, Westerham
>>Kate Steer, Daur, F, 3, Scholar, Kent, Westerham
>>Address Huddocks, Westerham,
>>HO 107/1613 Folio 522 p6
>>
>>1854 Birth of Philip Steer
>>Birth in Sevenoaks, Kent
>>31 March 1854, Huddocks, Westerham
>>Phillip, Boy
>>Father John Steer, Agricultural Labourer
>>Mother Philadelphia Steer, formerly Humphrey
>>Informant John Steer, Father, Huddocks, Westerham, his mark
>>Registered 19 April 1854
>>Registrar J Waring
>>
>>John Steer found Huddocks for me on Old Maps last year, located East of
>>Crockham Hill, between The Close and Chandler's Barn.
>>
>>old-maps.co.uk
>>County: KENT Date :1873 Grid Ref: 545448,150500
>>I have written to Westerham Parish Council, to see where it is today,
>>because by 1861 census it appeared to have disappeared.
>>
>>They passed the message on to Maureen Oakley, a keen local historian.
>>She went walking the highways and byeways of Crockham Hill for me and has
>>found it, renamed as Acremead Cottage!
>>She is fairly sure of it, because Acremead is halfway between Close Farm
>>and Chandlers (the barn has gone, a house rebuilt on the land). It has a
>>covered in well in the grounds (a well clearly shown close to Huddocks on
>>the map), the only known well in the area.
>>
>>A Google search for Acremead Cottage, Crockham Hill comes up with
>>http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utaaa/00046/aaa-00046.html
>>
>>Smith and Brewer:
>>An Inventory of their Drawings,(1896-(1900-1919)-1939)
>>
>> Project name: Acremead. Outbuildings in stable yard.
>> Date on drawings: 1912
>> Primary archt/firm: Arnold Dunbar Smith and Cecil Claude Brewer
>>
>>Why and when the name change took place she has not been able to find out.
>>Apparently a lot of new built houses now, in an area still mostly fields
>>and woods.
>>So, Have not found out anything new about my Steer ancestors as such, but
>>have identified where John and Phillis Steer were in 1851, and where
>>Philip Steer, my great grandfather was born.
>> She also sent some Westerham Steer Parish Register transcriptions. She
>> has interpreted John Steer's father's name as George DAVISON, marriage
>> certificate and IGI say George DAWSON.
>>I still can't find out anything about him, but it is an alternative name
>>to look for!!
>>I have a copy of the original registry entry, I obviously could not read
>>this clearly myself, as I have queried that it could read DAWSIN. It is
>>not a very clear copy, some parts of it illegible.
>>
>>Parish Register entry
>>Marriage solemnised by Banns in Parish Church of Westerham, County of Kent
>>Entry 25
>>May (? 7th) 1842,
>>John Steer, Full Age, Bachelor, Servant, Resident in Westerham
>>Father George Dawson(? Dawsin), Labourer
>>Phillis Humphery, Full Age, Spinster, Resident in Westerham
>>Father Michael Humphrey, Labourer
>>John Steer, his mark
>>Phillis Humphrey, her mark
>>In the presence of James Humphry, his mark, William (illegible? Witton)
>>Witness W Ray
>>Curate (illegible)
>>
>>Marriage certificate
>>Marriage solemnised by Banns in Parish Church of Westerham, County of Kent
>>7 May 1842,
>>John Steer, Full Age, Bachelor, Servant, Resident in Westerham
>>Father George Dawson, Labourer
>>Phillis Humphrey, Full Age, Spinster, Resident in Westerham
>>Father Michael Humphrey, Labourer
>>John Steer, his mark
>>Phillis Humphrey, her mark
>>Witness (?) Wm Ray
>>In the presence of
>>James Humphry, his mark,
>>and (?) Wills (?) Seller
>>Curate C J Urquhart
>>
>>Margaret
>>
>>
>>
>>==== STEER Mailing List ====
>>Visit the STEER Family History Web Site
>>http://www.btinternet.com/~frances.steer/STEER/STEER_Home.htm
>>
>>==============================
>>New! Family Tree Maker 2005. Build your tree and search for your ancestors
>>at the same time. Share your tree with family and friends. Learn more:
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>>
>>
>
>
>


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