Possible 1901 entry (kf 10.0.2006)
Name: George Biggs Age in 1901: 51 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1850 Relation: Head Spouses's Name: Ann Gender: Male Where born: Somerset, England Civil parish: Blaenavon Ecclesiastical parish: Blaenavon County/Island: Monmouthshire Country: Wales
Name: Ann Biggs Age 48 abt 1853 Wife Spouses's Name: George Gender: Female Where born: Blaenavon, Monmouthshire, Wales Civil parish: Blaenavon Ecclesiastical parish: Blaenavon County/Island: Monmouthshire Country: Wales
Household schedule number: 195
Name a possible from 1901 census
1881 census
52, Constellation Street, Roath
Mary Biggs widow Mary Biggs b.abt.1824 in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire.
Mary E Biggs UnM 23 Chepstow Domestic Servant
Thomas Biggs UnM 18 Roath, Cardiff BakerPossible 1901 census entry
Name: Thomas Biggs Age in 1901: 37 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1864 Relation: Head Spouses's Name: Elizabeth A Gender: Male Where born: Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Civil parish: Roath Ecclesiastical parish: St Margaret County/Island: Glamorgan Country: Wales
Registration district: Cardiff Sub-registration district: East Cardiff ED, institution, or vessel: 10 Household schedule number: 98A
Household Members:
Name: Age Est Birth Year Relation Gender Born
Elizabeth A Biggs 35 abt 1866 Wife Female Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales
Thomas Biggs 12 abt 1889 Son Male Cardiff
Elizabeth Biggs 9 abt 1892 Daughter Female Cardiff
Archibald Biggs 4 abt 1897 Son Male Cardiff
Christopher Biggs 2 abt 1899 Son Male CardiffCross-referenced to above there is a Cardiff marriage:
Marriages Dec 1889
BIGGS Thomas Cardiff 11a 585
Lloyd Elizabeth Margaret Cardiff 11a 585 (possible daughter of farmer William J - Farmer [1881 census])Also possible
BIGGS Thomas Newport M. 11a 372 (but no matching spouses)
Possible marriages from BMD
Marriages Sep 1882
Biggs Thomas Cardiff 11a 366
CHRISTOPHER Elizabeth Ann Cardiff 11a 366Marriages Dec 1889
BIGGS Thomas Cardiff 11a 585
Lloyd Elizabeth Margaret Cardiff 11a 585Given that census details give an initial A then first is favourite
1881 census
Newport Rd The Vicarage Roath, Glamorgan, Wales
PRO RG11 Piece/Folio 5287/92 Page 10
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
Charles A. SMYTHIES Head U Male 36 London, Middlesex, England Vicar Of Roath
Roderick J. BECK Boarder U Male 29 Stoke Newington, Middlesex, England Curate Of Roath
Francis E. MIGEE Boarder U Male 25 Wyniering, Hampshire, England Curate Of Roath
Charles G. SMITER Boarder U Male 23 Pool, Lancashire, England Curate Of Roath
Elizabeth GREENLAND Serv W Female 52 Brecon, Brecknock, Wales Housekeeper
Mary Anne RIGG Serv U Female 26 B'ham, Warwick, England Domestic Serv
Elizabeth A. CHRISTOPHER Serv U Female 16 Abergavenny Domestic Serv1901 census
Name Age Est Birth Year Relation Gender Born
Thomas Biggs 37 abt 1864 Head Male Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Elizabeth A Biggs 35 abt 1866 Wife Female Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales
Thomas Biggs 12 abt 1889 Son Male Cardiff
Elizabeth Biggs 9 abt 1892 Daughter Female Cardiff
Archibald Biggs 4 abt 1897 Son Male Cardiff
Christopher Biggs 2 abt 1899 Son Male Cardiff
Civil parish: Roath
Ecclesiastical parish: St Margaret
County/Island: Glamorgan
Country: Wales
Registration district: Cardiff
Sub-registration district: East Cardiff
ED, institution, or vessel: 10
Household schedule number: 98A
1901 census
Name Age Est Birth Year Relation Gender Born
Thomas Biggs 37 abt 1864 Head Elizabeth A Male Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Elizabeth A Biggs 35 abt 1866 Wife Female Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales
Thomas Biggs 12 abt 1889 Son Male Cardiff
Elizabeth Biggs 9 abt 1892 Daughter Female Cardiff
Archibald Biggs 4 abt 1897 Son Male Cardiff
Christopher Biggs 2 abt 1899 Son Male Cardiff
Civil parish: Roath
Ecclesiastical parish: St Margaret
County/Island: Glamorgan
Country: Wales
Registration district: Cardiff
Sub-registration district: East Cardiff
ED, institution, or vessel: 10
Household schedule number: 98A
1901 census
Name Age Est Birth Year Relation Gender Born
Thomas Biggs 37 abt 1864 Head Elizabeth A Male Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Elizabeth A Biggs 35 abt 1866 Wife Female Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales
Thomas Biggs 12 abt 1889 Son Male Cardiff
Elizabeth Biggs 9 abt 1892 Daughter Female Cardiff
Archibald Biggs 4 abt 1897 Son Male Cardiff
Christopher Biggs 2 abt 1899 Son Male Cardiff
Civil parish: Roath
Ecclesiastical parish: St Margaret
County/Island: Glamorgan
Country: Wales
Registration district: Cardiff
Sub-registration district: East Cardiff
ED, institution, or vessel: 10
Household schedule number: 98A
1901 census
Name Age Est Birth Year Relation Gender Born
Thomas Biggs 37 abt 1864 Head Elizabeth A Male Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Elizabeth A Biggs 35 abt 1866 Wife Female Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales
Thomas Biggs 12 abt 1889 Son Male Cardiff
Elizabeth Biggs 9 abt 1892 Daughter Female Cardiff
Archibald Biggs 4 abt 1897 Son Male Cardiff
Christopher Biggs 2 abt 1899 Son Male Cardiff
Civil parish: Roath
Ecclesiastical parish: St Margaret
County/Island: Glamorgan
Country: Wales
Registration district: Cardiff
Sub-registration district: East Cardiff
ED, institution, or vessel: 10
Household schedule number: 98A
Possible 1881 census
1 New Wood Street Cardiff St Mary, Glamorgan, Wales
PRO RG11 Piece/Folio 5278/101 Page 20
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
Thomas CROWDEN Head M Male 75 Bridgewater, Somerset, England Retired Labourer
Maria CROWDEN Wife M Female 75 Bridgewater, Somerset, England
William STONE Boarder U Male 33 Bridgewater, Somerset, England1901 census
Name Age Est Birth Year Relation Gender Born
William Stone 54 abt 1847 Head Male Weston, Somerset, England
Mary Stone 40 abt 1861 Wife Female Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales
William Stone 24 abt 1877 Son Male Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Edith Stone 14 abt 1887 Daughter Female Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Tom A Stone 5 abt 1896 Son Male Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Mary Biggs 76 abt 1825 Mother-in-law Female Nailsworth, Glamorgan, Wales
Civil parish: Roath
Ecclesiastical parish: Roath St Saviour
Town: Cardiff
County/Island: Glamorgan
Country: Wales
Registration district: Cardiff
Sub-registration district: East Cardiff
ED, institution, or vessel: 27
Household schedule number: 171
1861 census sent by Annette Birchinall 2.11.2006
Taken from Ancestry.co.uk index. This shows son Ricahrd as Ruth which is a mistake.
Roath, Glamorgan
Richard Biggs Head b abt 1825 English Bicknor, Gloucestershire
Mary BIGGS wife b abt 1824 Horsley, Gloucestershire, England
Ruth Biggs Son b abt 1848 Bishley, Gloucestershire, England [This should be Richard]
Henry Biggs Son b abt 1850 Stroud, Gloucestershire, England
Jane Biggs Daur b abt 1855 Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales
Mary Biggs Daur b abt 1858 Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales
Anne Biggs Daur b abt 1860 Roath, Glamorganshire, Wales1871 census
RG10/5366 Page 41/65
No 49 (no street given) [Glamorgan - Roath district]
Mary Biggs Lodger Widow 47 Housekeeper Nailsworth, Gloucestershire
Richard Biggs Son 22 Labourer Bisley
Henry Biggs Son 20 Machine Painter? Stroud
Jane Biggs Daur 16 General Servant Chepstow, Monmouthshire
Mary Biggs Daur 14 Scholar Chepstow1881 census
52, Constellation Street, Roath
Mary Biggs widow Mary Biggs b.abt.1824 in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire.
Mary E Biggs UnM 23 Chepstow Domestic Servant
Thomas Biggs UnM 18 Roath, Cardiff Baker1901 census
Name Age Est Birth Year Relation Gender Born
William Stone 54 abt 1847 Head Male Weston, Somerset, England
Mary Stone 40 abt 1861 Wife Female Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales
William Stone 24 abt 1877 Son Male Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Edith Stone 14 abt 1887 Daughter Female Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Tom A Stone 5 abt 1896 Son Male Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Mary Biggs 76 abt 1825 Mother-in-law Female Nailsworth, Glamorgan, Wales
Civil parish: Roath
Ecclesiastical parish: Roath St Saviour
Town: Cardiff
County/Island: Glamorgan
Country: Wales
Registration district: Cardiff
Sub-registration district: East Cardiff
ED, institution, or vessel: 27
Household schedule number: 171
1901 census
Name Age Est Birth Year Relation Gender Born
William Stone 54 abt 1847 Head Male Weston, Somerset, England
Mary Stone 40 abt 1861 Wife Female Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales
William Stone 24 abt 1877 Son Male Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Edith Stone 14 abt 1887 Daughter Female Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Tom A Stone 5 abt 1896 Son Male Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Mary Biggs 76 abt 1825 Mother-in-law Female Nailsworth, Glamorgan, Wales
Civil parish: Roath
Ecclesiastical parish: Roath St Saviour
Town: Cardiff
County/Island: Glamorgan
Country: Wales
Registration district: Cardiff
Sub-registration district: East Cardiff
ED, institution, or vessel: 27
Household schedule number: 171
1901 census
Name Age Est Birth Year Relation Gender Born
William Stone 54 abt 1847 Head Male Weston, Somerset, England
Mary Stone 40 abt 1861 Wife Female Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales
William Stone 24 abt 1877 Son Male Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Edith Stone 14 abt 1887 Daughter Female Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Tom A Stone 5 abt 1896 Son Male Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Mary Biggs 76 abt 1825 Mother-in-law Female Nailsworth, Glamorgan, Wales
Civil parish: Roath
Ecclesiastical parish: Roath St Saviour
Town: Cardiff
County/Island: Glamorgan
Country: Wales
Registration district: Cardiff
Sub-registration district: East Cardiff
ED, institution, or vessel: 27
Household schedule number: 171
1901 census
Name Age Est Birth Year Relation Gender Born
William Stone 54 abt 1847 Head Male Weston, Somerset, England
Mary Stone 40 abt 1861 Wife Female Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales
William Stone 24 abt 1877 Son Male Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Edith Stone 14 abt 1887 Daughter Female Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Tom A Stone 5 abt 1896 Son Male Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Mary Biggs 76 abt 1825 Mother-in-law Female Nailsworth, Glamorgan, Wales
Civil parish: Roath
Ecclesiastical parish: Roath St Saviour
Town: Cardiff
County/Island: Glamorgan
Country: Wales
Registration district: Cardiff
Sub-registration district: East Cardiff
ED, institution, or vessel: 27
Household schedule number: 171
Marriages Dec 1909
DARLING Charles Islington 1b 548
FRATER Elizabeth Eliza D Islington 1b 548
THURLOW George William Islington 1b 548
BMD Entry
Frater Elizabeth Eliza D B 1882 Dec Islington 1b 439Marriages Dec 1909
DARLING Charles Islington 1b 548
FRATER Elizabeth Eliza D Islington 1b 548
THURLOW George William Islington 1b 548Andover Gardens seems to be something like a Tenement block in Andover Road. All references in The Times have the address "X Andover Gardens, Andover Road". Believed to be bombed in the WWII they were still there in 1944 as The Times 5 Feb 1944 Pg 10 Iss 49772 col E has Nos. 9 & 10 Andover Gardens due for sale by Auction on Feb 24th.
1891 census
Islington South West District 65 London
RG12/163 Page 55
Schedule 303 7 Hope Street
Oliver FRATER Head M 39 Painter *, London
Ellen FRATER Wife M 37 - Stomford Hill, London
William FRATER Son S 16 * Islington, London
George FRATER Son S 14 Scholar Islington, London
James A FRATER Son S 12 Scholar Islington, London
* (should be Oliver) FRATER Son S 10 Scholar Islington, London
Leonard FRATER Son S 6 Scholar Islington, London
Robert FRATER Son S 4 - Islington, London
Edward FRATER Son S 1 - Islington, London
Ellen FRATER Daur S 21 Laundress Wash Islington, London
Elizabeth FRATER Daur S 9 - Islington, London1901 census RG13/167 Fo: 67 Pg 22 Schedule 125
Islington St. Marks 4 Andover Gardens
Oliver Frater Head married 49 House Painter b: North Islington, London
Ellen Frater wife married 49 b: North Islington, London
Oliver Frater son single 20 Bricklayer's labourer b: North Islington, London
Elizabeth Frater daughter single 18 b: North Islington, London
Robert Frater son single 14 b: North Islington, London
Frederick Frater son single 8 b: North Islington, London
Emily Frater daughter single 6 b: North Islington, London
email from Mike Short 14.9.2006
Albert's occupation at birth: musicianKF's 1881 census details
Mount Pleasant, Aston, Warwick, England
PRO Ref RG11 Piece/Folio 3048/93 Page 12
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
James D. SHORT Head M Male 43 Aston, Warwick, England Iron Founder
Fanney E. SHORT Wife M Female 26 Bham, Warwick, England
Charlotte L. SHORT Daughter Female 22 Bham, Warwick, England
James W. SHORT Son Male 20 Bham, Warwick, England Iron Caster
Mary A. SHORT Daughter Female 18 Bham, Warwick, England Pupil Teacher
Albert SHORT Son Male 3 Stechford, Warwick, England
Florrie SHORT Daughter Female 2 Washwood Heath, Warwick, England
Earnest D. SHORT Son Male 3 m Washwood Heath, Warwick, England
Jennie NICHOLAS Visitor Female 21 Pershore, Worcester, England1891 Cen. Living 366 New John St, St Georges parish, Birmingham with second wife; children of first wife Charlotte Louisa & James William - caster; children of second wife Albert, Fanny Florence, Ernest, Percival, Alfred Leonard & Ethel; also two domestic servants. James Dempster’s occupation: Licensed Victualler public house
1901 Cen. Living Aston Tavern, 10 Aston Road, Aston Manor with wife; child by first wife Charlotte Louisa - barmaid; children by second marriage Albert - musician, Fanny Florence - barmaid, Ernest Dempster - Clerk ?Brewery?, Percival - railway clerk, Ethel, Harold, Victor James & Howard; also present servant-nursemaid aged 12
Known by the family to have been a brilliant violinist, went to London for lessons, became ‘leader of the Dan Godfrey’ Orchestra. Shot in the arm during Army service, ending his musical career. It is not known when the injury occurred.
Sir Dan Godfrey was the leader of the Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra in the early part of the twentieth century. There is another Dan Godfrey. Dan Godfrey Junior, in 1922, founded the 2ZY Orchestra, the orchestra of Manchester’s first radio station, later to become the Northern Wireless Orchestra to 1931, then, in reduced form, the 9 piece Northern Studio Orchestra from 1932. These orchestras were the ancestors of the BBC National Orchestra and, from 1982, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
Enquiries have been made of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (successor to the BMO) and it is hoped to report more. An undated early photograph of the BMO does show a youthful looking leader so I remain hopeful.
email from Mike Short 13.9.2006
One known sibling Amelia Hargrove SLATER b. 17 Aug 1835, bpt. 12 Oct 1835, Handsworth.
It had been hoped that his second wife might have shown a link to witnesses at his first marrige and to an earlier SHORT/PARKES marriage. Unfortunately, Selina SLATER's first PARKES husband has not been found. If you find him - please let me know!
email from Mike Short 13.9.2006
Previous marriage of Selina SLATER to unknown PARKES not traced. Daughters by previous m. rec. on 1861 cen as Mary C PARKES and Caroline A PARKES but b. not traced and not found on later Cens. despite young ages, but note Caroline A PORTER of correct age found with Selina SLATER’s parents in 1871. On 1851 (shown as NATER on Ancestry), Selina with parents, unmarried. On 1861 as Head of family, widow, with daughters and parents, shown on Ancestry as PARKER and parents wrongly rec. One known sibling Amelia Hargrove SLATER b. 17 Aug 1835, bpt. 12 Oct 1835, Handsworth.
It had been hoped that his second wife might have shown a link to witnesses at his first marrige and to an earlier SHORT/PARKES marriage. Unfortunately, Selina SLATER's first PARKES husband has not been found. If you find him - please let me know!
1881 census
Back Lane, Hutton, Lancashire, England
PRO: RG11 Piece/Folio 4223/45 Page 1
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
Archelaus WILSON Head M Male 39 Watford, Hertford, England Coachman Domestic Serv
Elizabeth W. WILSON Wife M Female 35 Bambro, Northumberland, England
Lucy G. WILSON Daur Female 10 Crumpsall House, Lancashire, England Scholar
May J. WILSON Daur Female 7 Warford, Cheshire, England Scholar
Charles W. WILSON Son Male 4 Barton House, Warwick, England
Elizabeth W. WILSON Daur Female 2 Hutton, Lancashire, England
Thomas F. WILSON Son Male 1 m Hutton, Lancashire, England
Emily WILSON Sister U Female 31 London, London, Middlesex, England Cook Domestic Serv
There is a BMD record for Qtr Dec 1850 for Isaiah Ricketts DENNING in Qtr Dec 1850. This is a possibility
The 1851 Census - Radstock Parish - 5a - Res: Ham Buildings - Piece 1939 - Folio 452 - Page 20 - Sch 65
Isiah Denning Head M 48 Coalminer Kilmersdon
Mary Denning Wife M 41 Domestic Radstock
Sarah A Denning Daur U 18 at home Radstock
Elizabeth Denning Daur U 17 at home Radstock
James Denning Son 15 Coalminer Radstock
Tom Denning Son 13 Coalminer Radstock
Ruth Denning Daur U 10 Scholar Radstock
John Denning Son 5 at home Radstock
William Denning Son 2 at home Radstock
Isaiah Denning Son 4 at home Radstock
Sarah A Denning Daur 10 Scholar Radstock
Mary Denning Daur 7 Scholar Radstock1881 census
Ham Buildings, Radstock, Somerset, England
PRO RG11 Piece/Folio 2429/57 Page 6
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
Isaiah DENNING Head M Male 30 Radstock, Somerset, England Carpenter
Elizabeth DENNING Wife M Female 32 Radstock, Somerset, England
Alice DENNING Daur U Female 6 Radstock, Somerset, England Scholar
Florence Annie DENNING Daur U Female 5 Radstock, Somerset, England Scholar
Robert Dando DENNING Son U Male 4 Radstock, Somerset, England
Richard DENNING Son U Male 2 Radstock, Somerset, England
Ada DENNING Daur U Female 6 m Radstock, Somerset, England
1881 census
Ham Buildings, Radstock, Somerset, England
PRO RG11 Piece/Folio 2429/57 Page 6
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
Isaiah DENNING Head M Male 30 Radstock, Somerset, England Carpenter
Elizabeth DENNING Wife M Female 32 Radstock, Somerset, England
Alice DENNING Daur U Female 6 Radstock, Somerset, England Scholar
Florence Annie DENNING Daur U Female 5 Radstock, Somerset, England Scholar
Robert Dando DENNING Son U Male 4 Radstock, Somerset, England
Richard DENNING Son U Male 2 Radstock, Somerset, England
Ada DENNING Daur U Female 6 m Radstock, Somerset, England
Two possible BMD birth entries
Births Jun 1874
Denning Alice Mary Clutton 5c 632
Births Mar 1875
Denning Alice Mary Clutton 5c 6341881 census
Ham Buildings, Radstock, Somerset, England
PRO RG11 Piece/Folio 2429/57 Page 6
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
Isaiah DENNING Head M Male 30 Radstock, Somerset, England Carpenter
Elizabeth DENNING Wife M Female 32 Radstock, Somerset, England
Alice DENNING Daur U Female 6 Radstock, Somerset, England Scholar
Florence Annie DENNING Daur U Female 5 Radstock, Somerset, England Scholar
Robert Dando DENNING Son U Male 4 Radstock, Somerset, England
Richard DENNING Son U Male 2 Radstock, Somerset, England
Ada DENNING Daur U Female 6 m Radstock, Somerset, England
1881 census
Ham Buildings, Radstock, Somerset, England
PRO RG11 Piece/Folio 2429/57 Page 6
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
Isaiah DENNING Head M Male 30 Radstock, Somerset, England Carpenter
Elizabeth DENNING Wife M Female 32 Radstock, Somerset, England
Alice DENNING Daur U Female 6 Radstock, Somerset, England Scholar
Florence Annie DENNING Daur U Female 5 Radstock, Somerset, England Scholar
Robert Dando DENNING Son U Male 4 Radstock, Somerset, England
Richard DENNING Son U Male 2 Radstock, Somerset, England
Ada DENNING Daur U Female 6 m Radstock, Somerset, England
Another Robert Dando DENNING was born Qtr June 1869. What is the link?
1881 census
Ham Buildings, Radstock, Somerset, England
PRO RG11 Piece/Folio 2429/57 Page 6
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
Isaiah DENNING Head M Male 30 Radstock, Somerset, England Carpenter
Elizabeth DENNING Wife M Female 32 Radstock, Somerset, England
Alice DENNING Daur U Female 6 Radstock, Somerset, England Scholar
Florence Annie DENNING Daur U Female 5 Radstock, Somerset, England Scholar
Robert Dando DENNING Son U Male 4 Radstock, Somerset, England
Richard DENNING Son U Male 2 Radstock, Somerset, England
Ada DENNING Daur U Female 6 m Radstock, Somerset, England
1881 census
Ham Buildings, Radstock, Somerset, England
PRO RG11 Piece/Folio 2429/57 Page 6
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
Isaiah DENNING Head M Male 30 Radstock, Somerset, England Carpenter
Elizabeth DENNING Wife M Female 32 Radstock, Somerset, England
Alice DENNING Daur U Female 6 Radstock, Somerset, England Scholar
Florence Annie DENNING Daur U Female 5 Radstock, Somerset, England Scholar
Robert Dando DENNING Son U Male 4 Radstock, Somerset, England
Richard DENNING Son U Male 2 Radstock, Somerset, England
Ada DENNING Daur U Female 6 m Radstock, Somerset, England
1881 census
Ham Buildings, Radstock, Somerset, England
PRO RG11 Piece/Folio 2429/57 Page 6
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
Isaiah DENNING Head M Male 30 Radstock, Somerset, England Carpenter
Elizabeth DENNING Wife M Female 32 Radstock, Somerset, England
Alice DENNING Daur U Female 6 Radstock, Somerset, England Scholar
Florence Annie DENNING Daur U Female 5 Radstock, Somerset, England Scholar
Robert Dando DENNING Son U Male 4 Radstock, Somerset, England
Richard DENNING Son U Male 2 Radstock, Somerset, England
Ada DENNING Daur U Female 6 m Radstock, Somerset, England
Born in 1857 at Scone NSW, Australia. Died 1929
Barbara Baynton was the author of Bush Studies (1902) which depicted the reality of the harshness of early Australian bush life which contrasted with the heroic depiction of the rural experience of her contemporary Henry Lawson.
Baynton was born Barbara Jane Lawrence of immigrant Irish parentage. Her eight years as the wife of Scots selector Alexander Frater provided the material for her work Bush Studies. She moved to Sydney with her three children when Frater deserted her in 1887, and began writing articles, poems and journals which were published in The Bulletin newspaper. Her second marriage in 1890 to affluent Dr Thomas Baynton brought her into a literary circle.
Bush Studies was published in London in 1902 during the time of her marriage to the eccentric Lord Headley. Her oeuvre was small, Bush Studies and Human Toll, but she presented a realist picture of working class characters in local settings and Bush Studies has long been regarded as a classic of Australian literature.
For further information: Dixon Miriam, The Real Matilda; Anne Summers, Dammed Whores and God's Police; Lucy Frost, An Affinity with Pain in S Walker Ed Who is She UDP 1983; Barbara Baynton, Bush Studies Introduction and Memoir;thank you for your enquiry about Penelope Gullett and your Frater family research. The National Library is unable to do any in-depth research on genealogical enquiries, but I think that I can give you some relevant information on this. The finding aid that you refer to is for the papers of Sir Henry and Lady Penelope Gullett, which are held in our Manuscripts Collection. However, it appears from the paragraph you quoted that the biographical information on Lady Gullett was taken from a 'Sydney Morning Herald' newspaper obituary on 12 Dec 1960, not from information held in the Gullett papers themselves. I have checked the introduction to a book of Baynton's writings, called "Barbara Baynton", edited by Sally Krimmer & Alan Lawson (published by University of Queensland Press in 1980 as part of the "Portable Authors" series), which gives a fairly detailed account of Baynton's life. It states that she was born to John Lawrence and Elizabeth Ewart on 4 June 1857, and was first married to Alexander (not Andrew or Henry) Frater, son of Alexander Frater and Penelope Hay, at the Tamworth Presbyterian Church on 24 June 1880. Their children were Alexander Hay, Robert Guy and Penelope. It goes on to discuss her divorce from Frater, and marriage (the next day!) to Dr Thomas Baynton. It also discusses her apparent concealment of her true parentage, date of birth and other details of her early life. Apparently, even her family believed things about her that were later proved incorrect. This might explain the father being named as "Henry" in the obituary. If you cannot locate a copy of the book in the UK and are interested in obtaining a copy of the introduction, you can request a photocopy from our Document Supply Service's "Copies Direct" facility. Details of the service, prices, and an online order form can be found at <http://www.nla.gov.au/dss/individuals_and_business.html> . You would need to specify the pages you need copied - the introduction is contained in pages ix to xxxiii of the book. There is also a portrait of Baynton at page viii, immediately before the Introduction. There is a also a comprehensive biography called "Barbara Baynton: Between Two Worlds", written by a descendant, Penne Hackforth-Jones (who is also an Australian TV & film actress). It was first published by Penguin in 1989, and again by Melbourne University Press in 1995. It would go into much more detail on Baynton's life. If you can't get a copy locally, you might find it on a second hand book site via the internet. Or, you could request an international interlibrary loan through your local public library. You should be able to order copies of the relevant certificates from the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages. Their website, with searchable indexes, is at: <http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/> . If you want to get a copy of the obituary, you may be able to track down microfilm copies of the Sydney Morning Herald in major UK libraries or university libraries. Although indexes have been produced for the newspaper that cover the period you need, they do not include personal notices or obituaries. This would mean going through the whole edition to find the article.
=========
This is the biography detail from the Australian Dictionary Biography
BAYNTON, BARBARA JANE (JANET AINSLEIGH) (1857-1929), writer, was born on 4 June 1857 at Scone, New South Wales, youngest daughter of John Lawrence, carpenter, and his wife Elizabeth, née Ewart, who had arrived in Sydney from Londonderry, Ireland, as bounty immigrants in the Royal Consort on 9 November 1840. However Barbara later alleged that her father was Captain Robert Lawrence Kilpatrick of the Bengal Light Cavalry. By 1866 the Lawrences had moved to Murrurundi. Educated at home, Barbara enjoyed the works of Dickens and the Russian novelists; she became a governess with the Fraters at Merrylong Park, south of Quirindi. On 24 June 1880 at Tamworth Presbyterian Church she married Alexander Frater junior, a selector. Next year they moved to the Coonamble district, where she bore two sons and a daughter.In 1887 Frater ran off with Sarah Glover, a servant in his household; Barbara took her children to Sydney, instituted divorce proceedings and was granted a decree absolute on 4 March 1890. Next day at St Philip's Church of England, claiming to be a widow, she married a 70-year-old widower Thomas Baynton, who was a retired surgeon with literary and academic friends who visited his home at Woollahra. Financially secure, Barbara began to add to her husband's collection of Georgian silver and antiques. Robust and vigorous, overflowing with vitality, she also began to write short stories, verse and articles for the Bulletin. Her first story, 'The Tramp', was published in December 1896. A. G. Stephens became a close friend.
After failing to find a publisher in Sydney for her collection of six short stories, in 1902 Barbara Baynton visited London where, with the help of Edward Garnett, the critic, Bush Studies was published that year by Duckworth & Co. She did not romanticize bush life and showed a savage revulsion against its loneliness and harshness. 'A Dreamer', 'The Chosen Vessel', 'Scrammy 'and' and 'Squeaker's Mate' are chilling tales of terror and nightmare, built up detail by detail rather than by atmosphere and the supernatural. Stephens reviewed Bush Studies in the Bulletin, 14 February 1903: 'So precise, so complete, with such insight into detail and such force of statement, it ranks with the masterpieces of realism in any language'. To Vance Palmer, 'Bush Church' and 'Billy Skywonkie' had 'a robust masculine humour'. Writing powerfully, with economy of style, Baynton used certain symbolic and recurrent themes, notably the strong maternal instinct, the loyalty of the dog, the isolation of the bush and a bitter insistence on man's brutality to woman, which gave unity to the stories and lifted them above the plane of simple realism.
In 1903 Barbara Baynton returned to Sydney where her husband died on 10 June 1904, leaving her his whole estate, valued for probate at £3871. She began investing on the Stock Exchange, particulary in the Law Book Co. of Australasia Ltd of which she later became chairman of directors. An astute businesswoman, she also bought and sold antiques and started her fine collection of black opals from Lightning Ridge. She contributed occasional forceful articles to the Sydney Morning Herald on the 'Indignity of Domestic Service' and other women's issues. She spent the next years between Australia and London, where she lived 'in a succession of increasingly fine houses', surrounded by Chinese lacquer, Chippendale furniture, ornate porcelain and silver. Something of a celebrity in literary circles, she entertained lavishly and knew many famous people. She found time to write her only novel, Human Toll (London, 1907) which, despite its melodrama and 'unsure management of structure', included in A. A. Phillips's opinion 'some of her most characteristic writing … and maturer insights into human behaviour'. During World War I she opened her house in Connaught Square to British and Australian soldiers, and in 1917 published Cobbers, a reissue of Bush Studies with two new stories, including 'Trooper Jim Tasman'.
On 11 February 1921 Barbara Baynton married Rowland George Alanson-Winn, fifth baron Headley, president of the Society of Engineers and of the Muslim Society in England, and a sportsman. Next year he became bankrupt. Outraged when he refused the throne of Albania, she returned to Melbourne in a huff. She built a house at Toorak, near her daughter Penelope who had married (Sir) Henry Gullett in 1912, and furnished it with Queen Anne and Georgian pieces. Bored with it, she sold its contents with such success that she returned to England and brought back another shipload of antiques. Dark, with heavily lidded, watchful eyes, she loved jewellery, especially opals and pearls, and beautiful clothes. With considerable charm, 'a devastating wit', a caustic tongue and a domineering personality, she had the ability to amuse and impress people. W. M. Hughes found her 'a remarkable woman'.
Lady Headley died of cerebral thrombosis at her home at Toorak on 28 May 1929 and was cremated. Her estate was sworn for probate at £160,621. She was survived by her first and third husbands and by two sons and a daughter of her first marriage; a son by her second husband had died in infancy. Robert Guy Frater, her second son, inherited her adventurous spirit: he went to the South African War at 15, raised soldiers for a Chinese warlord, served in the Archduke Ferdinand's bodyguard at Sarajevo and, with his brother, fought with the British Army in World War I. Her portrait by John Longstaff is held by the Frater family.
Select BibliographyS. Krimmer, ‘New light on Barbara Baynton’, Australian Literary Studies, Oct 1976, and for bibliography; Supreme Court, W. J. Windeyer divorce note books, 1889 (State Records New South Wales); private information. More on the resources
Print Publication Details: 'Baynton, Barbara Jane (1857 - 1929)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 7, Melbourne University Press, 1979, pp 222-223.