Anne Drake Garrard's Commonplace Book (Genealogists' Magazine)

SOG

The September 2013 issue of the Genealogists' Magazine (the Journal of the Society of Genealogists) contains one article of particular interest to this web site. This is an article by Barney Tyrwhitt-Drake on Anne Drake Garrard's Commonplace Book. Anne was the daughter of Charles Drake who changed his surname when he inherited part of the property of the Garrard family at Lamer, near Wheathamstead. "Anne was the archtypical maiden aunt to several generations of her family, and her commonplace book includes contributions from many cousins and more distant relatives. ... she left several genealogical nuggets for her relatives. Among these was a four generation family tree [Illustrated] from Montague Drake (1698-1728) to Thomas D Tyrwhitt Drake (1749-1810). She dates her book from 1806 in the early pages, so this tree was drawn up in the early 19th century." 

The family tree refers to earlier non-Hertfordshire generations, and there are no Hertfordshire quotations given in the short article, but it is useful to note when such documents survive, and where possible make sure that their contents are accessible to future generations.

The magazine also includes an interesting article which illustrates how Richard III bones, discovered under a car park in Leicester, could be identified by finding a living relative down the female line, and matching mtDNA. 

The Library section contain three new additions relating to Hertfordshire. These are a copy of the book, Cathedral & City (St Albans) and transcripts of the registers of Watford Congregational Church and St Stephen Presbyterian Church, Watford.

Genealogists Magazine, December 2012

Journal of the
Society of Genealogists

The front page of the latest issue shows Herbert Henry Asquith - Prime Minister from 1908-1916 - and the issue includes details of his ancestry. In addition there are several other items of possible relevance to visitors to this web site.

The Library additions includes the following items:

• General view of the agriculture of Hertfordshire (1804) by Arthur Young
• A Brief History of St Andrew's Church, Little Berkhampstead (1972)
• North Mymms people in Victorian Times (1986) by Peter Kingsford
• North Mymms schools and their children (1987) by Peter Kingsford

Following my earlier "Old News" item about Mr Lee Sugg the ventriloquist, and earlier posts on the Wells Pavilion Travelling Theatre Company, I was interested to see the article on the sources of information on Theatrical Ancestors held at the Society of Genealogists. Because of the number of long stay asylums in the St Albans area, and the number of questions I get on the subject I have noted the review of Inconvenient People - Lunacy and the Mad-doctors in Victorian England. If I can borrow a copy I will look to see if it says anything relevant to Hertfordshire. This issue also includes a  obituary of the well known genealogist, Chris Watts, who I mentioned earlier in the newsletter.

Genealogist' Magazine - September 2012

The Society of Genealogists have just published the September issue of the Genealogists' Magazine while this issue includes some interesting articles (I liked Worthies, Unworthies and Villains: Vicar's Sons with a Hidden Past) none of them dealt with Hertfordshire matters. However I was interested to see the list of new additions to the Society Library: 

• Hertfordshire in the 20th Century: Contemporary biographies: Pike's new century series No 25, ed W. T. Pike & James Edmund Vincent, 1908)
• 7th Hertfordshire Battalion Home Guard: a history of the Battalion 1940-1944. by Alan St H. Brock
• Bovingdon Cricketer's Almanac 2009: a celebration of 125 years of Bovingdon Cricket Club 1884-2009.
• A Brief History of Holy Trinity church, Stevenage, by Peter Coker, 1981
• Bushey during the Great War 1914-1918, by Janet Murphy, 2009
• A Guide to the interior of Sacombe Church 1990 with some notes on the rectors' list, by Margey Guest, 1990
• The Organs of St Albans Abbey, by Peter Hurford, 5th edition, 1976

While not specifically on Hertfordshire I was interested to see the review of The Territorials 1908-1914, A guide for the Military and Family Historians, by Ray Westlake (published Pen & Sword, 2011)

The Genealogists' Magazine - December 2011

This is the Journal of the Society of Genealogists and records three more Hertfordshire books (Pevsner, The Buildings of England - Hertfordshire, 1953 edition; Evans, Pagent of Letchworth 1903-1914; Lewer, The Lea Valley Footpath Guide) added to their extensive library.

   It has the usual interesting papers - although none are specifically linked to Hertfordshire. However I am sure that I will find the information in Tracing Anglican Clergy ancestors online useful.

   There is also a special ticket rate for members at the Who Do You Think You Are? event in London on 24-26 February and the magazine gives details of the Society's involvement.

Genealogists' Magazine - Walsh of Redbourn

Genealogists Magazine
September 2011

The September Issue of the Genealogists' Magazine (published by the Society of Genealogists) includes a detailed article on the descent, by two different routes, of the Queen from John Walsh, who was buried at Leatherhead at the age of 84 and described in his will as "heretofore of Redbourn in the County of Herts." John Walsh's birth details are still unknown, but if you are descended from him you are a cousin of the Queen.

Additions to the Society's Library include Percy Ilott's Hertfordshire Stories, Plays and Poems, published in 1938.

The Society's list of events, lectures and courses includes a half day lecture, My Ancestor was a Bastard, on 26th November. This is given by Ruth Paley, the author of a book with the same title, available from the Society's web site.