WENDOVER DENE FARM, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

[OlliffCooper]

I have a very good record from the 1851 census of James Olliff b. Hughenden 1815, with wife Sophia b. Quainton 1818, and several children, including 'my' William, at Wendover Dene, Bucks. He's listed as a farmer of 270 acres. I'd love to know just which farm this was. I expect he was a tenant farmer, as the family didn't thrive grandly after this generation, suggesting no great capital base. If I can find the farm, I may be able to source farm records, and maybe photographs from the 19th Cen. Any thoughts from you Buckinghamshire specialists? Fascinating stuff, ain't it.

[Sandyhall]

Hi

You should be able to find this place on old maps of the area as its only a small Village, Farms are usualy named on them,

Sandy

[Waitabit]

Would there be Buck's directories for that period? or Poll books? is that right?

[Thomasin]

If you Google its name, you will find that this farm still exists, and you could contact the lady who lives there now, as her full contact details are on the page.

Thomasin

[OlliffCooper]

The farm was only 270 acres, and isn't named, as such. Perhaps I can find who the big land-owners were, at that time, and see if their records show up a James Olliff.

[Peter Goodey]

For 1851, tithe records can be valuable. If anywhere, they will be at Bucks RO. Tithe apportionment records may show landowner, occupier and a detailed description of the property.

If I were you I'd check what they've got and if lucky get on my bike to Aylesbury.

[Colin Moretti]

The tithe apportionment records are also at TNA if that's more convenient for you (see this Guidance note (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=100)). As Peter suggests, they can be very informative

Colin

[Peter Goodey]

The tithe apportionment records are also at TNA

Quite right. Apologies for my moment of madness.

[OlliffCooper]

Thanks all for the ideas. I tried the NA and put in all sorts of references that might have connected, but to no avail. As a newbie, I wonder whether I'm going to the right spots, or asking the right questions.

[NewburyChap]

The farm was only 270 acres, and isn't named, as such. Perhaps I can find who the big land-owners were, at that time, and see if their records show up a James Olliff.

270 acres was a biggish farm in Bucks in those days - whoever ran it would be a significant person in the village.

James Oliff (sen & jun) appear in directories around this time (1847 & 1854).

[Peter Goodey]

I tried the NA and put in all sorts of references that might have connected, but to no avail.

Did you read the link that Colin provided? It says for example -

In most cases, the principal record of the commutation of tithes in a parish under the Tithe Act 1836 is the Tithe Apportionment . Strictly speaking, the tithe apportionment and the tithe map (see Tithe Maps below) together constitute a single document, but they have been separated to facilitate use and storage.

Readers normally consult microfilm copies of the tithe apportionments, for preservation reasons. To find the document reference using the Catalogue (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue), go to the search screen, type the place-name in the first box, and IR 29 in the third box, leaving the second box empty.

If you follow that advice and enter IR 29 in the third field and Wendover in the first you obtain the reference IR 29/3/117

So you trot along to the National Archives and study that document together with the associated map (see the research guide).

[OlliffCooper]

Good morning all.

I did look as suggested (for which many thanks) and couldn't find my way through. It's kind of you to follow this up. So I'll now do as suggest. I hope 'trot along' means I can get to it on the internet. Everything is a long way from the bottom of Hampshire, where I live. I've bought a book (Collins - Tracing Your Family History) to help my failing brain through this process, so I may become less of a duffer. More thanks. John.

[Peter Goodey]

I hope 'trot along' means I can get to it on the internet.

No, I'm afraid it didn't mean that.

[Sandyhall]

1851 Census for James Olliff
James Olliff 36 - Farmer Employing 13 Men
Sophia Olliff 33
Emma Olliff 8
James Olliff 7
Henry Olliff 5
William Olliff 3
Caleb Olliff 1 Mo
Zelpha Dancer 25 Servant - House Servant
Sarah Ferry 77 Nurse - Widow
James Morkosin 22 Servant - ag. lab.
David Attkins 18 Servant - ag. lab.
James Havis 15 Servant - ag. lab.
William Thompson 14 Servant - ag. lab.
Joseph Spittle 12 Servant

This tells me he was quite a wealthy man and proberly owened the Farm.

Sandy

[OlliffCooper]

Sandy - thanks. I'd seen that one. No signs of wealth later, sadly. And yes, it's me for the record office, I'm afraid. This may be an autumn quest, when Cowes and everything else summery has passed.

J.