Worcester or Gloucester?

[luluinberlin]

Forgive me if I sound a bit vague, but this is my first experience of Worcestershire research after concentrating on Wiltshire up until now, so it is quite literally unknown territory for me.

I am looking for my BEAL family. Census entries show most of them as being born in Draycott/Blockley/Oldborough.

Firstly, I am not sure which of these is the town, which the parish, etc. I have one entry which reads "Parish of Blockley, Village of Oldborough, Worcestershire" (1851) and one which reads "Blockley, Hamlet of Oldborough " (1861).

Secndly I belive that Draycott/Blockley/Oldborough became part of Gloucestershire. Can anyone confirm that and if so tell me when?

Thirdly, although I have located them in the 1851 and 1861 I cannot find them after that. Even the searchable 1881 and 1901 have drawn a blank. Surely they can't all have died off? Can anyone suggest where I should go next to find the BEALs after 1861?

Any suggestions gratefully recieved.

Louise

[Geoffers]

Blockley is definitely a parish. I've been scratching my head with Oldborough. I know there's a farm of that name a little to the east of Blockley. Perhaps someone with better local knowledge than I can help there. Draycott is a hamlet just NE of Blockley.

The county boundaries hereabouts were fractured; with small 'islands' belonging to one county, being completely surrounded within another. Blockley was at the south end of one such island - it was in Worcestershire, but the island was entirely surrounded by Gloucestershire. The re-alignment of boundaries took place towards the end of the 19th century, I think it was 1888, but again, someone with the legislation at hand may be able to confirm/correct the date.

This web-site may help you a bit: http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/GLS/Blockley/index.html
Geoffers

[Geoffers]

Thirdly, although I have located them in the 1851 and 1861 I cannot find them after that. Even the searchable 1881 and 1901 have drawn a blank. Surely they can't all have died off? Can anyone suggest where I should go next to find the BEALs after 1861?
I've found several BEAL(E)s in the 1881 census born Blockley and Draycott, just from a quick search there's:

Thomas 62, Isbael 52, Reuben 27 all bn Dryacott, living in Blockley
Joseph 68, bn + liviing in Draycott
Jesse 54, Charlot 54, William 26, Harry 15, all bn Draycott + liviing in Blockley
Joshua 39, bn Draycott, living Cleobury Mortimer
Richard 26, bn Blockley, living Bromsgrove

Geoffers

[janbooth]

Which members of the BEAL family are you actually looking for? In the 1871 census for instance, there is a Thomas BEAL aged 51, wife Isabella and 2 children living in Blockley (RG10/3215, folio 49, page 4) and a Noah BEAL aged 43, wife Charlotte and son Frederick living in Broad Campden just a stones throw away from Blockley (RG10/3214, folio 99, page 33)

Janet.

[aataylor]

Yes, Blockley IS the parish and Aston Magna, Dorn, Northwick, Oldborough, Draycott, Ditchford & Paxford hamlets within the parish at least up to 1901 - Blockley was a "peculiar" withinGloucestershire until it became part of Gloucestershire in 1931
There are BEAL's in those census reports, if you looked at the census reports you would find that at the bottom is a link to part two for each census (too big for one web page) You may find more BEAL's in the 1841, 1851, 1861 & 1871 census as they are all two web page files. Also BEAL's listed in the 1827 Clergyman's View of his Flock by Rev. W.T. Eyre, M.A.

EXAMPLE
Blockley 1881 Census
413?BEAL Jesse 54 General Labourer Draycott?Charlotte 54 Draycott?William 26 General Labourer Draycott?Harry 15 General Labourer Draycott?JEFFREY Beatrice Grand Daughter 3 Scholar Draycott

Blockley Census 1901
70
Draycott
BEALE, Reuben, 48, (S), Head, Stockman, Draycott, Worcs

Allan Taylor