The Purvey family of Witney

[Coromandel]

One more snippet: the death of 46 year old Elizabeth Purvey was registered in the Witney district in the last quarter of 1871.

[Ig Roberts]

Many thanks to everybody for such a prompt reaction. The information provided was most useful.

I did not know that my great-grandfather's name was Horatio Robert; he was always referred to as Robert. However, my grandfather's full name was Charles Horatio Purvey. He died about 1952 and I have only scant memories of him. I wonder therefore whether my great-great grandfather, i.e. the husband of Elizabeth Purvey, was called Horatio.

I note that although Peter Goodey says Horatio Robert Purvey was born in June, 1852, Coromandel says he was christened in May, 1852. Perhaps there was some bureaucratic slip-up. As for the possibility of Horatio Robert Purvey and Rose being unmarried, it may be possible that they tied the knot in 1881, the year their first child, Elizabeth was born, in order to legitimise their offspring.

Having sent my original message, I then spoke to my mother and raised the matter of our forefathers. She's 91 years of old and had some trouble trying to get round the complexities of it all, but she did elicit the fact that Rose Purvey's maiden name was Sutton. I'll try to speak to her about the matter in person on my next visit to the UK as she is very interested in family and local history. According to the 1911 census, Rose Purvey was still living at 22 Blackfriars Road with all her children except her eldest son Robert, who had married, and a 4-year old grandson Frank;I wonder whose he was, unless he was a twin to Robert's son Boby, who was also born in 1907.

I am afraid I have no records as I am currently living in Italy.

Best regards and thanks once again. I look forward to any further revelations.


Ig Roberts

[Coromandel]

I note that although Peter Goodey says Horatio Robert Purvey was born in June, 1852, Coromandel says he was christened in May, 1852. Perhaps there was some bureaucratic slip-up.

At first sight there may appear to be a discrepancy, but in fact the reference Peter found is to the date of the birth registration (not the birth itself). To add to the confusion, "June 1852" in this case is shorthand for the second quarter of 1852, and means that birth was registered in April, May, or June of that year.

The birth certificate would show the actual date of birth.

[Kerrywood]

42 days is allowed for registration. Someone registered in the Apr-May-Jun quarter could have been born any time from mid-February to the end of June.

[Coromandel]

Thanks for adding that clarification, Kerrywood. I should have spelled it out in my previous post that I was talking about the date of registration.

[Ig Roberts]

Hello Lizzy,

I think you could be right and my mother's powers of recall are fading. The coincidence between the name and the year are too great. There can't have been many one-year old girls called Rose Maria in a small place like Bampton.

Thanks and regards,


Ig Roberts

[Coromandel]

From parish register transcripts for Bampton:

Edward SHEPHERD, bachelor, mason, son of George GREEN, mason, and
Harriet HALE, spinster, daughter of Charles HALE
were married on 23 Nov 1844
(Unfortunately the transcript does not give ages of bride and groom.)
Witnesses: John Wilkins and Tryphena Calcutt.

George GREEN and Harriet SHEPPARD (both of Bampton) married there 19 May 1823 (no info is given on their marital status)

Edward, son of Harriet SHEPPARD, bapt. 8 June 1823 Bampton

This explains Lizzy's finding that Edward was sometimes called Sheppard and sometimes Green.

Unfortunately the transcript of the baptism register stops in the mid-1840s, too early to see if Rose Maria was baptised in Bampton.

Re. the Purveys, I have so far had no joy in trying to find out where Elizabeth, her elusive husband Robert and her son (Horatio) Robert were in 1861. By the time Elizabeth died in 1871, the old parish churchyard at Witney St Mary had ceased to be used for burials, except for occasional prominent inhabitants buried in old family plots. Instead there was the public cemetery, opened in the 1850s. I have checked the most readily available records (transcript by Oxfordshire FHS), but no sign of Elizabeth. However, there's quite a big caveat: the published list is (as far as I understand it) from a register among parish registers and relating only to those burials conducted by the C of E clergymen of Witney. The complete list of burials is kept at the Town Hall in Witney. Next time I am passing by I will ask if they have any records of Purveys buried in the cemetery.

I will also check trades directories for the 1850s/60s, just in case there is any mention of the Purveys.

[Wendy Archer]

Unfortunately the transcript of the baptism register stops in the mid-1840s, too early to see if Rose Maria was baptised in Bampton.

Coromandel -

The Oxfordshire Family History Society transcript of the Bampton parish registers has been extended & digitised - it now goes to C1538-1966 M1538-1972 B1538-1936

Rose Maria's baptism is given:

1850 1 Apr SHEPHERD Rose Maria Edward & Harriet mason

[Coromandel]

Thanks Wendy! Because of the dreaded Cuts, there's not much chance of persuading Oxfordshire County Council to get the updated CD version of the transcript for Witney Library. So I may be paying a visit to the OFHS bookstall very soon!

[Wendy Archer]

Thanks Wendy! Because of the dreaded Cuts, there's not much chance of persuading Oxfordshire County Council to get the updated CD version of the transcript for Witney Library. So I may be paying a visit to the OFHS bookstall very soon!

Oxfordshire Family History Society will be pleased to let Witney library have updated copies of its parish register transcript CDs - I'll set about organising such.