My Great Great Grandfather on my father's mother's side of the family, Thomas Matthias Burton, lived in western England. I've been intrigued to know from whence came his middle name. I found the following on the internet:
The Greek Matthias (or, in some manuscripts, Maththias), is a name derived from Mattathias, Hebrew Mattithiah, signifying "gift of Yahweh." Matthias was one of the seventy disciples of Jesus, and had been with Him from His baptism by John to the Ascension (Acts 1:21-22). It is related (Acts 1:15-26) that in the days following the Ascension, Peter proposed to the assembled brethren, who numbered one hundred and twenty, that they choose one to fill the place of the traitor Judas in the Apostolate. Two disciples, Joseph, called Barsabas, and Matthias were selected, and lots were drawn, with the result in favour of Matthias, who thus became associated with the eleven Apostles. Zeller has declared this narrative unhistoric, on the plea that the Apostles were in Galilee after the death of Jesus. As a matter of fact they did return to Galilee, but the Acts of the Apostles clearly state that about the feast of Pentecost they went back to Jerusalem.
My grandmother Davis always said that her forebearers had been ministers in England. So far, I have not found any evidence of that. Still, religion was obviously very important to the Burtons.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
Albin Burton of Wiltshire, England
Another of my English ancestors was named Albin (or Alban) Burton. I wondered about the significance of such an unusual name. Here is what I found:
ALBAN
Gender: Masculine
Usage: English, German
Pronounced: AL-ban (English), AHL-bahn (German)
From the Roman family name Albanus which meant "from Alba" in Latin. Alba was the name of various places within the Roman Empire, including the city Alba Longa. The name "Albin" or "Alban" means white or pale-skinned and was common in Roman and medieval times. It was not common, supposedly, in modern times.
Saint Alban was the first British martyr (4th century). According to tradition, he sheltered a fugitive priest in his house. When his house was searched, he disguised himself as the priest, was arrested in his stead, and was beheaded.
We also find the name, more or less, in Roman/Britain history. The Governor of Britain at the death of the emperor Pertinax, Decimus Clodius Albinus attempted to seize the throne but ended up as Caesar in alliance with another imperial contender, Septimius Severus. After Severus defeated two other rivals, the now expendable Albinus was forced into another attempt at usurpation, an attempt that came to an end at the bloody battle of Lyon in 197 A.D.
Being named after a Roman emporer, however uncelebrated, would be pretty neat I'd say!
ALBAN
Gender: Masculine
Usage: English, German
Pronounced: AL-ban (English), AHL-bahn (German)
From the Roman family name Albanus which meant "from Alba" in Latin. Alba was the name of various places within the Roman Empire, including the city Alba Longa. The name "Albin" or "Alban" means white or pale-skinned and was common in Roman and medieval times. It was not common, supposedly, in modern times.
Saint Alban was the first British martyr (4th century). According to tradition, he sheltered a fugitive priest in his house. When his house was searched, he disguised himself as the priest, was arrested in his stead, and was beheaded.
We also find the name, more or less, in Roman/Britain history. The Governor of Britain at the death of the emperor Pertinax, Decimus Clodius Albinus attempted to seize the throne but ended up as Caesar in alliance with another imperial contender, Septimius Severus. After Severus defeated two other rivals, the now expendable Albinus was forced into another attempt at usurpation, an attempt that came to an end at the bloody battle of Lyon in 197 A.D.
Being named after a Roman emporer, however uncelebrated, would be pretty neat I'd say!
Gwendolain Williams (Burton) Davis
My Father's mother, Gwendolain Williams Burton, had a uniquely Welsh/English name, though the spelling was slightly different and was even noted in some records as Gwendolyn and Gwendoline. In any event, the name's origins are interesting as noted below:
GWENDOLEN
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh/English
Pronounced: GWEN-do-len (English)
Means "white ring", derived from the Welsh elements gwen "white, fair, blessed" and dolen "ring".
GWENDOLEN
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh/English
Pronounced: GWEN-do-len (English)
Means "white ring", derived from the Welsh elements gwen "white, fair, blessed" and dolen "ring".
Great Great Grandmother Elizabeth was a Rhydderch
My Great Great Grandmother, the lady who married my namesake Thomas Davis back in 1855, was named Elizabeth Jane Rhydderch. The name has an interesting history:
The White Book of Rhydderch Along with the Red Book of Hergest, this is one of Welsh literature's most notable manuscripts. Written in the mid 14th century, around 1350, the book is the earliest Welsh prose anthology, though it also contains examples of early Welsh poetry. Although it was originally a single volume, the collection is now bound as two separate volumes, known as Peniarth MS 4 and Peniarth MS 5. It was presented to the National Library of Wales as one of its founding collections, after being purchased by Sir John Williams in 1904. Peniarth MS 4 contains the earliest copies of the Welsh tales collectively known as the Mabinogion: the Four Branches of the Mabinogi; Culhwch and Olwen; The Dream of Macsen Wledig; Lludd and Llefelys; Peredur; Owain (also known as The Lady of the Fountain); and Geraint and Enid.
MS 5, originally the first part of the full manuscript, is made up of religious texts, translated into Welsh from the original Latin. The script takes its name from Rhydderch ab Ieuan Llwyd (c. 1325-1400), who was from Parcrhydderch in the Ceredigion parish of Llangeitho. It is believed that the book was copied for him in the mid-14th century. Rhydderch was part of a dynasty with a lengthy tradition of literary patronage, and is believed to have been an authority on Welsh law. Five scribes are thought to have worked on the manuscripts at the Strata Florida Abbey, a former Cistercian abbey situated just outside Pontrhydfendigaid, near Tregaron.
Much like the Red Book of Hergest, the manuscript is thought to take its name from its original owner and the colour of its first binding.
Special note: the designation, "ab" as in Rhydderch ab Ieuan Llwyd means simply, "son of."
The White Book of Rhydderch Along with the Red Book of Hergest, this is one of Welsh literature's most notable manuscripts. Written in the mid 14th century, around 1350, the book is the earliest Welsh prose anthology, though it also contains examples of early Welsh poetry. Although it was originally a single volume, the collection is now bound as two separate volumes, known as Peniarth MS 4 and Peniarth MS 5. It was presented to the National Library of Wales as one of its founding collections, after being purchased by Sir John Williams in 1904. Peniarth MS 4 contains the earliest copies of the Welsh tales collectively known as the Mabinogion: the Four Branches of the Mabinogi; Culhwch and Olwen; The Dream of Macsen Wledig; Lludd and Llefelys; Peredur; Owain (also known as The Lady of the Fountain); and Geraint and Enid.
MS 5, originally the first part of the full manuscript, is made up of religious texts, translated into Welsh from the original Latin. The script takes its name from Rhydderch ab Ieuan Llwyd (c. 1325-1400), who was from Parcrhydderch in the Ceredigion parish of Llangeitho. It is believed that the book was copied for him in the mid-14th century. Rhydderch was part of a dynasty with a lengthy tradition of literary patronage, and is believed to have been an authority on Welsh law. Five scribes are thought to have worked on the manuscripts at the Strata Florida Abbey, a former Cistercian abbey situated just outside Pontrhydfendigaid, near Tregaron.
Much like the Red Book of Hergest, the manuscript is thought to take its name from its original owner and the colour of its first binding.
Special note: the designation, "ab" as in Rhydderch ab Ieuan Llwyd means simply, "son of."
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
A "Must See" in York, England
As we drive between Thurlby and the Middlesbrough area where the Davis Family, who by then had changed the spelling to 'Davies' for some as yet undiscovered reason, lived in the 1860s, we'll be passing very near the town of York. Located in York is Castle Howard. Set in over 1,000 acreas of parkland, lawns, woodland gardens, lakes, fountains, and magnificent rose gardens, it sounds like the perfect place to stop for lunch and spend a quiet afternoon.
Perhaps best known as the setting for the TV series "Brideshead Revisited". Designed by Sir John Vanbrugh who also designed Blenheim Palace, it took 60 years to build (1699-1759). In the 18th century it was redesigned to become the best private residence in Yorkshire. Its magnificent interior is packed with fine furniture and works of art; and its beautiful landscape, where peacocks and pheasants abound, includes a walled garden, woodland walks, lakes, bridges, obelisks, temples, and a mausoleum.
Perhaps best known as the setting for the TV series "Brideshead Revisited". Designed by Sir John Vanbrugh who also designed Blenheim Palace, it took 60 years to build (1699-1759). In the 18th century it was redesigned to become the best private residence in Yorkshire. Its magnificent interior is packed with fine furniture and works of art; and its beautiful landscape, where peacocks and pheasants abound, includes a walled garden, woodland walks, lakes, bridges, obelisks, temples, and a mausoleum.Nearby, is the Nunnington Hall. The Hall stands within eight acres of organically managed grounds, with the main walled garden lying to the south of the building. The Walled Garden includes lawns, orchards, formal Rose beds, mixed borders, a Tea Garden, and an Iris Garden. The orchards are managed as wildflower meadows containing flowers such as Cowslip, Primrose, Snake's Head Fritillary, Buttercup and Camassia all growing below the fruit trees of which most are traditional Ryedale varieties.
Also nearby is the Harlow Carr Gardens. Harlow Carr, set in a pretty valley with streams and woodland, covers 58 acres on the outskirts of Harrogate.The gardens are the headquarters of the Northern Horticultural Society and Harlow Carr shows what can be grown in the north - including some surprises and offers interest for all seasons - from woodland to wildflowers and alpines to autumn colour. Dramatic Rose Revolution borders display the clever use of mixed perennials, grasses and roses beautifully whilst combining sustainable practice, inspirational horticulture with a contemporary twist.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Hadrian's Wall and the Brown Family
My Acestors, the Browns, who married into the Davis family (Isabella Brown married my great grandfather, George Davis), lived for a time in the tiny village of Corbridge adjacent to Hadrian's Wall before moving to Wales in the 1820s. The earliest Brown I've found, Paul, claims to have been born in Scotland in the early 1790s. Later, several of his children were born in Corbridge, Northumberland, starting in 1816. Here's a little history of Hadrian's Wall from a UK government web site: Hadrian's Wall and its associated features are the most complex and best preserved of all the
frontier works of the Roman Empire comprising the Wall itself, the Vallum, which probably marked the rear edge of the Wall zone, 16 forts (surrounded by civilian settlements) along or near the Wall, the Roman towns of Carlisle and Corbridge lying behind the Wall, and outpost forts protecting the approaches from the north. There are also many earlier Roman military works such as marching camps and permanent bases along the east-west Stanegate road which may itself have begun as a control line before the decision was taken to build the Wall.
Throughout the length of the Wall, the Roman remains survive remarkably well. Even in the most developed areas substantial remains are visible. In east Northumberland, the Wall itself is largely buried but its associated earthworks are visible for many miles and have had major effects on the post-Roman landscape. Other features, such as the Roman town of Corbridge, are well preserved. In the central sector, the remains of the Wall and associated features are prominent and often dominate the local landscape. In this area too, other traces of Roman occupation such as the Stanegate road and its forts are well preserved as are more ephemeral features such as marching camps. To the west the archaeology is less obvious but still visible in places as earthworks.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Visiting Middlesbrough, England
Near the end of our journey, Concetta and I are going to visit Middlesbrough, England, where the Davis family lived just before they immigrated to the United States. For some reason when they moved to Middlesbrough from Wales they changed the family name from Davis to Davies. Once they arrived in America in the 1870s, they changed it back. The following is some history of the Middlesbrough I gleaned from the local Dorman Museum:
Although the original settlement of Middlesbrough dates back to the Norman Conquest it is in the latter part of the 19th and 20th centuries that the town’s identity began to evolve.
In 1829 the Middlesbrough part of the Hustler family (of Acklam Hall) estate was sold and eventually went on to business men associated with the then world famous Stockton and Darlington Railway Company. They developed the land into coal shipping at Staithes to export coal from the Durham coalfield. This was just upstream from the present Transporter Bridge. Their ambition was to develop a port that would rival those of Sunderland and Newcastle.
As the first years saw massive amounts of coal moved the owners decided to commission the laying out of the purpose built town of Middlesbrough. The town, perhaps the first 'new town' developed in Britain, was designed on a grid pattern with a market square and church at its center. As the town grew, reaching 9,332 by 1853, other industries began to thrive. These included, shipyards, iron works, printers, breweries and an earthenware company.
In 1841 an Act of Parliament appointed an Improvement Commission to govern the town, meeting to deal with civic issues and the controlling of the market. In 1846 they were able to commission the building of Middlesbrough Town Hall by William Lambie Moffatt.
Henry Bolckow became the first town Mayor of Middlesbrough in 1853, he also went on to become the town’s first member of Parliament when the town became enfranchised in 1868.
Most of the men and their families in the original township came in the 1840s and 1850s to provide the labor in the newly founded industries.
In 1862 the soon to be British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, described Middlesbrough as, ‘the youngest child of England’s enterprise’ and ‘an infant Hercules’.
The vision of the town council was to extend Middlesbrough to the south. Therefore they bought up more building land and speculative housing deals were done creating villa and Victorian terraces in which the upper and middle classes could live. The praise by the Prime Minister for it’s successful was echoed in 1889 when the Prince of Wales said, "Your borough is young in years but the great increase in its population since 1841, and the wonderful development of its commerce are most remarkable and have given it already a position usually reserved for age…….it may be truly said that at the present moment Middlesbrough ranks amongst the highest reputations- not of England only but of the World for the importance of great and varied inductors, especially her vast iron trade."
In the 1870’s industry continued to grow as iron production gave way to steel production and, that produced, traveled the globe. Later the salt works, chemical production and bridge building also grew.
Although today heavy industry has all but ceased, the modern world is still stamped with the name of the town. Girders that make up bridges throughout Africa, Asia and even Sydney Harbor Bridge all bear the legend ‘Dorman Long and Co Ltd., Middlesbrough, England’.
Although the original settlement of Middlesbrough dates back to the Norman Conquest it is in the latter part of the 19th and 20th centuries that the town’s identity began to evolve.
In 1829 the Middlesbrough part of the Hustler family (of Acklam Hall) estate was sold and eventually went on to business men associated with the then world famous Stockton and Darlington Railway Company. They developed the land into coal shipping at Staithes to export coal from the Durham coalfield. This was just upstream from the present Transporter Bridge. Their ambition was to develop a port that would rival those of Sunderland and Newcastle.
As the first years saw massive amounts of coal moved the owners decided to commission the laying out of the purpose built town of Middlesbrough. The town, perhaps the first 'new town' developed in Britain, was designed on a grid pattern with a market square and church at its center. As the town grew, reaching 9,332 by 1853, other industries began to thrive. These included, shipyards, iron works, printers, breweries and an earthenware company.
In 1841 an Act of Parliament appointed an Improvement Commission to govern the town, meeting to deal with civic issues and the controlling of the market. In 1846 they were able to commission the building of Middlesbrough Town Hall by William Lambie Moffatt.
Henry Bolckow became the first town Mayor of Middlesbrough in 1853, he also went on to become the town’s first member of Parliament when the town became enfranchised in 1868.
Most of the men and their families in the original township came in the 1840s and 1850s to provide the labor in the newly founded industries.
In 1862 the soon to be British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, described Middlesbrough as, ‘the youngest child of England’s enterprise’ and ‘an infant Hercules’.
The vision of the town council was to extend Middlesbrough to the south. Therefore they bought up more building land and speculative housing deals were done creating villa and Victorian terraces in which the upper and middle classes could live. The praise by the Prime Minister for it’s successful was echoed in 1889 when the Prince of Wales said, "Your borough is young in years but the great increase in its population since 1841, and the wonderful development of its commerce are most remarkable and have given it already a position usually reserved for age…….it may be truly said that at the present moment Middlesbrough ranks amongst the highest reputations- not of England only but of the World for the importance of great and varied inductors, especially her vast iron trade."
In the 1870’s industry continued to grow as iron production gave way to steel production and, that produced, traveled the globe. Later the salt works, chemical production and bridge building also grew.
Although today heavy industry has all but ceased, the modern world is still stamped with the name of the town. Girders that make up bridges throughout Africa, Asia and even Sydney Harbor Bridge all bear the legend ‘Dorman Long and Co Ltd., Middlesbrough, England’.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Harry Potter Tours of London
Today I stumbled over these tours of London that specialize in Harry Potter locations:
http://www.londontaxitour.com/london-taxi-tour-sights-harry-potter-tour.htm
http://www.lynotttours.com/b-potter.htm
http://www.offtolondon.com/hp_tours.html
http://www.hpfantrips.com/
http://www.londontaxitour.com/london-taxi-tour-sights-harry-potter-tour.htm
http://www.lynotttours.com/b-potter.htm
http://www.offtolondon.com/hp_tours.html
http://www.hpfantrips.com/
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Tentative Itinerary after Royal Tunbridge Wells
This scenerio takes only nine days with three days per stop. This should put us back in Edinburgh with plenty of time to see a bit more of Scotland:
Tunbridge Wells to Bourne is 138 miles
Bourne to Hartlepool is 163 miles
Hartlepool to Edinbrough is 150 miles
Tunbridge Wells to Bourne is 138 miles
Bourne to Hartlepool is 163 miles
Hartlepool to Edinbrough is 150 miles
Our favorite Action/Adventure novelist
Traveling between Salisbury and Royal Tunbridge Wells will allow us to see the birthplace of my favorite action/adventure novelist, Hammond Innes. Since we've been doing books on tape on our longer automobile trips, Concetta has grown to love his stories, too.
Ralph Hammond Innes (July 15, 1914 – June 10, 1998) was an English author who wrote over 30 novels, as well as children's and travel books. He was born in Horsham, Sussex (more or less on our route between Salisbury and Tunbridge Wells) and educated at Cranbrook School in Kent. He left in 1931 to work as a journalist, initially with the Financial Times (at the time called the Financial News). The Doppelganger, his first novel, was published in 1937. In WWII he served in the Royal Artillery, eventually rising to the rank of Major. During the war, a number of his books were published, including Wreckers Must Breathe (1940), The Trojan Horse (1941) and Attack Alarm (1941), the latter novel using Innes' experiences as an Anti-Aircraft Gunner during the Battle of Britain. After being demobbed, in 1946 he worked full-time as a writer, achieving a number of early successes. His novels are notable for a fine attention to accurate detail in descriptions of places, such as in Air Bridge (1951), set partially at RAF Gatow, RAF Membury after its closure and RAF Wunstorf during the Berlin Airlift. Innes went on to produce books in a regular sequence of six months of travel and research and then six months of writing, with many of these works featuring the sea. His rate of work was reduced from the 1960s, but was still substantial, and he became interested in ecological themes. He continued writing until just before his death. His last novel was Delta Connection (1996). Four of his earlier novels were made into films: Snowbound (1948) from The Lonely Skier (1947), Hell Below Zero (1954) from The White South (1949), Campbell's Kingdom (1957) from the book of the same name (1952) and The Wreck of the Mary Deare (1959) also from the book of the same name (1956). His 1973 novel Golden Soak was adapted into a six-part television series in 1979. His great love and experience of the sea, as an experienced yachtsman, was reflected in many of his novels. This was also reflected in his leaving the bulk of his estate on his death to the Association of Sea Training Organisations, to gain training and experience in sailing the element he loved. (The foregoing was borrowed from Wikipedia)
My favorite of his novels are The White South and The Land God Gave to Cain, but I've read nearly all the books listed here and can honestly say every one is a winner!
Ralph Hammond Innes (July 15, 1914 – June 10, 1998) was an English author who wrote over 30 novels, as well as children's and travel books. He was born in Horsham, Sussex (more or less on our route between Salisbury and Tunbridge Wells) and educated at Cranbrook School in Kent. He left in 1931 to work as a journalist, initially with the Financial Times (at the time called the Financial News). The Doppelganger, his first novel, was published in 1937. In WWII he served in the Royal Artillery, eventually rising to the rank of Major. During the war, a number of his books were published, including Wreckers Must Breathe (1940), The Trojan Horse (1941) and Attack Alarm (1941), the latter novel using Innes' experiences as an Anti-Aircraft Gunner during the Battle of Britain. After being demobbed, in 1946 he worked full-time as a writer, achieving a number of early successes. His novels are notable for a fine attention to accurate detail in descriptions of places, such as in Air Bridge (1951), set partially at RAF Gatow, RAF Membury after its closure and RAF Wunstorf during the Berlin Airlift. Innes went on to produce books in a regular sequence of six months of travel and research and then six months of writing, with many of these works featuring the sea. His rate of work was reduced from the 1960s, but was still substantial, and he became interested in ecological themes. He continued writing until just before his death. His last novel was Delta Connection (1996). Four of his earlier novels were made into films: Snowbound (1948) from The Lonely Skier (1947), Hell Below Zero (1954) from The White South (1949), Campbell's Kingdom (1957) from the book of the same name (1952) and The Wreck of the Mary Deare (1959) also from the book of the same name (1956). His 1973 novel Golden Soak was adapted into a six-part television series in 1979. His great love and experience of the sea, as an experienced yachtsman, was reflected in many of his novels. This was also reflected in his leaving the bulk of his estate on his death to the Association of Sea Training Organisations, to gain training and experience in sailing the element he loved. (The foregoing was borrowed from Wikipedia)
My favorite of his novels are The White South and The Land God Gave to Cain, but I've read nearly all the books listed here and can honestly say every one is a winner!
Things to see in Kent, England
I ran across a reference today on things to do and see in Kent, England where we will be staying in the village of Royal Tunbridge Wells. The list includes:
- Leeds Castle, Maidstone - 18 miles northeast.
- Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury - 50 miles east.
- The Hop Farm Country Park, Tonbridge - 5 miles north.
- Dover Castle and Secret Wartime Tunnels, Dover - 63 miles east.
- Hever Castle and Gardens, Edenbridge - 13 miles northwest.
- Penshurst Place and Gardens, Tonbridge - 5 miles north.
- The Historic Chatham Dockyard, Chatham - 27 miles northeast.
- Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Cranbrook - 15 miles east.
- Chartwell, Westerham - 17 miles northwest.
- Howletts Wild Animal Park, Canterbury - 50 miles east.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Pick Pockets and other Denizens
Today I stumbled onto the following travel tip on the internet. It's easy to say, 'that won't happen to me,' but when we were in Rome in 2006 we encountered a couple of situations where I narrowly missed loosing my wallet. It's best to never carry more money than you need for the day, and always be aware of your surrounds when sightseeing. As the travel tip says, the 'Artful Dodgers' are alive and well in London and other poplulated areas.
Travel tip:
If you’re coming to London this summer you should take particular care with wallets and personal belongings, especially in the West End and on the Underground because the entry of Romania and Bulgaria into the European Union has brought an influx of pickpockets to London. People from those countries and Albanians are also behind a lot of the crime involving cashpoints at banks and the cloning of bankcards.
Watch out for the gypsy women beggars in central London who carry around kids that they’ve drugged to keep asleep. They carry bits of paper they push into your face asking for money and there are usually a couple of male members of their group close by, either to pick your pocket or to jump in if you forcefully tell the woman to get lost.
London is a pickpockets playground in summer, tons of people that get crammed together on the transport system and around some of the major tourist sites. Its best just to take the essentials with you when you go out for the day and spread your money and valuables around your pockets. One things for sure there’s going to be no shortage of modern day Artful Dodgers arriving from eastern Europe this year.
Travel tip:
If you’re coming to London this summer you should take particular care with wallets and personal belongings, especially in the West End and on the Underground because the entry of Romania and Bulgaria into the European Union has brought an influx of pickpockets to London. People from those countries and Albanians are also behind a lot of the crime involving cashpoints at banks and the cloning of bankcards.
Watch out for the gypsy women beggars in central London who carry around kids that they’ve drugged to keep asleep. They carry bits of paper they push into your face asking for money and there are usually a couple of male members of their group close by, either to pick your pocket or to jump in if you forcefully tell the woman to get lost.
London is a pickpockets playground in summer, tons of people that get crammed together on the transport system and around some of the major tourist sites. Its best just to take the essentials with you when you go out for the day and spread your money and valuables around your pockets. One things for sure there’s going to be no shortage of modern day Artful Dodgers arriving from eastern Europe this year.
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