Family Stories
Everyone Has A Story ...
Showing posts with label Trevail. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trevail. Show all posts

Sunday, 21 September 2025

Joseph Rundle Trevail and Eliza Thursby

Lambeth Palace, London SE1.
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Hallam-Jones - geograph.org.uk/p/3972034
The redundant St Mary-in-Lambeth Church at the side.

Joseph Rundle Trevail, claiming to be 40 and a Bachelor, son of Joseph Trevail, Farmer, married Eliza Thursby (34) Spinster, listed as daughter of James Thursby, Butcher, at St Mary, Lambeth, on 21 Sep 1890. Just 5 days later, on 26 Sep 1890, Joseph R Trevail and Eliza Trevail embarked on RMS Ormuz, bound for Victoria, Australia, where they arrived in November.

However, Joseph Rundle Trevail (bap. 21 Jun 1847 in Luxulyan, Cornwall), son of Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle, had previously married Gertrude Augusta Shepherd (bap. 25 Apr 1845 in Colaton Raleigh in East Devon), illegitimate daughter of Eliza Shepherd, in Q1 of 1871 in St. George Hanover Square, London. Naturally, checked the National Archives for a record of a divorce, though it would be unlikely, and of course there wasn't one.

What's more, Joseph and Gertrude Trevail had five children:

  1. Charley Thomas Trevail b. 1871 D Quarter in ST THOMAS Volume 05B Page 35 (Died 1871 D Quarter in ST THOMAS Volume 05B Page 27)
  2. Charley Joseph Walter Radford Trevail b. 1872 D Quarter in ST. THOMAS Volume 05B Page 44
  3. Annie Gertrude Trevail b. 1875 M Quarter in ST. GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 435
  4. Kate Olivia Trevail b. 1880 D Quarter in LAMBETH Volume 01D Page 442 (Listed as ALICE OLIVIA GERTRUDE Trevail at the GRO)
  5. Gertrude Augusta Trevail b. 1884 D Quarter in LAMBETH Volume 01D Page 453 (Died 1885 S Quarter in LAMBETH Volume 01D Page 266)
Mother's maiden name, in all cases, spelled SHEPPARD.

At the time of the 1871 census, Joseph Trevail (24) Engineer Fitter, was living in Denbigh Street, Westminster with wife Gertrude (25), brother Charles (20) Engineer Fitter, sisters Amy* (16) and Jane (12), as well as a visitor, Selina Rundle (20). (* Joseph didn't have a sister called Amy. Kate, maybe?)

In 1881, the family living at 6, Meadow Terrace, Lambeth, London, comprised: Joseph R Trevail (34) Engine fitter, Gertrude A (36), Charles J W R (8), Anne G (6), Kate O (0) and Eliza Sheppard (69) 'Relative' (Gertrude's mother).

In 1891, Gertrude Trevail (46) wife, married, mender of fine lace, was alive and well, at the family home in Meadow Terrace, Lambeth, with daughters Annie G (16) & Kate O (10), and her mother, Eliza Shepperd (78).

By 1901, Gertrude Trevail (55) Married [still], Honiton lace manufacturer, was living at 153, Kennington Road, Lambeth, with daughter Kate (20).

Meanwhile, Joseph Rundle Trevail, Engineer, was shown on the Australia Electoral Rolls in 1903, in Market Street, New South Wales, Australia.

Gertrude Trevail died, aged 58, in 1910 D Qtr in EPSOM Vol 02A Page 27.

Mr J R & Mrs Trevail (not) departed from London, on 17 Nov 1910, on the RMS China, this time bound for Sydney, via Freemantle, Adelaide and Melbourne, arriving in Fremantle, Western Australia on 20 Dec 1910.

Then, in 1911, Joseph Rundle Trevail married Eliza Thursby in Canterbury, New South Wales, Australia. Again. Non-bigamously this time.

On 27 Feb 1921, J R and Mrs Trevail left Sydney for Wellington, New Zealand, on the SS Marama, as tourists. Joseph's sister Mary Ann had just died and his sister Ellen was still in New Zealand.

The last will and testament of Joseph Rundle Trevail of 52 Market Street, Randwick, New South Wales, Gentleman, who died on 20 Jan 1934, aged 86, left the balance of his estate to his 'dear wife Eliza', after various other bequests. Among beneficiaries were a grandson, Arthur Waymark (daughter, Annie Gertrude Trevail had married Louis Charles Waymark in Lambeth in 1898); his sister Olivia Caldwell (Olivia Trevail had married Thomas William Colwill in 1886 in St George, Hanover Square); her daughter was Elsie Bates; a niece, Florence Wright; other bequests go to a John Edwards and to granddaughters, Amy Edwards and Edith Anderson (née Edwards) (daughter Kate Olivia Trevail had married Frank William Edwards in 1903). His estate was valued at £3,757 in 1934 (worth over £275,000 today).

Friday, 5 September 2025

Herbert Fleming Trevail and Alice Maud Stanley Blazey

Kensington: St. John the Baptist Church, Holland Road
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Dr Neil Clifton - geograph.org.uk/p/3161496

Herbert Fleming Trevail (b. 1877 in Lambeth), son of Charles Trevail and Mary Fleming, married Alice Maud Stanley Blazey (b. 21 Dec 1875 in Dinapore, India), daughter of Francis Robert Blazey and Louisa Susan Stanley, both of 155 Holland Road, Kensington, on 5 Sep 1898, at St John the Baptist church, Holland Road, Kensington, London. Witnesses were Francis Robert Blazey, the bride's father and Edwin Fleming Trevail, the groom's brother. 

Various records point to Herbert and Alice having seven children:
  1. Daisy Trevail b. 1899 S Quarter in LAMBETH Volume 01D Page 464. (Died 1899 S Quarter in LAMBETH Volume 01D Page 343)
  2. Winifred Constance Stanley Trevail b. 16 Sep 1900 (1900 D Qtr in LAMBETH Vol 01D 386), bap. 4 Nov 1900 at St Anne, South Lambeth
  3. Eric Herbert Stanley Trevail b. 29 Jul 1904 (1904 S Qtr in HATFIELD Vol 03A Page 796), bap. 18 Sep 1904 in WelwynHertfordshire
  4. Stillborn child b. 25 Oct 1908 in Christchurch, New Zealand
  5. Lancelot Edwin Stanley Trevail b. 30 May 1910 in Christchurch, NZ 
  6. Edna A S Trevail (if I was betting, I'd go for Alice Stanley), born and died in 1915 in Balmain North, New South Wales, Australia
  7. Carmen Joyce Stanley Trevail b. 1917 in New South Wales, Australia
The mother's maiden name on the first three in England was BLAZEY.

In 1901, Alice (25) was at her father's household at 31, Sinclair Gardens, Hammersmith, Fulham, along with her daughter, Winifred Constance Stanley Trevail, while Herbert (24) Carpenter and Joiner, was alone at what was presumably their home at 83, South Lambeth Road, Lambeth. 


On 5 Aug 1908, Mr H Trevail (31), Mrs A Trevail (32), Miss W Trevail (7) and Master E Trevail (2½), embarked in London on the SS Miltiades. They were bound for Sydney, where they arrived in the September. 

There is only a record of a burial of a stillborn child (gender unknown), simply listed with the surname Trevail, born 25 Oct 1908, and buried at Linwood Cemetery, Linwood, Christchurch City, Canterbury, New Zealand. That would indicate that Alice was pregnant during the voyage. This pregnancy also fits neatly into the otherwise long gap between 1904 and 1910.

They were in Lyttelton, New Zealand in 1909 - where Herbert's aunts, Ellen Higgs and Mary Ann Burn Trevail Bawden then lived - because reports in the Lyttelton Times in Oct 1909 detail that Miss Winnie Trevail was appearing in one of the principle roles in a production staged by the Garrick Juvenile Opera Company, at the Opera House there.

In 1911, Herbert Fleming Trevail, carpenter, and Alice Maud Trevail were listed on the New Zealand Electoral Rolls at 56 Stanmore Rd, Linwood, Christchurch. (Herbert's aunt, Jane Rundle Robinson, lived in Christchurch.)

Then in 1913, we find both of them listed on the Australia Electoral Rolls at Mount Victoria, Hartley, New South Wales, Australia.

Painting of the British ocean liner RMS Olympic by Fred Pansing

On 2 Feb 1927, Herbert Trevail (49), Alice (50), Lance (16) and Carmen (10) sailed from Southampton to New York on the White Star Line's RMS Olympic. They gave their last address in the UK as 62 Milton Road, Wallington, Surrey, the home of Herbert's parents. On 29 Aug 1927, they left San Francisco, bound for Sydney, on the RMS Tahiti. (Known for the Greycliffe disaster.)

Herbert must have made another visit to England, because on 1 Mar 1933, he sailed, on his own, from Southampton to Sydney on the SS Moreton Bay.

In 1935, Herbert and Alice Trevail are both listed on the Australia Electoral Rolls at 3 Griffiths Avenue, North Bondi, New South Wales

On 8 Jul 1949, Mr H. F. Trevail (72) Builder, and Mrs A. M. Trevail (74), travelled from London (Port of Tilbury) to Sydney on the SS Orontes

Herbert Fleming Trevail died on 26 Nov 1961 in Ashfield, Sydney NSW.

Alice Maud Stanley Trevail died on 9 Mar 1965, in Dade, Florida, USA.

  • In 1923 Eric H S Trevail married Miriam E Tuppling, in Balmain South, New South Wales, Australia. They went on to have two children: Conway Eric Stanley Trevail who married Beryl Pearl De Berg and Lois Winifred Stanley Trevail who married Ross Munro Brown, both in Waverley, New South Wales, Australia in 1944.
  • Lancelot Edwin Stanley Trevail married Nancy Mary Harris Matthews in Waverley, New South Wales, Australia in 1935. However, Lancelot Edwin Stanley Trevail, Casket Maker, died on 6 Sep 1947, in Bondi, NSW.
  • On 30 Sep 1937, Miss C. J. S. Trevail (21) travelled from Wellington, New Zealand to Sydney on the MS Wanganella, her profession listed as Theatrical. Carmen Joyce Stanley Trevail married Leslie Earnest Hull in Woollahra, New South Wales, Australia in 1938.

Wednesday, 30 July 2025

Henry Charles Orton and Dahlia Trevail

St Mark's Church, North Audley Street, London W1
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/1536122

Henry Charles Orton, Widower, Carpenter of Shepherd's Market married Dahlia Mackness, Widow, of 1 Park Lane, London, daughter of Joseph Trevail, Farmer at the church of St George's, Hanover Square on 30 Jul 1881

Henry and Dahlia had two children, born at 6, Church Road, Watford:
  1. Charles Orton b. 3 Jul 1882 (1882 S Quarter in WATFORD Volume 03A Page 502), bap. 24 Sep 1882 at St Andrew's, Watford
  2. Emily Maud Orton b. 21 Sep 1884 (1884 D Quarter in WATFORD Volume 03A Page 534), bap. 2 Nov 1884 at St Andrew's, Watford
The mother's maiden name TREVAIL is quoted on both birth registrations.

Dahlia Trevail (bap. 27 May 1849), daughter of Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle, in 1871, was cook to Thomas William Bramston, Conservative Member for South Essex, at his estate, Skreens, Roxwell, Chelmsford, Essex. In Q3 of 1876, aged 27, Dahlia had married Frederick Mackness (bap. 14 Feb 1827), sawyer, son of George and Susanna Mackness, at St Mark, North Audley Street (St Mark's, Mayfair, now home to Mercato Mayfair). However, within 3 months of the wedding, in Q4 1876, Frederick died, aged 49. 

In 1881, Dahlia Mackness (31), widow, was once again employed as a cook, in the household of Sir William Miller, 1st Baronet in London, at 1, Park Lane. 

It was "third time lucky" for Henry, son of Charles Orton and Mary Ann Leach, bap. 7 Oct 1838 in Leamington, Warwickshire. Henry Orton had first married Elizabeth Neal on 11 Oct 1863 in Leamington Spa, but Elizabeth died, aged 31, in 1867, in Shipston-on-Stour. That marriage didn't produce any children. Henry then married widow, Ellen Reynolds (née Carpenter), on 31 Jan 1869, in Bordesley, Warwickshire. They had three daughters: Florence Mary Orton b. 1870 J Quarter in SOUTHAM Volume 06D Page 600; Nellie Rose Orton b. 1873 D Quarter in WARWICK Volume 06D Page 537; and Lizzie Orton b. 1877 S Quarter in WATFORD UNION Volume 03A Page 409, who died, aged 1, in 1878 D Quarter in WATFORD Volume 03A Page 290. Ellen Orton died, aged 47, 1880 D Quarter in WATFORD Volume 03A Page 255, where Henry C Orton (42) Builder's foreman, was living at 6, Church Road, in 1881.

In 1891, Henry C Orton (52) Carpenter, wife Delia (sic) (42), Florence (21), Charles (8), Maud (6), plus boarders: Samuel Cos (21) and Albert Batchelor (19) were living in London at Worcester Street, St George Hanover Square.

Then Henry Charles Orton died, aged 54, in 1892 D Quarter in ST GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 283. Various newspapers in Apr 1893 reported on the legal case surrounding his death:

DAMAGES FOR THE LOSS OF A HUSBAND

The case of "Orton v. Simpson" came before Judge Bayley and a jury at Westminster County Court for a partition of the damages. Mrs Dahlia Orton and her children claimed £280 under the Employers' Liability Act from Messrs. Simpson and Company (Limited), engineers, of Pimlico. The husband was an engineer, and on 3 Dec last was killed whilst in the employ of the defending company through the bursting of a defective cylinder. The plaintiff had two children, aged eight and ten years, and there were two children of the deceased by a former marriage, aged 18 and 21. The defendants admitted their liability and paid £210 into court, which sum the plaintiff accepted, at Westminster County Court yesterday applied under Lord Campbell's Act for a partition of the damages. The jury awarded the plaintiff £50, the two children by a former marriage £5 each, and the plaintiff's two children £75. 

In 1901, Dahlia Orton (52) widow, was living at 16, Balfern Grove, Chiswick with Charles Orton (18), Emily M Orton (16) and three boarders: Alfred Hooke (22), Thomas Willcox (25) and Albert Clarke (27).

In 1911, Dahlia Orton (62) was staying with her daughter and her husband, William Charles Creedon (27) Licenced Victualler at the Builder's Arms8 Wyvil Road, Lambeth. (William Charles Creeden and Emily Maud Orton married, in Brentford, in 1907 and, in 1910, William Charles Creedon had been landlord of the Oxford Arms, 77 St Peter Street, Bethnal Green.) On the 1911 Census, Dahlia Orton states that she had three children, two living and one had died, but I've been unable to find records relating to a third child.

In 1921, Dahlia Orton (72) Widow was once again living with her daughter and son-in-law, back at 16, Balfern Grove, Chiswick, Middlesex.

Dahlia Orton died, at 76, in 1925 D Qtr in BRENTFORD Vol 03A Page 222.

Thursday, 10 July 2025

Con Colleano and Winifred Constance Stanley Trevail

Winifred Constance Stanley Trevail and Con Colleano

Cornelius Sullivan (b. 26 Dec 1899 in Lismore, New South Wales), Theatrical, son of Cornelius Sullivan and Julia Robinson, married my grandmother's 2nd cousin, Winifred Constance Stanley Trevail (b. 16 Sep 1900 in Lambeth, Surrey), Actress, daughter of Herbert Fleming Trevail and Alice Maud Stanley Blazey on 10 July 1926 in DetroitWayne County, Michigan. The marriage licence states they were married by the Associate Pastor of the Central Methodist Episcopal Church, from which I deduce that the venue was the Central United Methodist Church (Detroit), although they were resident in Brooklyn, New York. Both stated they'd not been married before.

While researching, I found a record of a marriage of a Winifred C Trevail, in Victoria, Australia, in 1919 to a Leonard Mendoza. Even sounded like Winnie's "type" and I knew I would need to obtain the certificate to confirm, but just how many people named Winifred C Trevail were there likely to be, and in the same area? As expected, the record clearly tells us that the marriage between Leonard Mendoza (24) Bachelor, born in Melbourne, Victoria, son of Charles Mendoza, Carpenter and Annie Gordon, and Winifred Constance Trevail (19) Spinster, born in Brixton, England - both list their occupations as 'Theatrical' - in the Parish or Church District of Melbourne on 15 Aug 1919, lists her father as Herbert Trevail, Carpenter and mother as Alice Blazey, so there can be absolutely no doubt whatsoever that this was indeed 'our' Winnie.

It's said that Winnie met Con, in Melbourne, Victoria, when she was 22. What can have happened to Leonard Mendoza in those 3 years? If he'd died, or they divorced, Winnie would have listed that she was a widow or a divorcee when she married Con, so I'm certain Winnie was committing bigamy in 1926.

We know Winnie was in Melbourne before that first marriage, because in the Victoria Police Gazette of 11 Apr 1918, appeared the following report: "TREVAIL, WINNIE theatrical, 7 McKenzie Street, Melbourne, reports stolen from the dressing-room, Bijou Theatre, Bourke Street, Melbourne on the 3rd inst. a diamond cluster ring, diamond in the centre set with other stones around, the centre stone is set a little to side, gold band at side of setting is wavy. Value £8." There can be no doubt who made this report either. 

Several articles mention that Winifred "claimed descent from the Earls of Derby" and it appears the source is her brother, Eric, so I assume the story was perpetuated within the family. It is very tempting to dismiss this entirely as theatrical fantasy, but I have no actual evidence to disprove it. 

Known professionally as Con Colleano, Cornelius Sullivan, was the most famous and highest paid "swashbuckling circus performer with matinee idol looks" of his time, “The Australian Wizard of the Wire”. A member of the Circus Hall of Fame, Con Colleano is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first person to prefect the forward somersault on the tight wire. 

"Mrs. Winnie Colleano (neé Trevail) was herself a well known Australian Vaudeville Soubrette", dancer and trapeze artist." One article says that Winnie Trevail began appearing on the stage in Sydney as a child, but actually, she was performing before that in New Zealand. There in Lyttelton, New Zealand in 1909 - where her father's aunts, Ellen Higgs and Mary Ann Burn Trevail Bawden then lived - reports in the Lyttelton Times in Oct 1909 detail that Miss Winnie Trevail was appearing in one of the principle roles in a production staged by the Garrick Juvenile Opera Company, at the Opera House there. 

Trevail abandoned her own career in 1924 to travel with her husband.

Con Colleano on a slack-wire, circa 1920
Con Colleano, was of Aboriginal, Anglo-Irish and West Indian descent and adopted a Spanish persona and a costume of a ‘toreador’ or bullfighter.

Colleano’s Indigenous heritage was unknown to his fans – which included one of history’s most infamous racists - "Few people are aware of the fact that in the 1930’s, Adolf Hitler issued an Aboriginal Australian tightrope walker with a German passport so he could come and go as he pleased."

Passenger lists reveal that Cornelius Sullivan and Winifred C. S. Trevail left Southampton, England on 13 Sep 1924, on the RMS Berengaria (former SS Imperator), The first Cunard "Queen". This was their first trip to the US, so their port of arrival was the infamous Ellis Island, New York. Clearly they were let in. Various sources tell us that, in 1924, Con made his debut at the New York Hippodrome before returning to the circus with Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

There's also record of Cornelius and Winifred C Sullivan Colleano travelling from Southampton to New York, on the Berengaria, on 24 Feb 1937.

On 7 Jan 1938, Cornelius and Winifred (Sullivan) Colleano, left Sydney, bound for California, on the luxury ocean linerSS Mariposa (1931).

On 8 Sep 1939, Cornelius and Winifred Sullivan, listed as British, boarded the Italian ocean liner, SS Rex, leaving Genoa, bound for New York.

In 1940, they are shown arriving in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

These, I'm sure are just the tip of a globe-trotting iceberg, but it was finding these records of voyages that led me to discover more of their story.

The former Albion Hotel (pub) at Forbes, New South Wales, Sheba, CC BY-SA 2.0

"Sadly Con and Winnie ultimately lost all their money indulging in a luxurious lifestyle, giving it away to friends and making a disastrous investment in a pub in outback Australia in the 1950s (what were they thinking?)."

Con Sullivan died, in Miami, Florida, on 13 Nov 1973 and in his obituary in The Stage, the wife of Con's brother is quoted as saying, "His wife WINNIE has cabled that she is broken-hearted because she found my dear brother-in-law lying dead, obviously she is too shocked to tell me more."

Winnie returned to Australia, where she died, in Sydney, in on 5 Jan 1986. 


Sources (many of these links contain images):

Further reading: The wizard of the wire : the story of Con Colleano 

Thursday, 19 June 2025

Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle

Luxulyan Church, dedicated to St Cyriacus & St Julitta
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Rod Allday - geograph.org.uk/p/2708738

Joseph Trevail (bap. 24 Jun 1816, at Luxulyan, Cornwall), son of John Trevail and Elizabeth Knight, married Jane Rundle (bap. 23 Feb 1817 in Lanivet, Cornwall), daughter of Nicholas Rundle and Mary Ann Burn, on 19 Jun 1837, at the parish church of St Cyriacus and St Julitta, Luxulyan, Cornwall.  

Joseph and Jane Trevail had 12 children:

  1. Nicholas Rundle Trevail bap. 28 Jan 1838 in Luxulyan
  2. Ellen Trevail bap. 22 Sep 1839 in Luxulyan 
  3. Mary Ann Burn Trevail bap. 29 Dec 1841 in Luxulyan
  4. Emma Jane Rundle Trevail bap. 25 Feb 1843 in Luxulyan 
  5. Elfrida Trevail bap. 4 Feb 1845 in Luxulyan (died 1921, see below)
  6. Joseph Rundle Trevail, b. 1847 J Quarter in OF BODMIN Volume 09 Page 42, bap. (as Joseph Henry) 21 Jun 1847 in Luxulyan
  7. Dahlia Trevail b. 1849 J Quarter in OF BODMIN Volume 09 Page 42, bap. (as Cordelia) 27 May 1849 
  8. Charles Trevail b. 2 Aug 1851 (no GRO registration) at Rosemelling, bap. 16 Sep 1851 at Rosemelling Chapel
  9. Olivia Trevail, b. 1854 (per census), bap. 20 May 1855 in Luxulyan
  10. Nancy Rundell (sic) Trevail b. 1855 J Quarter in BODMIN Volume 05C Page 103, bap. 20 May 1855 (disappears)
  11. Kate Trevail b. 12 Nov 1857 (1857 D Quarter in OF BODMIN Volume 05C Page 90), bap. 27 Dec 1857 in Luxulyan
  12. Jane Rundle Trevail, b. 1860 M Quarter in OF BODMIN Volume 05C Page 104, bap. 29 Mar 1862
In 1841, at Tregarden Farm, Luxulyan, were Joseph Trevail (25) Farmer, Jane Trevail (20), Nicholas Trevail (3) and Ellen Trevail (1), Charles Trevail (20) and Philip Trevail (40) (Charles and Philip were Joseph's brothers. Philip was the father of Jane Trevail & grandfather of Silvanus Trevail).

In 1851, again at Tregarden Farm, Luxulyan, were Joseph Trevail (35) Farmer of 118 acres, Jane (34), Nicholas R (13) Farmer's Son, Ellen (11), Mary A (9), Alfreda (sic) (6), Joseph (4), Delilah (sic) (1), John Couch (17) Farm Servant, William Browne (17) Farm Servant, John Tamblyn (60) Vitenary Sergant (sic) - they mean Veterinary Surgeon LOL - from Broadoak. Emma Trevail (9) was in the household of her grandparents, Nicholas and Mary Ann Rundle at Tymorkham [Farm], St Neot CornwallLiskeard, but listed as their niece (guessing her uncle completed the census for his parents).

Jane Trevail died, aged 43, in 1860 M Qtr in BODMIN Vol 05C Page 67.

In 1861, Joseph Trevail (45), was farming 118 acres at Tregarden Farm, Luxulyan, with Nicholas R Trevail (23), Ellen (21), Elfreda (16), Joseph (15), Delcia (sic) (12), Charles (9), Olivia (7), Nancy (5), Kate (3) and Jane R (1). 

In the last quarter of 1865, Joseph Trevail remarried to Eliza Roach (sic), in Plymouth, and went on to have another two daughters:
  1. Hetty Trevail b. 23 Apr 1866 (1866 J Qtr in BODMIN Vol 05C 97)
  2. Emily Trevail b. 1868 J Quarter in BODMIN Volume 05C Page 95. Died, aged 25, on 24 Oct 1893 (1893 D Quarter in BODMIN Vol 05C Page 53) and is buried at the parish church in Lanlivery.
Eliza Roche (bap. 26 Dec 1824 in Luxulyan, Cornwall), daughter of John Roche and Jenefer Udy, had previously married William Roche (bap. 20 Jun 1824 in Luxulyan, Cornwall), son of William Roach (sic) and Mary Warne, on 5 Mar 1853 in Luxulyan, Cornwall. At a guess, probably yet another pair of cousins. The couple had three daughters: Priscilla Roach b. 1853; Eliza Jane Roach b. 1856 and Charlotte Ann Roach b. 1858, before William Roach died, at 35, in 1858 S Quarter in OF BODMIN Volume 05C Page 63.

Then the following item appeared in the London Gazette of 20 Aug 1869: "Joseph Trevail, of Tregarden in the Parish of Luxulyan, in the County of Cornwall, Farmer, having been adjudged bankrupt under a Petition for adjudication of Bankruptcy, filed in the County Court of Cornwall, holden at Bodmin on the 14th day of August 1869, is hereby required to surrender himself to John Basset Collins, Registrar of the said Court, at the first meeting of creditors to be held before the said Registrar, on the 4th day of September next, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon precisely, at the said Court."

In 1871, Joseph Trevail (55) was at RedmoorLanlivery with wife Eliza (45), Kitty (assume they mean Hetty) (4) and Emily (2) and Charlotte Ann Roach (12), listed as Daughter-in-law, but obviously they mean Step-daughter. Olivia Trevail (20), was a kitchen maid in the household of Francis Gosling, Banker, at Wellbury House, Great Offley, Hitchin, Hertfordshire. (Goslings Bank was one of the banks merged into Barclays Bank in 1896). Eliza's two older daughters, Priscilla Roach (17) and Eliza J Roach (15) were staying in the household of Richard Williams in Falmouth, Cornwall and his wife Priscilla, who was their aunt, Eliza's sister.

In 1881, at Redmoor, Lanlivery, were Joseph Trevail (65) Butcher & farmer of 2½ acres, Eliza Trevail (56), Hetty Trevail (14), Emily Trevail (13).  

Lanlivery, St. Brevita's Church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Michael Garlick - 
geograph.org.uk/p/6279283
Joseph Trevail died, aged 75, on 1 Apr 1891 (1891 J Quarter in BODMIN Volume 05C Page 59). He is buried at Lanlivery Parish Church and, having found these details in "Cornwall Memorial Inscriptions", we can probably assume there may be a headstone.

In 1891, Eliza Trevail (66) widow, farmer was still at Redmoor, Lanlivery, with her daughters Hetty (24) and Emily (22).

In 1901, Eliza Trevail (76) widow, living on own means, was alone at Churchtown, Lanlivery Rural, Bodmin. 

Eliza Trevail died on 26 Nov 1904, aged 80 (1904 D Quarter in BODMIN Volume 05C Page 41) and is also buried at Lanlivery parish church.

By 1871, Elfrida Trevail (26) was a Pauper Patient at the Lunatic Asylum, Bodmin (later St Lawrence's Mental Hospital). She was still there, aged 57, in 1901, at 67 in 1911 and at 77 in 1921. After 50+ years in that institution, Elfrida Trevail died, aged 77, in 1921 D Quarter in BODMIN Volume 05C Page 81 and was buried in Bodmin on 12 Dec 1921.

Thursday, 10 April 2025

Charles Archer and Kate Trevail

St Saviours Church, Pimlico
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © PAUL FARMER - geograph.org.uk/p/2815323
Picture taken from Chichester Street

Charles Archer (bap. 29 Dec 1861 at St Paul's, Poole, Dorset), son of Charles Archer, Queen's Messenger, and Ellen Briggs, married Kate Trevail (b. 12 Nov 1857 in Luxulyan, Cornwall), daughter of Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle, at St Saviour's, St George's Square, Pimlico on 10 Apr 1884.

Charles and Kate had three children:
  1. Charles Archer b. 10 Jul 1885 (1885 S Quarter in ST GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 422), bap. 10 Sep 1885 at St Saviour's, St George's Square
  2. Ellen Florence Archer b. 23 Sep 1887 (1887 D Quarter in ST GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 423), bap. (and thereafter as Florence Ellen) 6 Nov 1887 at St Saviour's, St George's Square.
  3. Eileen Elfrida Trevail Archer b. 19 May 1897 (1897 J Quarter in ST GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 450), bap. 18 Jul 1897 at St Gabriel's, Warwick Square
In 1891, Charles Archer (29) Collector, Kate Archer (33), Charles (5), Ellen F (3) and Lizzie Isch (20) General Domestic Servant, were in Chichester Street, Pimlico. (Kate's sister, Olivia and her family, also lived in Chichester Street in 1891.) "Collector" (to disappoint all of us thinking of antiques and curios), in the context of Charles Archer's job, is a Gas Rate Collector, i.e. the bloke who goes round collecting the shillings from the gas meters.

In 1901, still at 8, Chichester Street, Pimlico, were Charles Archer (39) Gas Rate Collector, Kate Archer (43), Charles Archer (15) Mechanical engineer's apprentice, Ellen Archer (13) and Eileen Archer (3).

In 1911, once again at 8, Chichester Street, Pimlico, there were Charles Archer (49) Collector, Kate (53), Ellen Florence (23) Lady clerk, Eileen Elfrida (13) at School and Beatrice Matthews (28) General Domestic Servant.

In 1921, Charles Archer (59) Collector (retired) from Poole, Dorset, was living at 18, Townley Road, Dulwich, Camberwell with Kate Archer (63) and Eileen Elfrida Trevail Archer (24) Music Mistress.

Charles Archer died on 17 Jan 1936 (1936 M Quarter in BUCKLOW Volume 08A Page 270), aged 74.

Kate Archer, as well as Charles Archer Jnr and his wife and Eileen and her husband, were all living in Hale, Cheshire (Greater Manchester) in 1939.

Kate Archer, of Girvan, Leicester Road, Hale, Cheshire, widow, died on 29 Jan 1947 (1947 M Quarter in BUCKLOW Volume 10A Page 176), aged 89, leaving £557 10s to her son Charles Archer.

  1. Charles Archer married Gladys Mary Pardew (b. 24 Aug 1885 in Plymouth, Devon), daughter of John Andrew Pardew and Pricilla Nichols Millard, in Bucklow, Cheshire, in 1920. Their son, Charles John Trevail Archer was born on 17 Oct 1921. In 1939, they were living at 23 Crescent, Hale, Cheshire. Charles Archer died on 31 Oct 1956 in Hale, Cheshire. Gladys Mary Archer died in Buckinghamshire, in 1961. Charles John Trevail Archer FFARCS died in St. Marylebone, London, in 1974.
  2. Florence Ellen Archer married John Leonard Ravenhill (b. 29 Dec 1881 in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey), son of Henry Ravenhill and Hannah Street, at St Saviour's, St George's Square, Pimlico, in 1911. They had two children: Eileen Nellie Trevail Ravenhill b. 1912 and Harry Kenneth Trevail Ravenhill b. 27 Jan 1917. In 1939 they were at 17 Townley Road, Dulwich, London. Florence Ellen Ravenhill died on 30 Nov 1952 in East Dulwich. John Leonard Ravenhill died in Surrey, in 1970.
  3. Eileen Elfrida Trevail Archer married Frank Marsden (b. 13 Jul 1887 in Dukinfield, Cheshire), son of John Marsden and Maria Hallas, in Camberwell, London, in 1927. Frank was a widower at the time of his marriage to Eileen and had a daughter, Joan Doreen Marsden b. 16 Dec 1919, from his previous marriage to May Chadderton, who had died in 1925. Frank and Eileen added a son, John Charles Marsden b. 22 Dec 1927. In 1939, they were living at Girvan, Leicester Road, Hale, Cheshire and Frank Marsden's occupation was Managing Director, Iron Foundry. Eileen Elfrida Trevail Marsden died in Northamptonshire, in 1976.

Friday, 4 April 2025

Adolphe Jacques Froissant & Emma Jane Rundle Trevail

St George's Church, Hanover Square, London W1
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/1533353

Adolphe Jacques Froissant (b. 8 Feb 1844 in Binas, Loir-et-Cher, France), Bachelor, Cook of Belgrave Square, London, son of Pierre Jacques Alexandre Froissant and Victoire Honorine Langer, married Emma Jane Rundle Trevail (bap. 25 Feb 1843 in Luxulyan, Cornwall), daughter of Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle, at St George's, Hanover Square on 4 Apr 1867.

The couple had one daughter:
  1. Florence Emma Froissant b. 29 Nov 1871 (Registered 1872 M Quarter in ST GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 346), bap. 21 Jul 1875 at Christ Church, Down Street, Mayfair.
In 1881, Adolphe Froissant (37) Cook (Unemployed) from France was living at 9, Worcester Street, London with Emma J Froissant (38) Wife, Lodging House Keeper from Cornwall, England; Florence E Froissant (9) Daughter born in Pimlico; Harry Keam (17) Joiner from Cornwall; Eliza Stevens (17) General servant; Henry Griffin (24) and William E Beckett (20) Lodgers.

Adolphe Jacques Froissant of 9 Worcester Street, Pimlico died, aged 47, on 26 Dec 1890 (1890 D Quarter in WINDSOR Volume 02C Page 288). Probate was granted to Emma Froissant, to whom he left an estate valued at £426.

In 1891, still at 9, Worcester Street, St George Hanover Square, London, were Emma J Froissant (48) Widow, Landlady; Florence E Froissant (19), Harry Keam (27) Joiner, Cousin; and Sarah A Day (19) Servant.

The Herts Advertiser of 22 Oct 1892 reported on, "... the temporary transfer of the licence of the Royal Oak, Windsor Street [Luton] to Mrs Emma Froissant of London. The references proving satisfactory, the application was granted." And on 8 July 1893, the Luton Reporter listed the Royal Oak transferring from Emma Froissant to Henry Mellins Ollivant.

In 1901, listed as Emily Froissant (57) Widow from Luxulyan, Cornwall, she was living at 14, Balfern GroveChiswick with Florence Froissant (27) Daughter and Harry Keam (37) Carpenter and Joiner. (At that same time, Emma's sister, Dahlia Orton, was living next door at 16 Balfern Grove.)

As 'Emily' Froissant, Emma Jane Rundle Froissant died, at 66, on 16 Feb 1909 (1909 J Quarter in BRENTFORD Vol 03A Page 54). Probate was granted to her brother, Charles Trevail & brother-in-law, Charles Archer.

In 1911, Florence Froissant (claiming to be 29) Actress from Belgravia, London was Boarding at 7 William St, Leamington, Warwickshire.

In the 2nd quarter of 1911, Florence E Froissant married a Henry E Wright, in Grantham, Lincolnshire. There are no clues to Henry Wright's origins.

In 1921, there was a Florence Emma Wright (52) Widowed, from Kensington, London at a Boarding House in Great Clacton, Essex, which could relate.

There was a picture of Florence Froissant on a page of "Stage Gossip" in the Leicester Chronicle of 4 Jul 1925, which carried the following item:

Chef to a King
A passion for Paris is confessed to by Miss Florence Froissant, of the "Chuckles" company. Her father was French, and was chef to King Edward VII, after holding similar high positions in Paris, where Miss Froissant was herself trained originally as a modiste. She had the nasty experience when playing once at the ColiseumPortsmouth, of falling down eight flights of stairs, but just managed to go on and give her act. Florence tells me that among other things she has been pianist to R. G. Knowles.

Her father was certainly French and a cook/chef. Living in Belgravia and dying in Windsor, I already felt sure he must have worked for the Royal Family or closely within their circle. However, Adolphe Froissant couldn't have worked for a king who ascended the throne in 1901, when he'd already died in 1890, but I suppose it possible he did so while Edward was still Prince of Wales. 

There are newspaper reports that confirm Florence worked with R. G. Knowles at least in 1911 and was appearing at the Empire (later Coliseum), Portsmouth in 1912. As to the rest, it's impossible to confirm or deny.

Florence Froissant, using her maiden (and professional) name, appears at theatres around the UK and Ireland through until the end of the 1920s. She appears in comedy, music hall, musical theatre, vaudeville and panto. She was appearing on South Parade PierSouthsea, in "a lavish production in seven scenes" of Cinderella, which opened on Boxing Day 1927 and featured, a snow ballet and the parade of an "electrically illuminated crystal coach drawn by midget ponies". Florence Froissant, who played the Fairy Godmother, according to Keith Prowse featured the song Charmaine (written in 1926 and published in 1927, later made popular by The Bachelors in 1963). 

It hasn't [yet] been possible to discover what happened to her next, but I suppose her death would be registered under Florence Emma Wright, of whom there have been many, so without knowing where and what age she may have been claiming to be, impossible to isolate the relevant record.

Monday, 31 March 2025

Charles Trevail and Mary Fleming

St Margaret, Westminster
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/4749411

Charles Trevail (b. 2 Aug 1851 in Luxulyan, Cornwall), son of Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle, married Mary Fleming (b. 1853), daughter of Henry Fleming and Edith Arding, at St Margaret's, Westminster on 31 Mar 1874. Both listed their address at the time of the marriage as 3 Artillery Terrace. Witnesses were Henry Fleming, bride's father and Dahlia Trevail, groom's sister.

Charles and Mary Trevail had five children:
  1. Charles Frederick Trevail b. 1874 D Qtr in LAMBETH Vol 01D Page 481
  2. Herbert Fleming Trevail b. 1877 M Qtr in LAMBETH Vol 01D Page 503 
  3. Edwin Fleming Trevail b. 1880 J Qtr in LAMBETH Vol 01D Page 486
  4. Lily Mary Trevail b. 11 Apr 1885 J Qtr in LAMBETH Vol 01D Page 426
  5. Daisy Fleming Trevail b. 23 Apr 1893 J Qtr in LAMBETH Vol 01D 439
In 1881, Charles Trevail (29) Engine Fitter, was living at 13, Meadow Terrace, Lambeth (at that time Charles' brother, Joseph, lived at 6, Meadow Terrace) with Mary (26), Charles F (6), Herbert F (4) and Edward (sic) F (0). (On the 1881 census, Mary claimed to be from Barnstaple, Devon, born around 1855. In 1891, London; in 1901, Westminster and 1911, London City. One would normally trust the earliest records, but it transpires her father, Henry Fleming, tailor, was from Barnstaple, while her mother, Edith was from Middlesex, City (i.e. London). On the 1871 census where Mary (17) was living with her parents at Artillery Terrace, St Margaret, Westminster, says she was born in Soho, Middlesex. She was listed in Strand Registration District.)

By 1891, they had moved to Osborne Terrace, Lambeth. With Charles (38) Engine Fitter, were Mary (36) Pattern Maker, Charles F (16), Herbert F (14) Messenger, Edwin F (10) Scholar and Lily M (5).

And in 1901, at 195, South Lambeth Road, Lambeth, we find Charles Trevail (48) Engine Fitter, Mary (46), Edwin (20) Carpenter, Lily (15) and Daisy (7). 

In 1911, Charles Trevail (59) Engineer, Mary (57), Frederick (37) widower (he married Charlotte Ada Land in Camberwell, in 1898), Daisy (17) and Arthur Trevail (11) Grandson, had moved to 10 Elgin Road, Wallington, Surrey.

Former Netherne Hospital administration building, converted to housing in 2002.
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Ian Capper - geograph.org.uk/p/5962277

Mary Trevail died on 28 July 1938, aged 85 (1938 S Quarter in SURREY MID-EASTERN Volume 02A Page 194). The probate record says Mary Trevail of 62 Milton Road, Wallington, Surrey (wife of Charles Trevail) died at Netherne Hospital (formerly The Surrey County Asylum or Netherne Asylum: a psychiatric hospital), Coulsdon, Surrey, leaving effects of £300 to Charles Trevail of no occupation and Lord Harold Graves, builder. (Lord was a given name, not a title - he married Daisy Fleming Trevail in 1917.)

In 1939, Charles Trevail, Refridgerating Engineer Retired, was living with his daughter, Lily M Townsend (she had married William Dring Townsend in Croydon, in 1904) at 23 Dalmeny Road, Sutton, Surrey. 

Charles Trevail died, aged 94, in 1946 M Quarter in SURREY MID-EASTERN Volume 02A Page 255.

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

James Higgs and Ellen Trevail

Whistow Farm
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Phil Williams - geograph.org.uk/p/196552

Ellen Trevail, daughter of Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle, married James Higgs, son of Samuel Nicholas Higgs, farmer, of Whistow Farm, Lanlivery, and Maria Olver (m. 9 Oct 1821 in Morval) at Luxulyan Parish Church, on 22 Jan 1862. Upon their marriage, James Higgs was listed as a Policeman. Witnesses were Joseph Trevail and Samuel Nicholas Higgs.

Records suggest that James and Ellen had at least eight children: 
  1. Maria Jane Higgs b. 1862 J Qtr in TRURO Vol 05C Page 165, bap. 10 Aug 1862 at Luxulyan, died, in 1863, in New Zealand at 13 months.
  2. Kate Higgs b. 12 Jul 1864 in New Zealand
  3. Joseph Higgs b. 1868
  4. James Higgs b. 1871
  5. Dahlia Higgs b. 1873
  6. Ellen Olivia Higgs b. 1876
  7. Emma Jane Higgs b. 1878
  8. William John Higgs b. 1881 (died 30 Mar 1910, aged 28 and is buried at Linwood Cemetery along with his wife, Amelia “Mena” Higgs)
In Dec 1862, James (24), Ellen (22) and their infant daughter, Maria Jane, embarked on that same voyage on the Huntress, as her younger sister, Mary Ann, arriving in Lyttelton, New Zealand on 21 Apr 1863. 

James Higgs died on 17 Apr 1913 and is buried at Linwood Cemetery. In his will, he appointed his sons, Joseph and James, both butchers, as his executors. Ellen Higgs died on 21 Jul 1929, aged 88, and is also buried at Linwood Cemetery, along with her husband and youngest son. The headstone reads, "In Loving Memory of JAMES Beloved Husband of ELLEN HIGGS, Died 17th April 1913, Aged 74 Years. At Rest. Also ELLEN HIGGS Wife of the Above Died 21st July 1929 In Her 89th Year. Loving Mother at Rest."

(Kate Higgs married John Philip Queree on 13 Jul 1882. Kate Higgs Queree died on 1 Jul 1924 and is buried at Bromley Cemetery, Bromley, Christchurch City, Canterbury, New Zealand along with her husband.)

Tuesday, 7 January 2025

John Bawden and Mary Ann Burn Trevail

Luxulyan Church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Rod Allday - geograph.org.uk/p/2708738

John Bawden (bap. 3 Apr 1837 in Lanlivery), son of John Bawden and Elizabeth Giles, married Mary Ann Burn Trevail, daughter of Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle, at Luxulyan Parish Church, on 7 Jan 1861. Mary Ann's sister, Ellen Trevail, was bridesmaid at the wedding. Witnesses were the bride's father, Joseph Trevail and James Higgs, who married Ellen Trevail the following year, who it may be imagined was likely best man.

Of the couple's 10 children, seven sons and two daughters survived: 
  1. Nicholas Bawden b. 1862 M Qtr in BODMIN Vol 05C Page 94, bap. 6 Apr 1862 at Lanlivery, Cornwall (died, at 16 months, in New Zealand)
  2. Mary Jane Bawden b. 1864 in New Zealand
  3. John Bawden b. 1866 in New Zealand
  4. Henry Bawden b. 1868 in New Zealand
  5. Joseph Bawden b. 1869 in New Zealand
  6. Alfred Bowden (sic) b. 1872 in New Zealand
  7. Charles Bowden (sic) b. 1874 in New Zealand
  8. Samuel Nicholas Bowden (sic) b. 1876 in New Zealand
  9. Emma Bawden b. 1878 in New Zealand
  10. William Bowden (sic) b. 1883 in New Zealand
In 1861, newlyweds John (24) and Mary Ann (19) were living in the household of John's parents, at Rosnea Mill, Lanlivery. 

John Bawden Snr died in 1862 and on 10 Dec 1862, John Bawden (25), Mary Ann and their infant son, Nicholas, embarked in London aboard the ship, the Huntress. They arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand on 21 Apr 1863, after what must have been a nightmare journey of 130+ days. Between the tactless and unpopular captain, quarrels and firearms being drawn, much discontent about the way victuals were cooked and a terrible cyclone just south of the equator, when passengers were locked up in their quarters (for their protection, but equally frightening), when, "The ship reared almost perpendicularly bows or stern up or down, also rolling sideways, and all ways, in a most alarming manner", this was certainly no pleasure cruise.

Travelling on the same voyage was Mary Ann's sister, Ellen (22), her husband James Higgs (24) and their infant daughter, Maria Jane. Each couple contributed £17 towards the £26 for the cost of the passage as assisted emigration. £17 in 1862 is worth £2,644 in 2023. A big investment.

On the voyage there were "15 deaths, all children with the exception of one young women aged 17 and a boy belonging to the ship". Nicholas Bawdin (sic), died, aged 16 months, in New Zealand, in 1863. Ellen's daughter, Maria Jane Higgs, also perished at 13 months. The deaths were registered in New Zealand, but they could have been part of those grim statistics.

At the end of their arduous journey, John Bawden undertook heavy manual work digging the Lyttelton Rail Tunnel - the first tunnel in the world to be taken through the side of an extinct volcano - completed 1867 and, in 1921, John was "one of the last survivors of that little band of tunnel workers."

Although the Trevails were farmers, not miners, reading how Cornish Miners were going to New Zealand for new lives and to work on this project when and because the tin mines closed in Cornwall - and one can imagine much local talk and newspaper coverage of that in Cornwall - probably explains where they will have got the idea to make the decision to emigrate.

Mary Ann Burn Trevail Bawden died on 5 Jan 1921, aged 79-80. Sadly, Mary Ann just missed her diamond wedding anniversary by two days, because the marriage certificate shows that they were married on 7th Jan (not 2nd as it says in the article). Mary Ann is buried at Lyttelton Anglican Cemetery

John Bawden died on 14 Aug 1929, aged 91, and is buried with his wife.

The obituary for John Bawden lists eldest daughter as Mrs M Lewis: Mary Jane Bowden (sic) married Isaac Lewis in 1894 and their younger daughter as Mrs E Ballard: Emma Bowden (sic) married Walter Charles Ballard in 1906.

The Lyttelton portal of the Lyttelton Rail Tunnel with construction workers in 1867
Very likely one of the men in this picture was John Bawden.