Sunday, 16 November 2025

John Winnall and Alice Woodin & Elizabeth Woodin

River Thames at Blackwall
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Nigel Cox - geograph.org.uk/p/792054

John Winnall (bap. 31 Mar 1642), son of Augustine Wynnall and Elizabeth Knighte, reputedly married Alice Woodin (bap. 3 May 1640 in Chislehurst, Kent), daughter of Thomas Woodin, but [so far] I've been unable to locate a record of their marriage, which should have been in around 1668.

John and Alice Winnall were, however, the parents of the following children:

  1. Elizabeth Winnall bap. 2 Jun 1669
  2. Mary Winnall bap. 30 Jul 1671
  3. Jo** Winnum (sic) bap. 12 Sep 1672 (Transcribed as Joyce Winnum, however, on the original written document, although the first name isn't easily readable, it says SON of John Winnum of Blackwall, Waterman and Alice. So I definitely don't think it's Joyce, but I do think that Winnum is an error and this is a son of the same John Winnall. John for the first name would be the obvious choice, but it doesn't look like that.)
  4. Alyce Winnall (sic) bap. 6 Mar 1673
  5. Augustine Winnall b. 14 Nov 1678, bap. 16 Nov 1678 (at 2 days old)
  6. Anne Winnall b. 3 Mar 1680, bap. 16 Mar 1680 (at 13 days old)
  7. Rachel Winnall b. ~1680 (Not found original baptism.)

All of the baptisms took place at St Dunstan's, Stepney and most specify son or daughter of John Winnall of Blackwall, Waterman and Alice.

So, not only was John Winnall born the same year as the start of the English Civil War, this places him and Alice in the capital at the time of the Great Fire of London. They also lived through the plague (1665-6). Interesting times.

It is also reputed that Alice Winnall died around 1681 and this looks likely. The absense of a baptism record for Rachel, as well as there being no record of the death of Alice, leads me to believe the two events are probably linked. 

There is then a record of a marriage between John Winnall, Widower and Elizabeth Woodin, at St James Duke's Place, on 16 Nov 1682. "The long-vanished Parish Church of St James’s Duke’s Place is worth remembering for the notoriety it once enjoyed in performing irregular marriages within the City of London." If, as I suspect, John Winnall was marrying his deceased wife's sister, then this is exactly the sort of irregular marriage that Henry VIII's shenanigans probably created the need for this church to perform.

John and Elizabeth Winnall then had a son:

  1. John Winnall son of John Winnall of Blackwall, Waterman & Elizabeth bap. 25 Mar 1689 at St Dunstan's, Stepney

The record of the burial of John Winnall, on 16 Nov 1693 at St Dunstan's, Stepney, also lists him as John Winnall of Blackwall, Waterman at Poplar.

Elizabeth Winnall of Blackwall was buried at St Dunstan's on 18 Jun 1702.

  • William Thomas of Blackwall, Waterman, Bachelor aged 24 years, married Mary Winnall of the same, Spinster, aged 22 years, by and with the consent of her mother, at St Dunstan's, Stepney on 11 Dec 1695. (Why did she need consent at that age? And this must have been her step-mother.)
  • Michael Bernar of Blackwall, Mariner, a Bachelor aged 20 years married Anne Winnall of the same place, Spinster, 'aged 17 years or thereabouts' (clearly, she was 16) at St Dunstan's, Stepney on 27 Dec 1696. Michael, certainly started out life as Michel. Their daughter Elizabeth Bernar was baptised on 8 Oct 1699 at the French Protestant Church of London - The French Church (Threadneedle St) - the record specifically mentions 'French Huguenot', those who, after French King Louis XIV issued the Edict of Fontainebleau (1685), were forced to either convert to Catholicism or flee as refugees. (Samuel Pepys the diarist and naval administrator, who had links to influential members of the congregation, is known to have worshipped at Threadneedle Street with his French wife, Elizabeth de St Michel. [Source])
  • On 13 Dec 1698, Augustine Winnall was admitted into the Freedom of the City of London by Redemption in the Company of Embroiderers, paying forty six shillings and eight pence. (Although few of the privileges remain, all Liverymen are still granted the Freedom of the City of London, which is obtained in one of three ways: by right of servitude (apprenticeship to a freemen), by right of patrimony (son or daughter of a freemen), or by redemption (purchase with the approval of the corporation). Augustine Winnall from King's Arms Yard, was buried at St Sepulchre, Holborn, City of London (St Sepulchre-without-Newgate) on 18 Mar 1706.
  • William Soper of Blackwall in the Parish of Stepney in the County of Middlesex, Shipwright & a Bachelor aged 26 years, married Alice Winnall of the same place, aged 24 years, on 15 Dec 1698 St Dunstan and All Saints. Their son, John Soper was baptised at St Dunstan's on 22 Mar 1701.

(In the records of Thames Watermen & Lightermen 1688-2010, there is a John Winnall, in Blackwall, apprenticed to a Master Winnall, in 1707.)

Thursday, 13 November 2025

Thomas William Colwill and Olivia Trevail

St George's, Hanover Square
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Anthony O'Neil - geograph.org.uk/p/4518508

Thomas William Colwill (b. 1861 in Pimlico), son of Henry Colwill and Mary White, married Olivia Trevail (b. 1854 in Luxulyan), daughter of Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle, at St George, Hanover Square on 13 Nov 1886. Witnesses were Kate Archer and Charles Trevail, the bride's sister and brother.

Thomas and Olivia had two children:
  1. Harry George Colwill b. 29 Oct 1888 D Quarter in ST GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 438, bap. 1889 at St Saviour's, St George's Square, Pimlico. Died in France, in WWI, on 19 Apr 1915.
  2. Elsie Mary Colwill b. 30 Jul 1896 in Dalston, Hackney (1896 S Quarter in SHOREDITCH Volume 01C Page 118)
In 1891, Thomas Colwill (29) Labourer joiner, living at Chichester Street, St George Hanover Square, with wife Olivia Colwill (33), son Harry (2), as well as four boarders: Charles Usher (26), Walter Wilham (35), Constance Wilham (25) and Ernest Aller (24). (Thomas claimed to be from Taunton, Somerset. He wasn't. Following the clues, we discover that Thomas William Colwill, born in Pimlico in 1861, was the son of Henry Colwill, Joiner, and Mary White - who had married in Wells, Somerset, on 24 Dec 1857. Thomas William Colwill was merely baptised at St Thomas, Wells, Somerset, in 1861.)

By 1901, Thomas Collwell (sic) (39) Builder's foreman, living at 24, Back Common Road, Lake Avenue Terrace, Chiswick, with Olivia (36), Harry (12) and Elsie (4), had remembered that he was born in Pimlico.

In 1911, Thomas Colwill (49) Foreman Joiner, Olivia Colwill (53), Harry Colwill (22) Joiner and Elsie Colwill (14), were living at 21 Slowmans Cottages, Ashingdon Road, Rochford, Essex. This census confirms that they had two children during their 24 year marriage, both then still living.

Sapper H G Colwill #24926 Royal Engineers, 2nd Field Coy, died on 19 Apr 1915 and is buried at Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France, Plot: I. C. 47.

In 1921, T W [Thomas William] Colwill (59) Commercial Traveller; Olivia Colwill (63) and Elsie Mary Colwill (24) Clerk at the Ministry of Pensions, were living at 108, Oval Road, Croydon, Surrey.

Thomas William Colwill died, aged 69, in 1930 J Quarter in CROYDON Volume 02A Page 401. Olivia Colwell died, aged 83, in 1937 S Quarter in CROYDON Volume 02A Page 605.

  • Elsie Mary Colwill married Tom Bristow Bates (b. 27 Jan 1894 in Croydon, Surrey) in Croydon in 1922. In 1939 Tom B Bates, Elsie M Bates and Clifford H Bates (Clifford Harry Frank Bates b. 1924 D Quarter in CROYDON Volume 02A Page 439 (died 2001) and one other person were living at 27 Abbey Road, Croydon, Surrey. Elsie Mary Bates died on 27 May 1946 (1946 J Quarter in CROYDON Volume 02A Page 762). Tom B Bates remarried to Beatrice A D Hayes in Croydon, in 1951 and died in 1969.

Charles Penfold and Mary Anna Tucker

View of St. Luke's and Christ Church Chelsea from Flood Street
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Robert Lamb - geograph.org.uk/p/4810123

Charles Penfold (b. 31 Oct 1865 in Hartfield, Sussex), son of William Penfold and Mary Ann Charlotte Gunn, married Mary Anna Tucker (bap. 29 Nov 1857 in Burlescombe, Devon), daughter of Robert Allen Tucker and Mary Linton, at Christ Church, Chelsea on 13 Nov 1886. Witnesses were John R Penfold, bridegroom's brother, Rosalie Jane Burnell and one other.

Charles and Mary Anna Penfold had seven children:
  1. Thomas Edwin Penfold b. 1887 D Qtr in CHELSEA Vol 01A 327
  2. Rosalie Mary Penfold b. 24 Aug 1889 in CHELSEA Volume 01A 317
  3. Mary Anna Penfold b. 1892 M Qtr in EAST GRINSTEAD Vol 02B 136 (Died at 23 in 1915 M Quarter in FULHAM Volume 01A Page 604)
  4. Josephine Grace Penfold b. 15 Sep 1893 in CUCKFIELD Vol 02B 159
  5. Minnie Gunn Penfold b. 1895 J Qtr in CUCKFIELD Vol 02B Page 157 (Died in 1896 J Quarter in LAMBETH Volume 01D Page 272)
  6. Charles Edward Powell Penfold b. 4 Sep 1897 in FULHAM Vol 01A 260
  7. William Robert Penfold b. 1899 D Qtr in FULHAM Vol 01A 322
In 1891, Charles Penfold (25) Bootmaker and Mary A Penfold (31ish) were living in Glenvue Road, East Grinstead, Sussex with their first two children, Thomas E Penfold (3) and Rosalie M Penfold (1).

In 1901, at 48, Hugon Road, Fulham, London: Charles R Penfold (35) Civil servant postman bootmaker, Mary A Penfold (41), Thomas E (13), Rosalie M (11), Mary A (9), Josephine G (7), Charles E P (3) and William R (1).

And in 1911, at 68 Perrymead Street, Fulham, London, were Charles Penfold (45) Civil service Post Office Worker, Mary Anna Penfold (51), Thomas Edwin (23) Civil service Post Office Worker; Rosalie Mary (21) Elementary teacher for Surrey County Council; Mary Anna (19) Bodice assistant Dressmaking; Josephine Grace (17), Charles Edwin Powell (13) and William Robert (11).

Mary Anna Penfold died, aged 23, in Fulham, in the first quarter of 1915. Also in the first quarter of 1915, Josephine Grace Penfold married Douglas Gordon Reich (right, presumably with Josephine), who served in the Middlesex Regiment, Royal Engineers during the First World War, also in Fulham. And on 26 Apr 1915, Charles Edward Powell Penfold (19) enlisted in the County of London Yeomanry. (I'm certain both Thomas Edwin Penfold and William Robert Penfold also served in the First World War, however, I've not been able to isolate relevant records.)

Charles Penfold died, at 51, in 1917 S Quarter in WANDSWORTH Volume 01D 536.

In 1921, Mary A Penfold (62) was living at 12, Penrith Street, Streatham, Wandsworth in the household of daughter Rosalie M Penfold (31) School Teacher. Also living with them was William R Penfold (21) Meteorologist working for the Metrological Office, Air Ministry; and Visitors were Douglas G Reich (28) School Teacher from Dublin, Ireland; Josephine Reich (27), Irene Mary Reich (6) and Josephine Grace Reich (under one month).

Mary Penfold died, at 71, in 1930 S Qtr in BATTERSEA Vol 01D Page 393.

In 1939, Rosalie Mary Penfold, Head Mistress, was at 38, Hillside, Banstead, Surrey with her brother-in-law, Douglas G Reich, School master, sister, Josephine G Reich and their children. Rosalie died, aged 68, in 1957, in St Austell, Cornwall; Douglas Reich of Glamis, Fore Street, Bugle, Cornwall, died on 23 Oct 1970. Josephine Grace Reich died in 1977 at St Lawrence's Hospital, Bodmin, a mental hospital, originally Cornwall County Asylum.

Charles Edward Powell Penfold (known as Edward Penfold) had died, on 5 Oct 1970, in Perth, Western Australia.

Wednesday, 12 November 2025

James Ridgeway and Thomasin Rookley


Bradninch: Devon Valley Mill
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Martin Bodman - geograph.org.uk/p/71623
Also known as Hele Mill; there has been a paper mill here since at least 1765. These buildings date from the 20th century. The brick building carries a datestone of 1912. In previous centuries several other paper mills relied on the water power of the river Culm, seen here flowing under a bridge that may have once carried a siding into the works from the nearby railway.

James Ridgeway (bap. 25 Oct 1835 in Ashbrittle), son of James Ridgeway and Mary Ann Lock, married Thomasin Rookley (bap. 28 Feb 1841), daughter of John Rookley and Mary Ayres, on 12 Nov 1859, at St. Mary’s, Kentisbeare.

The only child of this marriage was:
  1. James Ridgway b. 1866 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 430, bap. 25 Dec 1866 at St. Mary’s Church, Kentisbeare. He died, aged 6 months in 1867 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 287 and was buried, also in Kentisbeare churchyard, on 5 May 1867.
In 1861, James Ridgeway (25), Thomasin Ridgeway (20) and Samuel Rookley (4) Nephew, were living at Kentismoor [Farm], Kentisbeare.

In 1871, James Ridgway (37), Thomasin Ridgeway (28), still living at the 'Moor' [Kentismoor Farm]. Thomasin's father, John Rookley (78) still employed as a Farm Labourer, was living with them. (John Rookely died shortly afterwards, aged 78, and was buried on 14 May 1871.)

By 1881, James Ridgeway (45) and Thomasin Ridgeway (35), had moved to Rhode [Farm], Bradninch. Two nephews were staying with them as visitors, Walter Hartley (8) from Portsmouth and John Hartley (7) from Wales (actually Newcastle, Northumberland), sons of Thomasin's sister Anna

In 1891, James Ridgway (50) Farm Labourer and Thomasin Ridgeway (45) now working at the paper mill, were living in Hele, Bradninch.

In 1901, at Lower Hele, Bradninch, were James Ridgeway (68) Agricultural Labourer and Tamsin (sic) Ridgeway (60) Rag cutter in a paper mill.

In 1911, still at Lower Hele, where James Ridgway (77) and Tomassie (sic) Ridgeway (70) were both described as "Old Age Pensioner". Mary James (67) Widow of No occupation from Plymtree, was a visitor staying with them. (The "Old Age Pension" was introduced in 1909 in the United Kingdom (which then included all of Ireland). Following the passage of the Old-Age Pensions Act 1908 a pension of 5 shillings per week (25p, equivalent, using the Consumer Price Index, to £26 in present-day terms), or 7s.6d per week (equivalent to £39/week today) for a married couple, was payable to persons with an income below £21 per annum (equivalent to £2200 today), The qualifying age was 70, and the pensions were subject to a means test.)

James Ridgeway died, aged 78 in 1913 J Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B 492.

Thomasin Ridgeway died at 76 in 1918 J Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B 503.

Jacob White and Rose Bunkall

St. Nicholas Church, Dereham

Jacob White and Rose Bunkall, married on 12 Nov 1805 at St. Nicholas ChurchDereham. Jacob, the son of Jacob White and Elizabeth Thompson, was baptised at All Saints ChurchShipdham, on 23 Jul 1770 (where his parents had married just two months earlier on 19 May 1770). Rose, the daughter of William and Margaret Bunkall, was born in December 1766 and baptised at St. Nicholas Church, Dereham on 1 Feb 1767. Jacob and Rose married late and were already 35 and 38, respectively, at the time of their marriage, but are described as a single man and a single woman. 

The lateness probably accounts for why they had only one child: 
  1. William White, bap. 20 Jul 1806 at St MargaretGarvestone
Rose White died, her age estimated at 62, and was buried on 6 Jul 1827, at All Saints, Mattishall. (Mattishall is where son William then lived.)

In 1841, Jacob White (70) was living South GreenMattishall

Jacob White died, his age also over-estimated by two years to 76, in 1844 M Quarter in MITFORD AND LAUNDITCH Volume 13 Page 181.