Olive Dale to George Beardmore, 31 July 1967

92 Hassam Parade, Newcastle, Staffs. 31st July, 1967.

Dear Cousin George,

It is an odd thing, but I have always felt a relationship does exist between us, although I cannot find where it occurs for several hundreds of years. I feel this more with regard to you than I do with most of my actual cousins, only one of which I correspond with, in this country, at any rate. She lived for many years at the beautiful old farmhouse called “The Black and White House”, but which was originally Old Consall Hall, but has recently had a bungalow built on some land a little distance away, and sold the farm. She has only one son and he also has a bungalow. I write to several relatives in Australia, and recently helped to trace the ancestry of a distant relative in Newcastle, N.S.W. right back clearly to 1529. She was very lucky, as very many of them left wills which was a great help. Sometimes the very ones you need have not been bothered about, or have been lost. You will see I have had to make such entries in the enclosed sheets.

Your naughty postcard of an ancestor amused me very much, but I sincerely hope ours had not such protruding chins or misshapen legs. I note it was made in Easter Island, of course, which explains the “design.”

Now, as you may imagine – I tried several years ago to trace out your ancestry, but got stuck with the baptismal entry of the William born 1759, buried at Audley 1824, aged 65. I tried to link up the three lines of Jeremiah (architect), John (brassfounder) and uncle George (my family) which they had made a start with in 1905. I got things clear regarding Jeremiah and John, presuming William 1759 to be the son of Robert 1719, brother of Jeremiah 1715, which Jere. (arch.) had put down guessing as 1705 to 1755, but poor man, the first Jeremiah only lived to be 40, whereas his son aged 7 when his father died, lived for another 80 years. Anyway, I have let Miss Hope Beardmore, of Longton, niece of Jeremiah (arch.) have the pedigree of her section, which is quite clear back to Thomas 1568. John (brassfndr.) thought William was the son of Robert 1714 as he put it, but he was really born 1719. I have been disappointed this week. The County Archivist (Frank, my husband, is the Chairman of the County Records Committee – and many other things) called at our house the other day, whilst our car was laid up through being knocked in the back by a man when Frank had to brake rather suddenly to avoid a darned dog, and said he was trying to get the Alton registers. He is trying to prevail on parsons to deposit the registers and other parish papers at the County Record Office where they will be cared for properly in the correct atmosphere and conditions instead of being allowed to get mouldy in the churches, as so often happens. However, unfortunately, Alton are just now in the position of being without a Vicar as they are having to build a new Vicarage, so he could not get them yet. When Frank and I went to see them some years ago, the Vicar was residing in a marvellous old stone house, but of difficult convenience, no doubt. This is just what happened at Kingsley. They were without a Rector for a long time, but luckily, the then Verger had been in the employ of my father for some years when we lived there, so he let me see the registers whenever I liked. Of course, I always tipped him, and when the new Rector came I paid contributions to him.

As it is some years since I “did” the Beardmores, and have been employed full time day and evening teaching until two years ago, I do not now know where the Beardmore wills are, but I have managed to make a good stab at getting out the enclosed sheets for you. If only we had William’s [handwritten: 1759] baptism it would be splendid, and I will write as soon as possible to Draycott to see if the marriage took place there and whether the entry gives parents or not. After Lord Hardwicke’s Marriage Act 1754, much more information had to be given, but not always of use. (This Act was to prevent poor silly heiress girls being rushed off to Gretna Green by fortune-hunters.)

With regard to “The Side”, this was a farm where the Beardmores resided, Jeremiah’s ancestors in particular, and was probably in Kingsley parish (which was a big one) although maybe actually in or near say Whiston, Cotton, Alton, etc. All this area was under Kingsley until two divisions took place. You will note that one or two of the Jeremiahs resided at Kingsley or at least are entered in Kingsley register.

For myself, amongst my ancestral line comes common ancestry with two Lord Chancellors, including the Earl of Macclesfield and the present Lord Dilhorne. One dau. marr. the first Earl of Harewood, and quite a lot of Baronets, Earls, etc. occur along the lines. My father’s third or fourth cousin, Frederick Adolphus Fynney, of Manchester (late of Cheddleton) left over £350,000, died at the age of 75, was a bachelor when 75, so his wife came in for a nice little lot; my poor father would have been “passing rich” if he had had one or two thousands which could have been spared. Fredk. was a Railway Company director when times were good. However, I have traced the definite descent from 1500 or so without finding any clear relationship to either Jeremiah or John, unfortunately, but they must be related somewhere, or why did they come from the same area and bear the same name? I will try again when time permits, but get so many enquiries from America, Canada, Australia, etc., (they send me a few nice little dollars at times, too!) that I am kept very occupied, to say nothing of the fact that I am a member of the Staffs. Education Committee, and have many committees to attend; I am also still teaching at Evening School, and my husband is a Cricket TV addict, and if not cricket, it is tennis at Wimbledon, or football, or wrestling, or something, and this prevents my typing as much as I can even when at home. However, we have to give and take, as they say, and manage to keep busy, and try to rest when we can. I like Frank to get a little amusement as he works very hard as an Alderman on the County Council and an Alderman on the Borough Council; the past fifteen years have been very hard-working, no pay, of course, and sometimes little gratitude.

Well, look through the enclosed and see what you think about it. The first Beardmore in the vicinity was Richard de Berdmore 1290, and his three sons; first wife’s son Richard (she was Matilda), and second wife [handwritten: Philippa]’s two sons, Robert and William. I think the Alton and Cotton set descend from the Robert; the Froghall ones from Richard the eldest and William became a parson, leaving money to St. Mary’s at Leek in 1340–1360.

Must close now for a little rest, then get the ruling done on the pedigrees which takes quite some time, as you may imagine, otherwise you will wonder what it is all about.

Best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Olive