Ann Glasson bptzd 28 jan 1811 Towednack

[sue]

I have been typing up my info on the children of my GGGGparents John Glasson & Elizabeth Trewhella, for whom I have 10 children. I am ok on all but Ann Glasson bptzd in Towednack 28 January 1811 d of John & Elizabeth Glasson. She fits in the gap between the Lelant baptisms of their 2nd Elizabeth in 1808 & Christian in 1814.

I am ok with the other 9 children; it is just this one that eludes me, as I have been unable to find either a burial or marriage in lelant or Towednack records, or on online OPC, or a census entry for her. Any help appreciated.

Sue

[Cornish Terrier]

Sue - I have had a hunt around over the last hour or so and up to this point have find neither hide nor hair of Ann.

Not sure where to look next but I will think more on it.

After all she was a first-cousin to my 3xgt-grandfather.

CT

[Cornish Terrier]

Sue - some ferretting about by Newlyn while I was watching The Wicker Man 'might' possibly have helped solve this mystery.

The question was raised about an Ann Glasson who married a Quick in Devon in 1835 so I took a look at it and a couple of old Quick memories were revived.

The marriage in question (from IGI):-

James Quick married Ann Glasson 2nd June 1835 Stoke Damerel, Devon

For the record - IGI shows only 26 events in Devon for the Glasson name but remember that Devon records are very sparse.

A History of the problem that the query brought to mind.

When working on the Quick family I came across a James Quick in the 1851 Census who had been born at St Ives.

1851 Census
District Union Workhouse
Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire

James QUICK, Master, married, 40, master of the Workhouse, Cornwall, St Ives
Ann do., Master's wife, married, 40, matron of the Workhouse, Cornwall, Lelant
Anne do., daughter, 7, Cornwall, St Clement

I was never able to find a marriage for this couple and could find no Ann at Lelant or St Ives who could possibly have been the wife of James Quick.

However the fact that all Ann Glasson's siblings were born and baptised at Lelant is suggestive and although Ann was baptised at Towednack she may also have been born at Lelant.

I cannot be certain at the moment but this may possibly be the James Quick, shoe maker, and wife Ann living at Quay Lane in Lelant in the 1841 Census.

Ancestry shows James age 30 and Ann age 34 but I think Ann is also age 30.

Looking at the image and the second digit is more like an incomplete zero rather than a clear four like others on the same page.

I have not been able to find any of this family beyond 1851.

I cannot guarantee that the marriage is the right one - at least without seeing the original entry.

However there is a certain amount of circumstantial evidence building here to suggest that our missing Ann Glasson was the matron of the Bassingbourn Workhouse and wife of James Quick of St Ives.

I will be interested in your thoughts on this as well as those of Lannanta.

CT

[Deleted]

Ancestry shows James age 30 and Ann age 34 but I think Ann is also age 30.

I agree with the suggestion that the figure is 30 and so her being 40 in 1851 makes sense. I also agree that she could easily be the Ann Glasson you suggest but I would want to see the marriage entry because both partners are away from home and that is unusual.

Lannanta

[Cornish Terrier]

Sue and Lannanta - I now have a contact involved with the Devon OPC project so will try to make contact and see if a lookup can be done.

I will also request any further information that might possibly link to the couple of the 1835 marriage.

CT

[sue]

Excellent. This line of enquiry sounds tempting.

Thanks.

Ann's brother Jakeh married a Phillipa Quick, d of Thomas Quick cordwainer of St Ives, but Phillipa's only brother was Thomas, a mariner who stayed single, and said Thomas Quick jnr can be found with Jakeh & Phillipa's daughter's family, the Chards, in later censuses - which we discussed on a thread back in autumn 2009.

Sue

[Cornish Terrier]

I have heard back from the new OPC for St Clement but unfortunately it appears the entry we want is not recorded in that Parish.

I don't expect to hear from the Devon OPC until Easter is over but will let you know any results.

CT

[sue]

Ah well.

I guess the Devon marriage would potentially hold the most information, if it survives.

Am I remembering rightly that Stoke Damerel was a parish where many apparent mariners got married, for whom it was not really a home parish? Not perhaps as extreme as Gretna Green for taking all and sundry, but just a thought...

I couldn't resist having a wee look around the Bassingbourn Cambs/Herts area in Directories for this Quick pair. All I have found is that they were there the year before in 1850 (hardly surprising)
"Slaters 1850 Directory has for Royston (includes Bassingbourn)
"POOR LAW UNION.

WoHKHOUSE, Baldock road.

Governor — James Quick.

.l/advin — Ann Quick. "

I'm given to understand that there are somewhere in County or National archives details of the persons i.e. masters/matrons of workhouses, their commencement and termination of employment, but this isn't something I've ever explored before.

Back to studying more familiar territory of mining Curnows for now perhaps.....

Sue

[newlyn]

www.workhouses.org/

This is quite a good site for general workhouse info.

[sue]

Thanks.

Wee email now composed ready to despatch to Herts Archive Centre to see if they have relevant records - subject to CT's Devon enquiry not putting the kibosh on your fine find of this couple.

Sue

[Cornish Terrier]

Sue - if that email is ready to go then I would think it a good idea just to send it.

I am not sure when I might hear back from the Devon OPC but the Quick side of this needs to be cleared up anyway.

So long as it is not going to cost you then anything that can be found to help solve the mystery will be welcomed.

CT

[sue]

Email sent 1512 hours UK British Summer Time... (purportedly)

Sue

[Cornish Terrier]

Thanks Sue - with any luck we will get positive responses from both sources and, hopefully, be able to put to little problems to rest.

CT

[sue]

Reply received from Hertfordshire Archive Centre - nothing positive I'm afraid.
"A check has been made in our Board of Guardians catalogue for the Royston Union workhouse. No records were found relating to the Master and Matron or to staff employment.

For the time period that you require we hold the following which might be of use to you:

* Ref. BG/ROY 1-28 Minutes of the Board, 1835 to 1939. Held on microfilm
* Ref. BG/ROY/29 Clerk of the Board - letter book, 1 volume, 1835-1851

It is possible that the Minutes of the Board will mention James and Ann Quick, being the Master and Matron, but personal details are unlikely to be found. The minutes are not indexed so it could be a slow search forwards or backwards from 1851. The Clerk of the Board letter book is not indexed but might be worth checking for any information it could yield."

My understanding is that any records for Bassingbourn are within those of the Royston Union.

I may take a trip down there on a rainy day, as it is not so far distant from me, if I can think what else might be held there - burial records perhaps, although not obviously listed on their website.

Sue

[Cornish Terrier]

Thanks for the update Sue.

Unfortunately not helpful but at least it is an avenue that has been explored.

The 'rainy day' excercise is a good idea and you may at least pick up some mention of them but how helpful that would be is anyone's guess.

Still - a stone left unturned .........................

I decided to have a quick look at FreeBMD to see if there might be any clues.

Cambridgeshire comes under Volume 3b - here are the results for Deaths:-

December Qtr 1858
Volume 3b Page 226
Reg. Dist. - Leighton B
Ann QUICK

That is the only entry that may be in Cambridgeshire from the looks of it.

No guarantee that it is 'our' Ann but it must be considered possible given 1851 is the last we have been able to locate them.

At least this might give you something else to look at on that 'rainy day'.

CT