This Blog is intended to gather information about the Swain, Tarr, Simmons, Costello, and other related families, in the hope to reunite family members and build a Family Tree.
We hope anyone trying to research mutual ancestors will be able to share information with us. The surnames included are: Tarr (of Nottinghamshire, UK); Swain (of Sussex, UK and Surrey, UK); Simmons (of London, UK; Surrey, UK; and Dorset, UK); Trevett (of Dorset, UK); and Costello (of Surrey, UK).
Thursday, 1 January 2015
Saturday, 25 June 2011
Digley Gillam Simmons
Has anyone heard of Digley Gillam Simmons?
The only record I've found for him is his death: July 1859, Camberwell.
The name and location seem too much of a coincidence for him not to be related somehow, but I can't figure out how.
All thoughts welcome!
beckysimmons_499@hotmail.com
The only record I've found for him is his death: July 1859, Camberwell.
The name and location seem too much of a coincidence for him not to be related somehow, but I can't figure out how.
All thoughts welcome!
beckysimmons_499@hotmail.com
Saturday, 28 May 2011
William Gilliam Simmons
Recently I've tried searching the internet for anyone researching William Gilliam Simmons/William Gillam Simmons/Gilliam Simmons/Gillam Simmons, with no succes. So I figured I should mention it on here in the hope that someone else looking for information might be able to find my post and that together we might crack that branch of the family.
So yeah, email me if you too are stuck, or if you have any information that might help me please!
beckysimmons_499@hotmail.com
So yeah, email me if you too are stuck, or if you have any information that might help me please!
beckysimmons_499@hotmail.com
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Harry Walter Swain
Harry Walter Swain, born 11th November 1904, died 7th September 1943, East Anglia Sanatorium, Nayland. Or Camberwell??
Harry was affectionately described by his family as ‘the weak one’ – in terms of health anyway. In terms of love and faith though, he was definitely the strong one.
As a child, Harry always wanted to become a Minister in the church, something his father was sceptical about! He frequently suffered from chest problems, which would ultimately take his life. As a boy he most likely shared a bedroom with his brother Vic, who was two years younger than him. Despite their proximity in age, the brothers couldn’t have been more different. Vic was loud and out-going, whilst Harry was quiet, retiring, soft. Harry worked at Carter’s Seed Factory for most of his life, and later as a supervisor in an Iron Foundry according to his death certificate.
He married Annie-Louisa Moorshead, known as Louie, in 1927 and they had a daughter, Sheila Victoria, in 1929. Louie was a vibrant, popular woman: she loved going out to dances with friends, whilst Harry preferred to stay at home in New Malden with Sheila. Louie was a very kind woman, but obviously the differences between the couple became irreconcilable and they eventually parted. Louie was lucky to find love again with George Lemon, with whom she had another daughter, Gina (Georgina) – a half-sister for Sheila, though much younger than her. As a young girl, Sheila chose to live with her father following the divorce. However, the law was that a teenage girl could not live solely with her father, and so she went to live with her mother and step-father.
In 1941 Harry developed tuberculosis and was treated in East Anglia Sanatorium, but unfortunately he died in September of that year. Sheila remembers writing to her father in the sanatorium, at Nayland, while he was in there. His exact dying place is unknown: death records suggest it was Camberwell, his death certificate says Lambeth, and family believe it was Nayland. He is buried … ??
Harry was affectionately described by his family as ‘the weak one’ – in terms of health anyway. In terms of love and faith though, he was definitely the strong one.
As a child, Harry always wanted to become a Minister in the church, something his father was sceptical about! He frequently suffered from chest problems, which would ultimately take his life. As a boy he most likely shared a bedroom with his brother Vic, who was two years younger than him. Despite their proximity in age, the brothers couldn’t have been more different. Vic was loud and out-going, whilst Harry was quiet, retiring, soft. Harry worked at Carter’s Seed Factory for most of his life, and later as a supervisor in an Iron Foundry according to his death certificate.
He married Annie-Louisa Moorshead, known as Louie, in 1927 and they had a daughter, Sheila Victoria, in 1929. Louie was a vibrant, popular woman: she loved going out to dances with friends, whilst Harry preferred to stay at home in New Malden with Sheila. Louie was a very kind woman, but obviously the differences between the couple became irreconcilable and they eventually parted. Louie was lucky to find love again with George Lemon, with whom she had another daughter, Gina (Georgina) – a half-sister for Sheila, though much younger than her. As a young girl, Sheila chose to live with her father following the divorce. However, the law was that a teenage girl could not live solely with her father, and so she went to live with her mother and step-father.
In 1941 Harry developed tuberculosis and was treated in East Anglia Sanatorium, but unfortunately he died in September of that year. Sheila remembers writing to her father in the sanatorium, at Nayland, while he was in there. His exact dying place is unknown: death records suggest it was Camberwell, his death certificate says Lambeth, and family believe it was Nayland. He is buried … ??
Sarah Ann Tarr (Swain)
Sarah Ann Tarr, born 1872, Fordington, Dorset. Lived in Eakring, Nottinghamshire. Died 1951, Kingston, Surrey.
Sarah Ann Tarr was the daughter of James Tarr and Jane Trevett. Born in the small village of Fordington, Stinsford, Dorchester, Dorset, she couldn’t not be a country girl at heart. She was raised far from this though, in the town of Eakring, Nottinghamshire, and because of this she spoke with a broad Northern accent. Why her parents moved the long distance from Dorchester to Eakring is unknown, but they worked as agricultural labourers, so this may have been part of the job.
Sarah Ann was one of four children: Frederick, Lily, Clara and herself. She remained close to Clara, who stayed in Eakring, and Lily, who married William Thompsett and moved to Hastings. There she had five children with him. Lily was known as ‘Other Nanna’ to Sarah Ann’s grandchildren Carole and Martyn. Nothing is known about Fred though.
As a girl, she worked on a farm in Fordingham, near where she was born. Later on she could be found working as a servant, with her sister Clara, for the Greenfield family at 38 North Laiths, Rufford, NOTTS. During this time Clara fell pregnant out of wedlock and had a daughter, Lilian, in 1898.
Sarah Ann moved to Surbiton after she met and married George Swain in Sussex. In Tolworth, they rented the top half of 48 Douglas Road and raised a wonderful family. Sarah Ann had a tough life, and could certainly be described as long-suffering! She lost a son in infancy, another when he was 23 whom she was never able to bury, and another to tuberculosis shortly before his 40th birthday. Despite this, and many other troubles, Sarah Ann never ever grumbled. She had very strong principles and insisted her children always told the truth, no matter if it hurt them, and to never speak badly of others.
Whilst living in the Douglas Road house, there was a gar stove. One day, when she went to light it, some gas had become trapped, which resulted in a large fire ball when Sarah Ann lit it. Fortunately it was only her eyebrows she lost!
Phyllis, her daughter, remembers Sarah Ann didn’t like going out much, never wanted to attend family weddings or funerals, and in later life this got worse. The Swains could never be described as a close family.
Phyllis, recalls once when her mother was taken ill with influenza and a nurse visited the house and remarked: “what beautiful feet you’ve got!”
She worked for her landlady, Mrs. Pollard, as a servant, doing domestic duties like laundry, cleaning and ironing.
In 1941 she was awoken one night by the sound of enemy aircraft overhead. She left her bedroom and was on the landing when a bomb hit the side of the house, which she had just left, with her husband in it. She was left standing on the landing looking down at the devastation. George died 11 days later from his injuries and the house was then demolished. Following this, at the age of 61, Sarah Ann went to live with her newly-wed daughter Phyllis and son-in-law Leonard Simmons in Kingston, until 1951 when she died. Here she was fortunate to be able to see her two Grandchildren, Carole (born 1943) and Martyn (born 1947) grow up. She was buried alongside her husband in Surbiton Cemetery.
Sarah Ann Tarr was the daughter of James Tarr and Jane Trevett. Born in the small village of Fordington, Stinsford, Dorchester, Dorset, she couldn’t not be a country girl at heart. She was raised far from this though, in the town of Eakring, Nottinghamshire, and because of this she spoke with a broad Northern accent. Why her parents moved the long distance from Dorchester to Eakring is unknown, but they worked as agricultural labourers, so this may have been part of the job.
Sarah Ann was one of four children: Frederick, Lily, Clara and herself. She remained close to Clara, who stayed in Eakring, and Lily, who married William Thompsett and moved to Hastings. There she had five children with him. Lily was known as ‘Other Nanna’ to Sarah Ann’s grandchildren Carole and Martyn. Nothing is known about Fred though.
As a girl, she worked on a farm in Fordingham, near where she was born. Later on she could be found working as a servant, with her sister Clara, for the Greenfield family at 38 North Laiths, Rufford, NOTTS. During this time Clara fell pregnant out of wedlock and had a daughter, Lilian, in 1898.
Sarah Ann moved to Surbiton after she met and married George Swain in Sussex. In Tolworth, they rented the top half of 48 Douglas Road and raised a wonderful family. Sarah Ann had a tough life, and could certainly be described as long-suffering! She lost a son in infancy, another when he was 23 whom she was never able to bury, and another to tuberculosis shortly before his 40th birthday. Despite this, and many other troubles, Sarah Ann never ever grumbled. She had very strong principles and insisted her children always told the truth, no matter if it hurt them, and to never speak badly of others.
Whilst living in the Douglas Road house, there was a gar stove. One day, when she went to light it, some gas had become trapped, which resulted in a large fire ball when Sarah Ann lit it. Fortunately it was only her eyebrows she lost!
Phyllis, her daughter, remembers Sarah Ann didn’t like going out much, never wanted to attend family weddings or funerals, and in later life this got worse. The Swains could never be described as a close family.
Phyllis, recalls once when her mother was taken ill with influenza and a nurse visited the house and remarked: “what beautiful feet you’ve got!”
She worked for her landlady, Mrs. Pollard, as a servant, doing domestic duties like laundry, cleaning and ironing.
In 1941 she was awoken one night by the sound of enemy aircraft overhead. She left her bedroom and was on the landing when a bomb hit the side of the house, which she had just left, with her husband in it. She was left standing on the landing looking down at the devastation. George died 11 days later from his injuries and the house was then demolished. Following this, at the age of 61, Sarah Ann went to live with her newly-wed daughter Phyllis and son-in-law Leonard Simmons in Kingston, until 1951 when she died. Here she was fortunate to be able to see her two Grandchildren, Carole (born 1943) and Martyn (born 1947) grow up. She was buried alongside her husband in Surbiton Cemetery.
The Swain family home, Tolworth, Surbiton, Surrey.
This was the Swain family home. The house, split into two families, was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Pollard, who lived with their three sons: Peter, Frank and Basil. Next to the house was Tolworth Boys’ Infants’ School. (still there today). The Pollards inhabited the bottom floor, whilst the Swains lived upstairs. There were three bedrooms upstairs: in the first slept Sarah-Ann and George, along with Phyllis until she was 14. She had a single bed at one end of the room, whilst her parents had a double bed at the other. There were two windows with a small wooden chair under each. In the second room Peter Pollard, the son of the landlords, lived. And in the final room Victor and Harry Swain lived until 1929, when Vic was fighting in
There was also a living room upstairs with a kitchen coming off the side down 5 steps. In here there was a sink area and gas stove. This stove once had gas trapped in it, and when Sarah Ann lit it, a large flame shot at her. Fortunately she got away with only singed eyebrows. Behind the stove was the bathroom and lavatory.
The house was bombed on 28th July 1941. During the night, Sarah Ann got out of bed and was in the landing when the side of the house was hit, and George, already unwell, was badly wounded. He was taken to
In the house, Phyllis remembers there being a small plaque on the wall, made by George, commemorating his fourth son Rowland Jack Swain, who was born 1910 and died 1911 aged one. This was lost with the house sadly.
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