General Chat

I have a family bible at home which belonged to a TOWNSEND family. I have tried in the past to to find the descendants but without any success. Now, I really do need the space so I will try again. If anyone recognises any of the names please, please get in touch with me because I shall hate having to throw it in the recycle bin.

The inscription on the inside of the hard cover is: " George Townsend Junr. a present from his father on his 21st Birthday December 6th 1867 "

George jnr. is the first written name inside the bible followed by Laura Fyson, George Frederick, Laura Mabel, Evelyn Augusta, Edith Clarissa, Minnie Rosa and finally Victor on Dec 23 1880.

Laura Fyson 1870-1908 was George jnr's. wife and born BLAND. There is a newspaper cutting with details of their marriage day.

Other surnames married into the family are HAUGH, ENACH, BAILEY, WALKER.

They all appear to be from the village of Fordham. I have looked it up on the road map and sadly there are three, but all in East Anglia - Norfolk, Cambs and Essex. I live in Norwich and found the bible in a job lot at an auction so of course favour either the Norfolk or Cambs (nr Newmarket) Fordham as the most likely.

Where would you suggest I could post a similar message?

Thanks for your time
Jo

e-bay possibly

Throw it on tips for good measure, someone may be able to track it down from there.

Maybe you could try e-mailing the local papers in tht area..................if you google you should find them.

Failing that......................please don't throw it away.

I will be happy to pay the postage for you to send it to me and I will do my very best to trace any descendants for you.

xx

1891 England Census
about George Townsend
Name: George Townsend
Age: 45
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1846
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Laura
Gender: Male
Where born: Fordham, Canada

Civil Parish: Fordham
Ecclesiastical parish: Fordham
Town: Fordham
County/Island: Cambridgeshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View Image

Registration district: Newmarket
Sub registration district: Soham
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Mary A Nelms 17
Kate Reid 20
E A Townsend 16
E C Townsend 14
George Townsend 45
George F Townsend 19
Laura Townsend 44
Laura M Townsend 18
M R Townsend 12

Thanks for all your suggestions. I have now added it to Tips Board. E-Bay would be last call as I don't want anything for it, or do they have a free section?

Kitty, if I have no success this time I could try to copy or photo the relevant pages and send them on to you, rather than posting the actual bible. Thanks for the offer.
Jo

Agree with Kitty, please do not throw out this lovely old book. They usually have lovely coloured prints. If all else fails take it to the local auction house but not a recycle unit.

Tina x

If you use the quick search boxes at the top of the screen for Laura Townsend you will find that someone called "Anne" has these people in her tree

Errr when I said throw it on tips, I meant put a thread on the tips board too LOL

*cringes at previous post*

Claire,
That's fantastic. Now I know it was the Cambs. village, but where do I go from here?

Jo

Send the details to the Church at Soham to see if they have a Parish magazine, and you could ask for info on those people and say you have something they might be interested in.
Good luck
Lizxx

The choice is either contact Anne or trying & track these people down through the census & the BMD.

Contact the person who has the Townsends in their tree,
Ros xx

CLAIRE

YOU KNOW NOW YOUR HOOKED
UP TO A FEW MONTHS AGO I WAS BUYING AND
FINDING FAMILY BUT NO ONE KNEW

YOU TAKE OVER WITHOUT KNOWING

*phew* I am so glad you did not mean the tip. lol

Tina xx

Gwen I can't resist a challenge but I'm not as experienced as most of you.

Hi
I've just sent a message to Anne. I do hope she gets in touch because it does look as if she is looking for this Townsend family. I will be very pleased to see the bible go to a new home.

Sadly Tina, it is quite plain without colour plates but it is the names and dates which I thought would be precious to someone.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and encouragement.

Jo.

Is there a Cambridge family history society? I am sure they would be interested. Or maybe the records office.

Ann
Glos

CLAIRE

ABOUT 200,BITS BOOKS AN BOBS
EVEN GIVEN TO MUSEUMS

ohhhhh, no, no no, don't throw it out!

If it helps there was a marriage of a George Townsend to a Charlotte Rix 8/9/25 in East Dereham. Maybe this couple are ancestors??

Have you tried contacting the Norfolk Records Office, maybe they can put a notice up or something?

I would love to have had a family bible from my tree, but sadly have not....it is a precious thing!

Dee