Volume 27 No 1, February 2012

Blencowe Families’ Association Newsletter Volume 27 No 1, February 2012

Table of Contents
    • Dear Cousins,

      Welcome to our 27th year of Blencowe Families’ Association newsletter production.

      One wonders how many other families have such an association with a newsletter going to so many different countries. Although our membership numbers wane in some countries from time to time, the overall number continues to grow. A healthy trend is the small but ever increasing number of young people joining up. Blencow Village and Marston St Lawrence pub now have a continual steam of backpackers joining the international, more senior family travellers to these iconic seats of the family.

      It has been refreshing to receive articles for this newsletter from members who do not regularly contribute. As I rely heavily on our regular contributors, having others sending in articles makes the job of producing the newsletter easier on all of us.

      Being the Queen’s Sixtieth Jubilee year and the London Olympic Games, this will be a huge year for Britain no doubt bringing even more Blencowes to the UK looking for their family origins. The Olympic theme begins in this newsletter with articles on former Olympians and ones who will hopefully compete in London. I have not included Adrian Blincoe of New Zealand or Claire Blencowe of England. Both are former Olympians but as yet I’m not sure if they fit the Olympic hopeful category. Perhaps readers can update me on their status for the May newsletter.

      Please keep the comments, requests and articles coming in. More varied articles result in a more interesting newsletter.

      Anne Burto
      Australia
      February 2012
      editor @ blencowefamilies.com
      :

      Charles Bernard Blencowe (1880-1964).
      My Uncle Charlie, who I remember well, was one of seven brothers, amongst whom my father was one. The eldest, Colonel Edward Blencowe (1877-1960), was our Notable Blencowe in Vol 26 No 1 February 2011. He led an adventurous life, but nothing compared to the extraordinary life of his younger brother Charlie.

      Captain Charlie Blencowe with ‘Pointer’

      I have some fascinating letters that Charlie wrote to his mother in 1902 when he was aboard the windjammer ‘Scottish Moors’, describing the dangers rounding Cape Horn in very stormy conditions. Two years earlier, in 1900, he was caught up in the Boxer Rebellion in North China. Why he was there, I have yet to discover.

      However, he was originally educated at Rossall School and trained as a seaman on H.M.S Conway after which, rejecting a Royal Navy scholarship, he was awarded a Merchant Marine Master’s Certificate, This led him to the ‘Scottish Moors’ and a life on these early sailing vessels. Another rather amusing and uncomplimentary letter describes his views about the customs officers at New York and the state of city itself.

      However, his most wild exploits were in 1915 during the First World War in East Africa. For those who have read C.S Forester’s ‘The African Queen’ or seen the film, which I feel can only be based very loosely on Uncle Charlie’s exploits, I can confirm that he is very unlike Humphrey Bogart and he assured me there was no Katherine Hepburn ! (I wonder?) . However I have some fascinating letters that he wrote to his mother describing the destruction of the German gunboat ‘Muansai’ which saved Lake Victoria and probably the whole of East Africa from German domination.

      A newspaper extract from the leader of “British East Africa Newspaper” dated 20 March, 1915 best describes the action

      Bravo Winifred

      “The news of the destruction of the German Lake Steamer the Muanza by our own little steamer the Winifred captained by Captain Blencowe, in Speke Gulf, is an event of greater significance, interest and importance than the man-in-the-street in Nairobi possibly realises. In the first place, though the matter has been kept from prominence, the existence of the Muanza, armed with a fairly heavy gun, roaming the Lake in search of prey, has been exercising the minds of the authorities for some months. It was decided to arm one or more of our own ships, and the Winifred commanded by Captain Blencowe was selected to hoist the naval pennant and act as Britainis war dog on the Great Lake of Central Africa. Around Kisumu and the Uganda ports the quest of the Winifred chasing the Muanza has been the talk for a long while. With our mail boats, such as the Clement Hill later commanded by Captain Blencowe crossing the lake, the Muanza presented a distinct menace. Since the SS. Sybil was driven ashore, the Muanza, we are told, has actually been visiting the sunken vessel, (the ‘Sybil’ having her funnel showing above the surface) and attempting to remove some of the war plates.

      News was conveyed recently to the Winifred from shore that the Muanza was hovering round Speke Gulf. The little Winifred, of about 600 tons, promptly went to look for the enemy and after a smart chase got within, we are told, about 400 yards. Then the 4 inch gun spoke and the Muanza, game to fight, replied with her artillery and rifles. We learn unofficially that the Muanza was properly peppered and had to make for the shore, where she was abandoned. Then the Winifred let her have it properly, until she was pounded out of all shape. We learn, (also unofficially) that the Winifred suffered no casualties; all the shots from the Muanza going over her, or short. In fact except a bullet hole through her funnel (an honourable mark of distinction) she escaped scatheless, due to the bad gunnery of the foe.

      Those who know their Lake residents will realise that this victory, so long desired, of the British converted gunboat over that of the German variety has been hailed with jubilation and that Captain Blencowe will have received many congratulations, which in fact are fully deserved.”

      Though he never received a medal, I have here a telegram from General Lord Kitchener congratulating Charlie on his sinking of the Muanza. Later he was to Captain the Clement Hill, mentioned above, the first Lake Mail Boat.

      In later years he became a leading member of the Nairobi City Council and ran a coffee plantation near Nairobi at Kabete outside the city where I first stayed with him and my Aunt Mildred and where he told me many amazing stories of his early life, many of which I still remember.

      Peter Blencowe

      He has been dead for 307 years but still keeps appearing in the media!

      The Royal Society has recently published early papers from its Philosophical Transactions. Some of the more interesting ones appeared on the BBC website. One was by the mathematician Dr John Wallis, father of Lady Anne Blencowe:

      Death by lightning 1665

      Dr Wallis from Oxford wrote a paper about a grisly boating accident during a thunder storm in Oxford, which left a “stinking sulphurous smell in the air”. Two students out in a boat had been struck by lightning, one died instantly, the other was “stuck fast in the mud”, apparently “with his feet downwards and his upper parts above water”. Besides “numbness” he was unhurt but had no memory of what happened to him and why he was stuck in the mud.

      Dr Wallis also provides a detailed account of an autopsy he and others performed on the dead student. He reports the body had no wounds apart from a series of black marks on the neck, shoulder and chest “as if it had been seared with a hot iron”. Some of the buttons on the student’s doublet had also been blown off, he added.

      Jack Blencowe, Oxford

      Keeping it in the family, Dr Wallis’ daughter, Lady Anne Blencowe made an Australian newspaper, The Daily Telegraph as part of a lengthy article by Gary Dunn, Xmas History: The making of a modern Christmas on 22 Dec 2011.

      Samuel Pepys also enjoyed mince pies and his 17th-century “mincemeat” really did contain meat. Mixed with fruit and alcohol, the shredded flesh of beasts slaughtered in the autumn could thus be preserved in stone jars for the Christmas feast. Anne Blencowe’s 1694 recipe recommended a boiled calf’s tongue chopped up and mixed with beef suet, ‘raisins of ye sun’, lemon rind and spices.

      I think I’ll stick to turkey! Anne

      Editor’s Inbox

      I so enjoyed the newsletter. To my surprise one letter was from someone I was at school with — I never thought then that she would turn out to be a very distant relation!

      Sheila Hinton
      Cambridgeshire

      I have a book, “Miss Bobbie” by Ethel Turner that is inscribed to Margaret Blencowe from the Armidale Methodist Sunday School as a prize in 1949. If it is from your family I would love to return it to you or someone who is/was close to her.

      Trish Percy
      Cootamundra, NSW.

      Well, I took a punt that it belonged to a member’s sister, who in a roundabout way finally received the message, responding, “I well remember the book and have no idea whence it left my possession. I appreciate the trouble taken by Trish Percy to locate the owner…. I would like to thank everyone who took part in the search for their trouble”.

      Margaret Weakley
      Gunnedah

      Former Olympian

      Elizabeth Ann Blencowe was born in Queensland, Australia in 1961 to Sidney Louis and Patricia Blencowe. Elizabeth represented Australian several times in canoeing world championships and competed at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 where she was a finalist in the Ladies Kayak 500m singles. She has also represented New Zealand in the World Championships.

      Elisabeth married New Zealand Olympian, Alan Thompson a sprint canoer who competed in Moscow 1980, Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul in 1988. He won two gold medals at Los Angeles in 1984, in the K-1 1000 m and K-4 1000 m events.

      Thompson became a coach, selector and manager for New Zealand canoeing teams and eventually became president of the New Zealand Canoeing Federation.

      Elizabeth and Alan live in New Zealand and have two children. Elizabeth is a retired police officer.

      David Blencowe
      Victoria, Australi

      A recent trip to Gawcott

      My great-grandfather William A. Blencoe, son of John and Hannah (Herring) Blencoe, was born in Gawcott, Buckinghamshire, England, where he was baptized on 25 August 1822 in the old Anglican Chapel. When William was ten years old, he migrated with his family to the Norwich area of New York State. Their trip was made by sailing vessel, since steam ships did not come into use until 1838.

      In 1853 William married Gawcott native Mary Ann Marks, daughter of Emanuel and Mary (Bennett) Marks, who had migrated to New York State in 1849. (Emanuel Marks was from the Marks family of Great Horwood, near Gawcott.) Mary Ann, born in 1835, was baptized in November of that year in Gawcottis Holy Trinity Church, which had been built in 1827.

      In 1854 William and Mary Ann Blencoe moved further west to Wisconsin, where they carved out a homestead near the present village of Alma Center, ten miles from where I now reside. At that time, Wisconsin was a young state, and land could be purchased from the government for $1.25 per acre.

      Back in Gawcott, relatives of my William’s, William H. and his brother Jesse Blencoe, learned of opportunities in America and decided to emigrate, also. William H. had been baptized in Gawcott’s Holy Trinity Church on 20 April 1834 and Jesse on 30 April 1848.

      Jesse and wife, Mary Ann (Smith), moved to New York State in 1868 and to rural Alma Center in 1871. Brother William H. and wife, Susan (Mercer), migrated to New York State in 1869 and to Alma Center in 1874.

      All of these Blencoe men farmed near Alma Center but also continued to work as stone masons and brick makers/layers. (It is believed that some of the Gawcott Blencoe family members cut stone at one time for the renowned Stowe House at Stowe, Buckinghamshire.)

      Living near me here in Jackson County is Nola (Blencoe) Olson, great-granddaughter of William H. and Susan Blencoe. Last September, 2011, the two of us made a “pilgrimage” to Gawcott while in London with a tour group.

      Sunday, September 25th, was a free day, so we took a train from Paddington Station to Oxford, where we were met by Jack and Kee Blencowe. What a joy it was to see that very special couple! I had not seen them since 2004 and was anxious for a reunion. (As every Blencowe/Blencoe/Blenko in the world knows, Jack is indeed the “leader of the tribe.”)

      Jack and Kee drove us the short distance to Gawcott, where we arrived in time to attend the 11:00 A.M. “Harvest Festival” service at Holy Trinity Church. It was a moving experience to be in the same setting where our ancestors had once worshipped. Members of the congregation were welcoming, but our warmest welcome came from Sue Ambrose, a lay preacher who led the service on my last visit to the church. Sue’s gracious hospitality included having us for dinner at her home near the church following the service. Also present were Sue’s affable husband, Peter, and four other members of the congregation. This was a memorable experience: a lovely setting; excellent food; fun people; and stimulating conversation.

      Prior to dinner, Nola and I visited the church cemetery, where we found the graves of her g-g-grandparents, Thomas and Frances Blencowe. Other Blencoes are buried there but with stones that are no longer readable.

      Early in the afternoon Jack and Kee, who had gone to Buckingham, came to retrieve us and return us to the railroad station in Oxford. We were so very grateful for their assistance.

      Our wish for a great trip to Gawcott came true. Our remaining wish is that we could have a chance to return the wonderful hospitality that was shown to us that day.

      Mary Van Gorden
      Wisconsin, USA


      The early Blinco family of Hedgerley

      The first documented evidence of a Blinco living in Hedgerley dates to 16 October 1692 when the register of St George Chapel Windsor records the marriage of William Blinco and Sarah Nash, both of Hedgerley.

      Why the marriage of two Hedgerley residents should have taken place at St George’s is something of a mystery. The Chapel still serves to this day as the parish church for the community of Windsor Castle within the walls of which it stands. As such it has seen the baptisms, burials and marriages of many members of the royal family over the years.

      While it was not unknown for ordinary citizens from the surrounding towns and villages to marry there I believe William and Sarah’s choice to marry there may be an indication that the family were not full members of the Church of England at this time. While William is thought most likely to have been the William Blinco baptised in the nearby parish of Iver in 1672, Sarah underwent an adult baptism in Hedgerley many years later. It might be that the parish priest of Hedgerley was not prepared to marry a woman who had not been baptised. St Georges Chapel on the other hand was a royal peculiar with no Bishop to answer to and as such may have been an ideal place for non conformists to marry legally.

      We should note that although the lack of a baptism record for Sarah makes it impossible for us to identify her parents or birthplace the surname Nash appears in the Hedgerley parish registers earlier than this. It may well be then that Sarah herself was from Hedgerley and that it was his marriage to her that brought William to live there and started an association between the village and the Blinco family which lasted for two centuries.

      This restored cottage at the Chiltern Open Air Museum may be similar to the Blincois home in the early 18th Century.

      What we know for certain is that from 1695 William Blinco was paying parish rates in Hedgerley. Parish rates were the local taxes paid by every landowner and tenant in England.

      We are lucky that a very comprehensive set of parish records for Hedgerley are preserved in the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies in Aylesbury, covering every year from 1695 to 1827 with only a few gaps.

      These record the amount due from each ratepayer each year. This not only allows us to estimate the status in society of individuals but by converting the figures back to the nominal rateable value it is possible to identify how a family’s wealth changed over time.

      The rates William paid are consistent with the term he applies to himself in his will – a Husbandman, or, as we would call it, a small tenant farmer. His landholding would have been about twenty acres.

      While this would have provided subsistence for William and his family he would probably have had additional sources of income as well. He would most likely have worked for cash wages from the lord of the manor when seasonal work was available but we are unlikely to ever know if he had any specialist agricultural skills.

      We also cannot tell where his home and property were within the parish although some later circumstantial evidence suggests a site at the southern end of the parish near what is now Hedgerley Hill.

      We do know that he served several times in the three parish offices of Churchwarden, Constable and Overseer of the Poor. In a larger parish each role would have been filled separately but in Hedgerley at this date all three offices were filled by one rate payer for a one year term with each rate payer taking a turn every few years. William served in 1699, 1709, 1716 and 1723 although in 1723 he wasn’t churchwarden.

      Following William’s death in 1732 his place as rate payer is taken over for two years by his widow Sarah which is consistent with her appointment as executor of his will. However from 1728 William’s place in Hedgerley society is taken on by his son Thomas.

      We cannot be certain how old Thomas was as none of William’s offspring were baptised as children. Thomas and his brother John were baptised as adults in 1719, the first of over 40 Blinco’s to be baptised in the 12th century font which is still in use in Hedgerley church today.

      The current Hedgerley church was built in 1852 but the font from the old medieval church was preserved. It has been used for the baptism of over forty Blincos. This picture was kindly provided by the Hedgerley Historical Society.

      We do know however that Thomas was already married with several children. In 1727 he, his wife Anne and their children had moved back to Hedgerley after a spell living in the nearby market town of Beaconsfield. Again one is left wondering if he had a trade other than farmer but evidence of this is unlikely to survive from such an early date.

      Once settled in Hedgerley Thomas served as his father had done as Constable and Overseer of the Poor in 1739 and 1748. His tenure as head of the family also sees an increase in the rateable value of the family farm in 1738 as he takes over a small tenancy known as Ridley’s from one Edward Chilton.

      Thomas appears in the rate books up until 1755 when there is a seven year gap in the records. When the records resume in 1762 Thomas youngest son Moses has taken over the farm. This seems a little surprising given that Thomas lived until 1773.

      As Thomas did not have a will proved in the Archdeaconry courts as his father and sons did it seems likely that his wealth and property was dispersed within the family by private agreement while he was still alive. We can only speculate as to the reason. Had Thomas become mentally or physically incapacitated in some way or had he simply chosen to settle his affairs and take a well earned retirement?

      Either way the stage was set for a rather more dramatic chapter in the Blinco story during the next generation.

      Martin Taylor
      Hertfordshire

      Feed Back on Notable Blencowe: Jill Dudbridge

      The article on Jill Dudbridge nee Blencowe in the last newsletter sent bells ringing. Sure enough in the pile of letters sent to my mother from her Aunts in England was one from my Great Aunt Florence Franks nee Blencowe (B. 1904) with reference to Jill. The letter was written in 1987 when Flo was 83 —hence her reluctance to continue on with “ancestry” bit. It is quite humorous if you can decipher it.

      Carol Buswell
      Australia.

      ‘If Sandy can translate this lot into Australian I wish her joy.

      I am in hospital again with Angina. The doctor ordered me here for a few days but it has drifted on to 2 weeks now so I am whiling away the time. I’d rather be home watching tele.

      Quite out of the blue, Jim forwarded me a letter some time ago from a Blencowe living in West London, Jill Dudbridge. APPARENTLY she spends her time tracing the ancestors of her family. Between us we went back to the 16th century and she was very keen to trace US but her enthusiasm wore me out. She got down to the Nitty Gritty of Heraldry and really got me going. Jim’s son Leonard is a very keen investigator and studied it all earnestly. Eventually I turned it all in. I just couldn’t see myself going to cemeteries, museums so I just forgot to let her know when I moved.

      I could just see us all Stalking about in Shining Armour, which is just what her imagination was leading to!

      I’ll write a proper letter when I get home.
      Tut Tar for now,
      Aunt Flo 3 June 1987′

      Thanks Carol. So many migrants kept the letters from “home”. It seems to have been the following generation that cut the apron strings. Such letters are a wonderful source of a family’s social history. I am sure readers will identify with either Aunt Flo or Jill and see the funny side of it. Anne

      More South American Blencowes

      I’m Roberto William Blencowe and I was born in Montevideo, Uruguay and my son, William Robert Blencowe in California. My father, Thomas Sydney Blencowe was born in 1917 at Croydon, London. He was in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. My grandfather, Thomas Horn Blencowe served in Africa during the Great War when my father was born. After the war my grandparents went to Argentina to work in the railroad business. My uncle, John Patrick was born in Cordobe, Argentina.

      I have been all over the world including England and I have never met another Blencowe in person. I thought we were almost extinct! Can you hang us in the family tree?

      This letter came to me via Alan Blencowe who assured Roberto that becoming extinct is the last thing the Blencowes are going to do as we are well spread around the world.

      I found it interesting that another branch of the family went into the railway business in Argentina. Having read Jill Dudbridge’s story in the last newsletter, I have calculated that her father, Sidney Blencowe and Roberto’s grandfather Thomas Horne Blencowe were quite distantly related, being 4th cousins once removed; their ancestors-in-common being John Blencowe and Temperance Painter. Insert Tree

      The chances of their knowing one another would be quite remote. One wonders if they ever crossed paths in Argentina? Roberto’s great, great grandfather, Thomas Blencowe (1803-1885) was born in Brackley, became a master shoemaker and by about 1830 was living in Peckham, Camberwell London and his descendants lived in the Dulwich/Croydon area, whereas Jill’s family were from Wiltshire. Roberto and Jill are now in touch and will be very busy exchanging notes and experiences. Anne

Looking for information on United States citizens who contributed to the Allied Victory in WW II

I am Robert Melville Blincoe, the youngest of 4 children born to Ernest Edward and Francis Irvine Blincoe in Fort Scott, Kansas. I was born in 1927. My sister, Helen Blincoe Simpson, was one that helped establish the Association.

I hope to find someone who might give me some additional information about the six BLINCOE names that appear in the Roll of Honour on the front of the last Newsletter. As I am gathering information on the United States citizens who contributed to the Allied Victory in World War II, I wonder who among these six Blincoes served in WWII, and which, if any, were from the USA. If any so qualify, Iid like to know their branch of service, etc.

If there is a keeper of such info, I would be much obliged if they got in touch.

Bob Blincoe
r.blincoe @ sbcglobal.net

Of the 6 Blincoe names only 3 were from the WW2: Kenneth Edward Blincoe from New Zealand and Leicester Sidney and William Lawson Blincoe from England. It was 5 years ago that I researched our family members who died at war. I was unable to find out about any American deaths. Since then a lot more information has become available on the internet. Even the 1911 Census would have given more information than what was available to me. What Bob is trying to compile is a worthwhile study. If you can help shed light on which Americans contributed to the Allied Victory either contact him directly or via my email. Anne

An addition to the Roll of Honour

Several readers commented on our war heroes especially the Roll of Honour on the cover. In answer to a common question, there were no American War Dead listed as there didn’t appear to have been any. However, Tom Blinks has found one American serviceman who lost his life and would like to have him remembered too.

David Allan Blinks was born in Lisbon, Linn, Iowa, USA in 1925. He was the eldest child of Albert Cowan Blinks (1901-1972) and Emily Emerson (1898-1991) and the grandson of Frank W. Blinks (1867-1941) and Sarah E. Cowan (1869-1945). His siblings were: Charles LewisJohn ThomasJoan Elizabeth and Mary Ann.

David was killed in action on 4 February, 1945 in Simmerath, Aachen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. His name has been added to our Roll of Honour.

Tom Blinks
East Sussex, UK

Member on the TV

Australian viewers of Who Do You Think You Are may recall the recent episode on the actress Sigrid Thornton.

Sigrid follows her family trial back to Muswellbrook in NSW where she is interviewed by local historian and Blencowe Families’ Association member, Rob Tickle, who was sporting a rather impressive long beard! Rob assures me that it was an interesting experience with two days of filming for a few minutes of fame.

 

An Olympic Hopeful

Arlene Blencowe is the 28 year old daughter of Bruce and Rosie Blencowe. Her childhood was spent in country Queensland where she was an outstanding junior athlete, representing her state in athletics. However, since moving to NSW, it is boxing that has captured her imagination.

Women’s boxing will be conducted at the Olympics for the first time at London and Arlene understands she has a great chance to become part of history.

2011 was a busy year; fighting at the Arafura Games in Darwin where she won a gold medal against a highly rated Indian opponent in the final. She has toured New Zealand and China with the Australian women’s team gaining invaluable experience. Failure at the Australian championships this month would virtually be the end of the dream. However success will mean she will qualify for the world championships. It’s from here the Australian squad will be finalised.

Arlene met many members of her family for the first time at the Port Macquarie reunion in 2008.

Kerry Therese Tickle
1949-2011

Kerry lost her battle with cancer before Christmas. She was 62. Kerry possessed a warmth and honesty that people gravitated towards. She was practical and compassionate when people needed help and the worldis greatest cheerleader when there was something to be celebrated. Her energy and enthusiasm for life seemed boundless; actively involved with her four children’s interests. In later years she turned to a wider community participation.

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Daughter of Matt and Lucy Flanagan; Kerry married Rob Tickle in 1970. Kerry descends from the Blincos of Hedgerley. Her great, great grandparents, Joseph Blinco & Sarah Stannetand family migrated to Australia. Joseph Blinco is a bit of a mystery. Family stories suggest he did a runner after arriving in Victoria as nothing more was ever heard of him. A

In 2008 Kerry & Rob visited Blencowe Hall which was in the process of being restored. The foreman was wonderful giving them a guided tour of the buildings with many photo opportunities.

Our condolences go to Rob, their children, David, Emma, Amy, Katherine and grandchildren.

Perth Reunion for 2012

I’ve set the date for the 5th to 7th of October but don’t have the venue yet. Visitors can plan to be here before or after but the Royal Show runs up to that date. This puts it in the middle of the WA school holidays and the end of the Vic, NSW and Qld holidays. Being the middle of the wildflower season, for which Western Australia is renowned, is an added bonus especially for international and interstate visitors.

I’m thinking of the Observation City area at Scarborough. The Maureen Grierson Centre is right on the beach but is not flash and only seats 80. Observation City has great function rooms but I haven’t looked at them yet. The price might be prohibitive. The area should be better than the city and there’s lots of accommodation around and good transport.

Alan Blencowe
Perth, WA

Looking for Descendants of:

Mary Ann Blencowe born 1847 in Adelaide, South Australia married Robert Connell at One Tree Hill, SA in 1865. She remarried to John Emeny in 1886 and moved to Camperdown in Victoria where she died in 1934.

Her children were: Francess Honor Connell 1865-1956, who married Donald Campbell. They lived in Melbourne. Alice Ann Connell 1868-1956 who married James Roylance in 1898 in Victoria. Their daughter, Eleanor Alice Roylance married Thomas Ewan in 1914.

John Alfred Connell 1884- before 1934. Of whom nothing more seems to be known.

Lily Connell or Emeny who married a Mr Wilson.

Email: editor @ blencowefamilies.com if you can help.

Wedding Bells

Recently, one of our youngest members, Erin Blencowe of the Brackley/Armidale/Tumbarumba/Cooma branch of the family married Mr Frost. The couple have made their home in Melbourne.

Another youngster, Tanya Sorensen, a descendant of John Blencowe from Middleton Cheney, is marrying Mark Evans at Darwin Ski club in April; a holiday & wedding in one. For the honeymoon they are hiring a 4WD campervan and driving from Darwin to Broome, then flying back home to Perth.

Northamptonshire Wills

A site you might find interesting is http://www.northamptonshirewills.solutions.on-rev.com/search.irev. There are lots of wills, but check the various Blencowe spellings. Our early female lines are well represented. As it is an unusual site to work, read the instructions. The SURNAME needs in be in CAPITAL letters e.g. BLENCOWE, William. You can see entire wills (when there are multiple hits) by “dragging” the corner of the relevant will. In the right hand corner of each will there appears a couple of small diagonal lines. Just drag this and then the entire will transcription can be read.

Phil Bailey
Sydney

Former Olympian medallist and London hopeful

It’s 2012 and the Olympics are coming to London and the UK is looking forward to the games with much excitement. My fourth cousin 1x removed, Susan Mayo Blinksand a former USA Dressage Champion certainly put the Blinks Family on the map at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 when as part of a team with Robert Dover, Guenter Seider and Christine Traurig the American team won the Dressage Team Bronze medal.

Both of our Great, Great Grandfathers were born and lived in Tenterden, Kent. (Mine is Thomas Blinks 1801-1886) However, whilst I have only made the journey some fourteen miles away from Tenterden into the county of Sussex, Sue’s Great, Great Grandfather (William Blinks 1833-1918) immigrated to Ohio in 1851 with several other members of the Blinks Family.

It was a great team performance by the USA to take the Bronze medal. Germany and The Netherlands, the two strongest nations competing in Dressage predictably won the Gold and Silver. The USA Team then went on to win further success: a Team Silver at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in 2002.

All of Sue’s successes were achieved in partnership with her only horse. Flim Flam. However, the great horse died on the 28 October, 2004 following a severe colic attack.

Sue has since moved to San Diego, California and rides for the Leatherdale Farm. She now has several horses including a young horse called Robin Hood, whom Sue has trained herself. The USA team has not yet been selected for London and Sue will be there or thereabouts with Robin Hood.

Dressage is a very much on the day event as you can never quite be sure how a horse will perform. You only need something in the crowd to spook the horse and four years work will be lost.

I have actually watched Sue in action myself at Hickstead in 1997 where the United States won their first ever Dressage Nations Cup. Sue also went on to win the Individual Grand Prix Special on Flim Flam the next day by a clear thirty six points from her nearest competitor.

Sue’s mother Doris Blinks (nee Chambers) is actually responsible for recording the Blinks Family Tree in the USA. Whilst Sue was studying at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, she was surprised to meet a Charles Blinks family, who boarded horses near the college. Doris was very inquisitive and found the family connection.

As a result Doris decided to build a record of the Blinks family in the USA and talked to many members of the family, recording all the names, dates and a potted history of each person involved. It’s a quite brilliant paper document and I am slowly converting this in Ancestry.co.uk to save an electronic version for future generations. Such good work must not be lost!

Tom Blinks
East Sussex, UK

Photo Caption Sue Blinks is photographed at Hickstead in 1997 with my late mother, Helena Magery Millicent Blinks 1917-2005

The 23rd Psalm for Genealogists

Genealogy is my Pastime …
I shall not stray,
It maketh me to lie down
and examine half-buried Tombstones;
It leadeth me into still Courthouses.
It restoreth my Ancestral Knowledge;
It leadeth me into the Paths of Census Records
and Ships Passenger Lists for my Surnames’ sake;
Yes, though I wait through the Shadows
of Research Libraries and Microfilm Readers,
I shall fear no Discouragement,
for a Strong Urge is with me.
The curiosity and Motivation,
they Comfort me;
It demandeth preparation of Storage Space
for the Acquisition of Countless Documents;
It anointeth my Head with burning Midnight Oil,
My Family Group Sheets runneth over.
Surely Birth, Marriage and Death dates
shall follow me all the Days of my Life,
And I shall dwell in the House
of a Family History Seeker Forever.

Author Unknown