
St Mary Magdalene, parish church of Altofts, in the diocese of Wakefield, Yorkshire - August 2011

St Mary Magdalene, parish church of Altofts, in the diocese of Wakefield, Yorkshire - August 2011

St Mary Magdalene, parish church of Altofts, in the diocese of Wakefield, Yorkshire - August 2011

St Mary Magdalene, parish church of Altofts, in the diocese of Wakefield, Yorkshire - August 2011
In my last post, I shared my daughter’s discovery of the gravestone of my 4 x great grandparents, George and Elizabeth Kemp, while on holiday in West Yorkshire over the summer. We found it in the churchyard of St John the Evangelist in Oulton.
On returning home, I decided to see if I could find the burial records online – Ancestry now have a huge swathe of West Yorkshire records on their site1.
I found a record for George Kemp in 1882, and noticed some interesting annotations in his entry:

Burial record of George Kemp, 1882 - detail
I checked pages 130 and 161 of the register and found the following entries:

Burial record of Elizabeth Kemp, 1890 - detail

Burial record of Thomas Kemp, 1895 - detail
I guessed that the “No.74″ on each record was related to their shared grave site. Searching back through the register to the first page, I found the following annotations:

Burial Register, St John the Evangelist, Oulton - detail
This is what I can make out from the text:
The numbers in red are the numbers of the graves as shown on the Plan of the Graves in the Churchyard
“No. “ [...] inserted by H[?]
[....] have added all the graves I know, up to [1839? 1939?] without the “No. “
So, there was a Plan! I wonder where it is now?
Whilst on our trip around West Yorkshire over the summer, my kids and I checked out St John the Evangelist church in Oulton, near Rothwell. It’s a lovely looking church from the outside, and the graveyard is mostly well kept and fun to play hide and seek in.

St John the Evangelist church, Oulton, West Yorkshire, August 2011

St John the Evangelist church, Oulton, West Yorkshire, August 2011
I gave my seven and four year olds a slip of paper each with three surnames to search for. This is what my four year old daughter found:

Gravestone of George & Elizabeth Kemp, also Thomas Kemp, St John the Evangelist churchyard, Oulton, West Yorkshire
George and Elizabeth Kemp are my great great great great grandparents. Buried with them is their son, Thomas.
George Kemp was born around 1811 in Whitley, West Yorkshire. Elizabeth Dickinson was born in Castleford, West Yorkshire, around 1816.1
They were married at St John’s church in the parish of Wakefield on December 3rd, 1843. George and Elizabeth were of “full age”.Their fathers were Thomas Kemp, Labourer, and James Dickinson, Farmer.2
From census returns, they appear to have had four children3:
In the 1871 census, they had seven year old “adopted child” Georgiana Haigh living with them.4
I am descended from their daughter Sarah Ann.

Gravestone of George & Elizabeth Kemp, also Thomas Kemp, St John the Evangelist churchyard, Oulton, West Yorkshire
In
Affectionate Remembrance
ofGEORGE KEMP
who departed this life
January 1st 1882
aged 69 yearsI look for the resurrection of
the dead and the life of the
world to comealso ELIZABETH, wife of the above
who died March 26th 1890
aged 75 yearsalso THOMAS, son of the above
who died October 25th 1895
aged 49 yearsBe ye also ready
According to St John’s website, the churchyard is one of the biggest in Leeds, if not the county. George and Elizabeth’s gravestone seems to be in a quite prominent spot, facing the church’s front door.

George and Elizabeth Kemp's gravestone, St John the Evangelist church, Oulton, West Yorkshire
My son also found some Cockerham graves and there were several other surnames from our family, but it will take a little digging (sorry, couldn’t resist!) to find out if they are part of our tree.
Tombstone Tuesday is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
Rothwell’s parish church was built around 1130AD, though it’s thought to be the third such building on the site. It was in this church that my great grandmother, Elsie Nunns, was baptised on December 27th, 1896, exactly one month after she was born. Many of her family were baptised and married in the church, and buried in the churchyard.
The main ‘front’ of the church that faces Church Street and centre of Rothwell is well kept, but around the back, many of the gravestones are covered over with weeds and surrounded by stinging nettles. I didn’t know if any of my ancestors had gravestones here, so it was really a case of having a look around and seeing what we could find. (There is currently a project underway to map all the gravestones in the graveyard.) We managed to find a couple of Nunns and a Hirst, but I’ll need to do a little more investigation to see if they’re family or not. The graveyard is huge, and many of the stones are illegible, if not unaccessible. You can see further exterior photos in a previous post.
The church appeared closed, but my son had noticed someone entering by a back door, so we wandered up and knocked. A young curate opened the door and allowed us to have a look around inside, warning that there was a funeral commencing in 40 minutes. The interior was beautiful, and my hurried photos could not do it justice.

Holy Trinity, Rothwell - interior, August 2011
I was excited to see the baptismal font, imagining my Elsie being baptised there. (You may be able to glimpse it in this rubbish photo!)

Holy Trinity, Rothwell - baptismal font, August 2011
You might like to read West Yorkshire research trip Part 1.
My 3 x great grandfather, Henry Nunns, was a coal miner, and his father and brothers worked in the mines as well. One of the highlights of my recent Yorkshire trip was visiting the National Coal Mining Museum near Wakefield, to find out what Henry’s working life might have been like. If your ancestors had any connection with coal mining, this is a fantastic place to visit. What’s more, it’s free!
I’d recently watched a documentary on child labour, The Children Who Built Victorian Britain, so I had a small idea of what coal mining was about, but I really wanted to find out more – and especially, to go down a coal mine.
Get kitted out with your miner’s helmet and battery lamp then step into the cage and descend 140m underground to discover the amazing sotry of mining through the ages. Led by ex-miners, these hugely popular tours will give you a vivid insight into the dangers and hardships faced by the men, women and children who toiled deep below the ground.
- National Coal Mining Museum brochure
Now, I’m quite claustrophobic, and I was very nervous about going underground, so I managed to convince my seven year old son to go with me. (I bribed him with the carrot of getting an awesome ‘Extreme Reading’ photo opportunity for a school competition when we were down in the mine. Unfortunately, I hadn’t realised that cameras and phones were banned. Ummm, sorry kid!) I checked beforehand to see if there were any parts of the tour that involved crawling and the like, and I was assured that any crawling bits were optional and “for the kids”. In any event, I was fine, and the tour was fantastic! We were first shown an area of the pit from the 1820s, and then were slowly taken down all manner of tunnels and ‘roadways’. Our guide, an ex-miner, gave an illuminating picture of what life was like for miners over the last two centuries.
The tour takes 90 minutes, and thankfully there was enough above ground to keep my hubby and the two younger kids amused while #1 son and I took the tour. (Children under five aren’t permitted on the tour.) It’s a good idea to wear decent walking shoes, and a jacket or jumper, as it gets a little chilly underground.

Young miner, not so extreme reader
Unfortunately I didn’t get much time to check out everything above ground, but there are historic colliery buildings, collections detailing mining history, displays of mining memorabilia, a library, nature trail, retired pit ponies, plus a shop, small children’s indoor playroom, cafe and picnic area.
I did get to buy a book which our guide had recommended, and to which I also give a big thumbs up – Victoria’s Children of the Dark by Alan Gallop. It tells the story of the children who worked in the mines in the early 19th century, and recreates the events surrounding the 1838 Husker Pit disaster at Silkstone, Yorkshire. Definitely a fascinating read after being down a mine and seeing the actual working conditions.
National Coal Mining Museum for England
Caphouse Colliery, New Road, Overton
Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF4 4RH
tel: +44 1924 848806
www: www.ncm.org.uk
Follow Friday is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Holy Trinity Church, Rothwell, Yorkshire, August 2011

Holy Trinity Church, Rothwell, Yorkshire, August 2011

Graveyard, Holy Trinity Church, Rothwell, Yorkshire, August 2011

Graveyard, Holy Trinity Church, Rothwell, Yorkshire, August 2011
Wordless Wednesday is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
I have spent the last four days in West Yorkshire, visiting places that are connected with my great grandmother, Elsie Nunns. She was born in 1896, in Rothwell, which is where I began my search.
At this point in the post, I was hoping to wax lyrical about the marvellous folk at the Rothwell Arts and Heritage Centre, of how helpful and friendly they were. In fact, they may well be all those things – I just didnt meet them. I had found the Centres details via Google, carefully noting down the address and opening hours from the website. When I arrived in Rothwell on Monday morning, I tried plugging in the Centres address into my satnav, but it couldnt find it. Well, not in Rothwell, West Yorkshire. But if I fancied a two hour drive, I would find it in Rothwell, Kettering.
Not the best start to my trip! Luckily I found the local library, with some very helpful staff members, and I managed to get photocopies of some old Ordnance Survey maps of the area, which I needed in order to find some of the addresses my ancestors had lived at. With my three research assistants tagging along, I had little time to sit and pore over old maps, so it was a quick copy job and I was out of there. I had enough information to get by with for the next few days.
Every Saturday night Randy Seaver sends out a Saturday Night Genealogy Fun challenge at Genea-Musings. Usually I miss out because of the time difference, but this week I thought I’d just post a day late!
Our mission was to list our 16 great great grandparents, along with their birth, marriage and death dates. Then, determine their birthplaces, and (for extra credit) create a pie chart showing their countries of origin.
My magic 16 are:
Michael GAFFANEY. Born on 31 Oct 1836 in Belper, Derbyshire, England. Michael died in Arowhenua, South Canterbury, New Zealand, on 11 Jul 1911; he was 74. Buried on 13 Jul 1911 in Temuka Cemetery, Temuka, New Zealand. Occupation: Farmer
On 26 Dec 1863 when Michael was 27, he married Margaret BROSNAHAN in the Catholic Chapel, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Margaret BROSNAHAN. Born on 8 Dec 1844 in Co Kerry, Ireland. Margaret died at Belper Farm, Main South Road,Temuka, New Zealand, on 16 Aug 1927; she was 82. Buried on 18 Aug 1927 in Temuka Cemetery, Temuka, New Zealand.
Bartholomew O’ROURKE. Born abt 1844 in Co Kerry, Ireland. Bartholomew died in Station Street, Napier, New Zealand, on 13 Nov 1923; he was 79. Buried on 15 Nov 1923 in Old Napier Cemetery, New Zealand. Occupation: Carter, Miner.
On 2 Sep 1869 when Bartholomew was 25, he married Bridget POWER in the Roman Catholic Church, Charleston, West Coast, New Zealand.
Bridget POWER. Born in 1846 in Clonmel, Tipperary, Ireland. Bridget died in Napier, New Zealand, on 18 Jul 1914; she was 68. Buried on 19 Jul 1914 in Old Napier Cemetery, Napier, New Zealand.
Martin BURKE. Born in 1840 in Co Mayo, Ireland. Martin died in Nazareth House, Sydenham, NZ, on 27 Nov 1918; he was 78. Buried on 28 Nov 1918 in Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, New Zealand. Occupation: Farmer.
On 2 Feb 1861 when Martin was 21, he married Ann PHILP in St John’s Catholic Church, Perth, Scotland.
Ann PHILP. Born in 1840 in Ceres, Fife, Scotland. Ann died in Burnham, NZ on 13 Mar 1895; she was 55. Buried on 15 Mar 1895 in Darfield Churchyard, Canterbury, New Zealand.
John BURTON. Born abt 1826 in Co Tipperary, Ireland. John died in Redwoodtown, Blenheim, New Zealand, on 29 Jun 1897; he was 71. Buried on 30 Jun 1897 in Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough, New Zealand. Occupation: Carter, Labourer.
On 17 Jan 1859 when John was 33, he married Bridget MAHONEY in Galbally, Co Limerick, Ireland.
Bridget MAHONEY. Born abt 1843 in Galbally, Co Limerick, Ireland. Bridget died in Blenheim, New Zealand, on 22 Nov 1900; she was 57. Buried on 24 Nov 1900 in Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough, New Zealand.
Ephraim WRIGHT. Born on 8 Jan 1860 in Polstead, Suffolk, England. Ephraim died in South Eastern Hospital, Deptford, Kent, on 26 Nov 1894; he was 34. Occupation: Labourer, Engine-Fitter.
On 13 Mar 1882 when Ephraim was 22, he married Mary Jane CLARK in St Stephen, Lewisham, Kent, England.
Mary Jane CLARK. Born abt 1856 in Co Monaghan, Ireland. Mary Jane died in Greenwich, Kent, England, on 12 Feb 1932; she was 76. Occupation: Laundress.
Sam NUNNS. Born on 8 Feb 1874 in Rothwell, Yorkshire, England. Sam died in Auckland, New Zealand, on 5 Apr 1945; he was 71. Buried on 4 Oct 1945 in Taruheru Cemetery, Gisborne, New Zealand. Occupation: Borough Employee, Stone Mason (journeyman).
On 11 Jan 1896 when Sam was 21, he married Alice COCKERHAM in Oulton Church, Oulton, Yorkshire, England.
Alice COCKERHAM. Born on 9 Mar 1878 in Oulton, Yorkshire, England. Alice died in Gisborne, New Zealand, on 17 Jul 1954; she was 76. Buried on 19 Jul 1954 in Taruheru Cemetery, Gisborne, New Zealand.
Michael McGONNELL. Born abt 1840 in Newry, Co Down, Northern Ireland. Michael died in Waiongana, Taranaki, New Zealand, on 5 May 1929; he was 89. Buried on 7 May 1929 in Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth, New Zealand. Occupation: Signalman, Farmer, Boatman.
On 28 May 1888 when Michael was 48, he married Louisa TUNNECLIFFE in New Plymouth, New Zealand.
Louisa TUNNECLIFFE. Born abt 1858 in New Plymouth, New Zealand. Louisa died in Waiongana, Taranaki, on 26 Jun 1926; she was 68. Buried on 29 Jun 1926 in Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth, New Zealand.
Henry John Forrest FLOREY. Born on 1 Oct 1862 in Pembroke Place, Chatham, Kent, England. Henry John Forrest died in Te Araroa, East Cape, New Zealand, on 5 Oct 1913; he was 51. Buried on 6 Oct 1913 in Te Araroa, East Cape, New Zealand. Occupation: Cook, Tobacconist, Billard Maker.
On 10 Mar 1885 when Henry John Forrest was 22, he married Ann Elizabeth (Annie) HORNE in Auckland, New Zealand.
Ann Elizabeth (Annie) HORNE. Born abt 1864 in Cape Town, South Africa. Annie died in Newton Road, Auckland, on 9 Mar 1907; she was 43. Buried on 12 Mar 1907 in Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand.
Country of origin
Ireland: 8
England: 5
Scotland: 1
South Africa: 1
New Zealand: 1

And as an added bonus for readers, here’s a pie chart showing final resting places.

Note: Source citations available on request.
Part of my summer holiday this year will be spent “oop North”, more specifically West Yorkshire. The Nunns and Cockerhams on the maternal side of my family all come from around the Rothwell area (that I’ve discovered so far in my research), so it makes it easy to base myself in one spot nearby.
View West Riding of Yorkshire in a larger map
I’d done almost no work on this side of the family (my great grandmother’s parents), as there are a few family members already doing research, so I’d left it a bit and concentrated on other lines. So when I came to actually compiling a list of addresses, churches, graveyards etc, I realised I had very little! Back to the censuses I went, and it has taken me quite a while to document it all, and I’m still not finished. I’m also ordering certificates that I haven’t got already, so it’s a slow enough process.
My great grandmother Elsie Nunns is the only great grandparent that I knew – I was in my late teens when she died. She came out as a child with her parents Sam and Alice Nunns from England to New Zealand around 1902. Sam and Alice went on to have another seven children, and there have been several reunions of their descendents (though I haven’t been able to attend one yet!).
Sorting Saturday is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
Tagged Cockerham, Nunns, Rothwell, West Riding of Yorkshire
I was in Dublin visiting friends over the weekend, and because of the Bank Holiday in the UK, had decided to stay until the Monday and grab some precious research time – and my first foray into records there.
I had an early start, as I was driving into Dublin from Co Wicklow, but traffic was definitely not as bad as it was a few years ago. First task was parking the car, and I’d chosen the parking building off Trinity Street, despite it being horrendously expensive, as it was near to my last stop of the day.
And so, onto Lombard Street and Joyce House, where I hoped to pick up the marriage certificate of Mary Jane Clark and her first husband. After a short wait, I was told at the counter that they only dealt with certificates for marriages after 1920, and directed me to Navan (where the marriage took place) and the GRO in Roscommon. Neither place was on my itinerary for that day! I hurried over the river to the Irish Life Centre in Lower Abbey Street and the GRO Research facility there, where I filled out the appropriate form, paid €4 and waited. I was warned it would take approximately 20 minutes, and I was thinking I should have brought a book with me, but in the end it was probably only ten minutes and then I was on my way.
Just across the courtyard, in Block 2 of the Irish Life Centre, is the Valuation Office. It was very quiet in there, no waiting at all, and after giving a staff member the name of the townland I was interested in, relevant Revision books (or ‘Cancelled Land Books’) then came out. After Griffith’s Valuation, the revision books show the change in ownership and occupancy, as well as size and value, of a piece of land over the years. Changes were recorded in different coloured ink, depending on the year, which makes it more useful to view the original books in colour, rather than in black and white on microfilm at an LDS centre. The books themselves go from around 1859, essentially a copy of the Valuation, up until 1977. (Thanks to Donna Moughty and her blog post that alerted me to this valuable resource!) Self-service full-colour A3 copying is available, at a cost of €1 a sheet, and it took almost no time to copy the fifteen pages I wanted.
Next stop: the National Library in Kildare Street. I stowed my bag and coat in a free locker, and set off upstairs to the Main Reading Room to get a reader’s card. To view the church records I wanted, it didn’t look like I needed one, but they’re valid for three years, so it was good to get it for later research. I had brought along some passport-size photos, but they weren’t required as they take your photo there. Once I’d been issued with my card, I headed back downstairs to the Genealogical Service room with a helpful staff member, who showed me where the church records on microfilm were kept and set me up with a microfilm reader in a separate room. Once I found a record, I had to take the film back to the Genealogical Service room to wait for a reader connected to a scanner. I also had to buy a printer card (€1) from the shop to pay for any copies I wanted. Unfortunately, when I came to print the first record I had found, the scanner machine failed to work. Which meant a 20 minute wait for the only other machine in the room. (I felt sorry for the main staff member in the room – very overworked, and running around doing an amazing job trying to help everyone as quickly as she could.) After finally being able to print the record, my time was up – I had just enough time to grab a very quick cuppa with a friend before heading off to the airport.