It seems I have ancestors from Ashwell

Reynolds and Clements Families

By Suzanne Robinson

Hello to the Museum Curators,

I have only just found this page while researching a few of my ancestors who ended up in Australia. This site is wonderful and I have copied a picture of the Ashwell Church from your site for my records as I have found four of my family names based in Ashwell:

George Reynolds baptised Ashwell 20 Apr 1800, son of George and Anna Maria Reynolds, nee Worboys.                                                                

He married Anne Kingsley who was born in Hertfordshire in 1803, daughter of John and Edith Kingsley nee Gen. George and Anne were married 4 Jul 1825 in Ashwell Church.                                                                             

Their son James Reynolds was baptised 17 Apr 1831 in Ashwell Church and he married Lavinia Mary Clements 27 Apr 1851 in Ashwell Church.

Lavinia was also baptised in Ashwell on 25 Jul 1832, daughter of John and Mary Anne Clements, nee Fyson.

John Clements was bap 1 Apr 1804 Ashwell, son of James and Charlotte Clements, nee Clarke.

Mary Anne Fyson was born 1802 in Cambridge, daughter of John and Elizabeth Fyson, nee Brooks.

John Clements and Mary Anne Fyson were married 28 May 1826 in Ashwell.

Just briefly, James and Lavinia Reynolds came to Australia on the "Gilmore" in 1855 with 2 of their 6 children, as assisted immigrants. They settled on the north coast of NSW, farming and timber cutting in the early days.

I was wondering if you have a family history section where you collect interesting information about people in Ashwell so long ago? So much is now available online and I love it, but there is nothing like talking to someone who knows the area and the people. I will be visiting your site as often as I can.

Thanks, Sue Robinson

This page was added on 15/02/2016.
Comments about this page

Thank you for adding this page we always try to encourage the inter change of information about families and will endeavour to make as much available as possible.

By Peter Greener
On 15/02/2016

Hi

I've been doing a bit of research into The Fox in Ashwell (where I live).  The property was a pub from approx. 1850 to 1959 and according to http://pubshistory.com/HertsPubs/Ashwell/Fox.shtml they lived in the pub in 1861.

 

Hope this is of interest.

 

Andy

By Andrew Rowson-Brown
On 17/03/2016

I'm another family-history sleuther...

My husband's great-great-grandfather was George Bird, who was a publican in Ashwell; I have found him listed as such in directories from 1829, and in the 1841 census.  (I don't know the name of the pub though; maybe it was yours, Andy!)

Sadly, he died before the next census, as a result of falling down some steps in Royston.

I was very excited to find that the Ashwell gravestones have been listed and photographed on www.gravestonephotos.com  A brilliant resource.  Thank you to all who have logged them.

Angela

By Angela Bird
On 09/02/2017

Further to my earlier note, I see from the pubshistory site linked to by Andrew, above, that George Bird's pub was probably the Bull's Head.  (The 1841 census just gives his address as "High Street".)  
After George's death, his two older daughters took over the pub, and were running it in the 1851 census.

By Angela Bird
On 09/02/2017

Well I have asked another question elsewhere and then discovered this page!

It would seem that the original contributor and I share some family history - although in my case not a direct relationship. My great great uncle, William Oakley, who died at the Battle of Isandhlwana in 1879 married Eliza Clements the daught of George Clements of Ashwell. George was the son James Clements and Charlotte Clarke who are ancestors of the auther of this piece Suzanne Robinson.

By Chris Cheetham
On 03/09/2018

Hi there, 

This may not be seen by anybody as the original post was some time ago. But I've discovered that I am a descendant of James and Charlotte Clements, and indeed have many ancestors from Ashwell! What makes this even stranger is that I moved to Royston last year without any clue I had so many relatives from this area (I was born and grew up in London). 

I'd love to learn more about these ancestors and will definitely be in touch with anyone that may have information.

 

Ashley

By Ashley
On 01/06/2021

Hi Ashley, welcome back to your family seat, it is surprising how many families have a connection with Ashwell.  I have produced an Ashwell family tree which includes your family and would be pleased to help. 

By Jackie Embury
On 04/07/2021
Comments have been temporarily disabled while we update the site. They'll be turned back on when we launch the new version of the site in a few weeks' time.