I would like to welcome six new members to the Sole Society. They are Donna Harvey, Bram Taylor, Margaret Chapman, Raelene Yeates, Helen Cramp, and returning member Denise Howes.

Margaret Chapman is researching her Sewell line, from Ashwellthorpe in Norfolk. Her great grandmother was Sarah Ann Sewell born there in 1842. Sarah Ann’s son William was born in 1869 in Wicklewood workhouse. William moved to Walker in Northumberland and married Isabella Jane Moffat in 1891 and together they had ten children. Margaret’s father was William and Isabella’s son George. Member Brenda Ord is also descended from this family, from Honora Ethel, a sister of George.

By coincidence, Helen Cramp in Australia was looking for her ancestor Henry Sewell born about 1893 at Walker. She knew he was the son of Henry and Mary Ann Carson. From our records we have Henry born about 1862 in Shelfanger, Norfolk, the son of John Sewell and Lucy nee Bolton. John also came from Ashwellthorpe and was the son of John Sewell and Honor nee Brown. Margaret Chapman’s great grandmother, Sarah Ann was also their daughter. We can trace this family back to the marriage in 1717 of John Sewell to Elizabeth Stott in Ashwellthorpe, Norfolk. Helen told me that Henry born in 1893 was with the 8^th battalion, Yorkshire regiment and won the military medal and the medaille militairie in WW1. He was also given a war medal from the Bolden Colliery and left England for Australia in about 1918.

Another Australian member, Bram Taylor has been researching his Byfield/ Chacombe, Northamptonshire Sewell family for some time and was in contact about two years ago although he has been in regular contact with ex member Ruth Pringle who shares his research. Bram has been able to link up his ancestor Henry Sewell who married Susannah Bloxham in 1794 in the Dissenting Meeting House in Banbury. He tells me he has also added two young ladies buried in the manor house in Chacombe. In 1881 their mother was a widow living in the manor house. She had been married to John Thomas Sewell born about 1828 in Middleton Cheney, Nth. As yet neither Bram nor Ruth has found that elusive link between their families. Ruth is looking towards DNA testing if she can find a suitable candidate.

Denise Howes has recently rejoined the Sole Society, and may also be linked to the families of Bram and Ruth.  Her grandfather was Ernest Frederick Sewell, and Denise traces her family back to the marriage of Thomas Sewell born about 1745 in Woodford Halse, to Ann Luck. However she cannot find the link to Richard Sewell a blacksmith of Woodford Halse, although Richard mentions in his will Henry, Thomas and Ann Sewell.

Raelene Yeates also from Australia is researching her Sewell family from Great Henny in Essex. She is descended from John Sewell who married Margery Gibelon about 1540. Their great, great grandson Robert Sewell a Captain of Major-General Tidcombes’s regiment married Sarah Stubber about 1703 and they lived in Ireland. Sarah was bequeathed estates in Ireland from her uncle Edward Stubber and Robert took the name Stubber. Grant of arms entry of Captain Robert Sewell now Stubber was made 1707 May the 28^th, by the Sheriff of Dublin County in 1711. Robert and Sarah named their son Sewell Stubber. Robert’s father also Robert was a draper in London and a gentleman of the Privy Chamber to King Charles 11. This Great Henny family is also part of member Glennis Sewell’s family and Glennis has done a lot of research, and is now in touch with Raelene. 

Cynthia Neale, also has a Sewell connection and would like to share information. She has found Elizabeth Sewell married Joseph Neale, they were her x4great grandparents. Cynthia does not know when Elizabeth and Joseph married but they had several children, their first was Sarah Neale christened 1780 St Mary Whitechapel, London and there was also Samuel Neale born 1792 Spitalfields, London. I have not been able to find Elizabeth’s family in our records.

Finally Penny Graham has been researching her mother’s family in Natal. From our records we have Benjamin Sewell born 1774 in Howe Norfolk. Benjamin married Mary Neck in 1800 in St Saviours, Southwark. From there various members of the family went to Gloucestershire, Kent, Devon, Brighton, New Zealand and many other places. Among them was John Joseph Sewell who was born in Cirencester, Gloucestershire and died in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. He had been educated at Marlborough College, and became a cricketer for Middlesex County. In 1867 he emigrated to South Africa.   

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