11.08.09
Posted in Genealogy & Ancestry at 6:31 am by Cate
Lateral thinking sent me off in search of a non related connection and I found a very generous family historian who sent me some files I did not have. Along my Farley ancestry I have found two extremely helpful people and I thank you both, Linda and Jenny. One from Kent and the other in Australia.
It appears Thomas Farley, Gentleman lived in Nelson Square, Southwark, Surrey from 1814 to the middle 1830’s. From “British History online” Nelson Square was planned about 1807 on land that was previously the manor of Paris Garden and was fully tenanted by about 1814. What interested me in this information was that Thomas Farley was living in Nelson Square with an Augustus Applegarth, a brother-in-law and partner of Edward Cowper, inventor of printing machinery. Also in the Square was Thomas Barnes, editor of The Times.
Thomas Farley is shown on the baptisms of his children as being a Letter Press Printer and one of his sons, James Palmer Farley was also a printer. Also I noted there were living in Southwark other families with occupations to do with the printing and publishing of newspapers, such as collater and book binder.
Interesting to note that the various addresses given on the baptisms as residence are all the same place: Nelson Square, Great Surry Street and Blackfriar’s road. The old maps show it all and worth a look when you search out your ancestors place of residence.
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10.17.09
Posted in Genealogy & Ancestry at 6:52 am by Cate
Recently I sought out the will of James Palmer Farley who died at Hill End in 1876.
I was the first person to see these original papers since they were filed for probate on 30th March 1876. I know this because the packet had the original green ribbon neatly tied through the top left corner and while I was looking at these papers the ribbon broke due to its age and the pressure of me turning the document pages over. I felt like a vandal when this happened but as there was nothing I could do, the ribbon was broken I couldn’t fix it, I continued to read the documents. Seventeen pages in total and included a Bond document, two Affidavit of Surety, an Affidavit in support of application for administration, an Oath of Administration, an Affidavit of Publication and the Petition. It appears James Palmer Farley had goods worth close to £200. These documents contain the signature of my ancestor, William Nix Farley, Jame’s brother and beneficiary.
William Farley stated in these documents that James “departed this life unmarried on or about the 17 February intestate leaving behind him myself, his brother and next of kin and the only person entitled to his estate and effects, the Father of the above named deceased has been dead for many years…” Thomas Farley had died in 1858 in Kent.
To see the original documents was a thrill not often felt these days with scanned images online, microfilm and microfiche. To be able to smell the paper and touch (with gloved hands) original primary source documents is something all genealogists should have an opportunity to experience. Original primary source documents brings the history of our research of facts to life and the experience is well worth it. Go visit your local archives office as soon as you can before everything is digitised.
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07.26.09
Posted in Genealogy & Ancestry at 10:16 am by Cate
It seems Thomas Farley’s father was an esquire, but what did he do to be able to use the title? I have been having fun lately searching this side of the family, I have found Thomas’ sisters and their husbands all from Clapham-common. One was married to a Fishmonger with long family links to this trade and her son was an architect who co-designed a building at Piccadilly Circus. One other sister was married to a surgeon. And all this started from information a friend sent in an email after she looked this family name up at her local family history group in Kent. Thank you friend.
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08.18.07
Posted in Genealogy & Ancestry at 10:15 pm by Cate
A copy of the marriage certificate for 1855 of William Nix Farley and Elizabeth Swain arrived at my home August 2007.
Another step to the past William Farley is shown as living at Underdown Street, Herne Bay, Kent, son of Thomas Farley a Gentleman. And Elizabeth as living at Charles Street, Herne Bay, Kent, daughter of Gayler Swain a Baker by trade. Gayler Swain and Lydia Farley were witnesses to the marriage.
It appears form internet searching that Gayler Swain was baptised in 1809 at Willesborough, Kent, a suburb of Ashford. William Nix Farley and Elizabeth left England for Australia not long after their marriage as their first child was born in 1856 in Sydney, Australia.
I have used the on line directories to find both Thomas Farley and Gayler Swain listed in 1858 Melville & Co.’s Directory & Gazetteer of Kent. This confirms Thomas Farley is a Gentry and Gayler Swain is a Baker at the stated addresses on the marriage certificate in 1855. I am very pleased to have a little more knowledge.
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