My wife pointed out that I whilst have spent a good deal of time with websites I still haven't put my own family history on here in any detail at all.
I do hope to have the time to write up my own family history as some of it makes quite fascinating reading; meanwhile here are some of the more juicy bits whilst I get on with the collection of everyone else's STRANGE families!
Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire is the most significant parish for the history of my own family with John STRANGE c1749-1809 coming most probably from Long Wittenham, Berkshire, where there is evidence that his ancestors were for about 100 years.
His first marriage was in Caversham but that was short-lived, his wife, Jane DORMER, died in childbed. John later came to Henley and won the contract to build the new workhouse in 1790/91; now a Grade II listed building. The Contract for this job (which was worth £1600); and its associated Bond are held in the Oxfordshire Archives References C IV 11/2 F36 and F37.
John must have stayed around Caversham as this was where one of his sons, John STRANGE 1778-1845, was baptized. He also was to be a builder and owned a brick kiln at Comp Farm. He died leaving an estate of £800; his fourth wife (Sarah MULCOCK) survived him, Mary Ann COPELAND, Mary GOODALL and Amy HANCOCK didn't!
A son, William Copeland STRANGE 1805-1875 (my great, great, grandfather), got up to all sorts of mischief including a bankruptcy (The Times, June 25, 1856; pg.6; Issue 22403; col A; Official Appointments and Notices - From the London Gazette of Tuesday, June 24. Lord Chamberlain's Office, May 31. Bankrupts - William Copeland Strange, Henley-on-Thames, Bricklayer, July 8, at half-past 1 o'clock, August 6, at 1, at the Bankrupts' Court: solicitors, Messrs. Surr and Gribble, Abchurch-lane; official assignee, Mr.Stansfeld). There is a family story from a cousin in Canada, the late Arthur STRANGE, that William went bankrupt because he was not paid for work he carried out on Reading Jail
William was later to be made an officer of the Local Board, Surveyor, Collector of Rates and Inspector of Nuisances; he was found to have misappropriated the rates and was sacked. William met his maker in the hospital of the workhouse his grandfather had built (and he had modified the cess pits there himself).
It was in this very workhouse that my great grandfather, James STRANGE, was to be found in 1881 with his mother and two sets of twin sisters. ....... more anon.
If anybody else would like to write up their family story I would be delighted to add it to the website. www.yourtotalevent.com and a one-name study mail list at:
www.yahoogroups.com/group/STRANGE_thename
