Category Archives: Isle of Wight

Week 19 update

Another week rolls by with me still giving my hard earned cash to Ancestry!

Progress this week includes the certificates I ordered arrived so I was able to add some more details to my family tree (current people tally is 512). Unfortunately I made a hilarious typo when I applied for a Probate record – I put the year of death as 1068 instead of 1968 and my search was returned as not found (unsurprisingly). The place must be run by robots but I now have to place the order again, this time without the typo.

As I was downloading records I discovered a little more about my Leigh family and came across a few new to me records which specified an address. Previously the place of residence was just listed as Knighton but I found a burial record for Elizabeth Wavell (the mother. of Elizabeth Leigh) which named Knighton Mill in 1816. Then I did a quick google search and found a document on The National Archives website entitled ‘Bargain and sale and release of the manor or lordship of Knighton alias Knighton Gorges’ in 1823 (AC/90/50/15). This listed Upper Knighton water corn mill and millhouse (21a.) in occupation of Jeremiah Urry Wavell who I’m hoping is a relation. The Wavell family also occupied James’s or Mapleton Closes (20a.) and Lands called Harts Ash (50a.). It was good to see the family mentioned in documents and also pin down a place.

Previous posts:

Week 18

Week 13 update

Week 12 update

Week 6 update

Week 5 update

Week 4 update

Week 3 update

Week 2 update

Week 1 update

The problem with Ancestry

All Saints Newchurch parish records

I have been exploring the short life of Alexina Louise Mansel who was baptised at Birdham in 1829. Her mother died shortly after her birth and was buried at All Saints parish church, Newchurch, Isle of Wight.

I checked the burials at Birdham but could not find mention of the death and burial of Alexina. I was hoping that I would find the records of burials online but they don’t seem to be digitised yet.

Instead I looked up the Isle of Wight Records Office where you can consult the original registers or copies on microfiche: NEW/REG/BUR/1 1813-1864. All the entries in the parish registers from 1539 to 1900 have been recorded in the Personal Names Index. This is a card index that can be consulted in the Record Office search room.

The Isle of Wight Record Office can be found at
26 Hillside
Newport
Isle of Wight
PO30 2EB

I will try and make an appointment to see these records next time we visit.