In search of the family

  FOUNDATIONS My initial thought when I saw this week/months theme was wouldn't it be great if I had ancestoral links to the late 60's UK soul band, The Foundations. I couldn't name one of their songs but the name lingered in my memory. But no, there are no links there. I then thought about foundation stones, many can be found within Methodist Churches, but I cannot think of anyone within my family that could have such a memorial stone, although my Great Grandfather is said to have started a church in London in the 1880s. But to be honest with you, for this weeks theme I was always going to write about: PHILIP JAY of Cavendish & Long Melford Suffolk 1780 - 1841 who was involved in the manufacture of foundation garments in the early 1800's. Philip was a Stay- Manufacturer. Philip was the eldest son, of those surviving infancy, of Samuel & Mary nee Barnard. He was one of 14 children, although at least 4 of those did not survive to see their first birthday. Philip ...

  DOROTHY MARY JAY 1884-1959 with kind permission of the owner of this image. O.D. (Ancestry) Dorothy Mary Jay was the eldest daughter and child of the Reverend William (Willie) Parkinson Jay and his wife Priscilla Amelia nee Sterry born on the 27th June 1884. cropped from image above. The Reverend Willie Parkinson Jay was the brother of the Rev Arthur Osborne Montgomery Jay, who I have previously written about. Unlike his more flamboyant brother the Reverend Willie P Jay was less controversial in his ministry, although he and his wife were both innovative in their ministry at Christ Church, Watney Street in the East End of London.  It was at this church that the Rev Jay baptised his own daughter in 1884 on Aug 6th.                                                                        crown copyrigh...

  REVEREND ARTHUR OSBORNE MONTGOMERY JAY 1858-1945       "THE BOXING PARSON"                                         This week I am again writing about a clergyman. 'What has religion got to do with sport?' you may ask. Well, Arthur Jay was known as 'The Boxing Parson.' He was a man who courted controversy which has resulted in various versions of his life. Arthur Osborne Montgomery Jay was the younger of 2 sons, born in India on 14th April 1858. His father, William James Jay married to Harriett nee Osborne, was chaplain to the East India Company and was Assistant Chaplain on the Bengal Establishment from 1850-1860 throughout the Indian Mutiny, before returning to the UK. By 1861 and the census, the family had returned to the UK and were living in Poplar where William had a chaplaincy. During his time in India, William had baptised and instructed the Maharajah Duleep S...

EUGENIE MARIA MARY CRETON JAY  The Affair: An 1875 engraving shows a man snooping on his wife as she meets with her lover …   This weeks theme is difficult, it is like picking a favourite child. I rather like my 2x Great Grandmother's middle and chosen name, Rosella, but I have already written about her in a previous post:  52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Mothers Day (mypynthdev.blogspot.com)   Incidently my mother said, if she had known the name before I was born she would have chosen it for me. I'm not sure how I would have felt about that as child/teenager. Another name that has drawn me over the years is Catherine Sophia Lissa Woodley and whilst she had, in my opinion, a lovely name, she has an interesting story of her own to tell, I have already written her story:  Catherine Sophia Lissa Woodley: Sister of Mercy (mypynthdev.blogspot.com) So who have I chosen for this weeks post? Well she does have a nice name, but I have for some reason been drawn to her, since s...

 POWER This is a thought-provoking title, with so many possibilities and so many ancestors that may fit one or other definitions of ‘Power.’ My initial thoughts were related to Power as in Officialdom including political, judicial, or religious. So, I have not discovered any links to Royalty, the majority of us cannot verify any claim to Royal descendance other than with DNA evidence. Having said that I do have an ancestor who in his time was thought of as ‘The King of the Hundreds’ but his story fits to another of the themes in the future. I have not discovered any Members of Parliament either, but I have found several JP’s. There are several clergymen who would fit the bill, having the power to change people’s lives with their acts and ministry around socially deprived areas in London.   Equally there are others that have used their religious ‘power’ to be sponsored by many a wealthy lady of their parish. Again, I hope to one day write up their stories but not necessar...