They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

My five Nevill relatives, described in the rest of this post, are the only relations who died in World War I that I have so far identified.

Major Hugh Lewis Nevill

Born 24 Jul 1877, the son of Hugh Nevill

Commissioned in the Royal Artillery 1897

Served in the Boer War

In World War I served in France and the Dardanelles

Decorations: DSO and Queen’s Medal with 4 clasps (all from Boer War)

Killed in action on 7 August 1915 during the landing at Gallipoli

Buried at Lala Baba Cemetery, Turkey; grave reference II. D. 5.

References: The Times 16 Aug 1915  p5 colG and Commonwealth War Graves Commission listing

Captain Wilfred Percy Nevill

Born 1894

Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutentant in November 1914 & posted to the 8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment

Killed in action on 1 July 1916, on the first day of the Somme offensive

Wilfred is famous for being the officer who bought four footballs for his men to kick forward as they went over the top. He planned to award a prize to the one who kicked the ball the furthest into no-man’s land. Wilfred was killed during this initial advance, so no prize was awarded. Two of the footballs survived and are now in museums (one at the National Army Museum).

Reference: Commonwealth War Graves Commission listing

Private Clive Nevill

Born about 1894, the son of Leonard & Edith Nevill

Enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers, 8th Battalion

Killed in action on 7 October 1916 on the Somme

Buried: has no known grave

Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Pier & Face 8 C 9 A & 16A

Reference: Commonwealth War Graves Commission listing

Lieutenant Cuthbert St John Nevill

Born about 1889, the son of Walter Palmer Nevill & Elizabeth Nevill

Enlisted in the Royal Field Artillary, serving with ”C” Battery, 251st Brigade

Died 18 April 1918, probably on the Bethune front

Buried at Chocques Military Cemetery, France, grave reference III. A. 1.

Reference: Commonwealth War Graves Commission listing

Lieutenant Ralph Nevill

Born 25 June 1890, the  son of Sydney and Margaret L Nevill   

Emigrated to Canada in 1905

Enlisted in March 1916 and joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 107th Overseas Battalion

Decorations: MC

Died near Arras 30 September 1918

Buried at Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, France; grave reference III. C. 13.

Reference: Commonwealth War Graves Commission listing

 Clarinda Boddy first attracted my attention when I found the following interesting news report in The Times Digital Archive:

“FEMALE MEDICAL STUDENTS – At the preliminary examination in arts at the Society of Apothecaries, which has just been brought to a close, 109 candidates presented themselves, when 72 passed and received certificates of proficiency in general education. Among them were the following ladies, placed in the first class and in the order of merit:- Annie Jacob, Mary Susan Mungearn, Clarinda Boddy, Elizabeth Longheed, and Catherine Mitchell. The following were placed in the second division:- Julia Cock, Elizabeth Grace Evans, and Janet Michie. At the half-yearly preliminary examinations in arts, &c., for the diplomas of fellowship and membership of the Royal College of Surgeons, to which young ladies are not admitted, the large number of 410 candidates presented themselves—viz., 128 for the fellowship and 282 for the membership; of this number 71 passed for the first-named distinction and 180 for the latter.”

from The Times 28 Sept. 1878 p6 colA (my enboldening)

Clearly there was more to Clarinda Boddy than I had realised! I reviewed my known facts. Her father, John Marlett, had died in 1875, and her mother, Mary, a year later. Her father had worked for the Admiralty, and the probate value of his effects was about £20,000.

So, it looks like once her parents were gone, Clarinda could please herself, and it clearly pleased her to look into medical training. As can be gleaned from the comments in The Times news report, and from any casual reading around about the history of women in medicine (for example), 1878 was right in the middle of when women were finally being allowed to qualify as doctors. Indeed, the first five women doctors qualified and were placed on the Medical Register in 1877.

So, now I was motivated to look further into Clarinda’s life, and the next step was tracking her through later census entries:

• 1881 Clarinda is visiting a sister in Paddington, London, but is described as a medical student
• 1891 cannot find an entry
• 1901 Clarinda is a boarder in Maidstone, Kent and her occupation is a physician, living on her own means

So, Clarinda had succeeded in training and qualifying as a doctor! I knew the next step was to discover where she trained and when she qualified…

…but I’ve gone on long enough, and that will have to wait for another post

I must admit that I go into more detail about where Quaker (or Society of Friends) records can be found than about the Shephards themselves, as Quaker records are very useful for family history research before 1837.

My favourite Shephard family so far is that of Richard Shephard (c1743-1800) and Mary Jarrett (c1742-1820). They married on 30 November 1770 at the Publick Meeting House in Eatington (now Ettington), Warwickshire. This was after a two month period of seeking permission to marry, and being checked by members of the Society. A quote from the Meeting’s Minute Book illustrates this (see note 1 for full reference):

At our Monthly Meeting held at Long Compton of 29th of ye 10mo 1770 …

… Richd Shepherd and Mary Jarrett continuing their Intention of Marriage and no obstruction appearing they are left to their Liberty to accomplish the same according to good order, and we appoint Wm Marshall and Jn Bevington to attend on the day of Marriage to see that good order is Preserved and Report the same at our next [meeting]

Richard (a brass founder) and Mary duly married, lived in Hill Street and Litchfield Street in Birmingham, and had nine children.

They chose an interesting mix of names for their children (one of the reasons I find them interesting): Mary, Sarah, Martha, Rebecca (died age 1), Gulidina twice (both died under a year old), Kerenhappuch, Richard (died at 6 weeks), and Hannah.

Most of the names are obvious family or biblical names. Of the others, Kerenhappuch is also bibilical (she was a daughter of Job), and I haven’t managed to trace any information on Gulidina… so if you know something, please let me know!

Note 1: full reference for 29 Oct 1770 quote from Minute Book

Warwickshire South Monthly Meeting Minute Book, Ref No. 142 Vol. 1704-1779 (no page numbers, entries in date order); from Microfilm copy held at Birmingham Central Library, Microfilm Ref: PG 3568.

Amadis Surflen was born on 13th October 1784, in Margate, Kent, the son of Edward Surflen (1752-1797) and Ann Humbel (c1758- after 1809).

I don’t know anything else about Amadis Surflen – not even if he survived childhood. I have found references to an Amadis Surflen operating a bathing machine at Margate in The Times newspaper, but I think this probably refers to an Amadis born in 1746.

Amadis is clearly a family name. I have three records of the name across three generations: Amadis Surflen b1746; Amadis Surflen b1784; & Edward Amadis Nevill b1813 (son of Mary Ann Surflen).

So in the absence of any knowledge about the man Amadis Surflen, what about that name?

Starting simply, Amadis means ‘love of God’.

Deeper than this, where did the name come from? The main reference I can find is to a wildly popular 14th/15th century portugese/spanish tale of a knight errant ‘Amadis de Gaula’. This well-known tale of chivalric romance is apparantly referred to repeatedly in ‘Don Quixote’ by Cervantes, as “the character Don Quixote idolizes Amadís, and often compares his hero’s adventures to his own” (quote from Wikipedia article on Amadis de Gaula).

Massenet wrote an opera ‘Amadis’ based on the story, and Goethe wrote a poem in 1775, ‘The New Amadis’.

Picture me now, imagining a Surflen ancestor revelling in the romance and heroism of Amadis de Gaula and inspired to name a son… it’s probably more prosaic than that, but I can dream

Sadly, this isn’t a very impressive selection of direct ancestors… only my great grandmother Caroline Claydon, and her father James – more details on my problems tracing my Claydons on the new page!

When I think of the Claydons, it is really Caroline Claydon I imagine. From the stories I’ve been told, and the pictures I’ve seen, she sounded and looked like a formidable person. She was certainly a survivor.

Her first husband, Walter Alliston died of throat cancer, leaving her with two young children (aged 10 & 4). She took in boarders for a while, and one of these became her second husband – Hugo Otto Greiner, an engineer from Germany working at a local factory. They had one child together and a much longer marriage (29 years). Hugo died in 1930, and she lived on to 1949.

The text of the letter is below the cut. Just a few comments first:

To me as a family historian, the letter reads as if George Boddy knew I wanted a summary of his career & family I feel very lucky that George wrote the letter & that I’ve found it.

Did this letter to Sir Evan Nepean help in getting George the recognition, money and help he sought? I don’t know (yet – more research required), but from other information about the Boddy family I suspect that in the end he did…

• George’s son John Marlett Boddy (c1791-1875) went on to a career in the Admiralty. I suspect, but have yet to prove, that John Marlett is the former midshipman of HMS Conqueror referred to in this letter – he is certainly the correct age (14 in 1805).
• Two of George’s grandchildren were apparently named after Sir Evan Nepean – Evan Nepean George Boddy (b1830) and Wentworth Nepean Boddy (b1835), sons of William Barnard Boddy (c1800-1884).

There are so many other things I want to comment on, but rather than ramble on, I’ll just let you read the letter for yourselves – its below the cut.

ADM1/4379 Loose letters from The National Archives, Kew 

ProB300: letter from George Boddy, Plymouth Dockyard, to Sir Evan Nepean  11 Feb 1805  

[Page 1]

Plymouth Dock Yard

11 Feby 1805

Right Honr^ble Sir Evan Nepean B^t

                        As an old & faithful Servant of  his Majestys I humbly beg leave to state a few particulars of my case entreating that your Honor will kindly take the same into your consideration —

 I have been 32 years in the service conscientiously exerting myself in the discharge of very laborious and oftentimes dangerous duty – God Almighty has been pleased to bless me with a capacity suited to my employments and I have thro’ life uniformly endeavoured to improve it for the good of the service and having always had a full determination to be honest and active in all my undertakings, I have of course met with my full share of Opposition from many that were not like minded with myself —

Your Honor knows of my exertions in getting the Pintles out from under water of H.M.S.Culloden at Spithead when she had lost her Rudder there by [s]aving a great loss of time & probably near £2000 in preventing her from going into Dock, being dismantled &c. Exerting myself on this occasion to the utmost of my power it excited the envy & jealousy of many selfish Men on board who wanted the Ship to go into Dock & who in revenge endeavoured to murder me —

Soon after this I was beset in Portsmouth Yard because I would not countenance idleness & [f…d] My Clothes torn off my back, I and my Servant was discharged to quiet a Rebellious mob and Sir Charles Saxton to save my Life in great kindness as a reward for my service recommended me to the Navy and Admiralty Board thro’ your goodness I was then appointed Converter of Timber in Salcey and Whittlewood Forests – Soon after  

[Page 2]

my arrival at the Forests I contributed in no small degree to the discovery & investigation of  gross Frauds to the amount of several thousand Pounds which had been practised by my predecessor John Collin[ri]dge and his Executor George Thomas who was prosecuted to conviction and sentenced to suffer death. A considerable Sum of money was recovered back again to Government principally by means of the unwearied attention I bestowed upon that affair. Mr Bicknell Solicitor to the Admiralty is somewhat acquainted with the great pains & trouble I took in the laborious investigation of this business —

My accounts with the Navy Board prove that I converted one third more Timber for the Service than any predecessor, in the same space of time; & at less than one half the expense to Government – besides putting a stop to many grievous Frauds of private Sails of Timber &c.

About 3½ Years ago, I was removed to Plymouth Yard I believe it was there by intended to better my situation but it proved a very heavy expence to remove my large family from Northamptonshire & altho’ I have now a most laborious employment as Foreman of the Shipwrights having several hundred men under my constant direction —

Wishing to render all the service I can to Government I have invented a Machine for getting out broken Pintles from under water when Rudders are carried away & I there by saved Government, August 1803, a considerable Sum perhaps not less than from 12 to £1500 besides saving the time of dismantling the Ship &c by my getting the Pintles out of the Sirius, Braces, without bringing her into Dock &c when she had lost her [R]udd[]  I have an especial Certificate of the value of this Machine Signed by Admirals – Sir John Colpoys – Sir Charles Cotton – Da[..]es – & by Commissioner Fanshawe, and nine Captains —

I have also invented a Beam for Ships Decks upon a new principal, which is much stronger – less expensive more durable and on a variety of accounts much better for 

[Page 3]

for the service than the old Beam – My invention is approved by Commissioner Fanshawe, the Builder & Assistants in the Yard and might prove of very great advantage to the service if generally adopted — 

On all occasions I have made it my study to [t/r]ender every service to Government to the uttermost of my abilities – My indefatigable exertions in directing & overlooking so large a Body of Men are well known to the Port Admiral & to all the Officers acquainted with his Majestys Yard at Plymouth – I feel rather pained to say so much of myself but having a Wife and eight Children I wish if possible to make some provision for them having also a Boy of 17 Years of age who is quite helpless thro’ fits – and another Son 14 Years of age (late Midshipman of H.M.S. Conqueror) who has received a hurt in the service which has produced a bad Rupture & has rendered him unfit for active employment in Life – I am therefore called upon in behalf of my large Family to make some appail to your Honor’s consideration in behalf of my useful inventions & my long and laborious services —

 With most dutiful respects

 I am 

Your Honors 

Mos devoted humble Servant 

George Boddy

Foreman of the Shipwrights

Plymouth Yard — 

PS. If a Moddle of the Machine for getting out Broken Pintles was kept on Board H.M. Ships when at Sea there would be no need for heaving down Ships at any part of the world for that purpose —

When I heard about this new search function last year, I tried the names of various ancestors – I thought that maybe one would appear in a book published in 1850, or some such.

Amazingly, George Boddy scored hits in books published in 1983 and 1999 on naval dockyard history. As the books are still in copyright, there were only two line snippets in the results, but I was able to order both from my local library for the bargain inter-library loan price of £1.75 each :-)

So I discovered the work of a naval dockyards historian called Roger Morriss, including the precise references to George Boddy in Admiralty and Navy Board papers at The National Archives, Kew and the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. Who knows if I would have ever identified these papers for myself – but Roger Morriss’s work found via Google Book Search gave me a very welcome short cut.

This July I visited The National Archives, Kew, and read, photographed and transcribed the letters from & about my ancestor – a real thrill for me and my mum who was visiting the Kew archives for the first time.

I now know, in George’s own words, about his career moves from dockyard to dockyard, his invention of a tool to remove broken pintles (don’t ask, but he was hoping for money from the Admiralty!), and about struggling to provide for his eight children.

Note 1: The National Archive references are:

ADM1/4379  a box of loose letters; specifically letters numbered Pro B300, Pro B301 & Pro B302;

ADM1/4379 letter Pro B300 Page 3 letter from George Boddy to Sir Evan Nepean July 1805 This image is Crown copyright.

ADM106/2227 a book of copy letters from the Navy Board to the Admiralty; page 385.

Note 2: the two naval dockyards history books are:

The Royal Dockyards During the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, by Roger Morriss. Pub. 1983 by Leicester University Press. ISBN: 0718512154

History of Work and Labour Relations in the Royal Dockyards, edited by Kenneth Lunn & Ann Day. Pub. 1999 by Routledge (UK). ISBN: 0720123496

My Allistons are from Essex, and I haven’t managed to track them back terribly far – my earliest Alliston is Thomas, born in 1774.

When I think of my Allistons, my main thoughts are of sad deaths and spelling that surname!

• Walter Alliston died in 1899, aged 45, of throat cancer. He took five months to die, and my family has a sad letter he wrote from hospital
• Henry Alliston, his father, died in 1864, aged 50. He fell from a hay wagon & broke his back, but took nine weeks to die
• try saying ‘Alliston’ and you can probably imagine all the possible ways people hear & write it down – Allison & Elliston are ones I’ve found quite often

Indeed, on this blog, all lines will flow back through history from my great grandparents … as I don’t intend to go into detail for more recent family, in order to protect the privacy of the living.

So here they are, introduced through their marriages, my great grandparents:

Walter Alliston & Caroline Claydon married on 2nd February 1889 in Braintree, Essex.

Eliza Birt & Edward Ward married on 2nd August 1886 in Stradbroke, Suffolk.

Richard Henry Cormack & Annie Rose Nevill married on 1st February 1893 in Islington, Middlesex.

Mary Ann Pooley & Joseph Edmond Shephard married on 23rd February 1881 in Brighton, Sussex.