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The Alabaster ChronicleThe Journal of the Alabaster Society
NUMBER THREE, AUTUMN 1994 |
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The Alabaster ChronicleThe Journal of the Alabaster Society
NUMBER THREE, AUTUMN 1994 |
Contents
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Editorialby Laraine HakeAs I write this I am looking forward to the next Alabaster Gathering and first AGM of the Alabaster Society, on 10th September, in Hadleigh Guildhall. Approximately fifty people have booked to attend, but there have been a couple of last minute cancellations. Consequently, if any readers have realised that they are now free that day, or that Hadleigh is really the ONLY place to be on 10th September, they could be fitted in. If this should be the case, please telephone me on 0787 237686 so that the necessary arrangements can be made. I am gratified to be able to report that we will be joined by further cousins from across the seas, this time from Canada: Nan Criddle-Kenyon, descendant of Mary Ann Rebecca Alabaster (IIC), who is mentioned elsewhere in this Chronicle, will be at the Gathering. For those of you who are interested, I have organised tours of the Guildhall, and a tour of parts of Hadleigh by Roger Kennell, with very much emphasis on bricks(!) It sounds fascinating and I am told that he is really good. Other than that there will be the AGM, -- short I hope -- although I would be happy to hear if anybody has any good ideas for the future or offers of help! Most importantly, there will be time to eat and time to talk! I am really looking forward to seeing so many of you again. I found a photograph from the first Gathering yesterday, and realised that I could actually identify many people in the audience by name almost immediately. When I wrote the previous editorial, on 14th March, I mentioned that I had received two telephone calls from people seeking Alabasters they had known some years before. Kay Simon, nee Alabaster, was traced almost immediately, as I reported. She has now joined the society and has written about her Guide Reunion which you will read shortly. When Kay sent me a copy of her immediate family tree, I found that one of her first cousins was none other than the Len Alabaster sought by the other phone call! Len, too, has had the reunion with his friend from the past and has also joined the Society! Both Kay and Len will be with us on 10th September. Until this year, they had not met since the 1970s! Your subscription of £5 per household (£6.50 out of UK) is now due for the year September 1994 - August 1995. This is the first of the two Alabaster Chronicles that come into that year. I do hope you will resubscribe! A renewal form is enclosed. The Alabaster Society has been accepted as a member of the Federation of Family History Societies, which is a great honour. Among other things, this means we can associate with other organisations and societies with similar objectives to ourselves. For those of you interested in family history in general, it also means that I will have some of the Federation's books available for purchase at the Gathering, as well as back copies of the Chronicle, copies of Mr Jones's book "Hadleigh through the Ages", the bookmarks designed by Malcolm Fowler depicting St Mary's Church steeple (sold in aid of the church), and the society lapel badge, see page 20. Many thanks to those of you who have provided the excellent contributions to this magazine. I would appreciate any articles or snippets for the next magazine by January 31st 1995, please. Do note that this copy has been extended to 20 pages! Do keep writing to me: the postlady is my favourite caller! I look forward to being in touch with you soon, if not meeting in person, then by letter. If you hope to visit Hadleigh one day, you could always consider Spring 1996. Laraine Hake, 11th August 1994.To Contents |
What it is to be Found!!Thanks to the diligence of a friend last seen when we played hockey together in 1952, I have become a member of the Alabaster Society, and have attended a reunion of my Gravesend Guide Company, celebrating our Captain's 70th birthday while on holiday here from Bermuda, where she lives and has worked for many years. Wissie (my friend) checked an Alabaster in the telephone book who knew an Alabaster who had connections with the society, giving her Laraine' s number. After explaining the need for contacting me, Laraine gave Wissie my married name and the town where I live - she tried the first one in the book and, hey presto, I was found! How lucky - she with other friends from before 1952 were organising a reunion of as many of our company as possible: over 40 were found and 31 were able to attend on the best day of the year so far for sunshine - April 29th - in the library and garden of the old manor house in whose fields we camped so happily more than 42 years ago. There was so much to reminisce about and compare with the lack of freedom and safety today. Knowing it would be impossible to pull a loaded tack cart from H.Q. to camp 5 or 6 miles along the main road, or any other road -- cars or lorries would be used to transport everything today -- the rest of the company either walked or cycled to and from camp. Oh that hard work used to be fun -- then to digging the "lats", "wooding" for the fire to cook a meal and collecting water. Pitching the tents, making gadgets, competitions, wide games, and, of course, camp fire singing. Our voices have certainly changed but we all enjoyed remembering our camp fire songs, finishing with our traditional "Taps" and the salute goodnight to Captain and Lieutenant with happy smiles. It was sad saying goodbye but we hope to meet again in a few years and hopefully will recognise one another again. If nothing else, the Alabaster Society gave me a wonderful day of happy memories and an opportunity to be thankful for so much. Kay Simon, nee Alabaster (IIIA)To Contents |
A New Zealand Connectionby Margaret FrancisWhen Charles Alabaster (1) emigrated to New Zealand in 1858 he was 25, his wife, Ann O'Connor (2) just 16. They had been married only weeks when they set sail on the 'Strathallen' because Charles was suffering from tuberculosis and had been told a long sea voyage was his only hope of recovery. The couple both taught at St Ebb`s Parish school in Oxford, where Charles was also the curate. Because be had been orphaned as a child, he and his brothers Henry (3) and Chaloner (4) (both of whom later had successful careers in the British diplomatic corps) were raised by a kindly aunt, Mary Ann Rebecca Criddle (5) residing at Piccadilly, London (the Criddles also had a son of their own, Percy (6)). After completing his schooling at King's College, Charles took a degree in classics at Lincoln College, Oxford University. On completing the teaching requirements he graduated with a Master of Arts. Further studies led to his ordination as an Anglican priest. Although occupying the 'chief cabin' on the 'Strathallen', the voyage must have been an unpleasant experience.
Details are contained in a diary Charles wrote on board the ship. The diary is now lodged in the Canterbury Museum,
Christchurch. During the journey, Charles carried out pastoral duties and ran a school along with Ann. The couple arrived in Christchurch on January 22, 1859. It is important to note that the Treaty of Waitangi (making New Zealand British) was signed only in 1840, and the first emigrant ships arrived in Christchurch in 1850. For a time Alabaster was employed as Chaplain to the Bishop. However, he never fully recovered from the tuberculosis and the newspaper of the day 'The Lyttelton Times' reported, in June 1861, that he was very ill and forced to retire. The Alabasters, who now had two sons, Austin Henry (7), born 1860, and John Chaloner (8), born 1861, needed an alternative source of income. A school was a logical step. In January 1862, Lincoln Cottage Preparatory School, which catered for boys aged 5 to 10, both boarders and day boys, was opened. Ann mostly ran the school, with help from Charles when his health allowed. The curriculum was considered advanced for its day. Examinations, which were held annually, were conducted by Anglican clergy. Lincoln Cottage soon established a sound reputation. The Headmaster of Christ's College described it as the best means of training for Christ's College. Many leading citizens sent their sons there. Tragically, but not unexpectedly, Charles died in January 1865. In spite of his ill health he had been active in civic life, helping establish an orphanage in Christchurch, publishing a couple of small books, writing to the newspaper and being a strong advocate of building a cathedral in the young town. There is a plaque to his memory in this edifice. Ann continued to run the school until 1881. Her brother, John Warner, a lawyer, came out from England to assist. In later life she married again to an Anglican minister, Canon Francis Knowles. She died suddenly on February 25th, 1915. An Alabaster prize and scholarship were set up at Canterbury University in their memories. Margaret Francis (nee Alabaster) (IIC), granddaughter of John Chaloner. |
Lincoln College Preparatory SchoolCRANMER SQUARE, CHRISTCHURCHMrs, Alabaster receives Boys between It is not necessary that a Boy on Terms: Day Scholars, £4 per Holidays: Six weeks at Christmas, four |
| Charles ALABASTER (c .1775-1820) m.1803, London, Mary DEARMER (1786-1838)  |
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| Mary Ann Rebecca
ALABASTER (5) (1805 - 1880) m. 1836, London Henry CRIDDLE ( - 1857) |
James Chaloner ALABASTER (1806 - 1840) m. 1830, London Sophia Harriet WOODMAN (1807 - 1840) |
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| Percy CRIDDLE (6) (1844 - 1918) |
Charles ALABASTER (1) (1833 ~ 1865) m. 1858, Oxford Ann O' Conner WARNER (2) ( 1842 - 1914) |
Henry ALABASTER (3) (1836 - 1884) |
Chaloner ALABASTER (4) (1838 - 1898) |
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| Austin Henry ALABASTER (7) (c. 1860 - 1920) m. 1884, Canterbury, New Zealand Janet Stuart BELL |
John Chaloner ALABASTER (8) (1861 - 1929) m. 1896, Paluatua, New Zealand Mary Agnes BLAKELEY |
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Pictured left: Austin Henry (7) and John Chaloner Alabaster (8), sons of Charles and Ann
To Contents |
Extract from Parish Book 1577
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Arthur Veysye |
John Still |
ffurther it is agreed by, the partyes above subscribed that Pease his house shalbe the place of correction & that Pease & his wife shalbe the governers above in the decree mentioned that Mr. Rolf, Richard Wallys, Henry Totty & Thomas ffacon shall be overseers of this government & at ther discretions appointe work for the idle persons aforesaid, and allowe Pease & his wife such things as shalbe by them thought necessary herunto.
When we first decided to trace our family history, we set about researching the Knox ancestry and made a fair amount of progress. Being a somewhat uncommon name in Bethnal Green, we thought that our researches would be more rewarding confined to George's paternal side of the family.
His maternal side did not instantly appeal as a project: his mother was Elizabeth Johnson prior to her marriage, and presented what we considered could be an impossible task.
Elizabeth was the eldest of the family and died in 1980, but the youngest child, Lily, was living in Chingford, and is still, and visited us from time to time. She was always interested in hearing our latest progress report on the Knox research and, one day, she agreed that it was an uncommon name, but added, quite casually, "You know your grandmother was an Alabaster before she married Henry Johnson."
This was news to George and our first thought was that we must look into this, being such an interesting name. We asked Lily to tell us all she knew about the family and set about sending for a copy of George's father's birth certificate. This confirmed that her mother was indeed Elizabeth Caroline Alabaster before her marriage. We later sent for her birth certificate and found that she was the daughter of George and Celia Alabaster. George Alabaster had married Celia Charlotte Yarnell Young in Shoreditch on the 9th August 1863.
We were then well and truly hooked, and entered the nane of Alabaster in our interests in various journals, and ultimately had a letter from Laraine Hake asking for some details of the family. She gave us the names and addresses of a couple of other researchers, one of whom was our treasurer, Robin Alabaster. After sending the family details to Laraine, we had an excited phone call from her as she was sure that George could be quite closely related to Robin.
We contacted Robin and as the name of Orontes Alabaster appeared in both families, a connection was definitely made. It started us off on the research which we have been pursuing for the past seven years.
There is still a number of gaps to fill, but at least George is known to be descended from "William of Woodford", the title Laraine uses to distinguish this section of the family.
From the 1851 census for Bethnal Green, we have discovered that the Knox and the Alabaster families lived within a stone's throw of each other, but it was not until 1912 that the two families were joined in marriage, as far as we are aware.
Just because of a chance remark made by Auntie Lily, we have been in contact with members of George's extended family at home and abroad, made many friends, and enjoyed ourselves immensely into the bargain.
Friends of Hadleigh GuildhallEarly in 1994, the Friends of Hadleigh Guildhall was formed to help maintain and promote this wonderful building, now almost completely refurbished, which our ancestors helped to buy back from the Crown in the 16th century. Members of the Friends are likely to provide any tours of the Guildhall that we have at the Gathering on 10th September. I have joined the Friends myself (annual subscription £5). Should anybody else be interested in supporting them, further details can be obtained from Jane Haylock, via Town Hall, Hadleigh. In their first news sheet, 'Guild News', mention is made of the Guildroom, which is where the Gathering and first AGM of the Alabaster Society will be held. This is a room we have not used before as its restoration has only just been completed. "Work on this room has finally been completed and it looks very good. It is self-contained with access from the churhyard which is suitable for wheelchairs...... One of the fireplaces in the hall has been opened up, a part of the medieval floor has been hung on the wall, and a small section of wattle and daub has been glassed over. With this display there is a short explanation. The treatment to the beams has shown up the carpenter`s marks which were originally covered by the jetty." To ContentsEast End GleaningsI have recently found a small concern which is indexing East End newspapers:- Shoreditch Observer - October 10th 1857: DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT FINSBURY -- On Tuesday morning a fire of a destructive character broke out in the premises belonging to Mr J.D.Conner, marine-store dealer, carrying out business at No. 18, East-street, Finsbury market......... The adjoining house (no 17), the property of Mr Fisher, varnish maker, and No 19, belonging to Mr R.G.Alabaster (1), licensed victualler, are damaged by water &c. The origin of the misfortune is unknown. Fortunately the whole of the sufferers were insured. Shoreditch Observer - July 10th 1858: ST. JAMES`S, CURTAIN-ROAD -- On Thursday last the annual excursion of the rector, churchwarden, and parishioners of this densely-populated parish, with the children of the National and Sunday Schools, took place.....they went by Eastern Counties Railway to Epping Forest, accompanied by a brass band and the band of the East London Ragged Schools Shoeblack Society. On arriving at Loughton they proceeded to the forest, and amused themselves until dinner-time, when an excellent dinner was served up at the Crown Inn. The Rev. J.W.Markwell, M.A., the incumbent of the parish presided, and was supported by Mr. Alabaster (2) of Wilson-street, Finsbury, and several other influential persons. After dinner the company adjourned to the gardens of the inn, where the school children were plentifully regaled with plum-cake, tea, and bread and butter...... Liberal dealing is better than alms-giving, for it tends to prevent pauperism, which is better than to relieve it. 1 Robert George Alabaster (1830-1915) To Contents |
An Open Letter to all the VolunteersA letter from Beryl Neumann (IIA) to the Australian Society of GenealogistsIt was November 1986 and, as I had booked a trip to England leaving April 1987, I thought I would seriously get started on researching my family history. I chose my mother's maiden name of Alabaster as this was the most unusual. I had previously visited Richmond Villa a few times and found some small bits and pieces of information. On this day, however, with my great-grandfather's full birth certificate in hand, which I had just received from England, I spent a couple of hours getting nowhere and no doubt it showed on my face. A volunteer then approached me and said, "May I help you?" She spent about 30 minutes doing just that, showing me where to look, what to write down and what to do next in following up ideas. On looking through the Genealogical Research Directory, we found that someone in England was researching this name also. She very politely insisted that I write a letter to this person and include return postage. I let a week go by and then I wrote. I received a reply back within two weeks and after another letter from me and her subsequent reply it gave us the evidence that we wanted. Yes, we were related: third cousin, once removed. Woh! what had I started? I met her for the first time in April 1987. We hit it off straight away - as if we had been friends for years. Since then we write often always with interesting news and up-dates. I visited England again in the Spring of 1990 when we had our First Gathering in Hadleigh in Suffolk. Over 120 turned up and it was a most delightful and memorable weekend. On my return from this trip I made a file on the Alabaster Family and presented it to the Society of Genealogists. In April 1993 a second Family Gathering was held in Hadleigh, where many Alabasters lived in the 15th and 16th Centuries. Unfortunately, owing to illness, I was unable to attend. In September of that year the Alabaster Society was formed with a newsletter/journal known as the 'Alabaster Chronicle' to be published twice a year. To date, there are 58 families in England, 3 from Australia, 3 New Zealand, 2 Canada and from America who have joined the Society. I have, of course, personally thanked the Volunteer who really helped me to get the ball rolling. I can now trace my ancestors back for 12 generations to Thomas Alabaster, born c.1522, who lived in Hadleigh, and possibly before that to Worstead in Norfolk and I am very proud to be able to do so. I correspond with other Family Members from England and from here in Australia. We recently found a convict, Thomas Alabaster, who arrived here in 1820, got married in 1825, was pardoned in 1828 and became a store-keeper at Windsor, N.S.W. To celebrate 200 years of European Settlement, a tree planting project by the Hawkesbury City Council through its 1994 Bicentennial Committee was planned, and we recently sponsored and planted a tree in his memory in McQuade Park, Windsor, which is opposite St Matthew`s Church where he got married and was later buried. It is a wonderful hobby and I am overwhelmed by how many of us are now finding it a very worthwhile and delightful and exciting pastime. My only regret is that my dear Mother who died in 1970 was not able to share all this with me. Beryl Neumann, nee Young (IIA).To Contents
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Notes on Alabaster Demography1. General distribution of the "Hadleigh Alabasters". 1560-1850 Now that so much information about the Alabasters has been collected, I thought it would be interesting to have an overview of the general distribution of the family and the way in which so many of them moved from East Anglia to London and some even further afield. The easiest starting point to take is when registers of marriages. births and deaths were established at the end of the 16th century. this enables us to trace to the present day the "Hadleigh Alabasters" (that we can take as starting with Thomas of Hadleigh, Suffolk) to which most of the extant Alabasters seem to belong. Of course, we know that Thomas's uncle was "of Worsted", Norfolk, but that was before registers began; we also know that there were family members recorded from time to time at Worsted since Domesday in 1086, but the records available have not yet allowed us to trace an unbroken line from that date. The records of Alabaster births at Trunch, Norfolk, are not included in the present study because no connection can be made with Hadleigh. Needless to say, in looking at the Hadleigh family, I have relied very heavily on the huge data-bank held by Laraine, including all registrations of Alabasters from the index at St Catherine's House for 1837-1925: print-outs using the Pedigree computer program have been invaluable. The date and place of registrations of Alabaster births give a general indication of the distribution and movements of the family as a whole, and these have been chosen for the present analysis, although information on marriages and deaths would each have given a somewhat similar picture. Fig. 1 shows these births totalled for 12 successive 25-year periods from 1575 to 1850, whilst Fig. 2 shows the time-span at each of the named locations, together with the respective distances from Hadleigh. The first thing that strikes one in Fig. 1 is the almost exclusive occurrence of births at Hadleigh itself over a period of about 150 years. Up to 1650 there were just two births outside this town, namely, at Groton Manor a few miles away, where Thomas's brother Roger's father-in-law, Adam Winthrop, lived and where his sister-in-law returned home for two of her confinements. This period represents the early halcyon days of success for the Alabasters in the town as both clothiers and local leaders, not to mention their involvement in international trade, espionage, and religious controversy. During the next two centuries there was a marked increase in the number of Alabaster births, in line with the national trend in population; for 1688 the population has been roughly estimated at 5.5 million; for 1801, the figure is about 9 million; whilst in 1851, the census gave it as 18 million. This burgeoning of the population accompanied the industrialisation and increasing urbanisation of the country and the concomitant depopulation of the rural areas. The Alabasters seem to have been swept along by these changes. Their fortunes dwindled and they dispersed from Hadleigh, taking up new trades, at first locally at places like Campsea Ash, Sternfield, and Ofton. In addition to those shown in Fig. 1, even by 1750 the furthest flung enclaves were only as far as Saxmundham and Ipswich, less than 30 miles away (Fig. 2), whilst most of the rest were closer - at Friston, Barham, Ha1esworth, and Boyton. Later, by the beginning of the 19th century they had started to appear further afield at Harwich. Tolleshunt, Walpole, and, of course, London, where by the middle of the century, the majority of births were recorded; other registered places not shown in Figs. 1 & 2 for this period were Bulcamp Union, Bucklebury, Southminster, Hastings, and Shottisham. Within London, Bethnal Green and Shoreditch, whose parish churches are within about half a mile of each other, were the two most favoured places of baptism and remained so until well after the period considered in this note. In this present account, no distinction is made between the various branches of the family. In the next note I hope to deal with some of these separately and also consider developments up to 1925, including the gradual migration away from the centre of London and beyond to other parts of the country and other parts of the world. John Stammers Alabaster (I)To Contents |
To and from Alabaster Hut, Part TwoPart One was printed in full in Alabaster Chronicle Number 2. Sunday 24th Febuary 1991 - Father and son, Robin and Nicholas Alabaster had completed eight days of continuous walking in New Zealand. They were now anxious to visit Lake Alabaster so they hired a single-engined aircraft in which they were to be flown to an airstrip north of the lake. Here they were deposited and, after a day of adventure, good luck and bad, they had finally made it to the old and creaky Alabaster Hut, with 30 minutes of twilight left to spare........... On the notice board there was a warning against using the track to Olivine Hut (our chosen route) and only one other walker had succeeded that year -- others had tried and turned back! On the following day, photographs at dawn were followed by a good breakfast and some lengthy letter writing, including a two page contribution to the visitors' book warning of the perils of the track. After some time, Nick spoke up -- did I realise that it was doubtful whether we had enough time to complete the next leg of the walk that day? Panic! We quickly packed, said goodbye and were off...... To and from Alabaster Hut (Part Two)Today's track was better, but alas there were no more sightings of Lake Alabaster. After some while, we came to
Chair Creek, where the first of the many swing bridges we would have to cross today should be -- it was not there -
but washed away, To the right of the picture:
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Alabaster Society Lapel BadgeThere is good historical evidence that the shield depicted on the front cover of the Alabaster Chronicle was in use by early Arblasters and Alabasters. There is proof of its use in our own Alabaster family from a memorial slab placed upright at the east end of the church at Bildeston, Suffolk. This commemorates: John Beaumont who died 10th November 1641 aged 59 and
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leaving just the foundations. Nick was all for wading through the torrent, but the stones were
brown and slippery and I favoured a
detour, against Nick's advice since it
would cost us precious time.
Now really worried, I could not go back but had to get
off the track and make sure Nick was not ahead at the
car park or lodgings. I walked on and finally on to the
Hollyford Road (an 18km dirt track without any form of
public transport) where I flagged down an oncoming
car to enquire if they had seen a lone walker. They
had not. A car coming up behind me held the five Kiwi
trampers who squeezed me in and took me to to
Murray Gunn's camp. (Murray is a famous local son of
an original settler and is now, himself, ancient). He
had not seen Nick. He had no phone connections so I
left a timed message for Nick and I went on by car to
the road's end where there is a bus connection. Nick
was not there and I left a further message at the tourist hotel where my Kiwi samaritans gave me tea and food, the
first since breakfast. They then took me on to Te Anau (our base camp) on their route home to Queenstown.