Family History

My family history begins with with my four grandparents and, as so often happens, covers many areas of the UK. Kate CARRINGTON was born in Smalley, Derbyshire in 1876 and died in Hammersmith, London in 1945. This family history began when searching for Grandmother Carrington in Smalley and has developed from there. Henry Edward HARRIS was born in West Hartlepool in 1876 and died in Farnham, Surrey in 1941. My Grandfather Harris has been the one grandparent who has given me the most problems in researching his origins, as I have never been able to find a birth registration or baptism for him. Oral family history describes him as a Yorkshireman but according to his Army Service record he was born in West Hartlepool, County Durham. Census records muddy the waters even further. The 1891 census records him as Henry Harris born in West Hartlepool with parents Henry, born Leicester and mother Emma born Boston, Lincs. The 1881 census has identical details but the family name is Atkin! At this point the family history purists will throw their hands up in horror as I have gone along the line of conjecture and supposition! There is no evidence that Henry and Emma ever married but for whatever reason, at various times they appeared to use her maiden name. So I have explored the possible origins of Emma Atkins, in the hope that I have the right one. Maybe there is someone who can either shoot down my theory in flames or even better, confirm it. Albert Edward Collings VEALE was born in Axbridge, Somerset in 1882 and died in Taunton, Somerset in 1952. My father was Adrian Clarence Edric 'Bill' Veale 1914-1942. Bill joined the Coldstream Guards in 1934 and saw service in the Middle East, as well as undertaking ceremonial duties in London. He was transferred to the Royal Military Police prior to the beginning of World War II and was on active service in France. He was behind the enemy lines at Dunkirk and rode his motor bike through France to St. Nazaire, where he was able to board a collier to Milford Haven. On his return to the UK he was sent to York and from there he was posted to the Far East. He was killed leading a convoy ahead of the advancing enemy troops, prior to the fall of Singapore. Winifred Georgina Ida Kathleen BESZANT was born in Axbridge, Somerset in 1892 and died in Taunton, Somerset in 1969. As Beszant, Bessant, Beasant,Bezzant researchers of these and other variations of the name will know, they appear to have originated in the western part of England. My Beszant line is one that came from Wiltshire, my great grandfather John Beszant was born in Chippenham in 1838, so the majority of the names on this site can be found around that part of Wiltshire. My thanks to Brenda Davies for her valuable contribution to this data base. Jack CUMMING was my Dad, the one who raised me. So it has been a labour of love to research his origins. I have included the COLLINGS tree as John VEALE married into this extensive family in 1855. Although a Somerset family for generations, the Collings do not appear in Compton Bishop until the late 1700s, where they were an influential part of the life of the village.

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