Carnival Of Genealogy 115 - Flash Family History

Write 300 words per family line . I am focusing on my 8 maternal  Grandparents.

Charles Butcher & Sarah Ockley

 - Charles Butcher was born in the parish of Wonersh Surrey in 1823. He was the son of John Butcher and Mary Baverstock. Charles married Sarah Ockley on Christmas Day 1858 in Wonersh, when he was aged 35. It has just occurred to me that this does seem rather old for a first marriage, so was there a previous one?Together, Charles and Sarah raised a family of  8 children. Sarah died in 1877 and Charles remarried to Frances Pain in London in 1881 and they had six children.

- Sarah Ockley was born in Wonersh in 1835, the daughter of Peter Ockley and Maria Bolton. Sarah died in December 1877, some three weeks after the birth of her youngest daughter.  How did Charles cope with such a young baby and family? He was probably assisted by his eldest daughter MaryAnne who was 17 years old when her mother died. Charles worked as a labourer within the parish, just as his father had done before him.

Henry Harris & Caroline Ellis

- Henry Harris was born in Headley Hampshire in 1844 to George Harris and Harriet EARLE. Henry was one of not only 10 children born to George and Harriet, but also one of set of triplets.  George and Harriet had previously had twin boys, George and John in 1837, John though, died aged 1 year. In 1844 when Henry was born, his mother also gave birth to Emma and Thomas. Henry and Emma both lived into adulthood, although Emma died in her late 30s and sadly, Thomas died aged just one year. Henry lived until 1929 when he passed away aged 86 years. Was multiple, multiple births common in the 19th Century?  Henry worked as a labourer and around 1864 married Caroline Ellis in Puttenham Surrey.

- Caroline Ellis was born in Puttenham Surrey in 1844 the daughter of George Ellis, a former military man and Prudence Budd. The Budd family had been established in the parish of Puttenham since 1723, and lack of surviving records has prevented a firm conclusion of the Budd's originally living in nearby Shackleford. Together, Caroline and Henry raised a family of  ten children, all born in Puttenham.  Caroline and Henry spent 65 years together, with Henry passing away in 1929 and Caroline in 1935. We have a photograph, taken by their Grand daughter, my Great Aunt on the occasion of their 60th Wedding Anniversary.

John Matthews & Elizabeth Spencer

- John Matthews was born 1848 in the parish of Long Lawford Warwickshire. The son of William Matthews and Jane nee PETTIFER. John was one of 9 children born between 1846 and 1865. In 1871 John married spinster Elizabeth Spencer at Rugby Registry Office and they had three children, Mary Anne born 1872, John born 1875 and Edith born 1877. Not a huge amount is known of William's life other than upon the death of Elizabeth in 1880, he remarried in 1882 to Maria Flick at Rugby. John is known to have owned a coke business in Rugby, a thriving Midlands town. He moved to the South East of England around 1891 with his second wife and his three children. John died, probably alone in a hostel of some kind in Reigate Surrey in 1927. Very little has to date been established about Maria Flick. According to their marriage certificate she is a widow, but that appears not be the case!

- Elizabeth Spencer was born in 1836, just before Civil Registration began in England in 1837, in the parish of Brinklow in Warwickshire. At the time of her marriage she adjusted the ages to reflect a shorter gap between her year of birth and that of her husband's. In reality, she was 12 years older than he was. Elizabeth was the daughter of Joseph Spencer and Mary Lennett who married in Coventry in 1834. There is so much more to establish about this side of my family, so many, many questions....

James Elstone & Mary Denyer

- James Elstone was born in 1835 in Bramshott Hampshire, not a huge distance from where Henry Harris (above)  was born. James was 4th child of a family of 8, the children of William Elstone and Eliza BRIDGER. It is this stem of my Grandmother's family that connects to my Grandfather's through the marriage of the William to Eliza, which does complicate things. It was this discovery that identified that my Grandparents were actually 6th Cousins, although they had not known it in their lifetimes. James married Mary Denyer in 1857 in Bramshott and together they raised a family of 9 children. The Elstone's had been a fairly well established family in the Bramshott area. William Elstone had been a paper maker, an occupation he developed through the inheritance of the paper mill at Bramshott which had come into the Elstone's estate through his Grandmother Ann PIM. There are various branches of this line, that migrate to both Canada and Australia and are very involved with paper making. At some point James and Mary move from Bramshott across the border into Surrey and take up residence in the area known as Merrow. James died in 1901 and is buried in the Churchyard at the small church. He was joined by his wife, Mary in 1913.

- Mary Denyer was born in 1837 in apparently Liphook, the parish adjacent to Bramshott. After many years of searching every parish in this part of Hampshire and the neighbouring parishes in Surrey I finally found Mary's birth in Lurgershall Sussex. Mary was the youngest daughter of a family of ten children born to Edward Denyer and EmalineLurgershall in 1815. Very little research has been done further into the Denyer and Luff lines, but the boundaries of this part of Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey and the constant appearance of the same surnames within various family lines and the movement amongst the parishes is problematic.

Conclusion

What I have established in writing this post is actually how little I know the details of my Great Great Grandparents. My Grandmother's ancestry  MATTHEWS & SPENCER from Warwickshire was, in the early years inhibited by two things - distance and the amount of data passed down to my Grandmother. The ELSTONE and DENYER lines are similar. Very little details passed down to my Grandmother who met as a young child John Matthews and was only a baby when Mary Elstone passed away. In contrast to My Grandfather's family, where there are links via photographs and my the memories of my late Aunt who took the photograph here. Whilst this is the end of this post, it is not the end of the research into these family lines.


Carnival of Genealogy is hosted by Jasia at CreativeGene

Adam Clark Vroman by Daniel & Denise Ankele

This is a delightful collection of 40 reproduction photographs depicting Indian life in the South Western United States.

The book starts off with a small biography of Adam Clark Vroman, which explains that Vroman started experimenting with photography in 1892. He sold his rare book collection in order to open a store in Pasadena that sold photography equipment, books and stationary. Vroman never sold the photographs he took, preferring to give them to travelling companions with similar interests. Interestingly, Vroman's bookstore still operates in Pasadena.

Incidentally, a quick search via the Internet reveals a link to Vroman with more details of his life and photographs at the California Museum of Photography. Even in these financially troubled times, the book store still flourishes HERE.

The photographs shown are a small glimpse into the everyday life of Hopi and Zuni people. They are depicted  going about there every day business, some are in poses and there is even a photograph showing the involvement of the hair (see cover photograph). For me this was a delightful way of spending an hour or so, looking at the photographs and seeing what other data is available on line. Fascinating!

365 Project - February 2012

View the complete month at 2012 - A Year in Photographs

Leap Years, and a reflective thought.

Leap Years are needed to keep our calenders in alignment with the Earth's revolutions. If we did not have an extra day every four years we would loose 6 hours from our calendar every year, which means that after 100 years our calender would only be 24 days. Leap Years were invented by Julius Caesar over 2000 years ago and were reflected in the Julian Calendar. In 1752 Great Britain changed and adopted The Gregorian Calender

I am sometimes in amazement of the things that just are. As a genealogist I am aware of the Calendar changes and often ponder on the wider implications things such as this, impacted onto the life's of my ancestors.

We live in a modern, technological advancing world. A teacher friend, once told me that in order to teach her subject, which happens to be French, she had to first teach several of the students how to tell the time. I was amazed. When I asked why, she replied that the children had learnt to tell the time using digital displays rather than a traditional clock. That issue had never occurred to me.

We present to the future, a generation of children who regularly use computers, Playstations, iPhone and iPods,and much more. Basics things can become forgotten, and technological advancements are seen as the norm and perhaps taken for granted.

The eldest family member I can remember is my Great Grandmother who was born in 1898. She died in 1973 and left a world that had experienced Wars during her lifetime, The Great War, The Second World War, The Boer War, Korea and Vietnam. She had known poverty, fear, worry and grief. During her lifetime she had buried her husband, three infant children and three of her nine adult children. Times were hard and to us, in this modern age perhaps incomprehensible. What would she has made of the world now?

The issues she felt in the United Kingdom are still in existence now in parts of the world. Parts of Africa and the Middle East torn apart by War, famine, and disaster. In many ways, the fact that these things still plague families is tragic.

I was therefore delighted last year to become part of a group called Genealogists for Families. The group is two fold. It brings together like-minded genealogists, across the globe who share a common interest and passion for their families.

Genealogists for Families supports a team which is part of the Kiva Organisation. Whereby, those who choose to, can loan $25 to a specific individual of your choice. The $25 is a loan not a hand out. It is repaid in monthly instalments and allows those registered at the Kiva site to access to funds when there is not the facility to access traditional banks. Our contributions are not going to stop Wars, famines and alike, but it does enable us to be part of someones future.

I made my first loan before Christmas in memory of my Grandmother and have three more loans that I plan to arrange in the memory of two deceased special family members and to commemorate a special birthday of my Mum's. I plan to continue this process through the course of the year. If you want to take part click HERE

The Genealogists for Families motto is "We care about Families (past, present and future"

Submitted at http://feb29th.net/ - A blogging project across the globe.
(http://feb29th.net/2012/03/02/a-reflective-thought/)

A Global Blog Project - 29th February 2012

Yesterday I became aware of a great way to acknowledge 29th February 2012 - a leap year!

This is a global blogging project, available for one day only! and is set to be the biggest blogging challenge of the year. The moment the 29th February dawns somewhere in the world, Tonga is up first!, the website will be active for submissions. For more information click HERE

Click to take part and post your submissions  Feb29th.net

Tea Cup Tuesday - A Different Shaving Mug

This weekend marks, what would have been my Grandfather's 112th birthday. In my kitchen breakfast room there hangs, on some beams a series of mugs & cups. Nothing especially spectacular about any of them, but they each have a story to tell.

This is a cup I remember from my childhood. Originally it was one of those that came with a saucer and had an Easter egg in it; both long since gone. All that remains is this cup and and a series of happy memories. My Grandfather used this mug as his shaving mug when he was too unwell to get to the bathroom and shave at the sink.

Whilst the mug is not of value in the monetary sense, to me it is priceless.

Taking part in Tea Cup Tuesday hosted by Artful Affirmations & Martha's Favourites

Australia: The Bombing of Darwin & One Family's Story by A. A. Gallagher

I came across this via Amazon UK (also available via Amazon US) and downloaded the material as I was interested to read further. In recent weeks, as this is the 70th Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin by the Japanese, there has been some increased awareness. I have to say, that whilst I did know some of the details, I knew relatively little about the bombing of what Australian's call the "Top End".

I would not go as so far to say this is a book, more like an essay. That though, does not detract from the importance of the historical event or the events which involved the Darwin population at the time or indeed this family. So many of these stories are forgotten as time passes and a whole generation passes away. So this is a reminder of how the events evolved.

Complete with what I would refer to as an appendix there are references to various details on Wikipedia, information from the Australian Navy Archives, books and further notes. My only criticism is that in order to name the author for this review I had to look to Amazon for the answer, although there is the name of the author on the last page, rather than at the beginning.

This has the basis for a more in depth piece of work and I thank the author for sharing.

Lilacs (A - E) & (F - L) by Deborah Carney

These are two books from a set of four showing some lovely photographs of Lilacs. 

The collection started as a trip, by the author, down memory lane. Reminders of a Grandmother and her love of Lilacs. The author found herself previously living close to a park that was home to lots of Lilac bushes. The author took opportunity to photograph those Lilac bushes and in doing so has collated a pictorial encyclopaedia of the flowers.

Some really beautiful photographic shots detailing all the different varieties of the flowers. The photographs reveal what you know will be a lovely fragrance, if only we could smell it!

I read successfully using my iPad. 

100 Word Challenge - Week 32

Joining the weekly 100 words challenge for Grown ups. This week the prompt is to use the following with no more than 100 words.

........take a leap of faith.....

They had discussed plans for the future, but……

The whole downsize, relocate and travel plans were hanging there, flapping in the breeze, just not quite within reach, but why not?  There was always, the excuses, a room needs to be decorated, or work is getting too busy to think of moving house, or there is too much sorting to be done now and what is the rush?

Then on the other hand, life is for living and you only live once, not to mention, let there be no regrets.

Sometimes, a leap of faith is all that is needed.

Taking part in the 100 word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week #32
Submitted to what is set to be the biggest blogging event of the year - Feb29th.net

100 Word Challenge - Week 31

Joining the weekly 100 words challenge for Grown ups. This week the prompt is to use the following with no more than 100 words.

........the flip side.....

She wandered into the bookshop and drifted along the bookshelves, occasionally touching the spine of a book or selecting a book to read the back cover. She stopped at a large display in the centre of the store and debated whether or not to purchase the hardback tome in front of her. She thought back to all the books she had already, on bursting shelves and toppling piles at home.

She reached into her bag and extracted a coin. The flip side must land on heads for her to buy the book. A few moments later she headed to the till.

Taking part in the 100 word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week #31

The Reader Geneameme

Geniaus has set us a challenge to honour the National Year of Reading. 
The list should be annotated in the following manner:

• Things you have already done or found = bold type
• Things you would like to do or find = italic and colour
• Things you have not done or care to do = plain type

1. Have you written any books? Yes and another in the early stages
2. Have you published any books? Yes, a digital reprint on CD of a book written by someone else. My own will be self published and is currently being proof read.
3. Can you recommend an inspiring biography? Billy by Pamela Stephenson
4. Do you keep a reading log? If yes, in what format? Yes, in book form and have done so since 1982
5. Are you a buyer or borrower of books? Both, but I buy more than I borrow!
6. Where do you get your reading recommendations? Articles in the paper, or via blogs or Goodreads or LibraryThing
7. What is the ONE genealogical reference book you can not do without? The Genealogist's Guide to the Internet by Peter Christian
8. Do you hoard books or do you discard them when you have finished? I am a dreadful book hoarder. In 2005 I had a major cull, the first since my childhood. I keep some books and discard others.
9. How many books are in your genealogical library? LOTS and LOTS
10. What is your favourite genealogy magazine or journal? Historically Family Tree Magazine (UK) but over time I have read all the published ones. I tend to now read many on line, but always buy a genealogy magazine when I am going off on a trip or if there is a special article I want to read. I actually have every genealogy magazine I have ever bought in the loft and am contemplating whether to keep them or not. Comments welcome! Family History Society journals are the same, I still have every copy. My favourite is the one published by the Guild of One Name Studies and the journals of the West Surrey FHS.
11. Where are the bookshelves in your house? Everywhere, but mainly in my study on the 3rd floor of the house. (the poor removal men when they had to carry all the books and bookcases up all the stairs)
12. Do you have an e-reader? Yes, A Kindle
13. How many library cards do you have? Quite a few. Some might be dormant, but libraries usually unfreeze them with ID!
14. What was the last genealogy title you read? Tracing your Channel Island Ancestors by Marie Louise Backhurst and Fragments of a Dream by Leopolda Dobrzensky.
15. What is your favourite bookshop? My very favourite was a shop in Guildford called Thorps, it closed a few years ago. It was a real treasure trove. Otherwise I like Waterstones, but find they are not like they used to be and now prefer Amazon.
16. Do you have a traditional printed encyclopedia in your house? - Not in the traditional sense, but I do own a copy of Who Do you Think You Are Encyclopaedia of Genealogy
17. Who are the authors in your family tree and what have they written? Historically we have a few distant connections to authors - mainly on the BOWRING & BELLASIS line. Where the cost has not been too expensive I have purchased this books!
18. Who is your favourite author? - I have a few - Bill Bryson is one of them, especially his book called "At Home", another similar book is by Julie Myerson and is called "Home". I also love the Elm Creek series of books by Jennifer Chiaverini. Another favourite is Helene Hanff, I love all her books. For some extra escapism I love the various cozy mysteries available via Amazon and the Alphabet series by Sue Grafton. 
19. Where do you buy books? - Mainly on line at Amazon
20. Can you nominate a must read fiction title? There are so many, a favourite is Floating Brothel by Sian Rees & Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes both books read more than once
21. How many books are in your personal library? - I am too scared to count! there are LOTS and LOTS. Seriously, I really should catalogue my entire book collection including e-books. 
22. What is your dictionary of choice? Oxford my Christmas present in 1986 was a leather bound edition with my initials on it which I still use.
23. Where do you read? - Anywhere & everywhere. I hesitate in the bath it depends on how attached I am to the book. I once dropped a FHS journal in the bath and it never really recovered!
24. What was your favourite childhood book? Various Enid Blyton books, some of which I still have.
25. Do you have anything else to say about books and reading?  As a child I was allowed to purchase a book a week from Woolworths or Smiths.  I have comforting memories of being a little girl and sitting on my Grandmothers knee while she read to me. Some of those books I still have. I have because of this always loved books and being able to browse a table of books at a fete, shelves in a charity shop or in a booksellers. I love all things bookish!

Sunday Stamps - Burchell's Zebra

Welcome, to the latest Sunday Stamps posting, and what I think is my first for 2012. I can not believe where the time disappears too.

Over the last couple of months I have been focusing a bit more on my genealogical research and it was through this that I established a link, albeit, a distant once to the well know Botanist, William John Burchell. Burchell spent a lot of time overseas, firstly to St Helena, then onto South Africa and South America. As he travelled he wrote a journal and collected specimens.  It was through the course of this research that I established that Burchell had, had a Zebra named after him. I had no idea that there were different types of Zebra.

Issued 2007

dated circa 1950

So far, I just have these two items in my Burchell Zebra collection, but I suspect that I might acquire a few more!

Submitted as Sunday Stamps hosted by Viridian's Postcard Blog

Sunday Salon - February Round up!

It is a glorious sunny Sunday here in the south west of England. There is a real feel of spring is in the air! The last few weeks I have been busy contemplating, reading, writing and reviewing.

I received a Kindle from my husband for Christmas who I think was under the impression that it would reduce the amount of books I have. I have not had the heart to tell him, that it has not worked! I still have piles of real books and a rather hefty amount on my Kindle. My contemplation is how to catalogue them? Any thoughts and comments gratefully received.

I took part in the TLC book tour this week by reviewing the latest in the Elm Creek series by Jennifer Chiaverini. You can read that review HERE. I really enjoyed the book and look forward to the next in the series. I read somewhere, that Jennifer has signed a new 3 book deal with her publisher which is excellent news!

I have also reviewed one of the books that I received for Christmas. Forgotten Bookmarks by Michael Popek. There was something about this book, from the minute I saw the cover I knew I wanted to read it. Well, I have spent the last couple of months reading cover to cover and then dipping in and enjoying some of the details again. That review is HERE.

For this week's Weekend Cooking post I read and shared from this delightful little book. I purchased this last October whilst on our second visit to Jersey. A beautiful Island, with an amazing history and the closest the German Army got to British shores. The experiences of the German Occupation is widely recorded across the island. You can read about my trip HERE and read about this book HERE.

I have also read and looked at a few e-books recently and these will be reviewed over the coming week.

Apart from that I have had a few Guest posts published, all genealogical. Firstly on Catholic Gene, about my Catholic ancestors and then as an International post to the Graveyard Rabbit's site.

I am almost at the end of two month long writing events  - Family History Writing Challenge and the NaBloPoMo Challenge. The word for February was Relative. I have written both every day, but they all need proof reading before posting to my blog, so there will be an influx this week.

Forgotten Bookmarks by Michael Popek

I first became aware of this book by reading a blog written by someone. I then followed a load of links and eventually was introduced to the book, the website, Facebook page and the twitter feed. I added the book to my Amazon list and my intended next order. The book arrived under the Christmas tree, courtesy of my Mum and I have spent the last couple of months reading the book cover to cover and then delving back into random pages. 

In short I loved this book! The cover has a "read me" feel to it and once inside, the pages have an old feel to them. This is truly a collection of bits that have been found in random books by the author. Each page is filled with a photograph of the forgotten bookmark, a transcript of it along with a photograph and details of the book it was found in. There is no rhyme or reasoning behind the bookmarks used. Some are photographs, others are recipes and receipts, letters, postcards, beer mats and even a couple of actual bookmarks. The books they were left in are a mix of older books from the late 19th Century up until 2001. 

These bookmarks are so much more than that. They are snapshots of someone's life, a glimpse into their world, even if for a short time. We have all done it, simply grabbed the nearest thing we could use as a bookmark, rummaged in a handbag,purse or wallet, or perhaps a notebook, even perhaps the corner from a magazine, book, newspaper. I have even been known to use an unused tissue or a square of toilet paper! It isn't just the book these marks were left in, or the mark itself, perhaps it is also where the former reader left the book mark. What was it on that particular page that they found interesting? Or did someone else stumble across the book with the page marked and move the book mark. Whatever the reason or cause this is a great book to disappear into, with pondering and speculation of a previous owner or world we, as readers can never discover.

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 8 - Genealogy Libraries

Week 8 - Genealogy Libraries - Genealogy libraries (and dedicated departments in regular libraries) are true treasures in the family history community. Tell us about your favourite genealogy library. What makes it special?

Challenge open from Sunday February 19th  - Saturday 25th February 2012

Over the years I have encountered several genealogical library treasures. The first was based at Guildford Surrey. My home town. When I started researching Surrey Archives were split between three venues

• Surrey Records Office based at Kingston Upon Thames
• Local Studies Library at Guildford Library. 
• Guildford Muniments Room attached to the Library

The Local Studies library held a huge archive. Situated on the top floor of the main library next to the huge reference library with lots of study desks. The archives were held in a smaller room and the walls lined with book cabinets with glass fronts above a central dado rail and below there were a series of locked cupboards holding a real set of treasures. Isn't it strange that a locked cupboard has an appeal to it? The library held newspapers on microfilm, Surrey Census Records, Parish Records and Tithe Maps. There was also a huge supply of photographs, books and drawings. 

The Muniments Room, attached to the Museum held the majority of archives for West Surrey, that didn't fit at Kingston. I am not sure what the division of the records was, as records such as Tithe Maps for one parish were at the Library yet another at Kingston - it was a mystery really! 

Also within the confines of the Museum was the library for Surrey Archaeological Society, which was open only to members. All three libraries had a wonderful set of oak cabinets holding index cards with a central metal rod holding all the cards in place. These cards had everything indexed - places, people, villages, businesses - you name they appeared on a card. These were fabulous and I had more than one eureka moment!

Surrey Archives now has a modern super duper Records Centre based at Woking. Now all three collections come together under one roof which is fabulous for researchers, but I still think back to those days in the mid 1980s when I could simply look through the index cards on the back of a hunch. The Archaeological Society is still based at the Museum and still has their indexes. 

The library at Farnham was not a regular haunt for me, but one day whilst in Farnham  I nipped into the library and asked a local questions. I can't even recall what the question was, but I was directed to the local studies room. The moment I heard that sentence I knew that I was in for a treat!  I headed off to the local studies room and the librarian directed me to a filing cabinet. I recall looking for whatever it was that I had asked for then when I had finished I looked in the rest of the cabinet. Well, it was open and how could I resist? 

Inside was a huge set of Poor Law Records, including Bastardy Bonds. Much of my ancestry lies in the confines of the Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire borders, so it is not too unusual to find references for Hampshire parishes - Liphook and Bramshott at archives in Surrey. I was delighted to see that I had stumbled across the Bastardy Bond for a Samuel Harris/Holt and not just any Samuel, but MY Samuel. I was delighted!

There have been other libraries too, one in particular that I recall in Yarram Victoria Australia and The Society of Genealogist Library (SOG) in London. Perhaps another post about these sometime.

Sepia Saturday 114 - Shoes

I wasn't really sure what to post this weekend, then I searched for photograph to accompany a blog post I had written and I remembered these taken in July 2011 whilst on our trip to Jersey. 

I moment I saw these photos again, I knew they were the ones. Located at the Underground War Tunnels. You can read about our trip to Jersey HERE and I wrote four posts about the War Tunnels - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Taking part in Sepia Saturday

Weekend Cooking - A Collection of Occupation Recipes by Lillie Aubin Morris

For some reason I had always wanted to visit the Channel Island of Jersey, and last July we did. We were not disappointed. It was very strange, I instantly felt a connection with this island that lies closer to France than England. During the course of the week we spent there we visit several places that had been on my list, including the Jersey War Tunnels. You can read about our trip to Jersey HERE and I wrote four posts about the War Tunnels - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4. We enjoyed our week so much that we returned for a second week in October. During the October trip we visited several of the Jersey Heritage sites and it was at that site that I picked up this book.

Jersey was during the Second World War heavily protected against the Allies by the German Army. Therefore, food was in short supply.  There was a black market, but in essence food was scarce and after D-Day things became worse. The International Red Cross Ship; The Vega didn't arrive until 30th December 1944. By this time, the population of Jersey had spent more than 3 years living on what foods they could find, grow and improvising. Trying to keep life as normal as possible. This little book is a collection of recipes, recorded at the time, either by Mrs Morris or from the Jersey Evening Post. 

Poverty Cakes (Page 11)

"Scraps of meat or fish can be turned to good account and made to go a long way if mixed with the following ingredients: one egg, two cupfuls of milk, quarter teaspoon of baking powder, pinch of salt, sufficient flour to make a paste. Roll out as for a scone, cut in squares or rounds and fry in hot fat. The cakes should puff up and are very light"

Potato and Tomato Casserole (Page 14)

"2lb potatoes

1 tin tomatoes

1oz butter

pepper and salt

Melt butter in a small pan, add potatoes cut into quarter inch slices, put potatoes into the fat for a few minutes over a low gas. Turn into pie dish, cover with tomatoes and a little pepper and salt. Bake in a moderate oven until brown. The liquor from the tomatoes maybe used according to taste"

Sugar Beet Coffee (Page 4)

"Wash sugar beet and grate roughly. Roast the pieces in an oven if gas is available, or if sufficient wood and tar to give a fair heat in coal oven. When roasted, mince the pieces finely and use as coffee"

As I read through this little book, there seems to be much more than a few recipes within its 30 pages. I recall the jar of jam made in 1942 and now archived at the War Tunnels. 

A reminder of the hardships faced.


Weekend Cooking is hosted by BethFishReads