Help Wanted
This section of the Website is for members (and non-members at the discretion of the Webmaster) to advertise (free) for any help that they would like in finding information about their Isle of Wight ancestors.
Please note : The GDPR regulations which came into force in May 2018 require that you give explicit consent for your contact details to be held by us. By default, all requests received prior to this date are assumed to be compliant with your consent being given. If you do not wish to have your contact details used in this manner, let us know and we must then remove your request, or act as a go-between to pass on your details to anyone wishing to communicate with you. See Our DPA Policy for more details.
If you wish to use this service feel free to contact the Webmaster.
Please DO NOT use this service to try to find living relatives. It is not within our remit to do this and can be seen to be intrusive. There are other ways of tracing such people e.g. the Salvation Army Family Tracing Service.
This is a small section of the requests we have received, and represents those received in the past year, and those which have been confirmed as still required by the original requestor. The 250+ requests we have received over the past 15 years have nopw been archived. Please contact the Chairman id you wish to reinstate any Help request from the past.
See also our Photo Identification page, which contains similar requests based on photographs submitted.
This section gives hyperlinks to the entries - scroll down to see People, Places or Topics
People
GRAY, TOOGOOD, MIDLANE, HUMPHRIES, etc.
Places
Topics
Motor Vehicle Licensing records for the Isle of Wight
| WHEELER, Martha |
MARTHA WHEELER is the name I have but have been unable to verify her parents. Martha was born on IOW in 1757 (town unknown). She became the 2nd wife of BENJAMIN COOKE (b.1748 in Newport, d. 1824 in Newport – House of Industry). The were married in Calbourne 24 June 1783. MARTHA may have been born in Calbourne. Many of their children were born in Calbourne (or christened?) MARTHA died in 1819 in Calbourne. I am looking for the names of Martha’s parents, grandparents, etc., as well as any other information that might be relevant. Requestor : Aingeal Stone. Please contact her if you have any further information. Posted August 2022 |
| AUSTIN, George and Hannah |
I have George AUSTIN and his wife Hannah who was born about 1761. She was buried 31 January 1809 at Newchurch, Isle of Wight. Requestor : Elizabeth Cox. Please contact her if you have any further information. Posted October 2021 |
| TUTTON, Mary Ann |
I am looking for information on the TUTTON Family. Mary Ann’s Parents were John Tutton and Sarah Tutton who had 6 children from the Isle of Wight. John and Sarah are my great great grandparents and I have full family history from them to present day. Does anyone have any connections with John and Sarah Tutton? Requestor : Mavis Allam. Please contact her if you have any further information. Posted June 2021 |
| GREENHAM, Honor May |
I am seeking help for any details of Honor May GREENHAM born on Isle of Wight in 1896, her parents and grandparents names if possible. Honor May GREENHAM is my wife's grandmother. Requestor : Jeffrey Kidd, in Australia. Please contact him if you have any further information. Posted June 2021 |
| GROUNDSELL family |
I am trying to trace my paternal family name of Groundsell. As far as I know they are all from the Isle of Wight. Requestor : Sue Sweatman. Please contact her if you have any further information. Posted March 2021 |
| ORCHARD, Mary |
My name is Chris Watson and I am the 3 x great nephew of Mary Ann ORCHARD who was born in 1830 in Fordington, Dorset and who worked for Princess Alice in the 1860/70s. I have been aware for sometime of the interesting life of Mary Orchard and have recently been trying to find out more about her. I know about her early life in Dorset and have details of her death in 1906 in Essex. What intrigues me is the question 'How did Mary go from being the daughter of a farm worker in Dorset, a servant in St Helier, Jersey (1851 census) to the head nurse in the household of the Tsarina in Russia?' I have no record of her after the 1851 census until she appears in literature relating to the Romanovs. I have searched the Royal households on the 1851 and 1861 census but have found nothing of interest. According to someone else's research 'Mary was summoned by Queen Victoria on the 31 July 1866 to work for Princess Alice'. The telegram to Mary was sent by a Mrs SILVER. We believe that Mrs Silver was the vicar's wife of Holy Trinity Church in West Cowes. We also think that the vicar was 'a friend' of Dr HOFFMEISTER, Queen Victoria's doctor for the Royal Household in Osborne House. We think that Mary Orchard's connection with the vicar in Jersey may be connected with her 'next' post for the vicar in Cowes and possible nanny to Mrs Silver's children but this is an assumption. Unfortunately we are aware that 111 souls have gone 'missing' from the 1861 census for Cowes which may have included the Silvers and Mary Orchard. We are seeking possible confirmation of these assumptions and if anybody in the Local Family History societies may have evidence of the Silvers in Cowes or know a bit more about Mary Orchard. As an aside to this, I spent 3 years of my life as a boarding school pupil with King James I school based in Newport and Nubia House in Baring Road; I have some fond memories of dinghy sailing around the River Medina, Cowes and Gurnard whilst at school. It would be nice if others in the society have some connection with the school and can relate some stories or possible contacts that I can share. I would be most grateful for any help you can give me in tracing this member of my family. Requestor : Chris Watson. Please contact him if you have any further information. Originally posted September 2020, verified November 2020 |
| GRAY, TOOGOOD, MIDLANE, HUMPHRIES, etc. |
I am trying to establish a connection between a George GRAY b Eling Hampshire 1819 and the IoW. In 1872 at the age of 53 years he married at Southampton an Elizabeth Sophia HUMPHRIES, b Lambeth c1832. We believe he may have been married previously with a possible connection to the Island. Prior to marrying George, Elizabeth Sophia had an illegitimate child whilst living in Brighton in 1857. We do know who the father was. This child was 'farmed out' to live with a Frances Naomi POTTER whose maiden name was TOOGOOD b Carisbrooke c1830. Frances married Thomas POTTER at East Grinstead (Forest Row) Sept qtr 1856. At the time of their marriage Thomas was butler at a large mansion just outside East Grinstead. Frances may also have been employed there as well. They then lived in Brighton and at Ringmer near Lewes and had several children one of whom, Ellen Elizabeth b Brighton 1858, married Charles MIDLANE in 1882 Dec qtr at Lewes. He was the son of the Newport carriage builder Charles Midlane (senior) and Ellen had been shown as staying at an address in High Street Newport in the 1881 census. What I am trying to do is establish what the connection between these people and the IoW was. There must have been a fairly close relationship for Frances and Thomas Potter to bring up Elizabeth Humphries' illegitimate child as he is still shown as with the Potter family in Ringmer in the 1871 census. I have not yet been able to establish a death for Elizabeth (Sophia) Gray so she may have re-married after George Gray died in 1883. Any information gratefully received and Thanks for any help with this mystery. NB: Our George Gray is NOT the George Gray who had married Ann Lock as we now know, thanks to IoWFHS, that that family went to Australia. Many thanks for any help. Requestor : Tim Sargeant. Please contact him if you have any further information. Originally posted September 2020, verified November 2020 |
| BRADING, George Henry |
I have to own that my links to the Isle of Wight are tenuous. As a lifelong sailing enthusiast I have visited the harbours, particularly on the Solent side, on many occasions. But it was not until I became interested in my family history that I found, through my wife's side a direct link. So I joined IWFHS feeling sure that in such a small population I would quickly find more interesting links. But a year later I am none the wiser, as none of my family links have come to light. So please help me. The direct link to my wife's family is via her maternal grandfather George Henry Brading who was born in July 1854 at Newport. He left the Island and married Harriett Pierpoint and they lived in Brighton where he was a Tailor. They moved to London and when Harriett died he married Eva Carter who is my wife's grandmother. George Brading's parents are Henry Brading and Mary Ann Baggs and from the 1861 Census his father Henry is shown as living in Newport employed as a Greengrocer. Henry is shown as being born in Newport and Mary from Godshill. If I have been able to follow the family tree back accurately Henry's parents were William Henry Brading 1794-1869 and Sarah Ann Cass 1799-1872. From the 1851 Census William was employed as a Coachman and they were both born in Whippingham where they were married. I have no more information on Sarah Ann Cass but William's parents are Hezekiah Brading 1768-1831 and Hannah Urry and they were married at Whippingham. I have no further information on Hezekiah or Hannah. Going back to Mary Ann Baggs, her parents are James Baggs 1803-1875 a Labourer born in Godshill and Ann Haines born in Newchurch. I have no more information on James but Ann's parents are John Haines born in 1770 at Godshill and Susanna Sivier 1769-1810 born in Northwood where they were married in 1794. Susanna's parents are William Sivier1736-1833 and Fanny Cork 1744-1795. They are both from Northwood where they were married in 1764. William's parents, I think, are William Sivier 1702-1758 born at Cowes and Jane of whom I have on more information. The last information I have of the Sivier link is William's father John 1670-1746 who married Martha Hollis 1674-1720 in Cowes 1696. I would be most interested to have any confirmation of the links I have made and better still any additional information to fill in some of the gaps. Requestor : Keith Mackenzie. Please contact him if you have any further information. Originally posted April 2020 |
| DAY, Mary Anne |
I wonder if any members can help me, I am trying to find out what happened to my Great Grandmother, Mary Anne DAY. She was born in 1867 in Brighstone to William DAY and Priscilla JACKMAN, She married William COFFIN in 1887: they had 2 children and divorced in 1895. Soon after this the children were farmed out to relatives. Family lore has it that she died young but we cannot find a record of her death. My Grandmother (Dorothy Irene, birth registered Alverstoke 1889) was sent to live at The Little Brown Jug in Newport and her brother to Gatcombe farm; I don't know who these relations were so any information at all would be much appreciated. Requestor : Brenda Farrell. Please contact her if you have any further information. Originally posted July 2020 |
| ALLEN, Muriel REED, Alf |
MURIEL ALLEN / ALF REED. My late father (born 1913, son of Mildred Hirter, née Mantell, mother's name Reed) used to mention his cousin Muriel Allen of Stag Lane, Lake. Also an 'uncle Alf Reed' whose sea chest I have inherited. I would be grateful for any information on either of these relatives. Requestor : Julia Courtney. Please contact her if you have any further information. Originally posted March 2020 |
| HENLEY, Robert |
I have done a lot of family history research of the IoW HENLEYs who were my grandmother Isabella FOWLER's (nee Henley) relatives. Robert was her father, born in Newbridge in 1846 but I have never been able to trace a photograph of him. Robert's working life started as an agricultural labourer, followed by a career as an Isle of Wight Railwayman, culminating in his becoming an Engine Driver. I wonder if there are any members of IWFHS who could help with this and any other information about him. Requestor : Bob Fowler. Please contact him if you have any further information. Originally posted February 2020 |
|
WESTMORE Limited |
I am continuing research into the firm of Westmore Limited Requestor : Martin Hunt. Please contact him if you have any further information. Originally posted January 2020 |
| FORD MILL |
I lived at Cave's Nurseries, East Street, Newport from 1948 until my family moved to the mainland about 1958. Requestor : Judy Reeves. Please contact her if you have any further information. Originally posted December 2018, verified November 2020 |
ROBINSON, Bethel Martin  click to enlarge |
My great grandfather was born at the end of 1807 at Parkhurst Barracks where his father's regiment was quartered. His father was Bethell Martin ROBINSON 1781-1852 and he served with the Royal African Corps and the Royal York Rangers between 1804 and 1814. He bought his commission as a lieutenant in 1804 and left in 1814 as a captain. I have been to Newport on two occasions to visit their Records Office, but I can't find out anything regarding Bethell Martin Robinson being stationed there and what he was doing. His wife was Margaret Robinson, formerly DUNBAR and she must have been there also since their son was born at Parkhurst. The person I spoke with in the Records Office said that it was possible that a travelling minister performed the baptism of Henry Charles Robinson, and that there were many different organisations at Parkhurst, because of the ongoing Napoleonic battles. I found references to Bethell Martin Robinson when I visited The National Archives, where he moved backwards and forwards between the two regiments, but no record of what he was doing. Requestor : Susan Smith. Please contact her if you have any further information. Originally posted December 2018, verified November 2020 |
| PEEL, James Abraham |
Most of my family has a link to Leeds, Yorkshire. My 3 x great grandfather was James Abraham PEEL who is registered as being born in Newport, Isle of Wight in 8 sources (mostly censuses) in about 1817. He married in Leeds in 1836, one of the witnesses being an Alfred PEEL, and worked in the city as a cloth dresser, dying in 1902. I have no records of his birth/baptism, or family members on the Isle of Wight. Could anyone help me with this brick wall? Requestor : Verity Ferguson. Please contact her if you have any further information. Originally posted August 2018, verified November 2020 |
| HAYWARD or HEYWOOD, Hannah |
I would very much appreciate any assistance I can receive from Isle of Wight researchers regarding my 4xgreat grandmother, who I can not trace further back than her transportation to New South Wales; she arrived in 1803. Her details describe her as: Name: Hannah Hayward Birth Year: 1779 Origin Place: Isle of Wight Arrival Year: 1803 Pardon Date: 1841 Vessel Name: Glatton Record Type: Conditional Details on conditional pardon: Listed as Servant, life, offence not listed, Height 5'-" born 1779, complexion Sallow, hair: fair mixed with grey, eyes hazel, note: red ?natural mark around left eye, purple mark and ? over left eyebrow, another at top of ear, left side of forehead ? over right side of upper lip. Apparently she was tried as Hayward, Hannah alias Heywood, Place of Trial: Hampshire, Assizes, Date of Conviction: 2 March, 1801 I would be happy to help others with New South Wales research in return. Requestor : Diane Solomon Westerhuis. Please contact her if you have any further information. Originally posted October 2017, verified November 2020 |
| JONES, Charles |
I am seeking assistance in tracing the ancestors of a Charles JONES (alias SILVERTHORNE). This man was convicted in the Old Bailey on 12 May 1831 at 16 years of age and sentenced to transportation to New South Wales for life. His Conditional Pardon signed by Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy, Governor Of New South Wales, on 11 July 1847 records Charles as being a native of the Isle of Wight, a shoemaker, born in 1814. Requestor : Peter Jones. Please contact him if you have any further information. Originally posted August 2016, verified November 2020 |
| LEAHY, John |
My great-grandfather John LEAHY is buried in Shanklin. (Died in 1906). John was an army doctor in India. I’m wondering if any of your members has any information to give about him or his family. My Grandmother Maud was a daughter. Requestor : Mrs Didi Magnin, Switzerland. Please contact her if you have any further information. Originally posted July 2015, verified November 2020 |
| HUMPHREYS, Harriott Catherine |
Has anyone any knowledge or information about Harriott Catherine HUMPHREYS who died in Godshill district on the Island aged only 20 years in 1881 June quarter. Does anyone know what the IoW connection was with this family? Requestor : Tim Sargeant. Please contact him if you have any further information. Originally posted December 2014, verified November 2020 |
| BREEN, John |
My Great Grandfather was a John BREEN, born in Wexford, Ireland in 1831. His wife was a Mary GRIFFIN, who I believe was born in Waterford, Ireland in 1846 and they married in Greenwich in about 1862. I believe they had three children, Thomas, John and Susan. My Grandfather would be their son, John, who I understand was born on the Isle of Wight, when his father was serving at Yaverland. I have so far not been able to trace any birth record for him. He was supposedly born in 1866. By the 1901 census his family was back in Woolwich. I am trying to get further back than my Grandfather, and so far have not been able to prove the above to be my Great Grandparents. Would very much like to get hold of a birth record for my Grandfather which would hopefully give me the relevant information. I would be very grateful for any help anyone is able to offer. Requestor : Sally Argent. Please contact her if you have any further information. Originally posted January 2014, verified November 2020 |
| BENTON, John |
I am trying to trace the parents of a John BENTON who died in Australia who according to his death certificate was born at Newport, Isle of Wight to John BENTON and Elizabeth W. about 1809. He moved to Australia in the early 1850s and was married to a Caroline STRANGWIGE. In the 1851 England census he is listed as an unmarried visitor at 29 Manor Place, Lambeth, London and she is listed as unmarried with 4 children as head of house under name Strangwige, occupation Lodging House keeper. The census also gives his place of birth as Isle of Wight and age 42 which correlates with being born about 1809. In the census he gives his occupation as assistant treasurer to a theatre. The Australia John Benton worked at Drury Lane, Covent Garden and Vauxhall Gardens from around 1832 to 1850. There is information that an Elizabeth BENTON worked at Drury Lane and was married to a John BENTON but her maiden name was CATNACH. Hope you may assist me solve this piece of my family history. Requestor : Sam Murray. Please contact him if you have any further information. Originally posted July 2013, verified November 2020 |
| OWEN, Thomas |
My 3x Gt Grandparents Thomas OWEN and Eleanor QUIGLEY were married in Carisbrooke on 27 July 1814. (Pallot's) The information I have from the OPR transcript is that Thomas was a 'Sergeant Garrison Staff'. I have no further details about them and would like to trace their origins. Can someone advise how I might find out more about them? What does 'Garrison Staff' mean? Was it regular army or militia? I have tried online military records and have asked a Kew researcher, but am still no nearer understanding what role he played or which Regiment Thomas Owen was serving in. I realise that the island was heavily garrisoned during the Napoleonic Wars, and would like to learn more. Where did the Quigleys came from? I believe it to be an Irish surname and there still appear to be Owens and Quigleys resident on the Island. We have Eleanor's death cert in 1872, when she is described as 'Widow of Thos Owen, gentleman'. Another fact I'd like verified is the birth of their daughter Mary (and any other children) – I have her from census details as being born in Carisbrooke/Newport in 1816. It would be great to be able to search the relevant OPR and glean more details. I would really appreciate some help with this, especially for my dad, who is in his 80's and is called Thomas Owen after his Gt Gt Grandfather. Requestor : Sue Veitch. Please contact her if you have any further information. Originally posted May 2013, verified November 2020 |
| BOWES, COUSINS, FOQUETT etc |
I would like further information on this family : Requestor : Winifred Cherry. Please contact her if you have any further information. Originally posted May 2013, verified November 2020 |
| SCOTT family of Calbourne |
I am interested in the SCOTT family from Calbourne - my great-grandmother was Rosa Caroline SCOTT, youngest child of William SCOTT and Frances WAY. Requestor : Linda Briggs. Please contact her if you have any further information. Originally posted August 2012, verified November 2020 |
| ARNOLD and BLOW families |
I would like to request assistance through your website, and I am happy to cover any expenses etc. Requestor : Mike Burnham. Please contact him if you have any further information. Originally posted April 2012, verified November 2020 |
| WHITE, John Lee and Motor Vehicle Licensing Records - Isle of Wight 1903-1925  click to enlarge  click to enlarge |
John Lee WHITE: For some years I have been researching a 1905 Vauxhall 7/9hp motor car which was originally owned by John Lee White of 'Seafield', Ryde Isle of Wight. The Isle of Wight Motorists' Association. T B H Cochrane / J Lee White. With reference the above query re John Lee White and his 1905 Vauxhall 7/9hp; It would appear that when the Motor Vehicle Licensing Office (MTO) at Newport closed the old Register of Motor Vehicles containing the records of vehicles registered on the Island with 'DL' registrations from December 1903 until 1925 was given to a private collector. In spite of letters in the IoW County Press and visits to the Island I have so far been unable to locate this old register. Would any members have any knowledge of this ? I am trying to ascertain what the original registration number for this motor car was; It would appear to have been registered around April 1905. I do have records of some surviving veteran cars registered around this time and know that the IoW buses were registered 'in time for Easter' 1905 and these were DL75 to DL81 from photos at IoW RO. J L White was a founder member of the Isle of Wight Motorists' Association in November 1903 with headquarters at Warburton's Hotel and their inaugural motor meeting was at Carisbrooke Castle on 27th July 1905 with a 'Motor Gymkhana'. The Vauxhall went back to the mainland about 1909 / 1910 and got re-registered in Surrey as was the rule in those days. The President of the IoW Motorists' Association was Thomas B H Cochrane Deputy Governor of the Island who had a Dennis registered DL68 as illustrated. Requestor : Tim Sargeant. Please contact him if you have any further information. Originally posted March 2009, verified November 2020 |
