Dear List

I am descended from Eliza Ellen Gingell who married John Orchard of Potterne in 1854 in Potterne. The Gingell family were living for a substantial period in a cottage that was demolished before the 1901 edition of the OS map of the area was published. This cottage, which contained no fewer than three related families, was near the junction of Snarlton Lane on the way to Tanhouse farm adjacent to the lane that ran south to Redstocks. Their address was Redstocks in Melksham Without. These were lowly agricultural labourers living in cramped conditions, but they were, as a clan, numerous and there were progeny galore!

At different times the family had connections with Rowde and Seend, especially Seend. The Gingell's married into other families and those in my direct line included the Long and Flower families with further connections to Jefferies and Whatley surnames.

I know very little of these people except the primary dates of christenings etc, where they existed. The clues all seem to point to an extremely impoverished but otherwise conventional working family. The clues include the accommodation clue described earlier and the regularity of church events at the high holy days of Christmas and Easter when the incumbent would exercise the right to not charge for baptisms and weddings.

If there is anyone with any information relating to these families in this area in the 18th and 19th centuries , or earlier, then I would aprrciate hearing from them.

I am happy to share any information that I have. There is an excellent website that tracks the Gingells, not surprisingly called Gingell.Com, but I would like to put flesh on the bone. My 2xgreat grandfather John orchard was apprenticed to a tailor somewhere, was that in Melksham? Was that the connection that enabled him to meet Eliza Ellen, or did she go to work in Potterne, his home village? Were the families working on the adjacent farms? Was the cottage on land owned by either Tanhouse or Snarlton Farms, or another - are there any surviving records of these estates?

Regards
John