Tony Ives has written to me from New Zealand. I am copying this text directly, in case anybody is able to help someone working from so far away. He can be contacted at this e - mail address.
I am a 76 yrs old Catholic priest, born in Goole, Yorkshire, but brought out to New Zealand as a baby. I am researching my family tree - - a bit difficult being C 12000 miles away from where the tree was rooted.
I write to you re my father’s side. My father was Arthur Abraham Ives; he was a son of Charles Ives who married Elizabeth Hammond 1-11-1873 in ‘The Church in the Parish of Pentlow in the County of Essex’. The witnesses to the marriage were Timothy Hammond and Maria Ives. At the time of the marriage: Charles was recorded as 20 yrs old, a Weaver, living in Pentlow, son of James Ives; Elizabeth was recorded as 18 yrs old, living at Pentlow, daughter of Timothy Hammond. That he was recorded as 20 yrs old in November 1873 suggests that Charles was born between December 1852 and October 1853. That she was recorded as18 in November 1873 suggests that Elizabeth was born between December 1854 and October 1855. James was a labourer, Timothy was a horse clipper. I’ve some reason to think that Elizabeth had as a second name Clare, and was Elizabeth Clare Hammond.
I have been given a variety of place names and dates associated with my relatives. Presently I don’t know how accurate these are. A report of the 1923 golden wedding Jubilee of Charles and Elizabeth recorded they were both, originally, ‘of Clare’. In April 1881, they and two of their sons lived in Statrion Rd, Long Melford. Charles and Elizabeth moved to Burnham-on-Crouch C 1887 and they stayed there until they died. A report of the death of Charles describes him as ‘a native of Pentlow’.
I’ve recently been sent an extract from the 1881 Census covering Long Melford, Suffolk The source was: FHL Film 1341443 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 1830 Folio 35 Page 3. The 1881 Census was taken up 3-4-1881; The extract read as follows:
Since my grandfather, Charles Ives, was 27 in the 1881 Census, the Charles Ives described as 7 in the 1861 Census, must surely be one and the same. If they are, then my great grand parents were James Ives and Hannah (maiden surname, as yet unknown).
N B: The 1881 Census says Hannah 72 was a widow/pauper and Maria 30 was a straw plaiter.
I have heard that Timothy Hammond, the father of Elizabeth Hammond, is honoured for his oratory on a plaque in a public place - - I think this is in Clare.
The 1851 Census was taken up 30-3-1851; that Timothy Hammond was recorded in the Census as 24 yrs old suggests he was born between 31-3-1826 and 30-3-1827. He was born in Clare. Before marriage he lived at the Bear & Crown Inn in the Market Place (I presume this was in Clare); at the time he was an Ostler (one who tends horses at an inn). Timothy was still alive when his daughter Elizabeth married 1-11-1873. I understand that in 1923, there were nine Hammond families living in Clare, and either of two of the couples could plausibly be Timothy’s parents.