The churchyard of St Michael and All Angels

Alan Craxford, Site Administrator

It was also the link to Lilly Haywood that led to Cheryl sending me a copy of the hugely interesting and genealogically important letter that her great grandfather George wrote to his daughter in 1920. This has been reproduced in three parts. As well as documenting his forebears and siblings, he recorded a fascinating account of his youth. Although Victorian families tended to be large, it is astonishing the prolific nature of the union of his grandfather (also named George) to Frances Marriott. Grandfather George Haywood also presents us with a conundrum. He was born in Bulwell, Nottingham although he married and spent most of his life in South Normanton, Derbyshire. At the same time, we found Haywoods born in the village who lived in Nottingham. Are the Haywoods a Derbyshire or a Nottinghamshire family?

South Normanton in the 1800s was a small, tightly knit community - its population occupied either on the land or in mining. The Naylors lived, worked alongside and married the Balls, Marriotts and Haywoods - who also lived and married each other. Investigating these other families may well advance our knowledge of our own. I do not make assumptions about liaisons lightly but neither am I keen on accepting an item as a coincidence.

We now have contacts with four descendents of the Haywood family. I am sure there are further revelations to be made. Maybe one of the first will be the discovery of Grandfather George's (and therefore Ann's) parents!

Enjoy!!

Alan Craxford, UK

The Ball family

Described in the annals of South Normanton (1) as one of the oldest families in the village, there appear to be at least three distinct branches in residence during the first half of the nineteen century. Mary Naylor married William, who became a schoolmaster in Leicester whilst Maria Haywood married Levi and Lydia Haywood married Solomon.

The Marriotts

Once again, the branches of the trees become entwined over several generations. "Grandfather" George Haywood married Frances (Fanny) in 1825. Joseph Naylor married Elizabeth some fifty years later. She commemorated his memory by installing electricity in St Michael and All Angels Church. It is most likely that further liaisons will be discovered

Gascoigne / Gaskin

We are uncertain whether these are two separate families or whether one (more likely Gaskin) is a bastardisation of the other. We have seen examples of this before (See: THE NESSWORTHY GENESIS) when new variants of surnames came about through illiteracy and mis-interpretation of regional accents. Certainly both names appear together in the earliest censuses and we have seen one individual (Effie: wife of George Hayood) with both spellings.

1. South Normanton History: The Parish of South Normanton online

Added: April 30th 2008
Last updated: August 10th 2009

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Cheryl Haywood, Associate Editor

I began by reading and re-reading a letter my great grandfather had written in 1920. I found a wealth of information that led me to various family members. Pieces were still missing and mysteries had arisen. I had more or less hit a brick wall. I am persistent and periodically, I would “google” the name Haywood, with no success. I would put the search on the back burner for awhile..

Recently, I took up the search again. Lo and behold, there was a name I recognized, Lilly Haywood. Her name appeared on the extended Craxford family tree. I sent an email stating that I thought Lilly was connected to my family. Web pages aren’t always current so I wasn’t very optimistic about receiving a response. Imagine my surprise when there was an answer when I checked my mail the next day. Indeed, there was a connection. Several emails have been exchanged along with information I had. Through the emails, we have discovered several “coincidences” and perhaps more than one connection. One mystery concerning a “stray” relative was solved, only to have other mysteries take its place.

My great grandfather expressed a wish to have his family’s history preserved and passed to succeeding generations. That wish is being fulfilled on a far larger scale than he could have imagined. It will extend far beyond my immediate family.

This journey is far from over and I have found renewed hope of completing the puzzle.

Cheryl Haywood, USA

Maureen Palethorpe, Associate Editor

My own family history is quite convoluted on both sides. I do know about Ann Palethorpe marrying Abraham Haywood. My mother's side is Haywood and Abraham was my maternal grandfather's uncle. Abraham's brother was Joseph Haywood and he was my great grandfather. Ann Palethorpe who married Abraham Haywood was the sister of Richard born 1846 and this Richard was my husband's great great grandfather. When one of our sons started tracing ancestors he found a Richard Palethorpe in every generation. Most confusing!

George Haywood's history is a fascinating document. I remember the Hilda and Nellie mentioned who were left as orphans. We visited them and I remember that they lived together on Birchwood Lane, South Normanton. This would have been at least 40 years ago. Funny thing is they were related to both my mother in law, Millie (nee Radford) and also to my mum (nee Haywood). Millie Radford had relatives in Canada - possibly another Associate Editor, Terry.

I will be very interested in helping with any information I have. My mother is 90 now but has a vivid memory of names.

Maureen Palethorpe, UK