CAN YOU HELP?

BARNFATHER CENTRAL

CAN YOU HELP SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS?

THE MYSTERY OF THE SIR SIMON HEWARD CONNECTION

Lewis Barnfather, son of Margaret Barnfather of Garthside Farm, Lanercost, Cumberland, married Isabella Thompson in 1790 in Westward. They had 5 children, some baptised in the Presbyterian Church in Brampton.

In 1912, Lewis Barnfather, great-grandson of Lewis and Isabella, wrote a letter to his cousin discussing the will of Sir Simon Heward who died in Carlisle, Cumberland, in 1846. He mentioned that Sir Simon's 2 daughters, Jessie and Ceta, had not been able to inherit their father's property in Carlisle. Recent investigation revealed that it was thought that the girls were illegitimate, born of an Indian woman with whom Sir Simon lived while he, a surgeon, was stationed in India.

Lewis (1912) indicated that he thought the girls would have then inherited 'their mother's share' of 'Grandfather's uncle's money.' and the inference is that it is the Thompson uncle, who lived in Rosley, Westward, to whom he referred.

Do you have any idea how a woman in India (who, it appears, never set foot in England) is connected to the Thompson family of Westward?

The Cumberland News wrote an interesting article about this matter in 2008. It can be found by clicking on the link "Sir Simon Heward," just below.

The letter D as per The Secretary Hand ABC Book

The letter J as per the Secretary Hand ABC Book

To the left is a snippet from the will of GEORGE BARNFATHER of Hardhurst Farm in Lanercost, Cumberland, which was written in 1704. Originally, it was thought that his wife's name was JENNY. We now believe that is it DENNY, possibly a shortened version of 'Dionyse' or even Denise.

Above are the examples of the letters 'D' and 'J' from the Secretary Hand ABC Book by Alf Ison that do seem to verify that the first letter is a 'D' and not a 'J.'

If you have any thoughts or comments, please contact me at the email link below.

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS BARNFATHER? This may be Robert Ernest Barnfather born 1899 in Fulham, London. The writing on his hat says, H.M.S. Boscawen. The identity of the much older woman is completely unknown.

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS PERSON?

It is believed that these two photos depict the same person at different ages and that he was one of the Barnfathers who lived in Meanwood, Leeds, Yorkshire.

If you think you know this person, please contact Pat Styles at

pat-bobstyles@tiscali.co.uk

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS BARNFATHER? This may be a son of Richard Barnfather/Jane Thirlway and a sibling of Dorothy Barnfather who married David Graham of Longtown, Cumberland.

If you have a Barnfather mystery you'd like help with, please email me using the link below.