A tale of two Cuckoos?

[chochokeira]

Hi Grahame, I wonder if Betty Howie was born Betty Bunting, if she was descended from a long line of Jehus/Joyces Farm Buntings in the Goldhanger/Tolleshunt district, and if she became a Howie when she married Thomas L Howie.

A lot of essex families go back centuries. Sometimes very difficult to entangle. I read somewhere that most of us can trace our ancestors back to Gengis Khan?

Many American Presidents can trace their roots back to Essex, some of them to the Blackwater estuary villages: the ancestors of George Bush and his father, for example, migrated from Messing to America - during the 17th century, I believe. Pres George Washington's (Gt Gt Gt? I forget how many greats)  grandfather was the rector or vicar at one of the Maldon churches.

But that's hardly surprising as so many of the founding fathers of America migrated from Essex and the FF often became presidents. Religious Non Conformism was hugely popular in Essex and when the non-confrmists came under much persecution, a number of them took off off to the new world where they could practice whatever religious beliefs they wished.

[OnceSaid]

Did this BH live near WHF?

What was her connection to AE?

Why did she call AE and not the head of the family?

What was BH's occupaion, if she had one?

[chochokeira]

Did this BH live near WHF?

What was her connection to AE?

Why did she call AE and not the head of the family?

What was BH's occupaion, if she had one?

Did this BH live near WHF?The BH I mentioned was the daughter of John Bunting born in Mayland (on the Dengie peninsular, near Maldon) in 1883 and his wife Alice, nee Salt.

In 1911, just prior to this Betty's birth, John and Alice lived on Osea Island, a fascinating place later owned by Gerald Durrell and his menagerie, Osea is in the Blackwater estuary and now the Rehab that poor Amy Winehouse wrote her song about: she had rehab on Osea.

Osea island is just off the coast of Goldhanger, where (Mabel) Speakman (nee Bunting) and her family lived. It's not that far away from WHF.

John Bunting is at this time described on the census as a 'Farmer's son, managing a farm'. I've some old pictures in my archives of Osea and that farm from the time when John Bunting was there, I'll try to dig them out and post these here. I believe the Buntings are shown in my pictures.

What was her connection to AE?

On the 1901 Census, BH's father, John, was living with his parents (John Bunting, born 1839 in Tolleshunt D'Arcy and Sarah). They lived at Jehews ( also spelled Jehu's - and now Joyce's) Farm, Goldhanger. Also living with them was the sister of John (born 1883), Mabel Bunting, who was later to become Gran Speakman.

So, this BH was the daughter of Gran Speakman's brother.

BH may not have had an occupation, women often didn't work then.

[OnceSaid]

Chochokeira, many thanks for your reply. 

My heads in a spin but I'm sure it will all fit into place.

I do wonder how BH knew about the troubles at WHF before AE, and her father.

[chochokeira]

Chochokeira, many thanks for your reply. 

My heads in a spin but I'm sure it will all fit into place.

I do wonder how BH knew about the troubles at WHF before AE, and her father.

I have the impression that Betty Howie was close to June and Nevill their children - I've read that one of the Howie family stood bail for Jeremy. So perhaps Betty Howie was the natural member of the extended family for neighbours who'd seen a large number of police at WHF to contact?

[H]

I may have this completely wrong, but I thought BH lived in one of the cottages near whf. That's what I thought but don't remember why I thought that. 

[chochokeira]

Chochokeira, many thanks for your reply. 

My heads in a spin but I'm sure it will all fit into place.

I do wonder how BH knew about the troubles at WHF before AE, and her father.

Or perhaps a friend of Betty Howie's among the neighbours heard about all of the police at WHF on the village grapevine and rang Betty? Either way, in small villages like Tolleshunt D'Arcy and Goldhanger, it would not have taken long for everyone to be aware of the murders.

[chochokeira]

I may have this completely wrong, but I thought BH lived in one of the cottages near whf. That's what I thought but don't remember why I thought that. 

If 'your' BH was the BH I've written of here, her husband, Thomas L Howie died in Chelmsford, at the hospital, I believe, in 1995. At what stage are you speaking of - following the murders or before?

[H]

I may have this completely wrong, but I thought BH lived in one of the cottages near whf. That's what I thought but don't remember why I thought that. 

If 'your' BH was the BH I've written of here, her husband, Thomas L Howie died in Chelmsford, at the hospital, I believe, in 1995. At what stage are you speaking of - following the murders or before?

I thought she was in one of the cottages at the time of the murders, that's why it was her who contacted Ann.

I'm probably wrong though.

[chochokeira]

I may have this completely wrong, but I thought BH lived in one of the cottages near whf. That's what I thought but don't remember why I thought that. 

If 'your' BH was the BH I've written of here, her husband, Thomas L Howie died in Chelmsford, at the hospital, I believe, in 1995. At what stage are you speaking of - following the murders or before?

I thought she was in one of the cottages at the time of the murders, that's why it was her who contacted Ann.

I'm probably wrong though.

Could be. The Howies were not an old local family. If I'm right about Thomas - and I could be wildly wrong - then he was probably Thomas Lambie Howie. I have his marriage and death records, his directory listings - I can even tell you his telephone numbers and so on - yet I can't find his birth record. Why? My guess is that's because he was born in Scotland and I don't have all of the Scots' records.

[H]

Possibly, I'll see what else I can dig up, maybe Mike knows a bit more?

[chochokeira]

Possibly, I'll see what else I can dig up, maybe Mike knows a bit more?

I have them living at Chappel Farm, Little Totham in c 1950 and Wickes Manor Farm, Tolleshunt Major in c 1980.

[H]

Well that's them then, they own Wicks Farm now. You must have see their products in shops near you, cooked meats etc? Normally in a gold packet, expensive but very good stuff.

Having said that, I suddenly got the feeling you are vegetarian? Need some sleep I think.

[chochokeira]

I may have this completely wrong, but I thought BH lived in one of the cottages near whf. That's what I thought but don't remember why I thought that. 

If 'your' BH was the BH I've written of here, her husband, Thomas L Howie died in Chelmsford, at the hospital, I believe, in 1995. At what stage are you speaking of - following the murders or before?

I thought she was in one of the cottages at the time of the murders, that's why it was her who contacted Ann.

I'm probably wrong though.

Could be. The Howies were not an old local family. If I'm right about Thomas - and I could be wildly wrong - then he was probably Thomas Lambie Howie. I have his marriage and death records, his directory listings - I can even tell you his telephone numbers and so on - yet I can't find his birth record. Why? My guess is that's because he was born in Scotland and I don't have all of the Scots' records.

Or...

Theirs was a wartime marriage. Was Thomas perhaps an airman or a clever Scots engineer/mechanic working for the RAF on a local airfield?

[chochokeira]

Well that's them then, they own Wicks Farm now. You must have see their products in shops near you, cooked meats etc? Normally in a gold packet, expensive but very good stuff.

Having said that, I suddenly got the feeling you are vegetarian? Need some sleep I think.

Ah, meat, yes I've heard this word...