Whitwick Connections.

Posted by Lynn Straw

I am hoping someone in your village can help in tracing information of my ancestors. They where Francis White and Elizabeth Capell, they were married on Jan 19th 1863 at the Parish Church there. Elizabeth has her age as 17yrs, spinster and Fathers name Edward Capell, and Francis age 22yrs bachelor but father as None. This is where my problem lies in getting any further in tracing my Family History, so I am hoping you have someone in your community who an help find them for me.

Posted by Alison Price

I am researching my family history and have a relative Sarah Davies born 1815 in Whitwick. Her father was Richard Davies (framework knitter) and mother Sarah. She appears to have had two children out of wedlock: John Davies born in Castle Donington c.1834 and Richard Davies born in Loughborough c.1836 Can anyone help with any further information.

Another relative is John Blood a wheelwright from Shepshed born in 1817 his wife Jane was born in 1816 of Garendon they had a daughter Rosamund a milliner c.1856 In 1881 he moved to Whitwick, Coalville Road and was still a wheelwright and by 1891 had moved to Alma House and was colliery carpenter.

Does anyone know if any of the premises are still standing or photographs in fact any information of interest would be much appreciated.

Posted by Russell Thornock

I'm a Boeing employee from Seattle, Washington, USA, looking for some details of ancestors who were married in the parish church of Whitwick in 1841. I\'m staying in Nottingham for the month of April and would appreciate the opportunity of photographing any record of their marriage or their lives. They were John Thornock and Ann Bott, married on Dec. 25, 1841 by the minister R. H. Creswell. Prior to their leaving for the United States in 1854, they were acquainted with William and Elizabeth Smith of 28 Silver street and received their mail at that address. If anyone has any information concerning these people please contact me. Russ Thornock

Posted by Don Gallacher of Cheshire

My interest in Whitwick relates to the fact that my father Don Gallacher, stayed in lodgings there whilst working in the coal mine nearby in or around 1947-48. His family (including me) lived in Tottenham, London, he stayed in lodgings with a family whose name I believe was Garrett (might be incorrect spelling). I remember him talking about Mr & Mrs Garrett as though they were his parents and they had one son much younger than him, who I believe also worked down the pit. If alive today, I guess he would be in his 70's. Again this is from my childhood recollection and although my dad took my brother and I to visit the family in the 50's and can remember meeting them, being shown some of the mining kit, knee pads, helmet etc; that is all that I have.

My father died several years ago and I have been working on his biography which says little or nothing about Whitwick, even though he talked of it often, took us kids there in the 50's and when he remarried, they stayed at Mount St Bernards Abbey for a few days. Whilst working in the mines he played for Leicester City FC, I believe it may have been in the reserves as the club archive starts in 1949 and can't find much before that.

So, good people of Whitwick, in particular descendants of the Garrett family, I would very much appreciate any information that might throw some light on the short but happy period of time that my dad lived in Whitwick and played for Leicester City. His name is Donald Gallacher, always known as Don, when he boxed he was known as Patsy Gallacher. He was a character and may be memorable enogh to have left his mark. He worked as a groundmsan on sports grounds for most of his life and from 1977-1987 he was the head groundsman at Wembley Stadium.

This is a photo of him around about 1949....who knows, he may be in a picture on someones wall, if he is, I would very much like to see it or hear from anyone with any clues.

Posted by Adrian Prince of Queensland, Australia

My wife's 3rd great grandparents, Gabriel Evans and Mary (nee Hughes) moved from Cerrig Y Drudion to Whitwick in the 1820s. According to family tradition, their children (shown in the 1851 census as born in Whitwick) were born "at Standeroll". Is there anyone who could assist in identifying where or what "Standeroll" is or was? It may have been a farm or hamlet.