Sellwood/Selwood

Comment

Comment by Cameron Selwood on December 9, 2014 at 6:51am

Hi again Janet!  Thanks for that, yes, I've been doing a fair bit of research on this family and even spoken with someone from the Lechlade Historical Society that sent some parish records, the most significant was Mary Ann's marriage to Henry Woodward, but also that there was another daughter, Selika (noted as being illegitimate), who was baptised in 1857, but also died aged 13 days.  

What I find interesting is that Richard Selwood/Sellard can be found in 1911 census (doesn't look like he ever married or had children), and I can trace Adelaide through the years (she became deaf at age 24 and lived out her life as a Housemaid at a convalescence home for the Sisters of Mercy), but I can't find a death notice or anything of that Edward after the 1871 census - only the employee record for an Edward Sellwood at the Stockport Rail in 1875... perhaps he moved up there and to hide his past, he just said he was born there?

The fact I can't find him after that time may be because you've found the right person and he moved to Australia?

I hadn't found Mary Ann's death before, but I guessed she died before 1871 as all her children are living with Grandparents (and not Richard Sellard, I'm guessing he died too).  

Did you see the 1871 Census for Edward? He is a lodger, but Richard is living two doors down with a John Tombs (Grandfather) and James Tombs (son of head... presumably Richard's father?).  Given Richard & Edward seem to be twins.. then I guess James Tombs is his father?  So we should be Tombs, not Selwoods?

Adelaide and William are living with their Grandfather (a Woodward) and Henry, so it appears Henry was Adelaide's father, but still born before they got married.  William is also listed as a Selwood too in that census, even though he was born after Henry and Mary got married, not sure why that is?

I have to have another look, but I don't believe I have Edward's actual birthdate, so may not be an option, although that is a very good idea, I will have to look into that a bit more, there is another family member who has done a lot of research, I'll have to see if he has a birthdate..

Its really hard cause Stokes is common in the Stockport/Cheshire area, but Selwood is not... but then Selwood is common in Wiltshire/Gloustershire, but Stokes isn't, so its a very unlikely match!

Of course... this "Edward Thomas Selwood" could have been running from something and the names he used was completely and utterly made up, in which case, we'll never know the truth!

Thanks for all your help - I think you said you found me on Ancestry, feel free to contact me there and I can show you what I've found on the tree, I can also send you my email address via the private messages there.

Oh - you also said that these Sellards were somehow related to you?  I haven't (yet) found Richard's (the Grandfather)'s past, so I'm not sure who he is connected to... there are several Selwoods from Cricklade I noticed.

Thanks again!

Comment by Janet Woodger on December 9, 2014 at 4:50am

I've just realised there is an easy way to prove or disprove this is the right Edward Selwood. If you know his birthday from family records or other sdources in Australia it would be worth getting the 1854 birth certificate to see if it matches, or not, as the case may be! Please let me know if you need any help with this. His baptism record might have his date of birth recorded but, as I mentioned, Lechlade registers are not online for the date we need. 

Best wishes

Janet

Comment by Janet Woodger on December 8, 2014 at 4:53pm

Hi Cameron

Now it is my turn to apologise for not responding earlier. I wonder if you have managed to eliminate this Edward Selwood yet or whether he is still 'in the frame'? I agree the fact that he believed his father was a Selwood and his mother a Stokes doesn't fit this family...and the birthplace is a problem too! BUT if Edward was illegitimate it was likely that he would try and cover it up. I have discovered that this Edward's mother died when he was only about 10 years old. It looks as if this is the situation:

Edward Sellwood was born in Lechlade in the Faringdon reg district in 1854

In 1861 he was living with his unmarried mother Mary Ann Sellwood aged 29 and grandfather Richard Selwood aged 71 and his younger sister Adelaide Victoria Sellwood aged 3 months. There was another 7 year old Richard Sellwood living with them ...another grandson of Richard...but he was born in 1853 (but I do not think he is Edward's brother)

In 1863 Mary Ann Sellwood married Henry Woodward in the December quarter 

In the June quarter 1864 I think Mary Ann gave birth to a son William Henry Woodwards (Faringdon reg district)

Mary Ann Woodward(s) died in the Faringdon reg district in the Dec Quarter 1864

In 1871 widowed Henry Woodwards was living with 10 year old Adelaide  and 4 year old William (with Henry's parents, William and Mary Ann)

Edward was aged 17 and was lodging nearby.

IF this is indeed the Edward Selwood who went to Australia the timings fit well ... he would have wanted to cover up the fact of his illegitimacy which might help explain the fact he claimed his father was a Sellwood but further evidence is needed. It is curious that he said his father was Thomas but that might be true....we do not know who his father was...there is no proof it was Henry Woodward.

I guess the fact that your exhaustive searches in Stockport have not found him might be regarded as supporting evidence but it is far from proof.

Anyway...hope this might help. I have tried to locate the baptism register for Lechlade but it is not available online for the dates we need. 

Best wishes Janet

.

Comment by Cameron Selwood on November 17, 2014 at 8:07am

Hi again Janet, really sorry again for not responding in April, I'd read your first response and hadn't realised you had written another - interesting thoughts, it did seem that it could be Edmund or Edward, and I'm pretty sure that is a T, not J. One thing that does concern me of this theory is that even if Sellard and Sel(l)wood were inter-changeable, it was his father he named Sellwood, and his mother Stokes (it'll be interesting to see who Richards wife's name was... Maybe he put Selwood down as his father so he didn't appear to be illegitimate?
I'm going to get in and try and follow this family line now.. Thanks again.

Comment by Janet Woodger on April 29, 2014 at 10:01am

Hi Cameron

I guess you have spotted the Edward Sellwood born in the Faringdon, Berkshire reg district in the March quarter 1854? Vol 2c page 253. 

I thought he was worth following up if only to eliminate him.

At first I couldn't find him in 1861 so looked at the 1871 census and found him living in Lechlade, Gloucestershire ( very near Berkshire county border) aged 17, recorded as Edward Selwood. He was an ag lab and was boarding with a family by the name of Turner. His birthplace was given as Lechlade. There is a mistake with his age on the Ancestry webite as it is obscured on the original image...he is said to be 11 but the Find myPast website has it as 17 and I feel certain this is correct.

Knowing he must be somewhere nearby in 1861 I eventually found him recorded in the index as Edmund J Sellard aged 7 living with his grandfather Richard Sellard and (presumably) mother Mary Ann Sellard who was 29 and unmarried.   Birthplace again given as Lechlade 

I have many many examples of how Sellard is interchangeable with Sellwood in this area. The really exciting thing is that I am sure the J in his name is actually T...have a look at the original image. As I have a son called Edmund I know the two names are often confused and I think the original could be read either way.

More excitement...this is part of my extended family but I will need to delve into some long neglected files to work out the relationship. I have another example in my family of a lad from this area moving north to work on the railway...Henry Sellard/Sellard born in Southrop in 1854 whose own  son was born in Derbyshire. My own great grandfather left Southrop to go to Swindon to work in the railway works although that was in the 1880s

Far from eliminating him I feel this just might be the right Edward....he is the right age and has a middle name beginning with T....surely must be Thomas? I wouldn't mind betting his father was Thomas!!! His mother a appears to be Mary Ann so everything fits. There is no sign of him in 1881.

I really hope this is 'your' Edward Thomas Sellwood!

Janet

Comment by Janet Woodger on April 29, 2014 at 7:54am

Hi Cameron

I have been studying your very well researched family tree on Ancestry. What a really difficult 'brick wall' It certainly looks as if Edward started a new life in Australia...and left very few clues to help track down his past. It is frustrating that there is just so little to go on.I can, however, help with one thing and although it is 'negative' evidence it does mean you don't need to spend any more time on the Thomas Edward Stokes baptised in Lancashire in 1855. The reason being that he appears to have died as an infant. His death was registered in the Dec quarter 1855 (strangely his birth does not appear to have been registered) The ref is Bolton registration district (which covers Farnworth with Kersley in the parish of Deane) vol 8c page 113 (from freebmd website) This would, of course, explain why there is no later sighting of him.

I think the very best clue so far is the reference of Edward Sellwood as a brakesman on the Railway. I wonder if there are other records amongst the Railway archives that might provide further clues that might identify him...even a precise date of birth might help your search.

I will keep looking for a Thomas Sellwood .....

Janet

Comment by Cameron Selwood on April 28, 2014 at 12:52am

Hi Janet, sorry I haven't responded.  The problem is that I have no idea where the Thomas, that was the alleged father of Edward, came from.  All we know is he lists his birthplace as Stockport, Cheshire. 

I did think about if his mother was unmarried so looked for his birth as Stokes instead and there certainly was a christening for a Thomas Edward Stokes in 1855, son of an unmarried Mary Stokes... this was in Lancaster, not too far from Stockport.

The only Thomas Selwood I can find in Cheshire any where near this time didn't move there until 1860-something, after Edward was born.  Strangely enough, he actually lived down the road from a servant by the name of Mary Stokes... but this is probably coincidental.  I have found a great deal on this Thomas Selwood, from his work as an under gardener for Hellen Shelley (Percy Shelley's sister) at Elcot house, to his work as the Head Gardener at Eaton Place for the Duke of Westminster, then his eventual immigration to Canada, I've even spoken to an American descendant of his...  unfortunately, despite his time in Cheshire for a period soon after Edward's birth, I can find no connection between them.

If you can find any connection for a Thomas Selwood/Sellwood to Stockport, or even somewhere in Cheshire or Lancaster in 1854, I would be most interested.  At present I have hit a brick wall and not sure where else to turn.

Comment by Janet Woodger on March 3, 2014 at 9:06am

I have been researching my Sellars/Sellards/Sellard/Sellwood ancestry for many years and would be very pleased to share information. The main areas are  Southrop and Lechlade, Gloucestershire and Buscott, Berkshire from c 1773 onwards, and Broad Blunsdon and Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire before that. Please feel free to get in touch if you think you might have a connection.

Janet Woodger (nee Sellars) 

Comment by Cameron Selwood on August 12, 2013 at 2:52pm

I've noticed no one has commented for a while, but if anyone can fill in some clues on my ancestors, ive reached a brick wall. The first of our namesake to come to Australia was an Edward Thomas Selwood. On the immigration papers he lists his place of birth as Stockport, Cheshire in 1854, and his parents as Thomas Selwood and Mary Ann Stokes. Problem is I've never been able to find a trace of him or his parents in England. I did find a Thomas and Mary Ann Selwood in Wiltshire (as a lot of Selwoods came from) but they don't appear to have a son called Edward, and her Maiden name wasn't Stokes. Another clue I've found is an Edward Selwood working for the Railway as a breaksman, and subsequently let go for not being qualified, just a year or two before coming to Aust (which may explain why he moved here). Any info would be appreciated as, unlike a few of he other ancestors from Britain, I've never been able to find any other relations in the Selwood family.

Comment by Victoria Turner on February 8, 2011 at 2:36pm

Hello all,
My apologies to all and sundry for my absence from this site. I have been ill and have had no computer either for 18mths
I am presently updating everything that I can and will reply to all those that I need to as soon as poss.
I am not sure whether my ancient computer which has been idle for so long will be able to cope with all the new innovations, so please bear with me. At the moment it is very slow to load and times out quite often.

Thank you for your patience.

Victoria Turner nee Sellwood

 

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