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Mroning, Jet,

OK, with the information you and Mr. Soliel have provided I am quite hopeful that I can dig up something useful. On the photo, given your Great Grandfather's date of birth, I am now firmly convinced that the Photo long pre-dates WWI (the chap in the photo is not in his thirties) and that the uniforms they are wearing are not those of any of HM armed forces.

Regarding Woodstock: I don't know if you have ever been there but the small town is dominated by Blenheim Palace and in the late 19th century the Palace and its estate would have been by far the economic driver and main employer of the area. The house and estate records for the period probably still exist and may well contain interesting information on your family.

Originally Posted by WorriedDad

Mroning, Jet,

OK, with the information you and Mr. Soliel have provided I am quite hopeful that I can dig up something useful. On the photo, given your Great Grandfather's date of birth, I am now firmly convinced that the Photo long pre-dates WWI (the chap in the photo is not in his thirties) and that the uniforms they are wearing are not those of any of HM armed forces.

Regarding Woodstock: I don't know if you have ever been there but the small town is dominated by Blenheim Palace and in the late 19th century the Palace and its estate would have been by far the economic driver and main employer of the area. The house and estate records for the period probably still exist and may well contain interesting information on your family.

Morning WorriedDad,

Many thanks for spending your time at the National Archieves to look into Edward's history. I have been to Woodstock and agree that it was the main economic and employment driver and I will have a look into the house and estate records and see what is uncovered.

Those uniforms still seem pre-WW1 with an American influence.
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I have found out that he was a farmer and then a glovemaker, both in Woodstock.

Glovemakers. My turn to join in. My family are descended from (on my father's side) a family of glovemakers who were resident in Woodstock. There was a large glove making business on the site of what is now a hotel (the Feathers hotel) in the heart of the town. Joseph Dewsnap was one of the main chaps, his son also called Joseph joined the RN in the 1790's was born in Woodstock. One of the Dewsnap family, George, became embroiled in some sort of tax dodge shenanigans and ended up emigrating with his family to the US where he set up a new leather making business...possibly making chaps for the er...chaps I suppose!.

This is an informative link with info about some of the buildings...Woodstock - Buildings | A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 12 (pp. 342-360)Scroll down to number 57, The Feathers Hotel.

Mr. Jet,

Sorry but a bit of a crisis has meant that I can't get to the NA today. Trip rescheduled for Monday. Apologies but can't be helped.

Originally Posted by WorriedDad

Mr. Jet,

Sorry but a bit of a crisis has meant that I can't get to the NA today. Trip rescheduled for Monday. Apologies but can't be helped.