Curtis Coincidence?

PHOTO: John Harrison Curtis, famous surgeon, born 1784, Middlesex. (He also had a famous uncle, William Curtis, who was a botanist.)

Let's toss some coincidences around here....

A John Curtis who lived in Cambridge had a son called John Harrison Curtis (b1834). John senior married in Long Sutton.

Living in Long Sutton at the time was OUR John Curtis (no idea where he was born) He married Anne Unknown who happens to be also born in Middlesex.

Meanwhile, yet another John Curtis, born in Lincolnshire 1740, was living in Alford.

OUR John's son, George Curtis just happened to move to Alford after his father died in 1846.

Don't tell me there are no connections here...but can I hellaslike find out what they are!

George Curtis Finds a Body

Found this newspaper article in the Nottingham Evening Post, 1934, referring to a George Curtis of Skegness, who found a body on the beach.
There were only 'our' Curtis family in Skegness around that time, but I'm not sure exactly who this George is.
Off to the library to see if I can find the story in the local newspapers - it may expand on who George is. Failing that, I'll look in the 1933 Dutton's Street Directory and see if that throws up any clues!

UPDATE: Found the article in both the local newspapers, and they reveal it's George Curtis, labourer, of Ivy Cottage, Ingoldmells. He apparently was working on Derby Avenue, Skegness, when he found the body.

Still no wiser, though, as to if he was part of our family!

George Curtis born 1854 Alford Lincolnshire

Wooo! Excited to find this photo of George Curtis (born 1854 Alford) and his wife Annie Marie nee Copperthwaite.
This guy is listed as 'grandson' on Ann Curtis' death certificate.

George Curtis is the BROTHER of Kian & Caleb's 5x great-grandfather, John Curtis. John was the master stonemason who built the Skegness Clock Tower.
Can you tell they're brothers?

George Curtis, pictured above, did some restoration work on St Wilfrid's Church, Alford, after storm damage in 1895.

Source: Lincolnshire Echo - Saturday 28 September 1895

Curtis Rowson Graves Alford

Just been to Alford Church and Cemetery to try and find the Curtis and Rowson graves.
Not much luck - most of the graves are illegible in the church yard - snapped them all to see if anything turns up when I zoom in on the computer.
I KNOW I was in right place for Ann Curtis in the cemetery but could I hellaslike find her!
Oh well!!

National Burial Index NBI Curtis Surname

Here is a list of Curtis burials, taken from the National Burial Index Third Edition, which could possibly be connected with our family tree.
(It must be remembered that the list is not exhaustive.)
The ones in bold have a definite connection to our Curtis Gillott Family Tree.

  8    Jun    1860    Ann    CURTIS    10w    Lincolnshire    Alford, St Wilfred
12    Feb    1880    Charles    CURTIS    6m    Lincolnshire    Alford, St Wilfred
19    Jul    1855    Charles Henry    CURTIS    3    Lincolnshire    Alford, St Wilfred
 1    Aug    1863    Emma    CURTIS    9    Lincolnshire    Alford, St Wilfred
 7    Jan    1864    Frederick    CURTIS    8    Lincolnshire    Alford, St Wilfred
21    Jan    1872    George    CURTIS    45    Lincolnshire    Alford, St Wilfred
26    Jul    1857    Henry    CURTIS    8w    Lincolnshire    Alford, St Wilfred
 7    Jan    1795    Jane    CURTIS    1+    Lincolnshire    Alford, St Wilfred
12    Jun    1819    Jane    CURTIS (nee Marshall)    66    Lincolnshire    Alford, St Wilfred
13    Mar    1829    John    CURTIS (spouse of Jane Marshall)    89    Lincolnshire    Alford, St Wilfred
13    Nov    1872    John    CURTIS    3d    Lincolnshire    Alford, St Wilfred
29    Sep    1874    Maria    CURTIS    59    Lincolnshire    Alford, St Wilfred
 7    Jan    1864    Mary Ann    CURTIS    34    Lincolnshire    Alford, St Wilfred
30    Aug    1779    Sarah    CURTIS        Lincolnshire    Alford, St Wilfred
 2    May    1858    Susan    CURTIS    30    Lincolnshire    Alford, St Wilfred
29    Oct    1847    Wooricke Woodthorpe    CURTIS    inf    Lincolnshire    Alford, St Wilfred
10    Oct    1849    Eliza Anna?    CURTISS    inf    Lincolnshire    Alford, St Wilfred
 2    Jun    1847    Woodthorpe    CURTISS    inf    Lincolnshire    Alford, St Wilfred


26    Jun    1885    Ann    CURTIS    96    Lincolnshire    Alford, Cemetery
15    Feb    1901    Anne Maria    CURTIS    43    Lincolnshire    Alford, Cemetery
17    Oct    1898    Herbert John    CURTIS    12    Lincolnshire    Alford, Cemetery
 5    Jun    1884    John    CURTIS    68    Lincolnshire    Alford, Cemetery
 1    Jun    1906    Nelly Agnes    CURTIS    20    Lincolnshire    Alford, Cemetery
16    Feb    1889    Sydney Charles    CURTIS    2m    Lincolnshire    Alford, Cemetery

30    Jul    1855    Charles    CURTIS    32    Lincolnshire    Sutton St Mary (Long Sutton, St Mary
19    Nov    1855    Elizth Anne    CURTIS    inf    Lincolnshire    Sutton St Mary (Long Sutton, St Mary
 5    May    1846    John    CURTIS    47    Lincolnshire    Sutton St Mary (Long Sutton, St Mary
29    Mar    1853    John George    CURTIS    1    Lincolnshire    Sutton St Mary (Long Sutton, St Mary
13    May    1831    Sarah Ann    CURTIS    7m    Lincolnshire    Sutton St Mary (Long Sutton, St Mary


 6    May    1724    Anne    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
 4    Apr    1712    Benjamin    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
24    Nov    1722    Elizabeth    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
25    Feb    1728    Elizabeth    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
 9    Dec    1729    Elizabeth    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
 6    Sep    1736    Elizabeth    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
14    Jun    1705    Francis    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
16    Jan    1725    Francis    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
28    Jan    1717    James    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
23    Jul    1736    James    CURTIS    boy    Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
24    Aug    1706    John    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
20    Aug    1718    John    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
 8    Jul    1726    John    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
23    Jan    1725    Margaret    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
25    Aug    1666    Mary    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
16    Sep    1728    Mary    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
26    May    1730    Mary    CURTIS    inf    Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
 3    Oct    1736    Mary    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
 6    Jun    1727    Robert    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
28    Aug    1728    Robert    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
 9    Aug    1731    Robert    CURTIS    inf    Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
20    May    1733    Robert    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
23    Mar    1734    Robert    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
11    Dec    1733    Sarah    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter
 3    Dec    1749    Thomas    CURTIS        Cambridgeshire    Wisbech, St Peter

No Curtis burials in Tydd St Giles, Cambridge

 7    Jun    1874    Harriet    CURTIS    30    Lincolnshire    Huttoft, St Margaret
28    Feb    1874    John Robert    CURTIS    5    Lincolnshire    Huttoft, St Margaret

Pigot's Directory 1830 Long Sutton St Mary

Long Sutton (Sutton St Mary) is where our John and Ann Curtis can be found residing on the 1841 census.
We know that they lived there from at least 1824, as their son, Charles, was baptized at Sutton St Mary's Church.
On a later census, Ann listed her occupation as a 'former public house keeper', and I had wondered if this had been in Sutton...
The Pigot's Directory lists the public houses and innkeepers in Long Sutton, but our Curtis Family is NOT on that list, indeed there is no mention of them at all.
Oh well, I was hoping the directory would reveal something positive, but nevertheless, we'll keep the Pigot's directory on the back-burner - just in case!

Curtis Toyne Marriage

Wedding of John Charles Fowler Curtis and Lilly Toyne at St Matthew's Church, Skegness on 18th February, 1915.
Source: Skegness News 3rd March, 1915.

Photo of John and Lily.

Curtis Golden Wedding

FIFTY years ago on Thursday, Mr. and Mrs. John Curtis stood at the altar in St. Matthew's Church, Skegness, and said "I will." It was a beautiful, sunny and frosty Thursday morning.

But 50 years later on the same date another Thursday to be exact, the sun didn't shine on this 76-year-old couple who live at 12 Elizabeth Grove, Skegness. Instead, it was a cold, damp day, snowing and raining.
Thursday was the couple's golden wedding anniversary. And they weren't the only ones to remember 18th February, 1915, as a " Big Day." For the day before their 50th anniversary, the only bridesmaid at their wedding, the bride's sister, now Mrs. Doris Grant, of Wainfleet, arrived on the doorstep carrying flowers for the " bride," as she had done once before.

BOW ON WHIP
Looking back on that bright February morning, Mrs. Curtis, who is now handicapped by arthritis, recalled: " My mother so wanted the wedding breakfast to be at our home in Wainfleet, that we had to travel there from Skegness in a landau. No taxis in those days, you know, and the only place we could have white ribbon was as a white bow on the whip !
"We spent our honeymoon in Wainfleet," she added.
As it happens, the couple met in Lumley Road, Skegness, at the age of 17, Mr. Curtis, who came to Skegness from Nottingham at the age of seven, has been a master plasterer for most of his life, apart from a short period in the grocery business. His wife, formerly Miss Lily Toyne, born at Wainfleet, has spent her 50 years Of married life as a housewife.
Over the years Mr. Curtis, who Is a very well-known Skegnessian, did a lot of work for Butlin's Limited when the first camp came into being. He also worked on the Imperial Ballroom, Lloyds Bank and various other large Premises in the town. He retired 13 years ago at the age of 63. His Plastering business became a family concern when his two sons joined him.
During the 1914-18 war. Mr. Curtis joined the army in the West Yorkshire Regiment, although he did not leave the country as a soldier.
When Mr. and Mrs. Curtis were first married they lived at Auckland Villas, Grosvenor Road, Skegness , (left of photo)

and, later, in a house they had built for themselves, " Waynflete," in Cavendish Road. They lived there for 26 years, and they have now lived in Elizabeth Grove for 11 years.
Perhaps one of the nicest surprises on their anniversary day, was when three secondary modern schoolchildren arrived on the doorstep with an armful of flowers, a gift and an anniversary card, which they and form-mates had bought and chosen themselves.
Under an experimental scheme organised by one of their schoolteachers, pupils from the ages of 11 to 13 are now visiting the handicapped of Skegness after school, to help with the odd jobs and errands around the house.

HOME-HELPS
Mrs. Curtis' junior home-helps are twins, Peter and Pauline Walker, and Jane Wood, all of Skegness. On Thursday morning, after they had given Mr. and Mrs. Curtis their anniversary card, the embroidered pillowcases and the bunch of daffodils, they arranged   all the flowers and cards the couple had received.
Mrs. Curtis was full of praise for these children who bring a good deal of gaiety into the home of someone who rarely moves from her front door, even though she is a gay, talkative, white-haired housewife !
Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have not had a celebration party — just relays of visits from friends and family.
One visitor at the weekend was their only daughter from Redcar in Yorkshire, Mrs. Jean Scowen. Other visitors have included their two sons from Winthorpe, Charles and Frank Curtis.

Photo: Against a background of anniversary cards and one of the three cakes they were given, Mr. and Mrs. Curtis stand in their home with 50 years of marriage to their credit. (Photo : Norman Beckett.)

Source: Skegness Standard 24th February 1965

Whilst the story tells us that John Curtis came to Skegness from Nottingham, the family was established in Skegness in 1828. Mr Curtis lived in Nottingham temporarily as a child.

Snake Show in India Weird Thrill for Skegness Man

This story appeared in a 1942 issue of the Skegness Standard. It tells of a letter by Corpl. Frank Fowler Curtis, who is my sons' grandfather, (see below) which he sent to his parents, Mr and Mrs John Charles Fowler Curtis of 42 Cavendish Road Skegness, whilst he was serving in India.

Incidentally, Mr John Charles Fowler Curtis is the grandson of the John Curtis who built the Clock Tower in 1897/9/9.

In the letter Frank tells us about an Indian snake charmer which he saw whilst in India. Frank said the show made him feel sick.

'The individual let one of the snakes bite his tongue until blood was drawn, and finished up his performance by putting in his mouth a snake about a foot long, followed by the heads of three others, each about four feet in length'.
"He was dancing around with the bodies of these three dangling from his mouth. Quite a nice trick if you know how.'

Frank said in the letter that he was hoping to soon get to Calcutta where "It will be quite a change after this typical Indian spot where, with the few smatterings of Hindustani I have picked up, I can just about make myself understood. It is great fun trying to learn the native children to understand English. Most of them run about with no clothes on, and usually have a piece of string tied around their stomachs with such things as a bunch of keys or queer little lockets tied to it as a guard against evil spirits.
"The woman do most of the work such as navvying and carry tremendous loads on their heads. All the bricklayers, labourers etc are women. The children start smoking at the age of about five - real husky, pot-bellied little blighters, and are about 50 in their ways. They have to look after themselves as soon as they can walk, and are taught to beg at an early age. They are always asking us for backsheesh.
"It is quite safe here, so please don't worry about me. It's a lot safer than anywhere in England at the moment, and we get loads of fruit. I have just eaten half-a-dozen bananas, which are only 4d a dozen. Besides that we get a free issue of 40 cigarettes and two boxes of matches a week. Woodbines and only 2d for ten here, and there are plenty of them."
Frank told his parents about his journey across India . He said the dust from the mere cart track was so thick that the men in the lorries looked like clay figures. Frank said that they had to carry loaded rifles, as they were in a district where the hills men are notorious for pillaging convoys.
Years later, Frank related to his children that he had never seen such marvelous scenery in all his life, the beauties of the landscape and his experiences throughout the long journey.

In the letter Frank told his parents that there was one place where they stopped which was a frontier police camp, and thew airmen were the first white troops the natives had seen for years.
He said that the natives were quite friendly, and entertained the 400 Englishmen every night with weird dances, and in turn the airmen gave the natives a show.

I was pleased when I found this article in the Skegness Standard in 1942, as the writer of the letter, Frank Curtis, is my sons' grandfather. Photo below: Frank, in military uniform, at his own wedding, in 1943. Corpl Frank Curtis' parents, referred to in the news article above, are immediately to the left of the groom.

Picture of Frank Curtis with grandson (my son) Roan Curtis in 1982

Spelling Mistake Mystery Skegness Clock Tower

Is there a spelling mistake on the Skegness Clock Tower, which has gone un-noticed for over a century?

I do a bit of local history research in my spare time, and one particular task  found me studying the Skegness Clock Tower, particularly the laying of the foundation stone and the opening ceremony in August 1899. To illustrate this article, I visited the Clock Tower to secure a picture of the engraving on the stonework on the north side, which depicts the names of the Clock Tower Committee.

Picture secured, I was re-touching it on my computer when I noticed the spelling of Mr C Houghton, member of the Local Board.

It's spelt Hougton - missing the second 'h'!

The question is now raised - Is the 'Mr. C. Hougton' chronicled on the Clock Tower a different person to the Mr C (Charles) Houghton, member of the Clock Tower Committee and the Council, or is it an unfortunate spelling mistake?

Let's refer to the list of the Clock Tower Committee as documented in the original newspaper coverage of the Opening of the Clock Tower Ceremony:

We've highlighted the name of C Houghton - which includes the second 'h'.

So how come the list of the Clock Tower Committee above is as long as your arm when only fourteen members have their names inscribed on the Clock Tower?

Well, let's listen to a reading about a number of councillors who were discussing the stone slab and the inscription just after its installation:

(You will need to increase your speaker volume as I was obliged to speak quietly whilst attempting to read from the antiquated microfilm reader. Please enter the password 'skegness').

So it appears from the council meeting that only the names of the sub committee were inscribed on the Clock Tower slab.

Now we've determined the person to whom the inscription 'Mr. C. Hougton' refers, a member of the Clock Tower Sub-committee, we are faced with another question - Which of the two spellings is correct?

I can produce evidence of hundreds of instances where Mr. C Houghton is referred to in the Skegness Herald, but for obvious reasons I will cite merely the one instance below - a photo of the original 1888 Skegness Herald, where the Chairman of the Local Board is addressing (Councillor) Mr Houghton. (Note the spelling).

Okay, we've proved that it was a Mr C Houghton who sat on the Council, and was a member of the Clock Tower Sub-Committee; when you're next in the Skegness Town Council Chambers, have a look at the picture on the wall of the Local Board, taken in 1887 (reproduced below) - the caption to this photo spells the name with the extra 'h'. Mr Charles Houghton is extreme left on the back row.

But can we prove once and for all that there wasn't, in fact, a Mr C Hougton?

The Clock Tower Opening Ceremony was performed in 1899. If we can refer to a census report, or a street directory for 1899, then surely that would strengthen our evidence.

Unfortunately, we can't! But what we can do is look at the 1881, 1891 and 1901 census reports for Skegness and consult a 1894 Skegness street directory.

I performed searches on all three of the said censuses for a Hougton  in Skegness and every one returned a negative result. However, a Mr Charles Houghton can be found on all three censuses: (Click on the thumbnails)

1881 census -  

1891 census -   

1901 census -   

The image below is taken from the 1894 street directory for Roman Bank, Skegness:

Well 'Mr C Hougton' apparently didn't exist in Skegness!

What about in the whole of England, from 1837 to 1918?

I performed a search of the Births, Marriages and Death Index for the surname 'Hougton' in England between the above dates. (Check it out yourself).

Ah! At last we have found a male C Hougton listed as a marriage in 1893 - a Charles Henry Hougton, albeit in Liverpool! But. alas, on clicking to view the original document lodged at the General Records Office, we see that, in fact the name has been transcribed wrongly and the correct version contains the additional letter 'h'. I have included the appropriate entry as an image below:

So there was no Mr C Hougton in England, let alone in Skegness!

After examining all the evidence, I am tending towards there having been a spelling mistake on the inscription on the Skegness Clock Tower!

But how come this 'mistake' has gone undetected for over 100 years?

And what about Mr Charles Houghton himself, who incidentally is an ancestor of my sons; did not a little pride creep into him, enough to make his eyes linger on his own name long enough to notice the 'mistake'?

I have extensively scrutinized documents in the archives for some years now and I have never found a reference to, or a complaint about this  'mistake', but don't worry - I shall keep on looking...

The whole thing is a great mystery to me!

What about you?

John Curtis (1799-1846) of Long Sutton

John CURTIS Birth Abt 1799 in Not Lincolnshire Death 1846 in Holbeach reg district, Lincolnshire, England

Family Members

Parents

• 
  No Father
• 
  No Mother

Spouse & Children

• 
  Ann (Curtis)1789 – 1885

• 
  Charles CURTIS1824 – 1855
• 
  George CURTIS1826 – 1872
• 
  John CURTIS1829 – 
• 
  Sarah Ann CURTIS1830 – 1931

Timeline

• Birth 1799Abt Not Lincolnshire According to the 1841 census, John was NOT born in Lincolnshire. Possibly born in Cambridge, but no absolute proof atm!

• Charles' Baptism 18243 AprAge: 25 Sutton St Mary, Lincolnshire, England John is living in Washway Road, Long Sutton, and his occupation is a LABOURER)

• George's Baptism 182616 MayAge: 27 Sutton St Mary, Lincolnshire, England On his son George's baptism record, John is living in Washway Road, Long Sutton, and his occupation is a Maltster. The same info is recorded on Sarah's baptism record in 1830.

• Residence 1841Age: 42 Croft Gate, Sutton St Mary, Lincolnshire, England Photos (1)

• Death 1846Age: 47 Holbeach reg district, Lincolnshire, England 99% sure about this death, but as John was living in Long Sutton (Sutton St Mary), this is the only death between the 1841 and 1851 censuses. Photos (1)

• Burial 18465 May St Mary's Church, Long Sutton, Lincolnshire Source: NBI

• Occupation Ag Lab/Labourer/Maltster

• Marriage to Ann (Curtis) NB Searched marriages at Long Sutton St Mary between 1813 and 1826 and there is no entry for John and Ann Curtis.