Mary Ann Nicholson my grandfather James' sister, was born
on the twentieth of May 1872 in Tontine, Upholland to Mary Nicholson,
no father was given. John Nicholson Mary's husband died 28th June
1870 so he couldn't have been the father of Mary Ann.
I have been searching for Mary Ann Nicholson for a few
years and decided to try to find her again. I found a black and white
photo of a cottage in Carn Brea, near Redruth, Cornwall which my late husband
took in 1951 and I sent an e-mail to the vicar of Illogan Mike Kippax attaching
the photograph. I explained that I knew Mary Ann lived there
and died in 1931 but had no idea who she married. He sent an e-mail two
days later with a photograph attached of the cottage as it now stands.
He also promised to put an appeal in his monthly church Magazine to see
if any of his parishioners could help. I also wrote to the postmistress
at Illogan to see if she knew the name of the house as the Archivist in Redruth
needed an address before they could look up the name in the Electoral Roll
for 1930.
In the meantime I joined the ENG-Redruth group and made an appeal
on there. I had several replies all very helpful but Maurice McClean
who lives in Truro promised to visit the research centre in Redruth
to see what he could find. The Archivist had suggested that the
lady could be Mary Ann Maddern as she was the only Mary Ann in Carn Brea
Village.
One Saturday morning in March 2005 Maurice went to the centre and
found the Obituary of Mary Ann Maddern. It confirmed that she was the
lady in question and my grandfather, father and two Aunties attended the
funeral. On a further visit Maurice also found the obituary of Catherine
Maddern the Postmistress of Carn Brea (where they had a post office) Catherine
had died at the age of 29 and the whole village were shocked and saddened
by her death. She was the wife of James Henry Maddern and they had one daughter
aged three. Maurice wondered could it be the same J.H. Maddern who attended
my aunt's funeral and was her stepson?
I received an e-mail from another member of the ENG-Redruth group
and he gave me details of two burials in Tuckingmill Cemetery of Mary
Ann Madderns. Mary Ann Maddern aged 59 who died in 1931 and Mary Ann Maddern
aged 53 who died in 1911.The first Mary Ann was my great aunt Mary Ann Nicholson
but who was the second. I didn't think there was any connection at the time
but now Maurice has been to Tuckingmill cemetery and found a grave of Mary
Ann Maddern who died aged 53 in 1911. Also a son Frederick aged 16
1892 and Bertie aged one year also 1892. Husband John Maddern who died aged
72 in 1928.I sent for the Birth Certificate of Bertie and found that his
mother was Mary Ann Boase. Mary Ann Boase was the first wife of John
Maddern who is buried with John at Tuckingmill. I believe that Mary Ann
Maddern (Nicholson) is also buried at Tuckingmill.
I have since found that John Maddern's first wife was Mary Ann Boase
they were married in Guisboro, York in 1876 and John was living there in
the 1881 census. Also in the 1881 census I found a John Maddern in Skelton
in Guisborough, York and this is presumably John Maddern snr. He was married
to Mary whose birth was given as Brough Hill, Cumberland. In the 1861
census it shows John snr. married to Eliza and I found a marriage of John
Maddern to Eliza Bastian in Penzance in 1854 this is obviously John jnr's
mother and also the mother of Thomas who was 21 in the 1881 census.
I later found a marriage of John Warren Maddern to Mary Louisa Richards
could this be John senr's second wife? Also John Maddern's mother was Jane
Lawry and she married John senr's father in 1829.
Doing research in Carn Brea and the areas surrounding has a given
me an interest in Carn Brea and I would like to find out more. Carn
Brea where my Great Aunt lived is a beautiful area of Cornwall. The Castle
is a 14th Century Hunting lodge set on what is known as Carn Brea over
the years it was owned by the very wealthy Basssett family who lived
at Tehidy Mansion. This is now privately owned and has been turned into
a Restaurant. Around the time when Mary Ann lived at the cottage which
was just underneath the Castle. It was used by many families who would meet
up and have their Cornish Pasties as well as Tea Treats especially on Sundays
when everyone would dress up in their Sunday best wearing bonnets and the
men their caps and top hats. From the garden of the cottage which
was then called Truffles you could see the Castle.They must have been envied
by all in those days living in such a lovely cottage as well as location.
Redruth is an interesting place and The Rose Cottage Pub is one of
the oldest Inns in Redruth. The main street is called West End this is
Fore Street Redruth which is pedestrianised nowadays. The Clock Tower
used to be the local lock-up and there were Stocks outside.
Since starting this account of the Madderns I have found the Great grandson
of John Maddern. His name is Phillip Stone and I found him on Genes
Reunited. He has sent me a Gedcom file on the Madderns going back
to 1500. I hope to put a family tree on my website of all the Madderns.
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