Not only is it the 49th anniversary of my Grandpa Hibbitt's (Charles George Hibbitt) death today but I have only just realised that his father, Alfred Charles Newbold Hibbitt, was baptized on this day in 1873, exactly 99 years before my Grandpa died.


Baptism of Alfred Charles Newbold Hibbitt
Alfred was actually born in 1869 but he wasn't baptized until he was four years old. I have had a question mark over Alfred's paternity for a little while due to the lack of DNA matches beyond him, although the hiccup could possibly have occurred at his father's generation instead. His father, being an only child, makes it difficult to establish which generation the non-paternal event can be attributed to.

We have plenty of DNA matches on Alfred's mothers' side (Pitcher) but going back on the Hibbitt side or on his purported grandmother's side (Newbold) has proved fruitless in terms of the DNA. His father was supposedly born in the Rutland area and Alfred was born in Birmingham. We have very few meaningful DNA connections to Rutland but a number of matches which converge in the Midlands area which I have yet to tie down.

It's possible that Alfred's parents didn't immediately get around to having him baptized for any number reasons. A younger brother, William Henry Hibbitt, wasn't baptized until he was two when it appears he was very close to death. Alfred was baptized just over a fortnight later when the matter might have felt more pressing to his parents so the 'late' baptism may have no connection to any questionable parentage at all.

Please feel free to follow my Blog on Facebook

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt & Barnes Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

Funeral flowers placed on the grave of Charles George Hibbitt
On this day in 1972, my Grandpa, Charles George Hibbitt, died aged 73, at South Hams Hospital in Kingsbridge, Devon.

He was buried with his sister, Nellie, at Drake Memorial Park in Plymstock on 12th October. I drive past this cemetery when I visit my parents and I still pay my respects at the grave from time to time.

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt & Barnes Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

I have only just realized that one of my dad's grandfathers was born on this day, 2nd August, and the other died on this day.

Alfred Charles Newbold Hibbitt was born on 2nd August 1869 at Back 20, Chester Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire. He joined the Royal Navy in 1885 and went on to become a Chief Petty Officer in the Coastguards. He was invalided out in 1920 and died in 1928.


Alfred Charles Newbold Hibbitt with his daughter, Nellie
Charles Llewellyn Ernest Elbert Dando died on 2nd August 1959 at Moorhaven Hospital, Ugborough, Totnes, Devon. His death certificate shows he died of pulmonary oedema and pneumonia, left heart failure, anaemia and carcinoma of the prostate. He was born at 86 Regent Street, London, on 4th June 1876 and worked as a dentist for half a century.


Charles Llewellyn Ernest Elbert Dando with his wife, Alice, at Goodrington
[Note: All content on the Hibbitt & Barnes Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

Original phonogram sent on 15th July 1919 to Lt C N Ellen
Exactly one hundred years ago today a special communication was received by a young Lt Cyril Norman Ellen requesting his presence at Buckingham Palace on the 24th July 1919. The phonogram was sent from the Lord Chamberlain's office to Harvey's grandad who was to receive his DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) from King George V. It must have been a very proud moment.


Cyril Ellen wearing his medals on his wedding day in 1925

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt & Barnes Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

William Hellyer Geake (known as Bill)
Today marks the 25th anniversary of my Grandpa Geake's death. Here he is in front of his house at Crelake Park in Tavistock Devon.


Bill Geake (25.4.1917 - 18.6.1994)
And here Grandpa is sitting in the chair next to me at our house - Christmas time 1983.

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt & Barnes Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

Phyllis Grace Geake, nee Weaver
It's hard to believe we lost my Granny Geake 14 years ago today. I still miss her loads.


Grave plaque at Drake Memorial Park, Plymstock

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt & Barnes Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

Edward Carlyle Savory
Honouring my Great-Uncle, Edward Carlyle Savory, who was in the US 29th Division Artillery HQ Bty on D-Day, arriving on Omaha Beach at 14:10 hours on the afternoon of 6th June.

After the war, Uncle Eddie married my Great-Aunt, Eileen Geake, having met her in Tavistock, Devon, where he had been stationed for some time before crossing the Channel.


General Eisenhower inspecting the US troops in front of St Eustachius Church in Tavistock

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt & Barnes Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

George Harvey (1884-1918)
On the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of Amiens, we remember Harvey's great-grandfather, George Harvey, who was wounded on 8th August 1918.

He was a Sapper in B Company, 9th Battalion, Canadian Engineers and received a gunshot wound to the shoulder whilst the '3rd Canadian Division successfully attacked the enemy positions between the Andrea Ravine and Hangard, inclusive, at 4.20am. During the course of the operations, Lieut. Byron, and 4 O.R.s [Other Ranks] who were with a party, under command of Lieut. Jones, were wounded.'

George was taken to No. 9 General Hospital at Rouen where he succumbed to his wounds and died on 10th August. He is buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension in Rouen.


The Headstone of George Harvey in St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France
George is commemorated on the War Memorial in his home town of Newlyn in Cornwall and is also memorialized on a stone in the wall of the Centenary Primitive Methodist Church, which is situated at the top of Boase Street where he lived in 1909.


The Stone laid in Memory of George Harvey in the Wall of the Centenary Primitive Methodist Church in Newlyn
[Note: All content on the Hibbitt & Barnes Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

Ivy Alice Dando (1927)
Remembering my Granny Hibbitt on the anniversary of her death, seen here in 1927, probably on Grandpa's bike.

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt & Barnes Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

Charlie Hibbitt and his sister, Nell
Remembering my grandpa, Charles George Hibbitt, who passed away on this day 45 years ago. I have many happy memories of my Grandpa Hibbitt including our times spent on his boat which you can read about in my previous post.


Charlie Hibbitt at Princetown during the harsh winter of 1947 working as a telephone inspector.
[Note: All content on the Hibbitt & Barnes Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]