Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for December, 2018

I haven’t updated the One Name Study website at http://gant-name.org.uk/ since 2010, and there’s a very good reason for that. I can’t access the site to edit it, as the hosting company seems to have lost it!! Yes, the website is still there and online, but the hosting company have no record of it in their database so theoretically it doesn’t exist. I can’t login to the hosting, and I can’t renew the hosting even though it’s long overdue. As far as I know, more or less everything that’s on the website is also on this blog. There’s more here on the blog anyway, and of course anyone can comment here and discuss their research, which couldn’t happen on the website. I’ll go through the website in the next day or two to check, just to make sure everything’s here. I imagine at some stage the website will just disappear!

Edited to add: I’ve added several more posts below, all dated 7th and 8th December. These articles were taken from the website.

Another edit: The Photo Gallery is now here on this blog – look for the link to the page in the bar at the top, or on the right. Albums are arranged by tree; the person named on the title of the album is the earliest known ancestor of that tree. All the links go to my Google photo albums, comments are allowed on each photo and it’s possible to add your own photos directly to the albums.

Read Full Post »

These results make a little more sense to me compared to the results in my previous post, though I still don’t fully understand the science and the theory behind the DNA.

England, Wales & Northwestern Europe 86%:
– Both my parents
Southern England, East Anglia & Essex:
– My father’s GANT family
Southern England, South East England:
– Both sides of my mother’s family came originally (1300s + 1400s) from
Sussex and Surrey
Ireland and Scotland:
– It’s thought that my mother’s maiden name originated in Scotland
Sweden and Germanic Europe:
– Possibly confirming the theory that the GANTs were Flemish weavers who escaped across the North Sea in the 1500s
Cameroon, Congo, Southern Bantu, Benin/Togo:
– I’m still puzzled by this one!

Also, I’ve discovered I have a DNA match to a couple of people who belong to the largest GANT tree in England, going back to Francis GANT and Johanna COLTMAN who married around 1683 in Stoke by Nayland in Suffolk. This is the largest tree by far, and has many GANTs in Groton (Suffolk) in the 1800s. This is huge progress for me, although I still don’t know exactly how I connect to that tree as I can’t make any connection with my 3 x Great Grandfather William GANT, born around 1750 in Little Blakenham.

I have some DNA matches as well to some GANTs in the United States who can apparently trace back quite a way, presumably we all have a shared GANT ancestor “somewhere”. One day it’ll all become clear. Maybe.

Read Full Post »

Petty Crimes


Frederick Robert GANT
(born 1871, Westminster, London)
Charged with placing an explosive in a letter-box.
8th October 1883
My grandfather, and nephew of Caroline Gant
Source: The Times Online 

Thomas Gant, born abt 1832 Dovercourt, Essex

Thomas Gant, a tailor of West-street, Golden-square, London, charged with cutting and wounding another tailor.
Source: The Times, Thursday, Feb 23, 1888

Johnson GANT (Born 1839, Hameringham, Lincolnshire, England)
A petty criminal convicted of Larceny


Manning GANT (Born about 1831, Bungay, Suffolk, England)
A petty criminal convicted of Larceny 

Read Full Post »

James Gant born about 1770, Yorkshire

James Gant was awarded the Alexander Davidson Medal for the Nile 1798, gilt-bronze which was awarded to Petty Officers present at the Battle of Aboukir Bay on 1 August 1798. 

James Gant appears on the appropriate muster roll of the HMS Bellerophon for the Battle of the Nile. Number 865 on the ship’s books, he was born in Yorkshire and entered the ship as a Landsman on 1 April 1796, aged 26. He did not live to 1848 to claim the Naval General Service Medal with bar for The Nile which was issued in 1848. It would appear from his lowly rank of Landsman as at 1796 that he later rose to the rank of Petty Officer and had the medal gilded. 

HMS Bellerophon was a 74 gun 3rd Rate was commanded by the Irish Captain Henry D’Esterre Darby, who was wounded early in the action. (49 killed and 148 wounded – this was about a third of all the British casualties in the engagement. These casualties were suffered when the ship exchanged broadsides with the French 124 gun flagship L’Orient, which eventually caught fire and exploded).

HMS Bellerophon fought at the battle of The Glorious First of June (Commanded by Captain William Johnstone Hope. 4 killed and 27 wounded) at The Battle of the Nile, and at The Battle of Trafalgar, becoming one of the most famous British ships of the Napoleonic Wars. Her crew affectionately called her the Billy Ruffian (or Billy Ruff’n). At Trafalgar she was the fifth in Admiral Collingwood’s Southern division and thus was heavily engaged, battling the French L’Aigle to a bloody standstill at the cost of her captain John Cooke dead, 26 other crew killed and 123 wounded. Command was ably assumed by her first lieutenant William Pryce Cumby, who safely steered the battered ship back to Gibraltar. On board during the battle was future Arctic explorer, John Franklin, serving as a young midshipman.

She achieved further fame on 15 July 1815 when Napoleon Bonaparte surrendered to Captain Maitland of the Bellerophon and was transported to Torbay where the ship anchored off Brixham on July 24

Contributed by Paul Hogan, Sydney, Australia


Tetley Gant CMG
The Hon. Tetley Gant was elected President of the Legislative Council of Tasmania in 1901. He was part of the prominent Gant family from Bradford in Yorkshire, and was also connected to the Tetley family of brewers
Tetley GANT
b 1853 Bradford, Yorkshire, England
d 1928 Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Frederick James Gant
A renowned surgeon born in Hackney, Middlesex in 1825, and author of many books on surgical procedures. The Gant Prize was founded at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine in 1907 by the Foundation of Frederick James Gant. Awarded jointly from 2004 following the merger of the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine with University College London and Middlesex School of Medicine.

A Guide to the Examinations at the Royal College of Surgeons in England for the diplomas of Member and Fellow, by Frederick James Gant F.R.C.S., Senior Surgeon to the Royal Free Hospital; President of the Medical Society of London.
Bailliere, Tindall & Cox. 1881

Henry Laurence Gantt, A.B., M.E. (1861-23 November 1919) A mechanical engineer and management consultant who is most famous for developing the Gantt chart in the 1910s. These Gantt charts were employed on major infrastructure projects including the Hoover Dam and Interstate highway system and still are an important tool in project management.
Source: wikipedia.org


William Gant of 22 Corn Street, Bristol, Gloucestershire
Bookbinder, Bookseller, Stationer
Trading Dates: 1748 (date of apprenticeship) – 1781
Biographical Dates: 1733 (date of christening) – 1781 (date of death)
William Gant was apprenticed in 1748 to his aunt Mary, widow of George West a bookbinder and bookseller. He was freed in 1756. Assisted in the business by his wife, Elizabeth Gant née House, (from 1760 or before) and was succeeded by her. Master (jointly with his wife) of John Harris 1760, John Thorbran 1774, George Bourne 1777. Sun Fire Insurance policy: 424582 (1779/80).

Transcribed Wills:
William Gant, Stationer of Bristol, Gloucestershire
Elizabeth Gant, Widow of Bristol, Gloucestershire
Ann Gant, Spinster of Duke Street, Old Artillery Ground, Spitalfields, Middlesex (William Gant’s sister)

William Gant : Subscribed to Antiquity of the Wise Instructer. Being a Collection of the most Valuable Admonitions and Sentences, Compendiously put together, from an infinite Variety of the most celebrated Christian and Heathen Writers, Divine, Moral, Historical, Poetical, and Political., 1770, BROOKS, J.. Bristol
Printed for J. Brooks, the Editor, By S. Farley, in Castle-Green, 1770. 


Felix Farley’s Bristol Journal, 12 January, 1782:
Gant’s Circulating Library 1775 [William Gant] 
Succeeded by John Thorbran 
Thorbran’s Circulating Library 1782 [John Thorbran] 
Succeeded William Gant. 

Sources:
Eighteenth Century Short Title Catalogue
Plomer, Henry R. et al, A Dictionary of the Printers and Booksellers who were at work in England, Scotland and Ireland from 1726 to 1775 (London, 1932)
Maxted, Ian, The British Book Trades 1775-1787: an index to insurance policies (Exeter Working Paper No. 8)
Society of Genealogists, Lists of Masters and Apprentices, c.1711-1762
R J Goulden, ‘An Obscure Stationer of Bristol: William Gant’, Factotum, 11, April 1981, pp.8-11.
 

William Gant was also listed in Bailey’s British Directory [for 1784]; Merchant’s and Trader’s Useful Companion for the year 1784 … in 4 Volumes … Volume 1. London; Volume 2 The Western Directory; Volume 3 The Northern Directory; Volume 4 The Eastern Directory. The First Edition, 1784, BAILEY. London
Printed by J. Andrews, Little Eastcheap, and to be had of the Author, No. 53, Basinghall-street; No. 4, Queen-street, Cheapside; Mr. Long, Optician, Royal Exchange, and of every Bookseller in Town and Country

Read Full Post »

One possible interpretation of the source of the GANT surname. I haven’t personally verified any of these facts, though there is likely to be at least some truth in the descendancy from Arnoul Count De GAND to Gilbert De GANT, Earl of Lincoln. It’s interesting to note that the De GAND family appeared to settle in Lincolnshire some 150 years before Gilbert’s birth, which may account for the fact that the GANT surname is far more common even today in the eastern counties of England than it is anywhere else in the United Kingdom.


First Generation


1. Arnoul Count De GAND was born about 984 in Gand, Flanders, Belgium. (Ghent, Belgium) 

Arnoul married Lietgarde De CLEVES about 1003 in Gand, Flanders, Belgium. Lietgarde was born about 987 in Cleves, Germany. 

Children from this marriage were:

+ 2 M    i. Adalbert De GAND was born about 1004 in Gand, Flanders, Belgium. 

   3 F    ii. Gertrude De GAND was born about 1006 in Gand, Flanders, Belgium. 

Gertrude married Count Liudolf OF BRUNSWICK Margrave in Friesland . Liudolf was born about 1016 in Brunswick, Germany and died on 23 Apr 1038, about age 22. 


  Second Generation


2. Adalbert De GAND was born about 1004 in Gand, Flanders, Belgium. 

Adalbert married Ermengarde De FLANDERS about 1021 in Gand, Flanders, Belgium. Ermengarde was born about 1005 in Flanders, Belgium. 

Children from this marriage were:

   4 M    i. RALPH II D’ALOST (SEIGNEUR) was born about 1009 in Normandy, France and died before 1056. 

RALPH married GISELLE OF FLANDERS about 1047 in Alost, Flanders, Belgium. GISELLE was born about 1009 in Flanders, Belgium and died after 1056.

+ 5 M    ii. Ralph De GAND was born about 1022 in Gand, Flanders, Belgium. 


  Third Generation


5. Ralph De GAND was born about 1022 in Gand, Flanders, Belgium. 

Ralph married Gisele about 1047 in Alost, Flanders, Belgium. Gisele was born about 1028 in Flanders, Belgium. 

Children from this marriage were:

   6 M    i. Son De GANT was born about 1040 in France. 

+ 7 M    ii. Gilbert De GANT was born about 1048 in Alost, Flanders, Belgium, died in 1094, about age 46, and was buried in Bardney, Lincolnshire. 

   8 M    iii. Baudouin De GAND was born about 1050 in Alost, Flanders, Belgium. 


  Fourth Generation


7. Gilbert De GANT was born about 1048 in Alost, Flanders, Belgium, died in 1094, about age 46, and was buried in Bardney, Lincolnshire. 

Gilbert married Alice De MONTFORT about 1071 in Folkingham, Lincolnshire. Alice was born about 1050 in Montfort-Sur-Risle, France. 

Children from this marriage were:

+ 9 F    i. Felia De GANT was born about 1070 in Folkingham, Lincolnshire. 

   10 M    ii. Henry De GANT was born about 1072 in Folkingham, Lincolnshire. 

   11 M    iii. Ralph De GANT was born about 1074 in Folkingham, Lincolnshire. 

   12 M    iv. Seigneur Hugh IV De MONTFORT was born about 1078 in Folkingham, Lincolnshire. 

Hugh married Adeline De MEULLENT .

Hugh next married Adeline (Gundrea) De BEAUMONT in Leicestershire. Adeline was born about 1152 in Cornwall.

   13 M    v. Geoffrey De GANT was born about 1080 in Folkingham, Lincolnshire. 

   14 M    vi. Robert De GANT was born about 1084 in Folkingham, Lincolnshire and died in 1153, about age 69. 

Robert married Alice PAGNEL about 1108 in Folkingham, Lincolnshire.

Robert next married Gunnora De GOUREY about 1112 in Folkingham, Lincolnshire.

   15 M    vii. Gilbert De GANT was born about 1086 in Folkingham, Lincolnshire and died before 1094. 

   16 F    viii. Alice De GANT was born about 1088 in Folkingham, Lincolnshire. 

+ 17 M    ix. Walter De GANT was born about 1092 in Folkingham, Lincolnshire and died in 1139, about age 47. 

   18 F    x. Emma De GANT was born about 1071 in Folkingham, Lincolnshire and was buried before 1135. 

Emma married Algernon De PERCY about 1087 in Folkingham, Lincolnshire.

   19 F    xi. Matilda De GANT was born about 1082 in Folkingham, Lincolnshire. 

Matilda married Robert De LATHAM . 


  Fifth Generation


9. Felia De GANT was born about 1070 in Folkingham, Lincolnshire. 

Felia married Ivo De GRENTEMESNIL about 1090 in Leicestershire. Ivo was born about 1064 in Grentemesnil, Calvados, France and died in 1118, about age 54. 

Children from this marriage were:

   20 M    i. Ivo De GRENTMESNIL was born about 1090 in Hinckley, Leicestershire. 

   21 M    ii. Baron Hugh De GRENTEMESNIL of Hinkley was born about 1092 in Hinckley, Leicestershire . 

Hugh married Alice BEAUMONT in Hinckley, Leicestershire. Alice was born about 1105 in Hinckley, Leicestershire, died in Reims, France, and was buried in St Ebruf, Utica.

Hugh next married Miss. De STUTEVILLE about 1128 in Leicestershire.

17. Walter De GANT was born about 1092 in Folkingham, Lincolnshire and died in 1139, about age 47. 

Walter married Maud De BRITTANY in Folkingham, Lincolnshire. 

Children from this marriage were:

+ 22 M    i. Gilbert De GANT was born in 1126 and died in 1156, at age 30. 

   23 M    ii. Robert De GANT . 


  Sixth Generation


22. Gilbert De GANT was born in 1126 and died in 1156, at age 30. 

Gilbert married Rohese De CLARE , daughter of Richard FITZGILBERT Lord of Clare and Adeliza De MESCHINES .

Gilbert next married Hawyse De ROUMARE . 

Children from this marriage were:

   24 F    i. Alice (Adeliz, Adelicia) De GANT . 

Alice married Simon 7th Earl of Huntingdon and Northampton .

Read Full Post »

Major John Castle Gant was the great-grandson of William Gant, a weaver born about 1695 in Bristol. John Castle Gant worked as an Attorney and Solicitor, and his brothers’ professions were Civil Engineer, Architect & Surveyor, and Surgeon. All the brothers owned substantial properties in London, Bristol and Hastings.

He lived to the age of 100, marrying his 32 year old second wife at the age of 74.

Major John Castle Gant charged with assaulting daughter in law, Mrs Edith Louisa Gant, concerning the custody of Winifred and Muriel, the children of Arthur John Gant and Edith Louisa Chamberlain

The Times
Thursday, Aug 30, 1888; pg. 8; Issue 32478; col E
The Times
Saturday, Sep 15, 1888; pg. 4; Issue 32492; col C

Read Full Post »

Henry James George Gant was born in 1844 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, the son of Henry Denny Gant (1813-1868) and Eliza Collins. Henry Denny and Eliza immigrated to Australia in 1853 with their five children. Henry James George had a checkered history in Australia, getting himself into trouble more than once. He took over the running of his father’s Jewellery business after he died in 1868 – the shop caught fire in suspicious circumstances the following year. He later worked as a medical galvanist in Victoria, Australia.

In 1900 it was alleged that the Victoria Cross he had claimed to have been awarded during the New Zealand Wars in 1864, was in fact a lie as no such medal had been awarded to him, and he hadn’t even fought in the war.

Transcriptions of the newspaper reports of the two events are below.

1869

INQUEST AFTER A FIRE IN GEELONG

An inquiry into the circumstances attending the recent fire in Geelong was held there on Monday, before Dr. F. Shaw, coroner ; Mr. Sub-inspector McNamara attending on behalf of the police, Mr. Speed on behalf of Mr. Henry Gant, and Mr McCormick for the National Insurance Company. Henry Gant stated he was a jeweller in Market-square. Remembered the 22nd. There was a fire that night. Discovered it about a quarter to 1. Was awoke by a tremendous noise of something falling and breaking in the shop. The house was a two-storeyed one, built of stone and brick, the partitions below stairs being composed of boards and canvas. Upstairs they were lath and plaster. The shop was closed that night at 9 o’clock. The boy (James Smith) and witness were at work till half-past 10. Mrs Gant and her mother were at church. When they came back Mrs. Gant sent the boy to bed. He left a quarter of an hour before witness. No one was behind the counter after he left, The shop was lit with gas, one jet being above the working-board, and the other over the glass case on the counter. No light was in the window after the shop closed. Witness put the jets out. There was a main cock next the meter, hut witness never turned it off, as he had no key for it. He kept wrapping paper and a lot of boxes containing tools, &c, under the counter. One box contained two cups with diluted sulphuric acid, used in cleaning.

Looked round to see that all was safe before retiring. There were shelves round the counter containing clocks and scents. There was only one small feeding tin of oil on one of the shelves. There was only one box of matches in the shop. Was the last to leave the shop. On opening the bedroom-door there was a great rush of smoke and heat. Told Mrs. Gant to get up, and warned a young lady who slept in the house. Packed up a box containing books and papers, and another containing jobs, and came down together. On waking up the boy saw the reflection of fire under the doorway. Broke the shop-door open and tried to get things out, but the flames burst out close to the door, and witness only succeeded in saving two clocks. Tho fire was from the front to the end of the counter one white flame. Went round into tho yarri broke into the room, and saved some furniture. Could not in any way account for the origin of the fire. The property was worth, as near as h could get at it, £1,057 18s, 3d, The jewellery and clocks amounted to £329. The heavier tools consisted of two lathes/ two mills or rollers, and two draw-benches for drawing wire, the whole valued at £529. Had effected an insurance of £500 on stock and furniture. Had been in business two.years last October. There were two policies of insurance, one taken out in July last and the other in September. £78 8s. 0d. worth of jewellery and two pairs of rollers had been removed since last insurance – some in October and about £43 worth about a fortnight since. Raised money on the jewellery from Mr. Stone. Got an _____ on new stock on Wednesday week. Never gave any persons any orders to search the debris of the fire. Told a man so engaged where the most valuable property ought to be found. In the presence of the sergeant and witness the articles produced, consisting of gold and silver brooches and pins, were found. Did not two days previous to the fire try to obtain a loan of £300.

Wanted to give a bill of sale over his things for £300, a month previously, to Mr. Crawcour, as an action had been instituted against him, and he wished to protect his creditors, his family, and himself. Supplied Crawcour with a list of his property. He did not come to inspect it, but declined to interfere unless the stock was brought into his place. Only received £35 from Stone for jewellery, valued at £78 8s. Gd. Hannah Maria Gant, the wife of last witness, Miss Jeffrey, the young lady who lodged with them, and James Smith, the apprentice, gave corroborative evidence. Josiah Covill, the next-door neighbour to Gant, having given some unimportant testimony, Isaac Crawcour, pawnbroker, corroborated Gant’a statement as to _____ to raise a loan of £300 on his stock and furniture, but stated to have refused to advance more than £150 for it. The principle quantity of the jewellery was washed gold ____ man named Cook. (It) was for four months previous to the _____ of August in the employ of Mr _____ valued the stock at £100, and the tools and machinery at another £100. He, however, admitted that he had an action pending against Gant. The remainder of tho evidence was unimportant, and the inquiry, after lasting five hours, terminated by the jury return in« an open verdict to the effect that a fire did occur, but how it occurred there was no evidence to show.

The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1954) Wednesday 1 December 1869
—————————————————————————————————————

October 1900

THE STORY OF A VICTORIA CROSS. IS IT AN IMPOSTURE?

Some weeks ago there was published in the Melbourne Argus an account of a gathering of old soldiers at Fitzroy, at which special honour was done to two of the company who were represented as “Victoria Cross heroes. These were Lieutenant H. J. G. Gant, 70th R.S., and Sergeant-major D. S. Lilly, 64th Regiment. The chairman of the meeting (Major J. C. Dempsty) “thus described the circumstances under which .”Lieutenant” Gant was alleged to have obtained the prized distinction of the V.C. : “He was one of the first six who volunteered for the New Zealand war from the Geelong Volunteer Artillery. He joined Colonel Pitt’s Waikato Militia, which left in the Star of India, which was the first ship to leave Victoria with volunteers to fight under the flag of the British Empire in 1863. The act by which he won the Victoria Cross was a daring one. He left camp with a little company, including two young officers. The party were met by an overwhelming number of the enemy. The two officers were discovered behind a clump of scrub and supplejack, where Lieutenant Gant had pluckily drawn them out of danger. He had then drawn the enemy off, afterwards working his way through an almost impenetrable bush with his little band. The road was blocked by the enemy, whom he kept at bay until nearing the camp, when the firing was heard, and a relief party sent to their assistance.” This circumstantial narrative of the daring exploit by which ‘”Lieutenant” Gant is said to have gained the Victoria Cross attracted the attention of some old soldiers who were through the Maori war, bm, strangely enough, had never heard of this particular incident, and their curiosity respecting the matter led to their making certain inquiries on the subject. It was natural that they should turn for information to Mr Bartlett Provo, of this city, until lately sergeant in the Dunedin City Guards, for he was an old member of the Geelong Volunteer Artillery, and he was one of the six who volunteered from Geelong for New Zealand in 1863, and came to this colony in the Star of India. With him, therefore, Lieutenanc-colonel Rashleiga, who was in command of the Geelong Artillery almost from its formation, recently communicated on the subject. Now, it is quite true that a volunteer called Gant came to New Zealand in the vessel named, but Mr Provo is quite clear in his own mind that if the ” Lieutenant ” Gant, who was recently honoured in Melbourne, be identical with that Gant, then it was impossible for him to have obtained the Victoria Cross, for that indvidual was discharged from the force in 1863 as unfit for duty, and saw no action at all. Moreover, the Gant who, with Mr Provo and four others from Geelong, came to New Zealand in the Star of India was not a lieutenant, nor was he a member of the Geelong Artillery.

Mr Provo has not relied on his own recollection entirely in this matter. He forwarded to the Defence department in Wellington the letters he had received from Melbourne, and requested that the records might be searched to see if they would throw any light on the subject. To this letter he has received the following reply irom Sir Arthur Douglas, U rider-secretary for Defence: –

In reply to your letter of the 17th inst., I have the honour to inform you that the name of Gant does not appear in either of the nominal roll books of the Ist, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Regiments of Waikato Militia, who served through the Native war in this colony during the years 1863 to 1866.

It, however, does not follow that the person named did not actually serve, but from previous known cases it appears that the names were not entered in the roll books, where a man only served for a short period.

However, no person of the name served as a lieutenant in either of the regiments, neither did any person of that name receive the New Zealand war medal or the free grant of land, and, so far as is known, Major Heaphy was the only colonial officer who was awarded the Victoria Cross.

The letter from the department, it will be seen, bears out Mr Provo’s recollection relative to Gant’s service, and absolutely disposes of any suggestion that there might have been a Lieutenant Gant in the Waikato Militia besides the Gant known to Mr Provo.

Beyond all this, however, there is the fairly conclusive answer to “Lieutenant” Gant’s claim to have won the Victoria Cross that no such name appears in the official lists of the recipients of that distinction.

Source: Otago Witness, Issue 2431, 17 October 1900, Page 45
(The Witness began in Dunedin in January 1851 as a four page, fortnightly newspaper. It became a weekly in August that year. At this time illustrated weekly newspapers were a popular and important form of publication in New Zealand and the paper continued to be published until 1932.)
Records online at http://www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/

Read Full Post »