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to access the group click on the Facebook logo in the column on the right. Hope to see you there.

From the publication: Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 12 Part 2: June-December 1537 comes an interesting conversation between Thomas Cranmer & Thomas Cromwell on the 28th August 1537.

'Has twice written in favour of "this poor man," Wm. Gronnow, the bearer, to the lord Deputy of Calais to restore him to his room, but he can get no answer. Begs him to get a bill signed by the King to the treasurers and comptrollers of Calais for payment to Gronnowe of his accustomed wages, and to none other.' Forde, Signed.

It would appear that at this time the lord Deputy of Calais was Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle, KG (died 3 March 1542 Tower of London). History is less clear what happened to his 'bearer William Gronnow[e]. However During his time at Calais, Arthur and his wife had to manage much of their affairs outside Calais by correspondence. Copies of 3,000 of these letters were seized as evidence after Arthur was arrested. They survive to the present day in the Public Record Office, and have become a valuable historical resource for a critical period in English history. Does there lurk among the dusty letters any further insight to the "Bearer" of the Lord Deputy of Calais. I wonder?

Citation 'Henry VIII: August 1537, 21-31', Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 12 Part 2: June-December 1537 (1891), pp. 209-228.

I am pleased to say I have just become member of
"The Association of Graveyard Rabbits"

The Association was named for Frank Lebby Stanton's poem, The Graveyard Rabbit. Although the poem is about superstitions associated with graveyard rabbits, Stanton also establishes that such rabbits have a charmingly intimate knowledge of graveyards and a loving association with the dead. These traits are the motivation of the human beings interested in this group.

My association is mainly for my work on St. Mary's Church Monumental Inscriptions which you can view by clicking on the "Blog Links" tab opposite. But researching a one-name sudy involves visiting so many graveyards & public cemeteries, it could just as much apply to this study.
You can find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/graveyardrabbit

Amusing Bastardy Case at Swansea - The county magistrates (Measrs. J.G. Hall, S.B. Power, and E.M. Richards) sitting in petty sessions at Swansea on Wednesday, were occupied for several hours in hearing a case in which Cecilia Gronow charged William Jones of Morriston, with being the father of her illegitimate child. Mr Woodward appeared for the complainant, and Mr C.H. Glascodine for the defendant. The complainant stated she met the defendant for times in August last year, and one night he had improper connection with her, which resulted in the birth of a child. Mary Jenkins and Catherine Williams stated that they saw the defendant and the complainant together in August last, but Mary Jenkins admitted, in cross-examination, that when she went to tell the defendant that he was the father of the child, she was not sure that he was the man, and when his brother went out, she told him that Cecilia Gronow had a boy for him.
Several witnesses were called to prove that the complainant stated that the father of the child was taller than David Jones, and David was taller than William Jones. The mother also said that the father had a moustache, and all the witnesses for the defence swore that the defendant, who is not 18 years of age, never had a moustache. The bench believed that it was a case of mistaken identity, and dismissed the case with costs.

Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales), Thursday, June 26, 1879; Issue 3161.

The boy in question was William Gronow born the 12th May 1879 in Morriston, Swansea. Glamorganshire. His mother Cecilia went on to marry a William Jones in 1900, 21 years after the birth of her son.

Recently aquired certificates:
Marriages:
Thomas Grunner Sept. Qtr. 1861 Ellesmere Vol.6a page 1114

In Remembrance

Capt. Alan Edmund Harold Gronow
1935-2011

Brian Gronow
1939-2011

Recently aquired certificates:
Births:
Margaret Gronow Sept.Qtr. 1850 Liverpool Vol.XX page 326
Richard Gronow March Qtr. Pontypridd Vol.11a page 453
Marriages:
David L. Gronow Sept. Qtr. 1966 Bridgend Vol.8b page 130
Deaths:
John Gronow Sept. Qtr. 1846 Liverpool Vol.XX page 534

Recently aquired certificates:
Births:
Rachel Gronow Dec Qtr. 1844 Llandilofawr Vol.26 page 520
Oenia Gronow June Qtr. 1855 Pontypool Vol.11a page 130
Marriages:
John Grunnow Dec Qtr. 1860 Abergavenny Vol.11a page 128

In the course of my research I visit many record offices & libraries here in the UK and I correspond by email and snail mail to repositories around the world. But one thing that never fails to amaze me is the sheer helpfulness of our American cousins compared to their English counterparts. Ask a library or record office in England for a very straightforward bit of research and I’m usually met with a request for money and that is when they can be bothered to actually reply to your request. Compare this with America.
I got in touch with the Livonia Public Library in Michigan to ask about a orbit check with only a year of death available, two days later email arrives with a copy of the newspaper article in full, a day after that an orbit arrives for the persons wife. Both orbits full of information that tie the whole family together and confirm their link to the Gronow family in Cardiff. So I’d like to say a big public thank you to Merrill Wassell the adult services librarian at the Livonia Civic Center Library for all their help.

Congratulations & Best Wishes
to Russell & Sarah Gronow
on the birth of their 3rd son
William Christopher Gronow
2nd March 2011
born 2 minutes past midnight 10lb 10oz.
http://gronow.co.uk/Photo/recent.php

Recently aquired certificates:
Births:
Hugh Gronow Dec Qtr. 1942 Neath Vol.11a page 1035
Marriages:
Evan Gronow June Qtr. 1854 Cardiff Vol.11a page 414
William Gronow June Qtr. 1865 Cardigan Vol.11b page 5
John Gronow March Qtr. 1943 Cardiff Vol.11a page 659
Robert W. Gronow March Qtr. 1969 Dudley Vol.9b page 361

I downloaded a couple of 'Kindle' books today. "Born on the Craig" & "My Welsh Childhood" by my namesake Colin (Edward) Gronow. Born into 1940's wartime Pontypridd the books illustrate with great feeling the times & adventures of a boy growing up on the "Graig". A couple of funny parts for me were his first day at school, when he met...... [fans of LOST will find this bit amusing] and his Christmas present one year of "Escalado" a horse racing game, which I had myself when a child and still do, somewhere.

So far Colin's ancestry takes him back to about 1680 in the village of Pentyrch {The Ox's Vale}, in the Cwmwd of Meisgyn, Cantref of Penythen (now called the Hundred of Miskin), County of Glamorganshire, South Wales.

You can also visit his "Wales Tourism" website at: http://www.colinswalestourism.co.uk

Gwynt y Ddraig

(The Dragons wind)

If your looking for a good honest family run firm then take a look at "The Welsh Cider & Perry Company" Gwynt y Ddraig. This family business is run from Llest Farm, in Llantwit Fardre near Pontypridd.

The business is run by Andrew Gronow and his Uncle William George, together with Andrew's father John Gronow and his brother Timothy Gronow (responsible for the artwork opposite).

Visit their website at www.gwyntcider.com/gyd/

Andrew Gronow & his father John descend from Dinas Cross in Pembrokeshire where the family have strong maritime links with the area.

Recently aquired certificates:

Births:
William Gronow June Qtr. 1920 Cardiff Vol.11a page 978
Griffith W Gronow Sept Qtr. 1934 Bridgend Vol.11a page 1123
Haydn J Gronow Dec Qtr. 1941 W. Glamorgan Vol.11a page 1657
Marriages:
Elizabeth Frances Gronow Sept Qtr. 1869 Wharfedale Vol.9a page 192

As is often the case I was browsing through some online books when I came across "The Roll of the Fallen 1939-1945" of the University of London OTC & STC. privately printed at the Chiswick press London.

In it I came across Capt. Robin Louis Gronow Fevez of King's College. I had not come across the name Fevez in my searches so some research was required. Robin Louis Gronow Fevez and his younger brother David Gronow Fevez were the sons of Eugene Leon Fevez, 1865-1936 (a Woolen Merchant, born in Manchester to a French national) and Ethel Gronow Oliver, 1879-1970 (a solicitors daughter from Wimbledon)

Both men died in the service of their country during WW2. Robin a Capt. in the Queen's Royal Regiment died on the 10th September 1943 and is buried in Salerno War Cemetery, Italy which contains many burials resulting from the landings and fighting which took place when Commonwealth and American forces landed near Salerno on 8-9th September 1943.

David Gronow Fevez was a Pilot Officer with 26 Sqdn. RAF who was lost on the 5th June 1940 while flying his Westland Lysander on a tactical reconnaissance misson. He was shot down by Hptman Muller (staffelkapitan) south-west of Abbeville ans crashed near Ercourt at 12.10 hrs.
He is buried in the local church near the middle of the southern boundary of the graveyard.

Both young men are Grt. Grand Nephews of Capt. Rees Howell Gronow of Waterloo fame.

Obituary

Margaret Alice Gronow
{1922 -2010}

GRONOW, Margaret Alice sadly passed away on the 12th December 2010, aged 88 years. Margaret beloved Aunt of Nora, Ivor, Carol, Susan, Cyril, Timothy and a loved great-aunt of her many nieces and nephews. The funeral service was held today Wednesday Jan 5th 2011 at 1.30pm at Glyntaff Crematorium Pontypridd.

{first published in the Media Wales Group on the 29th Dec.2010}

Margaret Alice was the youngest daughter of Irving Henry Gronow & his 2nd wife Alice Beatrice Bodman.

Rockhampton Australia.
4th January 2011

My thoughts and concerns are with the Gronow families in Rockhampton, Queensland Australia which is at the centre of the state's flood emergency, with its 75,000 residents bracing for the Fitzroy River to peak at about 9.4m (31ft).

The families are descended from Francis Sydney Gronow & his wife Margaret O'Shea. My thoughts especially to Grahame & Lyle Gronow & their children, who I had the pleasure in helping them with their family history not so long ago. Rockhampton, 370 miles north of Brisbane and a hub for the farming and coal-mining region, has become the focus for what officials call "biblical" floods affecting 200,000 people in an area the size of France and Germany.

Obituary

Amy Gronnow WILLIAMS.(nee PRICE)

(1919-2010)

Suddenly but peacefully on 9th August, 2010, of Herbert Jennings Avenue, Acton, aged 90 years. Beloved wife of the late Joseph, much loved mum of Joseph and Sylvia, Jacqueline and John, cherished nanna of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Funeral Service was held at Holy Trinity Church, Gwersyllt, on Tuesday, 17th August, 2010 at 1pm followed by Interment in the Churchyard.

(First published in the Leader on 12th August 2010, distributed in Mold).

Amy Gronnow Price, was the daughter of William Gronnow Price and Amy Shires of Old Rhosrobin, Wrexham. Denbighshire.

From a Wrexham newspaper 16th January 1929.
"At Wrexham William Gronnow Price 57 of New Rhos Robin was sentenced to 6 months Imprisonment with hard labour and his son William Edward Price aged 20 to 3 months for stealing fowls from a Farm. The only clue was an unusual label on a whisky bottle which the men had left behind them."

11th November 2010

"We will Remember them"

As the nation comes together to remember those who have died in service of our country and with our thoughts of those men & women who at this time are serving in Afghanistan, I thought I'd include this piece about another Afghan War, this time 1878-1880.

Captain William Lettson Gronow, of the 1st Batallion Manchester Regiment (Late 63rdFoot)
who in the Second Anglo Afghan War from 1878-1880 joined the 2nd division of the Kandahar force, but was not present in any of the more important actions.
William was the son of the William Lettsom Gronow and his wife Catherine Anne Norman.
Born 9th January 1848 - Died 28th December 1903
He retired a Lieutenant Colonel of the 1st Manchester Regt. ( he was also the Grand Nephew of Rees Howell Gronow of Waterloo fame)

In Loving Memory of
Jane Charlotte Gronow
1852-1907

My Great Grand Aunt, a nurse & midwife and a woman devoted to a life of helping others through illness, died in the Liverpool Home for Incurables in 1907 and was buried on the 7th May in Toxteth Park Cemetery, Section D right Grave 284. Her name appears inscribed on a memorial to others from the Hospital. (Pic left).

In 1875 the hospital, known as the Home for Incurables moved to the building in which it would remain for the rest of its existence, on Upper Parliament Street. The home was now run by a General Committee and was 'intended to be a home for women of a respectable class, who are suffering from chronic complaints of an incurable nature. Intake of cancer sufferers was limited as were geriatric cases. Although many patients who entered the home spent the remainder of their lives there, others did improve and were discharged so there was some degree of patient turnover.

After 1885 the home was known as the Liverpool Home for Incurables, a name it retained until its absorption into the National Health Service under the aegis of the South Liverpool Hospital Management Committee in 1948, when it became the Home for Invalid Women. In 1969 after a further change of name the home became Princes Park Hospital. Although it aimed to provide care for younger chronically sick women, increasingly its intake was of geriatric patients. After 1975 the hospital admitted male as well as female patients. The hospital closed in 1986.