Osmington 1871

I think the first letter is an E - looking at 'Ellen' also on that page

Could it be an attempt at Ecumenical (which would make sense)?

 

That’s the word I couldn’t think of....... thick

 

Inspector of schools educational & departments .

 

I was also heading towards ecclesiastical but that’s heaps too long.

 

I won't have any of that last word AM - you are far from that

 

I think it's Education Department, with a few badly formed letters and the end of the overwritten 'S' getting in the way.

 

I agree with Arthur.

 

I think Education Department as well.

 

Thanks everyone

No the 1861 and 1881 weren't all that much help, were they?

Now someone has mentioned Elms I can read it clear as anything

Definitely Department with the previous word beginning with 'E', I was also toying with Ecclesiastical but it didn't fit, forgot the word Ecumenical too, but I agree it is Education, with a poorly formed 'd' and not the first one I've seen either

 

I have a little mystery in Osmington, which I don't really have time to delve into and isn't strictly relevant to the transcription it is all because I wanted to be sure of my transcription of HITT as opposed to Ancestry's one of WITT

here is the household

Charles HITT Head Mar 51 Gardener Domestic Serv Devon, Colloton Roliton [Colaton Raleigh?]
Elizabeth HITT Wife Mar 37 Gardeners Wife Gloucestershire, Horsley
Ellen HITT Daur 13 Nurse Domestic Serv Gloucestershire, Wollaston
Annie HITT Daur 12 Scholar Gloucestershire, Nailsworth
Eliza J HITT Daur 9 Scholar Dorset, Osmington
Alice B HITT Daur 2 Scholar Dorset, Osmington

I looked up Eliza's birth reg (start local) discovered she is Eliza Jane Clapp HITT, mmn of Clapp. Just as I expected. Except I cannot find a marriage to fit ...

Double checked by looking at birth reg of Alice, discovered she is Alice Blanche Clapp Hitt, but mmn is Tranter. Different mothers? Given the gap in births that's possible but why does she have Clapp in her name then?

or was Elizabeth a Clapp who married a Tranter before she married Charles Hitt, or a Tranter who married a Clapp? second seems unlikely, why use the name of a previous spouse?

Can't find a marriage between Charles Hitt and Elizabeth Tranter
Can't find birth reg of Ellen Hitt either (haven't looked for Annie)

Looked for a marriage between Tranter and Clapp, I left first names out of it. I didn't find what I expected ... Charles appears to be the one with two surnames

He married Elizabeth Tranter as Charles Clapp Dec 1856 Stroud, Ellen was registered as a Clapp (still haven't checked Annie but I expect she is the same).

Why the name change? Is it connected to the move to Dorset from Gloucestershire? I don't know. I am putting it here as I don't want to forget about it, and don't for now want to add a lengthy note to the transcript, but this information may come in handy for someone in the future. So advice on what any note should say would be nice

And maybe someone wants to do a bit of digging

 

I found this in the Cheltenham Examiner of the 5th February 1862
A free pardon has just been granted by Her Majesty to Mr Charles Clapp, of Twerton, who was convicted at the last quarter sessions held at Wells, for assaulting a servant girl.
Could this be the reason for ‘your’ Charles changing his name?

 

Intriguing ... Who knows?

 

At the time of the alleged assault, Charles Clapp was innkeeper of the Royal Oak, Twerton and the girl he allegedly assaulted was 14 and his servant. He was originally sentenced to 9 months imprisonment. I’m not convinced this is the same chap.

 

Me either, would have expected him in Gloucestershire

 

I tried to find your family in 1861 but didn't get any Hitts (or Clapps). However, I did find the one in Twerton, and he appears to be different:

RG9/1682 fo8 p10:
Charles Clapp, 39, b Bath - Victualler at the Royal Oak
Emily Clapp, 31, b Poplar, Middx
Georgiana, 10mo, b Twerton
plus two servants.