Earlier this year, I wrote about Timothy Kitcher – one of my many brickwalls – who was baptised in 1834 in Boldre, Hampshire of William and Elizabeth ‘Betsey’ (nee Hawkins) Kitcher. After marrying Sarah Alice Baker in 1854 and having three children, Timothy quite literally disappeared off the face of the planet from 1861. His brother, George, is similarly elusive it would seem….
Baptised 6 January 1833 at St John’s Boldre, George was said to be ‘of Phitmore Pond‘. In 1841, the Kitcher family were at Milford (HO107/393/4/8/11):
Comyn’s New Forest, 1817 Directory of Life in the Parishes of Boldre & Brockenhurst by Jude James records the Kitcher family at Battramsley Bridge – Timothy aged 9 and George aged 6. George, in 1861, is quite possibly the boarder living at Hedge End Lane, Boldre with Thurtel (Turtle) Whicher (Source: RG9/664/78/9) – Turtle was his aunt and a younger sister of his father, William Kitcher.
By 1871, George’s mother had died and his father – a landowner aged 81 – had another sister, Sarah Newhook, living with him and son, George at ‘Farm’ in Hordle (RG10/1175/76/2):
William died in 1872 aged 82 and George ….? Disapparated. Like a character in Harry Potter…. Where did he go? What did he do? I’d love to know….
[Don’t forget to keep an eye out over the course of December for the hidden message in the titles of FWL blogs…. When you think you know, email us so as not to spoil it for others! Lots of good thoughts so far…. but no correct ones!]
