- Abertillery Online Discussion Forum -

keiley · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 8

Hi

I am looking for any information on the Rancombe family, they lived at 15 Cwm Cottage Road, Abertillery.

William John Rancombe was the chief fire officer for Abertillery, he was born 1867 and died in 1941. His wife was called Elizabeth and some time after WW2 she moved to Seaford, where she died in a nursing home. There was two children born to the marriage, Marcus b 1895 and Rowena b 1896. Rowena is my great grandmother. Sadly her brother Marcus died in WW1.

If anybody remembers the family, or has any information on them?

stourjim · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Eastbourne

I was born in 1924 in Duke Street and lived at 26 Cwm Cottage Road for most of the period until I married in 1951. The Rancomes lived in the house on the corner of Cwm Cottage Road and Duke Street. I can still visualise Mr Rancome - he had a silver fireman's helmet and a moustache. I am suprised to see that Marcus was so much older than myself for I knew his name well and would have expected him to have been 5/10 years older than myself.

Jim Nicholas

keiley · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 8

Hi

Wow, I had almost given up on anybody remembering them.

I think you might be remembering my granddad Marcus (Rowena’s eldest), he lived with his grandparents from early adolescence he was born in 1919. Unfortunately I never met my granddad as he died before I was born.

Did you know him very well?

stourjim · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Eastbourne

That sounds right - about 5 years older than myself. I remember now that he did live with his grandparents. I can't say I knew him well as 5 years is a big gap when you are in pre-teen years but we spoke when we met.
In restrospect Abertillery was a remarkable place in the 1930's There was 80% unemployment in the town at its worst but there was a tremendous community spirit and a complete lack of social distinction between the children of the unemployed and the children of working parents who were either professionals, shopkeepers or local government employees.

keiley · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 8

Hi again

thanks for replying. I dont suppose you remember anything about Marcus's mum, Rowena? she apparently left circa 1930's and placed two of the children in to care and Marcus at her parents house.

john gibbs · Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 25

I'll ask my aunt next time I phone her, she lived at no. 25 about that time, her dad was Charlie Adams and her maternal grandfather was Popsie Tovey who lived there too, both these worked down the six. Popsie Tovey had relations who used to run a paper shop nearly opposite the empress cinema so there may well be others out there who can help.
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Regards,
John

john gibbs · Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 25

I spoke with my aunt, sorry, she couldn't remember much about no 15 other than the Hillmans lived next door in Duke street. She thought they were the Francomes and that they had lived next door to her in aberbeeg but wasn't sure. I remembered a guy called George Francombe who lived in the cottages she referred to below aberbeeg hospital, name of the street lost in the midst of time, George was a light heavyweight(I think) boxing champ when he was in the armed forces and used to instruct PE at the youth club in warm turn infants in the 50s. Nevertheless we had a good long chat about her father, my grandfather, which has opened up new avenues to explore for me.
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Regards,
John

keiley · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 8

Hi John

Thanks for asking...no George in the family though.

Thanks again

Snoopy · Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 98

I know the Francombes but not the others I saw someone else asking for this family cant remember their names or the site think it was Cwmtillery long way back

Morris Minor · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 199 Location: Posh part of town

Could this be the messages you were looking for?

[/quote]
Rowena Rancombe (Mar 07 Green)
Im looking for information on my great grandmother Rowena Rancombe born 1896 in Aberilltery. She married Charles Pocock in 1918, but something happened and around 1930 they seperated. There was three children born to the marriage, Marcus Charles Pocock, Kenneth Vernon and Ruby Eileen...If anybody has any information as to where Rowena went after her and Charles seperated, or you have any information on any of the children. Any help will be much appreciated.

Charles Pocock of Abertillery (Feb 07 Red)
Im looking for details of my grandfather Charles Pocock of Abertillery, they called him Charlie Pocock. He lived with Jennie May Williams (Pocock) in 25 Gaen Street Abertillery, and they had children, David, Billy, Tommy, Marie, Ruby. If anyone has any information on this man or his family it would be very much appreciated.

Quote:

http://www.curiousfox.org.uk/uk/rs.lasso?vill=Abertillery

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Elections are won by men and women, chiefly because most people vote against somebody rather than for somebody

keiley · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 8

Hi

Thanks for replying ...

The first post from curious fox about the Rancombe's was posted by me, and the other was posted by a cousin.

Carolyn · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 1480 Location: Abertillery

I was told about this site almost a year ago (My thanks to the person who told me) and noticed that there was a posting related to my family history. The following quote relates to a revised version after I contacted the site.

Sidney James Holborn - killed in action WW1 (Revised Aug 06 Green)
I am seeking to make contact with relatives of Sidney James Holborn bc 1877 #158204 who was killed in WW1. A Sapper in the Royal Engineers, he was killed on 2nd July 1916, aged 39. His wife was Caroline Holborn of 37 Adam Street, Abertillery. Please would you contact me if you know anything about this family. My interest is in conjunction with research into the underground tunnels of WW1 and those soldiers who dug or fought in them during WW1. See website.

The original posting read as a normal family history request and included names and birth details of all but one of their children, no mention of an interest in members killed in WW1, their only interest in searching for relatives of this family.

I knew the information was incorrect and that no other members of the family could possibly have placed the message there. The orange free members can post a family history message but only green paid members can reply to a posting.

I contacted the site knowing that who every had made the posting was in no way related to our family and considered it very mis-leading, as whoever made the posting did not have any information in the way of family history to offer and whatever information they did have was incorrect and that they left a sibbling out.

The site were very helpful told me that the member in question was searching for information in relation to those who were killed in action in the trenches in WW1, a number of posts had been made by this person to the same effect. The post was then revised to reflect this and a members profile and web site was later added.

I had previous to this warned other family members not to pay in order to reply to this message as I had no information to offer them in regard to his death and they had no information to offer me in regard to family history.
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My life is no rehearsal There'll be no curtain call encore, so I've thrown my screwed up script away to ad lib my life once more!

keiley · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 8

Hi

Im a little confused re Carolyns post? I posted the thread on curious fox:
Rowena Rancombe (Mar 07 Green)

and my cousin posted the other thread, which I am very pleased of because if she hadnt then I wouldnt have found her and my extended family.

Carolyn · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 1480 Location: Abertillery

Hi, I am sorry that you are unable to understand my message. My post was made over a year ago.

I only know that I joined as a free member but was unable to send a message to this post for what ever reason and contacted the site. I assumed it worked then on the same principal as Friends United I see that since that time it has been updated.

However if one free member wanted to provide information to help another free member one or other of them would have to become a paid member there fore unless hey were actually related to that member it would not be worth their while in doing so

I am glad that you were able to contact your relatives.
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My life is no rehearsal There'll be no curtain call encore, so I've thrown my screwed up script away to ad lib my life once more!

KanadianKat · Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 1

Hi keiley,

My name is Susan from Canada. Charles Pocock and Rowena are my grandparents. My father was Marcus' younger brother, Kenneth Vernon Pocock. I have three sisters, Jennifer, Stephanie and Shirley.

Shortly after my father died in 1971, my mother took us to Wales and I met my grandfather, Charles and Jennie May.

I regret that I do not know much about the Pocock family as my father and mother immigrated to Canada in 1956 and subsequently died when I was young.

I will keep an eye on the thread you started as I find this very interesting.