Paul Harris sent this email message on Jan 11th, 2016.
- Morning Andre,
- Fascinated to have just found your web site as we lived in Shinfield for 35 years until 2005 !
- An old friend of mine (lost touch sadly) was Driver to "Cats Eyes" Cunningham there at some point....1950's or early 60's perhaps. His name was J.R. (Bob) Gowin.......don't suppose anybody knows of / remembers him or what became of him ?
- Also, I am interested in the history of Shinfield Lodge and any possible connection it had to a gentleman named Francis Hobson Appach. This would be circa 1840's possibly. It seems that he may have had a relative by the name of Hannah Blades Hobson who at one point lived at Shinfield Lodge.
- It seems he was an author, lawyer and talented amateur(?) artist ........
- So much of our once lovely village has now been ruined, these little aspects of history fascinate me. Kind regards, Paul.
The Webmaster (Andre), after a search, has found some information.
The following is a death notice for Hannah Blades Hobson: in the London Gazette of 1870.
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/23688/page/5810/data.pdf
Francis Hobson Appach was Hannah’s nephew and some information about her will is mentioned here (page 330 under ‘Wills and Bequests’):
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Q4ZUAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA330&lpg=PA330&dq=Francis+Hobson+Appach+Shinfield+Lodge&source=bl&ots=qyS-L4HNde&sig=0EHIExdzcwkyeMoHNObMzPRS7ds&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj4rMGqwqnKAhXLFz4KHdlWDa4Q6AEIIDAA#v=onepage&q=Francis%20Hobson%20Appach%20Shinfield%20Lodge&f=false
Francis was the only son of Emily Hobson (13 Jul 1793 - 22 May 1869) and Thomas Appach (1791 - 6 Jan 1877) who were married on 5 May 1825 in Tottenham.
They are descendants of the Pease family, who have a well-documented lineage here:
http://www.pennyghael.org.uk/
If anyone has any further information, please contact the Webmaster
