A Journey Through History with the Davenports: Volume 1

By Roger Davenport

The main focus of this book is to answer the questions that my close relatives would have wished they had asked me before I started “pushing up daisies” . When I was at school the subject that I detested was history. Now, many decades later writing the family’s history from a different perspective. Throughout my book I highlight stories about the world that was, yet some of the outcomes have resulted in many benefits for today’s society.

When I reflect on the past, many of these events would have been regarded as irrelevant and little attention would have been paid to them. No doubt the dates of the births and deaths of Kings and Queens are important but so are many things one can learn from the quirky events and changes that happened as society progressed. Some of these were good and some were not. That is for you, the reader, to judge and hopefully, learn from them.

Throughout my book in which the stories are told, they are presented with a sense of humor and interjections.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press AU
• Release date: Dec 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9781982296056

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Copyright © 2022 Roger Davenport.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical,

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permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-9822-9604-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-9605-6 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date: 12/08/2022

Contents

1     An insight into my Palaeolithic forefathers

2     Reflections and Insights

3     Some of the important historical occurrences and discoveries from the previous millennium

4     My Father, Harvey Vincent Davenport: His journey

5     My Mother’s family | John Ebenezer Williams my Great Grandfather (Maternal)

6     Mother

7     My Father’s traceable relatives

8     Rifleman Stanley Mowbray Davenport

9     Albert Victor Davenport

10   Alfred Riley Davenport

11   Eric Davenport

12   I am the spoiled brat

13   My obsession with sailing

14   Frances

15   Beginning a career

16   Leaving Home

17   Investing in my future by owning my own trawler

18   The trials and tribulations of being a fisherman’s wife July 1968 to 1980

19   Packing up and preparing for the big move

20   The big move, the flight to Australia

References

Sources On Family History

Come on a Journey with me down memory lane.

As it was and as it is.

I had often thought about putting my story down on paper, in fact many years ago I got as far as typing four words The Steps of Life and that was as far as I got.

However, when I was on board the Cruise Ship Crystal Serenity they were running a Memoir writing course, so I signed up. Joe Kita was the course instructor, very inspiring and encouraged me to get started. He recommended that I wrote about one snapshot in my life.

So, when I started to write my memoirs there were many choices that I had to consider. Was it to be about one event, or perhaps a specific period when I was growing up? Well, I disregarded Joe’s advice and as a result is that this book has become much more than just a memoir but traces the Davenport family lineage from King Alfred the Great to my grandsons.

The threads that are interwoven throughout the chapters highlight issues that occurred from the Ice Age period to modern times. It includes references to climate changes that occurred, cultural changes, rationing during World War 11 and my great uncles who were killed during World War 1.

Thank you, Joe, for getting me started or otherwise it would have never got further than those four words The Steps of Life.

I dedicate this book to my wife Frances of 53 years and hopefully with many more years to come. To my children Nichola and Nigel – I have only spoken briefly about them when they were growing up. Now that they are adults it’s up to them, if they so wish to tell their own stories.

To my grandchildren Ronan and Xander for the pleasure that they have brought into my life.

I have tried to answer the questions that none of you have ever thought to ask me to date, while I am still around to give you the answers.

Do not think that just because I have remarked on a lot of mistakes that I have come across during my working life, that they were the norm. This wasn’t so, as most things ran smoothly. In life, people will always be remembered for the costly mistakes and errors that occur, and rarely for their outstanding achievements. One can learn a lot from these faux pas, that is if they ever come to light.

Some of you reading this, might see it also as a Pandora’s Box, and if you lifted the lid who knows what you might uncover.

1

An insight into my Palaeolithic forefathers

The Stone Age

Around 650,000 years ago, Great Britain was a vast frozen wasteland uninhabitable by humans. The seas had evaporated and ended up as snow in the Northern latitudes. This resulted in sea level depths falling by up to 127metres. There were land bridges connecting Ireland with Britain and Southeast England with Northern France which was named Doggerland.

Image32163.PNG

Source – DW http://p.dw.com/p/3mnql 23/12/2020

Geologists tell us that there were at least five Ice Ages between 800,000 and 11,500 years ago, with warming periods occurring in between. The first known inhabitants (Homo antecessors) of Britain date back hundreds of thousands of years. Archaeologists carrying out digs in recent times have made interesting finds of flint tools that date back 500,000 years. They were used for hunting the native mammals of the period. It is surmised that these earlier tribes were driven south by one of the Ice Ages. Early modern humans returned around 32,000 years ago and stayed for about 3,000 years before being driven out at the oncome of last Ice Age. The land bridge joining Ireland to Britain was submerged 16,000 years ago caused by the rising sea levels as the temperature rose and the ice caps started to melt.

There were also land bridges in the Southern Hemisphere between Australia and Tasmania 12,000 years ago and another land bridge between New Guinea and Australia 18,000 to 20,000 years ago. The sea levels have been rising well before civilisation started using fossil fuels.

The period in-between 60,000- and 40,000-years past, Britain became covered in grassy plains where woolly mammoths, giant deer, horses, and rhinos roamed. During this period the Nomadic tribes made forays exploring the region during the warm periods and these animals were seen as a major food source.

Settlement of these lands occurred around 25,000 years ago, however the climate deteriorated making the land un- inhabitable again. The people were once again driven south towards southern Europe’s warmer climate. From 12,000 BC onwards the northern regions started to become warmer. What was once an Arctic environment, was gradually changing to one of forests of birch and pine trees. Animal life started to return which included elk, small deer, pigs, and wild cattle. Humans once again started to move back up north to hunt these herds.

As time went on the population became less nomadic, setting up cave dwellings, then rectangular log cabins. The hunter gatherer culture was changing. By 4500 BC they were farming crops and domesticating animals.

The Bronze Age (2200 to 750 BC)

This period saw the Beaker People (named after their pottery jugs) moving from Spain and Portugal to settle in Britain. They brought with them many skills. They were farmers and archers, introducing many skills including metalwork using copper, gold, silver, and later bronze. They were credited with the introduction of alcohol (mead made from honey). The early Bronze Age Britons buried their dead in earth mounds. Later, they started to cremate their dead. They moved out of caves, and started to establish permanent settlements, by building groups of five or more round houses using local materials.

The Iron Age (750 BC to 43 AD)

They developed the process to turn iron ore into iron from which they were able to create weapons and farm implements. These were far superior to those hewn from wood.

As the population of Britain grew, they established tribes, often warring against each other. There was also an influx of people from Belgium, France and Germany who migrated into Britain. This had a great influence on the language and a Celtic culture arose. Extensive trading with Europe took place and life in Britain became more organised. The iron bar that had been used as a form of currency was gradually replaced by coins.

The Roman Influence (43 AD to 410 AD)

There had been a couple of unsuccessful attempts to conquer Britain by the Romans in 55 and 54 BC. Finally, in 43AD the Romans under Emperor Claudius succeeded in conquering Britain. Now when people speak or write about prehistoric Britain, they are referring to the period from the earliest known records of man until the arrival of the Roman invaders. As far as I am aware there are no known written historical records prior to the arrival of the Roman Legions.

Britain was renamed the Province of Britannia. which included England, Wales, and part of Scotland.

The Romans introduced many positive improvements, engineering and design advances, aqueducts, viaducts and walled cities such as Chester. Much of this infrastructure has stood the test of time and remains standing today. Many Roman officials and businessmen from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Rhineland of Germany were stationed in the new Roman towns. Many of them married locals, this practice allowing them to own land covered by Latin title.

The Romans stayed in control until 410 when the legions were recalled back to their homeland to fight the invading Germanic tribes.

Post Roman Britain (410 AD to 793 AD)

The Anglo- Saxons and their families settled in Britannia. The legionnaires came from all over the Roman Empire- (Spain, Syria, Egypt).

In 410 the Britons were informed that there would be no more military assistance. The Roman occupation was finished and the population of Britannia was back on their own once more. When the legions left; many of the local chieftains who were involved in the running of the province now took charge of their respective regions. The business community carried on as before, much of the Roman culture still influenced the British way of life.

It wasn’t long before the centralised system of government started to fracture. The Tribes of Angles, Saxons and Jutes started to invade Britain. They crossed the North Sea by boat over a period of 200 years. The Jutes settled in an area now known as Kent, the Saxons set up the kingdoms of Sussex, Essex, Wessex and Middlesex. The Angles claimed the land on the East Coast to the Scottish Lowlands known as East Anglia, Mercia, and Northumbria. Over the ensuing years, they continually fought among themselves.

These three groups eventually became known as the Anglo-Saxons. The native British of Celtic origin were killed, captured, or enslaved, although some did manage to escape to Wales and Brittany in France.

Between 440 and 900. at the start of post- Roman Britain, much of world experienced an environmental change called the Dark Age a cool period. Recently scientists studying tree rings in Europe, the Americas, British Isles and Siberia came up with another interesting phenomenon. In 540, the sun appeared to be dimmed for over a year. This was followed by the Medieval Warm Period between 900 and 1300.

The Vikings (793 AD to 1066 AD)

The Viking warriors, (originating in Scandinavia) were Danes, Swedish and Norwegians who crossed the North Sea in their longboats to carry out raids resulting in rape, murder, and pillage, rather than an invasion. Then they would return to their homelands with the plunder.

This went on for about 180 years. The Vikings gradually assembled larger fleets and the raids became more warlike. By 870AD. the raiders were now seen as invaders and started to set up permanent colonies. The invasions caused the Saxons to unite to defend their territory; they had some success to begin with winning a few battles. However, the Vikings eventually got the upper hand.

It wasn’t until King Alfred the Great of the House of Wessex rallied the support of the Saxons to go into battle against the marauding Vikings that saw change. Alfred fled to the Somerset Levels and built up his forces. Shortly after this (878). The Battle of Edington took place, where he defeated the invaders. King Alfred died in 899, the Crown eventually passed to his son Edward the Elder. Succession continued down the line, and The House of Wessex ruled until 1014. This period saw constant warring between the Scots, Celts, Danes, and Vikings. Alfred was best known by the folklore that he was given shelter by a peasant woman who, unaware of his identity, left him to watch some cakes she had left cooking on the fire. Preoccupied with the problems of his kingdom, Alfred accidentally let the cakes burn and was severely scolded by the peasant woman.

The House of Denmark defeated the House of Wessex in 1014 and King Sweyn ruled until 1016. After he died King Canute King of England, from the House of Denmark ruled until 1042. He was seen as more of a god than king by his followers. Legend has it that Canute sat on a chair at the low tide mark and commanded the sea to stop rising. When the water started to lap round his feet, his followers realised that he was not infallible.

King Edward the Confessor ruled from 1042 until his death he was mortally wounded in the Battle of Hastings 1066.

After The Battle of Hastings (1066)

King William l (William the Conqueror) of the House of Normandy was crowned King of England on Christmas day 1066. His reign lasted until his death in 1087.

These 21 years were marked by many battles on many fronts, including Normandy, invasions from Denmark and revolts in the Northern counties. However, he managed to consolidate his hold on England. He died from an accident while in Battle defeating the French.

He was responsible for the DOMESDAY BOOK. He commissioned a comprehensive survey of all the assets within the kingdom. This was the first comprehensive census was undertaken in Britain, it listed who the landowners were, how much land they owned, and how many people worked for them on the land, including villagers, small holders, freemen, and slaves. The records described the land, whether it was woodlands, meadows, or if it was cultivated. It also recorded what assets they possessed including buildings, ploughs, and livestock. This information was then used to calculate the tax to be collected on behalf of the king. The book referred to Hundreds, which was a term that the Anglo Saxons had used to depict areas of land populated by a hundred family groups. It was retained as a geographical division and later regarded as a regional division within a county. Back in William’s day, Cheshire extended across the river Dee into North Wales and consisted of 12 hundreds.

The Domesday book was compiled in Latin and comprised of two volumes. One was known as the Great Domesday and second volume as the Little Domesday book. Much of the information is now available on the Internet. The original book, which is over 900 years old, is kept in the National Archives, Kew, London.

King William was also instrumental in making major changes to the way England was governed. Prior to his reign, government officials were called Earls and in many instances, were as powerful as the king and were mainly Saxons.

Under the reign of King William the Conqueror, he became the authority and executive of all branches of government, including the judiciary. He introduced a feudal system like the way he ruled Normandy. The Anglo-Saxon culture and language of 300 years were replaced in a manner as practiced in Normandy, (the language was of French origin). The main implication of the feudal system was that he gave his warriors tracts of land as a reward for and conditional on loyalty. This resulted in many of the Anglo-Saxon nobility being replaced by loyal Normans. By 1086, around 8,000 French and Normans had settled in England, taking advantage of the fief (Land held on condition of Military service) system.

These new major landholders in turn offered extra land to the peasants (vassals) in exchange for loyalty (homage), military support, and services. Serfs were gradually phased out. The rules and obligations that vassals had to adhere to, became more stringent. Every important Lord was responsible for a Feudal Court in his region. For this, the vassals had monetary obligations, including helping to pay the operational costs. In the event the Lord was captured, They were also responsible for paying any ransom costs.

Later, the duties of military service were laid out more succinctly, stating the number of days per year of service. The numbers of knights to be provided were based on the area of land held. This was often referred to as hides of land.

2

Reflections and Insights

This is just a reflection and insight into the lives of the Davenports, who lived from the 10th century to the mid-19th century, not an accurate account, I will leave that to the historians

The biggest known collection of records and research documentation on the Davenport family was assembled by the Bromley Davenports of Capesthorne Manor over the years. The whole collection was then donated to Manchester University John Ryelands Library. The collection has records dating from the 12th century, however, to access material post 1918 needs permission from the Bromley Davenports Family. To research all the information held in these archives would be a mammoth task. The collection exceeds 10.36 cubic metres. There is a mass of information to sift through compiled by historians over the years and of course there is also the internet. This would be a lifetime’s work for a totally dedicated person.

The Davenports descend from King Alfred the Great born in 849, one leg of the family tree can be traced through to the current King, King Charles 111. But another leg consists of the lesser nobility and guides us through to the establishment of the Davenport name. The name Davenport was adopted by Orme (1046 /1086) born in Congleton who took his surname from the town of Davenport where he resided. Davenport was close to the river Dane, known then as Dauenport, translated from Norman French means Town on the trickling stream. He had one son also named Orme de Davenport (1075 /1130) who had a son was also named Orme 1104/1135 who had four sons, the eldest being Richard. There does not appear to be any known records of the wives of any of the Orme’s nor names of Richard’s 3 siblings.

There seems to be disagreement amongst many of the historians as to some of the dates relating to the ancestors of Orme de Davenport. Record keeping was not noted for its accuracy back then. However, the general agreed consensus is that Orme’s (1) father was Wolfric whose paternal ancestors were of the Kingdom of Mercia; his grandfather was Leofwyne Mercia, born in Chester 946 and his grandmother was called Alware Athelstansdottir, but little else is known about her.

There was also a lot of confusion regarding the granddaughter of Alfred the Great. Her parents Aethered Mercia and Aethelfflaed, ruled after the death of Alfred. Aethered died in 912 and his wife Aethelfflaed was ruler for the next 6 years. Their daughter Aelfwynn of Mercia (born circ 888) became ruler after her mother died in 918. Then, shortly after taking charge of Mercia, Edward the Elder (son of Alfred) deposed her in Dec 918 and sent her off to a religious institution where she supposedly became a nun. There are no know records of her after that, did she marry? was she the mother of Aelfwina of Mercia?

Aelfwina of Mercia, a descendant related to Edward the Elder, is recorded as being born in 925 and later married Edulph de Devon, who were the parents of Leofyne Mercia. The spelling of various names, with old English, Norman, and Saxon influences further add to the confusion.

Some Historians claim that Aelfwina was the Great Granddaughter of Alfred the great (Mother Aelfwynn). Others claim that she was a decendant of Edward the Elder. The common factor is that she descended from the royal lineage.

Lady Godiva (997-1067) who rode naked through the streets of Coventry was married to Leofric Earl of Mercia, who was a brother of Godwin