Family bible extracts.
These are in no particular order. Some dates do not correspond precisely with other records (e.g. birth certificates).
From family panels:
- Thomas Skyrme b. 14 Feb 1857; d. 17 May 1932; m. Ellen Jane Morgan 31 Jun 1881 at Pembroke (B. 6 Mar 1854, d. 3 Apr 1922)
- George William (son of Thomas/Ellen), b. 26 Aug 1882; d. 6 Apr 1956 at Pembroke); m. Ethel Margaret Davies 16 May (or April?) 1906 at Monkton
- James Thomas (son of Thomas/Ellen), b. 17 May 1884. Moved to Chatham 1903; m. Ethel Jane Harrison 1 Feb 1908 at Dulwich (b. 30 Nov 1882, d. Portsmouth 27 Feb 1959)
(Note the naval shipyard connections)
George Skyrme b. 12 Dec 1819; m. Eliza ? (b. 7 Aug 1818, d. 4 June 1897). 11 Children:
- Charles b. 26 Aug 1840 - went to Sheerness 1867
- William b. 8 April 1843; d. 22 Sept 1864
- David b. 12 June 1844 - lost overboard 4 July 1901 (made a freeman of Pembroke 15 July 1878)
- George Thomas, b. 29 Dec 1846, m to Hanna 14 Nov 1871 at Camarthen; d. 18 Mar 1891
- James Thomas, b. 4 May 1849; d. 2 Jan 1905 - went to Jarrow 9 Feb 1882
- Francis, b. 8 April 1851; d. 14 Aug 1853
- Francis John (known as Frank), b. 27 Aug 1852; d. 27 Feb 1896 - horticulturalist and Freeman
- John, b. 5 Aug 1854; d. 27 May 1903 - apprenticed 21 Apr 1868
- Thomas, b. 14 Feb 1857
- Eliza Jane, d. 12 Aug 1858 aged 9 months.
“George Skyrme (my Great Grandfather) was a Shipwright. He saw that his sons had a skilled Trade. He died on 7th April 1876 age 56. During the Crimea War he was one of the civilian guards patrolling the Dockyard."
How Well Do you Know Your Skyrmes?
During my research I unravelled some mysteries and discovered some interesting facts which have been put into a 10 question quiz.
1. Which Skyrme went north using one Christian name and came back to Wales with another?
“Francis John known as Frank known as Frank was a good horticulturalist. We had his medallions at Merchants Park where my grandfather lived. He was a Freeman of Pembroke. He died on 27/2/1896 when he was 43. Frank was apprenticed on March 18th 1869 when he was 16 years of age. He went to work in Jarrow Nov 23 1874. He came back home in 1876. We do not know why he came back home. Perhaps ill health.”
"My Dad [James Thomas Skyrme] was shipwrecked during the WW> He was in the sea for 36 hours before being rescued. He was on a hospital ship conveying wounded troop from France and his ship the 'Rohilla' sank off Whitby in 1914".
This last entry is one of particular intgerest. The 'Rohilla' incident was a defining incident in the history of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and has featured in books and on TV. In fact, research by others has indicated that James Thomas Skyrme was actually on the wreck for 50 hours before being rescued with the last group to leave the stricken wreck.
You can see more Family Bible extracts and read more about the Rohilla and other stories in the publication The Skyrmes of Manorbier and Penally.