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Hello- I'm Roy Parrett, in Victoria, British Columbia. My parents came
from large families, in England- Mother, Mable Purchase, one of ten children, and father, George Parrett, one of seven. Hence,
we have a large extended family, in England, Canada, Australia, United States and Cyprus. Here are some historic and interesting
family photos- going back over a hundred years- which I would like to share with you.
This is the Walden Family, in England, about 1890. Hester, standing left, will marry grandfather
George Purchase, of Moreton, Dorset, and raise ten Purchase children in small rooms in the village store, post office and
bakery there.
This photo, in our family album, appeared in the Dorset Magazine, Issue #111, a few years ago. identifying Robert
Walden and Martha Bailey, my great-grandparents, as the main characters in Thomas Hardy's novel, "Far From the Madding Crowd."
Hardy lived in the area and wrote about people and events that he knew about. There is also a Census Report of 1851, listing
Robert as a Farm Bailiff, age 30;
and Martha Bailey as a "domestic house servant, age 21." Waterston House, featured in the novel, and in the movie,
is still the local Manor House.
Hester and George's growing family, about 1908. The children were raised at the village shop and postoffice,
Moreton, Dorset, each one learning to operate the Post Office telegraph and to send and receive messages.
| Hester and George's growing family |
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| My mother Mabel is standing left, with the tie |
Standing are Louise "Lou", My mother Mabel,with the tie, George Jr., Annie and Alice. Seated: Florence, young
Jesse, parents Hester and George with Henry, Algernon is in front, and Helen "Nell" seated right.
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