Chapter 34 Austin Plant - Plant Family History Group

MEMBERS OF THE GROUP 

No Name Address 

4 Mr Colin W Plant 14 West Road, Bishops Stortford, Herts CM23 3QP 

E-mail: cpauk1@ntlworld.com 

6 Mr Michael Plant The Coach House, Monyash Road, Bakewell, 

Derbyshire, DE45 1FG 

E-mail: plant.inbakewell@btopenworld.com 

10 Mrs Pamela Plant London 

16 Mrs E C Reed 31 Walton Gardens, Codsall, Wolverhampton 

WV8 1AH 

18 Mr Peter Johnson 57 Helston Close, Brookvale, Runcorn WA7 6AA 

20 Mr Anthony David Plant 53 Green Curve, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 1NS 

E-mail: davidandjean@waitrose.com 

29 Mrs Shirley Hughes 14 Criss Grove, Chalfont St Peter, Bucks. SL9 9HG 

E-mail: sdhughes@btinternet.com 

32 Mrs Catherine Sproston Birtles Lodge, Chelford Road, Birtles, Nr Macclesfield, 

Cheshire. 

E-mail: joca@sprostonsk10.freeserve.co.uk 

37 Mr Patrick Pearson Valrublen, Bowl Corner, Battisford, Stowmarket, 

Suffolk IP14 2LH 

E-mail: pjattyc@aol.com 

38 Mrs Sian Plant 12 Dalmeny Road, New Barnet, Herts, EN5 1DE 

E-mail: davidandsianplant@ticscali.co.uk 

� “ “ Sian@plant.world-on-line.co.uk 

45 Mr David Johnson PO Box 4059, Tinana Queensland, 4650, Australia. 

E-mail: rosemary@deadrelos.com 

47 Mrs Stella Robson Mill View, Great Whittington, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 

NE19 2HP 

52 Dr John S Plant Computer Centre, University of Keele, Staffs. ST5 5BG 

E-mail: j.s.plant@keele.ac.uk 

59 Mr Nigel Burroughs 45 Farleigh Fields, Orton Wistow, Peterborough, PE2 6YB 

E-mail: Nigel@burroughs.eclipse.co.uk 

69 Mr Andrew Plant 36 Second Street, Watling Bungalows, Leadgate, 

Co Durham. 

E-mail: Andrew@plant115.freeserve.co.uk 

71 Mr G Brian Plant 54 Bean Leach Drive, Offerton, Stockport, Cheshire. 

SK2 5HZ 

74 Mrs Alice Doreen Mercer 11 Stewart Place, Barrack Heights, New South Wales, 

Australia. 2528 

� E-mail: ambermec@bigpond.com.au 

1

75 Mr Michael John Plant Crown Hill House, Worcester Road, Newnham Bridge, 

Tenbury Wells, Worcs. WR15 8JA 

E-mail: wow plant@yahoo.com 

85 Mr John E Ransley 14 Rosary Crescent, Highgate Hill, 4101 Queensland 

Australia 

� E-mail: jeransley@bigpond.com 

89 Mrs Estelle Nobles 73 Downside Close, Bladford Forum, Dorset. 

DT11 7SD 

E-mail: clivestella@aol.com 

90 Mrs M R Lake 16 Western Avenue, Felixtowe, Suffolk. IP11 9SB 

E-mail: mgtlake@aol.com 

95 Mrs Linda S Wheeler 2210 Larkspur Drive, Alpine, CA 91901, U S A 

E-mail: momkat9@cox.net 

98 Deanne Richards 4 West Road, Capel, Western Australia 6271 

� E-mail: jaxhar@westnet.com.au 

104 Mrs Liz Plant 12 Meadow Lane, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 6HT 

# 

111 Mr Malc John Plant 38 Faithful Street, Benalla, Victoria 3672, Australia. 

113 Mrs Heather Plant 6 Peatmoss Street, Sunnybank Hills, Queensland, 4109, 

Australia. 

E-mail: heather.plant@bigpond.com 

114 Mr John RusselIngamellis Room 41, Resthaven, 336 Kensington Road, Leabrook, 

Adelaide, 5068, South Australia. 

116 Miss Joan Plant 12 Grenadier Street, N. Woolwich, London E16 2LP 

119 Mrs Florence Plant PO 192, Nagambie, Victoria 3608, Australia. 

E-mail: floplant@mcmedia.com.qu 

121 Kathy Compagno 855 Bates Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530, U.S.A. 

E-mail: kcompagno@hotmail.com 

122 Mrs Elizabeth A Messer Bearsden, 9 Pinehurst Ave., Mudeford, Christchurch, 

Dorset, BH23 3NS 

E-mail: liz.messer@homeuser.net 

123 Dr Andrew Thomas Plant The Spinney, Hill Top, Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, 

Hants, SO42 7YR 

124 Mr Alan Plant 1 Templar Terrace, Porthill, Newcastle, Staffs. ST5 8PN 

127 Mr William T Plant 298 Newhampton Road West, Wolverhampton, 

West Midlands WV6 0RS 

131 Mrs Jean Walpole 40 Frederick Rd., Cheam, Surrey, SM1 2HR 

E-mail: hockey@blueyonder.co.uk 

132 Miss Linda Wilks 127 Western Road, Mickleover, Derby, DE3 9GR 

E-mail: Linda@lindawilks.fsnet.co.uk 

2

138 Mrs Jean D Ray 124 Lyth Hill Road, Bayston Hill, Shropshire, SY3 0AT 

E-mail: westlyth@yahoo.co.uk 

139 Mrs Judith Kirkby 53 Mersea Avenue, West Mersea, Colchester, Essex. 

CO5 8JL 

140 Mrs J Bateman 52 George Frederick Road, Sutton Coldfield, 

West Midlands B73 6TD 

E-mail: ianjennybateman@blueyonder.co.uk 

141 Mr Malcolm Revell 22 Melton Road, North Ferriby, East Yorkshire. 

HU14 3ET 

E-mail: mal.revell@tiscali.co.uk 

143 Miss Freda Lawrence ‘Brades’ Lower Penkridge Road, Acton 

Trussell, Stafford, ST17 0RJ 

E-mail: freda@Lawrence3377.fsnet.co.uk 

145 Mr Graham Wingfield 34 Hereford Road, Harpur Hill, Buxton, 

Derbyshire. SR17 9PG 

E-mail: Graham@grahamWingfield.Wanadoo.co.uk 

147 Mr John Ronald Plant 49 Bourke Avenue, Yattalunga, NSW 2251, Australia. 

E-mail: ronp@tac.com.au 

153 Mrs Frances Plant 80 Buxton Cres., Sutton, Surrey, SM3 9TP 

E-mail: fplant@bigfoot.com 

162 Aloa Dereta 81 North 3100 West, Layton UT 84041, USA 

� E-mail: aloaandnicholas@yahoo.com 

165 Mrs Gillian Jenkins 42 Edgemont Road, Weston Favell, Northampton, 

NN3 3PQ 

E-mail: jenkins42@supanet.com 

167 Mrs M J Plant 204 Dunkery Road, London SE9 4HP 

168 Mr Philip Plant 33 The Dawneys, Crudwell, Wilts. SN16 9HE 

E-mail: pplant@mail.com 

169 Mrs Hazel M Morgan The Woodlands, 7 Rose Avenue, Alvechurch, 

Nr Birmingham. B48 7PG 

E-mail: hmorgan@merridew-media.co.uk 

174 Mrs Fay Bielewiez 63 Allen Road, Nanango, Queensland 4615, Australia. 

E-mail: osprey1@optusnet.com.au 

177 Mr Earl John Davis 27 Boucher Road, Leek, Staffs ST13 7JH 

E-mail: earljdavis@aol.com 

178 Mr Anthony W Brown Façade, Tinkers Alley, 42A High St., Sharnbrook, 

Bedford, MK44 1PF 

e-mail: galymorton@tiscali.co.uk 

179 Mrs Dorian G Greenbaum 27 Pill Hill Lane, Duxbury, MA 02332 USA 

E-mail: astrology@aurumtel.com 

(also temporary address) – Flat 215, Albany House, 41 Judd Street, 

Bleamsbury. London, WC1H 9QS 

3

181 Mr Jack Plant 35 Oakdene, Cottingham, East Yorkshire. HU16 5AS 

E-mail: jp@barcot.karcoo.co.uk 

182 Linda Plant Wagoner 11 Millbrook Avenue, Dover, New Jersey 07801 USA 

E-mail: mydewey@gmail.com 

183 Mr Chris Plant 12 Whytecliffe Pde, Woody Point, Queensland 4019 

Australia 

E-mail: chrisplant10@hotmail.com 

186 Mr Bill Lowe 21 Katoomba Road, Beaumont, South Australia 5066 

Australia. 

187 Dr Ruth Young 11 Douglas St., Ramsbottom, Bury, BL0 9HB 

E-mail: ruth.young@kcl.ac.uk 

189 Mrs Nanette Pafumi Clos-Joli, 1321 Arnex-sur-orbe, Switzerland. 

E-mail: pafclosjoli@hotmail,.com 

194 Mrs Ann Wilkinson Hawthorn Cottage, Oak Lane, Treflach, Oswestry 

SY10 9HE 

E-mail: aewilkinson@tiscali.co.uk 

195 Mr David Plant 41 Graiseley Court, Hallat Dr., Graiseley , 

� Wolverhampton, WV3 ONT 

199 Mrs Judith Wilkinson 26 Meadow Gardens, Beccles, Suffolk, 

NR34 9PA 

E-mail: scorpio.2zero@virgin.net 

201 Mr Ronnie Plant 15 York Street, Leek, Staffs. ST13 6JE 

E-mail: ronnieplant@aol.com 

202 Mrs Audrey Hunt 16 Chalford, Northcroft, Woodburn Green, 

High Wycombe, Bucks, HP10 0BS 

E-mail: huntaudrey@aol.com 

203 Mrs Shirley Goodall 49 Reservoir Road, Shobnall, Burton-on-Trent, 

Staffs, DE14 2BP 

E-mail: Shirley-goodall@virgin.net 

205 Mrs Christine Milner Paddock Farm, Swythomley, Macclesfield, 

Cheshire, SK11 0RF 

207 Mr John Plant 17 St Margaret’s Close, Cottingham, HU16 5NG 

E-mail: Johnplant@plant.karoo.co.uk 

210 Mrs Andrea Bone Sawmill Cottage, Marholm, Peterborough, Cambs, 

PE6 7HZ 

E-mail: bones@sawmill91.freeserve.co.uk 

212 Mrs Rosalie G Kneller Summer House, Ilsington, Devon, TQ13 9RE 

E-mail: rosalie98.kneller@tesco.net 

213 Mr Kenneth T Plant 1 St Martins Close, Stamford, Lincs, PE9 2NF 

216 Mrs Jennifer Plant 45 Teme Road., Cradley, Halesowen, West Midlands, 

B63 2LY 

E-mail: Jenicay@hotmail.com 

4

217 Mrs Sylvia Wells 16 Third Ave., Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 4EY 

E-mail: Wellsies@whsmithnet.co.uk 

218 Mr Walter F Plant 33 Cheltenham Road, Evesham, WR11 1LA 

E-mail: walterfplant@msn.com 

219 Mr Michael Plant 57 Brocklehurst Ave., Sheffield, S8 8JF 

E-mail: mikeplantsheffield@hotmail.com 

220 Mr Mark Ernest Plant 13 Bedford Road, Firswood, Manchester M16 OJB 

E-mail: mark.plant1@tesco.net 

221 Mrs Sue Tudor Millennium Cottage, 48 Kyl Caber Parc, 

Stoke Climsland, Cornwall, PL17 8PH 

E-mail: susan.tudor@tesco.net 

223 Mr Colin H Plant 26 Manor Road, Wendover, Aylesbury, Bucks., 

HP22 6HN 

E-mail: colinplant@totalise.co.uk 

224 Mrs Kathleen Bean 15 Owington Grove, Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, 

TS23 3LX 

E-mail: Faba.1@ntlworld.com 

225 Mr Richard A Plant 79 Caledonia St., Scarborough, North Yorks., 

YO12 7DP 

E-mail: Richard.a.plant@gmail.com 

226 Mrs Valerie Hall Moorhill, Granby Road, Bradwell, Hope Valley 

S33 9HU 

E-mail: valerie.hall@virgin.net 

228 Irene Plant Berger 63 Candlewood Shores Rd., Brookfield, CT 06804, 

USA 

E-mail: jberger9830@charter.net 

229 Mr Benjamin John Plant Hilbre House, 24 Ringland Rd., Taverham, Norfolk, 

NR8 6TG 

E-mail: bjrvplant-@tiscali.co.uk 

231 Mrs Doris Howorth 9 Sandbank Gardens, Whitworth, Rochdale, OL12 8BH 

E-mail: doris@dhoworth.wanadoo.co.uk 

232 Mrs Michele Watson Pine Lodge, Steventon End, Ashdon, Essex, CB10 2JE 

E-mail: mail@pinelodge.me.uk 

233 Professor Dennis Wood 12 Selly Wick Drive, Selly Park, Birmingham, B29 7JH 

E-mail: denniswood@blueyonder.co.uk 

235 Rev d Cyril D Blount 92 Weather Hill Road, Huddersfield, HD3 3LD 

E-mail: CyBlount@aol.com 

236 Mr Charles Paulton Plant 4049 West 36 th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, 

Canada, V6N 2T1 

E-mail: cplant@dowco.com 

240 Col. Mike Walker Hannstead House, Richmond Road, Sherborne, Dorset, 

DT9 3HL 

E-mail: mp-pjwalker@hannstead.freeserve.co.uk 

5

241 Mrs Nicole Lankester 67 Regent Road, Brightlingsea, Essex, CO7 0NN 

E-mail: NickyLankester@aol.com 

243 Mr Peter Robert Plant 23 Mill Rd., Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey, LL65 2TA 

E-mail: PlantsProperty@AOL.com 

244 Mrs Sydney Anne Holt 3913 S Oak St, Tempe, AZ 85282-5753 USA 

E-mail: SGHolt@Cox.net 

245 Mr Frederick Ernest Plant 60 Kenmore Rd., Whitefield, Manchester, Lancs M45 8FS 

E-mail: fred_plant@fsmail.net 

249 Mr Richard George Plant 9 Relesah Drive, Ningi, Queensland, 4511, Australia 

E-mail: Richard.plant@bigpond.com 

250 Ms Linda Brice 24 The Parade, Church Village. Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff, 

Mid Glamorgan, CF38 1BU 

E-mail: Linda.brice1@btopenworld.com 

251 Mr Ian Plant 5 Avonview Park, Oxford Road, Ryton on Dunsmore, 

Warwickshire, CV8 3EB 

E-mail: i-plant@hotmail.com 

252 Mr Christopher Johnson 4 Chestnut Vale, Mollington, Banbury, OX17 1AW 

E-mail: chris.johnson06@tiscali.co.uk 

253 Mr David Capes 8 Wakerley Road, Scotter, Gainsborough, Lincs, DN21 3TD 

E-mail: david@capes6wanadoo.co.uk 

254 Mr Duncan Jones 10 Oak Street, Belle Vue, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY3 7RH 

E-mail: duncanjones@hortech.co.uk 

255 Mrs Linda Mockford 8 Kennet Close, Henley Green, Coventry, CV2 1QS 

E-mail: lindawilson18@yahoo.co.uk 

256 Mr Matthew Plant 17 Edlingham Close, South Gosforth, Newcastle, NE3 1RH 

E-mail: matt.plant@hotmail.co.uk 

257 Mr Michael Perkins 4 Churchill Drive, Amblecote, Strourbridge, 

West Midlands, DY8 4JS 

E-mail: mikeperkins4@blueyonder.co.uk 

258 Tina Charlesworth 1 Ponker Nook Lane, Skelmanthorpe, Huddersfield, 

Yorkshire, HD8 9AJ 

E-mail: dipseytocat@hotmail.co.uk 

� 259 Mrs Frances Upson 16 Granton Rd., Chapel Allerton, Leeds, LS7 3LZ 

E-mail: franupson@bigkmp.org 

� 260 Mrs Florence M Crayton 3 Brathay Close, Cheyesmore, Coventry, CR3 5PR 

E-mail: famtreem@aol.com 

� 261 Prof. Richard E Plant 803 Kestrel Place, Davis, CA 95616, USA 

E-mail: replant@ucdavis.edu 

� 262 Mr David Plant 109 Queens Court, Ramsey, Isle of Man, IM8 ILQ 

E-mail: Dougie7@hotmail.com 

6

� 263 Ms Sharon Morton PH3 – 11 Margaret Ave., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, N2H 6M4 

� = New Member 

� = Change of address or e-mail address. 

# Rejoined 

7

MEMBERS INTERESTS 

Membership Interest 

No Name 

4 Mr Colin W Plant 19c North Staffordshire/ 

6 Mr Michael Plant Any period South Staffs/North Worcs/ 

10 Mrs Pamela Plant e19c Stockport Cheshire/ 

16 Mrs C Reed L18c e19c North Staffordshire/ 

18 Mr Peter Johnson L19c Manchester Lancs/19c Mid Cheshire/ 

20 Mr David Plant Pre 19c Clowne Derby/19c Doncaster Yorks/ 

19c Notts./ 19c Cheltenham Glos/ 

29 Mrs Shirley Hughes L17c + 18c Rowley Regis Worcs/19c Dudley 

Worcs/L19c Sydney Australia/ 

32 Mrs Catherine Sproston Any Period Cheshire/ 

37 Mr Patrick Pearson Any period Stockport Cheshire/ 

38 Mrs Sian Plant e19c Denton Lancs/19c Leicester/ 

20c Rounds Northants/ 

45 Mr David Johnson 19c Kidsgrove/ 

47 Mrs S Robson General/ 

52 Dr John S Plant 19c Sheffield Yorks/e19c Clowne 

Derbyshire/ 

59 Mr Nigel Burroughs L18c 19c Burslem + Longton Staffs/ 

69 Mr Andrew Plant M18c + M19c Little Bowden and Market 

Harborough/19c London 

71 Mr G Brian Plant Any period Cheshire/ 

74 Mrs Alice D Mercer 19c Leicester/L19c Nottingham/ 

75 Mr M J Plant e19c Shropshire/e19c Cheadle Hulme 

Cheshire/ 

85 Mr John E Ransley 18c & 19c Staffs/ 

89 Mrs Estella Nobles Any period Fenton + Cheadle + Longton 

Staffs/ 

90 Mrs M R Lake m18c Suffolk/ 

95 Linda Shields Wheeler pre 1700 Staffs/Cheshire/John Plant 

(emigrant)from UK to US/ 

98 Deanne Richards 19c Eckington Derbyshire/Sheffield 

(Brightside)/ 

8

104 Mrs Liz Plant 17c + 18c + e19c Wolverhampton 

111 Mr Malc John Plant Any period Sibsey Lincs/ 

113 Mrs Heather Plant Pre 1850 Herts, (Hertford, Stapleford & Saccabc)/ 

114 Mr John Russel Ingamellis 18c Lincs/ 

116 Miss Joan Plant e19c Bristol/ 

119 Mrs Florence Plant L19c Staffordshire/ 

121 Kathy Compagno 19c West Bromwich + Walsall, Staffs/ 

L18c + e19c Brierley Hill/ e 18c Old Swinford 

122 Elizabeth Messer L19c Cheadle Staffs/ 

123 Dr Andrew Thomas Plant 18c + 19c Northants/19c Rutland/19c Hants + 

Cambs/L19c + e20c Bedfordshire 

124 Mr Alan Plant General Staffordshire/ 

127 Mr William T Plant 18c + e19c North Staffordshire/ 

131 Mrs Jean Walpole m19c Wolverhampton Staffordshire/ 

L19c Camberwell, Surrey/ 

132 Miss Linda Wilks Any period Potteries, Staffordshire/ 

138 Mrs Jean Ray 19c Sheffield 

139 Mrs Judith Kirkby Pre 1850 Macclesfield Ches/ 

140 Mrs J Bateman Pre 1900 Staffs/pre1900 Worcs/Any period 

Dudley,Tipton Halesowen, Rowley Regis, 

Brierley Hill, Langley, Oldbury Cradley, West 

Bromwich, Smethwick/ 

141 Mr Malcolm Revell 18 + 19c Burslem + Longton + Stoke on Trent 

Staffs/ 

143 Miss Freda Lawrence Any period Bloxwich, Eccleshall, Norbury, 

Shallowford, Stoke-on-Trent, Stone Stoweby, 

Chortley, Swynnerton, Yarnfield (Earnfield), 

Staffs. 

145 Mr Graham Wingfield 19c Lower + Higher Whitley + Little Leigh, 

Cheshire/ 

147 Mr John Ronald Plant Pre 1900 Stoke on Trent, Staffs/ 

153 Mrs Frances Plant 19c Leek Staffs/ 

162 Aloa Dereta Any Period pre 1860 Leek Staffs/ 

m 19c Sheffield, Yorks/ 

165 Mrs Gillian Jenkins m 19c Wolverhampton + West Bromwich, 

Staffs/ 

167 Mrs M J Plant Any period Market Harborough, 

9

Little Bowden, Great Bowden, Foxton, 

Leics/Sutton St. Edmund, 

Halbeach, Lincs/ Brighton Sussex/Haverhill, 

Suffolk/Battersea, London/ 

168 Mr Philip Plant As for member 167 plus North Wiltshire/ 

169 Mrs Hazel Morgan 19c Meerbrook, Grindon, Staffs/Ashbourne, 

Derby/ 

174 Mrs Fay Bielewiez 18c Ches (Alsager)/19c North Staffs/ 

177 Mr Earl John Davis Cheadle, Staffs/ 

178 Mr Tony Brown e + m 19c Laxfield, Suffolk/ (see correspondence 

Journal 33) 

179 Mrs Dorian Greenbaum 18c + 19c Dudley/Kingswinford/Brierley Hill/ 

181 Mr Jack Plant 19c South Yorks/North Derbyshire/ 

182 Linda Wagoner Any period USA/Immigrants from 

UK to USA/ 

183 Mr Chris Plant prc 1720 Leek/post 1720 Cheadle Staffs/ 

186 Mr Bill Lowe 19c Birmingham/ 

187 Dr Ruth Young 19c Castle Church, Stafford/ m19c Stone, Staffs/ 

m19c Longton, Staffs/e19c Breuood, Staffs/ 

189 Mrs Nanette Pafumi Any period Cheshire/ 

194 Mrs Ann Wilkinson 19c Newport, Shropshire/ 

195 Mr David Plant Any period West Midlands/18 + 19c Dudley + 

Brewood, Staffs/ 

199 Mrs Judith Wilkinson 18 + 19c Dudley, Tipton, Halesowen, Rowley 

Regis, Brierley Hill, Langley, Cradley, West 

Bromwich/ 

201 Mr Ronnie Plant L19c Dudley South Staffs/ 

202 Mrs Audrey Hunt 18 + 19 + 20c Castle Church, Castletown, 

Forebridge, Queensvill, Staffs/ 

203 Mrs Shirley Goodall 19c Appleby Magna, Leics/ 

20c Burton-on-Trent, Staffs/ 

205 Mrs Christine Milner 19c Stockport (Plants Hat Block Co)/ 

207 Mr John Plant Lincolnshire/ 

210 Mrs Andrea Bone L19c Peterborough Cambs/ 

212 Mrs Rosalie Knellar 19c Liverpool/Bradford/West Bromwich, 

Staffs/Warwick/Handsworth, Staffs/ 

10

213 Mr Kenneth Plant 18c + 19c South East, Leicestershire + Rutland 

Border/ 

216 Mrs Jennifer Plant 18c + 19c ‘Black Country’/ 

217 Ms Sylvia Wells 19c Market Harborough/London area/ 

218 Mr Walter Frederick Plant Woodthorpe, Nr Chesterfield/Woodthorpe, 

Nr Loughborough/ 

219 Mr Michael Plant M + L 18c Sheffield/M + L 18c NE Derbyshire 

220 Mr Mark Ernest Plant L19c Manchester, Lancs/Staffs? 

221 Mrs Sue Tudor RH + SL Plant + Company (Pottery)/ 

223 Mr Colin H Plant William Plant 17c/early 19c Hundleigh, Lincs/ 

L18 + E19c Hundleby, Lincs/ 

224 Mrs Kathleen Bean 17c Grinton North Yorks/19c Cassop, 

Co Durham/ 

225 Mr Richard Plant L19c Lincs/ 

226 Mrs Valerie Hall 18c Derbyshire (Hope, Bakewell,Hartington/ 

18c Cheshire (Macclesfield, Taxal)/18c Staffs 

(Leek, Alstonfield)/ 

228 Irene Plant Berger 19c Birmingham/ 

229 Mr Benjamin John Plant 18 + 19c Lichfield, Staffs/19c Liverpool, 

Lancs/ 

231 Mrs Doris Howorth 18c + e 19c Manchester/17c & 18c 

Frodsham & Gt Budworth, Ches/ 

232 Mrs Michele Watson m19c Duckmanton, Derbyshire/L19c + 20c 

Australia (Melbourne)/ 

233 Professor Dennis Wood 17c to 20c Rowley Regis + Oldbury/ 

235 Rev d Cyril D Blount m 19c Cheadle, Staffs (James Plant)/ 

236 Mr Charles Paulton Plant L 19c e 20c Wolverhampton (Charles Poulton 

Plant)/L 18c Brewood, Staffs/ 20c Canada 

240 Col. Mike Walker 19c + 20c Longton Staffs (Samuel Lucas Plant 

+ Frederick Sutton Plant) RH + SL Plant & Co/ 

241 Mrs Nicole Lankester 18c + 19c + 20c Preston, Ashton-on-Ribble, 

Poulton-le-Fylde (Plant Solicitors) Lancs/ 

243 Mr Peter Robert Plant E19c Tittesworth + Ipstones, Staff/ 

244 Mrs Sydney Anne Holt M19c Hanley, Staffs/L19c Stoke, Staffs/ 

245 Mr Frederick Ernest Plant 20c Lower Broughton, Salford, Lancs/ 

249 Mr Richard George Plant 19c Sibsey, Lincs/ 

11

250 Ms Linda Brice L19c Wakefield, Pontefact, Purston, Yorkshire/m19c 

Gresley, Derby/m19c Cheadle, Staffs/ 

251 Mr Ian Plant m19c Sedgley, Staffs/19c Bilston, Bradley, Staffs/ 

M19c Calderbank, Scotland/ 

252 Mr Christopher Johnson L19c e18c Edensor, Derby/m17c Bakewell, Derby/ 

253 Mr David Copes 18c + 19c Harthill + South Auston + Rotherham, Yorks/ 

254 Mr Duncan Jones 19c Sheffield, Yorks/e19c Adwick on Dearn, Yorks/ 

E20c Manchester, Lancs/L19c Bristol/ 

255 Mrs Linda Mockford L19c Dudley, South Staffs/ 

256 Mr Matthew Plant 19c Eccleshall + Bierlow + Sheffield, Yorks/ 

257 Mr Michael Perkins All periods, Black Country/ 

258 Tina Charlesworth 18c + 19c Rotherham, Ardwick-upon-Dearne, Yorks/ 

259 Mrs Franses Upson 19c Burton-on-Trent + Croxton + Great Haywood, 

Staffs/ 

260 Mrs Florence M Crayton l18c Halesowen, Worcs/19c Dudley, Worcs/ 

19c Rowley Regis, Staffs/ 

(Descendants of John Plant bc 1792 Halesowen) 

261 Prof Richard E Plant 19c Birmingham (Edward Plant bn c1787) 

262 Mr David Plant 19c Billingham, Deepfields, Penkridge, Staffs/ 

263 Ms Sharon Morton 19c Longton, Staffs – 

(Descendants of Charles Myatt Plant & Elizabeth Hill) 

12

PAST MEMBERS INTERESTS 

If you wish to contact any of these past members please contact me and I will forward the last known 

address and any relevant information. 

Member No. Name Areas of Interest 

1 Miss Linda Lowrey e19c Macclesfield, Cheshire/m19c Hollingwood-Darwen, 

Lancs/ 

2 Mr John Plant General 

3 Mr John Plant Any period Market Harborough + Bristol/ 

5 Mrs Mary Stone m19c Altrincham, Cheshire/ 

7 Mrs C M O’Donoran e19c Gnosall, Staffs/m19c Bloxwich, Staffs/ 

8 Mrs M Froggatt research being carried out by Member No. 7/ 

9 Mrs Doris Nicholas e19c Shropshire/e19c Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire/ 

11 Mrs B Jones L18c Clowne, Derby/e19c Stavely, Derby/m19c 

Halton Leeds, Yorks/ 

12 Mrs Lois Webb e19c Macclesfield Cheshire/m19c 

Hollingwood + Darwen Lancs/ 

13 Ms Helen Hill e19c Ayrshire/m19c Rowley Regis, Staffs/ 

L19c Cradley, Staffs/ 

14 Rev. D A Jackson 18c 19c Ashton, Lancs/19c Dukinfield, Lancs/ 

e19c Mottram, Cheshire/e19c Stockport, Cheshire/ 

18c Blakley, Lancs/18c Manchester, Lancs/ 

15 Mrs Winifred Stuart Any period Cheshire/ 

21 Mr A Fowler m19c Lichfield, Staffs/Any period Liverpool/ 

22 Mr John Plant General/ 

23 Mrs J Wallace 18c Nottingham/m19c London/m19c New Zealand/ 

20c Australia/ 

24 Mr George Plant 19c Rushton Biddulph, Norton, Staffs/ 

25 Elvin U Plant 19c Holmes Chapel, Cheshire/ 

26 Ms Janis Kirby m19c Willenhall, Staffs/L19c Manchester/ 

e19c Wellington, Shropshire 

27 Mrs P E Ormerod e19c Sandbach, Cheshire/m19c Church Hulme, 

Cheshire/ 

28 Susan Mackay L19c Derbyshire/ 

30 Mrs C L Plant General/ 

31 Mr John Plant Harthan Any period Elworth Hall, Cheshire/ 

33 Miss Aileen Plant 17c 18c 19c Stockport, Chyeshire/ 

34 Mrs S R Hough e19c Biddulph, Staffs/ 

35 Mr Arnold Plant General/ 

36 Mr Graeme R Plant m19c Sibsey, Lincoln/Any period Australia/ 

39 Mr & Mrs Gordon H Vick 19c Clowne, Derby/19c Staveley, Derby/ 

L19c Halifax, Yorks/ 

40 Mrs Jean McDonald m19c Wolverhampton, Staffs/L17c + 18c 

Rowley Regis, Worcs/19c Dudley, Worcs/ 

41 Val Edmonds m19c Stepney + Limehouse, Middlesex/ 

42 Mr John Roberts Any period Cheadle, Staffs/ 

43 Mrs J A Stebbing m19c London 

46 J H Plant L18c 19c Longton, Staffs/any period RH + SL Plant Ltd/ 

48 Mrs S Allan General/ 

49 Mrs Elizabeth Bass General/ 

50 Mrs Jean Plant General/ 

51 Mr Gerald Plant m19c Goostrey, Cheshire/L19c e20c Salford, Lancs/ 

53 Mrs P L Pritchard Any period Clowne, Derbyshire/ 

54 W Plant General/ 

55 Mr Brian David Burton e19c Cheadle, Staffs/ 

56 Frances M J Westwood Any period Cheadle, Staffs/ 

57 Mrs Shipley Any period Kidsgrove/ 

58 B S Plant General/ 

60 Mrs R Terry 19c Burslem + Longton, Staffs/any period 

RH + SL Plant Ltd/ 

13

61 Mr G Plant General/ 

62 Mrs M Upton General/ 

63 Ian Brindley General/ 

64 Albert Edward Plant General/ 

65 Mr D J Plant Any Period Cheadle, Staffs/ 

66 Sandra Cuming L19c Wandsworth, London/e19c Leicester/ 

20c Australia/ 

67 Mrs J Bastom m19c Astbury, Cheshire/m19c Biddulph, Staffs/ 

68 Mr W Perry 18c Congleton + Prestbury, Cheshire/ 

70 Geoffrey W Plant General/ 

72 William Plant General/ 

73 Miss F A Curtis General/ 

76 Mrs M A Powell e19c Shropshire/e19c Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire/ 

77 Mr G J Thomas e19c Shropshire/e19c Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire/ 

78 Mr D W Plant e19c Shropshire/e19c Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire/ 

79 Mr E G B Powell Any period Leicestershire/ 

80 Miss J Nicholas e19c Shropshire/e19c Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire/ 

81 Mr Richard S Plant Any period Staffordshire/RH + SL Plant Ltd/ 

82 Mr John Plant General/ 

83 Miss Kathleen Plant L19c Hyde, Cheshire/ 

84 Mrs Shirley Connaghan 19c Long Crendon, Buckingham/20c Australia/ 

86 Miss Karen Miller m19c Fradswell + Colwich + Weston, Staffs/ 

87 Mrs Esmae M Davies Any period Staffordshire/RH + SL Plant Ltd/ 

88 Mr John Ackroyd 19c Birmingham/Plant + Green Ltd/ 

91 Mr Fred Faulkner Any period Yarnfield + Stafford/ 

92 Mrs Kathleen Turner Any period North Staffs/ 

93 Cordelia R L Shields 17c Stafford/any period Connecticut USA/ 

94 Mr Ross Plant m19c County Cavin, Ireland/ 

96 Mrs Yvonne May 19c Syston + Loughborough + Desford + 

Rotheby, Leicester/ 

97 Mrs Margaret Walker 19c Dudley + Rowley Regis, Staffs/ 

99 Bryan Charles Plant m19c Kent/ 

100 Lauren Essex 17c Stafford/General/ 

101 Mrs P Handley 19c Gnosall, Staffs/ 

102 Mr S R Fowler 17c + 18c + 19c Lichfield, Staffs/m19c Liverpool/ 

103 Mrs Janine Oliver L19c Shelton, Staffs/ 

105 William John Plant m19c Kent/ 

106 Mrs Isabel McQuoid L19c Leeds/ 

107 Mrs Joan E Pebbles 18c + 19c Suffolk/ 

108 Stella Kornfein L 19c Wisbech Cambs/L 19c Battersea London/ 

109 Caryn Plant General/ 

110 Myrtle L Reid L19c + e20c Darlaston + Walsall + West Bromwich, 

Staffs/ 

112 Mrs Helen Seamer 19c Willenhall, Staffs/ 

115 Mrs Pat Herring e19c Ashley, Staffs/L19c Wheelock, Cheshire 

117 Mrs Lana J Fox e19c Ontario, Canada/ 

118 Eileen Plant e19c Calais Maine, USA/ 

120 Mr L Edwin Clements Leicestershire/ 

125 Mr Ronald George Plant e20c Rugeley Staffordshire/ 

126 Mr Bryan Alvey 17c Bakewell + Youlgreave, Derbyshire/ 

128 Mr Robert Harry Plant 19c Gnosall, Staffordshire/20c Saskatchewan, 

Canada/ 

129 Mrs Denise North 19c West Midlands/ 

130 Mr Tom Plant TBA 

133 Mr Nick Dykes Any period RH + SL Plant Ltd/ 

134 Mrs Hillary Bell 19c Haslington, Cheshire/ 

135 Helen Plant Pre 1828 Hanley, Staffs/ 

136 Mrs Joyce E Shaw Pre 1881 Leek, Staffs/1881 onwards Manchester + 

Salford/ 

142 Mr Hugh Middleton 20c Islington/ 

14

144 Mr Ron Plant General/ 

146 Miss J A Rigby Pre 1900 Stoke on Trent, Staffs/ 

148 Miss Mgt. M Scholefield e19c Leek, Staffs/ 

149 John Farmer Plant 19c Birmingham/ 

150 Mr Stephen Ward 19c Leek, Staffs/ 

151 Miss Tessa Pilsbury 18c + 19c Congleton, Cheshire/18 + 19c Horton + Leek, 

Staffs/ 

152 Mrs Alma Joan Malpass 19c Sheffield/ 

154 Mrs Susan E Woods 19c Staffs/ 

155 Mrs Betty Pyman 3 20c Guildford, Surrey/ 

156 Christine M Page m 19c York, Yorkshire/Army/ 

157 Mr Nicholas J Homes L 19c London/ 

158 Miss Kerry Ann Cooke L19c West Bromwich/Barnsley, Yorks/ 

159 Mrs Pat Galloway Any period, Shropshire/ 

160 Mrs Beverley Dronjak 19c Staffs/Pottery/ 

161 Mr Antony C H Farnath 19c 20c Black Country, West Midlands/ 

163 Mrs Joyce Thomas m 18c L19c Lillishall, Staffs? 

m 19c L19c Newport, Shropshire 

164 Miss Evelyn M Pitts L 19c Barrow, Lancs/m19c Cradley Heath, Staffs/ 

166 Mrs Margaret Insley m19c Hulme, Lancs/L19c + 20c Australia (Victoria)/ 

170 Mrs Sharon Marie Walsh 18c + 19c Holmes Chapel, Sandbach, Knutsford, 

Cheshire/ 

171 Mr Bradd Scott e19c Peterborough/m19c Wilstshire + Devon 

172 Janice Wilson m 19c Staffordshire/ 

173 Mr John Riley L18c + 19c Clowne Derbyshire/Harthill + 

Anston Yorks/ 

175 Mr Alan Farthing 

176 Mr Nick Shelley 19c Cheshire/ 

180 Valeria London 19c Potteries/ 

184 Dr Sarah-Jane Plant South Staffs/Shropshire/ 

185 Mr Wayne Titmus 19c Wolverhampton + Black Country 

188 Jeen M Ruff Any period France/Quebec, Canada/Minnesota, USA/ 

190 Mr Richardd Sillitto 18c Hurdlow + Leek, Staffs/ 

191 Mrs Frances Reeve 17 + 18 + 19c Cheadle, Staffs/ 

192 Mr Dennis Booth 18 + 19c East Cheshire/North Staffs/ 

193 Mr Raymond Plante Any period Canada/ 

196 Mrs Janet Padrazolla 18 + 19c Piddington, Oxford/18 + 19c Crendon, Bucks/ 

197 Mr Frank J Robinson 19c Eastport, Maine, USA/ 

198 Mr Patrick Thomas Plant 19c Suffolk 

200 Miss Simone Plant L18 + 19c Eccleshall, Staffs/ 

204 Mrs Marion Szezesniak 19c Dudley, Worcs/ 

206 Mrs Ann Plant 19c Staffs 

208 Mrs Celia Maoghon 19c Rowley Regis/ 

209 Mr Stephen Bladon 19c Norfolk (Wheatacre)/Shropshire (Wellington + Iron 

bridge/Staffs (Cheadle) L19c Staffs (Newcastle)/ 

211 Barbara Plant 17c Staffs/17c + 18c + 19c USA(Branford) 

214 Mrs Margaret Davell 18c + 19c Desford + Newbold, Verdon, Leics/ 

215 Mrs Glenys Daniels 19c Burslem + Fenton + Corbridge + Stoke/ 

222 Dr Dale Smith 18 + 19c North Staffs/19 + 20c USA/ 

227 Miss Anne Massey 18 + 19c Black Country 

230 Mr Brian John Hunt Canning Pottery Co – Subsidiary Co of RH + SL Plant & Co. 

234 Mrs Connie Schick 19c Brierley Hill + Dudley + Old Swinford 

(Descendants of Wm Plant & Mary Ann Mound/) 

237 Mrs Yvonne Enid Wright L18c Eltoe19c Wassington + Caster, Northants/ 

M19c Huntingdon, Cambs/20c Yoxford, Suffolk 

Gillingham, Kent 

238 Miss Sarah Plant Charndon, Bucks/Yorkshire/Lancashire 

239 Mr David Bartholomew e20c Macclesfield, Ches/ 

242 Mr Mike Roberts 18c + 19c Dawley, New Works, Wellington, Shrop/ 

246 Mrs Glenda Truman Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, 

15

USA/Early Plant settlers, USA/ 

247 Mr Ron Ellis e18c Eyke + Marlesford, Suffolk/ 

248 Mrs K Cosgrove 19c + 20c South Staffs 

16

NEW MEMBERS 

Five new members since the last Journal was issued. 

No. 259 Mrs Frances Upson 

Frances is another with ancestors in Staffordshire, but this time in a different area of the county – 

Burton-on-Trent – as opposed to the Black Country and the Potteries where most of the Stafforshire 

Plants lived in the 18 th & 18 th Centuries. 

She forwarded the following information: 

“I started my research with my father GEORGE FRANCIS PLANT, born in November 1908 in 

Burton-on-Trent, the youngest son of SAMUEL HENRY PLANT and Mercy Florence nee Wilson . 

SAMUEL HENRY was born in Tutbury, [WKP note – the adjoining parish to Burton] in November 

1872. Both George and Samuel Henry were employed for many years at Bass Worthington, breweries 

in Burton. 

It took me a long time to track down Samuel Henry’s parents as the 1881 Census doesn’t seem to have 

anyone matching that I can find. However, I did eventually discover SAMUE PLANT as his father and 

he has proved the most intriguing so far. SAMUEL HENRY was born to SAMUEL’s second wife, 

Mary, nee Rogers (from Uttoxeter). The marriage took place in April 1869. On his marriage 

certificate Samuel is given as a Police Officer (1) , 3 year’s .later on Samuel Henry’s birth certificate he is 

a Railway shunter and by the time of Samuel Henry’s marriage he is down as (deceased) journeyman 

baker. Quite a career change! 

I believe SAMUEL’s first wife was Susanna Dean, and they had 2 sons, John and Charles, born in 

1865 and 1867. The 1871 Census has Samuel and Mary (2 nd wife) with sons registered in Stone, parish 

of Croxton town of Fair Oaks – with John and Charles having been born in Great Haywood. 

On SAMUEL’s marriage certificate in 1869 his father is given as JAMES PLANT (deceased) 

shoemaker. I haven’t found SAMUEL’s birth but it could be c. February 1831 in Lichfield to James 

and Elizabeth. This could be Elizabeth Charlton m. Stone, but I am now in the realms of speculation 

and not evidence. 

I would be really delighted if you have any information that can tie any of this into existing research. 

And where were they in 1881?” 

1. The 1871 Census lists Samuel as a 1 st Class Police Officer, born Lichfield and aged 41. 

No. 260 Mrs Florence Crayton 

Another Black Country lady who contacted me as follows: 

“My GXG Grandparents were Bessey Plant and Thomas Cooper – Bessey’s father was 

Benjamin Plant. They came from Rowley Regis and Halesowen areas.” 

So I asked the ‘Black Country Sub Group’ for their assistance and they provided information relative to 

Florence’s family going back six generations to John Plant born c1792 in Halesowen. 

The main areas appear to be Halesowen early 19c, Rowley Regis late 19c and Dudley late 19c. 

If any other member thinks they may be connected to this family line, please contact me and I will post 

a copy of the information provided by the sub group. 

17

No. 261 Prof. Richard E Plant 

Richard is a second cousin of Irene Berger (Member No. 228) and a descendant of Edward Plant bn 

1787 in Birmingham. 

Journal No. 30 included a piece on this Edward, who was a Frying Pan maker married to Sarah? Their 

direct line included George, bt 1822, St Phillips, Birmingham m Sarah Littlewood 1844, Stephen 

Rawson Plant born 1854 Aston who m Eliza Buckler/Willatt in 1874, John Sydney Plant born 1877 m 

Florence Mary Baker 1904 New York, Sydney Herbert Plant born 1907, Leicester. 

Full details, including a number of photographs was included in Journal No. 30. 

No. 262 David Plant 

Another Staffordshire connection; this time in the Penkridge/Deepfields, Billington area. 

Using the Census returns it was possible to establish that David’s grandfather, Joseph, was born 1889 

in Penkridge, Joseph’s father, (another Joseph) being born 1865 in Deepfields and marrying Mary 

c1888. A generation further back the 1881 Census shows a further Joseph born 1839 at Billington and 

in 1881 a Coal Agent. 

So using the information from the census returns it was possible to establish the following tree: 

Joseph P 

b 1839 Billington, Staffs 

m Jane c1864 

Francis E P b n 1867 Joseph P 

Arthur b n 1873 b 1865 Deepfields, Staffs 

Charles b n 1875 m Mary c 1888 (b1865) 

Harriet b n 1879 

Frederick b n 1881 

Joseph P Kathleen 

b 1889 Penkridge b 1899 Penkridge 

m Mirriam Stanley 

Stanley Joseph P 

b 1922 

m Hilda Kathleen Fradley 

No. 263 Sharon Morton 

Following a recent visit to Wales to research her father’s side of the family, Sharon found that her 

father’s mother was Gertrude Alexandrina Melson Plant, born 1 June 1866, the youngest child of 

Charles Myatt Plant and Elizabeth Hill. 

Gertrude’s siblings were: 

Julia b 1848 William b 1858 

Cicily b 1851 Rachel b 1859 

Emily b 1854 Alfred b 1862 

18

Alfred appears to have moved to Cardiff as, according to the 1908 Trade Directory, he had a China 

Shop at 5 St John Square. 

According to the 1871 Census the family lived at Cabden St., Dresden, Longton, Staffs, the entry being 

as follows: 

Elizabeth Plant H M 46 Dressmaker bn Liverpool, Lancs 

Cicily Plant D U 19 Painter bn Longton, Staffs 

William Plant S 14 bn Liverpool, Lancs 

Rachel Plant D 11 bn “ “ 

Alfred A Plant S 8 bn Longton, Staffs 

Gertrude A Plant D 4 bn “ “ 

So where was Charles Myatt Plant in 1871? According to the 1861 Census he was a 35 year-old House 

Painter, born Longton. However, a quick check of the 1871 Census has not located him. It would also 

appear from the above census that between 1851 and 1856 they moved, lived in Liverpool, (where 

Elizabeth was born) before returning to live in Longton. Further research and a viewing of the various 

birth certificates might give more information. 

19

From Mike Plant – Member No. 219 

Handsworth Plants 

CORRESPONDENCE 

We have in our family a jug marked ‘Abraham Plant 1815’. This puzzles me as the closest Abraham 

we have was born in 1800 and why a commemorative type jugs on his 15 th birthday? Abraham’s father 

was John Plant who m Sarah Newbould in Sheffield parish church on the 17 th July 1786. He was 

buried at St John’s Sheffield, 10 th March 1844 aged 81 giving a dob of circa 1763. John’s origins are 

unsubstantiated (he can be confused with a Rotherham John b c1764). Dr John Plant sees a possibility 

that he may be descended from the eldest son, Robert (1727/1791) of the original Sutton-com- 

Duckmanion Plants (Journal Chapter 7 p. 13) and this is where I have hit the proverbial ‘brick wall’. 

Could I ask if anyone has any further information in this area? 

Plant Jug 

20

MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS – IRELAND 

Births, baptisms and marriages only – extracted from IGI 

Year Month Day Event Names Place 

1864 Jan 17 B Female Plant d of Robert Plant & 

Jane Hinds 

21 

Ballymahon, 

Longford 

1864 Aug 29 B Female Plant d of John Plant & Ballymahon, 

Margaret Lynch 

Longford 

1865 Nov 6 B Female Plant d of James Plant & 

Mary Dargan 

Dublin 

1866 Feb 2 B Female Plant d of Robert Plant & Ballymahon, 

Jane Hinds 

Longford 

1793 Feb 26 M Anthony Plant & Rachel Carroll St Michans, 

Dublin 

1742 Nov 7 Bt Charles Plant s of William Plant St Nicholas, 

Dublin 

1864 July 13 M Edward Plant & Mary Donelly St Paul, Dublin 

1867 Feb 15 B Edward Plant s of Robert Plant & Kiltegan, 

Catherine Kinsella 

Wicklow 

1849 Jan 19 M Elizabeth Plant & Thomas Fielow St Peter, 

Dublin 

1862 Nov 20 Bt Ellen Plant d of Edward & Maria Drumcree, 

Plant 

Westmeath 

1769 Mar 16 Bt George Plant s of Thomas Plant & St Nicholas, 

Ann Elizabeth 

Waterford 

1845 Sep 18 M George Plant & Eliza Parsons Kildallon, 

Cavan 

1899 Jan 8 B Harriet Mary Agnes Plant d of 

James Plant and Harriett Kenny 

Dublin 

1930 Apr 20 M Harriet Mary Agnes Plant & 

Joseph Luke Dunne 

Dublin 

1737 Dec 11 Bt James Plant s of Wm? Plant St Nicholas, 

Dublin 

1860 Dec 2 Bt James Plant s of Edward Plant & Drumeree, 

Marie 

Westmeath 

1867 Jan 16 B James Plant s of James Plant & Kilcullen, 

Sarah Kane 

Kildare 

1881 Sep 5 B James Plant s of James Plant & 

Harriett Kennie 

Dublin 

1731 Nov 2 Bt John Plant s of Oliver Plant & St Nicholas, 

Mary 

Dublin 

1756 Oct 18 M John Plant & Mary Brennan St John, 

Limerick 

1893 Sep 24 B John Edward Parnell Plant s of Rathmines, 

James Plant & Harriet Kenny Dublin 

1703 Nov 28 M James Plant & Alice O’Kelly St Kevins, 

Dublin

Year Month Day Event Names Place 

1866 Jun 9 B Joseph Plant s of Henry Plant & Rathmines, 

Ann Mellor 

Dublin 

1846 Dec 16 M Margaret Plant & William Carey Kilcomnock, 

Longford 

1864 Jul 18 B Margaret Plant d of William Plant Ballymahon, 

& Anne Robins 

Longford 

1865 Jan 5 B Maria Plant d of Edward Plant & Clonmellon, 

Maria Riggs 

Westmeath 

1865 Jan 22 Bt Maria Plant d of Edward & Maria Drumcree, 

Plant 

Westmeath 

1740 Feb 11 Bt Mary Plant d of Wm Plant St Nicholas, 

Dublin 

1865 Mar 10 B Patrick Plant s of John Plant & Glasson, 

Margaret Cormack 

Westmeath 

1742 M Robert Plant & Anne Wiseman Dublin 

1846 Mar 23 M Samuel Plant & Susan Newel Lurgan, Cavan 

1889 July 20 B Sarah Anne Plant d of James Plant 

& Harriett Kenny 

Dublin 

1769 Jan 16 Bt Thomas Plant s of Thomas Plant & St Nicholas, 

Elizabeth 

Waterford 

1866 Aug 13 B Thomas Plant s of John Plant & Glassan, 

Margaret Cormack 

Westmeath 

1846 Jan 20 M William Plant & Anne Rollins Kilcommock, 

Longford 

1865 Jan 2 B William Plant s of Patrick Plant & Blessington, 

Sarah Perry 

Wicklow 

1449 Oct 21 B George Plantagenet s of Richard Dublin Castle, 

Plantagenet & Cecily Neville Dublin 

(Note George was Duke of Clarence 

Richard was Duke of York) 

1331 M Maud Plantagenet & William de Carrokfergus, 

Burgh 

Antrim 

1827 Apr 8 M Anne Plant 1 & James Fosker Mallow, Cork 

1865 Jul 22 B Elisha Plaine d of Andrew H 

Plaine & Anne O’Halloram 

Clough, Down 

1734 M John Plaince & Catherine Smyth Ross, Cork 

Plants born in Ireland but resident in UK in 1881 

Extracted from 1881 Census returns 

Total 50 34 Female 16 Male 

Lancashire 19 

Warwickshire 2 

Leicestershire 1 

1 

Could have been spelt Plaene. 

22

London 3 

Navy 2 

Cheshire 13 

Kent 2 

Durham 1 

Surrey 1 

Gloucester 1 

Staffordshire 5 

75% settled in Lancashire, Cheshire and Staffordshire 

Over 50 i.e. born 1831 or earlier = 11 

40 to 49 i.e. born between 1832 to 1841 = 7 

30 to 39 i.e born between 1842 to 1851 = 9 



Under 10 i.e. born between 1872 to 1881 = 10 

Further information relative to each person listed can be obtained from the 1881 

Census – see next page. 

The primary Valuation property survey of 1848-64 gives an indication of the Plant 

distribution at that time with the number of Plant households in each county as 

follows: 

Carlow 1 Cavon 1 

Cork 1 Cork City 2 

Dublin 3 Dublin City 4 

Kildare 1 Longford 5 

Meath 2 Offaly 1 

Tipperary 1 Westmeath 14 

Wicklow 17 

23

PLANTS BORN IN IRELAND 

1881 British Census – National Index 

Plant, Mary Moth 1810 Irel Lanc 

Plant, Eliza MothL 1818 Irel Warw 

Plant, Ann Head 1825 Irel Leic 

Plant, Anne Serv 1829 Irel Lond 

Plant, Mary Ann Wife 1829 Irel Navy 

Plant, William Head 1829 Irel Ches 

Plant, Jane Head 1830 Irel Kent 

Plant, Ann Pris 1831 Irel Lanc 

Plant, Ann Wife 1831 Irel Lond 

Plant, Anne Wife 1831 Irel Ches 

Plant, James Head 1831 Irel Lanc 

Plant, Mary Wife 1834 Irel Lanc 

Plant, Susan Wife 1834 Irel Lanc 

Plant, Margaret Wife 1835 Irel Lanc 

Plant, Mary Wife 1835 Irel Lanc 

Plant, Julia Ann Wife 1840 Irel Lanc 

Plant, Sarah Jane Wife 1840 Irel Lanc 


Plant, Susan Wife 1842 Irel Lanc 

Plant, James Lodg 1843 Irel Durh 

Plant, John Head 1843 Irel Lanc 

Plant, Mary Head 1844 Irel Ches 

Plant, Henry Srping 1846 Irel Navy 

Plant, William George Head 1847 Irel Surr 

Plant, Ann Wife 1848 Irel Lanc 

Plant, Edward Head 1850 Irel Lanc 

Plant, Edward U Head 1851 Irel Kent 

Plant, Bridget Wife 1853 Irel Warw 

Plant, James Son 1853 Irel Ches 

Plant, Catherine Lodg 1855 Irel Lanc 


Plant, William Son 1855 Irel Ches 

Plant, Jane Wife 1857 Irel Lanc 

Plant, Robert Son 1857 Irel Ches 

Plant, Mary Ann Serv 1858 Irel Ches 

Plant, Mary Lodg Wife 1859 Irel Glou 

Plant, Mary Dau 1860 Irel Ches 

Plant, Edward Son 1863 Irel Ches 

Plant, Margaret Bord 1864 Irel Lond 

Plant, Margaret Dau 1865 Irel Ches 

Plant, C.E. Dau 1872 Irel Lanc 

Plant, Margaret Dau 1873 Irel Ches 

Plant, George H Son 1874 Irel Ches 

Plant, Annie Niec 1875 Irel Staf 

Plant, Alice GDau 1876 Irel Staf 

Plant, Annie Dau 1876 Irel Ches 

24

Plant, Robert Son 1876 Irel Lanc 

Plant, George Son 1878 Irel Staf 

Plant, Samuel GSon 1878 Irel Staf 

Plant, Emma GDau 1880 Irel Staf 

The following information was submitted by a non-member, Ron Davies – 

welt7@shaw.ca 

1. Thomas Plant was born in 1810 in Longford County, Ireland. He died on 28 

March 1894 in Esso Township, Simcoe County, Ontario and was buried in 

Thornton Cemetary. He had been employed as a farmer. 

2. Thomas (1 above) married Elizabeth Austin.. 

3. They had the following children: 

3.1 Catherine Plant born 1841 in Ireland. 

3.2 Margaret Plant born 15 May 1843 in Ireland. 

3.3 Jane Plant born c 1845 in Ireland. 

3.4 Robert Plant born c 1854 in Ireland. 

3.5 Eliza Plant born c 1857 in Upper Canada. 

3.6 Martha Plant born c 1858 in Upper Canada. 

3.7 Thomas Abraham Plant born 23 March 1861 in Thornton, Ontario. 

If any member has a specific connection with the above please contact Ron Davies 

direct. He has a lot of additional information. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

25

CYRIL THOMAS HOWE PLANT, BARON PLANT (1910-1986) 

Taken from Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 

Cyril Thomas Howe Plant, trade union official, was born on 27 August 1910 in Leek, 

Staffordshire, the only son and elder child of Sidney Plant, manager of a Co-operative 

Society Shop, and his wife, Rosina Edna Thomas, who previously ran a grocer’s shop. 

He was educated at Leek high school, where he was head boy and captain of the 

cricket team. In 1927 he began work as a sorting clerk in the post office in Leek, 

where his interest in trade unions began. In these early years he was a keen local 

amateur association football player, and later became a referee, developing an interest 

in football that he retained throughout his life. 

In 1934 Plant was successful in the limited competition for entry to the civil service 

clerical class. He joined the Inland Revenue in the collection service as an assistant 

collector. He quickly became a delegate to the conference of the newly formed Inland 

Revenue Staff Federation. He was elected to the executive committee of the 

federation and in 1937 became honorary secretary of the collection section. At this 

time the federation was still an unsettled alliance of former collection, inspectorate, 

and valuation divisions. Plant developed, and later finely tuned his skills as mediator 

and conciliator, helping to bind the union together. Later his skills as a ‘fixer’ were to 

be of great service to the international trade union movement. He was appointed in 

1944 to a full-time federation post as assistant secretary and then deputy general 

secretary. In 1960 he succeeded Douglas Houghton as its general secretary. There 

were by then relatively few opportunities for the federation , through Plant, to obtain 

improvements significantly in advance of the rest of the civil service and he directed 

much of his energies and abilities into broader areas of trade union and related 

activities. 

Plant was a member of the Trade Union Congress general council from 1964 to 1976 

and served on its economic and international committees. His expertise on fiscal and 

economic subjects gave him far greater authority and respect than usual for someone 

from such a small union, and this was buttressed by his willingness to offer his 

colleagues good advice on income tax matters and frequent tips, some good and some 

less good, on horse-racing, which was a passionate interest of his. He was chairman 

of the TUC in 1975-6. He also fulfilled many TUC duties, including membership of 

public bodies such as the Community Relations Commission (1974-7), the 

Monopolies and Mergers Commission (1975-8), and the departmental committee of 

inquiry into police pay chaired by Lord Edmund Davies (1977-8). After retirement in 

1977 he became parliamentary adviser to the Police Federation and assiduously 

defended its interests in the House of Lords. A police band played at his funeral. 

Plant was active at International Labour Office (ILO) conferences from 1965 

onwards, and the ILO gave him a major platform to press for the development of trade 

union rights and improvements in working conditions, particularly of public service 

employees, throughout the world. He was a member of the governing body of the 

ILO from 1969-1977. He played a powerful role in the programme, financial, and 

administrative committee, a body which exerted great authority over finance and 

allocation of resources during the difficult period when the USA withdrew 

membership and subscriptions. In the international context Plant displayed the many 

virtues of British trade union leaders in international settings. He grasped the 

importance of obtaining agreement and consensus from delegates, and his mastery of 

the complexities of procedural provisions allowed him to produce solutions that were 

acceptable to all. He spoke with eloquence, wit, and authority, earning respect from 

employers and government delegates alike. 

26

Plant had a deep commitment to further education and was treasurer of the Workers’ 

Educational Association from 1969 to 1981. He was a member of the governing body 

of Ruskin College, Oxford, and chairman of the governors from 1967 to 1979, helping 

to raise funds for one of the new buildings, which was named after him. 

Plant’s interest in the Post Office and Civil Service Sanatorium Society began with 

his first job, and he was chairman of the committee of management from 1950 to 

1975. It was his initiative which led to the queen mother becoming patron of the 

society, and under his guidance it developed into a large vocational health service, 

with a hospital not only to provide treatment for its members but also to encourage 

research. When Plant was made a life peer in 1978 he gave Benenden, the location of 

the hospital, as that of his title. This was the greatest of Plant’s non-professional 

interests. He was appointed OBE in 1965 in recognition of his work for the society 

and CBE in 1975. 

Plant was a firm believer in the virtues of the British civil service, with its concepts of 

duty and responsibilities combined with a total commitment to the benefits of strong 

independent trade unions to protect the rights of public service employees. At the 

ILO he spoke in defence of the interests of the ILO employees and in particular 

sought to protect their pension rights. 

Plant was a large, well-built man, 6 feet 1 inch tall, and broad shouldered. In 1931 he 

married Gladys Sampson, daughter of Sampson Mayers, textile manufacturer. They 

had two sons and one daughter. Plant died from a burst aorta in hospital in Tours, 

France on 9 August 1986, while on holiday with his wife. 

27

SNIPPITS 

English Settlers In Barbados 1637-1800 

Extracted from 

Name Volume Section Page No. 

John Plant Barbados Baptisms St Phillip Parish 449 

1637-1800 

Robert Plant “ “ 449 

Robert Plant Barbados Wills and Wills and 

Administrations Administrations 135 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Plants Wills held at Family History Society of Cheshire Library 

Alderley Edge 

Plant Joseph Pearson Macclesfield 1956 Ref No. C1199 Library Ref Will 83 

Plant Elizabeth Sutton 1959 “ C2554 “ Will 461 

Macclesfield 

Plant Mary Ellen Macclesfield 1942 “ C2592 “ “ Will 495 

Plant Frank Macclesfield 1964 “ 2982 “ “ Will 864 

Plant Ann Sutton Lane Ends 1961 “ C3650 “ “ Will 1508 

Plant John Fred Lyme Green, 1960 “ C3651 “ “ Will 1509 

Macclesfield 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Calendar of Charters and Rolls preserved in the Bodleian Library 

21 Dec 1467 Dieulacres Stafford 

DIEULACRES (Abbey of) Thomas, abbot of Dieulacres, and convent of the same grant to 

Richard Plant of Stonycliff a licence to enclose about Lymgrene as much as to them 

pertains. 

Dated at Dieulacres in the feast of St Thomas the apostle, 16 Hen.VI. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

28

Extracts from Kelly’s Directory of Cambs., Norfolk, Suffolk, 1892 

Part 3 : Suffolk 

Benhall Robert Plant – farmer 

Dennington Thomas Herbert Plant – Queens Head 

Charles Plant – Lodging House – 1 Myrtle Villas 

Samuel Plant – Apartments – 4 Highfield Place 

William Plant – Farm Bailiff to Frederich William 

Wilson Esq. 

Fressing field Albert Plant – Farmer and surveyor of highways 

Lowestoft Edward Plant – Baker and Confectioner – 9 Crown St. 

Elizabeth Plant (Mrs) – Temperance Hotel – 38 High St. 

Ellen Jane Plant (Miss) – Lodging House – 10 Denmark Rd. 

Joseph Walter Plant – Commercial Traveller – Bath House 

Whapload Rd. 

Pettistree William Jackson Plant – Farmer – Stone Hall 

Saxmundham Robert Henry Plant – Refreshment Rooms – Public House, 

Jobmaster, carriages, traps & funeral cars 

on the shortest notice – Railway Station 

Stratford St Andrew Samuel Plant – Farmer – Hull Farm 

Walton Samuel Plant – Chimney sweeper 

Worlingworth Sarah Plant (Mrs) Farmer & Landowner 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

29

Chapter 34 

Austin Plant: World War I casualty 

May 2007. One of a series of Chapters by Dr. John S. Plant, Keele University, England, ST5 5BG. 

SOME EXTRACTS FROM AUSTIN’S NOTEBOOKS ETC. 

This account was initially compiled in 1990 by Austin’s nephew, John Stewart Plant, and was 

based on Austin’s personal effects, prefixed with some general information about the war. Subsequently, 

in 2007, the dated entries in particular were supplemented by information from the Official 

History of Austin’s Regiment; that information was supplied by his niece, Diane Mary Marshall. 

34.1 The Great War 

Perhaps the most famous words written about The Great War were by the poet Siegfried Sassoon:- 

I died in hell - 

(They called it Passchendaele); my wound was slight, 

And I was hobbling back, and then a shell 

Burst slick upon the duck-boards; so I fell 

Into the bottomless mud, and lost the light. 

34.1.1 Historical context of Austin’s actions 

The Great War, now generally considered to have been the worst to have taken place in Europe, 

was originally hoped by the British at home to be only a short campaign of about six months. The 

British Expeditionary Force (volunteer army) was to help the French repel a German attack on the 

Western Front through neutral Belgium towards Paris. 

1. Germany invaded Belgium and Britain declared war on 4 Aug 1914. Austin Plant enlisted 

shortly after on 3 Sep 14. By 1915 recruitment posters were rife. 

2. Shortly after Austin’s arrival in France, a Great Allied Offensive began on the Western Front, 

on 25 Sep 15. The Battle of Loos, at which Austin fought, was part of a wider three-pronged 

assault intended to drive the Germans out of northern France. 

3. The Battle of the Somme (1 Jul - 18 Nov 16) was an Anglo-French offensive under Haig 

and saw the first (ineffectual) use of tanks in war, by the British on 15 Sep 16 at the start of 

the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (Somme). Austin was wounded on 29 Sep 16 at Martinpuich, 

which lies between the two villages, about 1 mile from Courcelette, 2 miles from Flers; it 

is 6 miles NE of Albert in the Somme; it is 4 miles beyond the British front line as it was 

delineated at the beginning of this (series of) battle(s) which marked the emergence of the 

British army into fighting on the European scale of major operations (Casualties: German 

437,500; British 420,000; French 203,000). 

30

34.2. AUSTIN’S FIRST BATTLE 31 

4. Poperinghe in Belgium is mentioned in Austin’s notes of 17 Oct 16 and 6-23 Aug 17; it is 

about 7 miles W of Ypres. Poison gas (chlorine) had been used for the first time successfully 

in war by the Germans at Ypres on 22 Apr 15 and mustard gas was used in 1917. Austin was 

killed on 10 Oct 17 at Hooge, which is on the Menin Road running eastward from Ypres, just 

north of the strategic high ridge that formed the southern flank of the eastwards advance into 

Passchendaele. 

34.2 Austin’s first Battle 

The Battle of Loos 1 , which began 25 Sep 15, was part of the first major offensive for some of 

Kitchener’s New Army division. Haig was to assault on a seven-mile front between Loos and 

La Bassée. This was flat country covered in industrial workings, predominantly mines and their 

slag heaps. There were several heavily protected villages protected by deep belts of barbed wire; 

this was country the Germans would find easy to defend. Six divisions, some 75,000 men, were 

in the opening attack following a four day bombardment and the first British use of poison gas. 

Cavalry were to exploit the breakthrough. However, torrential rain the night before slowed the 

battalions’ arrivals. In the morning the rain stopped and the breeze dropped but gas from 1,500 

cylinders were still used. The attack was at 6:30 a.m. At the north end, the gas was blown back 

into British lines and the attack failed. At the south end, the gas was blown into the German lines, 

and German trenches and Loos town were taken; but the success could not be exploited quickly as 

three Divisions of reserves were held 5 miles behind the front lines, which were many hours of hard 

slog away through the heavy rain of the next night; and the reserves were not in place by the next 

morning, so the Germans counter-attacked and succeeded. Seven Victoria Crosses were earned on 

the first day. By mid-October, the battle petered out – 15,800 men were killed or missing, 34,580 

wounded. The line had advanced 2 miles at the most. The village of Hulluch and Hill 70 were still 

in German hands. 

34.3 Austin’s final Battles 

In 1917 there were serious mutinies in the French army and, to relieve the situation, Haig ordered an 

all-out attack with a stated eventual (phase 3) objective of cutting the German U-Boat rail transport 

link at Bruges, which is about 35 miles NE of Ypres. The ensuing Battles of Ypres in 1917 is often 

called ‘Wipers 3’ for there had been earlier battles in 1914 and 1915. Wipers 3 barely succeeded as 

far as the phase 1 objective of capturing Passchendaele only 6 miles NE of Ypres. The campaign 

was eventually described by Lloyd George as:- 

the battle which, with the Somme and Verdun, will always rank as the most gigantic, 

tenacious, grim, futile and bloody fight ever waged in the history of war 

In the initial action a ‘gigantic system’ (4 miles) of mines was exploded just beneath the German 

front line at 03:10am on 7 Jun 17; the explosion was heard in England. This marked the start 

of the Battle of Messines (7-14 Jun), after which there was a slow British advance until 31 Jul 

when ‘Wipers 3’ proper began with advances to the east by about 2 miles along a 12 mile front, 

taking the action by 4 Oct to within about 1 mile of Passchendaele whereafter the campaign came 

almost to a standstill in costly and bitter fighting in the swamps around Passchendaele; the intricate 

drainage system of the low ground around Ypres had been shattered by the long bombardment and 

the consequent overflow of streams, swollen by heavy rain, turned much of the battle area into a 

bog. 

1 R. van Emden (2005) Boy Soldiers of the Great War.

32 CHAPTER 34. AUSTIN PLANT: WORLD WAR I CASUALTY 

The battles of ‘Wipers 3’ 

Though there was much other fighting, the main officially-designated battles of the Battles of Ypres 

(1917) comprise:- 

1. Battle of Pilckem: 31 Jul - 2 Aug 

2. Battle of Langemarck: 16 - 18 Aug 

3. Battle of the Menin Road: 20 - 25 Sep 

4. Battle of Polygon Wood: 26 Sep - 3 Oct 

5. Battle of Broodseinde: 4 Oct 

6. Battle of Poelcappelle: 9 Oct 

7. First Passchendaele: 12 Oct 

8. Second Passchendaele: 26 Oct - 10 Nov 

Austin appears to have been around Langemark [27 Aug] shortly after the battle there [16-18 

Aug]; then at the Battle of Menin Road [20-25 Aug]; and at Polygon Wood before his Division was 

relieved on October 8th only for him to be killed two days later. 

Around Langemarck 

The last entry in Austin Plant’s notebooks was August 27th in which he mentions men working on 

a light railway and moving through ground just taken from German hands with numerous dead and 

decaying bodies. One may hence contend that Austin Plant may have been advancing through the 

general area of Langemarck. 

Just before this (16-18 Aug) the Battle of Langemarck had taken place and Beatrix Brice records 

a light railway in that region in the following story taken from The Battle Book of Ypres first 

published in 1927:- 

The 7th York and Lancaster Regiment 2 were sent into the area to open up railway 

communications between the backward and passable areas west of the Yser Canal 3 and 

the area forward of Langemarck 4 . For months they had laboured night and day, until at 

length a circle of light railway was laid, and in operation, from Elverdinghe along the 

track of the old broad gauge, up to Langemarck; and back over the Steenbeek 5 , which 

had to be bridged in two places. The main line was the one on the site of the broad 

gauge, and the other had been made with the double objective of simple utility, and to 

mislead the enemy should he be led to inquire into the question of communication and 

supply. The main line must be kept a vital secret. 

At Hooge on the Menin Road 

Austin Plant is reported to have been killed instantly on 10 Oct by a shell at Hooge Crater. The tiny 

hamlet of Hooge, on the Menin Road, lies two and a half miles east of Ypres. Completely obliterated 

early in the war, it was looked upon as the worst section of the Ypres salient being continuously 

2 Contributed by an officer of the regiment. 

3 The Yser Canal passes almost north-south through Ypres. 

4 Langemarck is almost 3 miles E from the Yser Canal along a line 4 miles N of Ypres which passes N of Pilckem 

through Langemarck and then further by about 2 miles to Poelcappelle. 

5 The Steenbeek flows northwards towards Langemarck.

34.3. AUSTIN’S FINAL BATTLES 33 

subjected to shell-fire, machine gun fire and gas. The British cemetery at Hooge contains some 

2,000 graves. 

In Passchendaele: The Story behind the Tragic Victory of 1917 Philip Warner writes:- 

and:- 

There were battles around Hooge in 1915: the Château stood on slightly higher ground 

and the area was heavily garrisoned by German troops. The position was mined by the 

British troops and when it was blown up a huge crater was left. It became known as the 

Witches Cauldron, and as bodies fell or were flung into the water which soon filled it, 

the crater became indescribable. 

Here the enemy were very close, but even closer were the dead of both sides, under their 

feet, half buried in the sides of trenches, lying in the slimy water in the shell holes, and 

constantly disturbed by shelling and digging. Even for the dead there was no peaceful 

resting place. 

Black Watch Corner is a little over a mile to the east of Hooge, near Polygon Wood, and Beatrix 

Brice records an action (4 Oct 1917) that was almost contemporary with Austin Plant’s death:- 

By the time the attack was launched all indication of the route had been blasted away 

by the enemy’s shells and the way between two deep morasses was one of infinite peril. 

What was left of the road was in full view of the enemy, and the advancing tanks were 

met by a hurricane of shells, rifle and machine gun bullets. 

A little earlier, in the ‘morale boosting’ trench newspaper The B.E.F. Times, No 2, Vol 2 of 

Saturday 8 Sep 17, there had appeared a slightly more light-hearted account of the nearby Menin 

Road, through Hooge, under the heading Seen from an Aid-Post:- 

There are many roads on Flanders, where the horses slide and fall, 

There are roads of mud and pavé, that lead nowhere at all, 

They are roads that finish at our trench; the Germans hold the rest. 

But of all the roads in Flanders, there is one I know the best. 

It’s a great road, a straight road, a road that runs between 

Two rows of broken poplars, that were young and strong and green. 

You can trace it from old Poperinghe, through Vlamertinghe and Wipers; 

(It’s a focus for Hun whiz-bangs and a paradise for snipers) 

Pass the solid Ramparts, and the muddy moat you’re then in, 

The road I want to sing about — the road, that leads to Menin. 



It’s a road, that’s cursed by smokers; for you dare not show a light; 

It’s a road, that’s shunned by daytime; and is simply used by night, 

But at dark the silent troops come up, and limbers bring their loads 

Of ammunition to the guns, that guard the Salient’s roads. 



And for hours and days together, I have listened to the sound 

Of German shrapnel overhead, while I was underground 

In a damp and cheerless cellar, continually trying 

To dress the wounded warriors, while comforting the dying 

On that muddy road, that bloody road, that road that runs between 

Two rows of broken poplars, that were young and strong and green.

34 CHAPTER 34. AUSTIN PLANT: WORLD WAR I CASUALTY 

34.4 Austin’s personal record 

Figure 34.1: Austin Plant in (a) 1914 and (b) 1917 

This record comprises extracts from Austin’s contemporary letters home and, more especially, from 

two notebooks returned from his belongings. I have interspersed the dated entries with information 

from Colonel Willy’s official history entitled ‘The York and Lancaster Regiment’, Vol. II which are 

labelled below [Y&L II]. 

The first section of Austin’s first notebook contains various quotes, such as one dated Good 

Friday April 2nd 1915: 

You can not dream yourself into a character. You must work hard and persiver. Above 

all put your trust in God. 

This is then rewritten as: 

You can not dream yourself into a character. You must hammer, and forge yourself one. 

Another, apparently taken from the Daily Mirror of 16 Jul 15, is: 

The dead do not need us; but for ever and for ever more we need them. Garfield.

34.4. AUSTIN’S PERSONAL RECORD 35 

Other parts of the notebooks contain such things as a list of family birthdays, drawings of horses 

with superimposed crosses, notes on human anatomy, gun drill and some French phrase translations. 

There are also diary-like entries which, along with a dated book, postcards, information from his 

personal file held by the MOD, etc., can be summarised as follows: 

• 1906 

• 1914 

• 1915 

– Jul 31 [Book ‘The Innocents Abroad’] Presented for Punctual Attendance at Meersbrook 

Bank School, Sheffield. 

– Sep 3 [Information from MOD] Enlisted as Number 15861 into the York and Lancaster 

Regiment and posted to 8th Battalion 6 . 

– Sep [Y&L II] 8th Y&L was part of the 70th Brigade of the 23rd Division; the 70th 

Brigade began to assemble at Frensham. 

– Nov 11 [Letter to his mother and sisters] Under training; postmark is Frensham Common, 

which is about 4 miles NE of Bordon Camp, Hampshire. 

– Dec 1 and 2 [Y&L II] 23rd Division moved from Frensham to Aldershot. 

– Jan 14 [Y&L II] 70th Brigade inspected at Aldershot by Kitchener and the French War 

Minister. 

– late Jan [Y&L II] Khaki uniforms issued. 

– Feb, last week [Y&L II] Division moved to Shorncliffe area, Kent. 

– Mar 15 [Letter home] At Hythe, Kent; visits Folkestone with other soldiers. 

– Apr 2 [At start of first notebook] Austin Plant, Pte No 15861, B Company, Y & L 

Regiment. 58 North Rd, Hythe, Kent 7 . 

– Apr 7 [Postcard to his brother Tom] From Kent. 

– Apr 18 [Letter to his mother and sisters] At Hythe, Kent, under training including route 

marches; airship guarding coast. 

– Apr 18 [Birthday Postcard to his brother Tom] Saying he ‘was delighted to have another 

baby brother at the time’. 

– Apr 26 [Letter home] Askcham House, Hythe; bathing feet in sea before morning parade. 

– May 24 [Y&L II] Division move to Bordon; in hutments erected on the various commons. 

– May 25 Arrived at Bordon Camp (Hampshire) after just 2 weeks stay at Bromley, Kent 8 . 

– Jun 4 [Letter to his brother Tom] From St Lucia Barracks, Bordon, he asks Tom (aged 

10) to keep drawing and sending him pictures. 

– Jun [Y&L II] Service rifles issued to the Division; practice on Woolmer and Longmoor 

ranges. 

– Jun 22 [Letter home] Now fully equipped; 20 mile route march with full packs for first 

time. 

6 This date is 1 month after war was declared. 

7 This address near Folkestone is later written again as that of a Mrs Rogers. 

8 Bromley, now an outer suburb of London, is about 50 miles from Hythe.


– Jul 14 Weds. Caught a 3ft snake whilst on manoeuvres on the moors close to White hill 

range. 

– Jul 15 Four or five men got stuck waist-deep in a bog and had to be helped out. 

– Jul 19 Made 7 o’clock orderly in Orderly Room. 

– Jul 21 [Letter home, probably written in previous week] One of men had used a rifle to 

kill a 3ft snake on moorlands; recalls his leave home at Xmas 1914. 

– Jul 21 [Y&L II] Firing, so no man allowed a pass for a week. Got identification medals 

that morning. 

– Jul 28 Two vaccinations in left arm. 

– Jul 30 Came home to Sheffield (28 Pearson Place, Meersbrook), arrived 2 a.m. 

– Aug 3 ‘Visited Aunt Kates and Aunt Mays this morning’. 

– Aug 5 Thurs. Got back to Bordon, midnight. 

– Aug 16 [Y&L II] 23rd Division inspected by King on Hankley Common. 

– Aug 18 Wed. Cleaning up all day for inspection. 

– Aug 27 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L marched to Liphook and entrained for Folkestone, arrived 

Bologne in evening. 

– Aug 27 [Information from MOD] Started Overseas Service in France (until his death on 

10 Oct 1917). 

– Aug 28 [Y&L II] Having spent the night at Ostrohove Rest Camp, the 8th Y&L marched 

to Pont-de-Briques, entrained at noon for Audriceq arriving at 3 p.m., then marched to 

Nielles-les-Ardes near St Omer where they were billeted in farm buildings. 

– Sep 3 Billeted in an old farm in France, no blankets and short of food. 

– Sep 7 [Y&L II] 23rd Division marched to the Borre-Vieux Berques area; this was a 

trying march due to the very great heat and its all being on the pavé. 

– Sep 9 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L to front-line trenches beyond Erquingham for training by the 

Royal Irish Regiment. 

– Sep 14 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L appear to have supplied a working party of 400 for the Division’s 

trenches of c.4,500 yards from a point 300 yards south of the farm Grande 

Flamengie to the road from Armentieres to Wez Macquart. 

– Sep 15 [Letter home] One of his platoon had drowned in a pond before he even went 

into the firing line. He had already seen a British plane bring down a German one and 

had been in trenches for 34 hours. 

– Sep 17 Building a trench between German and British lines at night, perpetual German 

sniping; one R.E. shot through head and buried today. 

– Sep 18 Left Reserve Trenches and went into firing line 9 . 

– Sep 25 [Y&L II] Battle of Loos. After 4 days of artillery fire, the 8th Y&L were in 

support in the left section with the aim of capturing the German line between Corner 

Fort and Bridoux Fort. The German front line was indeed captured, and part of their 

second line, though by nightfall the 8th Y&L was back in the original trenches. 

– Sep 30 [Y&L II] 23rd Division, to left of the lines, arriving about 8.30pm; 8th Y&L 

withdrawn to billets in the Rue Marle about 2 miles to the rear left of the lines. 

– Oct 11 to 18 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L at Estaires. 

– Oct 18 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L marched to Sailly. Part of Division reserve under training, by 

association with more experienced troops. 

9 This date coincides with the start of the Great Allied Offensive.


• 1916 

– Oct, late to Nov, early [Y&L II] 8th Y&L strengthening front-line trenches, preparing 

winter accommodation in and behind the lines and preparing for an attack similar to the 

Battle of Loos; but the proposed attack was abandoned after 48 hours of rain. 

– Nov 24 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L marched to billets in and around Steenbecque; withdrawn to 

army reserve, under training. 

– Dec 15 Left the trenches to stay at another barn in France for a rest. 

– Dec 15 [Letter to his brother Norman] Not keen to get back to trenches. 

– Dec 18 Company and Battalion drills in morning on bad, wet ground. 

– Jan 9 [Y&L II] The Division began to return to the Lys area, with his Brigade to the right 

of the Fleurbaix sector. 

– Feb 4 [Y&L II] Tyneside Scottish troops sent to 8th Y&L for instruction in trenches. 

– Feb 8 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L patrol, comprising 2nd Lt., sergeant and 7 men, discovered 

3 enemy working parties. Several Mdls bombs and rifle grenades were thrown ‘with 

apparently good effect’. 

– Feb 9 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L patrol in hand-to-hand fighting. Germans killed. Lt Willets 

wounded. 

– Mar 26 [Y&L II] The 8th Y&L marched in afternoon via Estairis, La Gorgue and 

Calernne; they were entrained for Longeau near Amiens; and marched to Vignacourt 

arriving the night of the 27th. 

– Apr 4 [Y&L II] The Division was in the Le Boiselle-Thiepval sector overlooking the 

River Anere. The 8th Y&L were in brigade reserve in billets in Albert at first. 

– Apr 7 Attached to 179th mine-laying Company, Royal Engineers. 

– Apr 13 [Letter home] Working with Royal Engineers in France. 

– Apr 28 Working with mine-laying Company at Albert, France 10 . 

– Apr 30 Big bombardment on front at about 1.30 a.m., third one recently. 

– May 7 Still working 8 hour shifts with 179th mine-laying Company. 

– May 10 Expecting to return to his own Regiment and move from this part of line tomorrow. 

– May, late [Y&L II] The 8th Y&L were in trenches in the left sub-sector of the 8th 

Division in front of Authuille Wood; German machine gunners were ‘very active’. For 

the next few weeks, they moved between the advanced trenches and reserve in Albert 

where an attack was practised over a flagged course. 

– Jun 6 [Y&L II] The 8th Y&L were sent by train to Bruay. The Battalion was reinforced. 

– Jun 17 [Y&L II] An 8th Y&L patrol, comprising 2nd Lt, sergeant and 6 men, suffered 

one killed and all the rest wounded in a bombing attack on 15 Germans. 

– Jun 30 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L moved into position for attack, facing an exceptionally wide 

No-Man’s-Land beneath the southern spur of the German’s Thiepval Salient. 

– Jul 1 [Y&L II] First Battle of the Somme. At 6:30am, the Allies’ guns delivered an 

intense bombardment; the enemy replied. There was heavy shelling of the 8th Y&L 

front-line trenches in the Nab but very few casualties. As the wind was unfavourable, 

smoke could not be liberated during the attack; but, at 7:30am, the first wave of 8th 

10 Albert in the Somme is near Amiens and was entirely destroyed by German artillery. It is now, with a population of 

10,000, a centre for visiting the 1914-18 battlefields.


Y&L left the trenches maintaining perfect order, but they were met with exceptionally 

heavy fire from the front and both flanks. Most of the men were killed or wounded. 

The remaining waves were also mown down by machine guns before getting half-way 

to the German trenches. About 70 men reached the German front line, some eventually 

reached the third line where all were killed or taken prisoner – one returned. Almost all 

of those who were held up at the German front line were killed – three returned. Many 

Germans were killed in their trenches and when marching across the open to counter the 

attack. The 8th Y&L suffered heavy casualties – 90% killed, wounded or missing. Of 

23 officers, 13 were killed and 5 wounded. Of the NCOs and men, 612 were killed or 

wounded or missing. In the evening, the few survivors were withdrawn to Long Valley, 

Millencourt. 

– Jul 4 ‘Bat (h)as just been cut up’, moving down line, big advance on British Front. 

– Jul 14 [Y&L II] The Brigade left the Bruay area, moving to Poulainville. 

– Jul 17 [Y&L II] The Brigade moved to Pierregot and Miruaux. 

– Jul 21 [Y&L II] Division marched to Baizieux Wood with the 8th Y&L probably being 

held in reserve. 

– Aug 7 to 17 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L moved by way of Millencourt, La Vieille, Bresle, 

Franvilles, Frenchencourt, Longpré, Cocquerel and Metern to Steenwerck. 

– Aug 17 to Sep 2 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L moved to Steenwerck; took over the front line and 

support trenches in the left sector until they were relieved on Sep 2. 

– Sep 12 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L in Bresle in reserve corps; they supplied large stretcher carrying 

parties during the capture of Martinpuich 11 . 

– Sep 18 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L moved into trenches near Martinpuich. The Division pushed 

forward with varying success for the next few days. 

– Sep 29 ‘Wounded at farm just to the right of Martenpuch on the 29th inst about 1 

o’clock’. 

– Sep 29 [Y&L II] Destremont Farm. The 8th Y&L made an infantry attack on the farm 

supported by divisional artillery. [This is apparently when Austin was wounded]. From 

about 6 a.m. on the 29th until 9:30 on Oct 2nd, they and a section of 70th Machine Gun 

Company held the farm. Of the 8th Y&L, 3 men were killed, and 2 officers and 14 men 

were wounded [one apparently being Austin]. 

– Sep 29 [Y&L II] Destremont Farm. Two previous attacks had failed. The 8th Y&L 

Captain Burlen’s Company were to attack the farm with a second Company in support. 

At 5:30am, the Company assembled at over 700 yards from the farm, moved forward 

in two waves 50 yards apart, under cover of an artillery barrage, to within 50 yards of 

the enemy lines. The artillery barrage ended; and immediately the Germans opened up 

intense fire with rifles and machine-guns. But it was too late. The 8th Y&L charged 

the position with loud cheers, killed a large number of Germans and drove the rest away 

in great disorder. One machine gun, a thousand bombs, many thousands of rounds of 

ammunition and a large number of rifles were captured. Heavy German artillery bombardment 

of the farm resulted in 3 platoons being withdrawn for safety. The farm was 

held by one platoon of the 8th Y&L and a section of the 70th Machine-Gun Company 

until they were relieved at 9:30am on Oct 2nd. 

– Oct 2 [Notification from Infantry Record Office, York, dated Oct 20] Austin had been 

wounded in action (gunshot wound to head) and admitted to 5 General Hospital, Rouen 

on Oct 2nd. [It would seem that, following his wounding on Sep 29th, Austin did not 

reach hospital until Oct 2nd]. 

11 Martinpuich is about 1 mile beyond the British Front Line as had been delineated on 13 Sep 16.


• 1917 

– Oct 7 In Marquee, expecting to leave hospital today (following a ‘slight scalp wound’); 

fed up with war but thankful to have come through 13 months. 

– Oct 7 [Y&L II] Le Sars. 8th Y&L were a reserve battalion to the 69th Brigade during 

the attack on Le Sars; 5 killed, 14 wounded, 2 missing. 

– Oct 9 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L relieved and moved into camp in Lozenge Wood, Contalmaison. 

‘With the Battle of Sars’ the 8th Y&L ‘had seen the last of the mud and slaughter 

of the Somme battlefields’. 

– Oct 17 Arrived back with Regiment, now with A Company, at Poperinghe. 

– Oct 18 [Y&L II] The Division reached Ypres in the evening and was placed in the Infantry 

Barracks. The Division held a front of 3,500 yards, commencing east of Zillebeke 

and left to the Ypres-Menin Road, 250 yards west of Hooge. The weather was fair, the 

trenches dry, but there was much raiding by both sides. 

– Dec 3 [Y&L II] Two Lts and 50 other men from the ranks of the 8th Y&L, in three 

parties, went on a night raid on German trenches just to the north of Clonmel Copse. 

At 12:15am, the first party left to clear the wire; but the night was very still, the frozen 

ground pitted with shell holes and pools of water, and the enemy were alert. The party 

were fired on repeatedly. At 4:00am, a torpedo was fired clearing 15 yards of wire. 

The assault parties pushed through the gap. Six or seven Germans were killed, several 

wounded and the rest of their garrison dispersed. Of the 8th Y&L, two men were 

missing, believed killed; both Lts and 5 other ranks were wounded. 

– Dec 9 [Carte Postale to his brother Tom] Christmas Greetings. 

– Dec 25 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L had their second Christmas Day at the front, in the trenches 

at Ypres. 

– Dec 31 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L at rest area at Winnipeg Camp, prior to weeks of training. 

– Feb, late [Y&L II] 8th Y&L moved by rail and route march to the Bollezeele and Tilques 

training areas, where they stayed for over 3 weeks. 

– Mar 19 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L moved forward to Herzeele. 

– Apr 2 [Postcard photograph of himself to home] Says he is ‘in the pink of condition’. 

– Apr 6 [Y&L II] The Brigade started returning to the front line, taking over the Hill 60 

sector, 2500 yards from Verbrandenmolen to Observatory Ridge, 50 to 150 yards from 

the German front line. 

– Apr 8 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L relieved 19th London Regiment on Hill 60 sector. 

– Apr 9 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L under intense German bombardment and attacked by a large 

German raiding party – 26 men killed, 2 officers injured, 77 NCOs and men wounded 

and 69 missing. 

– Apr 18-21 [Letter to his mother and father on B.E.F. notepaper] At YMCA near front, 

inspected by Brigade General, congratulated on behaviour whilst holding trenches. 

– Apr 21 - May 4 [Letter to his mother and 3 sisters] Refers to photo of himself and 

comrades taken during short rest. In trenches from 21 Apr, in the front line for 10 

days, but then at a large farm a few miles behind the firing line. At ‘that do’ on Easter 

Monday, Goodwin was wounded and by now probably in Huddersfield, Ploughwright 

was presumed killed, the sergeant was awarded the DCM and only 5 men in the platoon 

survived. 

– May 5 [Letter home] Sleeping in a barn in ‘a bit of a village’ a few miles behind the 

firing line.


– May 6 [Letter to his brother Norman] Says ‘lost a good many old pals’ on Easter Monday. 

– May 9 [Letter to his father] Someone who had worked at the same firm (in Sheffield) as 

he had, who was also called Plant, had had to have his leg amputated after having been 

wounded on Easter Monday. Currently out of trenches, training. 

– May 9 [Letter to his mother] Remembers her birthday (May 3) and recalls his brother 

Tom’s birth (10 Apr 05). 

– May 12 [Y&L II] After a week out of the trenches, the 8th Y&L returned to the front 

line in the Observatory Ridge-Hooge sector, and were preparing for a great offensive to 

free the Ypres Salient from enemy observation. 

– May 31 On leave in Sheffield, ‘two more days to go and then back to Belgium’. 

– Jun 2 Left Sheffield Midland Railway Station 11.35 p.m. 

– Jun 3 Derby. arr. London 6.00 a.m., arr. Folkestone midday, dep. Folkestone 6.00 p.m., 

arr. Boulogne rest camp 10.00 p.m. 

– Jun 4 Dep. Boulogne 2.30 a.m., arr. Abeele rest camp 10.00 a.m., dep. Abeele 6.00 

p.m., arr. rest camp 11.00 p.m. 

– Jun 5 Arr. Y & L transport 10.00 a.m. 

– Jun 6 Sent up the line on carrying party 12 . 

– Jun 7 [Letter home] Gives details (as in Jun 3 entry in notebook) of journey from England 

to France. 

– Jun 7 [Y&L II] Battle of Messines, Ypres. The 8th Y&L were in the second phase; 

they suffered heavy casualties. They were successful but 300 were killed, wounded 

or missing. The 8th Y&L, particularly A Company (which Austin says he had joined 

in his notebook entry of 17 Oct 1916) suffered heavy casualties from artillery fire before 

and during their movement to their forward assembly position. A Company lost 

3 officers and many NCOs and, as a result, became disorganised and missed direction. 

Captain Barlow, acting second-in-command of the 8th Y&L, went forward to lead the 

company to its target. The Company killed many Germans and took several prisoners. 

The Battle of Messines was described as the ‘most complete and overwhelming 

success yet achieved in trench warfare’. On Jun 7, 7200 prisoners and 67 guns were 

captured. There was no serious German counter-attack; heavy German bombardment of 

the captured area, on Jun 9 and 10, failed. 

– Jun 9 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L moved by lorry to camp near Busseboom. 

– Jun 14 Out of trenches for short rest, expecting reinforcements. 

– Jun 20 Billeted at a farm near Metern 13 , on stretcher bearing course. 

– Jun 24 [Y&L II] Division back to the front, in the Hill 60 sector. 

– Jun 26 Sun. German aeroplane brought down. 

– Jun 30 Holding trenches taken from the Germans in the last push (Jun 7) 14 ; shell holes, 

mud and water, terrible smell of dead men and horses; staying with some R.A.M.C. 

chaps in an old German concrete dug out, which is being used as an Aid Post. 

12 This date coincides with the start of the Battle of Messines (7-14 Jun). 

13 Meteren is about 12 miles SW of Ypres. 

14 On 7 Jun much of the Messines Ridge was captured by the British in just one hour and forty minutes and, by 

midnight, they had advanced down the far side and also taken ground to the N as far as ‘Hill 60’. The subsequent work 

was largely to consolidate this ‘completely successful limited attack’ brought about largely by exploding 4 miles of mines 

just beneath the German front line, on which work had been carried on for the previous year.


– Jul 1 Heavy attack from Germans just before dawn; up to knees in mud and water. He 

notes from letter to him that his brother Norman is to have his medical tomorrow, on the 

day after his birthday (his 19th): he hopes that he fails it 15 . Also, his sister Elsie (aged 

14) is to go for an examination this month: he hopes that she passes 16 . In dug out, with 

sentry, by day and laid in open by night. Expecting to be relieved by K.O.Y.L.I. into 

reserve dug outs soon. 

– Jul 2 Lot of casualties from German artillery attack just before dawn; several killed and 

a lot wounded in a party of R.E.’s and Infantry who were laying cable just behind British 

third line; much stretchering; been holding the same trench, called Compton Corner, for 

5 days. 

– Jul 4 Digging support trench at night 17 . 

– Jul 5 Relieved by Durham’s but got lost on way out. 

– Jul 9 Still resting under canvass (Mickmack camp). 

– Jul 10 Two men of M.G.C. Corp. killed, about 5 wounded, from 2 shells on camp; ‘one 

fellow was blown up in the air’. 

– Jul 12 On Hill 60 18 last night, digging trench for cable. 

– Jul 13 Arr. Steenvord 19 10.00 p.m., by train and 5 km. march. 

– Jul 18 At Metern, training for S.B. 

– Jul 18 [Letter home] Near to 8th Battalion pioneers of the Royal Sussex. 

– Jul 22 [Y&L II] The Division was withdrawn to the Berthern area, for training in Wizernes 

and Meteren. 

– Aug 3 [Letter to his mother] He expects that the bad weather will have affected the 

British advance. 

– Aug 4 [Letter home] Still out of trenches. 

– Aug 6 Left Metern, marched to Arques where stopped in tents for night, then to St. 

Omer, then about 8 km. to a little village near Watten, then up the line near Poperinghe. 

– Aug 11 Resting under canvass near Proven. 

– Aug 14 [Letter home] Still out of trenches. 

– Aug 21 German aeroplanes over camp. 

– Aug 23 Moved to tents on other side of Poperinghe from Proven. 

– Aug 25 At Bond Ypres. 

– Aug 27 Men working on light railway 20 in field were subjected to 4 bombs and machine 

gunning from low German aeroplane. Moved up the line into trenches amidst pouring 

15 

Compulsory military service for single men aged 19-30 had been introduced for the first time in Britain on 10 Feb 

1916. 

16 

She later progressed to becoming a Headmistress. 

17 

The period from 14 Jun to 31 Jul was one of slow British advance, such as by about 600 yards further down the far 

side of the Messines Ridge. 

18 

Hill 60 is about 3.5 miles SE of Ypres and at the most northerly point of the 5 mile length of slightly high ground 

gained at the Battle of Messines, whereafter a further 6 miles of the ridge NE to Passchendaele formed a strategic 

southmost flank of the subsequent eastwards advance (Hooge, where he was later killed, is about 2 miles north of Hill 60 

on the edge of this subsequently taken strategic ridge). 

19 

Steenwerk is near the railway and about 4 miles SE of Meteren, which is about 12 miles SW of Ypres. 

20 

This may have been the supply line to Langemarck, or its dummy, as discussed in section 34.3. This suggests that, 

after being on the south flank at Messines and after his retreat for training at Meteren, he had returned to the front at a 

position 3 or 4 miles NE of Ypres, to where the centre of the action had then switched (Poelcappelle is about 5 miles NE 

of Ypres along the road to Roulers which passes through St Julien, which is about 2 miles south of Langemarck along 

the Steenbeek). Later still he was at Hooge, where he was killed; Hooge is about 3 miles south of St Julien, in a (largely 

destroyed) woodland area which had, by then, become the main focus of the battles of advance.


• 1918 

rain, shell holes, dead horses and men, horrid smells. Moved through remnants of a 

wood 21 which has become razed to just a charred patch and has just been taken from 

German hands; tree stumps and numerous decaying bodies ‘brave British Soldiers who 

have give...’ (incomplete sentence, no more entries in notebook). 

– Aug, late [Y&L II] Brigade had been moved to the front line beyond Busseboom. The 

8th Y&L came under very heavy shell and rifle fire and were engaged in hand to hand 

fighting; 12 killed, 44 wounded, 2 missing. 

– Aug 30/31 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L were relieved and withdrew to billets in Abeele. 

– Sep 5 [Letter to his mother and 3 sisters] Had been out of trenches for 5 days. ‘Fritey’ 

planes were active ‘the other week’. Whilst they were resting in a field about 7 planes 

came over and dropped 4 bombs quite near but no-one was hurt. He writes ‘had a rather 

rough time of it, this last time in the trenches’. His friend was killed and, at the same 

time, he himself was hit in the leg but it did not go in and only caused a slight bruise; 

otherwise, it would have been ‘a nice Blighty one’ especially if he had been sent to 

hospital in Sheffield but ‘No such luck’. Now billeted in a barn on a farm. 

– Sep 18 [Y&L II] Brigade in Dickebusch area. The 8th Y&L supplied a raiding party of 

50 men and took 24 German prisoners. At 6:00am, 2 officers and 50 other ranks of the 

8th Y&L raided 300 yards into Inverness Copse. One of the 24 Germans drew a bomb 

from his box-respirator and flung it at a party of the 8th Y&L; he was killed ‘for his 

treachery’. Of the 8th Y&L, 1 officer and 2 other ranks were wounded. Of the rest, 2 

officers and 21 other ranks were killed; 2 officers and 48 other ranks were wounded. 

– Sep 20 to 25 [Y&L II] Battle of Menim Road, started at 5:30 a.m. Of the 8th Y&L, 3 

were killed and 4 wounded. On the 20th, one officer of the 8th Y&L and 90 other ranks 

carried rations from Bedford House to Tor Top. On the 21st, the 8th Y&L were still in 

Railway dug-outs. On the 22nd, Companies A, I and F of the 8th Y&L [Austin was in 

A] moved up to relieve the Australian’s Met Guides at Clapham Junction; the relief was 

complete by 11:15pm. On the 25th, the 8th Y&L were relieved. 

– Sep 30 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L in front line. 4 men were killed, an officer and 12 other ranks 

were wounded. 

– Oct 1 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L under heavy bombardment and attack after attack. Around 

5:30am to 5:45am, a barrage was directed at the front and support lines of the 8th Y&L. 

The barrage continued on the Tower-Battalion HQ-Inverness Copse area until 6:30pm. 

There were direct hits on a room in HQ and on two dug outs. 

– Oct 2 [Y&L II] From the 30th Sep to that night, the 8th Y&L had: one officer and 8 men 

killed; one officer and 50 NCOs and men wounded; and 3 men gassed. 

– Oct 3 [Y&L II] 8th Y&L moved to billets at Meteren. 

– Oct 8 [Y&L II] The Division was relieved by the 7th Division in front of Polygon Wood. 

– Oct 10 [Notification from Infantry Record Office, York, dated Nov 7] Austin reported 

killed in action in France on 10 Oct 1917. 

– Jan 3 [Letter from S.Walker(?), Lt, 8th Yorks and Lancaster, Italy] In reply to letter from 

Austin’s father, he explains that Austin was killed whilst the battalion was on its way to 

the trenches, passing Brigade HQ at Hooge Crater (on the Menin Road, Ypres salient) 

when a shell hit him. He died instantaneously. 

21 The only known substantial wood in the general area of Langemarck was Kitchener Wood about 0.5 miles W of St 

Julien (this had been captured earlier on 1 Aug) though there may also have been other small copses. In the advance of 

15 Aug (Battle of Langemarck) the gain was roughly 1 mile along a 10 mile strip NNW from just S of St Julien.

34.5. NAMES AND ADDRESSES 43 

34.5 Names and Addresses 

It is known that Austin Plant’s grandfather, James Plant, died on 7 Apr 1904 at 44 Onslow Road 

Greystones Sheffield and left some of his daughters living in that district. In the 3 Aug 15 entry 

above, Austin visits both his Aunt Kate and Aunt May in the same morning. From such information, 

it is thought that the following names and addresses taken from the first notebook might perhaps be 

those of respectively his Aunt Kate, his Aunt May, and others. 

• Acacia Villa, 28 Dover Road, Sheffield. 

• Mr Whitfield, 68 Tullibardine Road, Endcliffe, Sheffield. 

• Mrs J Findlow, 52 Cruise Road, Oakbrook Road, Sheffield. 

• Mrs Blackwell, 6 Catherine Street, Pitsmore, Sheffield. 

Certainly the first is believed, from family memories, to be the address of an Aunt who lived just 

below the Botanical Gardens. The second may (also) be the person who employed Austin and later 

his younger brother Norman (?); there is an entry dated 25 May 15 ‘Received a letter from Mr 

Whitfield, 68 Tullibardine ....’. Possibly related to the fourth, there is also written later (near the 

date 18 Dec 15):- 

• Pte T W Blackwell 15836, 8th Y & L, 31 Ward Northumberland War Hospital Gosforth 

Newcastle on Tyne. 

and the name Blackwell is also jotted down early on with other surnames and small sums of money 

(perhaps card playing debts) most crossed off. 

There is an entry 15 Aug 15 ‘This morning wrote a letter to Mr Moore and one to Mr and Mrs 

Rowe’ and, earlier, there is the address:- 

• Mrs Rowe, 77 Newbury Road, Bromley, Kent. 

which presumably relates to the stated visit to Bromley (cf. the item 25 May 15 above). 

In addition, there is a postcard from Austin in Pontefract (undated) to his brother Tom (jnr) 

saying ‘I did not find out there were no trains on Sunday until I went out to see if Norman was 

coming’. Also, there are two postcards from someone called ‘Bert’ in Belgium to Austin’s father 

Tom (snr) dated Sep 1927, saying he would have a lot to say about his visits to Ypres and the 

battlefields when he got back. 

34.6 From the Ministry of Defence 

The following are extracts from a letter dated 1 Oct 1990 from the Army Search Unit of the Ministry 

of Defence. 

• As mentioned in my letter of 14 September 1990 there are only a few documents in the file of 

the above-named, your Uncle, and those that do exist have been badly damaged by fire. 

• Medals Awarded: 1914/15 Star; British War and Victory Medals. 

• On attestation Private Plant declared that he was born ‘in the Parish of Sheffield in or near the 

town of Sheffield in the county of Yorkshire’. It is difficult to read his trade on enlistment but 

it would appear to be sawpiercer. He gave his age as 20 years and 310 days 22 . 

22 His date of birth was 9 Nov 1893 and his date of enlistment was 3 Sep 1914; this stated age would correspond to a 

date 15 Sep 1914.


• He gave his next of kin as his father Tom and his mother Rose Beatrice of 28 Pearson Place, 

Meersbrook. 

• His brothers are listed as Norman aged 24 and Tom aged 14 and his sisters as Jessie aged 19, 

Beatrice aged 18, Elsie Mabel aged 16, Mary Winnifred aged 12 and ? Millicent aged 7 23 . 

• He is described as being 5 feet 7 1/2 inches tall, weighing 110 lbs with brown eyes, dark hair 

and a fair complexion. 

23 With the exception of Norman, these ages could only be correct for a date lying between 20.8.1919 and 15.1.1920.

What are electoral registers: 

ELECTORAL REGISTERS – CHESHIRE 

��Electoral Registers list people entitled to vote at elections. 

��The earliest electoral registers date from 1832. You will find electoral registers 

dating from then until the present day at Cheshire Record Office. The only 

exception to this is that no electoral registers were compiled between 1916 and 

1917 and between 1940 and 1944. 

Who will I find in an electoral register: 

��In 1832 the right to vote (of franchise) was given to about 1 in 7 of the male 

population. The right depended on the value of the property owned or rented. 

��In 1867 and 1844 the franchise was extended so that by 1884 about two-thirds of 

the male population had the vote. 

��Women were not entitled to vote in Parliamentary elections until 1918, when most 

women over the age of 30 were enfranchised. 

��Only in 1828 did all adults (over 21) gain the right to vote. 

��In 1969 all adults of 18 years or older gained the right to vote. 

How do I find the person or address I’m looking for? 

��Each electoral division or constituency will have a separate register. 

��Each electoral division or constituency consisting of several townships. 

��For most of the 19 th century names in electoral registers are in alphabetical order 

within each township. 

��After 1918 most registers are arranged by ward, street and then house number. 

You therefore need to know an address before you begin searching for a person. 

45

From W Plant to William Plant 

STAFFORDSHIRE MARRIAGE INDEX 1500’s TO 1837 

No. Name Status Occupation Residence Name Status Occupation Residence Date Place Notes Banns/Lic. 

W Leek Weston, Anne Alstonfield 21 May 1696 Leek 

W Leek Wood, Magdalen Leek 17 Dec 1741 Leek 

Walter Uttoxeter Elks, Mary 01 May 1732 Alton 

Warwick Smith, Elizabeth 25 Jul 1836 West Bromwich 

William Burgis, Margerie 25 Jan 1567/8 Mucklestone 

William Sutton, Mary 28 Oct 1688 Uttoxeter 

William Uttoxeter Lea, Mary 24 Aug 1718 Lichfield 

Cathedral 

William Smith, Mary 12 Dec 1730 Kingsley 

William Uttoxeter Phill, Ann Checkley 11 Aug 1740 Kingsley 

William Muckleston Salt, Mary Muckleston 05 Jan 1741/2 Chebsey 

William Jones, Mary 18 Apr 1750 Eccleshall l 

William STS 

Taylor, Sarah 12 Sep 1756 WOR 

Kingswinford 

Oldswinford 

William Astbury Brownswort, Ann Biddulph 09 Oct 1757 Biddulph 

William b Read, Mary s 17 Feb 1760 Wolverhampton b 

William Leigh Stevenson, Mary 23 Jun 1760 Stone 

William Stone Bentley, Margaret 

Margaret signs Peggey 

Colwich 06 Jul 1760 Colwich l 

William b Badworth WAR Bromley, Margaret 23 Mar 1761 Stone l 

William b Smith, Mary s 17 Jun 1762 Leek 

William Hubbard, Sarah 17 Aug 1762 Kingswinford 

William Carpenter Turn Edge Shaw, Martha Turn Edge 15 Oct 1764 Longnor 

William Falkner, Elizabeth 31 Aug 1766 Pattingham l 

William b Cox, Henrietta s 01 Oct 1769 Walsall l 

William Morrey, Ann 31 Dec 1771 Eccleshall 

William w Felton, Frances s 07 Feb 1776 Walsall l 

William Yeomans, Sarah 20 May 1777 Pattingham l 

William b Copland, Mary s 08 Jul 1780 Leek 

46


William Yeoman Swynnerton Higginson, Mary s Swynnerton 13 Dec 1781 Swynnerton l 

William Parker, Sarah 30 Dec 1782 Eccleshall 

William Salt, Mary 02 May 1785 Alton 

William Norton Howcroft, Sarah s 26 Oct 1788 Stoke-on-Trent 

William Hollinshead, Anne 21 Dec 1788 Stone 

William Walton, Hannah s 12 Apr 1789 Stoke-on-Trent 

William Newdale, Mary 30 May 1789 Alton 

William b Gold, Elizabeth s 07 Feb 1790 Sedgley 

William b West Bromwich Staples Catherine s Wednesbury 07 Sep 1791 West Bromwich l 

William b Hawkins, Mary 14 Feb 1792 Stafford, St 

Mary 

William b Ratcliff, Hannah s 18 Jun 1792 Checkley l 

William b Gnosall Evans, Ellen s 02 Jan 1793 Rocester l 

William Walker, Anne 03 Dec 1793 Stone 

William Harrisson, Mary 03 Feb 1794 Gnosall 

William Wakefield, Mary 02 Nov 1795 Stone 

William w Farmer Norton Goodwin, Sarah s 28 Dec 1795 Stoke-on-Trent 

William Eccleshall Simkins, Jane Eccleshall 03 Feb 1796 Eccleshall l 

William Stoke Challiner, Elizabeth 04 Oct 1798 Whitmore 

William LEI Brayston Keye, Mary 11 Feb 1800 Tamworth 

William Powell, Sarah 02 Dec 1800 Stone 

William Shoemaker Stoke Chalner, Sarah s 18 Jul 1802 Whitmore 

William Collier Brunt, Ellen s 19 Oct 1803 Stok-on-Trent 

William Eaton, Elizabeth 31 Dec 1803 Cheadle 

William Potter Copeland, Elizabeth s 20 Feb 1804 Burslem 

William Cooper Thompson, Eleanor s 24 Apr 1804 Burton-on-Trent 

William Huldridge, Susannah 16 Jan 1809 Norton-le-Moors 

William Collier, Frances Eccleshall 15 Apr 1809 Ellenhall 

William Stoke Finney, Elizabeth Stoke 13 Nov 1809 Bucknall 

William Collier Wolstanton Gater, Mary Wolstanton 20 Apr 1811 Wolstanton 

William Standley, Ann 09 July 1812 Eccleshall 

William b Bestwick, Mary s 02 Jan 1815 Alstonefield 

William Blakeman, Bridget 07 Mar 1815 Stone 

William b Servant Ashley Green, Mary 16 Oct 1815 Keele 

47


William b Olner, Maria s 03 Oct 1815 Lichfield St 

Michael 

William b Heath, Elizabeth s 20 Oct 1817 Leek 

William Preston, Mary Leigh 20 Dec 1817 Fulford 

William b Barnes, Elizabeth s 19 Apr 1818 Sedgley 

William Eccleshall Maddocks, Mary Eccleshall 14 Apr 1819 Eccleshall l 

William High Offley Norris, Ann 08 Feb 1821 Norbury 

William Myatt, Elizabeth 19 July 1821 Norton-le-Moors 

William b Bentley, Ann s 30 Sep 1821 Stafford St Mary 

William b Carrington, Mary 

Ann 

s 05 Feb 1823 Leek 

William b SAL Newport Jones, Hannah s 29 Mar 1823 High Offley l 

William Eccleshall Cordwell, Ann Stafford St 04 Mar 1824 Eccleshall l 

William b Blakeman, Catherine s 26 April 1824 Castlechurch From 

BTs 

William Clewes, Elizabeth Leek 02 Jan 1827 Cheadle l 

William b Ashbourne Hough, Martha s ` 22 Oct 1827 Mayfield 

William b Farmer Pyott, Jane s 31 Jan 1828 Leek 

minor 

William b Hart, Mary Ann s 21 Jun 1830 Tipton 

William Mason, Ellen 27 Dec 1830 Baswich 

William Inston, Elizabeth 04 Nov 1832 Kingswinford 

William b Eccleshall Plant, Mary Anne s Eccleshall 26 Mar 1833 Eccleshall l 

William b Tailor Chell, Sarah s 29 Dec 1833 Leek 

William b Gibford, Elizabeth s 28 Jan 1834 Stoke-on-Trent 

William w Tipton Page, Sarah s Albrighton 28 Jan 1834 West Bromwich b 

William b Dutton, Anne s 09 Feb 1834 Cheadle 

William Lab. Procter, Ellen s 11 Aug 1834 Audley 

William Jones, Mary 07 Jun 1835 Wolverhampton 

William b Lane, Sarah s 14 Nov 1836 Tipton 

William b Jones, Ruth Mariah s 23 Jun 1828 Tipton 

Lavender 

William 

Shenton 

w Deakin, Hannah w 22 May 1820 Hanley 

48 

Mary


Wm Drakeford, Rose ** Nov 1568 Stone 

Wm Bearson Jayle, Elizabeth Bearson 04 May 1678 Mucklestone 

Wm Bailey, Dinah Bearson 25 Mar 1698 Mucklestone 

Wm Swinerton Hazels, Eliz. Swinerton 05 Dec 1706 Caverswall 

Wm Hanley, Elizabeth 19 Apr 1720 Rushton Spencer 

Wm Tunnicliff, Millicent 30 Jul 1743 Alstonefield 

Wm Hollinshead, Eliz. 10 Nov 1748 Stoke-on-Trent 

Wm Shaw, Margt. 27 May 1751 Caverswall 

Wm b Stafford St Mary Latham, Margt. Muckleston 10 Nov 1760 Mucklestone 

Wm Alstonefield Sherrat, Margaret Alstonefield 05 Mar 1761 Alstonefield b 

Wm Newcastle- Broad, Sarah Newcastle- 12 Apr 1763 Newcastleunder-Lymeunder-Lymeunder-Lyme 

Wm Husb. Boulton, Margt. s 19 Sep 1763 Stoke-on-Trent b 

Wm Blacksmith Greatbatch, Ann s 01 Jan 1767 Stoke-on-Trent 

Wm Green, Sarah 21 May 1768 Alstonefield 

Wm Barker, Jane 12 Nov 1780 Norton-le-Moors 

Wm Husbandma Betley Swinnerton, Lydia s Betley 04 Jun 1781 Betley H:24 l 

n 

w:18 

Wm Blacksmith Moreton, Nancy s 08 Feb 1785 Stoke-on-Trent b 

Wm Leek Hunt, Hannah Leek 16 Feb 1797 Leek 

Wm Potter Stoke Lownds, Amy Stoke 05 Jan 1800 Newcastleunder-Lyme 

Wm b Collier, Elizabeth s 29 May 1804 Ellastone 

Wm Norton-le-Moors Vernon, Sar Norton-le- 

Moors 

28 Aug 1809 Norton-le-Moors 

49

Plante + Plantt 

STAFFORDSHIRE MARRIAGE INDEX 1500’s TO 1837 

Name Status Occupation Residence Name Status Occupation Residence Date Place Notes Banns/Lic. 

Plante Ann Piot, Francis 21 Sep 1616 Lichfield St 

Mary 

“ Ellen Leek Newton, William Leek 02 Jul 1607 CHS Macclesfld, 

St Mich. 

“ Joane Leeke Spenser, Randall Newbald 10 Jun 1657 Leek 

“ Law. Redearth Gent, Anne 26 Mar 1657 Leek 

“ Marg. Gretton, Jno. 07 Oct 1571 Lichfield St Mary 

“ Margaret Stawne, John 07 Nov 1596 Stafford St Mary 

“ Margaret Atkins, William 04 Aug 1606 Colwich 

“ Margeret Hawkins, William 16 Jun 1583 Mucklestone 

“ Mary Kendall, Wm 18 Oct 1628 Stafford St Mary ` 

“ Thomas Muchell, Elizabetha 09 Jun 1560 Biddulph 

“ Thomas Yeardley, Johanna 01 Sep 1571 Audley 

“ Thomas Turner, Johane 30 May 1578 Ellastone 

“ Thomas Lancastle, Margery 04 Oct 1612 Audley 

“ Thos. Mellor, Jane 17 Jul 1612 Alstonefield 

Plantt Maria Lycett, John 04 Sep 1682 Stoke-on-Trent 

“ Tho. Walker, Mary 28 Aug 1720 Leek 

50 

Astbury

PALMERS INDEX TO THE TIMES 

Palmers Index to the Times was compiled in the late 19 th century and constitutes 450 

volumes including many items of interest to Family Historians. 

The extract below covers the period 11 November 1869 to 19 November 1870. 

Inquests: James Plant who died in the St. Pancras Infirmary 

The Times 11 Nov 1869, 4d 

The St. Pancras Infirmary 

Dr Lankester opened inquests yesterday upon several paupers whose deaths are alleged to have arisen from 

the condition of the workhouse wards, as testified in the report of an inquest published in The Times of 

Tuesday last. At the proceedings yesterday confirmatory evidence was given of the bad condition of the 

wards, and the new facts elicited will prove of importance. 

The first enquiry of the series was upon Jane Harris, a widow, aged 57, who was in the female medical ward 

under Dr Ellis, suffering from pneumonia. Dr Ellis stated that the female medical ward was No. 24, and at 

the time this woman died – namely, on the 4 th inst., - it contained 29 patients. The space would only admit of 

each patient having 628 cubic feet, and that was not sufficient space for sick wards, and he was not aware of 

any provision which could be made in the workhouse itself to diminish the overcrowding in the wards. 

Patients were lying on the floor, but deceased was not one of these, and one patient slept in a bath. There had 

been many cases of sudden death lately, and he believed the patients so died from overcrowding. He gave the 

results of his post-mortem examination of the body, which was to the effect that there was an effusion on the 

brain, that the deceased was attacked with pneumonia in one lung, and that right side of the heart was gorged 

in blood. In his opinion death was caused by pneumonia, accelerated by the overcrowding and insufficient 

ventilation of the wards. 

In answer to questions put b y the Coroner and jury, the witness said that there were windows above in the 

wards, but if these were opened the wind would beat down upon the patients’ heads. The only fresh air that 

came into the wards came in through the water-closets, which opened into the wards, and he considered the 

wards of the infirmary badly constructed for the purpose to which they were put. Then with regards to the 

required space, the Poor Law Board ordered that a minimum space of 850 cubic feet should be given to each 

patient, but some parishes did not confine themselves to this space, as, for instance, Marylebone, where they 

had a large body of sick, and yet gave more than 850 ft. 

In reply to Mr Smith, a guardian, 

Dr Ellis said he six weeks ago reported about the bad ventilation, and the only arrangements that had been 

made to remedy the evil had been begun that very morning, when some men attended to take some bricks out 

and to put in new ventilators, but he was not aware that the guardians were endeavouring to find a room in 

which to remove some of the infirmary patients. 

Mr Chandler, an old guardian, then interposed with the question, “Did you not send the guardians at their last 

meeting a report stating that 95 persons were sleeping on the floor of the infirmary wards?” 

Dr Ellis replied that it was so, and he had heard the guardians had refused to read his report. 

Several guardians then made statements, from which it was gathered that at the last meeting of the guardians, 

a resolution was passed ordering 27 additional beds to be put up in the infirmary. There was no dispute about 

this as a matter of fact, but a new guardian said the beds had been taken out of the infirmary, a statement 

which was at once contradicted by an old guardian amid considerable confusion and uproar, caused by several 

of the guardians struggling for a priority of speech on the question. Mr Smith, a new guardian, said the 

resolution would never be carried out. 

51

Mr Samuel Solly, Vice-President of the Royal College of Surgeons Fellow of the Royal Society, surgeon and 

lecturer on surgery at St Thomas’s Hospital, was then called and examined with regard to the ward in which 

the women died. He gave the same evidence with respect to having visited the wards at night on the 4 th inst. 

As that reported in The Times on Tuesday, and then he went on to say: - I recollect No. 24 ward, the female 

medical ward. As to paying attention to the state of the ward, I could not enter it without paying attention to 

its condition. It was frightfully foul, and I cannot use expressions strong enough to describe its condition 

beyond saying it was frightfully foul. I attribute its foul condition to the human exhalations arising from 

crowding a great number of people into a small space. The ventilation of this ward and of No. 11 came, I 

observed, through the water-closets and the bad smell came, no doubt, in part from the water-closets, so the 

stench in the ward was a mixed one. I think such a condition of atmosphere would act upon the inmates so as 

to produce a serious apoplexy wherever there was a tendency to it. The blood of the patient would be arrested 

in its flow by the condition of the atmosphere, and the result would be an effusion of serum. The postmortem 

in this case shows that there had been congestion of the ventricles, and I consider this was owing to 

the bad atmosphere of the infirmary. I do think the condition of the ward would hasten the death of a person 

labouring under bronchitis. Persons labouring under these diseases needed to have the purest air possible. 

With regard to the space question, I was unable to answer positively your question at the inquest on Monday, 

with respect to the exact space about to be given at St Tomas’s, and when asked I said about 1,800ft. I have 

since made inquiries, and I find that the space given will be 1,800 cubic feet, and in special cases, 2,000. 

In answer to the jury, the witness said that he considered it very improbable there would have been effusion 

of serum on the brain in the deceased had the necessary space for breathing fresh air, and he did not see one 

ward which was unobjectionable. All were bad, but several were extremely bad, and with the exception of 

one or two wards for special cases the wards were overcrowded. 

A general conversation ensued, in which it was proposed to go and visit the wards. To this a majority of the 

jury objected that they were not technically educated so as to judge of the wards, and they would rather trust 

to the knowledge conveyed to them by the medical gentlemen that to their own views. Several of the 

guardians desired to escort the jurymen round the wards, and seemed somewhat disappointed at this view. 

The Coroner proceeded with the case when order had been restored, and the jury returned a verdict – the 

Coroner saying it was clear that death had arisen from the overcrowding – that deceased came by her death 

“from the mortal effects of an effusion of serum on the brain,” and that the death was “accelerated by 

overcrowding and the want of ventilation in the St Pancras Infirmary.” 

A juror said something ought to be said in the verdict about the guardians not having taken notice of Dr 

Ellis’s report of six weeks since with respect to the want of ventilation. 

The Coroner replied that to do that other evidence must be called, and he deprecated such action. 

The inquiry into the death of Julia Cowden, aged 30, then opened. This deceased had been in the workhouse 

before, and came in a second time 14 days before. She was put into No. 24 ward, in which were 27 beds, and 

two on the floor, making 29 patients. Deceased died on Sunday morning. The nurse further said the deceased 

had been a hardworking woman. The ward was very close, and the patients complained very much. There 

was no artificial means of ventilation of the ward. The evil of overcrowding had been increasing during the 

14 months she had been employed in the building. 

Dr Ellis, the medical officer gave evidence regarding this death similar to that already given. The post 

mortem gave the same indications of congestion of the brain, and the fullness of the ventricles, as in the other 

case, and the death arose from the phthisis, accelerated by the bad atmosphere. Dr Ellis said that he had 

constantly reported to the guardians of the overcrowded state of the infirmary during two of the five months 

he had held the appointment. It was well known that the same thing occurred last winter, but it had come 

with increasing force this winter. 

The Coroner said Mr Carter, who accompanied Mr Solly, could give the jury independent evidence with 

respect to these wards at night. 

Mr Robert Brudenell Carter, FRCS, of 8 Princess-street, Hanover-square, stated in answer to questions put by 

the Coroner, -“I have been surgeon to great military hospitals in the East, surgeon the ophthalmic hospitals, 

and surgeon to the Nottingham Workhouse, I am, therefore, quite familiar with the management of hospitals 

and workhouse wards. I accompanied Mr Solly in his visit to these wards and I went into No. 24 ward as well 

52

as other wards. I have a very distinct recollection of this No. 24 ward, for it was very much overcrowded. 

The beds were close together, and the atmosphere was excessively foul. I concur generally in all that Mr 

Solly said about the ward. It was manifest to me that the cubic space was too small, and that there was no 

provision for changing the air, so that the patients were compelled to breath over and over again the same 

atmosphere. The gas lights, too, in all four, I think, were burning, so causing an increase of noxious effluvia. 

I can hardly say that there wards can be improved in any way in the ventilation except by shafts. All the 

wards were badly ventilated, and I have not the slightest doubt that the death of this woman was accelerated 

by the condition of the ward in which she was a patient. In fact, she died from the same effects was caused 

the deaths in the Black Hole of Calcutta. 

The same verdict as in the other case was delivered – namely, that death was accelerated by the overcrowding 

and want of ventilation in the wards of S. Pancras Infirmary. 

A third inquiry was opened on James Plant, a man who died in No. 6 ward of bronchitis and an effusion of 

serum on the brain. The same accelerating cause of death was given. 

Ellen Petts, a nurse, gave evidence in this case, in which the man died while in conversation with his 

neighbours. She said the space was very small, and during the night, and as it advanced, the patients got 

“very restless and ill.” The ward was very close at night. 

In reply to Mr Chandler, witness said the patients had told her that they sat up rat-hunting, the animals coming 

from the water-closets. 

Mr Brown, a guardian, was sworn, and said he sent the deceased to obtain the order for admittance, and he 

deposed that the man was very ill when he was admitted on Nov. 2. 

The Coroner said it would have been better to keep the people out of the infirmary while this place was like 

what it was. The poorest home was preferable to the infirmary. 

Mr RB Carter was again called, and he said he recollected No. 6 ward, and he considered that and No. 11 the 

worst wards in the place. No. 6 was not so much overcrowded, having a smaller number on the floor than No. 

11, but the stench was worse, and since he heard about the rats it struck him that these animals had made a 

communication with the sewers into the wards, and so introduced the sewer gases. He considered that the 

deaths had been accelerated by the condition of the atmosphere of the ward. 

Mr Chandler, and old guardian, who had visited all the home and Continental hospitals, said he had again and 

again complained of the space in these wards. The wards were unfit for anyone to occupy now, but he 

considered that Mr Corbett and his brother inspector were to blame in not informing the guardians as to the 

exact numbers which should be placed in these wards. No information had been given to the guardians on the 

matter, and the consequence was that the guardians had resolved to put in 27 more beds even now. 

The record of Mr Corbett’s visit to the house was read, and from that it appeared that Mr Corbett had 

mentioned that inmates and nurses had complained of smells, and had drawn attention to the bad atmosphere 

in the day and night room and in the medical wards. 

The Coroner said that, in justice to the public, the jury should go more into this matter, for he understood 

there were now several more cases of death arising from the same cause as the cases in which verdicts had 

been returned. 

Several other cases were then opened pro forma, in order that burial certificates might be give, and the 

inquiry was adjourned until Monday week. 

53

Divorce Court: Plant v. Plant & Love 

The Times 19 Nov 1870, 11f 

Mr Searle appeared for the petitioner. 

Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, Nov. 18. 

(Before Lord Penzance.) 

Plant v. Plant and Love 

The petitioner is a farmer in Staffordshire, and he married the respondent, who was a widow with some 

property, in December 1864. She was addicted to drinking, and her propensity was the cause of frequent 

quarrels. In April, 1865, a deed of separation was executed, and they had never since lived together. After 

the separation the respondent formed an improper intimacy with a shoemaker named Love. – Decree nisi. 

54

Update on the Name Origins project 

It was in 1998 (Chapter 15) that my first writings on Plant Name Origins appeared in Roots and 

Branches. Keith had included a little about this topic in earlier Issues of the journal whereas my own 

contributions to Issues 2 to 14 had been ‘Chapters’ about the Sheffield Plants (including the origins 

of my own family branch). In 1999, Keith invited me to give a presentation on the name’s origins at 

the Millennium Reunion and, in particular, the occasion confirmed my suspicions that many of the 

Plants are especially interested in a possible connection to the Plantagenet name. 

Any such Plantagenet connection can be dismissed by others as an unjustified ‘fanciful notion’. 

So, rather than leaving ourselves open to this criticism, I set out to seek relevant evidence and assess 

the question objectively. For my latest two ‘Chapters’, I have returned to my own branch of the 

family, but I have not forgotten the Name Origins project; and, lately I have been summarising the 

findings of my ‘Chapters’ 15 to 32, making my main conclusions about the name’s origins more 

widely available, both on the web and in Nomina publications. 

Web Site Report 

by Dr John S Plant (Member No 52) June 2007 

The web page on Name Origins has featured quite consistently amongst the most popular pages 

of the web site: http://www.plant-fhg.org.uk as indicated by the pages with the largest 

number of hits since November 2005: 

Top No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 

Nov 294 Name origins 224 Reunion slides 215 DNA 207 Guestbook 197 French origins 

Dec 246 Name origins 199 DNA 189 French origins 159 Guestbook 157 Journal contents 

2006 

Jan 293 Name origins 274 French origins 238 Journal contents 202 DNA 186 Reunion slides 

Feb 298 Name origins 257 Reunion slides 233 Journal contents 232 French origins 230 Notable Plants 

Mar 423 DNA 315 Name origins 259 French origins 201 Reunion slides 201 Notable Plants 

Apr 893 Guestbook 284 Name origins 236 Usage stats 214 Reunion slides 206 DNA 

May 850 Guestbook 249 Name origins 200 Mythical origins 192 French origins 167 Chapter 19 

Jun 631 Guestbook 225 Name origins 225 Reunion slides 177 French origins 148 DNA 

Jul 659 Guestbook 231 Name origins 182 Reunion slides 150 Journal contents 127 DNA 

Sep 1601 Guestbook 231 Name origins 151 DNA 148 Notable Plants 145 French origins 

Oct 1124 Guestbook 274 Name origins 239 Journal contents 196 DNA 182 French origins 

Nov 4256 Guestbook 282 Name origins 215 DNA 197 French origins 188 Journal contents 

Dec 1570 Guestbook 203 Name origins 193 DNA 158 Journal contents 145 Plant soul 

2007 

Jan 1550 Guestbook 605 Usage stats 238 Journal contents 227 Name origins 201 Notable Plants 

Feb 2101 Guestbook 252 Name origins 239 Reunion slides 215 Notable Plants 191 DNA 

Mar 4283 Guestbook 370 Name origins 313 DNA 220 Journal contents 214 French origins 

Apr 2829 Guestbook 361 DNA 357 Name origins 270 French origins 266 Journal contents 

May 1236 Guestbook 348 Name origins 284 DNA 281 Usage stats 268 French origins 

Jun 1176 Guestbook 313 Name origins 287 DNA 271 Usage stats 252 French origins 

I have progressively made a number of revisions to the web site adding, in particular, a web 

page entitled “On a possible connection to Plantagenet”; this is accessible from the Name Origins 

page. 

55

On a possible connection to Plantagenet 

by Dr John S Plant (Member No 52) March 2007 

There has been much debate about a possible connection between the Plant and Plantagenet 

surnames. For example, an 1860 Surname Dictionary refers to an edition of the Leicester Mercury 

and states that Plant is a corruption of Plantagenet. In 1897, some further discussion appeared in 

Notes and Queries (Oxford University Press) [8th S., XII, Aug 28, ’97, p. 167]: 

PLANTAGENET. – Some time ago I read an account of a boy named Plant (residing 

in Warwickshire, I believe), whose grandfather had borne the royal name Plantagenet, 

but had changed it to Plant, thinking that the full name too grand for a poor man. The 

note proceeded to state that this boy, if Salic Law had been in force, would have been 

king of England. Can anyone tell me more of this, or inform me as to where I should 

obtain the note in question? ... PELOPS. 

There were replies [op. cit., Sept. 25, ’97, p. 258]: 

PLANTAGENET (8th S, xii. 167). – Some such note as this, of the name Plantagenet 

shortened to Plant, may be found in Burke’s ‘Vicissitudes of Families.’ But there 

is no kind of verification, and the statement that the holder of the name would be king 

by Salic law must be taken with very great caution. ... C.F.S. Warren, M.A., Longford, 

Coventry. 

The Rev Anthony Bathe wrote from Paull, Yorks, the account of the boy Plant that 

PELOPS enquires about. It appeared in one of the daily papers - the Standard, I think 

- and Mr Bathe mentioned that the boy at that time was living at Paull. – R.H., Ely. 

Subsequent Surname Dictionaries have offered different opinions for the meaning of Plant; and, 

my own opinion, having studied the matter for many years, is that any connection between the 

Plant and Plantagenet surnames is cultural rather than genetic. That is not to say that the embellished 

Plantagenet claim does not provide a tidy explanation of some details of the more recently 

established evidence: 

• there is an indication of illegitimacy in the Plant blazon; 

• the Plant-like name, Plantyn or Planteng’, belonged to a servant of the noble Plantagenet 

descent which, like the place name, la Planteland, can be related to de Warenne descendants 

of Geoffrey Plantegenest (ca.1250) to whom the name Plante or Plont or Plant was nearby; 

and, 

• the spelling Plantt (a possible abbreviation) is found after the times of the royal House of York 

(for whom there is definite evidence that they used Plantagenet as a surname, ca.1450-1500), 

to which we can add that DNA evidence indicates that Plantt belongs to the same male-line 

family as Plant. 

However, on the other hand, it should be added that: 

• we can not simply presume that the name Plant referred to the generated (illegitimate) children 

of a generator of the realm; Plantegenest (or Plantagenet) can mean ‘a generator of the 

realm’, since Geoffrey Plante Genest founded the Angevin Empire, and there is evidence in 

early English books to support such a meaning; 

• there were many others who could have been the forefather of the Plant offspring; 

• apart from a few references, such as ones to Plantegenest, Planteng’ etc., it is not clear how 

much the Plantagenet name was in use when the Plant surname was first forming (ca.1250- 

1400); and, 

56

• though no genealogical evidence would necessarily be expected for scattered bastards, there 

is none to prove that Plant and Plantt descended from Plantegenest and Plantagenet - a less 

presumptuous possibility is that a lesser mortal, perhaps one in awe of Plantegenest, fathered 

offspring with Plant as a surname as this held to the Welsh ‘offspring’ meaning of Plant and 

also matched the local Child by-name; in addition, the spelling Plantt suggests a possible 

allegiance to Plantegenest’s realm. 

Though this leaves just a hint of a possible cultural connection between the names Plantagenet 

and Plant, it is important. This is because the development of the Plantagenet surname itself is 

controversial and the Plant surname can provide a few extra clues. 

The name “Plantagenet” was originally spelled Plante Genest or Plantegenest or Plantaginet. 

It originated with Geoffrey of Anjou, father of King Henry II who ascended the English throne in 

1154. It is most commonly claimed that the name arose because Geoffrey wore a sprig of broom in 

his bonnet though perhaps otherwise that he planted it to improve his hunting covers or used broom 

to scourge himself. Its significance has been said to relate to its golden flower though, in my latest 

Nomina publication, I have postulated that it related culturally to the earlier name Plantapilosa and, 

thereby, to the development of contemporary belief in the vegetative soul. 

Though the name Plantagenet has been retroactively applied to the descendants of Geoffrey 

Plante Genest of Anjou, there is no contemporary evidence that the royal family used this surname 

before the mid fifteenth century; and so evidence for the intervening years of the development of 

similar names, such as Plant, is amongst the best available evidence when seeking onomastic clues 

for the significance of the Plantagenet surname. Recent Y-DNA and other evidence suggests a 

generative meaning, offspring, to Plant [J.S. Plant (2005) Nomina 28, pp. 115-33] and this suggests 

that generative aspects of the vegetable soul could have played a key role in the development of 

the Plantagenet surname. This is discussed further in: J.S. Plant (2007) ‘The tardy adoption of the 

Plantagenet surname’, Nomina, to appear in Vol. 30. 

The Plant name in Nomina publications 

by Dr John S Plant (Member No 52) March 2007 

Nomina is the ‘Journal of the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland’; it has been 

published annually since 1977. Its main focus has been on place names though it sometimes accepts 

articles about personal names and surnames. As mentioned earlier, I published an article in Volume 

28 of that journal: 

John S Plant (2005) Modern methods and a controversial surname: Plant, Nomina, 28, pp. 115- 

133. 

Since Nomina is a recognised academically and since the subject matter of my article included 

some semantics and metaphysics, the article has also been accepted on the eprints web-site for the 

Cognitive Sciences, where it appears at: 

http://cogprints.org/5462/ 

By the way, the full text that currently appears there is not quite the final version; just a few changes 

were made after I sent the electronic text in to the editor of Nomina for printing. 

In June 2006, I asked the editor if she would be interested in a follow-on article about the 

Plantagenet name; and, after I had put my submission together and the journal referees had peer 

reviewed it, it was accepted in February. This second article, though finalised in January, will not 

appear in print until around the end of this year, with the title: 

John S Plant (2007) The tardy adoption of the Plantagenet surname, Nomina, 30, pp. 57-84. 

57

This latter paper illustrates how a DNA study can lead on to important implications. The Y-DNA 

results presented in my first Nomina paper, together with other evidence, had suggested a generative 

meaning (offspring) for the Plant surname and this, in turn, lends weight to a metaphysical 

reappraisal of the royal Plantagenet name. 

Though eprint servers on the web began in 1991, this was just for academic papers on Theoretical 

High Energy Particle Physics. Such servers are rarer for Humanities subjects – the only Humanities 

eprint server so far is the cogprints server for the Cognitive Sciences which was launched in 

1997. In the Natural Sciences, such as Physics, it is becoming quite usual to make a paper available 

on the web even before it has been accepted for publication by the Journal referees. However, this 

practice is still frowned upon in the Humanities. It is hence no surprise that the editor of Nomina 

has asked me not to publish my second paper on the web until after paper copies of Volume 30 of 

Nomina have been circulated to their Society’s subscribers. In this connection, it is important to 

note that Nomina hold the copyright of the articles published in their journals even after they have 

appeared on the web on an eprints server. 

The subject of my second Nomina paper is, as its title suggests, mainly about the Plantagenets. 

Its final appendix, however, is about the Plant name and I am reproducing this below with the appropriate 

copyright notice. This Appendix summarises information that I have previously published 

in Roots and Branches with the addition of a few further points. 

Appendix D. Cultural context of the Plant surname — This Appendix is repro- 

duced on the understanding that its Copyright belongs to Nomina 30. 

An unwelcome influence on the Plantagenet name can be associated with the Welsh Marches where 

the word planta meant ‘to procreate’. Here, there is the English surname Plant (3756 phonebook 

entries in the UK) an understanding of which has recently been enlightened by Y-DNA findings 103 . 

These indicate that modern Plants have a single-ancestor, rather than a multi-origin, surname. 

Though some family branches with early ‘Plant-like’ name spellings may have died out, much 

of the medieval evidence for the formative Plant surname might represent the travels of a single 

family. 

In the nineteenth century it was claimed that Plant was a corruption of Plantagenet 104 but there 

are other, less presumptuous possibilities. Though the Plant blazon indicates illegitimate cadetship, 

it is not clear to whom. Illegitimacy, however, can provide an explanation of why the Welsh meaning 

‘offspring’ of plant 105 could have been sufficiently noteworthy for its use as a surname. In Iowerth’s 

thirteenth-century codification of Welsh law, a bastard was treated equally with a legitimate child 106 

though that was not the case in Canon law. The Plant name could have purported to status in Wales 

though a bastard had no automatic right to inheritance or a father’s surname in England 107 . 

Though exaggerated claims of a Plantagenet connection should be debunked, it is possible that 

there was some cultural influence from the Plantagenet name to sustain the Plant surname’s attraction. 

This could have been through the diminutives Planteng’ and Plantyn and a wider Welsh 

definition of plant: to wit ‘follower’ or ‘servant’. Roger Planteng’ or Plantyn (1254-68) was 

103 J.S. Plant (2005) Modern methods and a controversial surname: Plant, Nomina, 28, pp. 115-33, esp. p. 119. 

104 M.A. Lower, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom, (London and Lewes, 1860), p. 185. J. Sleigh, A 

History of the Ancient Parish of Leek, (Leek and London, 1862), p. 33. 

105 The Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, ibid, defines plant 1 as: children, young persons; children (of parents), offspring 

(sometimes of animals), progeny, issue; descendants; followers, disciples, servants; persons regarded as product of a 

particular place, time, event, circumstances, etc.; ?boys, sons; also fig. 

106 D. Jenkins, Property interests in the classical Welsh law of women in D. Jenkins and M.E. Owen (ed) The Welsh law 

of women: studies presented to Professor David A. Binchy on his eightieth birthday, 3 June 1980, (University of Wales, 

1980), p. 51. 

107 Blackstone’s Commentaries of the Laws of England, Vol. I, ed. W. Morrison (London, 2001) pp. 352-53 states, ‘Yet 

he [a bastard] may gain a surname by reputation [Co. Litt. 3] though he has none by inheritance. All other children have 

a settlement in their father’s parish; but a bastard in the parish where born, for he has no father [Salk. 427]. ... A bastard 

may, lastly, be made legitimate, and capable of inheriting, by the transcendent power of an act of parliament, and not 

otherwise [4 Inst. 36]: as was done in the case of John of Gant’s bastard children, by a statute of Richard the second’. 

58

utler to the earl of Norfolk 108 whose mother, Maud Marshal, held lands in the Welsh Marches. 

Maud’s marriages formed close ties amongst the Norfolk-Longspée-Warenne nobility 109 . As both 

the Longspées and the Warennes were illegitimate descendants of Geoffrey Plante Genest, there 

could have been a connection between the Plantegenest name and that of Norfolk’s butler Planteng’ 

or Plantyn, perhaps inspired by the Plante Genest nickname; and, moreover, further evidence indicates 

that a cultural influence could have extended locally to the names la Planteland, Plantefolie and 

Plonte, though various other opinions have been proffered for Plant: sprig; cudgel; young offspring; 

from the plantation; gardener; or, a tender or delicate individual. 

As one possibility, it can be conjectured that the Plants were a family from Wales, with a Welsh 

meaning to their name, who migrated around the coast to East Anglia. It may be relevant that royal 

galleys were in 46 ports around the south coast of England in 1205, from Gloucester to Lynn; and, 

in 1208, Welsh mariners were impressed into service 110 . The Plants may have originated near the 

Chepstow (Strigul) estate of Maud Marshal (d 1248) with which there is reference to the manor of 

la Planteland in 1310 111 though this is spelled Plateland in 1311 112 . The Plants’ sea trade 113 and 

official duties may have become associated with Longspée and Warenne lands. Across the Bristol 

Channel from Maud’s Chepstow estate, there is evidence for the Plant surname in Somerset 114 in 

proximity to the Charlton lands of the Longspée descent. Between Charlton and Keynsham 115 was 

Robert Plonte of Saltford (c1280) who had been bailiff of Maresfelde – this may have been Marshfield 

116 with its market granted in 1265 to the Abbot and Convent of Keynsham 117 . Specifically in 

Somerset, there is evidence for the philandering name Plantefolie in 1226 followed by Plonte near 

Keynsham Abbey by c1280 and there is explicit evidence that the Plonte name was hereditary here 

by 1329 by when the Warennes held Charlton. There are some other coincidences of proximities 

of the Plants to Warenne lands and, in particular, this offers an outline of how origins near Wales 

could have led on to the Plants’ presence in Norfolk and then their subsequent main homeland of 

east Cheshire where the illegitimate Warenne descent also settled 118 . 

Another possibility, however, is that the Plant surname originated with the spelling Plente – the 

Middle English Dictionary lists plente and plante as variant spellings of plaunt. In 1219, Radulphus 

Plente 119 had responsibilities for the castle and royal palace (Woodstock 120 ) of Oxford. By 1262, 

there is the name William Plaunte in Essex 121 followed by the names William Plauntes (1275) 122 and 

108 J.S. Plant (2005) op. cit., p. 131. 

109 Maud Marshal married Longspée’s half brother and then the earl Warenne, becoming Countess of Warenne and 

Norfolk. She married Hugh le Bigod, earl of Norfolk (d 1225) and, in 1225, William Warren, earl of Surrey. She bore 

Roger le Bigod, earl of Norfolk and John de Warenne, earl of Surrey. 

110 This was done by king John in 1208 at Ilfracombe. A.L. Poole, op. cit., pp. 435-6. 

111 Callendar of Patent Rolls, 1310 Oct. 10, Carmyle. 

112 Callendar of Patent Rolls, 1311 March 7, Berwick-on-Tweed. 

113 There were three merchants at Rouen called de la Plaunt or Plaunt in 1273. Patent Rolls, May 30, St Pauls, London 

and June 2, 1273, Westminster. 

114 Ancient Deeds belonging to the Corporation of Bath: refs. BC 151/4/14, 151/4/15, 151/3/55, 151/2/46, 151/2/47, 

151/3/56, 51/2/44, 151/2/27, 151/2/48, 151/2/25, 151/6/70, 151/5/90, 151/2/43, 151/2/38 (in chronological order c1280c1360). 

115 A dependent chapel at Charlton had as its mother house the nearby Augustinian Abbey at Keynsham. ‘Houses of 

the Augustian canons: The abbey of Keynsham’, in A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 2 (Victoria County 

Histories, 1911), pp. 129-32. Keynsham Abbey was visited by Edward I in 1276 on his way from Bath to Bristol. 

116 This is recorded as Maresfeld in 1221. Ekwal, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English place-names, (Oxford, 

1960), p. 316. 

117 Placita de Quo Warranto, Edward I-Edward III in Curia Receptae Scaccarii Westm. Asservati, ed. W. Illingworth 

(London, 1818), p. 249. An earlier market at Marshfield had been granted to the Abbot and Convent of Keynsham on 17 

Jan 1234 but was levelled in August 1234 because it was detrimental to that at Bristol: Close Rolls of the Reign of Henry 

III, 14 vols (London, 1902-38), 1231-34, pp. 369, 499, 502. 

118 J.S. Plant (2005) op. cit., pp. 131-2. 

119 3 Henry III Pipe Rolls. Also, Radulphus Plente, A cartulary of the Hospitals of St John the Baptist, ed H.E. Slater 

(Oxford, 1914) in Oxford Historical Society Publications, 68, p. 202. 

120 Though Beaumont Palace had been the king’s residence in the city of Oxford, the record refers to the king’s dwelling 

‘outside the town’ suggesting Woodstock where Henry II had frequently come for hunting. A.L. Poole, op. cit., pp. 236-7. 

121 Pleas of the Forest (PRO). 

122 Rotuli Hundrederum (London, 1812-18). 

59

William Plente (1272-84) 123 in Norfolk records, perhaps all the same person. The loss of inflexion 

endings similar to the –e of Plente or Plante or Plonte occurred later in the South West dialect region 

than in the West Midlands 124 where the spelling Plonte is mostly found. Hence, it could have been 

that it was the same name that developed into Plenty in the South West dialect region but Plant in the 

West Midlands. It is mainly in Somerset that the surname Plenty (a possible respelling of Plente) is 

now clustered. The Plente name may have originated with an ‘abundance’ or ‘fertility’ meaning 125 ; 

and then austere sentiments 126 could have led, by the mid-thirteenth-century, to an incentive to 

ameliorate the spelling of Plente to a less extravagant meaning; this could have produced Plante and 

its dialect equivalent Plonte, though the spelling Plente is known to have survived outside the West 

Midlands into the fourteenth century 127 . 

It has not yet been DNA tested whether Plenty belongs to the same male-line family as Plant or 

whether this relates to similar names overseas. A notable Plente in the South West was the king’s 

minister in Devon, Roger Plente 128 , who for example, in 1364, was licensed ‘to take 20 packs of 

cloth of divers colours from the port of Exeter to Gascony, Spain, and other parts beyond seas; 

and to return with wine and other merchandise to the ports of London, Suthampton, Sandwich or 

Exeter’. It is not yet clear whether this relates to a cluster of the name spelling Plante (817) or Plantie 

(102) or Planty (105) in modern Gascony, though recent advances in Y-DNA testing offer improved 

prospects for investigating the possible travels of single families despite possible variations in the 

spellings of their names. 

Most names have not yet been Y-DNA tested and there are, for example, no results to report for 

such names as Plante in Spain (32), or the noble name Planta in Switzerland (52), or the English 

name Somerset which is said to descend down intact male lines from the noble ‘Plantagenets’ (Beauforts). 

So far it can only be added that the initial Y-DNA results indicate that a French-Canadian 

Plante family 129 is genetically distinct from the main English Plant family 130 . 

In short, it is possible that there may have been some cultural influence from the Plante Genest 

nickname but there is no evidence that the Plants were genetically related to the Plantagenets. It is 

possible that the English Plants began with an ‘abundant’ or ‘fertile’ meaning to their name, with 

the spelling Plente, and that this had been influenced by a ‘hairy shoot’ meaning to Plante Genest. 

Though the nature of this influence may not seem immediately clear, a medieval study reveals that 

there was a metaphysical connection, since the plant powers (i.e. vegetable soul) of a ‘hairy shoot’ 

(Plantagenet) brought forth the plenty (Plente) of growth and offspring. Then, with the spelling 

Plante or Plonte, the meaning of Plente could have been sanitised to ‘offspring’, if that was not 

indeed the meaning of the Plant surname from its outset for this family. 

123 

Norwich Cathedral Charters. 

124 

J.A. Burrow and T. Turville-Petre (1992) op. cit., pp. 3-4, 6-7, 20-21. 

125 

The MED defines plente as an alternative spelling of plaunt(e) or 1(a) abundance, prosperity, wealth; also, the 

goddess of abundance; ... [(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) similar meanings] ... (h) fertility, productivity, fruitfulness; abundant 

production of crops, profusion of flowers; (i) generosity, bounty; 2(a) fullness, completeness, perfection; 2(b) full measure 

or number; totality; 2(c) satiety, satisfaction; 3 a projection of the extremity of a bone structure, Also, as an adjective: 

abundant, plentiful. 

126 

Both abundance and sexuality were renounced by the Franciscan ‘spirituals’ as well as the Cistercians. For example, 

the austere Joachim of Calabria (c1135-1202) became one of the most respected religious figures by the thirteenth century. 

Haft, White and White, The Key to “The Name of the Rose” (Ann Arbor, 1999), pp. 68-69). 

127 

e.g. John Plente, vicar of the cathedral church of Chichester, Patent Rolls 1343; John Plente, witness at Theydene 

Boys, Close Rolls 1343; Reynold Plente, Cornwall, Close Rolls 1393. 

128 

Patent Rolls 1364; Fine Rolls 1364; Patent Rolls 1365; Patent Rolls 1367; Patent Rolls 1368. 

129 

So far, only four members of this family have been Y-DNA tested of which three match each other but are genetically 

distinct from the main English Plant family. 

130 

So far twenty Plant males from England and North America have been Y-DNA tested of which eleven match, including 

two with the name spelling Plantt. When half or more match, the name can be said to be a single-family surname. 

Those that do not match can be expected to have descended, at some stage down the centuries, through a false paternity 

event (i.e. an event involving the adoption of the Plant surname though the true father was not a Plant). 

60

Update on the Plantagenet Y-DNA project 

by Dr John S Plant (Member No 52) June 2007 

Since 2001, I have been seeking a means of obtaining a Y-DNA signature for the Plantagenets. 

There are problems of obtaining Y-DNA, unlike mt-DNA, from ancient remains. The best chance 

is that of finding living male-line descendants of Geoffrey Plante Genest (Plantagenet) and having 

them agree to be Y-DNA tested. 

The names Somerset (Beaufort), Cornwell and Warren have been associated with such descent 

and, more contentiously, in the nineteenth century so was Plant: 

http://www.plant-fhg.org.uk/plantagenet.html 

Some Y-DNA results are already available for Cornwell, Warren and Plant; but, the general finding 

so far is that their Y-DNA signatures do not match and so they can not all be living male-line 

descendants of the Plantagenet family (unless, contrary to the normal assumption, the Plantagenets 

themselves did not have an intact male line of descent). 

In 2004, there was a ‘false alarm’. An individual called Waring was found to match exactly (genetic 

distance = 0) at the twelve-marker Y-DNA level, suggesting that his name might be a corruption 

of Warren, just as Plant was claimed in the nineteenth century to be a corruption of Plantagenet. 

When checked out at the twenty-five marker level, however, the genetic distance became 8, which 

demonstrates that this Waring and the Plants were definitely not from the same male-line family. 

I have now found what may well turn out to be another ‘false positive’. An individual called 

Warren has been found who is a close match to the main Plant family (genetic distance = 1) at the 

twelve-marker Y-DNA level. It remains to be seen whether this Warren is amenable to extending 

his test to twenty-five markers to check whether this possible match is just another ‘false alarm’. 

Finding a ‘false positive’ match, at the twelve marker level, with someone with a different surname 

is not uncommon and it is usual to consider such a match to be a ‘true positive’ only if both testees 

have the same surname. In this instance, we are restricting the consideration to just a handful of 

surnames, and it is accordingly a little surprising that a close match has been found, given this 

restriction; but, without the confirmation of more markers, it is not adequately convincing that the 

reason why this Warren and most Plants match is because they have inherited the unique Plantagenet 

Y-DNA signature. 

It is generally held that the best documented male-line descendants of the royal Plantagenet 

kings of England are the Somerset (Beaufort) family; there are no Y-DNA results for them so far. 

Some further details of this family are given at the URLs: 

http://www.thepeerage.com/i1249.htm 

http://www.worldroots.com/foundation/britain/henrybeaufortgen1436.htm 

There has been an initial attempt by someone in the USA to contact this family’s most senior living 

descendant, the Duke of Beaufort, and a stated intent also to contact Lord Raglan. However, this 

has only met with a curt unhelpful response so far: 

http://www.genforum.genealogy.com/plantagenet/messages/1453.html 

There has been some speculation whether a more official approach by Professor Bryan Sykes of 

Oxford University might meet with more success and I have accordingly contacted Oxford Ancestors 

who have passed on my message to him. However, I have not received a response from him so 

far. I have also contacted our current testing company, FamilyTreeDNA, asking them if they could 

suggest an alternative authority to make the approach to the Duke; but, they have simply suggested 

that I should try to find addresses for the 60 or so documented members of the Somerset family 

and contact them myself. Perhaps, if I included a reprint of my upcoming Nomina 30 paper on the 

Plantagenets, this might help to break the ice; but finding the addresses for more than one or two of 

the documented Somerset (Beaufort) family seems likely to remain the biggest obstacle. 

FamilyTreeDNA are considering including a short piece about our Plant-like name project, including 

the Plantagenet aspect, in their Newsletter. 

61

Update on the Plant Y-DNA project 

by Dr John S Plant (Member No 52) May 2007 

This report describes the latest results, which are summarised in Table 1. Results for the whole 

Plant Y-DNA project appear on the web at: http://www.plant-fhg.org.uk/dna.html 

Since the last report (November 2005), in Issue Number 31 of Roots and Branches, there are a 

few further Y-DNA results to report. It is still the case that slightly more than half of those with the 

name spelling Plant or Plantt have matched, indicating that these spellings correspond to a singleancestor 

surname. 

A further volunteer with the spelling Plantt (PT2a) has been found, like the earlier Plantt tested 

(PT1a), to match with the main English Plant family. Both these Plantts match the PMH in Table 1, 

where PMH represents the most common Y-DNA signature for the Plant surname. 

A single volunteer from the German Plants family (PS1a) has now been tested and has been 

found not to match. Though it is rather premature to generalise from a single result, this is not 

unduly surprising, as there was no particular reason to suppose that the spelling Plants in the USA, 

which is believed to have German origins, would correspond to the same family as the main family 

with the spelling Plant or Plantt of medieval English origins. 

A further volunteer with the name spelling Plante (PE2a) has been found to match with two 

others with this spelling (PE1b and PE1c). Thus, three out of four of the North American Plantes 

who have been tested match one another. This family relates to a French-Canadian Plante family. 

However, this is a genetically distinct family from the main English Plant/Plantt family which is 

also found in North America. 

Two further people with the spelling Plant (P16a and P17a), who have been tested, have been 

found not to match. The results for P17a presented an unusual case. When twelve of his markers 

were measured, eleven of them matched to the main Plant family but the mismatching marker 

(DYS385b) was different by a value of three. It was uncertain whether this was a match, with just 

a single but unusual triple-step mutation at DYS385b, or even whether the testing company had 

made a mistake in measuring this particular marker. Alternatively, the genetic distance of 3 could 

be taken at face value and deemed to indicate that this Plant did not match with the main English 

Plant family. The testing company, FamilyTree-DNA agreed that this was an unusual case, which 

it was difficult to interpret with certainty; they agreed to re-run the test: this confirmed that the 

measurement was correct. The Plant volunteer (P17a) hence agreed to extend his test to 25 markers, 

paying the additional fee, in the hope that this would resolve the matter once and for all. When 

the further results came in, the conclusion was more clear cut, since a further eight of the measured 

markers did not match. It hence became clear that this Plant did not descend from the main English 

Plant family. 

The most likely explanation is that somewhere in the descent of this Plant (P17a), at some 

generation down the centuries, there was a false paternity event – for example, this could have been 

an unfaithful wife who passed off the child with her husband’s name, or the child may have received 

the Plant surname following adoption from a different father, or an unmarried Plant mother may 

have passed her own name on to the child rather than the father’s. There was another possibility 

however. Since the paternal lineage of P17a can be traced back to Rutland, it can be noted that 

this is quite near the early south Lincolnshire cluster of Plants, which is evident in pre-1700 Plant 

Name Distribution data. We can not be certain that the south Lincolnshire Plants originated with 

the same forefather as those in the main homeland of east Cheshire and north Staffordshire. It is 

still possible that the English Plant surname originated with more than one family and that we are 

getting a single-ancestor Y-DNA result simply because the east-Cheshire Plant family is swamping 

the overall picture we are getting so far from the Y-DNA results. However, if we apply Occam’s 

razor, which is sometimes called instead the scientific rule of parsimony, this states that, where 

there is doubt, we should make the simplest possible assumption. The simplest assumption, so far, 

remains that the English Plant or Plantt name originated from a single ancestor since there have 

been no more than the expected number of false paternity events down the centuries for the twenty 

Plants and Plantts who have so far been tested. 

62

Branch Code Earliest known ancestor of branch 

Plant, Sheffield, P1a Thomas Plant of Clowne, ?b 1745 Sutton-cum-Duckmanton in NE Derbyshire to William 

England. 

Plant of Duckmanton, England. 

Plant, USA. PT1a William Plant(t), b c1655, lived in VA. 

Plantt, USA. PT2a 

Plant, 

Wales. 

Newport, P16a Charles Plant, b 1916 Birmingham, England 

Plant, 

Lincs. 

Stamford, P17a John Plant m Sarah Barsby at Morcott Church Rutland 31 March 1761 

Plants, West Vir- PS1a Christian Plants, b 21 Apr 1747 Bavaria, Germany; descent through Jacob Plants, b c1807 

ginia, USA. 

Washington Co., Pensylvania, USA 

Plante, Quebec, PE1b Jean Plante, sailed to Canada in 1647 from La Rochelle-Laleu, France; landed at Quebec 

Canada 

City, settled at Chateau Richer; descent through Francois b 1668 C.R. and Jos-Ambroise b 

1697 C.R. 

Plante, Idaho, PE1c ditto; descent from Jean through his son Jean, then Louis, Joseph Marcel, Antoine, Jean 

USA 

Baptiste, Thomas, etc. 

Plante, Rich- PE2a Ernest Plante (1918-91) Burlington, Vermont 

mond, VA, USA. 

Plant, Brough, P9a late 19th century Hull, Yorkshire, England 

Yorkshire. 

Planter, Zaragoza, PR1a Ramón Planter (Goser) b 17.12.1844 Zaragoza; descent through Antonio Planter (Sangor- 

Spain. 

rin) b Jun 1905 Zaragoza, Spain. 

Plant, NSW, Aus- P18a James Plant b 1783 Sibsey, Lincolnshire to Richard and Sarah (née Waltham); James sons 

tralia. 

emigrated to Australia. 

DYS PMH P1a PT1a PT2a P16a P17a PS1a PE1b PE1c PE2a P9a PR1a P18a 

19/394 14 14 14 14 15 14 14 13 13 13 14 14 14 

388 12 12 12 12 12 12 15 12 12 12 12 12 12 

390 24 24 24 24 24 24 22 24 24 24 24 24 24 

391 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 10 10 10 11 11 11 

392 13 12 13 13 13 13 11 11 11 11 13 13 13 

393 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 

389-1 13 13 13 13 13 13 12 13 13 13 14 14 14 

389-2 29 29 29 29 29 29 28 30 30 30 30 30 30 

426 12 12 12 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 

425 12 12 12 

385a 11 11 11 11 11 11 13 16 16 16 12 11 13 

385b 14 14 14 14 12 11 14 18 18 18 15 15 15 

439 11 11 11 11 13 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 

458 18 18 19 17 15 16 17 

459a 9 9 9 9 8 9 9 

459b 10 10 10 10 9 9 10 

455 11 11 11 11 8 11 11 

454 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 

447 25 25 25 26 23 26 25 

437 16 16 16 15 16 14 14 

448 20 20 20 19 20 19 19 

449 30 30 30 31 28 35 31 

464a 15 15 15 15 12 14 15 

464b 15 15 15 16 14 16 15 

464c 16 16 16 17 15 16 16 

464d 16 16 16 17 15 18 18 

460 11 

GATA H4 11 

YCA IIa 19 

YCA IIb 21 

456 18 

607 15 

576 17 

570 20 

CDYa 36 

CDYb 37 

442 12 

438 12 

Table 1: Latest Y-DNA results for Plant, Plantt, Plants and Plante; and for a Spaniard called Planter 

63

Following on from this, it became possible that this situation might need to be re-considered in 

the light of a further volunteer (P18a) who came forward for testing. His earliest known ancestor 

is James Plant, born 1793 in Sibsey to parents Richard and Sarah (née Waltham); James’s sons 

emigrated to Australia. Sibsey is in south Lincolnshire, just to the north of Boston. The results for 

P18a, however, turned out not to be quite as expected: P18a did not match with the main English 

Plant family; nor did he match with P17a; but he was a close match to Walter Plant (P9a) whose 

result was discussed in the previous DNA Report. 

There was also a further development for Walter (P9a). His line was originally recorded as being 

from ”late nineteenth century Hull”, further up the east coast of England. However, by more recent 

research, he had traced his line back to his great-grandfather’s 1862 birth at Stickley, just north of 

Boston; and, moreover, his great-great-grandfather was William who was born 27.5.1832 at nearby 

Leake East Fen Allotment to John and Eliz (b 1791). The paper trail hence places the ancestors 

of Walter (P9a) not far from those of Bill (P18a) around 1800; and this goes some way towards 

explaining why their Y-DNA results indicate that there is a 67% chance that they had a common 

Plant ancestor within the last 24 generations. To check out this finding with more certainty, it would 

be beneficial if Bill (P18a) were to upgrade his Y-DNA test results from 12 to 25 markers, though 

this would entail Bill’s paying an extra fee. In the absence of extra information from further testing, 

we can nonetheless say that, when taken together, the paper trail and the Y-DNA results seem fairly 

convincing: there seems little doubt that both Walter and Bill were from the same south Lincolnshire 

family around 1800. 

It was also discussed, in the previous DNA report, that there was also a 67% chance that Walter 

(P9a) had a common ancestor in the past 24 generations with a Javier Planter (PR1a) in Spain. Given 

the lack of a similar geographical location, not to mention the slight difference in surname, this 

was rather more surprising. It was speculated whether Walter (P9a) and Javier (PR1a) might both 

be descended from the Gascony Plante family, for example, for whom we have no direct Y-DNA 

results so far. It can be added that Walter (P9a) recalls a family story that his line was from Holland, 

which might be in keeping with overseas origins. Ideally, further Y-DNA results are desirable to 

check out this apparent cluster of matching Y-DNA results more fully. Though Walter (P9a) has 

upgraded his Y-DNA results to 25 markers, Javier (PR1a) did not do likewise. Perhaps more clarity 

will emerge when, for example, some Gascony Plantes come forward to be tested. 

Thus, though the full details of the situation for Walter (P9a), Javier (PR1a) and Bill (P18a) 

are still not entirely clear, their results suggest a secondary Y-DNA Plant cluster, associated in 

part with south Lincolnshire around 1800. It is possible that this may relate back to the early 

south Lincolnshire cluster that is found in the pre-1700 Plant Name Distribution data. Whether this 

also relates to a family connection with Javier Planter in Spain is not certain (just a 67% chance). 

However, this could offer one possible explanation of why this south Lincolnshire Plant family, 

around 1800, does not match with the main English Plant family: the south Lincolnshire Plants 

may have originated overseas. It has to be added, however, that another possible explanation is that 

there was a false paternity event before 1800 in the descent of this south Lincolnshire Plant family; 

and, furthermore, if there is truly a family connection to Javier Planter’s line in Spain, which he 

has traced back to around 1840, the connection could have originated with a south Lincolnshire 

Plant travelling to Spain rather than because the south Lincolnshire Plant cluster originated from 

overseas. Nonetheless, this illustrates how a fuller picture can begin to emerge, reaching back into 

earlier times, as more Plants come forward to take the Y-DNA test. 

The test can also help to resolve fine details in more recent Plant family trees. 

64

1873 OWNERS OF LAND 

‘The 1873 Owners of Land’ was published by parliament to act as a census for the land-owning classes and 

was intended to show with respect to England and Wales (exclusive of the Metropolis):- 

The number and names of owners of land of one acre and upwards, whether build upon or not, in each 

County. With the estimated average and annual gross estimated rental of the property belonging to each 

owner. 

Name of Owner Address of Owner Extend of Land Gross Estimated Rental 

A R P £ s 

Mrs Plant Pall Mall, SW 2 1 30 12 10 

Adams “ Leake Lincoln 30 2 22 55 - 

James “ “ “ 19 - 35 34 2 

Thomas “ Boston Lincoln 30- 2 - 257 7 

Thomas “ Mumby Lincoln 1 1 26 6 10 

Isaac “ Mosborough Derby 1 - 18 16 3 

John “ 

John “ 

Sheffield 4 3 32 17 2 

Gilbert “ Buxton Derby 18 3 - 19 17 

Joseph “ Woollay 9. 2 35 17 6 

Ann “ Sandbach Cheshire 35 - 36 388 2 

George “ Alsager “ 7 - - 54 - 

George “ 

John “ 

Wilmslow “ 3 2 25 49 5 

+ others Sandbach Cheshire 4 2 21 353 10 

Thomas “ Kelsal “ 22 - 9 382 - 

Abraham “ Woodwall Green, Staffs 11 2 3 23 - 

Benjamin “ Cheadle Staffs 1 1 10 

Catherine “ Longton “ 354 16 

Charles “ Croxton “ 40 - 28 78 15 

Charles “ Stanley “ 8 1 

65 

6 36 - 

Christopher “ Horton, Staffs 5 2 31 15 - 

Daniel “ Brierley Hill, Staffs 1 2 35 422 o 

Enock Plant Horton “ 4 2 1 31 - 

George “ (Jnr) Boxhall “ - 114 10 

George “ Longton “ 3 1 33 1 18 

George “ Tipton “ - 532 - 

George “ Yarnfield Stone “ 32 5 1 65 - 

George H “ Longton “ - 221 2 

Hannah “ Cheadle “ 2 1 5 10 - 

Hy + Rupert Plant Culton “ 1 2 27 31 12 

Isiah Plant Woodwall Green “ 2 1 13 8 12 

James “ Cheadle Staffs 4 2 11 49 - 

James “ Leek “ 2 - - 15 - 

John “ Bloxwich “ 2 - - 70 15 

John “ Brewood “ 5 2 14 94 - 

John “ Stafford “ 1 3 1 14 12 

Joseph “ Gnosall “ 1 2 36 13 - 

Matthew “ Haughton “ 53 2 25 91 18 

Richard “ Horton “ 2 - 9 9 12 

Richard “ Leek “ 15 2 4 25 - 

Robert “ Cheadle “ 5 3 21 55 6 

Thomas “ Cheadle “ 1 3 9 5 - 

Thomas “ Eccleshall “ 88 2 35 157 6 

Thomas “ Eadon “ 4 1 10 15 10 

Thomas “ Longton (Stone) “ 1 - 20 20 - 

Thomas “ Longton “ - 209 9 

Thomas “ West Bromwich “ - 47 5

William “ Gnosall “ 1 2 20 8 - 

William “ Longton “ 1 3 1 2 4 

William “ Newcastle “ 4 - 20 6 11 

William “ Tipton “ - 39 2 

William “ Waterhouses “ 7 2 13 50 2 

Henry “ Horham Suffolk 371 2 9 591 5 

William “ Workingworth “ 171 1 18 221 - 

Samuel “ Birly York 1 3 27 3 19 

66

PLANT’S STEEL TOYMAKER BUSINESS 

WOLVERHAMPTON 

67 

By Liz Plant – Member No. 104 

I am not sure when my husband’s ancestors went into the Steel Toymaking Business, I have not managed to 

find out anything earlier than 1841. However, I have a feeling the family had been in the business earlier as 

Joseph is 50 on the 1841 Census. 

The direct line for my husband, William Hugh Denis Plant, born 15 th February 1933, died 15 th April 2003 is 

as follows:- 

Joseph Plant b approximately 1790 m Margaret Green. 

William Plant c 14 th June 1819 m Sarah Pool. 

Stephen Plant b 6 th March 1854 m Sarah Louise Hart. 

William Hart Plant b 30 th October 1879 m Emily Jane Brown. 

Wilfred Harold Plant b 21 st September 1905 m Margaret Mabel Thomas. 

William Hugh Denis Plant b 15 th February 1933 m Elizabeth Jean Brown. 

See Charts 1, 2, 3 and 4, for more in depth information on the families. 

Information gathered from the Census. 

The 1841Census shows Joseph Plant, a Steel Toymaker aged 50, living with his family at St. James Square, 

Wolverhampton with his wife, Margaret, aged 50. That makes them both born around 1790. (not yet proved) 

The census tells me they had three sons, Joseph aged 19, Stephen aged 17, William Plant aged 10 and a 

daughter, Elizabeth, aged 14. 

On the same census in Steel House Lane there is another William Plant, a Steel Toymaker aged 20 and his 

wife, Sarah, aged 25. 

However, I do have proof this William was christened on the 14 th June 1819 and his parents were 

Joseph and Margret. 

William married Sarah Pool on the 19 th November 1840. 

I wonder if the William Plant living with Joseph is his grandson or nephew, will investigate further. 

According to Joseph’s will he had a daughter, Mary Ann, christened 25 th December 1811, married to Joseph 

Garret and Sarah christened 21 st July 1815, married to John Ford. There were two other daughters, Phoebe, 

born 9 th November 1813 and, Rebecca, born 1817. 

The 1851 census tells us that Margaret Plant, aged 60, is now a widow living in Poole Street, Wolverhampton 

and running the business, Corkscrew & Steel Toymaker, employing 12 men and 8 boys. Her son, Joseph, 

now a widower, Steel Toymaker, aged 29 is there plus a servant and a lodger. 

Next door to them is William Plant Corkscrew & Steel Toymaker, aged 31, with his wife, Sarah, aged 25, 

and daughters Elizabeth, aged 8, Sarah, aged 4, Phoebe, aged 2 and son, William Joseph, aged 5 months, and 

nephew, William Plant, aged 20, a corkscrew apprentice. 

I wonder if this William is the same one on the 1841 census living with Joseph. 

The 1861 census shows that William Steel, Toymaker, aged 41 is living at 105 Poole Street, Wolverhampton 

and running the business employing 14 men and 5 boys. Sarah, his wife, is now 46, daughter Phoebe, aged 

12, son William J, aged 10, Stephen his son, aged 7, plus his niece, Louisa Garrett, aged 16. 

Next door at 104 Poole Street finds Joseph Plant, aged 39, Steel Toymaker, Mary Ann, his wife, aged 32, son 

Joseph W, aged 12, and daughter, Clara, aged 2 monts.

1871 census living at 105 Poole Street is William, Steel Toymaker, aged 51, his wife, Sarah, aged 58, their 

son, Stephen, aged 17, plus his niece, Louisa Garrett, aged 26. 

1881 census living at 105 Poole Street are William, Steel Toymaker, aged 62, employing 29 men and 3 boys. 

His wife, Sarah, aged 39, Stephen his son, aged 27, Steel Toymaker, daughter-in-law, Sarah Louisa, aged 27, 

and grandson, William H, aged 1. 

Also on the 1881 census at 16 Mander Street there is Joseph Walter Plant, aged 32, a Brass Founder, his wife, 

Louisa, aged 36, daughter, Ellen, aged 8, son Joseph Henry, aged 7, his sister Clara, aged 20, and his brother, 

William, aged 17. This Joseph Walter Plant is aged 12 on the 1861 census, was living at 104 Poole Street, 

with his father, Joseph, (a steel toymaker) and mother, Mary Ann. 

The 1891 census shows William Plant now a widower, aged 71, Steel Toymaker, his son, Stephen, aged 37, 

Steel Toymaker, daughter-in-law, Sarah Louisa, aged 37, Wm H Plant, his grandson, aged 11, and his 

granddaughter, Lilian H Plant, aged 5. 

1901 Census yet to be investigated. 

After Joseph’s death, approximately 1884 (still to be proved) and in the year 1873, his son, William, applied 

for Letters Patent for Clipping Horses. This was sealed on the 27 th December 1874 and dated 29 th October 

1873, No. 3516, to William Plant of Wolverhampton. WKP note: Copies of this Patent are available if 

required.. W & J (this brother Joseph) exhibited at Wolverhampton Art and Industrial Exhibition in 1902 and 

at The Royal Agricultural Hall, London, 1903. (See later in article, photocopies). 

I also found in Kelly’s Directory 1884, an advert for Plant’s Patent Horse Clipper in the County Adverts 

section also in the Staffordshire telephone Directory dated 1884, an entry for them. (see later). 

In 1992 I wrote and sent the advert from Kelly’s Directory to Companies House to see if they could give any 

information on W & J Plant business, unfortunately, they could not, as no record of the company exists, 

probably because the company was not registered as a Ltd company.. 

When Stephen Plant died in 1895 he left everything to his wife, Sarah Louisa Plant. His father William died 

in 1906. William Hart Plant, (Stephen’s son) Steel Toy Manufacturer, wound up the business between end of 

1912 early 1913. The Bloomsbury works was known as the Plant site and was sold to Sunbeam, makers of 

cars and bicycles and later sold to GE Marshalls, then sold to ICI. 

I heard the other day, talking to a member of the family, that Marsden’s bought the factory but I wonder if 

they meant Marshalls. (More investigation to be done). 

When Denis & I attended the “The Plant Family History Group” Millennium Reunion in Chelford in June 

1999, we met a gentleman name BillPlant, who lived at 298 Newhampton Road West, Wolverhampton. We 

started to write to each other, he found out some information on the Steel Toymaker business. [WKP note. 

Copies of this letter are available if required]. 

When William Hart Plant sold to Sunbeam he worked for them and later for a company named Metal 

Products in Willenhall, Staffordshire. 

As far as I am aware the Steel Toymaker business finished for this line of the family when it was sold. I have 

not investigated the descent on other branches from Joseph born 1790. If you have any information on them, 

is it possible you could please let me have it or guide me in the right direction. 

To complete our line to present day is as follows: 

Wilfred Harold Plant b 21 st September 1905 at 11 Cardiff Street, Wolverhampton was a Metallurgical 

Chemist he m Margaret Mabel Thomas 11 th December 1932. He died 3 rd May 1964 in Coventry. They had 

three sons, William Hugh Denis b 1933, Peter Robert b 1937 and Christopher Paul b 1938, all born in 

Coventry. 

From 1932 to October 1949, he was employed by Sterling Metals, who were based at Gypsy Lane, Nuneaton, 

Warwickshire. During that time he worked on Micrography, Metallurgical Analysis and in 1940 as a 

68

Radiologist for light metals. About 1950 he became a textile Chemist, in the laboratories at Courtaulds, 

Foleshill Road, Coventry, and continued to work there until his death in May 1964. 

William Hugh Denis b 1933 at 54 Kempas Highway, Coventry m Elizabeth Jean Brown, 14 th September 

1957. They have a daughter, Claire Elizabeth Plant b 3 rd January 1960. William is known in the family as 

Denis and as Bill in his professional work. His profession was a metallurgist working in the laboratories for 

Dunlop Rim & Wheel, Coventry, whilst working there he worked on the Bluebird car driven by Donald 

Campbell and the Comet airplane. He became a Freeman of the City of Coventry in 1958. 

In 1962 found him working for Massey Ferguson. In 1965 he went to work for International Nickel at 

Thames House, London. In 1972 he was offered a position with a South African Company called Impala; to 

set up a London office named Impala UK within another company they owned named Ayrton Metals. Whilst 

he was with Impala UK he was asked to join the European Committee and it was during his term of office on 

this committee the Platinum Hall Mark for platinum jewellery was formed and became compulsory. 

In 1977 Denis decided to become a Consultant, so he started his own company called Edenbridge Metals Ltd. 

He worked from home so it was goodbye to the dining room in which he installed 3 desks, 2 filing cabinets, 

photocopier, typewriter, etc., you name it and it was there plus a secretary and an accounts person. 

In due course the company bought an office building in Edenbridge and became agents for a company in 

West Germany. 

He also became a consultant for the Nickel Development Institute known as NiDi; head office was in 

Toronto, Canada. His specialisation for them was on Air Pollution in particular Flue Gas Desulphurastion 

known as FGD, he travelled worldwide giving lectures and Presentations. It was whilst working on this 

project Denis became a Fellow of the Metallurgical Institute. 

Denis was also a consultant to the International Committee for Industrial Chimneys known as CICIND. He 

wrote a Metallic Materials Manual for them, unfortunately, he died before it was completed late 2003. In 

March 2004 the manual was printed. At the beginning of the manual in the Background section 1.2 reads:- 

“This manual has developed over several years under the chairmanship of WHD (Bill) Plant, a long-standing 

member of CICIND and tireless contributor to our Codes, Manuals and technical meetings. It is with great 

sadness that we record here that Bill died suddenly with the end of his work in sight. The President, 

Governing Body and members of CICIND all gratefully acknowledge the debt they owe Bill for his work on 

this document and for his chairmanship of the Metallic Materials Committee. Moreover, they all feel his loss 

keenly as both friend and colleague. The Metallic Materials Manual stands as a reminder of his great 

contribution to CICIND.” 

For his 60 th Birthday in 1993, his brothers and their family’s gave him a day out at the Railway Museum at 

Tysley. He had a wonderful day fulfilling his dream of driving a steam train. 

Denis became a Town Counsellor for Edenbridge in 1984 and fought for the rights of the inhabitants of 

Marlpit Hill, an area to the north of Edenbridge. One of his project was to get lighting and a path under the 

Railway Bridge at Marlpit Hill, about 15 years previously a child had been killed there. 

He was also a founder member of the Edenbridge round Table. After reaching the ripe age of 40 he became a 

member of the 41 club which is an extension of the Round Table. He was invited and joined Edenbridge & 

District Rotary Club. Denis died on 15 th April 2003 after having a stroke. 

Note: Because Denis was interested in Photography, Motor Racing (he would like to have been a racing 

driver) and Metallurgy, it was very difficult for him to decide which profession to follow. However, 

Metallurgy won, the photography was very important to the work he did in the business world. Motor Racing 

was a great way to relax and was delighted on becoming a Scrutineer. Photography was a great passion and 

helped him in all aspect of his life. 

Claire Elizabeth Collins nee Plant b 3 rd January 1960 in Coventry m Ronald Geoffrey Collins on 28 th July 

1984. They have 2 sons, James Thomas Collins b 7 th May 1986 in Truro, Cornwall and Lawrence Alexander, 

b 1988 in Dorchester, Dorset. Claire is a Physiotherapist, working at Blandford Hospital, Blandforum, 

Dorset. 

69

PLANT CHART No. 1 

Joseph Plant = Margaret Green 

b 1790 b 1790 

d after 1841 d after 1851 

Census Census 

Mary Ann = Joseph Pheobe Sarah = John Rebecca William = Sarah Joseph = Mary Stephen Elizabeth 

C25/12/1811 Garrett b 9/11/1813 b 21/7/1815 Ford b 1817 c 14/6/1819 Pool b 2/1/1822 Ann b 9/5/1824 b 1826 

d 24/1/1906 b 1815 b 1829 = 

m 10/11/1840 Martha 

Louise 

b 1845 

d after 1881 Census b 1821 

Elizabeth Sarah Pheobe William Stephen 

b 8/6/1842 b 20/6/1846 b 5/8/1848 Joseph b 6/3/1854 

= = b 5/10/1850 d 6/7.1895 

Richard John = 

Stubbs Ellershaw Sarah Louise Hart 

See Plant Chart No. 2 

70 

See Plant Chart No. 4

PLANT CHART No 2 

Stephen Plant = Sarah Louise Plant 

b 6/3/1854 c 19/6/1853 

d 6/7/1895 m 18/7/1878 

William Hart = Emily Jane Brown Lilian Hart = Charles Harold White 

b 30/10/1879 b 15/5//1878 b 12/2/1886 b 25/11/1886 

d 14/10/1958 m 17/3/1900 

d 9/5/1955 

Stephen Jean Marjorie 

These are the known children – there were about 7. 

William Doris Wilfred Marjorie = Robert Winifred = Clarence 

Stephen Emily Harold Lilian Edward Margaret Ewart 

b 4/8/1900 b 16/1/1902 b 21/9/1905 b 19/12/1907 Price b 19/1/1913 Clift 

d very young m = Ivor Wilkes d 3/5/1964 m 20/5/1944 b 25/11/1902 b 7/5/1894 

= d 29/1/19 d/25/6/1972 d 18/11/1999 d 17/2/1983 

Margaret Mabel 

Thomas b 3/5/1908 

Susan Jane = Malcolm David Roger Keith Alister 

Patrick David See Plant Chart b 5/8/1947 Kelsey b 19/7/1943 Marvin 

Hart Leslie No. 3 m 2/9/1968 b 14/9/1943 = b 8/5/1947 

b27/3/1934 b 22/8/1936 Sylvia Elizabeth Owen 

= May Camilleri Mark David = Adam Paul b 10/1/1947 

b 30/5/1936 b 14/2/1974 b 7/7/1976 m 1/4/1970 

m 14/11/1974 in Malta 

Joanne Elizabeth Sally Angela 

Charles b 19/7/1978 b 12/10/1981 

71


Wilfred Harold Plant = Margaret Mabel Thomas 

b 21/9/1905 b 3/5/1908 

d 3/5/1964 m 11/12/1932 

d 5/11/1974 

William = Elizabeth Peter = Susan May Christopher = Ann Read 

Hugh Jean Robert Brown Paul nee West 

Denis Brown b 2/10/1937 b 24/4/1948 b 27/11/1938 b 8/6/1937 

b 15/2/1933 b 3/10/1935 m 2/1/1971 m 26/2/1971 

d 15/4/2003 m 14/9/1957 

Claire = Geoffrey William Simon Christopher Michael Read 

Elizabeth Ronald Collins Thomas Langden Grahame Read 

b 3/1/1960 b 30/1/1956 b 12/4/1974 b 6/6/1976 

m 28/7/1984 

= 

Georgina 

James Lawrence Heathcote 

Thomas Alexander b 

b 7/5/1986 b 22/4/1988 m 26/8/2006 

72


Joseph Plant = Margaret Green 

B 1790 b 1790 

Joseph = May Ann Stephen = Martha 

b 2/1/1822 b 1829 b 9/5/1824 b 1821 

Joseph Walker Clara William 

b 1849 b 1861 b 1864 

= 

Louisa 

b 1845 

Ellen Joseph Henry 

b 1873 b 1874 

73 

See Chart No. 1 

Stephen Caroline Martha Thomas Henry Natiala Alice Emily J 

b 1850 b 1851 b 1853 b 1854 b 1858 b 1859 b 1860

PLANT’S PATENT POWER HORSE CLIPPER 

STAND PATTERN 

Model No. 1. Retail price, complete, £6.10.0. 

This Superior Machine is fitted with our Patent Lock Action, which enables it to be regulated to any height, 

and to be worked with one hand, thus allowing the boy at the wheel to change hands if necessary. It also 

dispenses with the heavy weight required to balance some machines, and is a great improvement on those that 

are fixtures. With an improved new small geared union, for allowing perfect freedom of shaft from head of 

Machine. 

The Extra Light Flexible Shaft, with cover (bending in any and every direction) has no chain attachment, 

therefore requires no grease to work it, thus preventing the accumulation of dirt, thereby rendering the 

Clipping Process much cleaner, and allows the most difficult parts of the Horse to be easily and cleanly 

clipped without the aid of heavy wrist joints. 

The attachment is most simple, requiring only a turn of the wheel to connect both shaft and knife. It is 

movable in the socket of an absolutely firm stand with extended feet. 

The Machine can be had to run NOISELESSLY, price complete, £6.0.0. 

Packed complete, with extra set of knives and all accessories. 

MODEL No. 1a. – With a very large driving wheel, giving tremendous speed, etc. Price complete, £7.0.0. 

May be had in superior quality and finish, £8.10.0. 

74

EXHIBIT AT ROYAL AGRICULTURAL HALL, LONDON 1903 

75

COUNTY ADVERTISEMENTS 

76

1841 CENSUS 

St James Square 

Joseph Plant Head Steel Toymaker 50 

Margaret Wife 50 

Joseph Son “ “ 19 

Stephen Son App. “ “ 17 

Elizabeth Dau 14 

William Son 10 

Wm Whittinham “ “ 15 

Wm Gill “ “ 15 

James Byron “ “ 15 

Eliza Davis Dom Servant 15 

Steel House Lane 

William Plant Head Steel Toymaker 20 “ “ 

Sarah Wife 25 “ “ 

The above William is Joseph’s son. 

1851 CENSUS 

Still at Poole Street but no house numbers listed this time but it seems there are two families living next door 

to each other, 104 & 105 – in the Ecclesiastical ward – St Pauls. 

Margaret Plant Widow Corkscrew & Steel Toymaker 

12 Men and 8 boys. 60 

Joseph (Widower) Son Steel Toymaker 29 

Ann Bovelle Servant House Servant 20 

James Fellows Lodger Japannan 32 ?? 

And NEXT DOOR 

Wm Plant Head Corkscrew etc 31 

Sarah Wife As above states 25 

Elizabeth Dau 8 

Sarah Dau 4 

Pheobe Dau 2 

Wm Joseph Son 5mths 

Wm Plant Nephew C. Screw Apprentist 20 

Jane Fellows Servant House Servant 13 

In the 1900 Kellys Directory is the following: 

William & Joseph Plant Manufactures of Horse Clippers at 105 Poole Street, Wolverhampton. 

77

1861 CENSUS 

105 Poole Street 

William Head Steel Toymaker 

(Emp. 14 men + 5 boys) 41 W’ton Staffs 

Sarah Wife 46 “ “ 

Phoebe Dau Scholar 12 “ “ 

William J Son Scholar 10 “ “ 

Stephen Son Scholar 7 “ “ 

Louisa Garrett (um) Niece Help in house 16 Marylebone Mx 

James Fellows Boarder Japanner 42 W’ton Staffs 

And next door at 104 Poole Street 

Joseph Plant Head Steel Toymaker 39 W’ton Staffs# 

Master 

Mary Ann Wife 32 “ “ 

Joseph W Son Scholar 12 “ “ 

Clara Dau 2 mhs “ “ 

Diana Watkins S’vant House Servant 15 Amerley-Herts 

I think Joseph’s wife, Mary Ann, is his second as he was a widower on the 1851 Census, I am certain he is 

William’s brother so I will have to prove it at some time. 

AND at Pipers Row 

Stephen Plant Head Smithy 36 W’ton Staffs 

Martha Wife 40 “ “ 

Stephen Son 11 “ “ 

Caroline L or S Dau 10 “ “ 

Martha A Dau 8 “ “ 

Thomas H Son 7 “ “ 

Natiala Dau 3 “ “ 

Alice Dau 1 “ “ 

Emmily J Dau 9 mths “ “ 

I think Stephen is also William’s brother, will have to prove. 

78

1871 CENSUS 

105 Poole St – Municipal Ward – St Johns 

Wm Plant Head Steel Toy Maker 51 

Sarah Wife 58 

Stephen Son “ “ 17 

Louise Garrett (um) Niece Dom Servant 26 “ “ 

1881 CENSUS 

105 Poole Street 

William Plant Head Steel Toymaker 

(Emp 29 men and 3 boys) 62 W’ptn – Staffs 

Sarah wife 69 “ “ 

Stephen Son 27 “ “ 

Sarah Louise D/Law 27 “ “ 

William H G/Son 1 “ “ 

Janet Reid S’vnt House Servant 18 Dudley Worcs 

16 Mander Street, Municipal Ward – St Johns 

Joseph Walter Plant Head Brass Founder 32 “ “ 

Louise Wife 36 London 

Ellen Dau Scholar 8 W’ptn 

Joseph Henry Son 7 “ 

Clara Sister Milliner 20 “ 

William Brother Hardwear 17 “ 

Factors Clerk 

1891 CENSUS PLANT 

105 Poole St – Wolverhampton, Municipal Ward – St. Johns 

79 

Age Born 

Wm Plant – Widower (Head) Steel Toymaker 71 W’ptn – Staffs 

Stephen - Son “ 37 “ “ 

Sarah Louise D/Law 37 “ “ 

Wm H Plant G.Son Scholar 11 “ “ 

Lilian H Plant G/Dau 5 “ “ 

Sarah Jones Dom Servant 20 Cradley Hth 

In the 1900 Kelly’s Directory is the following: 

William & Joseph Plant, Manufacturers of Horse Clippers at 105 Poole Street, Wolverhampton.

Plant extracts 

MORMON IMMIGRATION 

Ship - Amazon 

Date of Departure 4 June 1863 

Port of Departure London 

Date of Arrival 18 July 1863 

Port of Arrival New York 

Onward travel – All immigrants (882) reached Florence, Nebraska a few days after arrival at New York. 

Included in the Passenger list were: - 

William Plant age 59 born 1804 Occupation, Silk Twister 

Mary A Plant age 57 born 1806 Occupation, Wife. 

Ship - William Tapscott 

Date of Departure - 11 May 1860 

Port of Departure - Liverpool 

Date of Arrival - 16 June 1860 

Port of Arrival - New York 

The ship which included 312 Scandinavians in the Total of 731 emigrants set sail from Liverpool on 11 May 

1860. Owing to cold and a change of diet, considerable sickness occurred during the voyage and ten deaths 

were reported. 

On 3 June, smallpox broke out, and seven cases of the disease were reported though none proved fatal. 

On Friday evening, 15 June, the ship arrived at the quarantine dock in New York. The next day two doctors 

came on board and vaccinated all the storage passengers, a number of cabin passengers and the ships crew. 

After being detained in quarantine five days the passengers were landed at Castle Gardens, New York, on 20 

June. 

The passengers with smallpox were taken ashore and placed in a hospital and on the 21 st the remaining 

passengers left New York by steamboat and sailed up the Hudson River to Albany where they arrived on the 

22 nd . From Albany, the journey continued by mule trains via Rochester to Niagara Falls. 

The journey was continued through Canada along the north shore of Lake Erie to Windsor where they crossed 

the river to Detroit and proceeded to Chicago which they reached on 25 th June. 

From Chicago, the party travelled by railroad to Quincy where they crossed the Mississippi River to Hannibal 

and thence by railroad to St. Joseph, Missouri. Here 13 persons were placed in a hospital, but after 

examination, were found to be well enough to join the company the following day on the trip up the Missouri 

River to Florence, Nobraska where the company arrived in the night of 30 th June. 

There followed the journey across the plains considered the hardest part of the journey due to it being a low, 

wet area, the nature of the soil (clay) rendering the roads almost impossible. 

Arriving at Florence, the travellers found shelter in a number of empty houses while they made the necessary 

preparations for crossing the plains. 

A handcart company consisting of 126 people, travelling with 22 handcarts and 6 wagons left Florence on 

their westward journey on 6 th July. After a journey of 81 days the company arrived in Salt Lake City on 24 th 

September having suffered all the hardships involved in all handcart travel. 

Included in the Passenger list was: 

John Plant age 59, born 1801, Occ Blacksmith. 

80

Assuming leaving home a few days before sailing from Liverpool and that he lasted the full journey to Salt 

Lake City, he would have been travelling from early May to end September. However, the fall-out rate was 

high and it is possible that he was a number of the subsequent ‘trains’, 400 people arriving in Salt Lake City 

on 5 th October and a further 123 people arriving at a later date still. 

Ship Constitution 

Date of Departure 24 th June 1868 

Port of Departure Liverpool 

Date of Arrival 6 th August 1868 


The ship sailed for New York on the 24 th June having 457 people on board, 412 being from the British Isles. 

The packet ship Constitution was the last sailing vessel used for the transportation of Mormon missionaries 

across the Atlantic. It arrived at New York 6 th August and the immigrants continued by rail to Benton. 

Included in the Passenger list were: - 

Henry Plant age 32 born 1836 

Sarah Plant age 32 born 1836 

Joseph Plant age 28 born 1840 

Sarah Ann Plant age 7 born 1861 


Emily Plant age Infant born 1868 

WKP note – In order to trace the family in the UK before they emigrated, I looked at the 1861 Census and 

found: 

1861 Census Batteslow, Longton, Stoke on Trent 

John Plant Lodger U 20 Ag. Lab. Bn Leicestershire 

And then next door: 

Henry Plant Head M 25 bn Cadeley, Leics 

Sarah Plant Wife M 25 bn Dorington, Leics 

Sarah Anne Plant Dau 1m bn Stoke on Trent, Staffs 

So lets look at the 1851 Census for Cadeley, Leicester. 

John Plant Head M 73 Ag. Lab. Bn Mkt Bosworth, Leics 

Sarah Plant Wife M 72 Wife bn Leistershire 

John Plant Son W 37 Ag. Lab bn Mkt Bosworth, Leics 

Edwin Plant G.S. 12 Scholar bn Cadeby, Leics 

Joseph Plant G.S. 11 Scholar bn “ “ 

Ambrose Plant G.S. 6 Scholar bn Newbold, Leics 

Eliza Plant G.D. 3 bn “ “ 

Henry Plant Nephew 15 bn Cadely, Leics 

The 1841 Census gives the following: 

John Plant 60 Framework Knitter bn Leicestershire 

Sarah Plant 60 “ 

Benjamin Plant 8 “ 

Henry Plant 8 “ 

William Plant 2 “ 

John Plant 25 “ 

81

Enough evidence here to confirm that Henry & Joseph listed as passengers are the same as shown in the 

various Census return particularly as Henry & Joseph do not appear on the 1871 Census. To be absolutely 

certain it would, of course, be necessary to do a deeper investigation. 

To confirm the above findings I then had a look at the US Census for 1880 and found the following. 

Census Place Richmond, Cache, Utah 

Henry Plant Self M M 44 bn England 

Sarah Plant Wife F M 44 “ “ 

Sarah Anne Plant Dau F S 19 “ “ 

Henry F Plant Son M S 15 “ “ 

Emelie Plant Dau F S 12 “ “ 

E Jane Plant Dau F S 7 “ Utah 

Clara R Plant Dau F S 4 “ “ 

Rosa E Plant Dau F S 1 “ “ 

And 

Census Place Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah 

Joseph Plant Self M M 35 bn England 

Mary A Plant Wife F M 33 “ “ 

John H Plant Son M S 12 “ “ 

Joseph W Plant Son M S 9 “ Utah 

Eliza Plant Dau F S 7 “ “ 

Catherine Plant Dau F S 4 “ “ 

Anne M Plant Dau F S 2 “ “ 

Enough confirmation to tie the families together. 

Ship Cynosure 

Date of Departure 30 th May 1863 


Date of Arrival 19 th July 1863 


Included in the passenger list was 

William Plant age 59 born 1804 

Ship William Tapscott 

Date of Departure 11 th April 1859 


Date of Arrival 13 May 1859 


Extract from the journal of one of the passengers: 

“On Monday 11 th April 1859 we set sail for the land of America. We sailed on Board the Tapscott an old 

sailing vessel. 

Our journey was at times pleasant but sickness came and with it came death and two were consigned to a 

watery grave. We also had some storms but landed safely at New York, 13 th May 1859. We then travelled by 

steamer and rail, 2000 miles until we reached Florence, 25 th May 1859. 

We were then made ready for our journey across the plains, a distance of a thousand miles. The company 

composed of sixty wagons. 

82

On 18 th September 1859 we arrived all well in the village of Great Salt Lake. Our train was led into the city 

by a two wheel covered cart, drawn by a small white ox.. 

Included in the Passenter list was: 

Ship Colarado 

Ann Plant age 47 born 1812 

Date of Departure 12 th July 1871 


Date of Arrival 25 th July 1871 


Extract from the Voyage notes: 

“The steamship Colarado sailed from Liverpool on 12 th July 1871, calling at Queenstown to collect some 

passengers, finally arriving in New York on 25 th July. Onward passage to Salt Lake City was completed on 

4 th August. 

Included in the Passenger List was: 

EL Plant age 40 born 1831 

WKP note – This could be the same as recorded in the 1880 US Census at Keysville, Davis, Utah as follows: 

Edward L Plant Self M 56 Doctor of Medicine born England 

Elenor Plant Wife M 25 Keeping House “ “ 

Phebe L Plant D S 6 “ Utah 

Selina M Plant D S 4 “ “ 

Mary E Plant D S 4m “ “ 

Wm H Plant S S 13 “ England 

Mary Ann Wife M 33 Keeping House “ “ 

Henry Oswal Plant S S 2 “ Utah 

Ship Manhattan 

Edward had two wives and families 

Date of Departure 22 nd September 1869 


Date of Arrival 7 th October 1869 


Notes relative to Voyage: 

“Steamship Manhatton, off Queenstown 8pm 23 rd September 1869. 

Up to the present we have had a strong head wind. About nine-tenths of the passengers are seasick.” 

Included in the Passenger List was 

Joseph Plant age 26 born 1843 

Mary Plant age 21 born 1848 


WKP note – The 1880 US Census shows the following: 

Census Place Salt Lake City, Utah 

83

Joseph Plant Self M 35 Labourer born England 

Mary A Plant Wife M 33 Keeping House “ “ (mother bn France) 

John H Plant Son S 12 “ “ 

Joseph W Plant Son S 9 “ Utah 

Eliza Plant Dau S 7 “ “ 

Catherine Plant Dau 4 “ “ 

Anne M Plant Dau 2 “ “ 

Ship Nevada 

Date of Departure 10 th July 1873 


Date of Arrival 23 rd July 1873 



Cornelius Plant age 17 born 1856 

WKP note – No record can be found of a Cornelius Plant in the 1880 US Census. 

Assuming that his date of birth in the Mormon records of 1856 is correct he could, based on the 1871 Census, 

be either: 

a/ The son of Thomas & Martha Plant living at Leftwich, Cheshire 

b/ The son of Edward Charlotte Plant living at Kimberworth, Yorks. 

Both the above are missing from the UK 1881 Census. 

Ship Wyoming 

Date of Departure 21 st August 1886 

Port of Departture Liverpool 

Date of Arrival 31 st August 1886 


Notes on Voyage 

“The steamship Wyoming sailed from Liverpool on Saturday 21 st August 1886. The company arrived in New 

York on the 31 st . Forty-five of the emigrants were detained there on pretended charges of pauperism. Finally 

all were permitted to continue their journey, except a woman and three children who were sent back to 

England. The rest of the company left New York 21 st September and travelled over the Baltimore and Ohio 

and the Denver and Rio Grande railroads to Utah arriving in Salt Lake City, 27 th September 1886. 


Cecil Plant age 15 born 1871 

WKP note – There is a possibility that Cecil was the Step-son of Anthony & Charlotte Godbehere living in 

1881 at Halsbrook, Belper. Cecil was born at Marborough, Yorkshire and his mother was born at Boltonupon-Dearne. 

84

Chapter 34 Austin Plant - Plant Family History Group

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