I found that all my ancestors originated from Alverstoke, Gosport, in Hampshire. Research took me back to my great, great grandfather – Thomas Adnams.
The marriage certificate of Thomas Adnams told me that he was in Falmouth, Cornwall. This is where he met and married Mary Harvey April 10th 1798.
While in Falmouth old Thomas was employed as a Mariner-Carpenter working aboard Packet Ships sailing out of Falmouth. Falmouth was then a leading Packet Station for England sailing to various places around Britain and foreign countries carrying mail and parcels, money including gold for business transactions, the trade finally came to an end about 1850 in Falmouth with the introduction of the new Steam Ships these were much faster and also carried passengers. The mail business was transferred to Southampton and Liverpool.
It was possibly the introduction of steel Steam Ships that old Thomas wa26 February, 2007family moved to Newport on the Isle of Wight, when I learnt this I contacted the Newport Records Office and received a record of the family, there was some wrong spelling of the name but I was assured they were of the same family.
Because of his wanderings I cannot find his origin but can assume that he was born about 1771 in Alverstoke. On the I.G.I. report I found a Mary Harvey daughter of William Harvey and Ann b 27th May 1774 in Falmouth. From here on they will be referred to as Old Thomas and Old Mary.
I obtained a confirmation of their marriage, which took place in Falmouth on the 10th April 1798. Unfortunately certificates in those days did not show the fathers name, so I have not been able to go back further.
Old Thomas and old Mary were to have six children. Details of their six children can be found here.