James R. Yeowell of Wroughton, Wiltshire, England, My 3rd Great Grandfather is George GINGER (born 1818, Flamstead, Hertfordshire). He is indicated on one of your pages relating to BONE of Flamstead, as one of the heads of household on the 1881 census of Flamstead. I have also noticed a William BANDY. Is he is a relation of his wife, Eliza BANDY whom he married 6 March 1842 in Flamstead?

I wondered whether you knew anything further about these individuals, as well as the Ginger and Bandy families of Flamstead? I also wondered whether there is mention of these families in the Flamstead Book?

Both families are mentioned several times in The New History of Flamstead, which also include information on Pie Corner. The book shows that the Ginger family had trouble with the law:

"George Ginger [it is not clear whether father or son] of Flamstead was charged by Mr Jennings of Beechwood with committing a game trespass on 22nd December 1884. The gamekeeper produced wires found on him at the rabbit-hole and another witness gave corroborative evidence. Ginger pleaded guilty and was fined £1 12s 6d or 21 days imprisonment."

John Ginger had more problems. In 1885 he was one of a number of people involved in an election riot at Flamstead. In 1890 he was sentenced to six months hard labour for sheep stealing. In 1909 he was involved in a fight with Russell Dunckley and he turned out to have three previous convictions (Dunckley had 15!). In 1910 he was living at Pie Corner with a 36 year old widow, Sarah Elizabeth Wilkins, whose husband had died in 1907. In 1910 she was noticed to have been pregnant - but no child appeared - until a body was found. Sarah was found not guilty of murder - but sentenced to twelve months hard labour for concealing the birth.

George Ginger and Eliza Bandy had 5 children - James Ginger (Chr. 3 Sep. 1843, Flamstead), Mary Ann Ginger (b. 1845, Flamstead), David Ginger (b. 1 Sep. 1847, Flamstead, d. after 1897), George Ginger (b. 1849, Flamstead) and Eliza/Elizabeth Ginger (b. 1851, Flamstead). My sources for my Ginger family are via my second cousin, which I presume he has researched from relevant certificates.

I obviously don't know how thorough your cousin is - there are many people who pass around family trees which depend more on guesswork that facts - and who never bother to check anything. You should read The Dangers of Internet Genealogy.  It is well worth checking what sources he used. (You never know - information may have come from a family bible - which is one of the most reliable sources.)

I have found a few christening/baptisms on the IGI.

I have only got as far back as William Ginger (George's father) who married an Ann.

George had 2 sisters, Sarah Ginger (married George Potton, whose daughter Charlotte married David Ginger, son of George) and Elizabeth Ginger. He had a brother William also.

So if you can assist me in finding out more, that would most welcome.

It is not clear if you have yet looked at the 1881 census CD but the relevant entries for Pie Corner Cottage, Flamstead are:

George GINGER	Head	60	Ag Lab Ploughman	Luton, Beds
Eliza GINGER	Wife	55	Straw Plaiter	Flamstead
James GINGER	Son	34	Shepherd	Flamstead
John GINGER	Son	13	Plough Boy Ag Lab	Flamstead
William BANDY	Head	30	Ag Lab	Flamstead
Elizabeth BANDY	Wife	28	Bonnet Sewer	Flamstead
Mary Ann BANDY	Daur	8	Scholar	Flamstead
William BANDY	Son	5		Flamstead
Dennis BANDY	Son	2		Flamstead
Frederick BANDY	Head	48	Ag Lab	Flamstead
Sarah BANDY	Daur	24	Bonnet Sewer	Flamstead
William BANDY	Son	20	Ag Lab	Flamstead
Emma BANDY	Daur	10	Scholar	Flamstead

There were other people living in other cottages at Pie Corner - and there may well be other Ginger and Bandy families with Flamstead connection on the CD.

May 2002

On 7th May Derek Bandy wrote  The Bandy Family Website (GOONS) http://www.bandy.co.uk/ has a lot of BANDY genealogy and information.  I run the website.  I also have quite a lot of unpublished BANDY information including the Flamstead Families (perhaps six of them.  Please contact me for further info.

Thanks for your offer of further information - And I will take the opportunity to ad a general comment that if anyone is looking for a less common surname it is worth checking with the Guild of One Name Studies.

If you can add to the information given above tell me.

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