The Pullman Family, linked to my maternal lineage

The Pullman family are distant relatives on my mother's side of the family, via the Sheward family to Moms Priday family.

As far as I have been able to discover the story starts with James Pullman who was born during 1795 in Beaminster (pronounced Bem-Ster), Dorset, England. Unfortunately, I know very little about James because official records of the day are in short supply.

Beaminster, Dorset
Beaminster is a small town and civil parish in Dorset, England, situated in the West Dorset administrative district approximately 15 miles northwest of the county town, Dorchester. It is sited in a bowl-shaped valley near the source of the small River Brit. In its history, Beaminster has been a centre of manufacture of linen and woollens, the raw materials for which were produced in the surrounding countryside. Beaminster parish church is notable for its architecture, particularly its handsome tower.

St. Mary's Church, Beaminster, Dorset
Beaminster has had a church since Saxon times, although the current building stands on an earlier Norman structure. The tower dates from around 1500 and has been described as 'one of the glories of the West Country' and features 41 stone 'crocketted' pinnacles, showing devils and mythical animals.

It is possible that both James & his wife were involved in the linen & woollen production industries but just as likely that James was an Agricultural worker.

James Pullman was the great grandfather of the husband of one of my third cousins once removed and the actual lineage is:

• James Pullman (1795 - 1819)
• John Pullman (1818 - 1858) - son of James Pullman
• Frederick Mintern Pullman (1847 - 1916) - son of John Pullman
• Ernest Owen Pullman (1886 - 1964) - son of Frederick Mintern Pullman
• Naomi Ruth Price (1890 - 1973) - wife of Ernest Owen Pullman
• George Price (1864 - 1897) - father of Naomi Ruth Price
• Maria Sheward (1840 - 1917) - mother of George Price
• William Sheward (1810 - 1883) - father of Maria Sheward
• Edward Sheward (1775 - 1853) - father of William Sheward
• Richard Sheward (1817 - 1870) - son of Edward Sheward
• Herbert Sheward (1843 - 1906) - son of Richard Sheward
• Mary Louisa Sheward (1880 - 1967) - daughter of Herbert Sheward
• Alice May Priday (1917 - 2009) - daughter of Mary Louisa Sheward
• William G Hyde - me

James is shown to be married to Jane Best and I think they married because Jane was pregnant with their only son John. I have no details of Jane at this time other than she is recorded on both James & John's records as wife & mother respectively.

Unfortunately, James Pullman died a year after his marriage and in the year of the birth of his only son and he was buried on 18 January 1819 at St Mary's, Beaminster, Dorset, England. He was just 24 years old.

 

RESEARCH - the following will eventually form separate articles linked via this page (work in progress).

Emily Pullman (daughter of John Pullman & Elizabeth Mintern)

Emily Pullman was born during January 1844 at 4 La Belle Alliance, Ramsgate.

When she was 17 in 1861 Emily was a Servant at the home of Thomas H Davies perpetual Curate to Christ Church. She was living in at 15 Royal Crescent, Ramsgate. And for now, this is where the trail goes cold.

Frederick Mintern Pullman (son of John Pullman & Elizabeth Mintern)

Frederick Mintern Pullman was born during January 1947 at 4 La Belle Alliance, Ramsgate.

At the age of 23, he married Ann Upham Sherred at Christ Church, Vale Square, Ramsgate in January 1870. Ann Upham Sherred was born during July 1848 in Ulcombe, Kent.

The family home was at 56 Hardness St, Ramsgate, however in the 1871 Census Frederick Mintern Pullman was shown to be on board the "Ocean Ranger" (fishing smack) in the North Sea off the Kent coastline. Frederick is shown to be the Master & owner of the smack.

A Ramsgate fishing smack was described as usually being operated by two men or two men and a boy, with much of the hauling done with a steam winch, hard work but rewarding.

Frederick & Ann Upham raised a family of 7 children:

• Elizabeth Ann Pullman (1873 – ?)
• Sidney Frederick Herbert Pullman(1875 – 1953)
• Herbert Pullman (1877 – 1916)
• Emily Pullman (1879 – ?)
• Henry Frederick (Harry) Pullman (1883 – 1940)
• Ernest Owen Pullman (1886 – 1964)
• Tom (Thomas) Penny Pullman (1888 – 1917)

Ann Upham Sherred died during October 1889.

In 1906, at age 59 Frederick Mintern Pullman married Alice Maud White, a widow who already had a son Leslie (with a man named Andrews) who was born in 1900. The marriage took place in Ramsgate, possibly at Christ Church and Frederick & Alice Maude set up home at 33 Bellevue Road, St Lawrence, Ramsgate wherein 1906 the last of Frederick Mintern Pullman's children, Freda May, was born in 1906.

On the 9th February 1916 the local newspaper The Kent Times published an article about Frederick Mintern Pullman and his sons and its contents are shown below:

'SIX SONS SERVING: ONE KILLED - ANOTHER PRISONER OF WAR

Mr F. Pullman, of 3, Arklow Terrace, Ramsgate, has six sons serving his King and country. This is a splendid record, and he is naturally proud of it.

One Pte. Herbert Pullman, of the 8th Buffs, was killed in action in France on January 23rd (1916).

His parent has not yet received official intimation, the sad news being learned from a letter sent by Pte. F. Miller, also of the 8th Buffs. Pte. Miller wrote as follows "I am very sorry to say that I have some very painful news for you. Poor young Herbert was shot by a German sniper yesterday (Jan 23rd) and he died shortly after. Luet. Lindley and one of the "Queens" risked their lives in going out to fetch him back and he died just as they reached a place of safety. I cannot tell you any details yet. Everyone sympathises with you and your wife and family."

Pte. Herbert Pullman enlisted soon after the outbreak of hostilities and proceeded to "Somewhere in France" with his regiment on October of that year.

Pte. Herbert Pullman is a married man, and his wife resides at 15 Priory Road, Ramsgate.

Another of Mr and Mrs Pullman's sons Lance Corpl. Harry Pullman of the 2nd Buffs, is a prisoner of war in Germany. He joined up a few weeks after the war broke out. He was taken prisoner at the memorable fighting around Hill 60.

Lance Corpl. Tom Pullman is serving with the 125th Canadian Contingent, now in Canada.

Another of Mr Pullman's sons, Ernest is a Lance Corporal in the Royal Engineers. He enlisted in December of 1914 and went to the front last March (1915).

Petty Officer Sidney Pullman is on H.M.S. "Pembroke", and the sixth son is also in the Navy.

A stepson, Leslie Andrews, is serving on H.M.S. Thunderer.'

Frederick Mintern Pullman died on 6 October 1916 at 3 Arklow Terrace, Ramsgate and left his Estate of Effects + £2845 17s 10d to Henry Lepper Summers (smack owner) of Ramsgate.

His second wife, Alice Maud White married Alfred George Whitmore in 1919 and eventually died on 6 January 1954 at Wanstead, Essex, England.

Elizabeth Ann Pullman (daughter of Frederick Mintern Pullman & Ann Upham Sherred)

Elizabeth Ann Pullman was born during January 1873 in 56 Hardness St, Ramsgate, Kent, England and was the sister-in-law of my third cousin once removed.

Currently, I have no records for her after her 18th birthday, although I assume she went into service and then onto a marriage. If I get any more details I will update this part of the record.

Sidney Frederick Herbert Pullman (son of Frederick Mintern Pullman & Ann Upham Sherred)

Sidney Frederick Herbert Pullman was born during April 1875 at 56 Hardness St, Ramsgate, Kent, England and was the brother-in-law of my third cousin, once removed.

Sidney Frederick Herbert was baptised at Christ Church, Ramsgate on the 27th June 1875.

When he was 16 (1891) he was living in the household of Jane E Miller and was described as a Nephew. He was working as a Ships Chandlers Assistant. By 1901, Sidney Frederick Herbert was in the Royal Navy serving as a Petty Officer and on Census day was recorded as being at sea, off Plymouth, Devon.

In October 1904 Sidney Frederick Herbert married Minnie Georgina Crothers at Sheppey, Kent. Minnie Georgina Crothers was born April 1875 in Sheerness, Kent, England. By 2 April 1911 Sidney Frederick Herbert & Minnie were living at 2 Hibernia St, Ramsgate and it seems he had completed his voluntary Royal Navy service and was now working (for someone) as a Bill Inspector.

During 1913 the couple had moved to 33 Camden Square, Ramsgate.

When the war was declared on 4th August 1914 I assume Sidney Frederick Herbert was recalled to the Royal Navy (almost all who served & left prior to the start of WW1 were in the Royal Navy Reserve and could be called up at any time). At the time The Kent Times article was written in February 1916, Sidney Frederick Herbert was a Petty Officer at H.M.S. Pembroke.

HMS Pembroke was the name given to a shore barracks at Chatham. It was commissioned in 1878, moved ashore in 1903 and was paid off in 1983. A number of ships were renamed Pembroke while serving as base and depot ships for the establishment and the First World War period was covered by 2 ships - HMS Trent was HMS Pembroke from 1905 until 1917 & HMS Nymphe was HMS Pembroke from 1917 until 1920.

His first wife must have died prior to 1945 because during March 1945 Sidney Frederick Herbert Pullman married Poppy Merle E Page at Canterbury, Kent, England. Poppy Merle E Page was born in Canterbury, Kent on 10 November 1928.

Sidney Frederick Herbert Pullman died during June 1953 at Ramsgate, Kent. His widow Polly died during December 1991 at Canterbury, Kent. 

Emily Pullman (daughter of Frederick Mintern Pullman & Ann Upham Sherred)

Emily Pullman was born during April 1879 at 56 Hardness St, Ramsgate, Kent, England. She was the fourth child of Frederick Mintern Pullman & Ann Upham Sherred. Emily Pullman was the sister-in-law of one of my third cousin's once removed.

When she was 22, in 1901, Emily married Charles Arthur White at Christ Church, Vale Square, Ramsgate. Charles Arthur White was born 29 July 1877 at 11 La Belle Alliance Square, Ramsgate, Kent, England. Charles was the son of a Ramsgate Smack owner & he himself was a Fisherman (although not a Smack owner) when he married Emily.

Charles Arthur White & Emily Pullman set up home at 6 Louisa Terrace, St. Georges Rd, Ramsgate where their one child, Winifred Pullman White, was born in April 1906.

By the 1911 Census, Charles Arthur White, Emily Pullman & Winifred Pullman White were living at 20 Sailsbury Avenue, Ramsgate and Charles Arthur is described as a "Mariner", so perhaps he was now a Smack owner. Emily's brother, Ernest Owen Pullman, was boarding with them and is described as a "Fisherman" and is perhaps crew for Charles Arthur White.

I know that Charles Arthur White died on the 10th December 1959 in Ramsgate, however, I do not know as yet what happened to Emily. Winifred, their daughter, died during September 1977 in Shepway, Kent.

Henry Frederick (Harry) Pullman (son of Frederick Mintern Pullman & Ann Upham Sherred)

Henry Frederick (Harry) Pullman was born during October 1883 at 56 Hardness St, Ramsgate, Kent, England. He was the fifth child of Frederick Mintern Pullman & Ann Upham Sherred. He was the brother-in-law of one of my third cousins once removed.

When he was 19 during October 1902, Henry Frederick (Harry) Pullman married Ellen Eliza Twyman at Christ Church, Vale Square, Ramsgate. Ellen Eliza Twyman was born on 11 July 1883 in Ramsgate, Kent, England. Her father, Stephen was also born in Ramsgate and was a Gardener by trade.

Henry Frederick (Harry) Pullman & Ellen Eliza Twyman set up home at 139 Boundary Road, Ramsgate, Kent, England and set about raising a family of 6 children:

• Doris Maud Pullman - (1903 – 1989) - born & died in Ramsgate, married to James Neil Gibbens
• Percy James Pullman - (1905 – 1924) - born & died in Ramsgate
• Ethel Winifred Pullman - (1907 – 2000) - born in Ramsgate & died in Cannock, Staffordshire
• Hilda May Pullman - (1908 – ?) - born Ramsgate, married Thomas Holmes
• Frederick Minton Pullman - (1909 – 2000) - born Ramsgate & died Bromley Kent, married Nellie Julia Boyce
• Mabel Frances Pullman - (1911 – 2004) - born in Ramsgate & died in Kent, married Merfyn Ellis

In the 1911 Census Henry Frederick (Harry) Pullman was shown to be a Ship's storeman (possibly at a Chandlers) and on his Army Enlistment form he was described as a Sail Maker.

Henry Frederick (Harry) Pullman volunteered for the Army once the war was declared and joined as a Private in the Buffs (East Kent) Regiment with Regimental Number 840 on 26 October 1914. Unlike his brother Herbert, Henry/Harry survived and eventually went on to die at Holsworthy, Devon, England in September 1940 at age 56.

His wife, Ellen Eliza Twyman, died in Stafford, Staffordshire, England during June 1973.

Freda May Pullman (daughter of Frederick Mintern Pullman & Alice Maud White)

Freda May Pullman was born on 31 March 1906 at 33 Bellevue Road, St Lawrence, Ramsgate, Kent, England and was the sister-in-law of one of my third cousins once removed on my mother's side of the family.

Freda May married William Stewart Brown during September 1937 at Blean, Kent, England. William Stewart Brown was born on 20 January 1908 at 73 Caledon Road, East Ham, Essex, England.

Freda May Pullman died during December 1973 in Wandsworth, Surrey, England and as far as I can tell had no children.

William Stewart Brown died on 14 February 1973 in Waltham Forest, Essex, England.

Leslie Andrews (stepson of Frederick Mintern Pullman & son of Frederick's second wife Alice Maude Andrews nee White)

Leslie Andrews was born during 1900 at Ramsgate, Kent, England and as far as I can tell he was illegitimate. His mother was Alice Maud White. Leslie Andrews was the stepson of the father-in-law or one of my third cousins once removed on my mother's side of the family.

His mother married Frederick Mintern Pullman during 1906 and she and Leslie moved into 33 Bellevue Road, St Lawrence, Ramsgate. Alice Maud White went on to marry Alfred George Whitmore in 1919 following the death of Frederick Mintern Pullman on 6th October 1916.

By 1915 Leslie Andrews had enlisted in the Royal Navy and he became part of the ship's crew of H.M.S. Thunderer, a Royal Navy Orion-class battleship and the last ship ever to be constructed by the Thames Iron Works. She was the last and largest warship ever built on the River Thames, and after her completion her builders declared bankruptcy.

H.M.S. Thunderer was 580 ft 9 in long overall. She had a maximum beam of 88 ft 6 in and had a draft of 27 ft 6 in. She had a displacement of 22,200 tonnes at normal load and 25,870 tonnes at full load. She had quadruple propellers driven by Parsons direct-drive steam turbines.

She was armed in the main Battery with 10 x 13.5" guns arranged in five twin turrets all mounted on the centre line. Her secondary battery consisted of 16 x C50 Mark 7 installed in 14 casement mounts and 2 open mounts. 4 x 3-pounder signalling guns were also fitted. In addition, she had three submerged 21 in torpedo tubes, one firing on each beam and one astern.

Thunderer's design was dominated by wireless equipment: the Royal Navy led the world in the adoption of the Marconi system, and Admiral Fisher was adamant that the new ships should have "No masts or fighting tops: only a pole for wireless. The necessity for masts and yards for signalling does not exist." So only a single tripod was fitted to carry a tall WT pole; eliminating the after mast, and slinging the aerials down to a short stump aft saved 50 tons of top-weight.

Thunderer was also fitted with the Dreyer fire control table designed by Frederic Charles Dreyer, which was effectively the world's first automatic computer and ten years ahead of any other navy's developments. She was also the first of her class to carry Captain Percy Scott's new director firing system, which made her top-shooting ship in the 1912 trials when she delivered over six times the hits of Orion into her sister's target in just 3 minutes and 30 seconds.

H.M.S. Thunderer WW1 Record

On commissioning in June 1912 Thunderer and her three Orion-class sisters – Orion, Conqueror and Monarch formed the 2nd Division of the 2nd Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet and she remained with her sister ships throughout.

In December 1914, she was refitted. She was present with her squadron at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, firing 37 13.5" shells. She suffered no damage.

At the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 all four of the Orions were present under the leadership of Rear Admiral Arthur Leveson flying his flag in Orion, her CO was Captain O. Backhouse, followed by Monarch – Captain G.H. Bourret, Conqueror - Captain H.H.D. Tothill and Thunderer- Captain J.A. Fergusson. Thunderer fired 37 x 13.5" shells. She suffered no damage.

After the Battle of Jutland the Orion class ships spent their time on routine fleet manoeuvres and in 1917, Thunderer was fitted with flying-off platforms on her upper turrets – "B" & "X".