Hollyer photos of G.F. Watts paintings

As is well know, Frederick Hollyer (1837-1933) the photographer, made many photographs of works of art, principally of the Pre-Raphaelites and also G.F. Watts. I note that as part of the Open Library project, a book of Watts's paintings is now on the web, ilustrated by Fred's photos.

See http://openlibrary.org/details/masterpiecesofgf00watt

More early Hollyers

Another Guild member, Colin Ulph, came across the following records at Tuxlith Chapel, Milland, in West Sussex.

Marriages.

28 April 1578. Thomas HOLLYER and Margery PACKE.

23 June 1578. Willm PACKE and Elizabeth HOLLYER.

Burials.

13 April 1575. Joane HOLLYER.

Little is known about these Hollyers, who may be connected with other early records across the border in Hampshire at East Tisted. Other Hollyers in Sussex, such as at Petworth and Tortington, suggest that the name existed in small numbers in the 16th century in this part of the country.

The Ballard Holyer family

Once of the oddest families to descend from the Kent Holyer family are the Ballard Holyers. Characterised by two generations of "single mums", this line seemed to use the surnames Ballard and Holyer interchangeably, so I have found it best to record all descendants of this line. Nicci Sime wrote to me updating one branch I hadn't got: the descendants of Doris Ada Ballard HOLYER, plus the birth and death certificates for Percival Leopold Holyer, one of the Ballard/Holyer family whose life in the Tenterden Workhouse in 1881 was cut short becuse of the effects of his premature birth.

Devon Hollyers - NOT!

Maureen Selley, one of the Guild's leading members in Devon, sent me a burial record from 1846 for a Hannah Hollyer at Dunchideock, Devon, who had died at the Exeter workhouse aged 83. I knew at once this couldn't be right, as Hollyers rarely if ever turn up in Devon. However, Devon is the centre for the Hellyer surname and a little digging found a burial record for Hannah Hellier in the St Thomas registration district. The 1841 census also shows and elderly Hannah Hellyer at Dunchideock. Even 'original records' can contain transcription errors.