Introduction

Pasted inside the front of the book is this bookplate:-

and this is followed by some hand-written correspondence pasted in, and then some introductory text:-

February 3rd 1932

Southfleet,

Buckhurst Hill,

Essex.

Dear Dick

I am sending you the precious book, I’m afraid you will find little after 1927. We seem to get out of touch but I have put a list of dates which are not entered & we should be so glad to get right. I do hope you will soon be really better.

Your affect.^ate cousin

Sophy Powell

There are many old letters etc. that Bob always loves to “browse” on so you must try & come some day.

[This Sophy is Emma Sophia Powell, a surviving sister to Alice, Catharine and Annie Louisa, who had custody of Aunt Mary's Book; she died in Q4, 1939.  There were three other sisters, Janette, Beatrice and Rachel}

Buckhurst Hill,

Essex.

Thanks for the safe return of the book & for the trouble you have taken to get us the dates. As to the handwriting you have specimens of most of the family first very need Alice then Maria (Read)  Janette put in bits from Father’s short Diaries. Annie a few, Edmund a good many from 1926.  Beatrice all the fresh ones & filling in from Edgar’s late book.  I do not think he wrote in it at all. I am glad you can speak of yourself as rather better.  Love to both                        

Yours   Sophy Powell   Feb^y 18^th (1932)

Mary Powell dau of David & Mary P. born

Walthamstow, Oct 27 1802 & baptised at W. Church

1854 went to live with Dr. Henry Powell at Coventry. Moved with them to Brighton 1862 (after death of Mrs D. Powell of Loughton

Oct 25 1865 went to live with Miss Elizabeth Snaith 41 Cambridge Road, Brighton where she died April 24 1874 buried at Hove

Elizabeth Snaith b. July 18 1805 niece of Rev. Tho. Sikes. Old friends, lived in Clapton for a time. Margaret Snaith married Philip Duval whose daughter Margaret lived for a time at Pelham House, Lewes & died there.

I think the Snaiths & Sikes were Bankers.

Francis P. Admiral date of death

Young Frank ditto ? Oct

Ellen Stevens ditto 1931

Marjorie Yersley boys death

Markham Nesfields death

Margaret P. (Bisham) 1929

Arthur C. Powell death

Lucy P. ? Nov 17¹⁵ 1930

I do not know how far you keep up links

N. Torkington grandchildren

Maclochlins

The following note was handwritten by my father, Richard C. Powell, when he made this copy of the book in 1923-24. The indexing and binding of the copy were done mainly by my mother Dora Mary,

                                     Claud Powell

This record or diary of family events was apparently begun by Mary Powell (1802-1874), second daughter of David Powell (1764-1832) by 1st wife; Mary Townsend,

The record is in Mary Powell's, handwrit ng from the beginning until about 1855 except for a few interpolations.

Internal indications suggest that Mary P. began the record in about 1823; she would then have been 21 years old.

There is no information available to show whence she obtained the  record of events before 1820 but the entry against June 6 1803 "Visited J.C.Powell at Loughton") suggests that her father kept some find of diary.  J.C. Powell was John Clark Powell (1763-1848), brother of David above.

Mary Powell was more or less of an invalid all her life and she did not marry. According to statements by Emma Sophia Powell, Mary lived with her step mother till her step mother's death is 1852.  In 1854 Mary went to live with her first cousin Dr Henry Powell, at Coventry, Tn 1862 Dr Powell and his family left Coventry and went to live at Brighton, Mary going with them.   She continued with them till her old friend Miss Elizabeth Smith left Clapton and went to 41 Cambridge Road, Brighton in 1865. She then went to live with Miss Smith and remained with her till she died in 1874 (see entry).

R. C. P.

[Note:  In the last few lines above, I believe it is Elizabeth Snaith, not Smith - but I may be wrong.  R.B.C.]

It was, I am told, carried on by Mary Powell, daughter of David Powell and Mary Townsend. 

On 20 December 1865 (see entry) it was handed over to Maria Powell, daughter of Nathanael Powell of Buckhurst Hill, who, with her siter Alice Catharine, continued it.  It is now in the possession of Annie Louisa Powell (another sister), St. Columba’s Vicarage, Stratford, London, E.  This copy was made by me from the original in October, 1923

Richard C. Powell

Oakcroft

East Grinstead