----- Original Message -----=20
From: Simon Franicevic and Rachel Barnes=20
To: Mary Barnes=20
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2001 8:10 AM
Subject: Pym Genes

Hi
No I didn't know that about working at that age. I've had a quick look for J.A. Pym's awards. In the London Gazette (the place to look) I've only seen that he was recomended but not why. The gazette is an absolute shambles and of course the information dribbled in over a period of months. Finding anything is quite tricky but if it's there I'll find it eventually. It's quite handy location wise, it's about 10 minutes walk from home. I just have to make an appointment in the Naval History museum, go through the entrance (I have a season ticket - no worries), get through the security check, introduce myself to the guard at the barrier who will have been warned of my appointment (this is an actual military base after all) and go into the library. It's very realistic researching military dispatches with Aircraft carriers and Destroyers tied up just out the window.

From the 1881 census, Lieut-Comm Frederick Whiteford Pym lived at 49 Warrington Crest, Paddington, London. His occupation was 'Retired Naval Officer', at 47yo. The other person at that address was his servant Jane Wicks, 53yo, b Kensington, Middlesex. His wife died that year according to your records.
Samuel A. Pym was at that time an 18yo scholar residing at harcourt Rd, Wallington College, Beddington, Surrey. Both Father (Frederick) and son (Samuel) were born in Plymouth, Devon. As befits old salts.

Arthur Eddleston and Alice Brown were married in the June quarter of 1898, reference 8e, 688. Do you have a copy of their marriage certificate? I can't remember exactly what you have and haven't got and what I found when I looked last time.

Cheers,
Simon.

Oi! I've just told this to Rachel and she talked no stop for about 10 minutes with stories about the Pyms - Samuel Arnott and John Alfred. When I looked none of this was written in the database. I hope it's somewhere other than in oral tradition!
Clippidity Clop,
Simon and his hobby horse.

Dear Mum and Dad,

Hi there, Rachel here now.  The stories Simon was talking about was how in spite of (in fact because of) aristocratic traditions your Dad wasn't wealthy as Samuel Arnott Pym spent most of the family money living the life of a country gentleman - I presume he retired (from the navy?) as soon as he "came into his inheritance".  As I remember it your Dad was perpetually in debt as a young man in the army as he was expected to shout rounds in the mess etc, and his army salary was not enough ( most of the men having independent incomes/allowances from home).  What I wasn't sure about was when he came out to New Zealand, and whether he was still in debt at that stage.  Also, do you know anything about how/where he met Joyce and when their divorce came through?  I will try to get some of this info onto the database to calm Simon's hobby horse down!

It is amazing really how different Eyha's and your Dad's background is, they would never have married if they had stayed in England would they? [snip] Speaking of Ehya, can you look up her date and place of birth on her birth certificate, as it isn't in the database.

I rang up about the canal boating today.  The boat we wanted was already booked, but I have booked an almost identical one for a week starting Sunday the 17th of June (Saturday was not available).

Lots of love,
Rachel xxxxx