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Cambridgeshire: CHATTERIS - Cambridgeshire Times 18th August 1893

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CAMBRIDGESHIRE:
CHATTERIS - Cambridgeshire Times 18th August 1893

CHATTERIS - Cambridgeshire Times 18th August 1893

Kindly transcribed by Dave Edwards

American Visitors

Every summer Chatteris has the pleasure of seeing on a visit an old townsman from the New World. At this date Mr. James BLACKMAN, late of Mepal, living in Wenny road, has a son William returned from Evansville, who left this neighbourhood 35 years ago, and is now in business for himself as a florist, and is doing well. He is brother to Mr. George (alias Tom) BLACKMAN at Mr. DAINTREE's. William has not been to Chatteris for 21 years, and he still finds his father, who is 84 years of age, in robust health. Mr. William BLACKMAN is now an old and highly respected inhabitant of Evansville, and relates a wonderful influx in years past of Chatteris families in his city, the older branches of which are in many cases dead, and their children, born in America, are now the native citizens of Evansville, amongst other places in the same country. Mr. BLACKMAN has in his employ Daniel RUSTON, who lived foreman at Normoor under the late Mr. Alfred S. RUSTON, J.P., until his death, and who left for America with his brothers, Richard RUSTON, Edward RUSTON, Alfred RUSTON, and Farmer RUSTON, the two latter now being dead. Three brothers named SABERTON, of Wood street, also went there; George and Robert SKINNER, the latter now dead; Robert HALL, son of Mr. HALL, of the Willey Farm, went there a few years ago and died; a family named CROFTS 40 years ago, left for Evansville; another named SWANSON, whose children are now living; other people named PECK, BERRIDGE, Thomas GORDON, Jonathan OSBORN, brother to Mr. Jonathan OSBORN, of New street; John GUNTON, brother to Mr. Thomas GUNTON, railway porter; Edward TABOR, proprietor of the Evansville Journal, who died about 10 years ago; Thomas SMITH, watchmaker, of Park street, who died and left a widow, afterwards married a man named STUFFINS, who left here 21 years ago; Joseph KIGHTLEY is still living there, his brother, who also went, being dead; John MARCHANT and his sister, who afterwards left for the Western States; a man named WARTH, who died perhaps 15 years ago, and whose daughter married a gentleman named SORNSON. Besides all these and many others from Chatteris, there were two other families of RUSTON's whose younger generations are citizens of Evansville. In fact there were such a number at one time here, that one part of the town was christened "Slade Lode", and Mr. BLACKMAN affirms that much credit is due to many of the Chatteris families who left here, for they have since held honourable and responsible positions both in the city government and the churches. Mr. BLACKMAN is returning by the new steamer, Lucania, which leaves September 2. Mr. ASPINALL is the shipping agent. Mr. BLACKMAN's daughter, aged 25, accompanies him for the benefit of her health. Mr. BLACKMAN says that the family names mentioned do not include probably more than one half of Chatteris people who have migrated to Evansville. This is only an example of how the great continent of America has been built up by families from all parts of the world. Last week Mr. ASPINALL issued a ticket for the return of Mr. William NAYLOR, who took back with him to Montreal a member of another family, named KIGHTLEY, viz., Arthur, aged 18, son of Mrs. Maud KIGHTLEY, and who knows what prospects may be established by these two young Chatteris men? The Lucania, which takes Mr. BLACKMAN, is a very fine new vessel, which makes its maiden voyage on the above date.



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