John A’Bear

Cashier (Originally published in Journal 66, August 2016) by Peter Bloomfield with a lot of help from David A’Bear and David Hanson The A’Bear name can be traced back to Norman times but what is not certain is was it a Saxon name which became normanised or a Norman name which became saxonised. John A’Bear was born […]

Jim Connor Collection - Ivison Andrew - Homerton exterior NLR Railway

Andrew Ivison, Porter, Bigamist and General Enigma

(originally published in Journal 54, July 2012, of the NLRHS)   Andrew Ivison was born in 1833 in Brigstock, Northamptonshire. His parents were William Ivison, born circa 1799 in Kingsgrove, Cumberland, an accountant, and Elizabeth Parke, born circa 1813 in Cheapside, Middlesex. He was one of eight children. Andrew married Amy Puxley who was 23 […]

William Acton Gittins, engine driver – 1833 - 1909 NLR Railwayman

William Acton Gittins

Driver and Thrice Married (Originally published in Journal 56, March 2013, of the North London Railway Historical Society) [Including sons William Acton and Alfred Acton] by Carol Clarke, his great great granddaughter, with railway research by Peter Bloomfield [William Acton Gittins, engine driver – 1833-1909]   He was born in No 3 Alfred Street, Millwall, […]