May 2005

Welcome to !

This homepage is for all Bearnes, wherever you live!

The aim of the site is to provide the basis for a "community of Bearnes". It offers a forum for Bearnes to find out about each other and a focus for genealogical and historical information. We perceive our purpose as acting as 'web masters', not 'owning' the site and hope very much that other Bearnes will want to give us information and ideas.

We are continuing to increase the scope of the family tree and linking different branches of the family as a result of information you send - it is always exciting to find a point of connection between different sections of the tree. But we are currently aware of a number of anomalies - maybe someone, somewhere, has the key to some of these (see the 'Problems Report'). As we are by no means genealogical experts, we are grateful for any help we can get!

Please bear in mind that, from the start, this site provided an opportunity for us to develop our own skills. This means that, at well over 5 years old, some of the coding is now ecruciatingly out of date and not to the standards to which we now work. However, we do not have the time fully to correct this! We have started a re-write, but when it will go live is dependent on our time.

Due to other commitments, we do not generally make major changes or additions to the site more than once a year or so. But if you send us information, we will add it as and when we can. Or, if you feel so inclined, you can develop a section for us to include.

Best wishes,

Paul & Gina

New!

Can You Help?

• Family Tree - quite a number of updates and a much improved graphical tree with lots of photos (though a full print now runs to about 1m x 2.5m!)
• Citation and Problem Reports
• 'The Dictator' - a story by Alex Bearne
• Bearne Recipes
• A number of new Bearne Links

• Do you have information to add to the Family Tree? We are always grateful for new data - you could send this to us by e-mail or download a copy of Legacy (see top of page) and develop your own section to paste into the master tree.
• Can you shed further light on the Bearne name or the Huguenot connection?
• Do you have any 'family histories', photos or documents to help breath life into the site?
• Why not add in your personal details and/or a short bio? (please note we are no longer publishing e-mail addresses on the site)
• You might like to showcase a hobby or talent or review your favourite book or travel destination!

An Information Request

"My Great great aunt Mary Elizabeth Beswick (known as Lizzie) married a Bob Bearne sometime after the 1901 census. Lizzie was born in 1871 so it would be expected that Robert would have been born at about the same date. It was a mature marriage.

At some time Bob was a police sergeant working out of Tooley Street police station in London and they lived for a long time in Billericay in Essex. They had a daughter Elizabeth. In 1901 Lizzie was a servant living in Hanover Square in London.

I can find no Robert Bearne in the 1901 census in London. I can find no trace of their marriage. There is a Robert Bearne b 1873(Newton Abbot) in the 1901 census as a Petty Officer in the Royal Navy in Devonport. He would be the son of Robert Bearne and Mary, who were from Highweek but living in Wolborough in 1881. Does this ring a bell with anyone?"

Roger Beswick

Throughout the site, you will find contact links and forms to encourage your contributions to every section - please do use them!