**Alt-text:** Three Victorian-era portraits arranged side by side. Left: oval portrait of young Charles Drew Street circa 1830, with dark curly hair, wearing a black coat and white cravat. Centre: the same man circa 1885, now elderly with a long white beard, seated in a black coat and cream waistcoat. Right: Susanna Street née Foster circa 1875, wearing a purple patterned dress with green and white trim, and a decorative green headpiece.
CD Street in c.1830 and c. 1885; and Susanna Street née Foster

Solving the Mystery – John and Martha Street of Chulmleigh

Jenny Grant shares how she finally broke through a persistent genealogical brick wall surrounding John and Martha Street of Chulmleigh, Devon. At their marriage in Crediton in 1780, John had been living in Chulmleigh for at least six years as a gamekeeper, while Lincolnshire-born Martha lived with her guardian Sir Jacob Wolff. But John's origins remained a mystery for decades. The breakthrough came through examining an 1883 letter from her ancestor Charles Drew Street about a Chancery Court case and the Estate of William Wimpey. This led to discovering the Street v Bascombe court case of 1819, where John's children claimed to be next-of-kin to William Wimpey of Bratton Clovelly. Research revealed that John's mother was likely Sarah Pendar, making him first cousin to William Wimpey and connecting the family to Berkshire. Crucial evidence included parish registers from Lambourn Woodlands showing a John Streat baptized in 1741, and significantly, a burial entry describing Sarah as a "supposed wife" - suggesting John may have been illegitimate, which would have barred him from inheritance. This collaborative research with Peter Selley demonstrates how modern online resources can solve mysteries that stumped researchers for over 50 years.

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Modern museum gallery showing the "Treasure Through Time" exhibition. Glass display cases with turquoise backing present archaeological artifacts alongside panels about "The 1996 Treasure Act." A black central banner displays gold jewelry and coins. The space features exposed brick walls, wooden beams, and information about "The Portable Antiquities Scheme."
The free exhibition, Treasure Through Time, at West Berkshire Museum in Newbury until 1 June 2025

What West Berkshire Council’s Archaeology team can do for you!

West Berkshire Council maintains a comprehensive Historic Environment Record (HER) that serves as an invaluable resource for local and family history researchers. This database contains detailed information about buildings, monuments, sites and landscapes of archaeological and historic interest throughout West Berkshire, along with associated documentary sources including maps, books and unpublished reports. The HER is freely accessible through the Heritage Gateway online portal and the Council's interactive map. Beth Asbury, Assistant Archaeologist for HER and Outreach, manages this dynamic database which is constantly updated with new fieldwork and research findings. The Council's archaeology team welcomes contributions from local researchers and offers various public engagement activities including talks, exhibitions and social media updates. The team also works alongside the Portable Antiquities Scheme to record archaeological objects found by members of the public, making West Berkshire's heritage accessible to all.

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