Genealogy Chat

A very distant relation was charged in 1878 with assaulting a 17-year old girl on a train. Frederick Davies, 56, was headmaster of a school in Northfleet, Kent, ordained in holy orders, and never turned up for his trial. His son spoke on his behalf to say that he had fled to the continent.

This is where I thought the trail had run cold until this evening, when I came across the 1879 Crockford's Clerical Directory. It gave as his address as Manor House Northfleet Gravesend, and Bruges. I had no idea that he had a property in Bruges, and I think there's every chance that that's where he fled to.

So what do I do next? Any ideas how I can pick up the trail? How do I find records for Bruges in Belgium from 1878 into the 20th century?

Paul, thats interesting! Thing is, how come he was still in Crockfords in 1879 if he had been charged and fled before that date??? And whose to say he had a property in Bruges, could have just rented a place.

Could you write to Crockfords publishers and ask where the details would have come from?

All these directories are compiled maybe a year or so previous & by the time they are printed they are out of date.

Malcolm.

But Id have thought the actual trial would have been some time after the offence, to allow him to disappear? Why then would they know about Bruges? Surely he would have kept it a bit quiet? Unless hed lived there previously?

Is there a will anywhere Paul for him or the son?

Actually it was not a trial. He was summoned to court days after the offence and it was then that his son spoke up. A warrant was issued for his arrest but I can't find any evidence that this was followed up. Maybe they were just glad to see the back of him.

Unless it was a permanent home, why would it have been mentioned at all in Crockford's? It's got to belong to him.