Letter to the
Editor
from K.O. Beck, Horsham,
West Sussex
Henry Froom BECK
Research into my own family shows that they
were established in Devon until early in the
nineteenth century when three brothers and a half
brother moved to Cardiff. The half brother became
a baker at Merthyr Tydfil. It was the discovery
of the marriage of Henry Froom Beck at Merthyr
that gave rise to one of those occasions where
one is encouraged onto a false trail as I later
discovered that this Beck had nothing to do with
my part of the family. He led me to Reading and
Newbury where I found that his grandfather, of
exactly the same name, had a rather embarrassing
experience on his intended wedding day.
His marriage was due to take place at the
church of St. Nicholas, Newbury on March 6, 1825.
The banns had been called, all the preparations
had been made and you can imagine Henry nervously
waiting in the church for the arrival of his
young bride, Elizabeth Winter. When the ceremony
was completed the couple moved into the vestry to
sign the marriage certificate. Henry signed his
full name: Henry Froom Beck, but the Rector,
James Roe stopped the proceedings and wrote
across the document' NB this incomplete through
incorrectness of name as published in the Banns'.
It seems that Henry had given his name as Henry
Beck when asked for details for calling of the
banns. Elizabeth forgave her husband-to-be for on
May 10 the ceremony was performed again with the
same bride and groom at the same church with the
same clergyman officiating.
I have many details of various Beck families
and would be very happy to communicate with
anyone researching this name.
