+ 1903/04 John Kearvell (1859-1908) Carpenter and Verger repairs the Church Tower
at Bosham for £128 5s 8d. He had to be paid in instalments and this gives a good
guide to the church finances at that time. Coincidentally John’s grandfather, also
named John, experienced the same problem when he had repaired the tower and spire
in 1841
Funtington Parish War Memorial
Charles, his wife Alice and sister-in-law Harriett pictured during WW1
+Brothers, Henry James (1890-1928) and Charles (1888-1971) KEARVELL from Funtington,
Sussex are early family emigrants to Canada in 1914. Their Sussex fiancees, Harriett
POCOCK and Alice EDE follow soon afterwards. Henry works on Farms before joining
Canadian Railways whilst Charles, a Carpenter, serves with the Canadian Army overseas
during WW1
+Further Family emigrations to USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand follow during
the middle decades of the Century
+Family Tree research by Gordon KEARVELL from Slough and Mary VOYLE (nee KEARVELL)
from New Zealand put together the first known trees in the 1970/80's. Working independantly
of each other they both prove the ancestral line back to the marriage of Francis
KERVIL and Elizabeth CUPIN in December 1693 at Bosham, Sussex
+In the second half of the Century the diversity of occupations is marked. In England
there is movement to many Counties of Southern England, East Anglia and Wales as
well as the North East and the North West
+By the end of the Century the Family representation in Bosham has dwindled to a
couple of households
+ Francis George KEARVELL (1876-1936), a Carpenter, born at Warfield, Berkshire and
his wife, Edith Rogers (1880-1963) born at Maidenhead, Berkshire together with their
two children, Leslie (1901-1985) and Mildred (1904-1990), become the first family
to emigrate to New Zealand in December 1909 sailing aboard S.S. Arawa
+First family member to emigrate to USA is believed to be Doris May KEARVELL (1920-)
from Wantage Berks (now in Oxon) who met and married USAF Howard MARTIN during WW2
and moved to USA after the war, finally settling in Albuquerque, New Mexico
+ Charles Henry KEARVELL (1873-1953) born Send and Ripley, Surrey served 12 years
as a Gunner with Royal Garrison Artillery. In 1911 he went to Canada and joined Canadian
Garrison Artillery for nearly 8 years service and became the first known Family member
to "emigrate" to Canada
+ Conflict again claims the life of a Family member. William David KEARVELL (1894-1917)
from Funtington, Sussex and serving in WW1 as a Gunner with 161st Brigade Royal Field
Artillery dies of his wounds on 1 August 1917 and is buried at the Coxyde Military
Cemetery in West Flanders, Belgium. The War Graves Commission has confirmed that
ours is the only surname with a single entry
+ WW2 does claim the life of John Henry CHISHAM, son of Mary Annie KEARVELL and
William CHISHAM from Portsmouth, Hampshire. He was a Private in the Royal Sussex
Regiment and was killed on 16 May 1940 during the ‘Retreat from Dunkirk’. He is buried
at the Mont de Cats Communal Cemetery near the Franco-Belgium Border.
Civilian Family members are reported killed during the London Blitz in 1940.
+The first family emigrant to South Africa is believed to be Grace Amelia KEARVELL
(1882-1971) , a Nurse, born Warfield Berks who sailed from Southampton aboard the
Union Castle Liner “Garth Castle” in February 1914.
In South Africa she will marry John BROWN and have 3 children
