Records of my family in Redbourn go back as far as

John Green who married Mary (Peacock) at St. Marys in 1757. Their deaths were 14.10.1767 (John) and 14.3.1813 (Mary). I have a copy of her will written in 1804. I believe they were both interred at St. Marys, Redbourn. Their eldest son was also John, baptised on 13.5.1759 at Redbourn who married Joyce (Stokes) on 24.2.1784

This John was my Great-great-great Grandfather and it was he who was named as the occupant of Crouch Hall in Land Tax Assessments in 1805.

The earliest mention of 'Crouch' as far as I know was in 1518/19 Court Rolls (GMR XC3a) wherein there was a record of a Copyhold Toft and 1 ferlingate of land called "Crowch" of 23.5 acres. 17th Century Surveys referred to 'Crowches Close'. A 1771 map (GMR.XIII.16) showed the area as 4 1/2 acres. Land Tax Assessments, taken at 10 - yearly intervals showed the following: ....in 1805, "Crouch Hall" was held by Jonathan Rose and occupied by John Green; ....in 1815, it was held by J. Searanke and occupied by Mrs. Joyce Green (this would have been after her husband John's death on 2.10.1814; ....in 1825, it was held and occupied by Mrs. Joyce Green, my Great-great-great Grandmother

I am uncertain as to when the Greens moved out of Crouch Hall, but Joyce died on 17.12.1851 and in 1858, a Sale advice (Misc. XI 73447) indicated that it was occupied by Frederick Gray, and comprised 10 acres 2 rods 15 perches.

The eldest son of John and Joyce was Thomas Green baptised on 29.8.1784 who married Elizabeth (Pollard) at St. Marys on 19.4.1814. Their eldest son was William born on 21.8.1825 who became an apprentice gardener on his Grandmother's property at 'Crouch Hall'. William then married Mary (Messenger) at St. Marys on 12.2.1849 and as a young married couple they decided to emigrate to Australia. Thus began the Australian arm of our family. After a variety of adventures and employments, William found a job as a shepherd for a wealthy landowner in Victoria's Western District until he was able to buy acreage of his own there, in an area called Murroon. My Grandfather Charles Green was the 7th. of 11 children born to William and Mary. Members of our family are still sheep-farming in that Murroon-Barwon Downs area, not far west of Geelong in fertile rolling countryside.

There is still considerable interest in Redbourn and Crouch Hall among my living relatives, brothers,uncles, cousins and children.

Ken Green greenbottle37@bigpond.com 16 Jun 2005

I had an Email last week from a Mike Skillman in Warminster whose heritage also goes back to his Great-great grandmother Mary Skillman (nee Green). Mary married one John Skillman, a tailor in Redbourn in 1814. Mary was a younger sister of my Great-great grandfather Thomas Green who married Elizabeth Pollard in Redbourn in 1814. It was Thomas's parents John and Joyce who occupied and owned Crouch Hall for some years around 1805-1850. My Great grandfather William was apprenticed as a gardener to his Grandmother Joyce before he married and emigrated to Australia with his young bride Mary (Messenger) in 1849. So Mike Skillman and I share the same Great-great-great grandparents John and Joyce Green.

Ken Green greenbottle37@bigpond.com 01 Dec 05

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