Revell Family Study
Correspondence
I recently received correspondence from S. Flint who tells me :
Having read your Revill connections and noting that my Gr Gr Gr Gr UNCLE John Colledge was a wittness to one of the marriages at Wirksworth. I thought you may be interested to know that way back in the 1600s my kin of Flint, living at Darley Dale at the time, had association with a family of Revill who I believe married into Collumbells who were Lords of the Manor of Darley (married into Gells and Sacherverals).The Revills then lived at Carnfield Hall, South Normanton , now owned by Barbara Cartlands son. On the site of Carnfield Hall is a Garden Centre/Cafe In the cafe is a full Revill family tree.
A friend of mine today is Jack Revill a retired Mining Engineer (Eastwood Hall N.C.B.)living at Ripley. He, my brother and I used to sing in Bestood Colliery Male Choir Notts and Alfreton Male Voice Choir.
Collumbells and Revills were Commanders of Sir John Gells Derbyshire Regiment, (Parliamentary Forces, Cromwell) My flint kin were Soldiers in Gells Regiment of Foot.
Received from:
Gerald Randolph Revelle Wisconsin, USA
15/01/04
Hello,
I've not recently searched on my surname, Revelle, so I'm a bit behind in my geneaology. Having discovered (at least) some of my roots in Derbyshire and Yorkshire, I was wondering wherther my good friend James Cartland, Carnfield Hall, Normanton had ever expanded his extensive knowledge of the Revel family to the world wide web. So I searched on Carnfield Hall and found your wonderful sight.
James and I have often discussed bringing we long, lost North American Revels (and derivitives) on a genealogical / history tour of England.
But I wonder whether you are aware of the Revels of Ogsden Hall and another hall, the name of which escapes me...both near Shirland Derbyshire? The former is now owned by David Wakefiled who is doing a great job of restoring all aspects of the grounds and structure.
And then there's the connection to Hugh d' Revel, Grand Magistar of The Knights Templar, and the connection to the Eyre's in Yorkshire...
Sorry to run on, but I do enjoy your site.
(originally from Missouri and long ago, North Carolina/Maryland) We've lost our connection to the UK
Received from:
Gerald Randolph Revelle Wisconsin, USA
16/01/04
Hello
I sort of fell into the Revel connection in the UK, ten or more years ago, while visiting on business in the south and deciding to take my two sons to the north country, to help search out a hint of a connection above Derby, in Shirland. We originally began our search on Shirland Street, in Chesterfield, but soon learned the church wasn't nearly old enough to have our kin buried there and later that evening, through a hint to one of my sons, ostensibly, during a pub conversation with a bright British girl (are there any others...?), the following morning, we raced to Shirland (the town) church and there they were. Medieval, too. We were astonished by the crypts, caskets, carvings the huge halls---doesn't take much to impress a Yank...and all the other information we found and the very, very nice people we met. There's another church in....Butterfield, I think, with Revel tombs. I've not been in the third great hall, located around Shirland, I believe; it's on a small lake in a rather secluded, residential area, similar to Carnfield Hall in, South Normanton.
When I phoned James and introduce myself, we got an invite right over; I remember James taking me up into his attic..."you look a fellow who'd like to see my beams..." he said...and I was and they were huge and had a whole history of their own. We actually went out on the roof and surveyed the open area he said was once the easterly limits of Sherwood Forest...and accused "my lot" of cutting it all down for mine props, making us feel pretty bad after loving the Robin Hood tales.
We're still uncertain which Revel branch settled in North America, though----North Carolina/Maryland area at first; it could have been part of the bunch who financed part of the Mayflower Charter, but didn't like the mosquitos and so didn't remain, then.
There's so very much history, isn't there and with so many famous connections? No royalty, however, that I've learned of.
I'm stopping by (Derbyshire (S. Normanton)-Yorkshire(Halifax)) again next summer to fan the fire on bringing over a future tour group of Revel and like, relations from North America. I once had the tour just about ready to go---hotel, coaches, sights to see, when the mad cow thing happened (such a tragedy over there) and then we had the World Trade Center attack.
James Cartland knows a tremendous amount of information about us (Revels), though, having bought the old house--Carnfield Hall and now he's taken 'us' up as somewhat of a hobby. He told me he's been doing a series for Yorkshire TV about boot sales (flea markets, USA) where he walks around finding antiques among the sellers and surprises them what they have and their worth. Have you seen any of the programs, yet? He was telling me how much fun he was having doing them.
Cecil Humphrey Smith, has written a book titled 'Hugh Revel', a crusader/knight who, among other things, witnessed the will of Prince Henry the ???, at Acre before a large battle. The ISBN is 0 85033 895 6, published by Phillimore & Co, Ltd, Shopwyke Manor Barn, Chichester, West Sussex. I've spoken with Cecil about lecturing to the tour. We're even planning a high tea at Ogsden Hall and James wants to invite the British Revels to Carnfield for a wine tasting and to meet their American cousins. Sounds like a lot of work, doesn't it?
A daughter from the Eyre family (friend to the Bronte's) married a Revel, according to James. We've been to the crypt in the church, the name of which escapes me now. Could it be near Howith, or am I thinking of the Brontes home? I think the latter.
Hugh Revel is also satirized in Christopher Marlowe's work and also by the American author, Mark Twain, in 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.'
I've been typing on this throughout the afternoon as time permitted. I hope it isn't too disjointed; I believe this is enough for now and hope to have answered some of your questions, I welcome you news.
Best regards,
Jerry Revelle
Elk Mound (rural), Wisconsin, USA
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