In-depth history
FAMILY NAME HISTORY
The English surname Chick is of nickname origin, being derived from the physical or personal characteristics of the original bearer.
In this case Chick is associated with the old English word ?cicen? which means chicken.
The significance of the nickname Chick is uncertain but names of birds, animals and fish were often used in medieval times to signify some distinguishing feature of the original bearer. This is borne out by the existence of surnames like Eagle, Heron, Rook, and Hawk etc. A variant of this surname is chicken. Most authorities on the subject agree that nicknames like ?Chick? were generally used as a sign of affection. In fact, Chick is still used as a term of affection in many countries but is more likely to be applied to very young children.
THE FAMILY CREST
The white background denotes Peace, The green chevron signifies protection and the cockerells watchfulness, and the star denotes honour and achievement
MOTTO: Non Temere meaning Not Rashly
Charles Chick b 1803 was a coal carrier in the 1851 census yet in the 1881 census it has his occupation as retired farmer, In the 1851 & 1881 census records they are living at EastField cottages West Chinnock
Mary (chick) maiden name Chant b 1801 was a weaver in the 1851 census but in the 1881 census she is shown as retired farmer wife
Sampson Chick b 1823 was weaver in 1841 as was
Alfred Chick b 1825/6
Jemima chick b 1829 was a domestic in 1851 and retired farmer daughter in 1881
Samuel chick b 1831 was a yarn Barton laborer in 1851, no records found in 1881
William chick b 1834 was an agricultural laborer in the 1851 and 1881 census records,
Charles chick b 1840 was an agricultural laborer in 1851, no records yet found for 1881
Jane chick b 1843 was a Glover in 1851
Harriet chick b 1845 was only 6 at time of 1851 census.
William b 1834?7? and Elizabeth (maiden name Bartlett) were living in South Street in West Chinnock in 1881, their children?s occupations
Oliver b 1863 was an agricultural laborer in the 1881 and a coal miner in 1901 census living as a boarder at 5 long row Pontypridd S.Wales
Samuel b 1867 was a boot maker in the 1881 census
Charles b 1869 and Jane b 1873 are at school in 1881 and Alfred b 1879 is still just a baby.
Oliver b 1863 married Sarah Holman b 6TH April 1874 on 22nd September 1892, Sarah Holman was the daughter of Samuel Holman b 1834 in Crewkerne Somerset and Mary Ann (surname unknown) b 1830 in Crewkerne Somerset and sister to Alice, Samuel, George, Charles, Mary, Edith and Thomas Holman.
In 1893/4 they moved to south Wales where they had their first child
(My grandfather) William b 28th July 1894, By 1899 they had moved back to Somerset where they had their second and third children Georgina Mary Chick b 18th December 1899 and Earnest Frank Chick b 29th September 1903, In the 1901 census Sarah was living in Hermitage St Crewkerne with her mother and children William Charles and Georgina Mary, Sarah?s occupation at that time was Charwoman
My grandfather William b 1894 joined the navy in 1910/11 (picture of him on home page) He served for many years in the navy and received a medal for long service and good conduct as well as medals for his service during the Great War, He served aboard HMS ARGUS (land base) and HMS KING ALFRED (see photo gallery)
He met a Plymouth girl Emily Simms b 15 March 1894, in 1912 she was living at 20 Plym St Plymouth, They married on 2nd May 1914 in Plymouth.
Emily Sims/Simms was the daughter of James Sims/Simms b 1860 in Newton Ferrers Devon and Emily Angel Fewins/Fewings b 1866 in Chulmleigh Devon and sister to Daisy, Irene, (William) George, Alfred and James Sims/Simms
In 1914 my grandfather went away to war, They moved to Buckinghamshire in 1921 where they had Eileen and Gordon:
Leslie Charles Chick b 15th November 1919 in Plymouth Devon
Eileen Emily Chick b 19th October 1926 at 1 Barracks Rd in High Wycombe Bucks
Gordon William Chick b 3rd February 1934 in High Wycombe Bucks
Les was a lorry driver for a furniture company called Croxson Brothers until he joined the army in 1939/40, I have letters that he wrote to his mother during training at Warminster Wiltshire, He put his address as:
Tpr Chick L C 7907453
Dorm 30 b squadron
57th heavy tank regiment
Royal Armoured Corp
Warminster
Wilts
Les went over to Europe during the invasion in 1944, He drove ARVs (Armoured recovery vehicles) His job was to recover battle damaged tanks from the battle fields complete with dead and injured occupants, He made it through the war but died in an unfortunate accident, On the 14th July he drowned in Laboe near Kiel in north Germany, Records show that there were 39 U-boats scuttled in the port, Myself and other family members think he was swimming around these U-boats and got in to difficulty, Les was an excellent swimmer.
The war diary has the entry:
14 jul L/Cpl Chick ?B? Sqn was drowned while bathing in the sea at LABOE.
His medical records show
14.7.45 MISSING B.D DROWNED
14.7.45 now confirmed
21.7.45 DROWNED (body recovered)
Les was first buried at Rendsburg then moved and reburied in the war graves in Kiel North Germany, Les?s details can be found on the CWGC website http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/search.aspx Search for Chick L C WW2 1945 Army United Kingdom and it will give you his details along with his grave location.
Eileen Emily Chick, Christened at St John church in High Wycombe Bucks, Went to school in Totteridge Rd, Left school at 14 and went to work at E Gomme?s furniture makers, At 23 years of age Met and married Earnest Wier, Married on the 26th March 1949, They had 2 daughters Angela 1950 and Christine 1952
Gordon (my dad) went to school at Hatters lane modern school, Boys department High Wycombe Bucks, He did his national service in the royal artillery up in Newcastle in1952, He trained as a mechanic on the AEC Matador and was also a driving instructor, He was a mechanic for most of his working life.
He married my mother Margaret Elizabeth Gibbs b 4th March 1935 on the 2nd July 1955, Margaret Elizabeth Gibbs was the daughter of Percival William Gibbs b 26 November 1907 and Gladys Mary Ayres b 5 February 1907 in Turville and sister to Joan Doreen Gibbs and David William Gibbs.
They remained in High Wycombe Buckinghamshire where they had 4 wonderful children (see about us) family moved to Norfolk in 1973, Sue stayed in High Wycombe.
Margaret (mum) worked as an Office Manager/supervisor until the move to the southwest.
I will update these pages as and when fresh information is found.
I would like to thank my brother Steven Chick for his help with obtaining family records and information also I'd like to thank other family members for their input.
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