This division is where you will read something about
me and my extended family. You already may have visited
some of the specfic pages, such as My Line or Cousins.
Bill Marsh, 24 Jan 2002.
The map above (5-mile squares) of south-eastern Kent shows my principal
areas of interest, centered on Barham. Detailed maps of Barham can be
found at two sites linked on my Favorite Links page.
Why Barham? Many of my ancestors, including my No.1 man, William Marsh born about 1550, lived in the Barham area. Thus, I consider Barham my root source. From Barham, William's descendants moved ever outward toward the coastal areas in the south-east and toward London in a north-west direction. Many stopped over in towns and villages on the way and stayed just a short while, others settled for the long haul, thus my relatives can be found at ever-expanding locations outward from Barham.
Barham is in a strategic position between Dover & Canterbury and
many historic events occurred there.
On Barham Down:
- The Britons fought the Romans.
- Kentish men swore fealty to William the Conquerer.
- King John encamped with 50,000 men.
- King Henry VI after being crowned in France was met by a large assembly
of people.
- Civil War troops assembled for an attack on Dover Castle .
- In 1799, 18000 troops were assembled before embarking for Holland - 38 infants
born at the camp were baptized in Barham Church.
- Troops were assembled during the Napoleonic War.
- Had its uses during WW1 and WW2.
You will find mention of Barham in many parts of this Web site
