My research into my family name of LOFTY has mainly been centered around the Southern area of England, but my Ancestors had very large families, and there are a number of missing links that I am starting to explore. It is quite feasible that a few of 'my Lofty's' emigrated to other Countries? There is a very common Christian name which appears all the way back to the 1600's, which is Zachariah. There are various spellings for this!
I am also researching my Paternal Grandmothers name Martha BERLE.
Martha's Parents, Frederick & Justina Berle lived in the Stepney/Whitechapel area of London, Frederick was an Insurance Broker. Justina's maiden name was WITTEKIND,the BERLE's and WITTEKIND's were originally immigrants from Germany, but the exact dates these families arrived in the UK is unclear? I have documents showing the BERLE's in London in 1872, but nothing prior to this. My Grandad, Milton LOFTY, went to London as a young single man, and began an apprenticeship as a Baker, it was here that he met and married Martha Berle, They had their first child, Berl Lofty, whilst living in London.
On the 1901 Census of London, there is a William Berle, a self employed Baker. Could this be Frederick's brother? Perhaps Milton worked for him and this is how he met Martha. More research is needed to establish this.
Milton and Martha eventually moved back to Seer Green and started their own business, Cromwell Bakery, this business was later passed to my Father Ernie Cromwell Lofty and his Brother Milton.
The Lofty's were predominant in the Chalfont St Giles area of Bucks., I have various documental evidence dating back to 1740 supporting this.
Prior to, and after this date, there are records of Lofty's in Hertfordshire area, and the name of Zacharia Lofty is once again documented as far back as the mid 1500's.
I have also discovered many Lofty names in the USA, especially in the Tennessee area, they believe that their routes lie in Ireland? This theory is supported by the following extract from the Australian Immigration Records, which also includes some other Lofty names recorded in the New South Wales Records.
ASSISTED IMMIGRANTS to Sydney 1849-1880
On the "Matoaka" in 1855 there was the following
Michael LOFTY aged 26 born Killmall, Tipperary son of James and Ellen
Catherine LOFTY aged 24 born Millmall, Tippeary dau of James and Bridget
Ryan
Kate LOFTY aged 3months born Birkenhead
extra details- Michael's father was deceased his mother living SUSSEX
Catherine's father deceased mother living Killmall
Michael could read and write, Catherine read, all were in good condition,
Michael had no family already in colony, Catherine had a brother James and
sister Hannah living at Camberdown.
Remittance of £10 was paid by Hannah RYAN to bring family out.
NEW SOUTH WALES Births, Deaths & Marriages 1788-1888
Mary LOFTY born 1846 dau of Patrick and Helen, Roman Catholic, Bathurst
Kelso St Michaels
Mary LOFTY died 1846 Roman Catholic Bathurst, Kelso St Michaels
Jesse LOFTY died 1840 aged 30 Church of England Sydney St James
Sarah LOFTY married 1848 Robert BARTON church of England, Kelso
Isaac LOFTY married 1855 Selina BAKER, Wesleyan Methodist Bowenfels
Isaac LOFTY married 1855 Selina BAKER, Independent (Congregational) Pitt
Street, Sydney [not sure why this marriage listed twice]
The majority of information gleaned in this report is based on documental evidence obtained through library and Church records, and a very small proportion is informed guesswork!
Some of the anecdotes have been passed by living relatives.
There are still a lot of avenues to explore, and a number of missing and sometimes incorrect dates of present and past people. I hope to rectify this in the future.
There are many close links with the Lofty's to other well known surnames in the Chalfont's & Seer Green areas, namely the Payne's, Slade's, Boddy's and Goodall's. There are records of the Lofty's marrying the Pay
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- Milton&Cis Lofty (19 KB)
My Late Parents, Ernie&Margaret Lofty, with Ernie's Brother, Milton, and Sister in Law Cis.
- Chris Lofty & Daughter Ysanne on her wedding 1995 (12 KB)
This is Chris Lofty and Daughter Ysanne, on the way to her wedding on Valentines day 1995.
- Lizzie helping out on the PC, 2002 (38 KB)
Our pet Cat Lizzie in her favourite place on top of my scanner
- Chris&Jenny Lofty in Southern California 1999 (45 KB)
Our first trip to California, on our way to Julian, with our San Diego friends, Bill & Marianna Simpson.
- Chris&Jenny Lofty 1990 (10 KB)
Chris & Jenny Lofty on their wedding day in Maidenhead, 1990.
- Zachariah & Clara Lofty's Diamond Wedding (100 KB)
This family photo was taken 17th April 1924, to celebrate Zachariah & Clara's Diamond wedding. The location is in a cherry orchard adjoining their house in Chalfont St Giles, Bucks.
- Barry& Pam Lofty (61 KB)
Wedding photo of Barry and Pam Lofty in the 1960's, Barry is my elder Brother.
- Milton&Martha(Berle) LOFTY in 1934 (12 KB)
These are my paternal Grandparents, I do not have much information on Martha as she died before I was born. Her maiden name was BERLE, and her family emigrated from Germany to Whitechapel in London, between the 2 Great Wars.
- Zachariah & Clara Lofty's Diamond Wedding2 (90 KB)
Another scene of Zacahriah & Clara's Diamond Wedding, celebrating with 11 of their children. It was taken outside their house, 'Byways', in Chalfont St Giles, Bucks. 17th April 1924
- Chris Lofty & Ian Morris in the 1950's (36 KB)
Chris with his Cousin Ian at a fairground, possibly at Beaconsfield Fair?
- Lofty's delivery Van! (16 KB)
This is one of my Grandads,(Milton Cromwell Lofty), Bread delivery Vans, parked outside his Bakery in the Village of Seer Green, Bucks.
- Justina Berle, nee Wettekind (34 KB)
A photograph of Justina Berle, Frederick Berle's wife and mother of Martha Lofty my Grandmother.
- Chris/Barry/Ian and Mum and Dad (52 KB)
Chris Lofty with brother Barry, cousin Ian Morris and Mum & Dad Lofty (Ernie&Margaret)
- Ernie&Margaret Lofty's Wedding day 1940? (13 KB)
This is Ernie& Margaret Lofty's Wedding day photo. the Parents of Christopher, Barry & Melvyn.
- Chris Lofty as Officer Cadet in the Merchant Navy (17 KB)
Chris Jojed the Merchant Navy as an Officer Cadet in 1961, this photo was taken around 1962, Chris was 17 years of age.
- Ernie&Margaret Lofty with their first born Barry (14 KB)
This was taken during the 2nd World War, it shows Ernie Lofty in his army uniform, Ernie was serving in Norway towards the end of the conflict.
- Chris Lofty as a new recruit in the Police Force (10 KB)
Chris joined the Police late in his working life, this photo was taken around 1990.
- New addition to our Family, 'Lizzie' 2001 (14 KB)
This is Lizzie,a recent addition to our family, she is a Blue/Cream, spotted British Shorthair.
- Sophie&Lizzie our 2 cats, 2002 (34 KB)
Sophie on the left, our rescue cat, who became part of our family in 2001. On the right her 'big' Sister Lizzie!
- Chris&Jenny in North Somerset, October 2000 (27 KB)
Chris & Jenny Lofty on a ramble on the North Somerset coast, October 2000.
- Chris&Jenny Lofty 2002 (53 KB)
At home in Berks Feb. 2002
- Bill&SheilaMorris (20 KB)
My Late Parents at a function with Bill&Sheila Morris, my Mum's Sister and Brother in Law
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