The following resources, images and articles have been placed on this page as they involve information from more than one parish.

FOR SPECIFIC PARISH ENQUIRIES PLEASE DIRECT THESE TO THE OPC COVERING THAT PARISH.  IF NO OPC COVER IS IN PLACE PLEASE CONTACT OUR GENREAL ENQUIRY CLERK - TERESA LEWIS WHO CAN BE REACHED BY MAIL VIA THE CONTACT AN OPC OPTION IN THE FRONT PAGE MENU

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CHIPPENHAM NON-CONFORMIST CIRCUIT

We are very fortunate to have the following Baptism records from the Chippenham Non-Conformist circuit, the records have recently been found and thanks to the dedication of our OPC for Chippenham have been made available to us first making them fairly unique.

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MOONRAKERS

Have you ever wondered why people from Wiltshire are referred to as Moonrakers?   The following is one account of why.

One clear moonlit night a band of smugglers risked being caught transporting their contraband  from their hiding place to its final destination when suddenly a lookout signalled that customs men were on the patrol. The quick witted smugglers dumped their barrels into a nearby pond and hid themselves in tall grass nearby until the all clear had been given.

However the lookout had been too quick to give the go ahead to retrieve the contraband from the pond and an alert excise man stumbled across the men "raking the pond".  He asked what did they think they were doing and a very fast thinking smuggler said that they were trying to rake the moon (the reflection of which was clear on the ponds still surface) from the bottom of the pond and sell its cheese at market.

The excise officer laughed hysterically and went away telling all who would listen about how stupid the country folk were!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From that night on Wiltshire folk were known as Moonrakers but were they really as stupid as the officer made them out to be.  I think maybe not.

The legend has been linked to several places in the county but a clear favourite for the location of the pond is that of The Crammer in Devizes as seen below

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The following list contains the names of those who have died intestate (without having left a will) within the county of Wiltshire.  The list also contains some research which although not authenticated is believed to be correct.  The Bona Vacantia list is published by the Treasury Solicitor and the assets are held for 30 years.  Unless a legitimate heir makes a claim after 30 years the assets are absorbed into the Government coffers.  If you feel you have a legal claim on any of these estates please contact the Treasury Solicitor link above.  Following this link you can also find a legitimate heir family tree to see if you are legally entitled to make a claim.

Please note that Wiltshire-OPC site is not able to act for anyone making a claim and that the list is solely produced in good faith as a guide and research aid to family historians.

This list was last updated on 26th August 2010

ATKINSON, Robert Henry - died 12th September 2002 in Swindon - Robert was born 31st March 1914

BROWN, Bernard Victor - died 28th February 2002 in Devizes - Bernard was born 6th March 1924 in Wincanton area of Somerset.  His mother's maiden name was possibly Warron

BURNARD, Cecil Vincent - died 27th April 2000 in Amesbury - Cecil was born 18th August 1904 in the Rochford area of Essex

COLLINS, Terence John - died 24th March 1998 in Swindon - Terence was born 6th October 1920

CROWLEY, Denis Patrick - died 17th December 2002 in Marlbrough - Denis was born 15th March 1938

GUYATT, Horace Herbert - died 13th September 2003 in Salisbury - Horace was born 23rd February 1923 in the Pewsey area.  His mother's maiden name was possibly Holmes

HOSEY, Michael Edwin - died 30th June 2009 in Warminster - Michael was born possibly in 1937.  His mother's maiden name was possibly Snelgrove

HUDSON, Kenneth - died 10th Novemebr 2008 - Kenneth was possiby born in 1931 in Swindon.  His mother's maiden was possibly Byford

HUDSON, Leonard - died 7th February 2005 - Leonard was born 28th October 1914

KELLY, Patrick - died 21st March 2008 in Swindon

LLOYD, Brian Cyril - died 2nd February 2010 in Trowbridge

LOFTUS, James Thomas Alfred (A.K.A. Jack) - died 27the April 2002 in Swindon - James was born 1st October 1904 in the Camberwell area of London

MATHEWS, Hilda Maureen Cobledick - died 20th January 2002 in Salisbury - Hilda was born 29th December 1920 in the Plymouth, Devon area.  It looks unlikely that Hilda married and had issue

McBRIDE, Louis - died 8th August 2003 in Swindon - Louis was born 22nd November 1922

MILES, Gordon John - died 30th December 2002 in Salisbury - Gordon was born 17th January 1937 in the Surrey area.  His mother's maiden name was possibly Hoather

MILLER, Marie Antoinette Leonette - died 22nd March 2005 in Salisbury - born 15th July 1938

MOLONEY, Annie - died 5th December 2001 in Swindon - Annie Catherine was born 5th January 1914

MUNDY, Cissy - died 7th Octiber 2005 in Salisbury - Cicely was born 5th July 1914

NOWAK, Leon - died 27th Octiber 2002 in Swindon - Leon was born 1st december 1922

PONTING, Dora Lilian - died 26th November 2001 in Marlborough - Dora Lilian Whitbread was born 2nd June 1904 in the Marlborough area.  She was the daughter of Jeremiah & Mary Jane Whitbread (nee Ferris) who were married in the March Quarter of 1901.  Dora had 3 half brothers and sisters from her father's previous marriage to Mary Ann Turner.  These were Ernest born 1895, Alice M. born 1890 and Florence E. born 1890.  Dora married Ernest H. Ponting in the June Quarter of 1927 in the Marlborough area (possibly Clatford).  No issue of this marriage have been found.

POWER, Bridget - died 8th November 2008 in Figheldean

RADOSALJEVIC, Zarco - died 21st August 2008 in Westbury

SMITH, Daisy Mabel - died 12th July 2007 in Swindon

STOTT, Joseph - died 2nd June 2004 in Devizes - Joseph was born 4th November 1902

WILLIAMS, William John - died 9th May 2006 in Salisbury

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PHOTO GALLERY

You will find images in the gallery below that are not related to any particular parish.  It may include images that are unidentified but known to be from Wiltshire.

#phocagallerypiclens 320-phocagallerypiclenscode-Wiltshire_bits_n_bobs/img058.jpg

Moonraker Legen...