


Our Family History
The Genealogy of the Story Family

Henry Harle Story


With further ref to your letter of 13th Oct, and my reply thereto.
Having returned home I now take the opportunity of correcting you as fully as I can prior to my return to India early in November.
Most of the information given herein is extracts from pedigrees, derived from family bibles and from old parchments in our possession. The above is our crest - "a stork's head erased, gorged with a XXX XXX." The 'XXX XXX' denotes 2nd son, and the stork was erased because the full stork with the XXX looked out of proportion. This process was performed 2 or 300 years ago - but there appears to be no record of the date - or who the second son was who performed it.
Motto - from an old seal discovered "Dei Gratia sum id quod sum" but my great grandfather used "Fabula sed vera"".
Arms :- "Per fess azure and argent, a pale countercharged, three storks" (whatever that means !!!)

I am no artist as you can see! but this is supposed to represent the arms. Every generation seemed to alter the supporters, according I believe to the family they married into. The last record we have the supporters are dolphins - whether that means that one of the Storys married a fishmoinger I am afraid I don't know.
Aprapos of supporters - the Grahams of Lowland Scotland according to legend stole some land on the border belonging to a Story, who in consequence was too hard up to fight for its return and lost it. The Grahams therefore supported their arms by two full storks - showing their means of livelihood was derived thro' the Story - and those storks are in their arms to this day.
The irony of the situation is that a Graham XXX the battalion of which I have now the honour of belonging.
So far as is known, the only other Story family who bear exactly the same arms are at Bishopwearmouth. They spell the name with an E and left Newcastle about 1654.
We possess two pedigrees - both slightly different. One goes back to 1690 and the other to 1640.
There is a large vault at St. John's Church, Newcastle, containing Storys of old bearing the coat of arms.
The family names are Robert, John, Henry, Edward, William, James & Thomas - Mary, Anne, Eleanor.
To come nearer to present time. My great grandfather was very wealthy, owning large breweries and tanneries. The tanneries must have been handed down for generations - as in the olden days, before anyone could tan on his own, he had to become apprenticed, or pay a sum to the government (Crown) or support armed men, and become free of the XXX.
I am a tanner (tho all I know about it is that I have smelt the odour caused by the process) by patrimony - and therefore a Freeman of Newcastle - and where my father was chairman of "Incorporated CXXX of Free Tanners". I looked through the old books and saw the (illiterate) signatures of Story Master Tanner as far back as 1690.
My great grandfather's money was unequally left to two sons - Robert & Edward. the latter getting the larger portion. The consequence was that Robert & his family spoke n'er again to Edward & his family - and what has happened to the latter family I don't know.
Robert however was later a wealthy brewer and builder. He lost a considerable portion of his fortune by providing beer for the whole district from Newcastle to Haltwhistle for an unsuccessful candidate for election - who having failed, decamped without paying - and secondly his secretary, one Strachan ran away with several thousands.
Robert was (of course) my grandfather, who was imprisoned for debt as a result - paid his debt for pennies in the pound - and died penniless. He had a large family - his wife having conceived 30 - many of whom died. The surviving children of course were not provided for - and my father was the 3rd son - died recently. The 2nd surviving son. My uncles and their offspring I don't know, having seen them, the uncles, only in my infancy.
There was always some feeling between the brothers - which I know little about.
The family plate (of which there is a great deal) did not come their way.
Now for the Irish Storys, XXXmerchants which you mention.
My grand father Robert married May 14th 1840 in St. Catherines Church; Mary grand-daughter of John & Jane Story of Acle & Dublin. So my grandfather apparently married his cousin.
John (died Dublin 1848) & Jane Story, residing in Dublin and had issue:-
John - died 1803
Edward - died 1834
Jane - died ?
and the above John Story married and had issue
John - died 1860 in Dublin
William - died 1860 ditto
Robert - died 1850 ditto
Mary (my grandmother) married Robert Story of Acle died 1889
James - died 1831 Dublin
George
Thomas
My grandfather Robert was eldest son of Edward Story of Acle, born 1765.
If therefore there is any connection between us within the last 200 years it is probably through my grandmother. When cousins marry they do confuse matters so.
I believe when John Story (the one who married Jane) went to Dublin - his cousin also went - but as the cousin is so far removed from our line there is no record - tho' tradition has it so.
My letter I am sure is difficult to follow, but I get confused myself when I try to trace back.
I was admitted a freeman in 1915 when I became of age.
There are several Storys in the "Tanners XXX" of ALL classes - most of whom accept remote relationship, but few can trace the connection.
There is an E.R. Story, Colonel of the Warwicks; a XXX, XXX, and others of lower and even lower degree.
I should say the Storys of the border "XXX XXX" whom you ascertain would probably be my grandfather. What happened to HIS brother, I don't know - but I believe Colonel E.R. is a descendant.
My ancestors, father told me, were very extravagant, and even XXX.
The ancestral house is now an art gallery.
You will gather that my father could not be wealthy. He kept apart from all relations and connections all his life. Was greatly interested, and an authority on Newcastle and border history.
My brother Robert & self are the two survivors of a family of five - 2 daughters and 3 sons. The other son John, was an artist of some merit - died as a result of the war in 1919.
We all received as good an education as could be afforded - good - but not Eton & Oxford.
I joined the army in 1915, and earned the Military Cross on the Somme in 1916 - of which I am proud.
Many Storys have been in the XXX including 2 direct ancestors.
I occasionally come across Storys & Storeys and have always found them most congenial - especially those of the professional classes.
My father was a very proud man with with a keen sense of XXX. He never entertained - for obvious reasons.
I love the army, tho I have to curb my desires considerably, because of the smallness of my XXX. I prefer living abroard - really because I cannot afford in their country as I would desire - and I can - more easily abroard.
All the Storys XXX XXX I have heard my father talk about - and relate the history of some. But I cannot remember it.
I understand the Mr. Bigbye you mention was engaged by the Storeys of Lancaster Cotton Merchants to trace a pedigree - hence the publication XXX XXX's journal and I have heard that a large volume was about to be published shortly relating entirely to the family.
In these monetary days - I feel it is not advisable (being penniless!!) to XXX family.
My Regt. (2nd S.R.) old 90th - will winter in Quetta and should like to meet your son or sons in India if it is possible. I should be glad to have their addresses. I saw E.S. in the army XXX - so if he is near XXX I will call on him - if I may.
Aprapos of the incident I referred to where a brother officer spotted a Col. Story by his walk at XXX - on the XXX to XXX I take the liberty of enclosing a photo. Perhaps there may be some likeness which you can discern and it may interest you. I have not however the Story nose - which is larger than mine.
My father was called Henry Harle - the latter after some connection called Harle of Kirk Harle and XXX in the Northumberland - border forts and I am called after him.
If there is anything more I can tell you I should be only too pleased
I am
your sincerely
HH Story
Lt. Col. Robert Story - Letter from H.H. Story 1921
Date | 1921 |
Linked to | Henry Harle Story; Lt. Col. Robert Story |