To: Arnold Elsy

Dear Arnold

 What a surprise!

 Yes I have all the information that you gave to Val and much more although I stopped on your side of the family with Thomas John’s family the youngest child being Thomas Elsy born 1899. My 2^nd Cousin twice removed (your father!)

 I have been collating the family history for some time having spent about 3 weeks in Kew (all of the mariner’s records are there and also about 3 weeks at Norwich. I am currently starting to write a book about the Elsy’s (for family consumption only). My interest in family history was sparked off by 2 of my cousins who did a lot of the research on the family at East Dereham and Cley. I have widened it to embrace brothers and sisters etc that quite often lead to other information like your contact.
Bits that you may be interested in for starters are as follows:

 1)     William Cornelius Elsy l (Your great grandfather and the brother of my great great grandfather Joseph Cornelius Elsy details from his mariners registration in 1844 are as follows

 He must have gone with his brother Joseph, as his number was 52820.

2)   Their father was the postmaster and hairdresser at Cley and he lived in Whalebone House, which is still there and is now a vegetarian restaurant and Grade 2 listed building. (Its mentioned on the Web.)

The family have traced the Elsy line back to John Elsey who married Cicely Dunn on 4^th October 1724. I have traced her family back about another 50 years to her father Thomas Dunn my 7times great grandfather.

I am going back to Norwich the week after next to follow up some more leads so I may have more information on the earlier years. Should you wish to contact me direct feel free. I am away from Friday morning until next Wednesday then away again for a week the following Sunday.

Ps Thanks Val; for this wonderful contact.