CAN anything help with my search for distant relatives?

I live in New York and am planning a visit to Winchester. One of my great grandfathers came from Winchester.

His father was a mayor of Winchester in the 1860s by the name of Sharp St John Butt. I’m told his portrait is still hanging in the guildhall along with the other mayors.

The Butt family were bookmakers and boot shop owners. They had a shop on High Street (number 114) from about 1800 to 1968.

One of Sharp St John Butts other sons was named Frederick St John Butt.

It was noted in my great grandfather’s New York obituary that Frederick had been the editor of the Winchester Gazette and Hampshire Chronicle. Frederick lived from 1837-1900. Records show he died in Cyprus.

I’m planning a day trip to Winchester in September on my way back home from Russia (I’m a museum design consultant and will be speaking at the Hermitage Museum there).

I’m hoping to see the portrait of Sharp and locate his gravesite in West Hill Cemetery in St James Lane.

And I’ve an appointment to meet a curator at the local museum to see some items from the family shops.

I was also wondering if I could find any other descendants of Sharp St John Butt still living in the area.

I know one of Sharp’s sons had grandchildren living in the area but can’t find any leads on them.

JEFF DALY, New York, USA.