Uncovering the life story of my husband’s great-grandfather, Daniel Ernest Green (1877–1955), has been a journey that brought history to life in the most personal and profound way. It is more than just tracing names and dates on a family tree, it’s about piecing together the fragments of a life once lived, breathing life into … Continue reading The Life Of Daniel Ernest Green 1877-1955
52 weeks
The Life Of, Percy Sidney Willats, 1875-1945, Through Documentation, Part 2.
Welcome back to our exploration of Percy Sidney Willats' extraordinary life, as pieced together through the documents, and records. In Part 1, we delved into the early years of Percy’s life, uncovering the foundational experiences and relationships that shaped his character and ambitions. Now, in Part 2, we move deeper into the narrative, focusing on … Continue reading The Life Of, Percy Sidney Willats, 1875-1945, Through Documentation, Part 2.
The Life Of, Percy Sidney Willats, 1875-1945, Through Documentation, Part 1.
Welcome back to the year 1875, Islington, England. The air there is thick with the soot of coal fires, hanging like a fog over the narrow cobbled streets. Horse-drawn carriages clatter past, their wooden wheels rattling over uneven roads as the wealthy ride in comfort, while the poor shuffle by on foot, faces weathered from … Continue reading The Life Of, Percy Sidney Willats, 1875-1945, Through Documentation, Part 1.
The Hunt For, John Cornelius O’Connors, Birth Index And Birth Certificate, 1872.
Even though I still very much believe that our, John Cornelius O’Connor, was born in County Kerry, Ireland, I have been following a possible paper trail for the, O’Connor family. After trolling the birth index’s I came across two birth index’s, one for, John’s brother, Thomas, and another for John. Both give the mothers maiden … Continue reading The Hunt For, John Cornelius O’Connors, Birth Index And Birth Certificate, 1872.
The Life of Rosina Margaret O’Connor 1884-1939
We inherit from our ancestors gifts so often taken for granted. Each of us contains within this inheritance of soul. We are links between the ages, containing past and present expectations, sacred memories and future promise. – Edward Sellner I’m sure by now, you are well aware of my love for genealogy, but more so … Continue reading The Life of Rosina Margaret O’Connor 1884-1939
52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Jesse Townsend, 1835 – Update
My maternal 3rd Great Grandfather, Jesse Townsend, is one of my ancestors who has stolen my heart. Of course he has to be one of the hardest people to trace, especially his beginnings. Even though I have managed to trace him through the census’s, found his marriage, know who his children are and even what … Continue reading 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Jesse Townsend, 1835 – Update
The Life Of Thomas Kirby 1831-1911
You have to find something that you love enough to be able to take risks, Jump over the hurdles and break through the brick wallsthat are always going to be placed in front of you. If you don't have that kind of feeling for what it is you're doing, you'll stop at the first giant … Continue reading The Life Of Thomas Kirby 1831-1911
Eileen Mary Kirby, Update – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks.
It’s been a while since I updated any information to my 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks, but with the release of the “1921 census” last week, I’m hoping to update when I can. Unfortunately the 1921 census is pay-per-view even if you have a membership with, Find My Past, as I do. I must say … Continue reading Eileen Mary Kirby, Update – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks.
Mr Reginald and Mrs Eileen Willats – Part 1 – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 52
Have you ever felt really close to someone, So close that you can't understand why you and the other person have two separate bodies, two separate skins? My maternal Great-Grandparents love for each other wasn’t just a love of the heart but a love of the soul, an eternal love, a love unbreakable even through … Continue reading Mr Reginald and Mrs Eileen Willats – Part 1 – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 52
Harry Richard Thomas Willats, Aka DICK MONTAGUE – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 51, Part 2
Welcome back to the life of Harry Richard Thomas Willats, also known as our One Any Only 🎭Dick Montague🎭 Last week I told you all about his life as Harry, this week we travel back in time and see a snippet of his life as Dick Montague, through the tabloids. It may be a little … Continue reading Harry Richard Thomas Willats, Aka DICK MONTAGUE – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 51, Part 2
Jesse Townsend – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 50
Peace is the beauty of life. It is sunshine. It is the smile of a child, the love of a mother, the joy of a father, the togetherness of a family. (Menachem Begin) Ever since I saw this photograph of my four maternal Great-Grandparents, Reginald George Wilfred Willats, Jesse Edward Townsend, Bessie Eva Annie Sweet … Continue reading Jesse Townsend – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 50
Andrew Porter – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 49
It's funny how as you grow older, your history becomes so much more important. Those small details hold greater meaning and you begin to relate your own life and personality to the ones that came before you. As I have mentioned in other posts, our family have always had a passion and deep love for … Continue reading Andrew Porter – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 49
Eliza Cameron – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 47
The Mysteries are gateways, thresholds between this world and the Otherworld, the meeting place of gods and people. Family history is just a gigantic mystery waiting to be solved and this weeks ancestor has a good few, well hidden, missing pieces to her puzzle. 🧩 Although I know a great deal about her family, her … Continue reading Eliza Cameron – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 47
Catherine Fielder – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 44
From the beginning of my research, I have been fascinated with this weeks ancestor, as very little is known about her family. Her parents are a frustrating puzzle that never seems to let up and give me clues. Her Husband also fascinates me because his life before the age of six is a complete mystery … Continue reading Catherine Fielder – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 44
Moses Luke – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 43
I'll never forget where I'm from. It's essential to remain humble and evolving. I feel incredibly humble and proud of my roots. Although I wish my ancestors hadn’t lived through hard times, I wouldn’t wish for them to have come from Lords and Ladies. Those amazingly strong people worked incredibly hard, they held their heads … Continue reading Moses Luke – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 43
Sarah Scarrott – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 41
When researching your family history you are limited to certain resources on-line, census returns, birth, marriage and death indexes, court and wills, immigration and emigration records, parish records, military records and newspaper articles. All that you pay through the nose for. It’s very expensive and time-consuming. Mistakes are made constantly, so unfortunately its better to … Continue reading Sarah Scarrott – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 41
William Lye – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 39.
A man who works with his hands is a labourer, a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman, but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist. ~Louis Nizer (1902–1994) A few of my male ancestors were artists, their paper, wood and … Continue reading William Lye – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 39.
Isaac Porter – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 38
Our family has always had a love for the ocean, from the calm before the storm, to the waves crashing upon the shore, to the tranquility of the open waters. It’s almost like a pull, a pull from deep within our souls. Just to sit and listen as the ocean waters ripple as it mees … Continue reading Isaac Porter – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 38
Elizabeth Wren – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 34
Through dusty documentation, census records, birth marriage and death indexes we are incredibly lucky to be able to trace, the one whom gave us life, whom fought battles, faces heartbreak and struggled through life. This weeks ancestor one of the saddest, heartbreaking lives, of my ancestors. She’s pretty incredible as is her husband. How they … Continue reading Elizabeth Wren – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 34
Alfred Kirby – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks -Week 32
Throughout my family research, so many of my ancestors have kept me on my toes, they’ve loved to play a good old game of hide and seek. The Kirby family especially like to play. I have big gaps in their history and a family rumour to clarify. My Nan Doreen Townsend nee Willats, was told … Continue reading Alfred Kirby – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks -Week 32
Eleanor Mary Kirby / Nellie Montague – 52 Ancestors in 52 Week – Week 29 – Part 1
I’m so excited to finally be able to tell you all about my Great, Great Granny, Eleanor Mary Kirby. She is probably my favourite ancestor. She’s intrigues me, even fascinates me. She’s also one of my hardest ancestors to research, even though as you’ll find out, she should be one of the easiest. Eleanor, is … Continue reading Eleanor Mary Kirby / Nellie Montague – 52 Ancestors in 52 Week – Week 29 – Part 1
Frederick Earnest Carr – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 22
Yesterday we said our final goodbyes to my Grandmother, Mollie Joan Newell nee Carr. Tears were shed, a life time of memories were remembered, our family brought together, in respect for a wonderful Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother. Although seeing my families hearts break at our loss, it was lovely to see them all and … Continue reading Frederick Earnest Carr – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 22
Anstice Long – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 19
We live in a word of documentation, knowledge at or fingertips, the government knowing every move we make, our mobile phones pinging our location to that huge data base that logs our location traveled, and while I’m not 100% convinced it’s a good thing, I understand the help it gives to find murders and crack … Continue reading Anstice Long – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 19
Harry Ashley Willats – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 18
Some say, our life's and death's are planned out for us, the day we are born, that fate/destiny is the controlling factor. Some say, your life is what you make it. Neither can ever be proven, well not as far as I can see but I do believe fate plays the larger hand and with … Continue reading Harry Ashley Willats – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 18
Katherine and Rosa Townsend – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, Week 14.
The sun is out, the sky is blue, I’m sat at my computer writing to you. It’s that time again, time to share this weeks ancestor with you, week 14 of 52. This week is going to be a little bit different and I’ll almost be repeating myself but I’m so excited and humble about … Continue reading Katherine and Rosa Townsend – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, Week 14.
Intwined 