May has been hard, it’s thrown every emotion possible at us. It’s GCSE’s and boy the pressure the children are under is horrendous. They have so many exams, too many, even our family doctor was saying how wrong it is and that the pressure the children are under is ridiculous, that there are too many … Continue reading Round Up, Round Up – May 2019
Research
John Cornelius O’Connor -Update
When I first started my blog back in January 2018, its main purpose was to document my family history, through completing a 52 week challenge, about my ancestors. A year on, I’ve done just that and boy I’m glad I did. I feel pretty pleased and a little proud that I managed to complete it … Continue reading John Cornelius O’Connor -Update
Doreen June Willats – Part 2 – Growing
Welcome back to the life of my maternal Grandmother, Doreen June Willats. Today we visit the second part of the series, the school years but if you missed the first part, you can find it here. Let’s get straight to it, shall we. Do you remember any holidays or special outings from your younger years? … Continue reading Doreen June Willats – Part 2 – Growing
Doreen June Willats – The Beginning.
Family history research seems to only concentrate on the souls who have passed over, to where ever it may be. But what about your ancestors whom are still alive and kicking, the ones who remember the souls you are desperate to discover. Isn’t it our jobs as budding historians to document not only the deceased … Continue reading Doreen June Willats – The Beginning.
Round Up, Round Up – April 2019
Bittersweet April always brings the horrific memories of my Dad’s death to the forefront of our minds, we relive the horror and the heartbreak over and over again. Tears are shed and the what ifs only grow as the years without him spiral out of control. It seems only yesterday we were sat day in, … Continue reading Round Up, Round Up – April 2019
Harry Richard Thomas Willats – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 51
I’m sure you may recognise the name, "Harry Richard Thomas Willats," by now, his name has popped up a good few times over my "52 week challenge" and this week I finally get to tell you a little about him. I’m not going to go into the history of the name "Willats" as you can … Continue reading Harry Richard Thomas Willats – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 51
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
Kate Withers – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 48
I am the first to admit, I knew very little about my Dad’s family. It’s the reason I started researching my family history. The December of 1996, my hero, my Dad was in a horrific accident which would end his life the following April of 1997. Little did we know he had left, us three … Continue reading Kate Withers – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 48
Alfred Wheeler – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 46
We may all wish, that we came from royalty or some famous hero, but I am pretty happy to say I come from, hard-working humble roots. Ancestors whom worked the land, the mines and helped build our towns or cities, roads etc. This weeks ancestor made a working class, honest living, and that’s just fine … Continue reading Alfred Wheeler – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 46
Eliza Stockwell – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 44
This weeks ancestor, is truly a tricky one, but very enjoyable to research. I've still not 100% cracked her puzzle but I'm getting close. I'm very lucky to have a photo of her, which unfortunately I can't really share with you as I was given it by a very kind, distant relative Hazel. It's funny … Continue reading Eliza Stockwell – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 44
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
Alice Maria Money – 52Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 37
I often talk about those tricky ancestors whom like to play a good old game of hide and seek, well this weeks ancestor is one of them, from different dates of birth to places of birth, and constant name changes, she’s not the easiest to pinpoint. And even though I can’t be 100% certain about … Continue reading Alice Maria Money – 52Ancestors In 52 Weeks – Week 37
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
Doris Eleanor Poppy Willats – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 28
I always thought that my Great-Grandad, Reginald Willats, only had one sibling, Harry. How wrong was I. I’ve since discovered that he had a Sister called, Doris, and eight half siblings, who have given me endless questions, the need to know more and an overwhelming sadness for my Great, Great-Granny Eleanor. I will shed light … Continue reading Doris Eleanor Poppy Willats – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 28
Frank Rudgley/Newell – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 26
In life we warm to some more than others, family research is no different. This weeks ancestor, holds a huge part of my heart, and even though I never met him, for some unknown reason he pulls on my heartstrings. He intrigues me and I just can’t help but love him. Maybe it’s the love, my Dad … Continue reading Frank Rudgley/Newell – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 26
Alfred Newell – Update
Just a little update as promised. Alfred Newell and Sarah Watts nee Tigg, marriage certificate, finally arrived. It took its time that’s for sure but I can now confirm that Alfred Newell married his second wife Sarah Emily, on the 13th March 1915, at The Abbey Congregational Church, Romsey Hampshire, England, now known as the … Continue reading Alfred Newell – Update
Round Up, Round Up – June 2018
It’s been a bittersweet month. The holiday blues took hold, the stresses of life came crashing back after a week of feeling free, freedom of the mind and freedom of the body. I was totally and utterly shocked at how well I felt on our little holiday in Spain, while the sun warmed my blood … Continue reading Round Up, Round Up – June 2018
Susan Mary Lagden – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 21
Family researching can at times be easy, everything falling into place with out to much trouble. At others times it can leave you pulling your hair out, steam oozing from your ears and your computer heading at full speed towards the window. I have a good few branches of my tree, that leave me feeling … Continue reading Susan Mary Lagden – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 21
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
Round Up, Round Up – May 2018
May, I blinked and it was gone. It really has flown by and I achieved absolutely nothing, in both the land of crochet and family research but in truth the break has been really nice especially as I have lost my crojo. Research wise, I guess all I’ve done is fill in some blanks while … Continue reading Round Up, Round Up – May 2018
Emily Forhead – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks, Week 17
Life, Is it what happens to us ? or is it what we make it? I would like to believe that it’s the latter , but I also believe fate or our already written destiny has a huge role to play. Some peoples lives are one massive advantage, while others, sadly live to work, never … Continue reading Emily Forhead – 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks, Week 17
Emily Shinkfield – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 15
Another week is over and I must admit, I am far from being ready or prepared to write this post. I've found it extremely hard to pick an ancestor to write about this week, I've also have had the bug from hell for over a week now and was very close to not writing a … Continue reading Emily Shinkfield – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 15
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.
Ethel May Wheeler – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 13.
Every day that passes we are making our own history, the love and friendship we give will forever be imbedded in our families hearts. We will leave our own little mark in this huge universe, though small, it will in its own right be powerful. Some of us will leave more than others, some will … Continue reading Ethel May Wheeler – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 13.
Susan Luke – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 12
The weeks seem to be flying by at the moment, I can not believe we are in April already. This weeks seems to have flown by even faster for some reason and I haven't achieved anything, I'm surprised I even got this post written in time. Unfortunately I can not share all the information I … Continue reading Susan Luke – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 12
Elizabeth Grace Gibbs Porter – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
Some ancestors are so much harder to trace than others and this weeks ancestor is no exception. She’s been a tricky one that’s for sure. I have a good few lines on my martial line, that have the highest, strongest, brick walls to break. The O’Connor family is with-out a shadow of a dealt the … Continue reading Elizabeth Grace Gibbs Porter – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
There is always hope.
The joy of researching family history can definitely be a bitter-sweet journey. You build up a picture in you mind of what you believe your Ancestors were like, especially their characters, and sometimes even what they look liked. They warm your heart, you begin to love them and hold a special bond, a one-sided bond … Continue reading There is always hope.
Henry Carr – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
Week 10, only 42 to go. It has been a hard one this week, not the research but finding the energy to sit for hours upon hours, staring at a computer screen. When you feel a tad under the weather, its hard to stay focused, but more so, to have the willpower to carry on … Continue reading Henry Carr – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
We all carry inside us, the people who came before us.
I woke this morning to my DNA results from Ancestry. I am more than a little shocked at my results. After having my mums and my sons DNA taken I was kind of expecting to be mainly Great British, with maybe a little Irish thrown into the mix. My results reveiled a totally different, kettle … Continue reading We all carry inside us, the people who came before us.
Rosa Alice Freak – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
So it’s week 9 of my challenge and I’m sorry to say this week is going to be a little different, in true honesty I’m really struggling with that fact. Up until I have been buying the birth certificates for each child born, which I’m hoping to carry on and do when possible. This week … Continue reading Rosa Alice Freak – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
Caleb George Hatcher
While I was researching my great-grandmother Eva Kate Hatcher’s life for my 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks challenge, I discovered that she had a brother Caleb George Hatcher who died at 10 months old due to a fit of convolutions brought on by teething. I was absolutely horrified when I received his death certificate, I … Continue reading Caleb George Hatcher
Eva Kate Hatcher – 52 Weeks, 52 Ancestors.
They say every branch of your family tree will tie in with another at some point. This has proven to be case with my dads family but more shockingly they tie in many times with my husband's family. I was shocked and a little freaked out when I discovered the first interlink with Mark's family. … Continue reading Eva Kate Hatcher – 52 Weeks, 52 Ancestors.
Round Up, Round Up – February 2018
Where did February go? Is it really over? Once again the month has been stressful and emotional but I did manage to get a few things made, a few wips (works in progress) finished and a little research carried out. I promised myself at the begin of the month that I wouldn’t start any new crochet … Continue reading Round Up, Round Up – February 2018
Horace Lennan Willats – Update.
This morning I finally received two pdf certificates for Horace Lennan Willats His birth certificate. And his death certificate. Cause of death - From compression of the brain due to haemorrhage inside the skull caused by accidental wounds to the head from the premature bursting of a grenade whilst engaged in bombing practice on December 17 … Continue reading Horace Lennan Willats – Update.
Horace Lennan Willats – 52 Weeks, 52 Ancestors
My boys always say, "Why are you researching your history, it’s the past, live for the future?" While I agree on many levels, I also disagree. My family’s history is extremely important to me, why ? I don’t really know how to answer that, I don’t have the right words to explain it. All I … Continue reading Horace Lennan Willats – 52 Weeks, 52 Ancestors
Elizabeth Grace Porter – 52 Weeks, 52 Ancestors
Elizabeth Grace Porter - Week 5. We all know to well that life is very good at throwing us endless stress, more bad days than good. Life is hard at times, truly hard. We all go through struggles, some days we cope, others we don’t cope as well. Not matter what happens in our lives, … Continue reading Elizabeth Grace Porter – 52 Weeks, 52 Ancestors
Round of Beef – Estella Rudgely Update
At the weekend we were driving to a little family get together, we had to drive a different much longer route out of the hamlet we live in due to railway works, shutting the main road in and out of East and West Dean. I was talking away to my boys about the difference places … Continue reading Round of Beef – Estella Rudgely Update
Estella Rudgely – 52 Weeks, 52 Ancestors.
Estella Rudgely - 52 Weeks, 52 Ancestors, Week 4. When my dad Christopher John Newell passed away back in 1996, I knew very little about his family, only his parents and siblings names. In truth I didn’t even know he had a sister, Gillian Mary Newell, who sadly passed away on the 18th October 1947 … Continue reading Estella Rudgely – 52 Weeks, 52 Ancestors.
Lost Treasure – Robert McIntyre Wallace.
A photograph captures a moment in time, never to be forgotten, to be treasured, to shed a tear or a secret smile, only you know the meaning to. Photographs are most probably the most important part of our history. They help us remember those moments that get a little muddled in our constant busy minds. … Continue reading Lost Treasure – Robert McIntyre Wallace.
John Willats – 52 Weeks, 52 Ancestors.
John Willats - 52 Weeks, 52 Ancestors, Week 3. It wasn’t my intention to write about my 6th great-grandfather this week, I had already written it on my 2nd great-grandmother Estella Rudgely but I’m waiting on happy mail in forms of a few birth certificates, which unfortunately haven’t arrived in time so I’m now going … Continue reading John Willats – 52 Weeks, 52 Ancestors.
Round up, round up – January
So what can I possibly say about January 2018. It has been the worst month of our entire life’s. I pray that it can only get better from here on out. January has seen the passing of two family members, my beloved Uncle Ray. He was an absolute legend, an amazing man who had the … Continue reading Round up, round up – January
