tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20995161205264110702012-02-16T02:50:16.218-08:00GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.comBlogger641100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-73236152296582963562011-06-12T09:52:00.000-07:002011-06-12T09:52:57.222-07:00

Success - hulk similar to where George was imprisoned. No photographs of the Ganymede appear to exist. After a bit of a break I ventured onto the Ancestry site and noticed that they had 'new' prison hulk registers and letter books. I found that my ol' pal, George WHITE was held on the Ganymede while awaiting trial and/or transportation to Van Diemen's Land in 1834. [click to view larger

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-38259692177172754782011-04-13T06:14:00.000-07:002011-04-13T06:16:36.258-07:00

Isn't it funny what you can come across by accident? You may have noticed that I don't just research my direct line of ancestry.  I like to get into the nitty gritty of their siblings as well.  Partly because I'm nosy,  but also to help locate other ancestors you may not come across otherwise, which can help you break down brick walls.  Sometimes, an incorrectly transcribed name will finally

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-16548949091488188742010-10-26T10:21:00.000-07:002010-10-26T10:29:09.086-07:00

I mentioned in my previous post that I'd like to know more about Arthur BUCHAN's next marriage as their children are mentioned in Roy Buchan's book 'From Peterhead to Passchendaele'.  He had married his first wife, Christian BUCHAN in 1857 who had died by the 1861 census.  Marriage of Arthur BUCHAN and Christian BUCHAN 1857  I located Arthur and his sons on the 1871 census who were now

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-89236631731404707862010-10-25T03:01:00.000-07:002010-10-25T03:01:20.944-07:00

I'm still reading Roy Buchan's fabulous 'From Peterhead to Passchendaele' which has thrown up some more avenues of research but have been wondering about Jessie's husband who was also a BUCHAN.   John's parents, Arthur and Christian BUCHAN sounded familiar but the same names do keep cropping up in these fishing villages.  How closely related were they? The first step was to download their

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-69974062209502200402010-09-26T14:09:00.000-07:002010-09-26T14:10:10.775-07:00

I had mentioned in 'Desperately Seeking John' that there was one BUCHAN who didn't emigrate to New Zealand on the Rimutaka with the rest of the family.  In Roy Buchan's book 'From Peterhead to Passchendaele' he mentions that "there is thought to be at least one other who stayed behind.". Feeling inspired, I wanted to find out more about Charles BUCHAN (junior) - 'the one that stayed behind'.  He

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-44915887441760884252010-09-24T06:55:00.000-07:002010-09-24T06:55:46.853-07:00

I've had a lot of trouble finding a marriage between John STILING and Grace FREED and thought it was due to the lack of  Devon records on the IGI.  Thanks to the selection of Devon Parish records on findmypast, I find it's possibly because it was mistranscribed or that Grace FREED is actually Grace BROCK: I can imagine how Brock and Freed could look similar in faded, pre-regency period

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-45392549243880455602010-09-24T06:15:00.000-07:002010-10-25T02:38:43.865-07:00

In case brother John DID refer to brother-in-law John, I decided to check for deaths before embarking on a costly census trawl.  There were a few likely entries but since John hadn't appeared on any of the censuses, I chose one of the infant deaths first and sure enough there he was: Poor little tyke only lived 12 days - cause unknown. I think it's safe to say that the John present at Alexander

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-24960561547930658752010-09-24T05:14:00.000-07:002010-09-25T07:26:41.999-07:00

A couple of months ago, I found out via an 1896 newspaper article that my ancestor, Alexander Ritchie BUCHAN, had a brother called John.  John was there when Alex died pulling in a fishing net but where was he all those other years? 18 foot shark caught in Otago Harbour 1894 Charles BUCHAN and his wife Jessie (Janet RITCHIE) migrated to New Zealand on the Rimutaka in 1893. All their children (

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-18995062590333151552010-09-23T05:27:00.000-07:002010-09-23T05:27:51.691-07:00

I noticed this morning that the Scotlands People website has changed a bit (at least cosmetically) which in turn led me to notice the free wills and testaments search in the left bar.  So I started plugging away at some of my Scottish ancestors and came across a possible record for William MURRAY, dated 1839: William MURRAY was the father of Margaret MURRAY (who married William GLAISTER in 1843

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-38504135564916801202010-09-18T09:13:00.000-07:002010-10-25T02:31:32.030-07:00

I was very excited to receive an email from Roy BUCHAN - author of the book 'From Peterhead to Passchendaele' mentioned on this blog and distant relative of mine. He also mentioned that the Mr Peter BUCHAN listed above (on the Rimutaka 1893 passenger list) as aged 35 was, in fact, mentally retarded from birth and died 3 years after landing in New Zealand.  This was roughly the same time as his

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-14265353893373961072010-08-13T10:43:00.000-07:002010-08-13T10:43:36.124-07:00

Ancestry have now released the National Probate Calendar (1861-1941) which is almost like an index to wills.  A distant relative who has worked with me on my STILING line gave me the heads up and I checked it out: STILING John 9 October.The Will of John Stiling late of Tiverton in the County of Devon Yeoman deceased who died 3 February 1862 at Tiverton aforesaid was proved at Exeter by the oath

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-36464935717772090692010-08-13T10:03:00.000-07:002010-08-13T10:05:28.778-07:00

At the end of my last post, I mentioned that I had no idea that Alexander Ritchie BUCHAN had a brother called John.  I did a 'parent search' on familysearch.org for Alex's parents, Charles and Jessie (nee RITCHIE) and up he popped! While checking the information, I noticed that his birth date was identical to brother William's but perhaps this was confused with a christening date (children were

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-13013019925965230362010-07-27T05:31:00.000-07:002010-07-27T05:33:23.438-07:00

This morning I received some death certificates for members of my BUCHAN family.  On Alexander Ritchie BUCHAN's certificate it states his cause of death as 'Verdict of Jury - Sudden Failure of the Heart'. Part of Alexander Ritchie BUCHAN's death certificate - 1896 My grandmother mentioned in a letter years ago that "Grandad B [a fisherman] was actually pulling in a fishing net, when he

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-24273472023791908472010-07-04T03:20:00.000-07:002010-07-04T03:23:45.997-07:00

A REID roadside picnic - 1928/9 A lot of magazine articles dedicated to the subject of dating photographs, would use clues such as fashion and the model of the car to date this photograph.  Fortunately, my grandmother wrote on the back of almost every photo so I can use my family tree to make the job a bit easier: "Grandad Reid; Grandma Reid; Aunt Mona; & probably Ron; & Eric; Uncle Walter's car

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-59138429043537270012010-07-03T09:38:00.000-07:002010-07-04T03:22:14.585-07:00

The Buchan Trio - 1925Alex, Gwen & Ngaire BUCHAN The photograph above is of my grandmother, Gwenyth Jean BUCHAN (centre) and her siblings - younger brother Alexander Lewis BUCHAN and older sister Ngaire Margaret BUCHAN (their youngest sister Margaret was to appear 6 years later). Tragically, Ngaire died of peritonitis (a ruptured appendix) when she was only ten years old (December 1927). Grandma

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-77663668349014003892010-06-20T13:48:00.000-07:002010-07-25T04:23:12.837-07:00

Inside the Hare & Hounds, Witheridge c1940simage via Historical Witheridge On the night of the 1861 census, in the Devonshire village of Witheridge, 14 year old Drusilla WREFORD was recorded as head of the household and her occupation as 'Innkeeper ?' (note the question mark). Also in the household were 4 siblings aged 7 and under (including my direct ancestor, Augusta Harriet), and a 17 year old

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-1369340280563547202010-06-14T11:31:00.000-07:002010-06-14T11:32:21.613-07:00

My mother found more of my great grandfather's cartoons depicting Trentham military training camp (New Zealand) in World War I (see the original post here): That First Trentham Feelingon Trentham Pebbles in Bill Massey's boots(Buck - Copyright) Recruits Coming into Camp(Buck.17. Copyright 1917 - Trentham) S.M. Try one on his head Sergeant[sign] Massey's Massage Institute - hours any old time - 

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-71491968473951844402010-06-13T14:40:00.000-07:002010-06-15T10:18:35.838-07:00

(See original post here.) Another message from my husband's aunt seems to indicate the belief that Eliza Tharm is the ancestor in question: "this Eliza Tharm isn't a direct ancestor but down the line from either a brother or sister of one of our direct ancestors." I had come across Eliza in my initial research as she was famously the maid living at Dr. Palmer's house who became Palmer's

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-6875069296702462232010-06-05T17:09:00.000-07:002010-06-05T17:11:17.454-07:00

I've just returned from an impromptu family history journey to the midlands (which I'll post about later) and found a message from my husband's aunt: I was telling Dad about the mistress of Dr Palmer the poisoner being one of our rellies. The one that had a child by him and sent him to stay with Dr Palmer and the unfortunate child was killed by him. Do you have any information on that? I

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-81944131333442145212010-06-01T14:59:00.000-07:002010-06-20T12:36:32.235-07:00

The wonderful Tasmanian Archives site has a wealth of records available online - particularly for those researching their convict ancestors.  My ancestor, Elizabeth ALLEN arrived in Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) aboard the convict ship, Margaret in 1843.  The details given by her where recorded upon her arrival. Coming from a large city like Birmingham, with a relatively common name, I had lost

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-83360430210749053432010-05-16T10:55:00.000-07:002010-05-16T10:57:29.449-07:00

For a change of 'scene', I decided to look a bit deeper at some of my English ancestors.  Devonshire Wrestlersvia Legendary Dartmoor An old family pedigree mentioned that my ancestor, William WREFORD "settled in Tiverton and was well known in the last century as a noted wrestler".  I had searched for more information a few years back and was discovered a book which mentions him in this role -

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-32944019158794355942010-05-15T08:37:00.000-07:002010-05-16T01:50:08.463-07:00

Part of a series of posts - beginning with Neighbouring Families Back on track after my William BROWN confusion - I pick up with proving George BROWN and James BROWN are brothers. Thereby proving that the William BROWN on the 1891 census is indeed related to me. Proving Brotherhood I had previously sought to prove George BROWN and James were brothers and so had some of George's records at hand.

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-81171265359002338892010-05-15T02:52:00.000-07:002010-05-16T01:49:55.675-07:00

This is a follow on from my previous post - Neighbouring Families. ! The results here are accurate, however not the William BROWN I was tracing (see previous post for correction).  I have chosen to leave this information here to help others. Using FamilySearch, I searched the IGI for Sarah FERGUSSON with a spouse named BROWN. Success: It listed Sarah marrying a John BROWN in Glencairn, 1826 (

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-26199812746341610262010-05-14T16:29:00.000-07:002010-05-16T01:49:31.651-07:00

Woodhead of Dardarroch, Glencairn, Dumfriesshire in 2006 Eight years ago, I posted on the rootsweb message board regarding my BROWN ancestors farm, Woodhead of Dardarroch, in the parish of Glencairn. Recently someone replied that their ancestor was boarding with some BROWNS at Woodhead Cottage on the 1891 census. By 1891, James BROWN had died and his widow, Sarah (nee DOUGLAS) had moved away. 

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-63935826380374336342010-05-12T12:40:00.000-07:002010-05-12T23:58:24.270-07:00

Yay! GeneaGeek is one of MyHeritage's top 100 genealogy sites of 2010! Click on the award above to see the list.I'm off to find new genealogy blogs to follow - maybe you should too.

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-28614793970960667352010-05-08T11:35:00.000-07:002010-05-08T11:36:15.645-07:00

I've finally managed to scan some of my grandmother's photos that I brought back from my holidays.This one appears to be a photograph of a sketch: 'Chiropody at Trentham' - Buchan 1916 On the back, my grandmother has written "Done by Charles Buchan during WWI.  He was in medical unit doing chiropody". Charles BUCHAN was my grandmother's father.  She had written a letter to me years ago, when I

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-85489707041565587422010-05-02T08:57:00.000-07:002010-05-07T10:14:27.968-07:00

Applegarth Church, Dumfriesshire, Scotlandvia geograph This is almost a continuation of my post about antenuptial fornication but I have decided to post separately as I am still not sure whether this is the same person.In the Dumfries Kirk Sessions of 1822 (which are searchable online), James BROWN was "named as the father of Jean Smith's child; [and] gave satisfaction for this in the parish of

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-18056132239958018332010-05-01T14:57:00.000-07:002010-05-01T14:59:13.959-07:00

A post by The Professional Descendant reminded me of my own ancestor's indiscretion. It's easy to think that people were more chaste in the past.  This may be true, but a journey through the parish records shows that people back then also indulged in sex before marriage or as the Victorians preferred to call it, 'antenuptial fornication'.  Whilst looking through the Dunscore parish records for

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-26059393529062647272010-04-30T14:59:00.000-07:002010-05-07T10:00:42.000-07:00

I am fortunate enough to have access to the log books for Rayne School in Essex. Although I have no ancestors from these parts, they still make for fascinating reading. One is ominously labelled, 'Punishment Book' and contains genealogical treasures within. Unfortunately, quite a few pages are missing but the pages from May 1923 to May 1933 survive and record the names of children and their

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-88493596202398899032010-03-14T03:40:00.000-07:002010-03-14T03:40:11.215-07:00

I've been MIA the last few weeks as I travelled back to Australia for my brother's wedding (which was lovely). Sadly, my grandmother's health has deteriorated and she has now moved to Sydney to be closer to my uncle. (Interestingly, she is a direct descendant of the BUCHAN lunatics I've been blogging about and is also suffering from senility).  However, this move uncovered many photograph

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-64052672035600761762010-01-31T06:45:00.000-08:002010-05-16T01:51:03.174-07:00

I've certainly been very busy with genealogy the last week or so.  The most significant discovery is that I am now quite sure that the Broadhembury STILINGs are not directly linked to me. (Click the link to see my previous Stiling posts, or click Stiling in the right sidebar). The John STILING farming at Lane End Farm is not Harriet STILING's father. I discovered this by making contact with

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-80716735714184904132010-01-17T06:00:00.000-08:002010-05-23T10:56:43.614-07:00

Read 1st part here and 2nd part here. It took some time (and a bit of money) for me to find the right George PALMER's death certificate. I am now quite sure this is the correct one as the age, occupation and location fit. George Palmer's death certificate - 29th October 1896 After an eventful life, George died in Westminster Union Workhouse. How did he end up there?Note that George died of '

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-15470385451272466732010-01-16T16:36:00.000-08:002010-05-23T10:55:02.949-07:00

Read 1st part here. After his second wife died, George seemed to move around, lodging at various places in London. His marriage to second wife Emily FELLA was so short that it didn't feature in any of the censuses (they married in 1873 - she died in 1875). Luckily for me, Emily's death certificate lists George as the informant and his residence as 54 Swinton St, London (Emily also died here).

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-87983735220412106692010-01-10T13:36:00.000-08:002010-05-23T10:52:53.633-07:00

Whilst reading my copy of 'Your Family Tree' magazine, I came across a great resource for people with London ancestors. The David Rumsey Historical Map Collection includes an 1843 London map which you can transpose over google's current satellite map. This would have saved me a lot of time a couple of years ago.I don't have many links to London in my tree. The only significant person in my tree

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-55589856356364500842010-01-08T06:29:00.001-08:002010-01-08T06:42:01.165-08:00

image source: h is for homeI've been gone a while as I haven't had much time to do genealogy lately. I haven't even emailed my fabulous archivist for more information on the new lunatics I've uncovered from the last information received (She's probably glad for the break).At least this glorious snow we've been having will give me an opportunity to try and get in the swing of things again. I'm

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-79509079530888924712009-11-13T09:13:00.000-08:002009-11-13T10:52:29.779-08:00

I received the case notes for Wilson BUCHAN today. The contents were very interesting. Wilson's case is sad but what strikes me from these notes is that the sense of family was very strong. It also strikes me that insanity very much runs in my family.On the 17th June 1875, Wilson BUCHAN was admitted in the Royal Aberdeen Lunatic Asylum.I can almost visualise Wilson - his description was more

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-78386500123621001732009-11-08T10:42:00.000-08:002009-11-08T13:34:54.819-08:00

I received another reply from the wonderful archivist at NHS Grampian archives. Apparently, Agnes' brother Wilson was also admitted into the Aberdeen Royal Lunatic Asylum. Wilson was suicidal when he entered the asylum in June 1875. He was released under the authority of John BUCHAN in October 1876. He had either recovered from his 'melancholia' or was being cared for at home.While I wait for the

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-42680632052124532342009-10-30T11:41:00.000-07:002009-10-30T11:42:50.295-07:00

Rocks at St CombsPhoto by w11buch via flickrI had a bit of a hunch and it seems I was correct.As Jane seemed to be the one looking after Agnes, I wondered if she was the daughter Agnes thought people believed she had killed. I searched the death records and found she died in 1886. 2 years before Agnes was admitted to the asylum.Her brother John informed the death as well as petitioned for her

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-72929488891995469452009-10-29T13:51:00.000-07:002009-10-29T16:49:50.647-07:00

I received my case notes from the archives yesterday which made for very interesting reading:This is a case of senile insanity and patient is stated to have been more or less doted for twelve years. Her brother however is insane.Medical certificates testify that for some time she has been very excitable, that she uses foul and obscene language and that she sometimes exposes her person. Further

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-70625218617809643422009-10-26T00:22:00.000-07:002009-10-26T02:43:00.774-07:00

I received a quick and detailed email back from the archivist at the Grampian Archives, who searched the Asylum (& Poorhouse) records for me. The information she has given me from the admission registers, has enabled me to put some more pieces of Agnes' life together.Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Agnes was admitted into the Aberdeen Lunatic Asylum on Christmas Day (!) 1888. She was 81 and a recently

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-69751045521072720552009-10-18T08:20:00.000-07:002009-10-18T08:58:02.473-07:00

A lot of us joke about having families full of them but occasionally you come across things that remind you how serious it can be.For a while now I've known about my lunatic ancestor (one of them!) but today I've actually decided to try to find out more.Agnes BUCHAN was born in Aberdeenshire in 1807. Agnes married Arthur BUCHAN (there were a LOT of Buchans in the area), a fisherman, about 1830

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-41485232989599252322009-09-01T02:07:00.000-07:002009-09-01T02:31:50.075-07:00

LES EPOUXBEFAYS - DEHOUXThe Married CoupleBefays - DehouxMy mother migrated to Australia with her parents and younger sister when she was 9.As a result, I know little about that side of the family but my mother remembers the time with her grandparents fondly.In 2001, I was able to make a short trip to Belgium where I met my grandfather's brother and his wife, who are wonderful people. Amongst

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-43054966645837152622009-08-27T10:05:00.000-07:002010-08-02T06:21:04.080-07:00

In 1848, George Wright PALMER married Mary Ann ALLEN in the parish church of Gillingham, Kent (St Mary Magdalene). George was a gunner in the Royal Navy and Mary was a carpenter's daughter. Here is the certified copy of their marriage entry ordered from the GRO (click on the images to see a larger version): George Wright PALMER and Mary Ann ALLEN marriage certificate - 1848 The next image is of

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-995228549671508482009-08-25T09:09:00.001-07:002009-08-25T09:11:16.371-07:00

Broadhembury ChurchWhile in Devon I paid a visit to the lovely village of Broadhembury. I had hopes of finding the graves of my STILING forebears to give me some new leads - this wasn't to be. I did however, find the graves of some other Stilings. These Stilings are bound to be related somewhere along the line so I post these photos of their gravestones to help out distant family members who may

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-72791400888347790812009-08-23T11:18:00.000-07:002009-08-24T06:29:56.421-07:00

When I log on to ancestry.co.uk nowadays, it shows me 'Recent Member Connect Activity'. Amongst other things, this means I'm notified when people attach records to their trees that I have also attached to mine. I think that's actually quite a cool feature. I can now connect with people who are more likely to be family members .The idea seems to be to make connections with possible family members

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-35568978744191990212009-08-23T07:55:00.000-07:002009-08-23T12:35:32.312-07:00

While trawling through old newspapers online (loving Papers Past's new search features), I came upon the death of a George WREFORD in Auckland. Otago Witness - 25 June 1902 George Wreford, aged 48 years, was found dead on the road at Penrose, Auckland. He had been suffering from consumption.On the day of his death (21 June 1902), the event was published almost identically in four newspapers of

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-57095778273235637882009-08-17T06:54:00.000-07:002009-08-17T06:56:29.449-07:00

I have been writing a lot about my WREFORDs lately, particularly with regard to George WREFORD and his bankruptcy woes. However, his wife would have also been sharing these worries with him. Also missing from the 1861 census, perhaps she had travelled to Exeter for his court hearing.In 1845, Harriotte STILING married George WREFORD in Cove Chapel (in the Pitt quarter of the parish of Tiverton).

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-81977647194437600602009-08-16T04:26:00.001-07:002011-06-12T09:13:08.891-07:00

Hobart Town from the New Town Road by J.S. Prout (1844)via NotoriousStrumpets.com.au Carrying on from last week's Black Sheep Sunday post. I have managed to have find some more snippets of information of my Black Sheep duo - George WHITE and Elizabeth ALLEN.World Vital Records offered free records until the 18th (tomorrow) so I took them up on their offer. I must say, I do find the site a bit of

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-54944108059365129452009-08-15T12:16:00.001-07:002010-06-20T12:38:14.915-07:00

I have returned from my holiday/family history mission in Devon. While there, I located the homes and farms of my ancestors, visited their churches and in some cases burial grounds and generally got a feel for the layout of the places they lived.I also got to spend some time in the West Country Studies Library in Exeter - 4 and a half hours worth of time to be precise! I looked through parish

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-68905952058243964172009-08-09T08:59:00.000-07:002009-08-09T09:54:03.905-07:00

Some more details of two of my family's black sheep:I first mentioned George White and Elizabeth Allen in my post, Woman of my Conviction. Both were transported to Tasmania, Australia (then known as Van Diemen's Land) for their respective crimes in the early 19th century.Convicts in Tasmania were not allowed to marry each other or a 'free' person without approval. I discovered that the Archives

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-46435299343475051062009-08-08T07:07:00.000-07:002009-08-23T12:34:04.101-07:00

Northern Cemtery Dunedin via FlickrSometimes as genealogists we have to wait years for answers.Waiting for the required records to become available.Waiting for the chance to visit somewhere that may hold the key. Waiting for some kind of miracle.But by some extraordinary stroke of luck, I didn't have to wait long at all (or do much work) to find the answers to the puzzles I listed on my

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-66690083954936637852009-08-08T06:49:00.000-07:002009-08-08T07:02:45.356-07:00

On Thursday night at 9pm, my husband's grandmother Rose died.I only knew her for a few years but would have liked to have known her more. She had a great sense of humour and many stories to tell.Although she was 83 and having some health problems lately, it came as a surprise to us. Mainly because she never really complained about how she was. My husband joked that they probably asked her how she

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-7869413531629914462009-08-07T12:03:00.000-07:002009-08-07T13:08:16.110-07:00

While combing New Zealand newspapers for mentions of my ancestors on the magnificent Papers Past site, I came across a terrible tragedy. I can't help but think that this is somebody's family history waiting to be discovered.In what seems to be the typical journalistic style of its time, the descriptions are quite graphic. 3 December 1896 - StarSHOCKING TRAGEDY.A MANIAC MURDERS HIS WIFE.[Per Press

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-26800829520858863212009-08-06T08:40:00.000-07:002009-08-06T11:24:10.444-07:00

R.M.S Rimutaka via NZ Shipping Company AssociationGoing through the cemetery records yesterday inspired me to look further into my family's immigration. The Dunedin Cemetery Records often include the (original) nationality of the deceased as well as how many years they had been in New Zealand.My Buchan family immigrated to New Zealand from Scotland in the late 19th century. For years, I'd only

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-76635053020149065922009-08-05T10:04:00.000-07:002009-08-05T10:52:13.983-07:00

image via flickerI have just spent a fascinating day researching.The same distant relative I mentioned in my last post, had sent me digital copy of a cemetery record print out (to tie up some loose ends). At the bottom, I noticed the source was a website and a previously locked door was opened!The Dunedin City Council website has an online search facility of the city's cemeteries. The results are

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-40150412604073578742009-08-04T08:06:00.000-07:002009-08-23T12:34:26.007-07:00

Alexander Ritchie BuchanBorn August 9th 1862Died December 2nd 1896Aged 34 yearsAgnes Buchan [nee Findlay] Born August 18th 1866 Died November 25th 1939Aged 73 yearsTO MEMORY - EVER DEAR(Port Chalmers Cemetery, Dunedin, New Zealand)I received this photo (via email) only a few days ago from a distant relative.I look forward to working with her on my BUCHAN branch.

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-2023985787228306142009-07-29T10:02:00.001-07:002009-07-29T10:04:15.568-07:00

Augusta, Drusilla and Sarah WREFORD

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-16093237411992865522009-07-28T10:08:00.000-07:002010-06-20T12:41:22.389-07:00

For a long time, I'd been searching for one of my WREFORD ancestors on the 1861 census without luck. On the night of the 1861 census, in the Devonshire village of Witheridge, 14 year old Drusilla was recorded as head of the household and her occupation as 'Innkeeper ?' (note the question mark). Also in the household were 4 siblings aged 7 and under (including my direct ancestor, Augusta Harriet)

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-67046304390595276232009-07-27T08:13:00.000-07:002009-08-23T12:32:31.063-07:00

My first post of this blog mentioned that there were gypsies in the family. The gypsies are part of my husband's maternal side and there's been a bit of a breakthrough.Carnation Lovell was the daughter of Maria Anslow and Matthew Lovell. She can be found on the 1891 census as a baby in a gypsy tent under Porkus Bridge (probably Porkets or Portius Bridge), Darlaston. They appeared to be travelling

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-87044212251864849302009-07-27T02:31:00.000-07:002010-05-14T15:23:12.078-07:00

I have been searching The Scotsman digital archive this morning (searches are free) and found a tantalising snippet relating to my family history - or does it?The Scotsman - 6 Nov 1879 - "DUMFRIES - SHEEP WORRYING. - On Monday, at Woodhead, Dunscore, a dog chased a flock of 92 sheep out of a field and... One was killed" Woodhead 2006 My farming ancestors lived at Woodhead, Dunscore since at

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-75107843603905802652009-06-05T12:48:00.000-07:002009-08-23T12:37:55.589-07:00

Posted a rant about people selling off their family heirlooms on my main blog.Includes some photos relating to Befays and Wreford branches.

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-41329281757272376892009-02-24T06:53:00.000-08:002010-01-24T09:43:44.705-08:00

I've discovered that if the record image you want is not online, the Archives Office of Tasmania has a free record service - I've now requested a copy of the original page with George and Elizabeth's Convict Application to Marry.

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-9838292093971279812009-02-24T05:31:00.000-08:002010-01-24T09:42:11.487-08:00

I found out last year that I have convict blood coursing through these law-abiding veins. Alice Ann WHITE was born in Victoria, Australia in 1860. Her parents names on the birth certificate left no clues that both her parents were actually freed convicts. The only reference to their previous life was that both of their birthplaces were recorded as Birmingham. Now, Birmingham's a big place -

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2099516120526411070.post-39691424714684239002009-02-24T03:09:00.000-08:002009-02-24T03:10:40.751-08:00

I've been researching family history for a few years now and my computer has lots of little notes to self (or others) about how I've come to conclusions or where I plan to turn to next.I recently started a blog about my retro interests and thought a blog may be a good way for me to store thoughts and record my research.I will begin with my most current 'branch activity' - which involves gypsies

GeneaGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184917377803744894noreply@blogger.com0