A request for help was published in the Bristol & Avon Family History Society magazine by the owner of a sampler sewn by Elizabeth Sophia BLAYDS of South Stoke Vicarage, Somerset on 8th Dec 1843. The owner was looking to reunite the sampler with its family.
A request for help finding the birth of Kathleen Newman LYALL lead to an interesting story of military exploits, reoccurring venereal disease, transatlantic crash landings and rugby!
During the book and TV series MOONDIAL the main character Minty wanders around the churchyard of St Peter & St Paul, Belton, Lincolnshire and comes across a “tiny thumbnail headstone” with “E. L. 1871” engraved upon it. This is later revealed to be the final resting place of the character “Tom”, E.L. standing for his given name of Edward Larkin, but who was the real E.L.?
A post in the “Somerset – Ancestors and Genealogy” Facebook group caught my eye at the weekend posted by Wendi Shaw of New Jersey, USA who was looking for help identifying a British WWII soldier named “Steve” who had sent postcards of himself to “Gray, Evelyn & Megan” during his time in the army.
From time to time I scan the newspaper archives for mention of interesting historical stories from my hometown of Hadleigh, Essex from the same month. February’s search threw up what at first appeared to be an amusing story of a Hadleigh bridegroom’s over-exuberance in London on the eve of his wedding causing him the need to beg for money to get back home. What I went on to uncover were three generations of well-respected railway engineers, and a clever man’s life blighted by alcohol and the after-effects of a head injury sustained during WWI.
A message on the Ancestry UK Facebook group’s page caught my eye at the weekend regarding Henry ANDERSON b.1893 in Gateshead, Durham. His great-granddaughter knew the name of his father but was having a hard time confirming who his parents were. Could I help? Yes!
In July 2022 I helped the owner of a newly acquired black and white photograph to pinpoint exactly where it was taken on London Road, Hadleigh, Essex. The photo captured Miss Margaret Blake standing outside her gardening business “Briarholm Nursery” in the late 1920s or 1930s. Always eager to learn more, I went on to research Margaret’s family tree and discovered her mother’s side had a fascinating history including quack doctors, printers, artists and house builders.
An intriguing piece of detective work was posted on the Bristol & Avon Family History Society’s Facebook page a few days ago by an Australian lady trying to trace the criminal activities of her grandmother Gladys Violet NUTT of Bristol.
Another piece of detective work sprang up on the Bristol & Avon Family History Society’s Facebook page on Thursday evening, with a lady requesting help tracing the birth record of her great-grandmother Lilian May FRY.
I found myself looking into the life of Charles Clement SYMONDS after identifying him in a WWI photograph. I wondered what else I could find out, and discovered a Bristol family marked by several tragic events over the years.
A “little” bit of detective work caught my eye on the Bristol & Avon Family History Society’s Facebook page in mid-Jan, regarding a Captain JOSEPH CHARLES NEWTON, possibly of Bristol, who died in Epping, Victoria, Australia in 1903. I wondered what I could find out.
A new bit of detective work caught my eye during October with a request from Maureen Humphries for help identifying James GULLIVER who died in Bath, Somerset in 1915, and his daughter Mary (Maureen’s great-grandmother) who was born in Bristol in 1879. Could I track them down in census records?
An interesting bit of detective work presented itself to me at the end of August on a local Facebook page for Hadleigh, Essex. A local chap named Ron had been digging a large hole in his garden in order to insert a sunken trampoline for his grandchildren, when two feet down he unearthed a silver medal. Closer inspection revealed it to be a King George V naval Long Service and Good Conduct medal for a G W BRERETON. Ron wondered if any members of the Brererton family were still living in the area in the hopes of being able to pass it on back to them, and I decided to help.
Rayleigh Town Museum recently acquired this large 1m wide wooden sign for Beal Bros. Millers, Rayleigh and wondered if anyone could offer any more information on them.
A post for help on an Essex local history group peeked my interest this weekend, regarding a giant brass plate unearthed in a Benfleet garden. It’s inscribed “To Dr. & Mrs. George Simpson, Senior Medical Officer, Calr. From Mr. & Mrs. Magnus A. O. Williams, Calr. In affectionate remembrance. Hold ye the good – define it well. 1934”. Could I discover who these people were?
During the 1980’s my grandfather Steward Jackson HICKS was a Jack the Ripper researcher, or “Ripperologist” as they are known in the trade. I knew nothing of his grisly hobby until after his death in 1993, and decided now was the time to find out more.
Ontario Genealogy Facebook group member “JM” asked for help deciphering the maiden name of the groom’s mother on a wedding certificate, the groom being one George Edward Frank SPEERS.
Intrigued by a photo of a gravestone slowly being swallowed up by a tree for Anne MOSELEY, the fourth wife of Henry MOSELEY, I decided to find out more. What I found was a man who had suffered many tragedies in his life, with the loss of three young wives and three of his children. Sadly, the only tree Henry left behind is the one now growing through his grave.
A message left by Jackie Morrey on a Facebook genealogy page about her Great Great Grandfather Morris ASHMORE got me intrigued, so I decided to investigate.
After looking over a little group ration books and similar items belonging to a Mrs Frances F Sansom FENN I began to wonder who she was and what I could find out about her.