Regency Relatives
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A Father, a Son and Two World Wars: The Military Lives of Francis Bertie and Leslie Edgar Martin
Read more: A Father, a Son and Two World Wars: The Military Lives of Francis Bertie and Leslie Edgar MartinFamily research revealed that Francis Bertie Martin served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve during the First World War, later settling into civilian life in Birmingham. His son, Leslie, served over seven years with the Royal Corps of Signals during and after the Second World War, including campaigns in North Africa, Italy, North-West Europe and…
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The Boarder Who Outstayed His Welcome?
Read more: The Boarder Who Outstayed His Welcome?Family history research can lead to unexpected discoveries, as seen with Alfred Passant, a long-term boarder with the Martin family, whose life and connections illuminate social and economic histories.
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Crime, Punishment and other Family Traditions
Read more: Crime, Punishment and other Family TraditionsThe hidden histories in Georgian and Victorian records reveal fascinating details about family ancestors, particularly those with criminal backgrounds, offering insights into their lives, societal challenges, and the justice system’s impact.
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King Charles: A Royal Reprise
Read more: King Charles: A Royal RepriseIn revisiting the life of my fifth great-grandfather, King Charles, a Gloucestershire labourer, I uncovered significant details about his family and life challenges. Key findings include his imprisonment for neglecting family support, unexplained parentage issues for some children, and discrepancies in marriage records. These discoveries highlight the complexities of genealogical research.
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The Genealogy Road Trip: Results from the (Literal) Field
Read more: The Genealogy Road Trip: Results from the (Literal) FieldA couple of weeks ago, I wrote about my plans to take the family on a genealogy road trip. My husband had a week off work, the children were still on their summer holidays, and rather than disappearing on my own to investigate dead relatives, I decided it would be much more sociable to take…
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The Genealogy Road Trip: Taking the Investigation into the (Literal) Field
Read more: The Genealogy Road Trip: Taking the Investigation into the (Literal) FieldTomorrow, I’m taking my genealogy research on the road. Normally, this is exactly the sort of expedition I would undertake alone. Earlier this summer I took myself camping at Roundhill in the New Forest and, inevitably, used the opportunity to visit Buckler’s Hard for a little Georgian and Regency-era history. Give me an old map,…
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The Harriet Watts Investigation: Part One
Read more: The Harriet Watts Investigation: Part OnePeople often ask me whether I’ve uncovered any family secrets whilst researching my ancestors. The answer is yes. Not the sort of secrets that television programmes promise, with aristocratic scandals and royal mistresses lurking around every corner, but quieter discoveries that nevertheless make you stop and look at an ancestor in an entirely different way.…
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Navigating Excise Records: A Beginner’s Guide
Read more: Navigating Excise Records: A Beginner’s GuideDiscovering an exciseman in your family tree is both exciting and slightly intimidating. Unlike agricultural labourers or blacksmiths, excise officers generated thousands of pages of official paperwork. The good news is that much of it survives. The less good news is that nobody tells you where to begin. When I first began researching an ancestor…
