Family photograph of Bertie Batchelor, June 1917, in his uniform of the Royal West Kent Regiment Perviously, in Bertie, Tracing a First World War Solider, I pieced together the story of Bertie's enlistment and his time with the 2/8th Manchesters in 1917. By looking at the Regiment's war diaries, I discovered the circumstances that had…
DNA has often been used to discover unknown parentage but it can have other useful applications for family history. Read how I discovered the maiden name of my 4th great grandmother through a new DNA match of just 21CM.
I was first introduced to Bertie, (also known as Bert), when as a child, I saw his name recorded on a local war memorial in the churchyard of St Helen's, Cliffe at Hoo, Kent. Since Bertie and I shared the same surname, I immediately asked my Dad whether we were related. He confirmed that we…
Wills are truly the most wonderful source for family history. They provide unparalleled evidence on relationships, enabling extensive family trees to be constructed. Wills may also lead to you other sources, such as title deeds or manorial records, due to the description of land holdings. They also help you to pinpoint relevant baptisms, marriages and…
A British seaman! A heart of oak! One of the brave tars who fought for, and protected this happy isle / I.M. delin.Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827Published / Created[15 November 1801] Yale University Library https://collections.library.yale.edu/catalog/15813519 Tracing the career of a British seamen, (who was not an officer), before 1853 can be challenging, as until this date, there…
DNA has been the big story in genealogy for some years now and rightly so, as it opens up so many possibilities. Seemingly intractable problems, especially those concerning the paternity of children born illegitimately, can be solved through the wonders of DNA, uncovering relationships that would be difficult to prove through traditional research alone. Nevertheless,…
A book that has stayed in my mind, long after I first read it during my teenage years, is the classic memoir, Cider with Rosie by Laurence Edward Alan "Laurie" Lee, MBE, an English poet, novelist, and screenwriter. Cider with Rosie was first published as part of an autobiographical trilogy in 1959. It gives a…
For me, the appearance of the Queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace has been a highlight of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Joined by members of her family, including her great grandchildren, she clapped at the spectacle of more than seventy aircraft performing a flypast above. Her delight was evident when the RAF typhoons made…
Although many of our ancestors had the same job for the whole of their lives, others pursued a variety of occupations. Through looking at census returns, we can often plot their changing roles, as well as their travel to different places. Often, I think these individuals must have been go-getters, driven to try new things…
Over the Easter holidays, I was lucky enough to spend a couple of days with my aunt and my two children in Wiltshire, whilst my husband was away on a trip. We booked a lovely bed and breakfast for two nights and enjoyed some fun excursions to nearby Lacock and Bath. On our way home…
Genealogy Jude 