Category Archives: Uncategorized

A mariner’s tale – with a twist

Posted on April 14, 2020 by

William Annal was born to the sea. His father, John, together with his uncle William, left their native Orkney, and worked as fishermen along the UK’s east coast, before eventually settling on the Thames Estuary in Gravesend, Kent, sometime around … Continue reading →

Posted in Stories, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A very convincing theory

Posted on March 15, 2020 by

This is the third and final part of the story of how I broke down a 30-year old brick wall in my research. Read Part One and Part Two first… My search for the origins of my great great grandfather, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

False dawns and first cousins

Posted on March 12, 2020 by

This is the second of a three-part blog, telling the story of how I broke down a 30-year old brick wall in my research. Read Part One here… The information that my grandma passed on to me had allowed me … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Did you know that I knew my father?

Posted on March 9, 2020 by

This is the first of a three-part blog, telling the story of how I broke down a 30-year old brick wall in my research. “Did you know that I knew my father?” We were in Saughton Cemetery in Edinburgh sometime … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

You really can’t do it all online…

Posted on February 19, 2020 by

Yesterday, I made a flying visit to the library of the Society of Genealogists in London. The main purpose of my visit was to view some parish registers which I had identified as being part of their collection, thanks to … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

A mystery wedding photo

Posted on February 2, 2020 by

Every now and then, I dig out some old family photos and see if I can work out who’s who. I usually vow, then and there, to sort them all out, scan them and begin the process of identifying as … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A census release with a difference

Posted on July 26, 2019 by

In a previous life, when I worked for The National Archives, I was actively involved in planning and delivering the launch of the 1901 and 1911 censuses for England & Wales. Now, I’m delighted to announce my involvement in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Oma and the Rosenstrasse Protests

Posted on May 20, 2019 by

My younger daughter, Isabel, completed an MA in Archaeology last year. She’s currently waiting to start her PhD in October and has been spending some time helping me with my research. She’s always shown an interest in family history and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Death, taxes and the voices of our ancestors

Posted on March 15, 2019 by

The inspiration behind this post is twofold; firstly, the ongoing work of Dr Laura King, Dr Nick Barratt, Jackie Depelle and many others to encourage closer co-operation between academic historians and genealogists, but more immediately, a tweet by Hallie Rubenhold, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

1874 And All That

Posted on January 20, 2019 by

“Of course, it wasn’t compulsory to register births until 1874…” Oh dear. There it goes again. Every time you think it’s dead, back it comes, rearing its ugly head once more. And somehow, despite the compelling evidence that emphatically debunks … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment