In search of the family

 POWER This is a thought-provoking title, with so many possibilities and so many ancestors that may fit one or other definitions of ‘Power.’ My initial thoughts were related to Power as in Officialdom including political, judicial, or religious. So, I have not discovered any links to Royalty, the majority of us cannot verify any claim to Royal descendance other than with DNA evidence. Having said that I do have an ancestor who in his time was thought of as ‘The King of the Hundreds’ but his story fits to another of the themes in the future. I have not discovered any Members of Parliament either, but I have found several JP’s. There are several clergymen who would fit the bill, having the power to change people’s lives with their acts and ministry around socially deprived areas in London.   Equally there are others that have used their religious ‘power’ to be sponsored by many a wealthy lady of their parish. Again, I hope to one day write up their stories but not necessarily withi

  NEWLANDS CHAPEL  Charing Kent: geograph-2259115-by-Oast-House-ArchiveNewlandsFarm        My 3x Great Grandfather Thomas Pye was resident and farmer at Newlands Farm, Charing. Kent at the turn of the 19th century. Within the locality of the farm is a medieval Chapel known as Newlands Chapel. The Unusual Source in the context of this blog is the current owner of this Chapel, who during the renovation discovered an unusual piece of graffiti linking the chapel to the Pye family. Whilst researching the history of the Chapel, she had noticed a post I had made on the Rootchat website. Private messaging me, this lovely lady provided me with the photo of what is believed to have been 19th century graffiti on a stone  higher up in the chapel. Those with a keen eye may just be able to make out the J Pye scratched into the stone. So who was J.Pye, the 'Banksy' of the past, well we need to be aware that in WW2, soldiers were billeted in and around the chapel, but we will look at the Pye&#

VALENTINE   OH VALENTINE! This blog post is about Valentine Frederic/k William Muller or any combination of those names. He is another of those confusing, enticing, frustrating characters that features in my wider family. Once again the link is weak being the husband of my G.Grandmother’s , sister’s sister in law. Yes, that is confusing so here it is in tree format.           Edward Youell                                        Frederick Theobald        I                             I                                      I                                     I Edith Youell     Eliza Youell m Frederick Theobald   Rhoda Theobald m Valentine So, who was Valentine Frederick William Muller? There are numerous birthdates associated with various documents found for him, or other Valentine Mullers, anytime between 1851-1869 is suggested. I believe there are 2 separate Valentine Muller’s living in the London area in the 1890’s but let us find a starting point to try and pinpoint this

  DENNIS EDWARD JAY. 1928-1930 When I read this weeks title, I was a little daunted, much as I racked my brains I could not recall a cook, chef or kitchen maid in the family. I then thought about a recipe that passed down the family... all I could think of was 'Auntie Win's' recipe for Bread Pudding, which we still make today. But then I recalled that Auntie Win was not actually an ancestor but the wife of my Grandad's friend. Then I recalled this sad story and thought it would just about fit to the title: In the kitchen. Dennis was the 2nd son of Hubert and Dorothy Jay nee Perry, born 11th Jan 1928 but sadly died on 25th November 1930.   Family photo shared by NR and SS. with thanks . Sadly this poor little boy died in Ealing hospital, from shock following an accident in the kitchen, whereby he was scalded when he accidently upset a saucepan of boiling water at the age of 2 years 10 months.  crown copyright A little about Burn injury treatment in the 1930's:  Burn