In search of the family

This is not the story I would have chosen to write. But I am mindful of the subject and that this man's behaviour was such that it affected members of a generation that are still living. The man in question is long dead, but he is not here to defend himself and therefore I am using personal experiences and comments from others. So there is no named person in this story and I am writing from a personal perspective, with minimal detail and information. The gentleman is question was bought up by his grandparents as their own, when their unmarried daughter gave birth to him whilst unmarried. His adoptive siblings, therefore his blood Aunt's and Uncle's were unaware of his parentage and that he was not in fact their brother. There is a story that he too was unaware of his place in the family until he was called up to serve in the 2nd World War. But this is not the reason that I would consider him as an 'outcast'. His adoptive mother was said to have described him as ...

OUT OF PLACE Having completed the 52 Ancestors challenge in 2021, I have already written several stories of Ancestors who were found in some unexpected places within their own stories. Examples include: How and why did my 2x Great Grandparents go to live in Chile in the 1840's? 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Mothers Day (mypynthdev.blogspot.com) What was my Grandfather doing in Sierra Leone just before the war? 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 27. Free. Another family mystery! (mypynthdev.blogspot.com) When I saw this weeks theme I wondered who to write about. Yes, there are some ancestors who would fit the criteria, but I wasn't motivated, at this time, to write about them. Then at 3 o'clock in the morning (I agree there is no hope,) I had a lightbulb moment and thought about some of the interesting stories that my generation of descendants have, my second cousins, so the family relationship charts identify. I am fortunate in finding many interesting stories within my wider ances...

  ODDS & ENDS THE COST OF A FUNERAL IN 1958 Sorting through some old documents of my grandmothers, we found a receipt for the cost of the funeral of Charles William Howe, her father. CHARLES WILLIAM HOWE 1876-1958 Charles (Charlie) died at home, 1 Strathmore Villas, Faggs Rd, Bedfont, aged 81. One of  11 children, he had spent his life working as a labourer, when younger, a navvy on the roads and later in life on the land. During WW2, he grew vegetables on the allotment, whilst keeping the 'odd rabbit for the pot'. He was proud to be able to read and write and was a big fan of paperback westerns. Charlie had been a widower since his wife died in 1918, a victim of the pandemic of the time, 'Spanish flu.' Leaving him to bring up 4 children, his step daughter working in service shortly after her mothers death. A member of his wife's family bought up Charlie and Ruth's youngest son, Alf, who was only 5 at the time, and by my grandmother's account, 'a bit...

WOMENS HOME INDUSTRIES A Post War Home Workers Story  This post was inspired by a dress.* A family member manages a charity shop (thrift store, op shop) for The Plymouth Drake Foundation and received a donation of a bag of vintage dresses. Amongst these were some by the designer, Emma Hanbury and one that had all the elements of haute couture construction and made of silk. The label inside was:- I was asked to see if I could find any information about Dorothy Law of 10 West Halkin St, Belgrave Square, London, sadly I was unable to pinpoint the lady. However what I did find was a post war band of home workers utilising their needle skills to earn "dollars" for the UK economy. This is the story of Womens Home Industries of no.11 West Halkin Street. In post war Britain, there was a need to rebuild the countries economy, it was seen that there was a wealth of talented women, that could be given practical work that they could undertake at home. Under the instigation of Stella Isaa...

ANN FOX THE WIFE OF SERGEANT MAJOR FOX I have already written about my Grandfathers Military career in a stand alone blog. Maurice Frederick Perry 1901 - 1978: MILITARY (mypynthdev.blogspot.com)  I have also included my Great Grandfather, George Arthur Perry's ignominious army career in the blog of his life.  So who am I going to include within the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks title post, Military? Well, firstly this person is in fact no relation to me at all, but I came across the story, whilst trying to find out any little snippet of information as to who the above named Great Grandfather may be. I had discovered a newpaper article of a Sergeant Major George Fox, who had stood surety for a loan which my Great Grandfather owed him. I was quite surprised at the number of Sergeant Major Foxes, there were. One committed suicide using a rifle, he had another rifle primed on the table in case the first one did not complete the task. But this incident occurred in 1866, years before the...

TOMBSTONE TOURIST OR TAPHOPHILE? My fascination for a cemetery and the beauty of it's monuments. I think my interest in cemeteries started after visiting The Jewish Cemetery in Prague in the late 1970's. The first burials were from the 15th cemetery and burials continued for approx 3 centuries. Space was limited, resulting in burials being placed on top of burials in layers. It is said there are approx 12,000 tombstones within the cemetery. Whilst the Jewish Cemetery started my interest in memorials, traditions of various religions and philosophies related to death, I perhaps have a deeper rememberance and empathy for the beautiful country of Czechoslovakia and it's people, increasingly discontent with Soviet rule.   Years later I began photographing local churchyards and cemeteries, transcribed and sent the images to www.gravestonephotos.com. much like www.findagrave.com. This was in the very early days of the project, but I caught the bug and over time I had photographed ...