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Messages - andrewalston

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 ... 332
1
The Lighter Side / Re: Immigrating and Returning Home
« on: Monday 11 March 24 12:41 GMT (UK)  »
There are plenty of to-ings and fro-ings in my lot.

My aunt followed her prospective husband to New Zealand in 1953. The couple returned to the UK in 1957 and my cousin was born here. In 1967 they took the £10 trip to Australia, then went on from there to NZ. In the mid 70s the family returned to the UK.

I also have relatives in Nova Scotia. Several siblings emigrated with their families in the very early 20th century, and most headed back to the UK for visits before the Great War. Some visits were quite lengthy. One couple's fourth child was born on this side of the pond in 1910. Other siblings visited Canada after the Great War, and some even stayed there.

2
The Lighter Side / Re: Myths debunked when doing family histroy.
« on: Saturday 02 March 24 13:56 GMT (UK)  »
When you look at Ancestry’s interpretation of my DNA they include Keynsham, Somerset as part of Wales, hence I have a larger DNA sample attributed to Wales than is true. 
Her other grandparents did come from Wales

I have recently researched a couple of families in South Wales who actually originate in Somerset, so there might be a link. It would be enough to confuse Ancestry, who have little knowledge of UK geography, and no incentive to improve.

Those of us in the UK "of a certain age" are unable to come across the place name Keynsham without thinking of Horace Batchelor, who advertised on Radio Luxembourg.

3
The Lighter Side / Re: Myths debunked when doing family histroy.
« on: Wednesday 28 February 24 18:43 GMT (UK)  »
There were two family stories that my mum was told.

First was that her grandfather was a "seventh son of a seventh son". He was actually one of 5, with only a sister older than him. His father was son number 4. He still managed to charm the warts away. ;D

Second was that the Marsh family were descended from George Marsh, who was burned at the stake under Bloody Mary and became St. George the Martyr. Supposedly there was a George in every generation in his honour. Tudor records are very thin on the ground so there is no paper trail, and so far I've found only three people called George - and one has the middle names of "Frederick Handel".

4
The Lighter Side / Who wears the trousers?
« on: Wednesday 28 February 24 11:31 GMT (UK)  »
I came across this 1921 census sheet with a "non-traditional" twist.

The handwriting appears to be Benjamin's - the signature matches.

In 1911 the family were at the same address, with Benjamin as Head.

5
The Lighter Side / Re: The railway revolution and its impact on our ancestors.
« on: Thursday 22 February 24 09:51 GMT (UK)  »
Would there have been children's fares then? It's a long journey to be in the baggage car if the kids were posted!
The same advert says "Children under Ten Years of Age will be taken at Half Fares".

At the time ten year olds would probably be working.  :(

6
The Lighter Side / Re: The railway revolution and its impact on our ancestors.
« on: Sunday 18 February 24 18:09 GMT (UK)  »
The reason I looked for 1851 was because that was the year of the Great Exhibition.

Research has revealed that people would put a little away each week (often in a "club") to pay for the visit to the Crystal Palace, and accommodation whilst in London.

Thomas Cook arranged for 150000 such visits.

7
The Lighter Side / Re: The railway revolution and its impact on our ancestors.
« on: Saturday 17 February 24 14:58 GMT (UK)  »
Came across an ad in the Edinburgh Evening Courant in 1851, for the Caledonian Railway, which would go via Carlisle.
RETURN TICKETS TO LONDON AND BACK BY THE NIGHT MAILS EVERY EVENING
Return Tickets..
Leaving Edinburgh at 9.15pm and Glasgow at 9.5pm
FIRST CLASS £5, SECOND CLASS £4.
To return within 14 days by the Train leaving Euston at 8.45pm.

There were also special Excursion Trains every Friday evening with fares £4 and £3, with 3rd class at £2, return in either 7 or 14 days.

Assuming an average speed of 30mph, the 400-ish miles from Glasgow or Edinburgh would take less than 14 hours. Peak speeds could be in excess of 50mph, but fuel costs would be lower at less.

8
Lancashire / Re: Where was Hatton's Yard, Ashton in Makerfield?
« on: Saturday 17 February 24 14:07 GMT (UK)  »
Following the 1841 walk on the NLS 1840s map, he starts in Seneley Green (which takes over 5 pages), deals with the houses in Strange Lane, then backtracks to Seneley Green. The schoolmistress is a couple of doors before Strange Lane, and I would expect her to be close to the school. School Lane is not listed by name, but seems to have no houses in the 1840s..

Hattons Yard is then listed, then Gibbons Lane. The route then follows the northern side of the district, ending at Leyland Green. I have to assume that the route took in all the buildings in that area.

Tithe Barn Lane and Tithe Barn Hillock, to the south, are in another enumeration district, so that is not the route. 

The only two groups of buildings which might be described as a "yard" is marked as "Crow Trees" on the 1840s map (by the 1890s it is called "Manor House") and Seneley Green Stables.

THEN

I looked at 1851. Henry Sutton, age 45, was at "Hatton's Fold". It has to be the same man. The enumerator's walk then goes from Ashton Cross, along Tithe Barn Lane and then Arch Lane as far as the parish boundary. Presumably backtracking to Tithe Barn Hillock, the man then visits Penny's Lodge, where the gamekeeper lives, before reaching Hatton's Fold. There are four households, then Seneley Green is reached. The front page says "to and including Tithe Barn Lane, Hatton's or Tunstall's Fold, Tithe Barn Hillock, Arch Lane..."

In 1861, Henry Sutton is down as being at "Dunstall's Fold", between Tithe Barn Hillock and Arch Lane. Tellingly, George Greenall is still next-door-but-one.

My guess is that the Fold was pretty close to what is now Tithe Barn Farm.

In 1861, the route goes from Ashton Cross, along Tithe Barn Lane and then Dunstall's Fold. It then follows Arch Lane, then "Penny Hall", where the gamekeeper lives, then "Torpen Howe", which is shown on the map, north east of the end of Arch Lane. The enumerator then follows the track east to Seneley Green. The page at the front of the ED says "Tithe Barn Lane, including Dunstall's fold, Tithe Barn Hillock.."

9
The Lighter Side / Re: The worst Ancestry transcription ever?
« on: Friday 16 February 24 09:41 GMT (UK)  »
I guess the enumerator wrote what he thought he heard.
I have one ancestor born in the small village of "Brinscall". In one census, only 10 miles away, it is written "Brinscow".

That is EXACTLY how the locals would say it.  ;D

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