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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: StevieSteve on Friday 21 July 17 08:22 BST (UK)

Title: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: StevieSteve on Friday 21 July 17 08:22 BST (UK)
Right, let's start this off

Well, I expect not many of us had much in common with that programme - the Kingsclere roadsign was my only connection - and I thought that the first half was just in there to link it to the BBC Gay Britannia season but I enjoyed the American side of it, most particularly the slightly crazy Food Historian woman

Did think it could probably have been discovered with about 5 minutes of Googling though

e.g. http://www.shelter-island.org/hoagland_brothers/
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Skoosh on Friday 21 July 17 08:54 BST (UK)
Interesting but she's a pain in the neck!  ;D

Skoosh.
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: aghadowey on Friday 21 July 17 09:04 BST (UK)
I enjoyed the programme but the big surprise twist at the end was the family chart showing Hoagland lineage back to Sara Rapalje (first European girl born in New Netherland- now New York) as I am also descended from her at least 3 or 4 times (hard to remember exactly without digging out the family tree)-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Rapelje
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: KGarrad on Friday 21 July 17 09:19 BST (UK)
New York was previously New Amsterdam (or Nieuwe Amsterdam!).
Sarah Rapelje was actually born in Fort Orange (which became Veverwijck, and then Albany).
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: cristeen on Friday 21 July 17 10:18 BST (UK)
I enjoyed watching, her g grandmother's older brother was Oliver Stanley who owned Witherslack Hall. My g grandfather & grandfather trained and rode several of the family's horses. Tenuous link but I'm hanging on to it! Interestingly, Olivers' wife turned down two offers of marriage from Edward VII, before he succeeded, apparently she considered him a wimp :)
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: jillruss on Friday 21 July 17 11:48 BST (UK)
It was all a bit 'Brideshead Revisited', wasn't it?! As you say, StevieSteve, not much for us commoners to identify with.

Still reasonably interesting, though. I did think she was a bit too over zealously trying to establish the homosexual link to herself but that's okay - present day musicians, actors etc are always thrilled when they discover a like minded ancestor on WDYTYA.

I don't mind Claire, though she does have a tendency to monopolise a conversation with her enthusuasm. She always reminds me of a jolly hockey sticks headgirl!

I also got the impression that a lot of this was already known about.

Jill
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Mowsehowse on Friday 21 July 17 12:18 BST (UK)
I enjoyed the programme, without finding anything I could use for myself.  ;)

I am assuming, from Claire's throw away opening comments, that she is descended from the 1st Earl of Derby, being Thomas, Lord Stanley of Bosworth Field infamy.

Thomas Stanley was the third husband of Lady Margaret Beaufort mother of Henry Vll.
She was directly descended from John of Gaunt son of Edward lll.
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: davidft on Friday 21 July 17 12:29 BST (UK)
I enjoyed watching, her g grandmother's older brother was Oliver Stanley who owned Witherslack Hall. My g grandfather & grandfather trained and rode several of the family's horses. Tenuous link but I'm hanging on to it! Interestingly, Olivers' wife turned down two offers of marriage from Edward VII, before he succeeded, apparently she considered him a wimp :)

Shouldn't that be Edward VIII ?
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Skoosh on Friday 21 July 17 13:53 BST (UK)
John of Gaunt being the son of Edward III was disputed at the time & now apparently!

Skoosh.
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: davidft on Friday 21 July 17 14:03 BST (UK)
John of Gaunt being the son of Edward III was disputed at the time & now apparently!

Skoosh.

That's politics then and now and could be applied to all monarchs with no evidence whatsoever.

Its easier to sell a conspiracy than a fact as there is always someone who will accept the former and dispute the latter ................
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: SmallTownGirl on Friday 21 July 17 14:08 BST (UK)
John of Gaunt being the son of Edward III was disputed at the time & now apparently!

Skoosh.

That's a new one on me.  Sources, please?

STG
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Skoosh on Friday 21 July 17 14:10 BST (UK)
Google!
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: SmallTownGirl on Friday 21 July 17 14:13 BST (UK)
Google!

Not overly helpful.

Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: StevieSteve on Friday 21 July 17 14:22 BST (UK)
Google!

Not overly helpful.

Wikipedia any better?

 When he became unpopular later in life, scurrilous rumours and lampoons circulated that he was actually the son of a Ghent butcher, perhaps because Edward III was not present at the birth. This story always drove him to fury.[2]


[2] Jonathan Sumption, Divided Houses: The Hundred Years War III (London: Faber & Faber, 2009), p. 274.
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: SmallTownGirl on Friday 21 July 17 14:26 BST (UK)
Google!

Not overly helpful.

Wikipedia any better?

 When he became unpopular later in life, scurrilous rumours and lampoons circulated that he was actually the son of a Ghent butcher, perhaps because Edward III was not present at the birth. This story always drove him to fury.[2]


[2] Jonathan Sumption, Divided Houses: The Hundred Years War III (London: Faber & Faber, 2009), p. 274.


Helpful.  Thank you. ;)
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: suey on Friday 21 July 17 14:28 BST (UK)
I found this one quite yawn making.  I'd have rather heard about the horse dealer side of the family to be honest.
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: SmallTownGirl on Friday 21 July 17 14:40 BST (UK)

....  perhaps because Edward III was not present at the birth.


Given that for paternity, it's more important to be there at the conception rather than birth, as rumours go (about Edward not being John's father) this seems badly conceived - see what I did there?

Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Mowsehowse on Friday 21 July 17 14:52 BST (UK)

....  perhaps because Edward III was not present at the birth.


Given that for paternity, it's more important to be there at the conception rather than birth, as rumours go (about Edward not being John's father) this seems badly conceived - see what I did there?
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Blue70 on Friday 21 July 17 14:58 BST (UK)
Great episode, loved it. No criticisms for a change  ;D


Blue
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Finley 1 on Friday 21 July 17 15:04 BST (UK)
I am afraid, ---- this was not a disappointment  --- cos it was as expected...

Never really taken to this lady even before she declared her sexuality - that has nothing to do with it for me..

The first part of the prog - I felt was wrong - because all she wanted was to prove that a previous member of her family was also 'gay'.
WELL why does that matter, and who knows if the truth is / was ever disclosed in most families...
We all know the 'arty'?!?!  set  of those days 'intermingled'  !!!!! its well written --

and really no different to today

I havent read other comments regarding the prog...  Will do now..

I did switch off half way through..
After we were introduced to her Father -- he seemed a lovely chap..


xin
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Rhododendron on Friday 21 July 17 15:28 BST (UK)
Have to agree with most comments re that episode.

Half the programme spent trying to find a "Gay" link in her family!  It is "Gay Season" on BBC after all.

Too little of the rest of the programme spent researching her mother's family.

Very disappointed.

Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: fallingonabruise on Friday 21 July 17 15:30 BST (UK)
boring boring boring  ;D
you can't tell me that they didn't know most of this, and if not, whats wrong with them !! to be able to walk through a hall with all the portraits being your ancestors and not give them a second glance?
and got fed up with the 'gay' thing very quickly, it felt so forced ! never mind anything else the poor bloke did, just prove he's gay   ???
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Rhododendron on Friday 21 July 17 15:43 BST (UK)
Agree will all you say fallingonabruise!
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Mowsehowse on Friday 21 July 17 15:51 BST (UK)
Have to agree with most comments re that episode.

Half the programme spent trying to find a "Gay" link in her family!  It is "Gay Season" on BBC after all.

Too little of the rest of the programme spent researching her mother's family.

Very disappointed.

In fairness, Claire did state at the outset of the programme that her mother's family was already extremely well documented. (Which was what prompted my assumption really. See above.)
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: jim1 on Friday 21 July 17 17:04 BST (UK)
Have to agree the, was he wasn't he story got a bit boring. It's like wanting to find out if your GGGrandfather had blue eyes like me, irrelevant.
Game of 2 halves.
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: JenB on Friday 21 July 17 17:37 BST (UK)
Have to agree with most comments re that episode.

Half the programme spent trying to find a "Gay" link in her family!  It is "Gay Season" on BBC after all.


I couldn't agree more. It became pretty clear after about five minutes that there was an 'agenda' here. It reminded me strongly of the J.K. Rowling WDYTYA - she was a single mum, so her agenda was to prove that she came from a long line of strong single mums.
I had a laugh when her father said she needed to go to the USA. When there she proceeded to look up the US census on Ancestry.
All in all I found it very disappointing.
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Finley 1 on Friday 21 July 17 17:48 BST (UK)
For goodness sake  --- lets have some FRAME WORK KNITTERS that fought in the  Napoleanic or even Boar wars   maybe ------- or were luddites  or some such like :)  !!!!!!!!


xin

(not really on the planet these days)
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: BumbleB on Friday 21 July 17 17:50 BST (UK)
  "She" had "her" agenda and was determined to fulfil it.  :-X :-X :-X
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: groom on Friday 21 July 17 17:55 BST (UK)
Perhaps it's time, than rather than using celebrities, that they asked for the General Public who had found interesting people in their family to share their findings. They could still show the records and how they were found. I'm sure there are some really interesting stories out there which are far better than the "forced" celebrity ones.
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Treetotal on Friday 21 July 17 18:00 BST (UK)
Perhaps it's time, than rather than using celebrities, that they asked for the General Public who had found interesting people in their family to share their findings. They could still show the records and how they were found. I'm sure there are some really interesting stories out there which are far better than the "forced" celebrity ones.

A bit predictable I thought...I couldn't agree with you more Jan.
Carol
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: jim1 on Friday 21 July 17 18:00 BST (UK)
Quote
interesting people
are in the eye of the beholder.
I have interesting people that would probably make everyone else yawn.
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Jomot on Friday 21 July 17 18:06 BST (UK)
This was the most tedious episode yet in what, for me, is proving to be the poorest series since it started.   

If the rest of the episodes follow the emerging pattern then maybe they should re-name it 'I am who I am because he/she did it first"
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: groom on Friday 21 July 17 18:08 BST (UK)
Quote
interesting people
are in the eye of the beholder.
I have interesting people that would probably make everyone else yawn.

Exactly, but just because someone is a celebrity it doesn't make their ancestors anymore interesting. 
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Rena on Friday 21 July 17 18:31 BST (UK)
As I treat the programme as light entertainment, I wasn't too disappointed. What surprised me was there was somebody else other than the British scientist Alfred Bird who had anything to do with baking powder and its promotion.

I've always liked Clare Balding at the outset when she accompanied Willie Carson, ex jockey, commenting on horse racing.   It would be surprising if she didn't wonder whether she'd inherited some aspect of her sexuality from an ancestor's genes.   Following on from my last sentence, I'd really like to see a follow up of a science programme I viewed donkeys years ago, about the contents of skulls and it was seen that the hypothalamus was a different shape in males and females, so why did one male skull have a female shaped hypothalamus?
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: dowdstree on Friday 21 July 17 18:33 BST (UK)
To be honest I found this episode boring.

 English Aristocracy and wealthy Americans just don't excite me at all. Although when I saw the tin of Royal Baking Powder that I could relate to  ;D ;D

Trying so hard to find a gay link in her ancestry was a bit over the top.

I had a great uncle who was gay way back in the day when it was unacceptable. Nice old gent who was always good for half a crown when you met him. I am so pleased that attitudes have changed now as he was ostrecised by some family members.

Dorrie

Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Rena on Friday 21 July 17 18:35 BST (UK)
Quote
interesting people
are in the eye of the beholder.
I have interesting people that would probably make everyone else yawn.

Exactly, but just because someone is a celebrity it doesn't make their ancestors anymore interesting.

I saw a couple of variations on WDYTYA years ago using ordinary people.  To my knowledge, neither was repeated so it's probably due to viewing figures.
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Caw1 on Friday 21 July 17 19:52 BST (UK)
Like everyone else's comments on this episode I found the first part extremely boring.

We all know she has a 'wife' but do we need it pushed down our throats!

In some ways I felt for both her grandparents as I'm sure they wouldn't wish the general public to know all about their behaviour - they must be turning in their graves.

I found the baking powder story interesting and it would have been nice to see where its all ended up now.

But  - no records to talk of being extracted that has much to do with the rest of us - few US census
records, articles from the food lady.
Nearly fell asleep in the first part - hope next one improves as the first two have been very good.

Caroline
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Clarkey500 on Friday 21 July 17 21:57 BST (UK)
I will have to watch this one again as I got bit distracted.

However, I was slightly interested in her finding her bisexual great grandfather as of all days for me to discover that my great grandfather was arrested and imprisoned for a gay act, it had to be yesterday - the day this episode was on!!!  :o  :o

In my opinion, the episode could easily have been more interesting, especially the bit in America walking down the streets. Also, the second episode in a row where the records used are not of much use to regular British folk.

The lady talking to her about baking powder seemed very excessive in her tone and body language. I never thought anyone could be so excited and interested in baking powder!  ;D ;D
Having said that the Hoaglands were slightly interesting and Clare's hesitancy of the Hoagland book being slightly biased was good from a genealogical standpoint. 3/5.
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: trish1120 on Saturday 22 July 17 15:55 BST (UK)
I've never seen or heard of the Woman (I live in Australia) and thoroughly enjoyed the whole episode.
I thought it had lots of variety looking at various branches of her Family.

Trish :)
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: ankerdine on Saturday 22 July 17 20:47 BST (UK)
Yes I agree with all that's been said before.

  Liked the USA part which was interesting.

A commoner though would interest most Rootschatters more. For instance in our family we have prisoners, gypsies, illegitimate births, accidental deaths, scandals like shooting a swan for Sunday lunch!

Been away for a while and have missed you all so much.

Judyxx
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Finley 1 on Saturday 22 July 17 21:44 BST (UK)
Hello Judy xxxxx

nice to see your name 's  :) :)

xin
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: John915 on Saturday 22 July 17 23:50 BST (UK)
Good evening,

I can't really say whether it was boring or not. I fell asleep about 15 mins in.

John915
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Treetotal on Saturday 22 July 17 23:53 BST (UK)
 ;D ;D :D ;D
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: StanleysChesterton on Sunday 23 July 17 00:46 BST (UK)


I am assuming, from Claire's throw away opening comments, that she is descended from the 1st Earl of Derby, being Thomas, Lord Stanley of Bosworth Field infamy.

Thomas Stanley was the third husband of Lady Margaret Beaufort mother of Henry Vll.
 
I'm trying to work out my link to them... I have so many tiny pieces of the jigsaw that indicate in my imagination that I must have a link somewhere... even though I know it'd be some errant youngest son who left in disgrace, or some floozy of a daughter who had an illegitimate son .... but there are so many fragments that just geographically "fit" for me .... but I doubt I'll live long enough to ever know :)
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: doddsie4 on Sunday 23 July 17 07:38 BST (UK)
        It gave me a kick to see those small tins of Baking Powder again.     I am certain my mother was using that very tin when she was baking cakes (Fairy Cakes, Rock Cakes, Empire Biscuits etc) away back in the late 40's and 1950's.        I recognized it right away - or was it my imagination?       Anyone else in the UK remember those tins?       They aren't still on sale, are they?       

       ...I believe women in the 1940's & fifties were doing a lot more baking than they do now.        ....But I'm just a man, so what do I know? ;D
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Skoosh on Sunday 23 July 17 11:43 BST (UK)
Yes Doddsie!

Skoosh.
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: fraser1 on Sunday 23 July 17 12:11 BST (UK)
I too remember those tins of baking powder and being allowed to measure  out to help Mum when she was baking.  O happy days!

Fraser1
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Barnes612 on Sunday 23 July 17 19:21 BST (UK)
I thought this was a really interesting programme. I fail to see how the fact she has a wife was "pushed down our throats" as a previous poster states. All they were doing was walking along, and I'm sure spouses have featured on a number of these programmes over the years.

I was really interested in her great grandfather and his bisexuality. Despite homosexuality being illegal there were still records of a sort being kept of parties and groups of people meeting up. I was also fascinated by how all this could be cross referenced because of the class of the people concerned - they were forever writing letters to each other!!  ;D I thought it was a real stroke of luck to have all that circumstantial evidence available so that we could see that yes, there was a strong chance of a relationship between Sir Malcolm and Rex Whistler.

I loved her enthusiasm, and was really brought into her search by it. Lucky lady having so many good connections! And the one to Royal Baking Powder! What made me laugh was that she seemed to have absolutely no idea how well known Royal BP is as a brand!!! Or what BP does!!!! Obviously doesn't do a lot of baking!  ;D

This series so far has proved to be really good. Hope the rest are as interesting as the first three.

Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Barnes612 on Sunday 23 July 17 19:24 BST (UK)
We all know she has a 'wife' but do we need it pushed down our throats!

How was it pushed down our throats?

And why the inverted commas around the word wife? They were married in 2015.
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Cas (stallc) on Sunday 23 July 17 19:50 BST (UK)
TBH, really enjoyed the first 2 as have others in the past, yawned quarter way through this one and fell asleep.

Caught up with what I missed following day, sorry but found it boring apart from the enthusiastic knowledgeable baking soda lady....

Cas
Title: Re: "Who Do You Think You Are", Series 14: #3 Claire Balding
Post by: Caw1 on Monday 24 July 17 01:56 BST (UK)
We all know she has a 'wife' but do we need it pushed down our throats!

How was it pushed down our throats?

And why the inverted commas around the word wife? They were married in 2015.

I've answered these comments in a PM