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Hi,

I've recently discovered that my mum-in-law had a half brother.
I have copies of certificates etc to back this up.

He was born illegitimately 10 years before my mum-in-law (and 10 years before her mother's marriage).

This half brother died in 1983 leaving a wife and 2 children. Both children have married and one I know has 2 children, all living relatively close to mum-in-law.

Now after chatting to my husband about this, we're 99% certain that mum-in-law is not aware of this half brother or his family. Mum-in-law is now in her 70's, in reasonably good health but has admitted that she occassionally puts her head in the sand to avoid things/issues that she doesn't want to be part of.

So what do we do? On the one hand she has a right to know as this is her family, she has a younger brother who although they are not particularly close, she would fight for! ... on the other she may not want to know and I would hate to distress her.

Any ideas on how to deal with this would be appreciated. How to broach the subject with her, test the waters etc. or do you think it should be left well alone?

Thanks for your help

tabitha 

A couple of weeks ago I was given an address for my Grandad's cousin. Plucking up my courage I wrote to her and received a lovely letter back inviting me to telephone!

I did and received a warm welcome and lots of snippets of family info and some lovely stories about my ancestors along with her brother's telephone number.

Today I rang this lady's brother and low and behold he's been researching our family for a lot longer than me and has a suitcase full of certificates, wills etc which he has very kindly offered to copy and post to me.

The moral of this story......take every opportunity that comes your way. It may not give results like this but just think in a few years time this brother and sister may not be here and I would never have known two of my relatives or received such enthusiastic help!

tabitha 

Hi,

Is anyone able to try and help me find a birth please?

These are the details I have for George Wright. I can't find his birth on 1837online despite trawling through the pages!!


George Wright parents Thomas & Jane Wright.

1871 census - with parents in Chowdene (Chester-le-Street)
                      Age 5, birthplace Chowdene.

1881 census - with parents in Chester Moor (Chester-le-St)
                      Age 16, birthplace Chester-le-Street.

23 Jan 1886 -  marriage to Elizabeth at Chester-le Street
                     Register Office, residence Chester Moor,
                     age 21.

In 1861 his parents were living in Chowdene so don't appear to have moved between 1861 & 1871.

From that he should have been born between 1864 & 1866 in Chowdene! Simple!! (Is it ever??)

Thank you 
tabitha

Hi,

Can anyone think of the name of the author/ publisher of the series of books that tell a photographic history of individual towns? I can't for the life of me remember and I want to order one!

Thanks
tabitha