RootsChat.Com

Umm, Well. I've only been doing this family research thing for 8 hours or so, but.............
Spend the first part of the programme searching for information about a 'missing' great grandfather's family, who turns out to be illegitimate. Spend a few moments marvelling at the determination of the family who allowed him to be brought up by his mother in her parents home, despite what the neighbours would have said..........then realize that all the neighbours were family so wouldn't have said anything (or perhaps even noticed the extra one, there being dozens of 'em). Any neighbours who were not related were probably too intimidated to make any remarks. Close up of me having a little weep when I realized that this Great Grandfather and his brother were sent down the pit at a v. young age.
Watch me nearly drown in paperwork as I wrestle with the fact that all my male ancestors seem to have been christened either Thomas or Joseph. (or both, but not always in that order). Then watch me cry again, this time with frustration, as I try to find an ancestor from a tiny village. Sadly the village is Bradwell in Derbyshire and, even more sadly, she's a Mary Middleton. Half the village were Mary Middletons, the other half were men. Zoom out as I go put the kettle on and head for bed.........but I've a feeling I'll be back tomorrow.

I believe it's Florence Emily (1881 census) as that was also my Grandmother's (her daughter's) name. She had several younger siblings and we believe some of the girls are named Rose, Amy and know for certain that one is Leah. We don't know about the brothers, but she had two sons one named Joseph (like her husband) and one Thomas, so if she is the Florence Emily from Aston then that also ties in as it would mean that both her father and brother were Thomas's (did they not have baby name dictionaries in the 1800's, or was it just to make embroidering the monogrammed hankies easier?  ) She died 5th Feb 1957.

We know for certain that Joseph Harrison was born on March 5th, in Staffordshire, sadly we don't know what year, but believe it to be 1883. He died in 1954 in Denaby Main, which was in the then West Riding of Yorkshire.

Thank you so much for your reply, suz. I've spent all afternoon on the internet looking things up and I have to say the time has flown and I've really enjoyed myself. I may just have caught the bug, even if I haven't discovered much. My mum set me off on the trail and she's probably regretting it now as I've phoned her for more information several times and really daren't pester her again until tomorrow, so thus far this is all I know.