RootsChat.Com

Thanks Ann !   I think you’ve given me the term needed for my contact letter..., “gateway ancestor.” 

The documented proof going back to Rathlin looks pretty solid so all it would need is a private family letter at the time indicating the link.       

Hi Ann !   You are up early !     Thanks !

I suppose I could have added that there are many well known families such as the Royals who have cast-iron trees and linking on to them could be one way of going back. 

When can you accept an “Ancestry” line going back to the 13th century ?   I suppose the obvious answer is “it depends on what lies between”?   

My maternal Grandfather in Campbeltown Argyll has BMD details going back to Rathlin Island thanks to his 4xGr Grandmother b1747-1810, Antrim, Ireland.   
But as any university history student or Googler for that matter will tell you..., “you can get genealogical info from Adam and Eve to about the 16th century and for as long as you latch onto a well doccumented name, you can eventually fill the hole.”   
As such..., with next to no documented proof at the time for the “in-between” generations, how should this type of Ancestry tree be treated ?

Hi All !

Bit of a problem…, another one of those silly “walls.”    I joined Ancestry recently and that helped a little, nonetheless, as this line is a solitary research, I’ve no “hints” from other members !

In fact, I’m trying to find my 3xGr paternal Grandfather but as he died after 1827 and probably before 1841 as he’s not mentioned in the census, I’ve come to a grinding halt. At least, a provisional halt.
He had a son called John “Dunk” Wood born abt1826 but I’m unable to find his birth certificate..., nor John’s mother Mary’s marriage certificate. (probably around 1825 in Stonar Kent..., a few years after the Napoleonic Wars)

3xGr Mary “Wood” perhaps Stockwell, (WOW..., it’s suddenly dawned on me that she’s only a “3xGr,” highlighting my grey hair) lived in Stonar House, Sandwich Kent.   
In the 1841 census it has her birth as abt1791.   She has 4 children, (Mary, Ann and John who are probably triplets born abt1826, plus a Thomas abt1827)     Could John be their Father’s first name..., seems probable as one of the daughters was more than likely called after her mother ?
Apparently, Mary’s husband was an important land owner in the Sandwich area and also owned Stonar House.   His son John “Dunk” Wood inherited the house and it appears in all the censuses to 1871.    Then, something catastrophic happened to the family..., I don’t know what but nonetheless, one of John’s children called James found himself as a blind organ grinder in Canterbury.   

I wrote to the Sandwich Guildhall Museum and Ray the Curator was extremely kind to have replied.

“Hi Iain,
I've not heard of RootsChat! Sounds like it's something to do with Family History.
Stonar House used to be “South Stonar Farm.”   In WW1 it was taken over by the army as an Officers Mess and medical facility. After WW1 it was bought by Stour House School who were there until WW2 when again the army/RAF radar units took it over, (UFOs etc) - so the school moved to Wiltshire - where it remains.
After WW2 a sad decline with a scrap yard adjacent and eventually the building caught fire, (? Arson) so today it is a derelict, classB burnt out shell.
We have a substantial file on Stonar House.
Regards
Ray
Hon Curator
Sandwich Guildhall Museum”

What I learned from Ray’s message allowed me to research the new name “South Stonar Farm” and as a consequence, I found the URLs below.   The farm obviously had the same name one hundred years previous as we find dates of 1836 and 1825..., I suppose they are, dates on the URLs !) 
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:fXeDjVqdr4QJ:www.christies.com/lotfinder/LotDetailsPrintable.aspx%3FintObjectID%3D256814+%22South+Stonar+Farm%22&cd=3&hl=fr&ct=clnk&gl=be

http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/estate-plans-john-adams.-estates-belonging-to-va-1-c-w8vovz06fi

As the above URLs indicate, the owners are present-day and will have no idea about any pre-ownership..., so, apart from going to the museum and asking Ray to search his records, (I’m in Belgium) is there any way to find on-line details of the farm for this period ?   This would then confirm the first Wood name and details of the “original” 19th century owner !

Anyone..., thanks in advance..., Iain.


http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/s/sandwich/index7.html
Stonar..., a lost park: http://oxoniensia.org/volumes/1994/steane.pdf

Hi Kathy.   Many moons ago my father used to work in the coal mines at Drumremble, not far from Machrihanish. http://www.machrihanish.net/argyllcollierymenu.html   Closed now I believe.   
I also have a cousin who to this day works at the airport..., so there’s two trades.   Fishing of course..., and don't forget that Paul McCartney lives there..., so tourism !
You’ll also find a lot of info at http://www.kintyreforum.com  And photos at http://www.campbeltownloch.com/news.php

As for the cemeteries..., you’ll find all via Ralston: http://www.ralstongenealogy.com/personquery4.php