Hello all, but especially Arlen and Linnell!
I am so thrilled to read your comments thus far!
I've been working for years on my paternal Welsh family, and thought this winter might be time to follow up my Mum's paternal family, the Astons from The Lye/ Lye Cross. I had questioned my Mum and her sister, both in their late 80's and discovered the following:
My mother's father and his siblings were (in order of age?): Harry, Wilfred, Edith, Joseph, Alice, Howard (Richard) and Carrie (Caroline). Wilfred's birth certificate shows that he was born 1889 at Badger Street, Lye. The father is noted as George Harry Aston and the mother as Caroline Aston, nee Walker.
My aunt talks vividly abouts visits to her father's cousins in The Lye,especially to see Aunty Zuba, and the tiny sweet shop, with the apple tree and pigsty in the back garden. She also mentions a visit to another relative, whom my Mum thinks is Aunty Tet, which was at a posh villa, with a musical box! There was also a visit to Aston relatives in Crossgates and Cowdenbeath - I think this is something to do with Harry (grandfather's brother) who had moved to live in Scotland.
My memories of conversations with my grandfather were descriptions of a wonderful and beautiful mother, who had been in service - I've found her on the 1881 census, aged 14, born in Amblecote, and working for the Billingham family in Wollescote, and later working in/keeping a pub on Lye Cross. Little about his father, other than that he worked at Ham Baker's in the Black Country, on a sawmill. I think his parents were Thomas and Esther. Also, of a large family, with regular visits.
I had just started to surf the net/family history sites for information when I found your postings! I am so thrilled to read your comments thus far, and to see your photos! Do you think that my folks above are the Astons about whom you've been writing?
I should so love to hear from any of you!
Regards,
Bryn Meurig.
