2003 taught me not to make assumptions. After 20 years searching, I was stunned to realise three children had been missed from my maternal line, and so close in being brothers of my grandmother. Only James survived to have his own children. I had never considered looking after the 1911 census. He was never mentioned and we did not meet. My research is usually very good, but all can make mistakes. As a child living in Over, Cheshire, my mother would say we were related to people, but at that time I was not interested. Now I would like to ask questions, but the opportunity has gone. Remembering a photograph of me as a baby, sitting in a wheelbarrow at the Wheatsheaf Hotel, I asked a question on RootsChat. From that I pieced together a whole branch.
A relative visited every Christmas and was a little younger than my mother. From fragments of information, I found her marriage and two daughters, but could not make the link to my family. She was a child of James. I can now see why my tree would not fit together. There were a couple who lived close to my grandparents. I thought they were related to my grandmother. I spent days searching all possibilities, but without something to identify them, I was stuck. Once I stopped thinking and made a cup of tea, a fact popped into my head. They had one child, a son who died in WW2. He was a rear-gunner on bomber planes. Searching the Roll of Honour I eventually found a candidate. From there, I found all of them, including the 1939 Register, offering their address that fitted. He was a nephew of my grandfather. Everything I could remember regarding different relatives has now been found a followed.
I am always surprised what can be achieved from the smallest piece of information. Then when I find the information, I know it is right, as it triggers further facts. 2023 has been productive. It taught me not to make assumptions; and when thinking too deeply; step back and make a cup of tea. The information was in my subconscious, it just needed the opportunity to surface.
