Spring is here at last

I have been quite busy over the Easter holidays, I looked after the shop for Kate for a week and have spent a lot of time researching my family tree. After four years of searching for my paternal Grandfather's birth record I finally tracked him down. I have managed to get back to 1640 and 12 generations on my Mother's side of the family and found quite a few events along the way. I always thought my Mother's family were from the North East and my Father's were from Wales but that is not so. My maternal Grandmother, Maisie, died when my Mum was 7 and was never really mentioned at all. Maisie's family are all from the East End of London and her father (my Great Grandfather) was a rag and bone man! My maternal Grandfather, my Grandaddy was an army officer but came from a mining family, I have traced them back to horse breakers and farmers in Northumberland and lead miners in Weardale. I'm planning a trip to look through parish records and some local museums to see if I can find out more.

My Father died when I was 16 and both of his parents are long gone too. I thought they were all from North Wales but they all came from the Black Country, all miners, iron workers, chainmakers and anchorsmiths. None of them Welsh at all! I have found one in a lunatic asylum, one in the workhouse and one found dead in a canal and that's only four generations back.

The weather has been gorgeous so we decided to visit Sissinghurst Castle gardens today with a stop at Cranbrook church on the way. We took over 400 photographs between the three of us, sat in the sunshine and really enjoyed some family time together. The scent from the flowers was unbelievable, I never expected to see so many flowers this early in the year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Comments

[Barbara]

Jane, Georgina looks as though she is having a lot of fun in those photo's, which are great by the way, I especially like the statue one.

Take care

Barbara

[Kerry]

Family history is fascinating. I found out my greatgrandfather's wife died in childbirth yet less than 6 months later his second wife had his child. Most of mine were farm workers from gloucestershire who moved to yorkshire 3 generations ago. That's my mums side but my dads side is impossible - Edwards in Wales - not a chance of finding the right one.

[traceyr]

Beautiful photographs there Jane looks like you had a lovely day out :)

[Karen Dodgson]

Gorgeous pictures, and those purple flowers are amazing, it looks like the checks have been stamped on them!

[Lizzie]

I just dropped by to see what had been happening in Jane's world... the photos are beautiful - it looks as if you had a lovely day. I really must go to Sissinghurst, it's fab. Georgina looked so pretty and happy in those photos.

A thought about the "Lunatic Asylum" that you found - people used to be "put away" for various reasons, other than real madness. Sometimes they were mentally ill, other times it was something like Downs' Syndrome. Also, people were put in asylums just because they were disabled and their family couldn't cope. Your relative may have had a disability, rather than mental health problems. Not sure how you'd find out, unless you find his committal papers and/or doctors' reports...
It's really fascinating, finding out all this from the past. I wish you luck with your Paternal Grandfather's records, now you've found the birth certificate!

[Amber-Jane]

I was just taken aback at how tall and grown up Georgina looks , great pictures Jane xx

[Sandy]

Love those pictures, especially the Snakeshead Fritillery - my photos always come out blurry because they bob about in the breeze!
We visit Sissinghurst at the change of every season as there is always something to see in the gardens.