Many prompts recently have emphasised the need to write not only the stories of our ancestors, but of ourselves, for future generations. Facebook recently presented me with a “memory”, a photo of me beside a car. Not very interesting in itself, but the memories came flooding back when I saw the date. I reposted it with the caption: “Eight years ago – the obligatory ‘take a photo of the rental car so we recognise it in car parks’ photo as … Continue reading
From Process Server to Petty Sessions Clerk, the story of Richard Hamilton of Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland When I started my family history, my g-g-grandfather, Richard Henry Hamilton, intrigued and challenge me. Growing up in a long established Catholic family in Brisbane in the 1950’s and 60’s, I was surprised to find that Richard was a practising member of the Established Church of Ireland and a very devoted one at that. Before Richard Hamilton’s appointment as a Petty Sessions clerk, … Continue reading
Last month I wrote about Thomas Neville, the second child born to James and Elizabeth and baptised at St Lawrence, Reading in Berkshire. This was also the church where his elder sister Mary Neville was baptised on 24 October 1783, Mary is my 3rd Great Grandmother, and this story follows her life.[1] When about five years old her family moved to Henley-on-Thames and it appears likely Mary would have gone out to work in her early teens to help … Continue reading
Mary Pallet (Pellet), daughter of William and Mary, was baptised in Benenden, Kent, England on 11 March 1769. Alexander Butler and Mary were married on 16 July 1788 in Benenden.[1] I have identified only two children of Alexander and Mary. Alexander Junior was born in 1790 and another son, George was born on 5th October 1800.[2]&[3] George is my GGG Grandfather. When George was nineteen, he married Charlotte Gladwish on 27 March 1820 at Ticehurst, Sussex. The Minister was Henry … Continue reading
The emotional letter, written by a soldier in hospital following the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815, was ragged and well-worn from being passed down through generations. I have extracted the essential messages and adapted them to today’s spelling and writing style. ‘For Mrs Jacobs Near the Half Acre Old Brentford, England’ Written from Brussels on 5 Aug 1815 to his sister Amy, who had married William Jacobs in 1813, her eldest brother Thomas began by thanking her for … Continue reading
