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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: Mobo on Sunday 06 February 05 19:06 GMT (UK)
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:) :) :)
I just wondered, how many people have actually visited the places there ancestors came from ?
Speaking personally, with one exception, my experiences have all been very enjoyable, and in some instances, very moving, even disturbing.
:) :) :)
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Have great fun dragging the 'hubby' around on the motorbike, visiting different villages, taking photos and generally putting 'flesh on old bones'.
post script.......
he has not the slightest bit of interest in genealogy !
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Toucing the font in the Church where my ancestors were batpised for over 300 years - very moving.
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We had a fantastic time on Jan/2/05 The day before we flew back to Toronto We went to 6, HOXTON SQUARE and saw the home of our gg HYATT grandparents, it has been restored to what it looked like on the outside when they lived there. We then walked up to BRIGHTON RD to see another two homes and then on to AMHERST RD for a look at another one It was a great day out ending with a wonderful evening in a COVENT GARDEN Pub
CORBIE
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Hi all
have to agree with Kateb, visiting the churches were the ancestors were baptized, married and buried is quite moving as is discovering a house that crops up regularly in letters or wills.
Mick
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I have visited most of the places where they lived and worked and strangely my house is on the site of one of the mills where some relatives worked .... completely unknown to me at the time I bought the house.
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The very first thing I looked up when I started my internet genealogy course was my great grandfather's census information on the LDS website. It was a shock to find that he was living in the same road that we had moved into when were were first married.
The houses where he lived had long gone and were a car park, but we lived in a block of flats almost opposite.
Spooky or what .....
Honeybun.
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I have been to the house my Gt.gt. gd.father built in NY. about 1880. The first time, about 1990, the owners let me in and showed me the front room but this summer new owners only let us look at the family cemetary out back. But at least I know he built Well! My family settled the town of Norwich, VT. and since my mother was born there (some family never left that area ) I have seen Many places they lived in there. I always feel a part of those places when I visit and it is a nice feeling. Leagen
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Me and my husband have visited Tyrley Locks the lock keepers cottage, that his greatgrandfather was lock keeper at in the mid 1800,s we were made very welcome, and showed around, Also i know that Dot his relative,we found in USA, has also been to visit the cottage before we did,as she also does family history, and she sent us photo,s, nora.
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Oh Yes i have i have visited the village where they lived ,
And return every month as i like it there !!
Also the house where they once lived a two up two down was for sale not long ago so i had a good look in side as well !! :D
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I visited a farm house that my fathers ancestors lived in from about 1650 through to 1850. Quite mindblowing to know that so many generations bearing the same surname as me lived there. Also, the church in the village has something like 83 people of my surname buried there. What hit me in the gut the most was the experience of walking along a country path from this village to the nearest market town, and really feeling I was walking in the footsteps of so many of my ancestors.
On more recent history, I have spent some time wandering around places my mother remembers from her childhood. Its been interesting recording my walks and seeing how much memory thedescriptions stir in my mother. Same feeling too of walking in the footsteps of ancestors, but then I guess I always have been someone who gets the feel of a place by having my feet firmly on the ground and walking.
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I lived in my great grandads house in Hampton Middlesex, I now live in Australia and when we did go back to England I wasn't interested in family history . Must win the lotto and then I can come back and visit suffolk and cornwall.
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I have only visited by proxy (my sister went to UK last year and took photos for me) but recently I saw a news item in the Sunday Times (on the net) that the house was bought last year by a member of the pop group Duran Duran. :-\
Minn
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My 3xgt-grandfather lived in the same cottage from the 1840s through into the 20thC. The cottage is still in existence today.
I would love to visit the area to see it but am unable at the present time. I have thought of writing to the address in the hope that the current owner may be kind enough to send me a photograph.
Caroline :)
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Hi I spent the day in Monkton Farleigh and had lunch at the Inn in Monkton Farleigh, Wiltshire where my grandfather's uncle John Sweetland was Innkeeper in 1881. Brought up in London I had no idea who most of my ancestors were.
SS
West Oz
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Yes I went back to Adforton near Leintwardine last weekend I have been before but this time it was different I felt strange I bought plants for my great grandads grave,somthing I have never done before, as my husband pulled up at the church I went up the path and looked back to see a lady very dressed up following me. I asked if there was a wedding on as it was 2. 30pm on Saturday and she said no a funeral, so I took my leave but as I turned away I asked if she knew any Thomas's or Archers in the village she gave me a hard look and said they were burying an Archer that day' it turned out to be my second cousins stepmother, I left my phone number and we got in touch later that weekend 'strange' I think very' I have never met him for forty years and didn't even know he had a stepmother
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I'm a really lucky family historian as all of my ancestors so far, (apart from a few who came from Suffolk and one who came from Wisbech,) came from Norfolk. My Mum's family have lived in the same village as I was brought up in since at least 1620 and I know that the house my 5xg grandparents lived in in 1778, was 150 yards from wher my parents still live. (Where I lived from 13 months till I got married.)
I feel part of the village and I try to visit every new place I find a connection to. Just to stand at the alter or the font or to find a grave or even the house they lived in.......................That is FAMILY HISTORY.
Teddybear
(Silly old fool!)
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Hello all.
I spent along time trying to find out where Beedle's Terrace was in Exeter. My Great Grandfather Harold Hopkins and his siblings grew up there, and several other relations of his lived their too. Having never thought I would find it's location, I happened to spy an old street sign out the corner of my eye, whilst walking down the High Street in the city center. It read 'Rackclose Lane leading to Beedle's Terrace'. I was stunned!! I walked down cobbled Rackclose Lane where I expected to see at the end of it, a very old Terrace of houses. However, I was disappointed to see 1970s style apartments. I have actually seen them many times before, but I never knew that Beedle's Terrace stood there first. I knocked on somebodies door. A man greeted me and I asked 'Can you tell me where Beedl'es Terrace is?' (I asked that as I wanted to sound as if I causally needed directions). The man explained that the Terrace was a large old building, with a number of rooms inside, kind of like an old fashioned apartment complex. It was demolished in the early 70s.
Another house that was home to 3 generations of Hopkins including an all-grown-up and married-with-kids Harold Hopkins still stands. I have visited it on Exeter's historic Stepcote Hill. I even knocked on the door the other week and handed old photographs of the house, along with a select-few with my family in, to the current occupier.
My GG Grandfather Thomas John Hill's Butcher's Shop (No. 6, The Polygon) in Clapham is now a fashionable restaurant and also, my Great Aunt inhabits the house in which my Great Grandparnets Cecil and Winifred Hill lived in Exeter until their deaths in the 80s. At the moment, I'm living in the house in Pinhoe, Exeter, which my father and his siblings grew up in. My Nan moved them here from Canada in the 70s. A few years back my parents swapped homes with my Nan. My parents still live here about 4 months of the year, but I'm the only resident at the moment as they're always on holiday!!
Ryan.
:)
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:) :) :)
My ancestors the 'Williamsons' had a Grocer shop on Chapel Street, Salford, between 1760-1880, and this is an old print of it's location. Sadly, the site is an office block today.
However, their church, Sacred Trinity, still stands on the opposite side of the street, a lot cleaner these days, after a sand-blasting job. Although the gravestones have long-since gone, there is a plaque on the wall commemorating my gt.gt grandfather, John Whittaker Williamson, (Church Warden), and a pew dedicated to William Williamson, his grandfather.
I can tell you, it was very strange experience sitting in that pew in that church, trying to imagine all those Williamsons who'd gone before.
:) :) :)
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I have photographed many of the homes from the outside of my Southport ancestors, as my family are still in the area (and have been since at least the 1380's)... but best of all... the home my grandmother's family rented from around 1870-80 (I think they moved in when it was first built) was still in the family until the 1980's. I remember going there at Christmas time in the 70's... if only I'd been old enough to appreciate the history of it at the time... 5 generations of Hulms/descendants have been in that house.
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I've yet to find any actual houses the ancestors lived in :(
Been through the various Hertfordshire and Essex villages to get the feel of them, but 'cos they never bothered putting proper addresses in censuses, I've only been as near as the roads they stood in.
I went to the village of Charlton in Herts last year where my Mum's parents lived and where she was born. I couldnt find the house but had a drink in the only pub there, so I'm sure my Grandad stood in the same spot at some time. That was a nice feeling. When the weather gets nicer, I'll be out on the bike looking around the Surrey villages and maybe with more luck ;D
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I visited my ancestors home in Blewbury (Berks) it was great to see such a lovely house still being lived in.
In the 1841 census my grandfather x5 had a bakery and my grandfather x4 was a fruiterer. I could just imagine how it must have looked so long ago.
Most of the other places I have visited have long since changed beyond recognition.
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About three years ago I got in contact with the present owners of the house where my mother's family lived for at least 300 years (and maybe more) in the village of Ickleton in Cambs. My mother and I were invited there, and we spent an amazing time being shown round the 15th C. (some parts) Lodge house that had been in the family where they had been tenant farmers in the village between the 16th C. until the turn of the 19th/20th C.
As we stood in the front room looking onto the street I imagined our ancestor Sarah sewing her sampler (begun in 1768) in the window straining to catch the light as maybe the day faded. Also the room where Thomas the watchmaker had his workshop. Some of the wooden panels were from Audley End House, salvaged after a bad fire in the 17th C., I believe. Inventories of the rooms which I have copies of from the 17thC. told us that the lay-out of the house has not changed much over the years, apart from the house being divided into two separate dwellings for a while.
Though Saxon Lodge has long passed out of our family, the present owners have lovingly restored it when at one time it was apparently in danger of falling into disrepair, and it was a wonderful few hours we spent surrounded by the ghosts of our family past...
Keith
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When I started researching only just over 4 years ago I didn't know my gt.grandparents names or anything.
After a bit of information from a relative I eventually found that my paternal line ones had lived in a street only a few turnings up from where my husbands parents lived for over 40 years until their deaths.
They were buried in the same graveyard as my parents in law.
A few weeks ago I visited three of my childhood homes, all within about 10 minutes of each other!
Isn't it strange how you remember things. Everything seemed so much bigger.
All the roads and turnings were tiny to how I rememberd them. I took photos to include in my tree.
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"The family home" which family? lol
On my father's side. No. My grandfather was adopted. Born in Indiana, USA. My Grandmother is from Georgia, USA. I'm still waiting on the family history from my aunt.
On my mother's side. Her mother's side - no. Never met any of them. Her mother's father's side, I've been in the general location he grew up in, and we've stopped by the family cemetary site. Although I never bothered to get out of the car.
My mom's side hails from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, England, Holland? (dutch), Germany, Sweden, and some others. I've never set food outside the US, except for a few hours in Canada. I'm also supposedly part Native American, so I guess I may have set foot in the same area as an acestor. I don't know.
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Just this week I was in Durham visiting my mum (or, more correctly, 'mam' :)) and went to the village of Piercebridge where an ancestor kept a Post Office in the 1850's.
It's still there, and I hoped to speak to the present owners.
Unfortunately, I picked the day they were undergoing alterations, so the building was closed up just on Wednesday! ::)
Paul
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I havent visited any ancestral root places outside of Lancashire yet, but i know of a cottage in Ashfield-Cum-Thorpe, Suffolk, where my Clark ancestors lived in the mid-19th Century. Its called Cook's Cottage, but i dont know if its still there.
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My grandmother (paternal side) and her family came from the City of Floriana in Malta. Just outside Valletta.
I went for a visit there in 1999 and spent two months. Spent many days walking around the streets and parks of this old town. Just about every day I visited the Parish of St Publius where all of them were baptised and married.
I really fell in love with the place. Managed to find 4 very old cousins of my father who were close to 90 yrs of age. None of them knew me. Showed them photos of my parents and instanly recognized them They made me very welcome.
Photo copied a few of their old family photos. I had a few tears when I had to walk away from the place to go back to my country. Visited some of the family burial plots and obtained records from the cemetery.
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(http://)
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:'( :'( :'(
My most moving visit was to the town of Swinsford in County Mayo, Ireland, the family home of my Dunn family.
Like thousands of others during the Famine years, they were forced to leave their beloved country and settle elsewhere (which event was known as the 'White Martyrdom'), and their suffering would have been immense.
As I walked through the town and the graveyard, and later over Swinford Bridge and the River Moy, I tried to imagine their plight back then,and was filled with a great sadness.
They certainly wouldn't recognise the happy, vibrant, affluent Ireland of today.
:'( :'( :'(
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Last year I visited a few of the areas where my ancestors came from, and was not very successful in finding their homes :(
I think I just assumed that I'd be able to find their houses straight away!
Since then, I have studied the areas more (on the internet), so when I get time, hopefully this year, I'll be able to visit the areas again, and hopefully be able to find their homes!
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Yes most of my family's homes are gone - went to London to see one area. Looked for where Prospect Cottages had been, not much of a prospect even in those days - over looking a vast rail complex.
But I actually visited where my great great grandfather had lived, unknowingly, last year. He moved from Nottingham to Bolton in the 1840's and lived in a Model Village called Barrow Bridge. I only found that out a few weeks ago. As a child I visited this Village many times. It is lovely. I was so thrilled to find at least one of my family had lived in a decent house in a lovely place (instead of a two up, two down millhouse).
Going back to look at it again this year.
Now my wish is to learn how to put photos on this page!!!! Argh!!!!
Frances
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:) :) :)
Press the reply button, and click on Additional Options below the text window - this should offer you a browse button showing the files where your pictures are kept, click on the one you want, then post your reply.
Allowed file types: txt, jpg, jpeg, gif, pdf, mpg, png, ged
Maximum attachment size allowed: 300 KB
;) ;)
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Can it be this simple?
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Can it be this simple?
Something seems to have gone wrong with your picture. It is showing up as 0 bytes.
As far as the original family home is concerned I was lucky enough to grow up in the area where my ancestors lived. When searching through documents it makes it easy to pick the right people because I know the area so well. My mother still lives in the next village to the one that my immediate family lived in for over 300 years.
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So far I haven't had much luck finding 'family homes'. My husband is getting quite fed up of being dragged out on a Sunday afternoon to see what invariably turns out to be a long ago demolished slum dwelling. And then there's the 'well as we're in the area do you mind if we look in the local graveyard??!'. :-[
Well now thanks to the 1851 census and a single marriage certificate I may finally give hubby a pleasant weekend to look forward to :) Just found my 4xgreat grandfather (a Lic. Victualler) living at 37 Daniel Street, Bathwick which turns out to be a pub built in late 18th century! Here's a picture and description which I think sounds lovely!
http://www.greatbathpubcrawl.com/pubs.php?id=83
I won't be sampling the beer though, as I think I'd better drive next time ;D
Debbie
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I grew up in a place called Cockerton in Darlington. Many years after I left and became interested in family history, I discovered that my great great grandfather was a police sergeant there in 1877.
I don't know where the police station used to be, but I try to imagine him walking the beat, big bushy whiskers and the big police cape.
I struggle to imagine the village green without the ugly shopping centre though!
Wotty.
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Hi Wotty
If you go to the Durham County Council website at
http://www.durham.gov.uk/durhamcc/usp.nsf/pws/gis+-+online+mapping
and click on 'Onine Mapping' you can zoom in on Cockerton.
When you get to the general area, you will see two police stations - one at the bottom of Moorland Road, and the other at the corner of West Auckland Road and Prior Street - they are only a few hundred yards from each other.
Click on 'Historical Maps' and then on '1894-1899' and you will see the street layout as at that period. The police stations don't seem to be there, so I guess the Police Station was located elsewhere. ???
cheers
Paul
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Thanks Paul,
I remember trying to dodge the police station at West Auckland Road when I was 17 and wanting to place a bet on the Grand National (my dad was in the legal business and every policeman knew him and me - eventually found a little old man to place the bet for me and then had to explain away my wealth when the wretched horse actually won). I know from recent visits there that the current police station is at the bottom of Moorland Road.
I'll have a look at the site you recommend anyway.
Thanks again.
Wotty.
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I guess I'm pretty lucky as I still live near where my Dad's family all grew up, the family home is gone and there is a block of flats there now. But the churches where they were all baptised and married and most buried are still there (these are the Essex side) for the rets I will have to travel to Norfolk and Gloucestershire which I am hoping to do this summer.
Mimosa
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On my very first excursion, I discovered that the house my grandfather lived in was up for sale, but unlike Graceland, did not have the courage to "have a good look around" - if there was I next time I sure would :D
A gracious owner showed me around the Mansion house once owned by a famous Great Uncle of mine, and the feeling of walking over the same threshold as the family was wonderful, but it's visiting the graves that give me the closest feeling.......don't know why :)
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Since starting doing this I am amazed at how many of my 'favourite places' are places where my ancestors came from. Does somewhere feel like a good place to be as a result of some sort on ancestral memory? Looking forward to having the time to visit the places that I haven't yet been and seeing if I feel similarly at home.
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yep - I've been back to a village where a fair few generations on my dad's side where born, lived and died (lydd in Kent)
I found a memorial with one of my ancestors names on it - I found graves and went for a drink in the local pub - I took my mum and dad with me and they were very pleased.
My daughter took some photos for me, but alas lost the camera :o so I need to get back there again sometime.
cant wait :D
jax
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I live in Austraia so a visit to the ancestorals was hard.
A rootschatter sent me to www.eastendforum.co.uk/ There I met a lovely person who gave me wonderful word and also real pictures of my district of interest.
I almost felt by the end that i had really been there.
Try it if you are too far away. Sue
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I dragged my husband and children all around ingleton, yorkshire a few years ago, we found the site that used to be Lambert's shop, sadly no longer, walked up main street where my gt.grandfather was born and lived his entire life, also found hollin tree my gt. grandma's home, now a guest house, had a good look round the cemetry and all my ancestors were there neatly in a row just inside the gate, must of bagged the best spot, i thoroughlly enjoyed the day, and if i had enough time and money i would make it my permanent holiday...who needs spain!!
sandra
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For those like Sue (sparrett) I came across another site that may allow you to "visit" your ancestors area, as it looks today
http://www.geograph.co.uk/
and have posted it on "useful links"
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=60019.new#new
Wendi
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My dear Wendi
Thank you so much for the links! I have goose-bumps & the shivers! Even in my winter-time Internet-clicking, I have never seen the wonders that your links are showing to me! :)
Donna
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Hi Wendi
I thought the photo site was great - but I got carried away and clicked on a link for 'geocaching' - and that's where I got frightened! :)
Apparently, there are a whole bunch of people out there who use Global Positioning Systems to locate things that other people have deliberately hidden, using co-ordinates and clues. http://stats.guk2.com/
And people say looking for old gravestones is 'wierd'. :)
(However, maybe we should embrace the technology, and compile a list of GPS positions for gravestones!)
cheers
Paul
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I have an Aunt who still lives in the cottage where my mother was born and going back through the generations to ggggrandparents.
I was also born at the cottage my mother was visiting at the time and I decided to arrive early ::)
It has grown over the years. The outside privy is still there complete with wooden seat! Right upto the late 1950's the cottage was still lit with oil lamps and it was a tin bath in front of the range. The good old days - or were they?
Susan ;D
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I'm off to Yorkshire on June 7th to go looking for old family houses and gravestones, I've even managed to bribe my god-father with the promise of a couple of pints to escort me so i don't get too lost!
The only house I've found so far is 131 Bradford Road, Huddersfield where my great grandma and granddad, Minnie and Ernest Bradley lived. Unfortunatly its not quite the family house it used to be and apparently is around the corner from a brothel - I'm glad my parents moved us all down to Sussex...!
I tried to add a photo of 131 Bradford Road but I can't work out how!! Anyway it is now a newsagents run by Asian people - don't things change!(http://C:\My Documents\Rachs Work\Family Tree\131 Bradford Road..JPG)
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A couple of years ago I took my mum on a trip to London where she was born. She took me on the bus, remembered where to get off, a stop early so that we could walk along a bit. She showed me Kingsland Road in Dalston, with "The Waste" opposite where the market is held. She took me around a corner to a Primary School which used to be Dalston County Secondary School and showed me the bagel shop still there.
Mum will be 88 this year and she was talking about the time she was about 6 years old - and she says the place hasn't changed a bit!
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I have only just caught up on this link. Most of my family are local and I have only been doing my history for 1 year. I have now got to the stage of "filling in". My main 4 families, my grandparents, are all local so I can easily go and find the locations of where they lived.
John Walter Comery, my Greatgrandfather, his house is now a pub!
Burrows, Sheratons Row, Hyson Green, under ASDA
Burrows, Ilkeston, under a one way system
Foster, I think it may still be there, or at least the village is, I must go and have a look
Jane
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If anyone is out of Nottingham and needs a photo, (I do work fulll time), but if I can I will take a photo in Nottingham, But not North Notts eg.Mansfield,, if you can be specific about the location.
Jane
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We recently had our lunch in a pub my family lived in for 50 years or more.
I have found them living there on the 1861 census and they were still there in 1901.
The pub is The Black Bull in great smeaton, yorkshire. I believe it is listed in the doomday book but as yet have not been able to find out anything more.
I desperatly wanted to ask the landlord if I could search the attic but didnt have the courage.
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I think I would have at least had to ask whether he had found any old photographs or documentation, next time be brave and go for it ;D
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I have just spent a lovely long weekend in Worcestershire with my mum.
We spent two days at the History Centre looking for those long lost reletives, and then spent the rest of the weekend looking for the places she grew up in.
One of the houses held some bad memories for my mum, as her parents had split up there. She was determined to try and lay the ghosts to rest and decided she wanted to go and see it.
We knocked on the door (which was still the same door!) and spoke to the present owner and he kindly invited us inside to have a look around! Surprisingly very little had changed since they left there in the 1950s! The fireplaces in the bedrooms were the same and even the built in wardrobe in her parents bedroom was the same!
The man was very interested in my mums memories of the house, as he had lived there since 1978 and knew very little of its history.
It was very emotional for my mum, but she feels a lot happier about the place now as she knows it is now a happy home.
We also went to visit the village where my greatgreatgrandparents lived and we think we found their house, and spoke to the owner, which was lovely.
The strange thing was, when seeing this house, I felt strangely at home and literally had to drag myself away from the house. We still arn't 100% sure that it is the right house, but it just felt so 'right'.
The only downside to our trip, was that we found the house where my granddad grew up in had been renovated in the 1960s and only the back part of the house remained. :(
I guess that will happen overtime though.
We received a friendly welcome from the owners of all the houses we went to and I would recommend to anyone who is unsure about knocking on the door to give it a go, you never know what you may find out! and 99% of the time, the owners are interested to hear what you have to say!
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I just visited my home town, I usually go a couple of times a year, this time I was determined to take the photos of my old house and schools,
what a shock in 6 months the house has been changed from a shop to a semi, and my infant and secondary schools have gone, I cannot believe how many times I have meant to do it, serves me right I suppose.
So don,t delay, get there as fast as you can,
Jakky :o
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Paul E: GPS for gravestones is a wonderful idea, and also for old family houses, especially if they are in danger of being pulled down and replaced with modern versions. I can just imagine adding another field to my computer genealogy database for GPS data - might make it much easier for the people in two generations time looking at my records to go back and find the same places I am discovering now. I've been trying to find a good excuse to get a GPS thingie, so I guess this is it!
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Hi Corinne, My genealogy program (TMG - The Master Genealogist) has always had a 'LatLong' field as standard :D
I too have been meaning to get a GPS thingie - but more for birdwatching in featureless flat mallee country (beautiful though it is) on a cloudy day when the position of the sun is no help at all.
I went to look at the country primary school my late father attended in Rutherglen in NE Victoria - it's now the local Museum. And the tiny one-teacher primary school my children's late Grandfather attended in Franklinford Victoria is a community centre - still with the honour boards on the wall, one bearing young Percy's name; it's a genealogically important place as years later, when he was still on the family farm, he met his future wife when she came to the school as its teacher.
JAP
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I've been trying to find a good excuse to get a GPS thingie, so I guess this is it!
Hi Corinne
I was discussing with fellow-Rootschatter Keith Bateman yesterday how we innocently started out researching our family history and fairly rapidly have had to develop skills in
- databasing
- website design
- photo restoration
- video editing
Might as well add GPS technology to the list! :)
cheers
Paul
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Most of my side lived in Anglesey or caernarfon so their homes were visited. The strangest being my Great Grandad, Edward Owen. Last November I visited Holyhead and found the house where he had lived and where he had been married from. The house is virtually on the side of Holyhead Mountain
I stood outside the house and looked across Anglesey - the view was stunning even in November. Then it struck me what date it was - 6th November 2005
Exactly 100 years to the day my Great Grandad would have stood in the same spot as he left to marry my Great Grandmother Mary Jones. He was married on 6th November 1905
We haven't been able to visit family homes of Pete's side but have a few photos of the houses from others. Hopefully we should be able to get some of our own when we get a chance to visit
Carol
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Our original family home in the US no longer exists. It was beside this lake [actually a small glacial kettlehole] which is named after my gg grandfather. It is now part of a state park.
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I've been trying to find a good excuse to get a GPS thingie, so I guess this is it!
Hi Corinne
I was discussing with fellow-Rootschatter Keith Bateman yesterday how we innocently started out researching our family history and fairly rapidly have had to develop skills in
- databasing
- website design
- photo restoration
- video editing
Might as well add GPS technology to the list! :)
cheers
Paul
;D ;D ;D
Excuse my ignorance Oh Wise One ! but what is a GPS ??
;D ;D ;D
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GPS = Geographic Positioning System, a small, hand-held, electronic device which permits accuarate spatial location of points on the earth's surface by triangulation of signals received from satellites orbiting the earth.
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I visited the tiny hamlet where my ancestors lived for a couple of hundred years and was nearly arrested by the police. I was merrily taking photographs and some bloke who I hadn't noticed came out and wanted to know what I was doing.
Apparently there had been several burglaries in the area and he thought I was one of those Londoner's that comes down and 'cases the joint' before coming back and robbing them.
Isn't genealogy romantic :D
downside
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I'm always very furtive about taking any photos for just that sort of reason, which probably makes me look even more suspicious!!!
Kerry ::) ::)
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And you look like your average burglar do you downside? LOL
Carol
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Hi Carol
Yes I wear the standard outfit:-
White top with black hoop stripes, black mask and a bag marked SWAG slung over my shoulder.
downside
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My Mum and I had a look on Google Earth this morning, for her old house and land in Australia - does that count? ::)
I haven't been to visit yet.
Angelfish
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Visting the church where in the 1700s an ancestor was Minister, that was interesting. Seeing a commemoration plaque on the wall with his name was a thrill.
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Have photos of most of the ancestral seats. I have always asked when someone was around though. People are usually really nice about it and want to know about them.
I've been nettled and scratched by brambles. I also had to walk four miles over mountain dirt tracks (and I mean dirt tracks!!) to photograph one. Every step I took in the dust and heat made me think of their journeys to get supplies, drive sheep, go to school, church, etc.
It's all been worth it.
Gadget
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Visting the church where in the 1700s an ancestor was Minister, that was interesting. Seeing a commemoration plaque on the wall with his name was a thrill.
I bet that was lovely :)
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Only really just started the genealogy bug so haven't had chance to visit any homes yet (first trek is planned for next weekend) but one very kind roots chatter photographed G grandmother's house for me - I'm Cheshire based and the house in question is South Wales - one of those spine tingling moments to see the house where she lived and gave birth to her first child. Thanks Suein 10b!
Sallysmum
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Sadly because most of my ancestors were Ag Labs they lived in unknown cottages on farms, many of which were probably temporary dwellings and no longer exist.
I live in hope though ::)
Kerry
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You're not alone there Kerry. Mine were mostly ag labs too. Either that, or the houses have been demolished.
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GPS = Geographic Positioning System, a small, hand-held, electronic device which permits accuarate spatial location of points on the earth's surface by triangulation of signals received from satellites orbiting the earth.
::) ::) ::)
R i i i i i g h t !!
Thanks Erato
:P :P :P :P
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Yep same here ""Mine were mostly ag labs too. Either that, or the houses have been demolished.))
I found on of mine in a Village Called Downton on The Rock Hereford /Shrop border it was suppose to be on the common ,, in fact there was a few bits of stone , Should i call in Time Team ;D
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:D :D :D
Just two years ago, I was flabbergasted to discover that my BUCKLEY's actually came from a village called Siddington, just 4 miles up the road from where I live. You can imagine the excitement the first time I drove there to find the old house and look inside the church. :D :D :D
I thought it would be an easy thing because on the 1841 & 1851 census, Jonathan BUCKLEY (a farmer) was living at Simpson's Brow, and on the 1861 Census at Simpsons Bank. Sadly it wasn't to be as no-body who lives there now, knows where Simpsons Brow was and could only guess at it's location.
Just the same there were plenty of BUCKLEYs in the church yard, and it was great to go inside the church and reflect on all the ancestors who'd been there before me.
:) :) :)
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Grew up in Lanarkshire where most of my ancestors are to be found. Pretty sure none of the buildings remain though. The building where my gran lived as a girl was on the site of the clinic where my brothers and I had all our checkups with the health visitor when we were young. Definitely know that the miners' cottages over in New Monkland are no more. A lot of the places they were from were often only a few rows of cottages round the village of Lonriggend. Lonriggend the only place still on the map. Can remembering visiting Sumerlee Heritage Park in Coatbridge as a child and they have miner's cottages that have been built according to the conditions of one in the area by decade in the 19th century. I think another visit would be worthwhile to give a visual as to where John, etc lived at the time.(The housing reports that have found on where they lived would give a good comparison as to whether they had better/worse conditions than those shown).
Haven't been able to visit the places in Dumfries where some are to be found yet. Many of the other places in West Central Scotland but not realising had people from there.
As for visiting the where all the Irish were from: I would if only they had left more clues so that I know where to visit!
Gordon
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Some of those ancestral seats that I referred to were the homes of 'ag labs'. I was lucky that the actual name of the houses were on various documents. Many of them were still standing. Sadly they have mostly been gentrified/holiday-homed.
Still I took the photos and told them about my ancestors. I expect it would have been a topic of conversation over dinner ;)
Gadget
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Beautiful church Mobo
My Welsh family homes are still there - well most of them are. Mainly in the small villages though one has been changed to a shop which, apparently I used to visit with my Great Uncle Owen when I was very little
Carol
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Many of them were still standing. Sadly they have mostly been gentrified/holiday-homed.
Still I took the photos and told them about my ancestors. I expect it would have been a topic of conversation over dinner ;) Gadget
;) ;) ;)
Why not post some of these Gadget - it would be great to see them.
;) ;) ;)
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Beautiful church Mobo
My Welsh family homes are still there - well most of them are. Mainly in the small villages though one has been changed to a shop which, apparently I used to visit with my Great Uncle Owen when I was very little Carol
:) :) :)
That's great Carol
:) :) :)
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Many of them were still standing. Sadly they have mostly been gentrified/holiday-homed.
Still I took the photos and told them about my ancestors. I expect it would have been a topic of conversation over dinner ;) Gadget
;) ;) ;)
Why not post some of these Gadget - it would be great to see them.
;) ;) ;)
Think I did post some on anotherthread a few months back - started by Stevenson. With all these ancestral portraits and houses, I'll have nothing left for my website ;D
Each one has a lovely story attached to it. Wales, Shropshire, Scotland.
Gadget
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Mobo
I too have ancestors from Siddington - William Worth b 1774, his son and grandson also called William.Although in later censuses they say Withington,so I think the farm they Ag labbed at ;D ,bordered the two villages?
Is it okay if I copy your pic-it's far better than the postcard we bought in the church(and we signed the visitors book) about 4 years ago.
They all moved into the bright lights of Macclesfield by the late 1800's.
Regards
Carol
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:D :D :D
WOW Carol - "It's a small world" as they say.
My BUCKLEY's and your WORTH's were actually neighbours and friends, witnessing Wills, becoming Trustees, and even marring into each other.
You can see how they fit in on my website (see profile below).
:D :D :D
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:D :D
Hi Carol
You won't find this info on my website, 'cos I've not been able to tie it into my BUCKLEYS yet, but you may find it interesting.
When John BUCKLEY (farmer of Siddington) died in 1828, he mentioned married daughter Esther WORTH. Also, Joseph WORTH & Nathaniel WORTH witnessed the Will, and Davies WORTH (schoolmaster of Siddington), and Thomas WORTH (farmer of 'The Lodge', Siddington), were testators of the same will.
For some reason, Esther (BUCKLEY) married John WORTH (Bricklayer & Farmer), in Manchester Cathedral 30 May 1819, then they moved back to Siddington, where their children were born:-
Dinah 16 June 1822
Jonathan 23 May 1824
Caroline 23 Jul 1826
Francis 28 August 1828
Isaac 30 June 1833
:D :D :D :D
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I have visited one of the "family homes" but did not know it at the time!
In 1966 I went on a school trip for 3 weeks to Russia; travelling overland by train. Just before we arrived in Moscow I was looking out of the corrridor window along with one of my friends. I turned and said to her...."this is strange but I feel as though this country is familiar".
When I got back I was showing all my photos to grandpa; I got to the Leningrad (as it was then) ones and he just said....."that's where my dad came from"........spooky!
Nanny Jan
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:D :D :D
How unusual nanny - have you managed to do any of your Russian family history - now there's a challenge.
:D :D :D
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Sadly Mobo not a thing....do not have his "real" name and as he did not marry gtgrandma no marriage cert to give me some details.
All I have of him is one photo and his death cert. Waiting to try to find him on 1911 census......think he is hiding with "wife" and baby son(my grandpa) in the cellar somewhere on the 1901.
Nanny Jan
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:D :D
Aw ! what a shame :'( :'(
:) :)
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Just for you Mobo :)
Here are two pictures taken in Kirkcudbrightshire. The first is the last house that my ancestors lived in before they ran away to Wales. Luckily i have letters describing the events. I came upon this late on a Saturday afternoon in October 2003. To my amazement the whole place was deserted and looked as if someone had 'done a runner' - weird or what?
The second is a reference to the letter. My 3 x grandfather said that he'd left most of their household stuff in Scroggiehall barn - now which one was it?
Gadget :)
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:D :D :D
Lovely Gadget, am I right in thinking that the first building is called a Bothey ? (think that's how you spell it)
:) :) :)
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My husband's folk came from Moray Shire. I was lucky enough to visit the little house my husband's grandfather lived in, and where he spent his childhood as an evacuee in the war.
While there he took this picture with his sister's camera. The little house is the one to the right of the picture, with the welcoming smoke curling from the chimney.
It's been modernised now, and I wouldn't want to set foot inside.
Also, I thought, just for interest you would like to see Grandfather with his strings of onions. He grew good onions. It must have had something to do with Mrs G's chicken and all their little parcels of fertilizer.
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:D :D :D
Lovely Gadget, am I right in thinking that the first building is called a Bothey ? (think that's how you spell it)
:) :) :)
No Mobo
You're a bit out there. A bothy was usually a one roomed building, often used in the summer months by those tending the sheep and cattle in the summer pastures. Also it tends to be appied to any shelter in the mountains for walkers and mounaineers these days.
This was quite a large one storey building on one side of a farm yard with barns on the other sides - a little grander than a bothy but not as grand as their previous and future houses. I have lots of more detailed shots.
Gadget
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These two show my Nain and Taid outside the houses they were brought up in.
The first one is my Nain's home and she made my Dad go and knock on the door and ask the present owners if she could have a look around. They said Yes but we don't know whether they just said it because they thought she was a crazy old woman
The second is my Taid's home. I have a picture (somewhere) of the wall in the back garden which has his initials and the date carved into it.
Both homes are still standing
Carol
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Oh and my Taid's home held 2 adults and 11 children in there !
Carol
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When I first started researching Dad's family as a present for his 70th Birthday in 1981, I wrote to the owners of what was my Gran and Grandad's cottage in Dunham Massey to ask if they would mind if I took some photo's of the garden (Grandad's pride and joy). I had a lovely letter back inviting me, my sister and my Dad's sister to visit. We went along and went in the cottage where I had spent most of my childhood (living next door but three). The old black fire range was still there with a copper kettle on the old brass box where my gran had kept newspapers to light the fire.
There was a rocking chair where my Gran had hers, and in the parlour was the old piano, left in the cottage after gran and grandad had died (within a year of each other).
It was like stepping back in time. Gran and Grandad had 6 children and they and their children (including me( used to visit on Sundays). How we all got in the little back room is a mystery now. And how they all slept in just two small bedrooms is too. Dad used to say they slept end to end in bed.
Gran had a scullery off the back room where she had the stone sink with one cold tap. She had a pump outside the back door. She also had a 'cold slab' which was alway covered in pies of all kinds when we visited...Grandad had an orchard, so Gran made apple pies, gooseberry pies, blackcurrent pies etc mouthwatering, I've never tasted anything like them since. She also had a larder with a cold slab where she kept bottles and bottles of fruit, and beans in salt and whole hams.
We loved going to Gran and Grandad's, and when we moved to Wilmslow, my sister and I used to go and stay with gran and grandad every summer holiday until we were teenagers. We used to hang out of the bedroom window during the long summer nights and whisper to the girl next door, then gran would shout up...time you two were asleep.
Everytime I go over to stay with Mum we visit Dunham and Dad's grave, he's buried with gran and grandad, and always stop outside the cottage and the memories of a wonderful childhood come flooding back.
Su
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Hi Sue
It doesn't say on your profile where you are so I don't even know if you are in England. I had to look up Dunham Massey which I now know is in Cheshire.
What a lovely story of your childhood. The recollections of your gran and grandad are lovely. I assume they were your favourite grandparents then.
I had favourite grandparents as a child but since I have been on Rootschat I regret not knowing my 'not so favourite' grandparents better. Not that there was anything wrong with them. Maybe they were not so touchy feely. The regret is that I felt I could not ask them personal details, I just was not so close. So now I don't have the 'colour' to put in their lives. Though I suspect now they had alot more color than I imagined.
The mysteries of life.
Jane
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My mum's childhood home is now owned by my brother and even though he has gutted the inside, I can still feel the atmosphere of childhood holidays spent there with my favourite grandparents.
My mum says it still feels like her home although she is very careful not to call it home infront of my sister in law - it is her house now, not my mums. My brother doesn't mind, he likes the family continuity but my sister in law is a whole different kettle of fish. :o :o
There is an old gnarled apple tree at the top of the garden, about 50 years old and there are some chains around it. Not quite sure why but when my sister and I stayed there one holiday, we watched the old B & W film, Jack the Giant Killer and there is a clip in that where the heroine gets chained to a tree. So my sister and I went up the garden after the film and chained ourselves to the tree! ::) We had to call for granddad to come and set us free because we got stuck :o
My brother left the chains in the tree to remind him of what his older sisters used to get up to!!!! 8)
Kerry
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Both the home I was born in and the home I lived in until I left have been demolished for redevelopment. The characterless boxes that have been put in their place are a travesty.
I still have the memories though and all those photos of happy times.
Gadget
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Thank goodness for cameras and minds!!!
Kerry ;D ;D
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This is a very sad one. It took me ages to track down. Thank goodness for my ability to ask ;)
This was where my great grandfather was born in 1856 and where his mother, Margaret Ellis died, tragically, in 1859. She was found dead in her bed with Henry and his younger brother, aged 18 months. Her husband was an agricultural labourer - later bailiff - working on a farm 6 miles away.
It's just outside Llansilin, Denbighshire and is a small cottage attached to a barn.
Gadget
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My ancestors all hailed from Bermondsey/Rotherhithe area mainly along Tooley St. All of the addresses that I have, all have now been demolished although most of the roads remain and have been replaced by expensive housing. :(
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My ancestors all hailed from Bermondsey/Rotherhithe area mainly along Tooley St. All of the addresses that I have, all have now been demolished although most of the roads remain and have been replaced by expensive housing. :(
Just tried to think where I have heard Tooley Street before - Harry Bowling made the area well known with his books didn't he?
Wanted to visit once as I had got so into the people and their lives that I wanted to see what it was like
Carol
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Mobo
I too have ancestors from Siddington - William Worth b 1774, his son and grandson also called William.Although in later censuses they say Withington,so I think the farm they Ag labbed at ;D ,bordered the two villages?
Is it okay if I copy your pic-it's far better than the postcard we bought in the church(and we signed the visitors book) about 4 years ago.
They all moved into the bright lights of Macclesfield by the late 1800's. Regards Carol
:D :D :D
Sorry Carol,
I was so chuffed at finding a WORTH who was possibly connected to my BUCKLEYS, I forgot to say "yes" to you copying the pickie of Siddington Church.
:D :D :D
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Mobo
Thanks for that- will copy it now. I have had a look at your Buckleys in Siddington and whilst I can't deny they knew each other I can't yet see a firm connection.
The names you have as witnesses to one of your Buckely's wills are a bit posh for my lot ;) Mine are all George's,William's,Mary's and Sarah's.
In 1841 there is a Price Worth and Davies Worth......not mine as far as I know.
I feel a trip to Alderley is called for in the near future ;D
All the best
Carol
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Hi,
Yes I live not far from there and visit the area quite regulary but it is nothing like the poor working class area that would have been in the 19th century. Now its full of expensive apartments, offices like the new GLA building and shops. Hays Galleria is good and it is a nice walk along the river. :)
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I have tried to but most places have been replaced by blocks of flats etc. One of the exceptions being a very small village in Hampshire. Last year I met up with a distant 'cousin' and with our families we walked around the village where our ancestors had run the Post Office, Blacksmiths, farm and finally had lunch in the Public House our mutual GGGrandparents ran and also lived in. It was a magic day.
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Devondaisy
I have a village close to me where a large contingency of one of my families lived, the exact houses aren't there but at least the village is. Lovely place and I often go there. Sadly though the pub that was owned by the family was knocked down for houses about 30 years ago!
Kerry
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Hi All,
I managed to find it in Swansea earlier this year...a real journey back to my roots!
I'm planning a trip to Libya next, - to check out that side of the family.
Crinoline ;) ;) ;)
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Libya should be very interesting Crinoline - don't forget the photos
And welcome to Rootschat ;D
Carol
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A few places as we lived in the same area as some ancestors. However, as you know the more you find out the more places there are to visit :P Some of these are nice places to holiday, which I what I am planning to do.
Dolly
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Well hopefully, with fingers and toes crossed, we should be going to Anglesey on the 11th for a couple of days so I will be able to visit the home of my Great Great Grandparents on my Dad's side and also the Great Great Grandparents on my Mum's side, Luckily they both lived in the same village around the same time so will give me more time to look around and less travel - mind you the village is only 10 minutes from my Aunties home where we will be staying.
Got the camera ready already lol
Carol
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Hi Carol,
Thanks for the welcome...
And yes, - I won't forget to post some photos ;D ;D
All Best Wishes, Crinoline. ;)
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We took a trip down to Devon and Cornwall last year. Got the Motor-Home stuck a couple of times in the tight lanes, but on the whole had a great time.
Imagine walking the same Lanes as ancestors from before 1800's and actually seeing the actual cottages that are still standing today, fantastic. Really quaint villages and the people were very helpful.
Went to Worcestershire a few weeks ago and same again, Streets still there and walking where the ancestors had. We found the church where the oldest of my husbands family were baptised etc. that was an experience never to forget. Good timing to, as there was a meeting on and we were given permission to go in and have a toot about.
Found another church in a village close by, but unfortunatley, the natives were not friendly, drink and drugs etc. and we had to give it a miss. That was very disappointing. >:(
Took loads of pictures and now we can get the album into some sort of shape.
Does anyone feel like we do, when we are visiting an area of research, that we feel "at home"?
Pam
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unfortunatley, the natives were not friendly, drink and drugs etc. and we had to give it a miss.
Pam
Hmm ... perhaps you should try a return visit when you're sober, Pam - the natives might be a bit more welcoming! ;D
cheers
Paul
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Hmm ... perhaps you should try a return visit when you're sober, Pam - the natives might be a bit more welcoming! ;D
cheers
Paul
That wasn't nice. >:( >:(
I don't drink Paul and only take painkillers!!
Pam
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Don't worry, Pam - I was only teasing. I've been to villages in Worcestershire, too, and they always give me a headache! ;)
cheers
Paul
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For some unknown reason, before I took an interest in researching the families, I appear to have lived in many of the locations where my ancestors lived.
One village, where the main bloodline was most proliferate, I was there for four years.....I didn't have a clue that I had links there.
Al.
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Don't worry, Pam - I was only teasing. I've been to villages in Worcestershire, too, and they always give me a headache! ;)
cheers
Paul
DITTO!! :P
PAM
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I visited Scotsby in Cumberland and Cumwhinton how lovely these villages are . I was at a wedding in Dornock three years ago and we had a run to Helmsdale this was before I started to make up my family tree I had now idea my grt grandfather came from there .
Elizabeth
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My Dad and I have visited lots of places in Herefordshire where our ancestors were from. BUT one stands out in particular. I was standing in the middle of a deserted country lane looking up at the church when behind me I suddenly heard all of the men coming home from work - I could even see them (although strange because they were behind me!) All the men were carrying what looked like leather satchels over their sholders and had hob nail boots on. We have been back since but nothing happened the next time.
Sue B
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Cautionary tale - I recently visited my second cousin but prior to seeing her, I decided to visit the area where my grandparents were born and married. I spent a good couple of hours wandering the streets and taking photos - even found the church where I believe they were married. One back to back street had long been demolished, but found the remains of a cobbled street which could have been one street. I resisted the temptation to wander along the riverside as I didn't feel too safe. Still I took several photos and was content with that tingly feeling.
I told my cousin about the trip and she was horrified - it is apparently a police no-go area now! Indeed as I left, I listened to the news on the radio, apparently there were a couple of murders in the area over the weekend I was there!
Lesson learned - get to know a little about the area before wandering about!
Hasn't put me off though!
Sallysmum
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Cautionary tale - I recently visited my second cousin but prior to seeing her, I decided to visit the area where my grandparents were born and married. I spent a good couple of hours wandering the streets and taking photos - even found the church where I believe they were married. One back to back street had long been demolished, but found the remains of a cobbled street which could have been one street. I resisted the temptation to wander along the riverside as I didn't feel too safe. Still I took several photos and was content with that tingly feeling.
I told my cousin about the trip and she was horrified - it is apparently a police no-go area now! Indeed as I left, I listened to the news on the radio, apparently there were a couple of murders in the area over the weekend I was there!
Lesson learned - get to know a little about the area before wandering about!
Hasn't put me off though!
Sallysmum
Golly...where was this??
Crin.
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Sorry Crin, I wouldn't like to offend anyone who lives there!
Sallysmum
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Hello All,
Do you know you can now look at houses in the U.K. on Google Street View, launched recently. Amazing but a bit creepy, big brother like!
Best wishes, Joan.
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:D :D
Hi Joannie,
You can do the same on Multimap !
:D :D :D
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Hello Mobo,
Thanks for the info. I didn't know about Multimap, I'll have a look.
Regards,
Joan.
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I'm off to "visit" my ancestors in the morning. Mothers day -so I am taking flowers to Mum's grave and will be putting a single flower on 17 other graves of my "mother" ancestors - 2 GGG grans, 4 GG Grans, 3 G Grans, 2 grans and then gg and G aunts - some have headstones -others I know where the unmarked grave is.
A few years ago I was visiting on mother's day and was caught in a heavy shower. Running for shelter with my head down I ran straight into a tall headstone - I couldn't believe it was the gravestone of my 2x gt grandmother -along with my 3x gt grandfather and a 3x gt aunt !!!!
That will be my first visit tomorrow.
Then I will look for any bulbs coming through on the unmarked graves(my sons set a few every year as a surprise )
I will spend 5 quiet minutes under the covered archway to the little chapel, then feeling very content I will walk my dog along the path my mother walked to school .
Then home to my family and phone calls from the grandchildren - and a "gurgle" from this years addition to the family -our great grandson.
A lovely morning and still the rest of the day to enjoy
Suz
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Suz, that sounds beautiful, have a good time, wish I could do the same.
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I followed in my ancestors footsteps last year on our holiday. Went to Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. Had a great time, found some of the houses my ancestors lived in, many had disappeared under flats, shopping centres etc. Found some gravestones, visited lots of other graves but didn't find appropriate gravestones, visited lots of churches, large and small.
I didn't see any ghosts, but I did meet a distant ancestor purely by chance in a village church that I had never met before. We only discussed our mutual ancestor and then went our separate ways.
Lizzie
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My wife's GGGrandfather is listed as Innkeeper of the Boot and Shoe Inn, in Scholes.
I've only been researching her tree since January and we haven't had the opportunity to visit any old addresses, yet, but I know one place that will definitely be on the "to do" list!!
Roger The Hat
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Welcome to RootsChat, Roger.
That sounds as though it could be a very pleasant piece of research.
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Yes, but how do I convince the wife that we won't have time to visit anywhere else?
Roger THe Hat
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Yes we found number 5 and next door number 7 Trinity Road Brechin still standing and I took a photo of my husband standing between the two houses where his mother was born and his grt grandparents once lived
Elizabeth
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Hi there,
I'm still quite a newbie at all this, and started out trying to fill in some gaps in work that my mum, aunt and first cousin (who had got the family back centuries with loads of shoe leather) had done. Plus, as I have a young family, it comes in fits and starts, (some years loads, some none). (You can see the excuses starting here ;)).
Anyway, last year we went to Cornwall, never been, wanted to go, and its beautiful. Taking an unplanned detour we're driving through and I see a signpost that sounded familiar, and so got hub to turn the car. It was the Parish of St. Gluvias. Well finally it dawned on me that this was where some ancestors lived several centuries ago. It wasn't signposted, it wasn't on the map, yet somehow we ended up there. I felt so daft later, that I hadn't thought about checking my notes before we went, but it honestly never occurred to me. But talk about the hairs on the back of your neck sticking up as I walked through the graveyard!
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Last summer I visited Martley in Worcestershire and stood on the spot were John Briscoe married Elizabeth Piper in 1810.Just need to find his birth now.
Barb
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Thanks to a cousin I met through genealogy, I've been able to visit the homes of my grandfather and my 4xgreat grandfather - though the latter is now just a ruin - (see pic) but I've "been and seen" and it was strange to stand and look at the views they would have looked at all those years ago!
Would still like to visit the home of my 5xgreat grandfather - apparently it still bears the scars of an altercation with Bonnie Prince Charlie's army. (See link for the story!)
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,287986.msg1711739.html#msg1711739
Stoney