BBC TV "WDYTYA?" Series 7 Episode #6: Martin Freeman

[Half Pint]

But I have found families where there are multiple infant child deaths within a few years and then children who live into adulthood such as was shown.  I must admit it makes me wonder.

[hmcmillan29]

I think this particular episode that Martin Freeman had with discovering his ancestors, could have been longer as there are so many still un-answered questions that have already been mentioned on this thread.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was extremely interesting.

Roll on the next series.

Is there any other programmes on tv related to family history on at the moment now that WDYTYA and HH is finished that roots chatters recommend?

Hazel

[bearkat]

We often ignore death certificates as it doesn't help us get further back in our research but this episode showed how important they can be in understanding our ancestors lives.

I recently ordered the death certificates of my grandfathers 3 siblings who died within 18months of each other.  They died of gastritis, bronchitis and meningitis  All a sign of poor living conditions and no antibiotics.  Very sad.

[cavvytri]

I particularly enjoyed this episode. My Grandmother had a sister who died at 3 months of "congenital syphilis"in 1903...and my grandmother went blind in later life...yet their Mother who passed it on, lived to be 87 and died of an unrelated disease.
Hope its died out well and truly by now! 

[kooky]

This was interesting, some genealogy as we know it!
I read somewhere that Martin Freeman was going to do more research, once he had taken in all the information he had found.
If he joined Rootschat, I'm sure we could help
There were lots of 'loose ends'.
As someone else remarked, this programme could have been in two parts.
What are we going to do now? No WDYTYA and no Heir Hunters
Kooky

[kerryb]

Well I found that to be one of the most interesting in this current series.  Back to real research and more generations and Martin looked like he was really interested in the research not just the results.

It also got me thinking, I am sure in one of my folders I have a death certificate with syphilis on it, I shall have to go and have a look.

I also have a family that had 5 out of 13 children born and died between 1901 and 1911 in a similar way to that illustrated on the programme, I'm going to have to get some of those death certificates!

Kerry

[Nick29]

A rather unsatisfactory ending - what happened to Emily the second wife. Where did she dissapear to? If the professional Researchers can't find her what hope have the likes of us got?
Also why did Robert leave Worthing?
But a very interesting programme which was quite enlightening.
Margaret

I thought "that's throwing down the challenge for Rootschatters!"

Carole

My thoughts exactly !  

My gt-grandparents lost 5 out of their 9 children - 4 in a row either stillborn or up to a few months old, then a girl who survived and then another lost child.  This would be in the 1870s.  The fact that around 10% of the population would have been suffering from syphilis at that time is startling.

There's never been any mention of syphilis in family legend (well, there wouldn't be, would there ), nor of blindness,  but after watching this programme I'm beginning to wonder whether I should be sending for some death certificates for those lost children.  

Gt-grandfather was a pillar of the Strict & Particular Baptist Church, but maybe he wasn't strict or particular enough.

Gillg

Despite the Victorian reputation for being god-fearing prudes, I think the real story is that they were just like any other generation with lusts and extra-marital affairs.  The difference between them and us is that we have effective condoms, and they didn't.  Condoms made out of pigs bladders were in use in those days, but they were quite ineffective in stopping the transmission of disease, in fact, they helped spread it, because they were washed out and re-used !  

I think I have a g.g. uncle and aunt who may have been afflicted by syphilis.  They only had one child, who only lived one day, and didn't have any more after that.  The mother died in a mental hospital aged 63 of a variation of TB which I think may be linked to syphilis.

P.S. I thought this programme was one of the better ones in the series. 

[lesleyhannah]

I was left wondering about why Granddad left his church organist job so quickly, with the rather knowing remark in the parish notes. Did they explain this, and I missed it? It hinted at a scandal, and I wonder if that had something to do with the syphilis.

I have noticed in graveyards there are often memorials which name a whole legion of children from one family who died at birth or in infancy. I always assumed that they were result of infectious diseases or poor living conditions. I'm going to buy the death certs of a couple of children in my own family who died at birth, as the pattern is much the same as Martin's.

An episode like this is really satisfying - plenty of social history, but with lots of genealogical mysteries too. Was that the last in the series?

[CatOne]

Didn't they say that Emily Cecilia, the child from Richard's second marriage to Emily Carter in 1891, was missing in 1901? or did I mishear? Anyway shes a niece staying with Charles (60 Ganger of platelayers) and Mary Ann (56) Green in New Fishbourne, Sussex

Theres also an Emil.. Freeman, age 46 widow Domestic Servant, born Petworth, living in a large household that seems to be a school, in Eton, Bucks RG13/1342 Folio 45 Page 5