Taking the research further

[sarahofford]

Hello All,

I have managed to trace my ancestors back to the early 1800s and build a good idea of where they lived and what their occupations were from the census information. But in order to really get an insight into who my ancestors were I need some pointers on how to take my research a little further.

For example, my parents and grandparents have told me some of the family stories, such as my great grandmother who blew herself up in a gas explosion in Plymouth in the 1950s, my great grandfather who married bigamously and yet another great grandfather who returned from the war to finr my g grandmother shacked up with another man and so emigrated to Canada! I'd dearly love to verify some of the facts within these stories and find some contemporary records verifying their truth or even just an insight into the social history relevant to my ancestors.

I'm feeling rather daunted and would love some advice to help me build a bigger picture, rather than just names and dates on a family tree.


Many Thanks in advance
Sarah

[c-side]

Hi Sarah,

Local newspapers are a good source of information.  The gas explosion would have been reported.  There would also have been an inquest but I think coroner's reports have a 75 year restriction on them (possibly 100 years) but the hearing would have also been reported in the papers.

The bigamous great-grandfather may have gone to court and again local newspapers could have reported.

Not sure how you would prove the story about the adultrous gt. granny though 

Christine

[Nick29]

It looks like you already have the best idea, Sarah..... talking to your family 

Unfortunately I got into genealogy rather late in life, so my grandparents were long gone, but I have gained an awful lot by talking to cousins.  Family stories do tend to get rather exaggerated over the years, especially when they are passed around the family, but there is often a grain of truth in there somewhere.  There was a story in my family that my grandfather had gone to America in the late 1890's, when there was a bit of a scandal with one of the village girls.  It was so far-fetched, I assumed that it wasn't true - until I found a ship's passenger list with his name at the very top ! 

Try to get as much from all your family members as you can, then try to prove what they say by using whatever you can find (like newspaper reports, ship manifests, military records, wills, criminal records, as well as BMD and baptism records).  And don't overlook the obvious - like Google.  One day I idly typed in my grandfather's surname and place of birth, and I found a web site run by a descendant of my grandfather's brother, and on visiting the site I found an account of my great-uncle's life and family, complete with photos ! 

Good luck with your research 

[confusia]

Don't overlook Google books.  I used to just rely on the main web search of Google, till I found the Books tab.   It was worth the effort as on about the tenth page (yes, I must be nuts) I found a reference to my g.g.g. grandmother being a botanist and having a plant named after her.   A total shock.   I also had a very unexpected bonus discovering another naughty relative had written his autobiography - you just never know what you might find.