BBC "Who Do You Think You Are?" Jerry Hall (WDYTYA Series 12 episode 4)

[Caw1]

I've just watched tonight's episode about Jerry Hall!!

Wonder what people thought?

 She had a wonderful array of clothes suiting all occasions and thought she was on a photo shoot!! Hey that's just me though - jealousy doesn't get you anywhere!!

Having said that, I did find the history of the early frontier families quite interesting and she has obviously come from good solid stock who made a difference to the lives of people and something to be proud of.

Wonderful too to have such a lot of intimate information documented, but then there were fewer people around so it was probably easier to keep tabs on them all and write up the stories.

Pity there wasn't much time spent on the Halls in England. She didn't appear to realise the conditions that James had to work in as a child in the cotton mills.
I found it interesting the two letters she was shown had survived when there must have been many men working and living in the area while the railway was being built.
Who, where, how would those little scraps have been kept?
Could they have come from the family that still live in the area?

I think this episode may have been better suited for the American market.

Him in doors said he'd found watching paint dry more interesting and disappeared to watch Murray playing at Flushing Meadows!! He's usually  watches it with me, although sometimes just to humour me with passing comments! It must be wonderful to have your spouse who has the same level of interest in family research!

Look forward to others thoughts!!
Caroline 

[Old Blue]

It must be wonderful to have your spouse who has the same level of interest in family research!

I agree, WDYTYA sends my wife to sleep in minutes!

[Mike in Cumbria]

I found it really interesting, and also thought Jerry Hall came across very well.

[california dreamin]

I too thought Jerry had a wonderful array of clothes!    We generally see people stomping about in a deary grey or black coat.

You know it was a pleasant episode but nothing spectacular.  With regard to the notes that were presented to Jerry, I would imagine these would have been handed down in the family and at some point given over to the local archives or museum.

I was very suspicious of the Daniel Boone hints that Jerry kept alluding to throughout the episode when the Daniel Boone connection was not actually revealed until the end.  I suspect that there was some knowledge of a 'Dan'l' Boone connection within her family. In the US Dan'l is a real hero and demi god so I would imagine Jerry would be thrilled to learn of the link.  Not sure why she needed to arrive at the fort in Kentucky on horseback when there was a carpark at the front!!

With regard to Oldham - who knew!

[coombs]

I knew that when James went first, he probably did go to America first to set up a job and a place then get his wife to join rather than do a runner, as several of my ancestor siblings did the same when emigrating to America in the late 1870s/1880s.

[ThrelfallYorky]

I started watching it with rather gritted teeth, and was pleasantly surprised. There was an interesting programme there - and most of us watching have some knowledge of the conditions in northern English mills - the motivation for migration was explored a little, and it was (almost) a "rollicking good yarn". I quite enjoyed it. The first one in this series was the most tedious, I felt, with the Hollywood(?) character, can't even recall his full name now, and at least this one followed the good old formula we all know so well:
"Work backwards from what you know, can prove and have got"

[Mike in Cumbria]

And besides, it was Jerry Hall, on a horse, in lovely countryside. What's not to like?

[Caw1]

I think you have a soft spot for Jerry Mike!!!!

It's just that Texas drawl that is not very becoming!

Other than that I did actually quite enjoy the programme, at least it's gone back to its roots with research! Thankfully.

And besides, it was Jerry Hall, on a horse, in lovely countryside. What's not to like?

[Yasmina4]

It was quite interesting but I was left wanting to know where the Kentucky Bests came from.

Also was anxious to know what became of the widowers daughter who was adopted.