The Family Treasure Chest is opened!!!!!

[jess5athome]

The flat wooden box that I found at the top of her linen cupboard in my grandmother's house when I was moving her to live with my Mum, is probably what started me off researching my family.

Her Marriage Certificate - which also noted the date and place of her parent's marriage!
Her Birth Certificate - and Grandad's Birth Certificate, (Baptism also noted and signed by the Minister)
My Mum's Birth Cert, and also her sister's
My Dad's Birth Cert, and some work references of his
My Parent's Birth Cert.
My Parent's Marriage Certificate
Her Father's Burial - receipt for the plot (in perpetuity)  with Number and location noted.
All my great grandfathers writings - poetry and speeches - mostly re Robert Burns
Really old photos, Awards for Best Pikelets, best scones, best sponges, best flowers etc etc
School Awards - Mum and her sister.
Sundry newspaper cuttings re family
A handwritten letter to her re the death of her father, from a close friend, Walter Nash, A Govt Minister of Finance at the time, who later went on to be Prime Minister Of NZ
And lots of other bits and pieces.....................................................................

Absolutely stunning!! 

I have my Grandfathers Royal Netherlands Navy Beret and that's it  but some wonderfull memories of all of my Grandparents 

Frank.

[jaybelnz]

Yes Jess, it was certainly quite a treasure chest!

Memories are so special too, I was lucky enough to attend the Golden Wedding celebrations for both sets of grandparents too!  I must have been about 15 or 16.

Silver wedding only for Mum and Dad, they had both died by the time that would have been the celebration of their Golden Wedding! 

[ymfoster]

Interesting treasures everyone, 

I have a small carry case that has postcards & letters from my grandfather to grandma during WW1, also beautifully embroidered French voil type envelopes & cards he sent her.
Postcards from my parents to their parents on their honeymoon in Sydney.

Grandma's old half circle shaped mint chopper, Grandpa's folding utensils from the War,
Gt. Gran's gold amethyst necklace, Gran's gold pin brooch, Mum's opal ring, plus numerous old photo albums from Gt. Gt. Gran down to present, also some china pieces & some trophies from Gt. grandad's shooting comps.

Yvonne

[Wiggy]

How wonderful all of you!         Even you Frank!!

I have my maternal G grandmother's locket  which has quite a long history .

- my paternal grandmothers pearl drop necklace, and her school newspapers from 1906;  Also her potato masher (wooden), a coffee set given to her and Grandad on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary in  1936;  A dinner set bought when they were married in 1913.

Greatgreat aunt's 'fly' brooch.

High chair used by my father and I suspect also by his mother - and by me, my children and grandchildren.

I wish I had Gran's recipe book, but Mum gave it to her  'Helper' who came to assist her for several years  -  Pity that.  We have got quite a lot of her recipes though.

A wonderful array of old photos from both sides of the family. 

A folder containing letters from Dad to Mum during their courtship - that's pretty special! 

It really makes Family History come alive doesn't it when you have some 'things' they used, wore etc.
   

[jaybelnz]

Aren't we all so blessed and lucky to have our treasured memories, letters, jewellery, other objects, recipes, photos and the like - just amazing!

One of my special ones - I once asked my Mum "how did you meet Dad"? (I didn't know at that time that he had a little boot and shoe repair shop, in the little local shopping area of where she lived).

She replied, "I used to knock on his shop window on the way home from Guides, then run away home flat out!!  But one night I didn't run away"!

I have always loved that story, and so very pleased that she didn't run away!!

[ymfoster]

A nice lot of little treasures Wiggy, shame about the recipe book though.

Must have been magnetism Jaybel. 

[Wiggy]

Reckon yours are pretty special too Yvonne - everyone's in fact - just the fact that we still have them at all.

[pinefamily]

Did you have any sailors in the family?   either Merchant Navy or Royal Navy,   they tended to bring exotic presents home.

One of my collateral ancestors was in the Navy, and ended up staying in Australia, in New South Wales. He apparently had a collection of spears and shrunken heads that he had collected from various Pacific islands. Most were tossed after his death unfortunately. One of his grandsons has the brass name plate from his house; he called his house Barnstaple, after the town of his birth.

Jaybelnz, you hit the jackpot didn't you? And everyone is so lucky with what they have inherited.

I have a few bits and pieces, but being the youngest son of the youngest son, there wasn't a lot for me to keep and cherish. I have one of my father's watches somewhere, as well as a pair of cuff links. I also have a pocket watch that belonged to my maternal grandfather, as well as his last war diary for 1919 (pity he didn't keep the rest).

[ymfoster]

Yes Wiggy, we're lucky to have them, my cousin's Mum burnt theirs after mice got into them in the shed !

Being the youngest is unfortunate pinefamily,   
not much left to choose from.