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Author Archives: digancestors

The Artist and the Pacifist — Two brothers’ WW1 stories

Brothers Sidney and Algy Saword were newly settled in Canada in 1914 when war was declared. One volunteered to fight, while the other refused to be a combatant. Both served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

Posted bydigancestorsNovember 13, 2022December 30, 2022Posted inGenealogy, Social History, Stories, Uncategorized3 Comments on The Artist and the Pacifist — Two brothers’ WW1 stories

William Gunton Saword: Part 1 — Clerk of the Royal Yacht Augusta

From 1764-1772, William Saword was the Clerk of the Royal Yacht Augusta, which conveyed the royal family of George III around Britain and to and from Europe.

Posted bydigancestorsSeptember 11, 2022October 16, 2022Posted inGenealogy, Social History, Stories2 Comments on William Gunton Saword: Part 1 — Clerk of the Royal Yacht Augusta

Who Was Harriet Horlock? Part 3: Harriet’s Secret Is Revealed!

According to family lore a mysterious relation called Harriet had a royal lovechild, Violet, who became a silent movie star. In 2021, I received a startling message from someone who could finally reveal the true identity of Violet’s father …

Posted bydigancestorsJune 4, 2022October 21, 2022Posted inGenealogy, Stories7 Comments on Who Was Harriet Horlock? Part 3: Harriet’s Secret Is Revealed!

A Sense of Duty: 1907 triple drowning in San Francisco Bay

This is a true California story of heroism, murder, and tragedy — with a Hollywood ending.

Posted bydigancestorsApril 17, 2022April 17, 2022Posted inUncategorizedLeave a comment on A Sense of Duty: 1907 triple drowning in San Francisco Bay

EXTRAORDINARY ACTION FOR SEDUCTION

When 19-year-old Hannah Maultby became an unmarried mother in 1866, her fiancé promised to marry her. But two years later, he had failed to keep his word, and Hannah’s mother Martha took him to court for Seduction. 

Posted bydigancestorsApril 17, 2022May 18, 2022Posted inUncategorizedLeave a comment on EXTRAORDINARY ACTION FOR SEDUCTION

The brother who never came home

King's Royal Rifles Corp Memorial

Brothers Harold and Neville Underwood fought in WW1. One received a gallantry medal; the other was a POW. Only one of them came home.

Posted bydigancestorsNovember 15, 2021January 24, 2022Posted inGenealogy, Social History, Stories4 Comments on The brother who never came home

Five reasons why ancestors used surnames as middle names

Why did our ancestors sometimes give their children surnames as middle names? Here are five reasons I’ve found in my family tree.

Posted bydigancestorsOctober 29, 2021March 19, 2022Posted inGenealogy, Social History9 Comments on Five reasons why ancestors used surnames as middle names

My strangest (and spookiest) heirloom

I don’t have any valuable heirlooms but I have a very unusual one: a set of psychic portraits that belonged to my great grand aunt Marjorie.

Posted bydigancestorsOctober 12, 2021Posted inSocial History, Uncategorized4 Comments on My strangest (and spookiest) heirloom

Polly Smith & ‘the Gosling’ (Servants & Employers Part 1)

Edwardian servant

My great grandmother Polly Smith worked as a domestic servant for Nicholas Gosselin aka ‘The Gosling’ — head of the Irish Special Branch.

Posted bydigancestorsSeptember 28, 2021February 26, 2022Posted inGenealogy, Social History, Stories6 Comments on Polly Smith & ‘the Gosling’ (Servants & Employers Part 1)

Millicent Gifford & D’Arcy de Ferrars (Servants & Employers Part 2)

Millicent Gifford left a mining family in the Forest of Dean to work as a cook for a singer, composer and organiser of grand Elizabethan style pageants.

Posted bydigancestorsSeptember 28, 2021October 9, 2021Posted inGenealogy, Social History, Stories4 Comments on Millicent Gifford & D’Arcy de Ferrars (Servants & Employers Part 2)

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