When you find a child missing from a census, the first assumption is probably that the child has died. Sadly, this was far too often the case. Sometimes though, they were living with other family members. You might even find them with a grandparent living right next door, where there was more space! Of course,Continue reading “Raised by an Aunt & Uncle Part 1: The Mysterious Locket”
Author Archives: digancestors
Geagle Badcock Sniffs Out a Criminal
Geagle Badcock (c1724-1802) was the Cook of Pembroke College, Oxford for more than 50 years in the 1700s. I love his name, and imagine that even if he was an excellent chef, some cheeky scholar would have nicknamed him ‘Geagle Badcook‘. In 1776, when he was about 47, Geagle placed an extraordinary advertisement in Jackson’sContinue reading “Geagle Badcock Sniffs Out a Criminal”
Crowdfunding — Georgian Style
Have you ever contributed to a crowdfunding campaign to support a startup, community project or someone in need? It might seem like a new idea, but in fact, people had similar ways of fundraising for causes and ideas 250 years ago! In the 1700s-1800s crowdfunding for a new product or project was commonly called ‘publicContinue reading “Crowdfunding — Georgian Style”
Wot No German DNA?
Last week I got my DNA results back from Ancestry.com. I’ve been doing document-based genealogy for 30+ years but I’m unfashionably late to the party with DNA testing. Unlike most of my American friends, whose DNA would be a colourful and exciting melting pot, I was fully expecting mine to be primarily English and quite boring. However,Continue reading “Wot No German DNA?”
Christmas Cheer in the Workhouse
Christmas in the workhouse conjures up a miserable scene, but some workhouses did deliver some Christmas cheer.
Queen Alexandra and a Progressive Police Orphanage
Alfred Read spent eight years in the new Metropolitan & City Police Orphanage. One day in 1882 they had a royal visit.
I’m a British Library reader! And you can be one too!
The British Library for London is a treasure trove for family historians that’s available to everyone.
Welcome to my blog!
Hi! I’m Clare and I love genealogy, social history, and writing. Born in England, I moved to California in 2001 and stayed there for 16 years. I loved life in California but I always missed old buildings and graveyards! Since I returned to the UK in 2017 I’ve been spending as much time as possibleContinue reading “Welcome to my blog!”