Genealogy Chat

Thanks guys, I do feel really good right now, like my good deed has been done for the day:) I awarded myself with egg bacon beans and sausages for a late breakfast with a huge mug of tea :) I just cant say how great it feels seeing someones face while they sift thru a box of memories that you helped them get back when they assumed they would never be seen again. So get up in attics, garages and sheds and make someones day!

Well done! It is great to hear an update. I was wondering how you'd got on with the case. Amazing you found another bag of photos etc! She must have been delighted and will have a lovely but emotional afternoon looking through her treasure. Congratulations on a successful outcome. Claire

How absolutely fabulous!! WELL DONE YOU!! xx

You have done a wonderful thing BF; Congratulations. If the suitcase had been found by most people it would, by now, be in a land fill site, never to see the light of day again. I am thrilled for you, and the lucky people you went out of your way to help. Well done. Award yourself a special treat!

excellent - good result - hope you are really chuffed with your little self - you should be! jess x

Suitcase and owner reunited this morning (21/05) The daughter Angela came today with her husband to collect the case, she seemed very emotional when she recognised alot of the old pictures and her fathers papers etc. We did another quick sweep of the garage to see if there was anything else and suprisingly found what looked like a bin bag of rubbish that contained more old photos and papers. We also found out the the suitcase had been dumped in my garage, after her brother lodged with a man I know living around the corner from me. This man stole some stuff from my garage and dumped the suitcase in there. He also sold me furniture that belonged to Angelas brother daved (I thought it was his) Now to get back to fining the hammer i originally went in there looking for!!! So mystery totally solved, and 1 happy lady just left my house ;) I am glad the case finally found a home

LOL columbo haha, i do like columbo hah. Sticky fingers is good too 0)

I've always thought of this hobby as us all being little Colombo's -with the raincoat & the funny eye - this thread goes to prove it... Well done Butter fingers (alias Colombo)!!! Sarah :-) PS - did you find your hammer??

Good outcome to the story. Think you should now be called 'nice sticky fingers' lol Mau XX

I have totally enjoyed the search and really happy that the owner has been found. The contact I have had is Davids step father.

Well done Butters !!!!!!!!! I am seriously considering going to my local fetes and jumble sales so I can find things like this - It must be SSSooo satisfying to be able to re-unite them with their owners. Dea Xxx

I have just had an email from the step father of david crisp, he knows about the stuff being left in a suitcase. But David is abraod right now, so have passed on my proper email address so he con contact me when he is back to arrange collection Glad hes been found finally, now to wait on that email 0) Thanks for all the help and advice on here, it was invaluable ;0)

Contact has been made Im told to someone very close to the description .

Using freebmd, I found in December 1872 there was an Angelo Crisp who married a Mary Ann Diprose in Maidstone. I searched GR for an Angelo Crisp but nothing came up but there are some Diprose's in Essex that are on GR. I wonder if the unusual christian name of Angel came from the ancestor Angelo, if they were in the same family? I know it is a long time before the photos were taken/cards written but the Angelo could have been an ancestor? I also checked the Curious Fox website but nothing came up for Southend-on-Sea or Crisp that could appear relevant. Have you tried talking to the neighbours to see if anyone remembers the family? Is there someone in your street that has been there for years?! Claire

The Evening Echo, is that in St. Albans, Hertfordshire?????????

I've only just read this thread. If you own the house, won't the deeds have the names of previous owners? I did the same thing as you a few years ago and was telephone-interviewed on the radio, as well as the story being taken up by 2 local newspapers. I eventually tracked a descendant down, only to find that his daughter worked at the radio station that had broadcast my message. When the DJ interviewed me again to give the final pieces of the story, I told her this and there was an embarrased silence. The girl actually worked in the studio itself and was a close colleague of the DJ! Duh!

DITTO!! I would love to hear the out come of the `History in a suitcase` saga. Butter fingers, you have everyone hocked. So please do not get disheartened. Try,Try, Try again. Someone will claim the booty! (or i will!!). I love a mystery!!!!!!!!!!! Vanessa

Bump - so I can find out what happened after it's been in the paper Joanne

Never mind butter fingers! Next step you have already taken. Newspapers. Keep asking for ideas on this thread. You will be suprised. This will make a change for you searching out someone elses rellies!! Vanessa

I really the people that do own it will be glad to get it back, would be such a shame to end up back in some damp dark garage. The woman has called back and it is not her family, so now it's down to the evening echo!