Genealogy Chat

I found an absolute treasure trove when my mother died last year. She would never talk much about the family and I didn't know that the stuff existed. Unfortunately I can't put a name to some of the people in the photos including a really nice wedding group from about 1920. I found the diary that my grandmother kept when she was serving with the WRVS in WW2 and the account that she wrote of the day that the war ended. I also have lots of clippings kept from newspapers and parish magazines including one that said that my great grandad had worked in the USA which nobody had told me before. Can't wait to get time to sort through it all properly.

Hi Claire You are indeed very lucky – but I have a theory that if you’re supposed to find it, you will – but only when they’re ready to let you. Below is part of the text of a thread I posted about a year ago, I had been looking for info on my father’s family for quite a while and as the oldest living rellie on this side, it was down to me and my memory and a few family snapshots (no info on the back of most unfortunately!): Text from previous: 'I have been going through a photo album trying to put names to faces, and am driving a friend mad with questions like “Does that look like his son?”, “Do you reckon that’s the same person?”, etc. Anyway, I was stuck with one of my dad’s great aunts – I have pictures of her wedding – but no idea who the groom was – pictures of her son and daughter, one dated 1934 and one 1939 – met the son once about 20 years ago, didn’t even know she had a daughter(!) – pictures of the son’s wedding in 1983, but no location – that’s about it – so without a surname nothing to go on. That is until today – and I swear with all my heart this is true – I have been cleaning out a storage drawer under my bed – probably hasn’t had a complete empty and replace for about five years – and there at the bottom I found a little box that I swear I have never seen before. Inside it, all the gift tags, copies of the invitations and telegrams from my parents wedding – lo and behold – a telegram from the great aunt and her husband with their surname – also a great aunt on the other side’s husband’s name (I’d always believed she never married!) – and various other ‘answers’ to questions I’ve had for ages. I really do believe that sometime’s you find things when you’re meant to – I just wish ‘someone’ would give me inspiration to find my parents wedding album – then the collection would be complete! I’m sorry to bore everyone with this, but I had to share this with someone who wouldn’t just say ‘there, there dear, very nice, but they’re all dead now’. I must admit, when I found it, I just stood there and cried!!!! – but in the last hour, I’ve now found refs for two marriages, three births and two deaths!! and am back on a roll with this line again.' So you see, you are very lucky, treasure every little piece of the puzzle that you can find, good hunting!! Looby

I am lucky to be in possession of lots of stuff from my mum's dad's side. There are letters dating from the 1850s still in perfect condition. I work above the registry office in Hertford and have picked the brains of an archivist there who has advised me on how best to preserve them. Unfortunately this is an expensive business as all specialisms are I suppose. I think I'll stick to the old biscuit tins etc...after all they've suvived this long in pristine condition. Regards to all Chris

On Saturday I visited a lady who is my 3rd cousin (65years between us) until I started doing my tree I had no idea she existed. She wasn't able to tell me much about they weren't close but she was able to tell about her childhood & the area which she & my family grew up in the late 19teens...fantastic....so this weekend I've been doubly lucky!!

Wonderful Clare so pleased for you! And you are SO LUCKY still to have Grandad for his memories of all the items. When the last of my Dad's sisters died we found the most wonderful collection of really old photographs. Trouble was we had no idea who 90% of the people were, and no one left alive who would know. Would urge anyone with 'oldies' still alive to talk to them while you can. Ray Whincup

green with envy..... plodding on quite nicely on mams side but need to start dads.... mam then drops bombshell, oh but the Dixons werent really from sunderland originally were they..... how the hell should I know, and she cant remember where from. LOL.... or I'd cry. Have sent for Grandparents full birth certs to see if I can find any information.

You have nothing to lose Tom you may find he knows something you don't or even have other stuff stored away. You don't get if you don't ask.

I'll say you are lucky. I was cleating out my Grandad's garage (they moving to smaller flat) and found a box of old certs. Hot really excited and took them inside to look at them, only to realise that they were from the previous owners, my grandad has lived there for 20 years! My other grandad's cousin has got an old family Bible that i want to look at - but he lives down on the south coast, and i'm in yorkshire. I might write to him tellinng what i have found out and ask if he can photocopy any pages in the Bible? What do people think?

I know how you feel it took me a lot of nagging to get what I ahve & I know theres more up there too.... On my paternal side I daren't bother as it will only be wrong.....

I,m envious .I know theres things my Mum kept & my sis took for safe keeping after Mum passed. Sis passed too now & her daughter has bagged things in black bin bags & put in her loft and 'is too busy to sort through' I only wnat to borrow pics as scan them in as can re print ,but dont see any chance of seeing any of them. Makes me a bit cross as they are family things not hers .!!

Just finished sorting the bits into family groups isn't it amazing what you can find. We found a document about my Great Grandad applying to stay permantly in Africa (something none of us ever knew!) along with references from various employers. On the other side of the family we have found a service book for my Great Great grandad who served in the military foot police, it has his details, clothing loans he took out, certificates he took & most importantly for my the names of his mother & father & siblings. What a treasure trove?

What a shame about the Masseys Clare, What is your mum's family name, I might have lots of them as well !!! Tee hee (worth a try). Dea x

Unfortunatly for you with Massey's on your tree it was my mums family stuff!! I haven't started on my dads family but I do know that my grandad & his family came originally from Yorkshire!

Ooooh, I am jealous! My mum's family were quite good hoarders, but I am still SOOOOOO frustrated that a very distant cousin on her side has a loft full of his grandparents stuff. His grandfather died in the 1960's, in his 90's, and was a registrar for over 50 years. Guess what his hobby was????? Yes, family history. I bet that loft is CRAMMED with stuff (the grandson is a hoarder too). Every Christmas I sent the grandson a card with ''How's the loft coming on?'' written inside. Each return card had a joke about it in.......but last Christmas he said, ''Sorry, I've forgotten what you mean about the loft???'' Aaaaaaagggggggghhhhhhhhhhhjhh!! FORGOTTEN????!! LOL Merry

oh you lucky thing! i wish i had all that, enjoy it. chris.

Yes you ARE lucky Clare - I wish I had a grandad with a loft to rummage through!! Mind you, I do have lots of Massey's on my tree - perhaps we are related and I could share your treasures? Dea x P.S. - being a bit cheeky here but, just in case, - mine are mostly around Salford + Manchester. ??

Yesterday after much nagging and dropping of tips my grandad went up in his loft & managed to find some things which had been brought from my big grans house. It had not been touched since then just put up in the loft & forgotton about. So I started going through all the coffee & biscuit tins and amongst the electric bills & postcards i have found endless photographs, birth death & marriage certs and pieces of paper which have suprised my mum. Information such as my great grandad applied for permant residence in africa & a wealth of other stuff..... How lucky do I feel in finding these gems.....but also in knowing there is quite possibly more to discover in my grandad loft?