Genealogy Chat

I have just come back from a lovely Family History weekend in Hampshire. SEE Below

I discovered that my 5x ggrandfather had been the first schoolmaster at the village school in the 1820's.I went to the founders day sevice at the school and watched a play with him in it. the children laid small bunches of country flowers on his grave and I saw the bell tower where he started the first school. The vicar knew all about him, so I was able to add to my FH notes. Then went to Hampshire records office. Spent yesterday afternoon driving round looking at the villages where my ancestors lived, which really gave me a feel for the place and my rellies. Had to tell you all - none of my living family will listen! Alice

'Away Days' are great, aren't they? I've done a few over the years and I'm lucky enough to live near to the church where a lot of my Lancashire ancestors were married and/or baptised. To stand in that church, knowing that they had done the same thing over 100 years ago, was quite emotional but, like you, no-one else could understand why it meant so much to me Glad you had a wonderful weekend Lou

Hi Alice, Why would anyone be bored by your luck in finding what all of us dream about. I'm just soooooo jealous. Vivienne

Alice,, You are lucky,,what loverly villages there are round there,,went last year to HRO ,,husbands gt gran was teacher at Dame School Sparsholt,,, Well if family wont listen sure somebody will on site,,, Kay.

Hi Alice Glad about your news. Pity we had to about our Norwich trip. David

Hi Alice, It's lovely to hear a of a success like yours, and even better that there are people here who understand how it feels to find something like and ancestral home or a grave. I'm very lucky in that most of my ancestors for at least 6 generations for almost every branch of my family are from the same area of Kent were I was born. I've grown up knowing the same villages and towns that they knew, and it's allowed me to visit just about every church in the area that might ever have set foot in! My b/f can't understand the excitement I get when I find a name on a census, or why I have photos of graves on my computer! On so many occasions when I made a big break through or visited an old grave, just knowing that I've found a relative has redused me to tears. I bet our ancestors never guessed that they would have this kind of effect on future generations! Sharon :o)

Hi Alice, Its not a bore - I'm glad you had such a great weekend. About 25 years ago I drove through the little village in Somerset where my forefathers came from and the memory still lives with me. These memories are what we live for as genealogists. Best wishes Ian

That must have been wonderful Alice - did they all know you were his GGDx5? When I found my lot in the village near here (and you!) it was so amazingly satisfying. And the bonus was every time I go to any event here, I am trotted out like a minor celeb because the gravestones are still in the churchyard and my GGFx4 was mentioned in a book about the village. I feel quite embarrassed by the looks of awe! Terrific, glad you had a lovely time.

Glad you had a great time, Alice. Which villages did you go to? (I'm in Hampshire myself, and just want to be nosy!)

Hi all, I have just come back from 3 weeks in Cornwall doing research, like you all the thrill of visiting villages and churches still overwhelms me. My husband and I have been visiting Cornwall/Devon for the last 30 yrs (long before I started family research) and it turns out we both come from these areas and a couple of our relatives from the same village, waiting for the day we find we are related. The best thing was visiting the new Devon record offices and finding documents for lease of land & property, l dated 1630 and 1 1765 and seeing our ancestors signatures, makes up for all the times you find nothing, and yes I know what you mean when I showed my daughter copies she said 'not that boring stuff again' Carol 430181

Alice I really enjoy genealogy away days - although much has altered, many original buildings still exist, or the street layouts are the same. I was so excited when I found the listed Georgian building my gt gt grandfather ran as a lodging house in Richmond Green! nell

A couple of years ago I was in touch with possible cousins (connections possibly back in the early 1800's), the name was Style, (my g grandmothers family) they lived in NZ so it was not easy to look for information. Then they came to Europe and London but found a day when they could visit Surrey I met them at the Station and took them to where his g grandmother lived and worked. His grand mother was getting close to 100 years old. They were so please to have been able to walk the streets and visit the house where his g grandmother worked. Took pictures and was able to tell his grandmother all about it. I have since found the connection which now takes him back to the 1780's which connects my gggg grandfather and was his gggg his family were the eldest son's. I am lucky to live near, but when I go to Wiltshire to visit my fathers side of the family it the same as the rest of you. You would think you would feel some affinity, but just walking the street and looking around is not enough. If there was a time machine I would be first in line. But what to pick 1st. Getting my husband interested in his family now so other places now to visit. Irene

Not boring at all, A couple of weeks ago i did the same in hampshire and dorset. I did have husband with me some of the time (except in the record Office when he took himself off for a couple of hours. Where were you looking in Hampshire? I was in Botley where several generations are buried, although unfortunately no headstones. (as seems to be usual in my family). Ann Glos

It sounds wonderful Alice! I have never been on an away day yet, I would love to do it one day. All my ancestors on my Mother's side were from Lancashire and on my Father's side it is Lincolnshire. How do you set about organising something like that? Is there an advice thread for it? Margaret

Hi Thats wonderful Alice! I know how you must feel, doesnt it make you feel good? not only that when your looking at villages that you your ancestors knew cant you just visualise the horse and carts down the lanes I know I do. Great you had a wondeful day. Yvonne

Thank you for your replies. Glad to see I am in good company! The villages I visited were Ropley, Bishops Sutton, Menstead, Bighton and the town of Alton. While driving back to try to find the M3 I drove by signposted to other places connected to another part of the tree - Farnham, Froyle, Dorking - I will have to return another time with the right folder to carry on with that family. So tied up with the FH I only managed a flying visit to Winchester cathedral and missed all the other bits of a lovely city - will have to go back soon! Alice

Alton - haha! I went to college there! Do you know the story of Fanny Adams who died there aged 8 in 1867.... well murdered more like. It's where the saying 'Sweet Fanny Adams' comes from. Also - do you know about the history of St Lawrence's Church on Old Odiham Road? Can't remember which side, but think it was the royalists that went in there during the civil war claiming santuary, but the parliamentarians burnt the church down anyway! It's weird to hear someone talk about a place that you know quite well, I also know Farnham well just not been there in ages - guess that is what it's like when I talk about my villages. Anyway! Glad you enjoyed yourself. Chloe x PS - do you mean Medstead instead of Menstead??

Not boring at all! Maybe I'm lucky that I find other people's families as fascinating as my own. Spent the day in Nottinghamshire yesterday. Crept into the gallery of the chapel in Newark where my great grandparents were married in 1868 (v emotional), then off to the home village and then to Southwell for the Minster and the Workhouse. If you had relatives who ended up in the workhouse you must see this. Even my Ever Loving Husband got interested! Sheila

Ive been to Newark and Southwell. Southwell is a strange little place isnt it with such narrow roads. Nice tea shop there.