General Chat

When I started genealogy, it was on the Suffolk(ish) side.
Granny Grace's family, for generations, was from Suffolk, but her dad was born in London, his dad came from Cheddington.
First criminal I 'discovered' was gran's great uncle, who tried to derail a train in Cheddington in 1851.
There were a few other 'minor' misdemeanors in Suffolk - drunk & disorderly, fined for not sending children to school etc.

Then I started the Cornish side - only to find Granny Beatrice in jail in 1939, (and other times - also she was fined)for passing cheques, pretending she was collecting for a charity, not having a dog licence, and having a faulty 'mask' on her headlights.
Further back, on the Cornish side, I find my ancestors were MP's and Pirates - at the same time! :-S
One 'Lady' - she was actually Lady Elizabeth Killigrew, (married to Capt. Sir John Killigrew, pirate and MP), in 1582 was arrested and sentenced to death after she sent her servants to seize the cargo aboard a ship anchored in Falmouth harbour. Queen Elizabeth eventually pardoned her, and she was released from prison.

Well, I've started looking into the heritage of the female line further back.
My first 'target' was the heritage of Alice Tynton, born 1321.

I got back as far as her GG Grandparents, but was intrigued by the name of her g grandmother.
She is my first Scottish ancestor! She was Isabella Countess of Menteith who married John Russell (Knight) from Kingston Russell in Dorset but I also found out that, in 1261, they were imprisoned for poisoning Isabella's first husband! :-0

They were released after a time, and had a daughter, Alice Bosse Russell, in Dorset.
I think I may have to start a special file - Villains and Ne'er do Wells in my family :-D :-D

Wow that is interesting, do keep us posted on your findings.

Alice Tynton was the first of the female 'ancients' - I've looked at.
Her Grandparents on her mother's side were........

Alan de Bloyou and Johanna Nanscoyk.
I AM making a note of strange/inappropriate names :-D :-D :-D

I found out recently that my Gt Gt Grandma on my mothers side of the family was imprisioned in Ramsgate in 1877 for stealing a sovereign. She got 6 months hard labour!
But if that wasn't enough one of my ancestors from My grandads family was imprisoned with others namely Guy Fawkes for treason. My son told this story to his teacher who then said " oh my ,so you have a terrorist in your family then?"
When I went to the next parents evening, I was mortified as son never told me he had told his teacher!! The family were famous for all the wrong reasons.

Maggie, what an interesting family you have.Crikey How have you managed to go back so far, that is so amazing?

Florence in the hebrides

It's only the Cornish side I can go so far back on, Florence - because Cornish Parish Records going back to at least 16th Century - then I found 'aristocracy' and MP's - and there's a lot about them.
'The Visitations of Cornwall' is a wonderful resource.
I've actually 'tentatively' got back to 1098, and found quite a few 'Bretons' and descendants of Normans. :-D
I think 'de Bloyou' was possibly not of Cornish Heritage (the 'de' gives it away a bit), and Nanscoyk - well, I can't think of an English equivalent :-S

maggie ...............

how fascinating!!!