Whilst researching my great grandfather Allan Brookes ( the man in the front row in the peaked cap), I was intrigued to learn that he was born just next door to where I went to secondary school. His father was head gardener at Lugwardine Court and Allan was born in Garden Cottage Lugwardine in DecemberContinue reading "My Ancestors – Allan Jasper Brodie Brookes"

Saturday 10th September 2022 Herefordshire Archives Records Service Rotherwas, Hereford 10-00am - 4pm All of the society library is being held at the HARC currently, so this will be available on the day for research along with the other research information that they would normally have at a Family History Fair Herefordshire Strays Index BurialContinue reading "HEREFORDSHIRE FHS OPEN DAY"

This week's #52Ancestors is "How Do You Spell That?" When I first read my 3 x Great grandfather's marriage certificate, I couldn't make out his father's first name. In my research since, I have seen it spelt in various imaginative ways in indexes including Uvidale and Uredale but my 4 x Great grandfather was calledContinue reading "52 Ancestor: Uvedale Davies"

This weeks #52Ancestors theme is Females and the first person that came to mind was my great grandmother Annie Louise Tanser , known to my Mum as Nanny Brookes. Mum described her as being very proper with her furs and her corsets made at Gus Edwards in Hereford High Town. Mum used to do herContinue reading "52 ancestors – Annie Louise Tanser"

This week's #52Ancestors theme is Landed and as my family don't seem to have owned much property between them, I thought I would talk about English Land Tax records in general. Originally brought in in 1692/3, records can exist up until 1963 but generally the time period that provides the best evidence is that fromContinue reading "English Land Tax Records"

This week's theme is Curious and the person that has provoked the most head scratching is Uncle Ran, not so much about his vital statistics rather than how he fits in with the family, if he fits in at all. My Mum used to talk fondly of summer holidays spent at Uncle Ran and AuntieContinue reading "52 Ancestors – Who is Uncle Ran?"

This weeks' #52Ancestors theme is favourite photo. This, to be honest changes all the time but today it is this photo of my Mum and the family dog Major. My grandad spent a long time on the army so I'm sure it tickled him to be able to order a Major around even though MajorContinue reading "52 Ancestors – Major Griffiths"

This week's theme for #52Ancestors is "Favourite Find" and mine is my great uncle William O'Brien O'Grady. Through family rumour and legend, one of my grandad's brothers ( there were 7 of them) was a passionist priest called Father Cornelius who was based at some point in Paris. I eliminated some of the brothers butContinue reading "52 Ancestors – William O’Brien O’Grady"

This year I have decided to take part in Amy Johnson Crow's 52 ancestors which is a series of weekly prompts to get you to think about an ancestor and share something about them. To find out more about it: https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/ Week one's theme is Foundations. About 23 years ago I began my family historyContinue reading "52 Ancestors – Harry Griffiths"

This month I have been looking at some of the delights on offer in Hereford in October 1861, courtesy of the Hereford Times. What would tempt you to splash the cash? French and English Stay and Bonnet Warehouse 9 Saint Peters Street Hereford Mrs Maclean Begs most respectfully to inform the Ladies of this CityContinue reading "Shop ’til you Drop – 1861 style!"