As Henry hit the water its icy tentacles reached out to ensnare him. Drifting further and further into its murky depths he felt at peace for the first time in ages. “Quickly! We’ve got to find him. Someone run and get the constable,” yelled the man as he dove into the canal. Just as the police arrived he managed to…
The challenge for this week in 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is Same Name. So often in genealogy you will come up with ancestors who have the same name as their father or mother. Quite often they are then known by another name. Also to confuse matters you will often find numerous children within the same family have the same…
Continuing on in my series of Family Surname History, I am moving onto the Brand surname. My maternal grandmother was Marjorey Brand and the name has a long history. Family Surname History – Brand Brand is of German, French, and English originating from the pre-6th Century Anglo-Saxon word “brinnan” which means a flash e.g. flash of lightening.1 There…
The 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge this week is Fathers’ Day to coincide with Fathers’ Day in the UK and USA. The Australian Fathers’ Day does not occur until the first Sunday in September each year. I decided to do something a bit different for this post and have done a representation of all the direct line fathers…
This series Family Surname History is really interesting as I learn more about my family surnames. Today I am introducing the family surname Matheson. Robert Matheson was my maternal grandmother’s grandfather. Family Surname History – Matheson Matheson has its origins in biblical times with Matthew meaning “Gift of God”.1 It is Hebrew in origin, however, was introduced…
The week 21 challenge for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is Military. When I saw the challenge for this week, I could not believe how well the dates coincided. I had already intended to write a post for this week to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of the death of my great-great-uncle Hilton in World War I. What a…
The week 19 challenge in 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is Mothers’ Day to fit in with this wonderful day where we celebrate our mothers. My story today is a bittersweet Mothers’ Day story. Week 19 – Mothers’ Day Dorcas Stokes Dorcas Stokes was born on 19 November 1898 in New Invention, Staffordshire, England to Samuel Ernest Stokes and…
This weeks 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge is Close Up. The suggestions for writing this one were to write about an ancestor who lived closed to where you live now or where you grew up; an ancestor that you have a portrait of; an ancestor who you have more information about and you feel like you know them “close…
I am enjoying this series – Family Surname History. Today I am introducing the family surname Washbrook. Alice Elizabeth Washbrook was my paternal grandfather’s mother. Family Surname History – Washbrook Washbrook is of Olde English origin with the first recorded village of this name being in 1198 in Suffolk.1 It often thought to be of Lancashire…
Fletcher Alderwin Brand Today being ANZAC Day, I have decided to honour my great-grandfather, Fletcher Alderwin Brand, who served in World War I. Today Australia commemorates all the people who have served to allow our country to remain free. Early Years Fletcher was born on 16 December 1881 in Dongara, Western Australia, the seventh of ten children, to David…