Nikki-ann

We have a couple of boxes of old family photos. We don’t know who some of the people are in the photos, but others provide small windows in to the lives of ancestors.

The photo on the right is one I scanned in on Sunday afternoon. It shows my Great Grandparents stood outside their home on the Shropshire/Cheshire border. It helps show how my Grandparents lived. Unfortunately, I’ve been told that the house has long gone so I can’t see what it looks like today. However, the cottage they moved into in their later years still stands and looks a lot like it did back in their day.

The photo needed a bit of a tidy-up. It was under-exposed and torn around the edges. So I cropped it down and use a couple of different adjustments (in Photoshop CS3) including Brightness/Contrast and Exposure.

Other items I scanned on Sunday included a couple of family wedding photos, my Great Great Grandmother Mary Jane’s obituary and a wedding notice for a Great Great Aunt.

I really need to set aside more time to sit and scan more photos. Something which might help with this is the Spring Break Scan-a-Thon (29th March - 6th April) and the next Scanfest on 30th March (as mentioned by Miriam at Ancestories). I think I should mark those dates in my diary and maybe I’ll get through some of those photos.

Following on from my research on Henry Purslow and his family, I now can confirm that he and Jane did have a daughter called Elizabeth. She was born in 1841 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. This still leaves a 10 year gap between Elizabeth and Henry junior… Something to work on.

On another side of my family… Yesterday I received the death certificate of my Great Great Great Grandfather John Middleton. In 1899 he accidently fell from his cart while driving and subsiquently died. Sadly, the death certificate doesn’t give any details as to any injuries sustained in the fall or the exact cause of death. I guess only the coroner’s report at the inquest can give me those details and that’s only if it still exists. A trip to the Shropshire Archives may be in order!

I’m still alive and kicking, but no results from the hospital yet. Not that I expect to hear anything for another couple of weeks yet and I full expect the results to come back negative… They always do with me! It’s good in a way, but also anoying because it means there’s still no proper answer. We shall see.

This evening I’m trying to date a family photography. Sadly, the photo isn’t in great condition; it’s overexposed and scratched. It’s also warped slightly, so I had to take a photo of it rather than use the scanner. The photo is sepia and is mounted onto thick card. I turned it into greyscale and fiddled about with a few settings to try and get a bit more detail.

Is this a wedding photo? The male members of the family are wearing flowers. Alfred & Mary (the couple sat down) were married on October 1897, so that is certainly the earliest date for the photo. I’m confident that the people standing behind Alfred & Mary are Alfred’s children (Mary was Alfred’s second wife).

Alfred’s children from his first marriage were Margaret (born 1871), Mary (1873), Thomas (1875), Henry (1877), Martha (1882), Francis (1884), Maud (1886), May (1889) and Mabel (1893).

At the time of their marriage Mary had one daugher, Sarah (born 1895).

Once married, Alfred & Mary had 2 more children, John (born 1898) and Muriel (1903).

I am sure the 2 men stood are Henry and Thomas. I don’t think Francis was in the photo as he ended his short life in an asylum. If the photo is Alfred & Mary’s wedding photo then one of the infants would almost certainly have been Mary’s daughter Sarah. Dad thinks the 3rd woman on the left is Alfred’s daughter Mary.

I believe the photo was taken in Alfred & Mary’s garden as we have a couple of other photos situated in the same place.

After doing a little more research in the England and Wales census records last night I think I discovered a 3rd child for Henry Purslow.

I still can’t find anything in the 1851 census records, however later census records brought some light to the situation. In 1871 Henry’s widow Jane and son Henry are noted as living with John & Elizabeth Pryce, although “Purslow” has been wrongly transcribed as “Purdon”. Jane Purslow is listed as Mother-in-Law to John Pryce, so that would make Elizabeth her daughter.

I then used Free BMD to find an Elizabeth Purslow born c1842 in Shrewsbury. Bingo! There was a birth registered in 1841, so I have ordered the birth certificate to confirm (or not) if Henry & Jane Purslow were indeed her parents (assuming I have the right certificate). So now it’s just a matter or waiting.

This still leaves a 10 year age gap between Elizabeth (born 1841 - assuming she is Henry & Jane’s daughter) and Henry (junior - born 1851), so maybe there were other children too.

Henry Purslow is my Great Great Great Grandfather. I don’t know much about Henry (and even less about his wife, my Great Great Great Grandmother), but below is what I do know.

Henry was born circa 1801 in Shropshire, England (most likely in the town of Shrewsbury).

The earliest record I have of Henry is in the Shropshire County Quarter Sessions. On 13th day of August 1835 Henry appeared before the Justices of the Peace for the county and gave a statement. One Timothy Jones and another youth had stolen a quantity of iron and tried to sell it to Gittins & Cartwright Foundry (Henry’s place of work). As well as a copy of the statement, I have a copy of a document which states that Henry must appear at the next sessions in the county to give evidence against Timothy Jones, if he doesn’t he will owe £30 (a great deal of money in those days!). The evidence resulted in Timothy Jones being sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and hard labour for his crime. (Thanks to Shropshire Archives for the copies of those documents).

Ten months later, on 20th June 1836 Henry married Jane Younger (or “Young”) at St. Julian’s in Shrewsbury. Their daughter Sarah (my Great Great Grandmother) was born on 21st April 1837 and baptised at Saint Alkmund, Shrewsbury on 14th May of that year.

We next see Henry and his family in the 1841 England Census living in Castle Foregate, Shrewsbury. He was working as a moulder.

I have been unable to find Henry and the family in either the 1851 England census or the Wales census, but they may have moved to Montgomeryshire, Wales (which borders with Shropshire, England) by then. Later that year, a son is born to Henry & Jane in Puzzle Square, Welshpool and is named after his father.

Henry Purslow died on 20th March 1857 at Puzzle Square, Welshpool aged 56 years of asthma (not certified). He was an ironmoulder (journeyman) at the time.

Henry’s daughter Sarah married Thomas Williams in May 1861 and died in December 1871.

His wife Jane and son Henry can be found in the 1881 Wales census living together in Welshpool. Henry (junior) is listed as working as a nailor. I believe Jane died in 1885, but I’m awaiting the death certificate.

Ah well… A family historian’s work is never done!

I’ve treated myself to a mini photo studio. It includes a lighting tent (40cm x 40cm x 40cm), 4 colour backgrounds (white, black, red & blue), lights and stands. The tent folds into a carry case and everything else fits in the pockets on the front. It’s only small, but it’ll do the job I want it to do.

When I got it out of the box the day it arrived Leo (the cat) had other ideas. I think he thought it was a cat tent because he marched straight up and sat in it. It’s just the right size for him too! Unfortunately, my camera wasn’t too hand at the time.

So this afternoon I did a bit of product photography.

(Click on the thumbnails to enlarge)

The pewter pig belonged to my Great Auntie Polly. It was used for carrying matches and it has a bit on its base to strike the matches. Unfortunately, it’s missing its tail and ring through its nose.

The Ancestry Aid website has just been relaunched!

If you haven’t heard of Ancestry Aid then you’re missing out. It’s a genealogy community that is free to use and has a wonderful community. Everyone is friendly and willing to help others break down those genealogy brick walls. It is geared towards those researching their British family history, but has members from all corners of the world. I have been a member for some time now and recommend anyone who’s interested in genealogy and family history to come and have a look around.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Website: www.ancestryaid.co.uk

Miriam at AnceStories has started a meme called “Where Were You During the Censuses?”, so I thought I’d join in.

So far, I have appeared in 3 censuses - 1981, 1991 and 2001 - and I hope to be in a few more! I was in the same village but in a different house for each of the censuses. In fact, I can see the roof tops of the other 2 houses from my window - one to the left and the other to the right. I haven’t a clue what details were put down for me in the censuses (apart from the obvious details) and I’m not likely to find out due to the 100 year rule.

Randy from Genea-Musings has added another challenge to the meme - “Who is your ancestor that appears the most often in Census records?”

I believe my ancestor who appears the most often in Census records is my Great Grandfather Alfred.

Alfred first appears in the 1851 England census aged 2, living in Ash Magna, Shropshire with his parents Francis (a Mole-Catcher) & Margaret, and brothers George, John, Thomas and William.

He next appears in the 1861 England census aged 12. Alfred is still living in Ash with his mother (an Agricultural Labourer’s widnow) and 2 of his older brothers - Francis (an Agricultural Labourer) & John (a Farm Servant). Alfred is also a Farm Servant.

In the 1871 England census Alfred is living in the parish of Adderley in Shropshire. Alfred is now a 22 year old Agricultural Labourer and married to Martha. They have a 3 month old daughter, Margaret. They live next door to a family which has not 1, not 2, but 3 Ellens!

Alfred appears in the 1881 England census twice! Firstly, he is shown age 33 with his wife and 3 children (Mary, Thomas and Henry), living in Wigland, Cheshire. Still an Agricultural Labourer. Alfred is also shown as a visitor in his brother’s household in Audlem, along with daughter Margaret. Alfred’s brother Thomas is shown as a farmer of 12 acres and is married to Mary.

In the 1891 England census Alfred is aged 44 and still living in Wigland. Alfred and Martha now have 4 children living in the household - Martha, Frank, Maud and May. Alfred is now listed as a General Labourer.

In the 1901 England census Alfred is still living in Wigland, but how has a new wife - Mary. 4 children are living in the household - May, Mabel (both from Alfred’s first marriage), Sarah (listed as a daughter, but is actually a step-daughter) and John. Alfred is again listed as an Agricultural Labourer. Alfred’s son Henry (now aged 23) lives next door with his wife, 2 daughters and his mother-in-law.

Censuses after 1901 are protected under the 100 years rule. However, I believe Alfred and family would have still been living in Wigland for the 1911 census and most probably for the 1921 census too, but by 1931 Alfred was living in Montgomeryshire, Wales. He didn’t make it for the 1941 census, but then there was no 1941 census due to the war.

I am eagerly awaiting the 1911 census (as are many UK family historians!).

While looking for Christmas presents for various friends and family members, I have come across this book that looks to be a must-read.

Potty, Fartwell and Knob: From Luke Warm to Minty Badger - Extra Ordinary But True Names of British People

It’s written by Russell Ash.  He’s trawled through 900 years worth of parish registers and census records to present us with quite unlikely but true British names (you have to feel sorry for some of these people!). Each name has been checked for authenticity and it’s source is given, including extra notes where further fascinating illumination is possible.

It was published in hardback format (256 pages) on 14th November.

ISBN: 9780755316540

The topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is Wish Lists. So here’s my Genealogy Christmas Wish List:

Dear Santa,

1. Great Grandfather Alfred’s birth certificate
I have found birth certificates for several of his brothers, including his eldest and youngest brother, yet Alfred’s birth certificate seems to escape me. I know it was in the early days of registration, but surely his birth was registered if his brothers’ births were registered. The closest thing I have to Alfred’s missing birth certificate is a copy of a Parish Register page which includes his baptism. I also have a family bible in which Alfred’s birth date is noted, but it was written in many years after Alfred was born and the birth year looks to have been edited. I’m guessing he as baptised the same year he was born, but still I can’t find his birth certificate.

2. For my Great Grandparents’ Gravestone to be restored
When I found my Great Grandparents’ (Alfred & Mary) gravestone in Malpas, some of the letters were missing. I would dearly love to restore the headstone to it’s original condition.

3. Great Great Great Great Grandfather James’ death certificate
I only recently discovered James, but I would dearly love to find his death certificate. He disappears from the census records and his wife Jane remarried, so I have a window to work to, but I’ve still not been able to find the right death certifiate. I ordered one a few weeks back, but it turned out not to be his. Why did he die young? If you could find it for me, could you send a copy to my distant cousin in Australia who would also be very grateful.

4. To be able to put names to photos
I have a big box containing photos of family, soldiers and friends of the family. Dad can put names to some of them, but who are the others?

5. A time-machine
Imagine how much research I could do with one of these!

I know one or two of these wishes are impossible, but maybe one or two could be completed. I have tried to be good this year.

Yours faithfully,

Nikki-ann.

What would you put on your wish list?

Submit your Genealogy Wish List here.