We used to call him Nicky-Nack Grandad because of the name of the pub (since renamed to The Daleside Inn) at the junction when we travelled up to visit.
Here's an early photo of Eric, very proudly posing in his First Car Eric the Nicky-Nack Grandad
Eric Winston Armitage
We used to call him Nicky-Nack Grandad because of the name of the pub (since renamed to The Daleside Inn) at the junction when we travelled up to visit.
Here's an early photo of Eric, very proudly posing in his First Car
We used to call him Nicky-Nack Grandad because of the name of the pub (since renamed to The Daleside Inn) at the junction when we travelled up to visit.
Here's an early photo of Eric, very proudly posing in his First Car 
Armitage Elders
In the last post we were introduced to my great Grandfather Leo and his family in Thorne, West Riding, including an entry from the 1901 Census. We can go further back and learn more about them. (This post is way overlong just now, so I'm going to take you on a bit of roller-coaster, actually. Take your Joy-Rides tablets now...)
Canned Fosters
The Foster family
The family of Eric's mother, Marian Foster can be seen in the National Census, at Fishlake. Further info on this town from Genuki, here and from the DDFHS, here.
If you look at the bottom of this website, you'll see a family tree for this branch of the family (and all the others, of course!)
The family of Eric's mother, Marian Foster can be seen in the National Census, at Fishlake. Further info on this town from Genuki, here and from the DDFHS, here.
If you look at the bottom of this website, you'll see a family tree for this branch of the family (and all the others, of course!)
Foster & Allen - Underneath the Arches...
Now where are we...?
My great-grandmother was Marian Armitage (nee Foster), who was born in Fishlake (1887) and married Leo Armitage & lived in Thorne, Yorkshire. I have already talked about what I've found out about her parents and siblings (see earlier post).
I recently found that Genforum helped me make contact with a distant cousin, Julie, who is descended from Marian's older sister Betsy. You'll see that Julie and I had found out a similar level of information about the Fosters, but Julie had discovered more about the Kitchen family
My great-grandmother was Marian Armitage (nee Foster), who was born in Fishlake (1887) and married Leo Armitage & lived in Thorne, Yorkshire. I have already talked about what I've found out about her parents and siblings (see earlier post).
I recently found that Genforum helped me make contact with a distant cousin, Julie, who is descended from Marian's older sister Betsy. You'll see that Julie and I had found out a similar level of information about the Fosters, but Julie had discovered more about the Kitchen family
Kitchen Table Genealogy
Again, in this post we find out about the Kitchen family - courtesy of the research done by a cousin, Julie. I'm very grateful to her for sharing.
This time we are travelling back in time a little.
The name Kitching seems to be interchangeable with Kitchen & Kitchin (NB: spelling of names was very flexible until a while after 1837 when registration began).
James Kitching was born in 1781, in Brampton, Lincolnshire.
This time we are travelling back in time a little.
The name Kitching seems to be interchangeable with Kitchen & Kitchin (NB: spelling of names was very flexible until a while after 1837 when registration began).
James Kitching was born in 1781, in Brampton, Lincolnshire.
Ye Olde Yellow Pages, Thorne, Yorkshire
Here we find an entry for some Armitage Ancestors in Trade Directories for the Thorne area.
In a trade directory for 1822 in Thorne (busy place!!), a George ARMITAGE is listed as a Stonemason & merchant.
I searched the 1828-9 Pigot's directory & found no Armitages in Thorne.
In a trade directory for 1837 in Thorne, Mr Geo. ARMITAGE is listed under Bricklayers, King St. (I think that's our Walter's Father.)
In a trade directory for 1822 in Thorne (busy place!!), a George ARMITAGE is listed as a Stonemason & merchant.
I searched the 1828-9 Pigot's directory & found no Armitages in Thorne.
In a trade directory for 1837 in Thorne, Mr Geo. ARMITAGE is listed under Bricklayers, King St. (I think that's our Walter's Father.)
Germaine Leo Armitage certainly doesn't blot his copybook.
Germaine Leo Armitage (my Granddad's father) was not found in the family home on the night of the 1891 census, so I searched for Leo - he would be around 15 years old - in other areas of the country.
A likely match is a young Leo G. Armitage, 15, born Deepsas {sic Deepcar?}, Yorks), a pupil boarding at a school at Gildersome {Leeds/Bradford area}. In his later work as an engineer, Leo needed a very good education in physics & maths.
There are a few Google-mentions of boarding schools in Gildersome
A likely match is a young Leo G. Armitage, 15, born Deepsas {sic Deepcar?}, Yorks), a pupil boarding at a school at Gildersome {Leeds/Bradford area}. In his later work as an engineer, Leo needed a very good education in physics & maths.
There are a few Google-mentions of boarding schools in Gildersome
Beginnings - June 2008
This web log was set up in order to share family tree research with family members, and for family members to post comments, photos, and share their own stories about our antecedents.
It has been prompted by a very pleasant trip to Comrie, Perthshire, in June 2008 when many members of the Hutton and Keay families gathered to say farewell to Uncle Davey.
The name Keay
Origins of the name are not clear! The following is quoted from a British magazine:
The main source of this name is from the occupation of someone who either made keys, or held the ceremonial office of a key bearer. (Old English caeg - key)
Kaye, variations Kay, Keay, Key.
I'm from the line of Keay. Keay is pronounced like the letter 'K' - so many think it would have the same derivation as Kay, Kaye.The main source of this name is from the occupation of someone who either made keys, or held the ceremonial office of a key bearer. (Old English caeg - key)
At the going down of the Sun...
{You may notice that this image's quality has been much improved. This is great news, as it seems to be the only photograph remaining of David. Would love to hear from anyone with other photos, or indeed a photo of any of his siblings!}A remembrance book of all the War Dead of Comrie (Perthshire) from the Great War has an entry for Private David Keay, my great-grandfather.
Military Records, WW I
Note these are courtesy of Ancestry.com, when they had open access to these records.
Searched records for Keays in Perth - no likely-looking entries yet for David or William Keay.
Also searched for our DLI soldier, Thos Fitzpatrick.
(Note that a huge number of records were destroyed by bomb damage in WW II. The records detailed below have lots of singed bits, if you view an image of the originals - particularly Alex's)
Help from this site here on researching these records, and interpreting the cards.
Searched records for Keays in Perth - no likely-looking entries yet for David or William Keay.
Also searched for our DLI soldier, Thos Fitzpatrick.
(Note that a huge number of records were destroyed by bomb damage in WW II. The records detailed below have lots of singed bits, if you view an image of the originals - particularly Alex's)
Help from this site here on researching these records, and interpreting the cards.
Keay family in Perth
Here is a story of a fairly large family which has seemed to (almost!) disappear. You'll see what I mean.James Keay, 1875 -1895
I recently made contact with a former Perth resident, Susan, who is descended from William Keay (younger brother of our John Keay, 1850-1905).
She has been very kind in passing on some BMD certificates to me - 2 of which I'll go into in later posts, but first here I'll tell you about the earliest one...
We knew only a little of James Keay (son of John & Mary Keay, and brother to our David Keay 1886-1918) from our family history passed down. The main thing we knew about him was simply and tragically that he had died in a rowing accident on the Tay, aged only 20.
She has been very kind in passing on some BMD certificates to me - 2 of which I'll go into in later posts, but first here I'll tell you about the earliest one...
We knew only a little of James Keay (son of John & Mary Keay, and brother to our David Keay 1886-1918) from our family history passed down. The main thing we knew about him was simply and tragically that he had died in a rowing accident on the Tay, aged only 20.
Sisters leaving Perth
If you remember, John & Mary Keay had several children from 1874 to 1888. They settled in Perth. If you need to start from the beginning, go back & read this page first.
Three of their sons were killed in action in WW I, their eldest son was killed in a rowing accident in 1895, and their three daughters all emigrated. So this post is about the daughters; Annie and Isobel Keay. If you want to skip all the "ifs & buts" and hop to what I can be fairly certain about...just scroll down to the end of this post.
But for information about Margaret Keay, the middle daughter, go to this post.
Three of their sons were killed in action in WW I, their eldest son was killed in a rowing accident in 1895, and their three daughters all emigrated. So this post is about the daughters; Annie and Isobel Keay. If you want to skip all the "ifs & buts" and hop to what I can be fairly certain about...just scroll down to the end of this post.
But for information about Margaret Keay, the middle daughter, go to this post.
Margaret Keay leaves Perth
MARGARET KEAY (born ~1878)
Margaret was a daughter of John & Mary Keay, of Perth. (More about her parents here, and more about her sisters here.)
The middle sister, Margaret Keay was born in Kirkcaldy. She was certainly living with her parents in Perth in 1891.
We knew that she went to America and we knew that she married -
Margaret was a daughter of John & Mary Keay, of Perth. (More about her parents here, and more about her sisters here.)
The middle sister, Margaret Keay was born in Kirkcaldy. She was certainly living with her parents in Perth in 1891.
We knew that she went to America and we knew that she married -
Keay & Hodge Solicitors in Blairgowrie, Perthshire
I came across a note about this firm of solicitors, though I don't know if there's a family link.
The WW I casualty James Keay was a solicitor in Edinburgh. More info on David Keay, the solicitor in Edinburgh from various Edinburgh Gazette articles - the earliest being 1855 when David Keay is described as a writer in Perth, but then as a solicitor from 1858 until 1879.
His offices were at 37, George St., Perth.
In the year 1906 the firm developed an idea about a Berry-pickers Tin City - described in this article - which I thought was interesting!
Whilst rootling on that site I also found a reference to Robert Keay the Silversmiths - I have seen other references to these gents (Uncle & Nephew), but again - no idea if there's a family link. They worked in Perth up till around 1865.
Edinburgh gazette article here from 1856 about the death of Robert Keay Jr, jeweller.
You may know of a current Keay silversmith who has a workshop in Scotland. And while we are looking at the arts, what about Cath Keay?...(see pages here, and here), or Claire Keay ...(here).
Also on Dyers in Perth - this one is about Pullar's Works, 1917.
Finally, an article on the history of trams in Perth.
The WW I casualty James Keay was a solicitor in Edinburgh. More info on David Keay, the solicitor in Edinburgh from various Edinburgh Gazette articles - the earliest being 1855 when David Keay is described as a writer in Perth, but then as a solicitor from 1858 until 1879.
His offices were at 37, George St., Perth.
In the year 1906 the firm developed an idea about a Berry-pickers Tin City - described in this article - which I thought was interesting!
Whilst rootling on that site I also found a reference to Robert Keay the Silversmiths - I have seen other references to these gents (Uncle & Nephew), but again - no idea if there's a family link. They worked in Perth up till around 1865.
Edinburgh gazette article here from 1856 about the death of Robert Keay Jr, jeweller.
You may know of a current Keay silversmith who has a workshop in Scotland. And while we are looking at the arts, what about Cath Keay?...(see pages here, and here), or Claire Keay ...(here).
Also on Dyers in Perth - this one is about Pullar's Works, 1917.
Finally, an article on the history of trams in Perth.
James Keay - remembered at Thiepval
When we called in to look up William Keay (our David's brother) at the Thiepval Memorial on the Somme, we also found the name James Keay engraved on another Face (actually 6D / 7D) of the Memorial.
The database has a photograph of young James, who died in November 1916, aged just 31. He was a Private in the Royal Scots. He was also remembered on the War Memorial of Tibbermore Parish Church.
The database has a photograph of young James, who died in November 1916, aged just 31. He was a Private in the Royal Scots. He was also remembered on the War Memorial of Tibbermore Parish Church.
Parents of John Keay, Perth
Under Construction
In a previous post we saw details on John Keay's death certificate (1905) in which his parents are named as James Keay (Manufacturer) and Margaret Keay, nee Caw.
In this post I'm beginning to set out information about James & Margaret Keay who lived in Perth.
James Keay was born in Perth on Boxing Day, 1823 and was baptised in Perth on the 4th January 1824. He was recorded as a KAY.
In a previous post we saw details on John Keay's death certificate (1905) in which his parents are named as James Keay (Manufacturer) and Margaret Keay, nee Caw.
In this post I'm beginning to set out information about James & Margaret Keay who lived in Perth.
James Keay was born in Perth on Boxing Day, 1823 and was baptised in Perth on the 4th January 1824. He was recorded as a KAY.
William Barclay Keay
This image of a gravestone at Wellshill, Perth was taken when I went to see the grave of my direct ancestors. It was the neighbouring plot, which made us wonder if they were a closely related family.
Burke's Commoners
That's right. Not Burke's Peerage, but Burke's Commoners.
The following text is from "Burke's Commoners, Genealogical and Heraldic History of The Commoners of Great Britain And Ireland Enjoying Territorial Possessions or High Official Rank: But Uninvested With Heritable Honours." - published in 1837-8. I first searched the text on Ancestry, but it can also be viewed here through Google Books.
The following text is from "Burke's Commoners, Genealogical and Heraldic History of The Commoners of Great Britain And Ireland Enjoying Territorial Possessions or High Official Rank: But Uninvested With Heritable Honours." - published in 1837-8. I first searched the text on Ancestry, but it can also be viewed here through Google Books.
Just photos!
Many thanks to David for those great old family photos which he has scanned, and sent round the family! I've posted them here so that we can sort out exactly who is who.
More great photos
Thanks again to David who has all of his Dad's old photos and has been great at scanning them to send out!
Don't forget, if you want to see these images more clearly - they are a bit small - you just click on the image and it will open up to fill the screen. Then use the 'back' button on your navigation bar to return to the text.
Janet & Bill Keay (my grandparents) on their wedding day.
Don't forget, if you want to see these images more clearly - they are a bit small - you just click on the image and it will open up to fill the screen. Then use the 'back' button on your navigation bar to return to the text.
Janet & Bill Keay (my grandparents) on their wedding day.
Just Charles for September 22nd 2008
September 22nd 2008
This entry on the blog has been scheduled to coincide with Dad's birthday.
He was born in 1950 in Comrie and died in 2005 in Hartlepool.
He had a wicked sense of humour, a great work ethic, and lived a very varied life. He had two children (myself & my brother) with his first wife, and then was stepdad to Jenny with his later partner. He was also a grandad to two young bairns.
We all miss him, and the shock of losing him when he was only 54 was sharply felt.
Charles' Graduation, Hull University - with Janet & Bill Keay
Stephen, Charles and Lisa, Caerphilly, 1974/5?
Taking a quick coffee break, Newport.
Here is the text of a poem I read out on the day we gathered to plant a cherry tree in memory of Dad. It's always seemed important to me to remember the good bits (rather than the end of Dad's life) and that's what this poem says to me.
When I'm gone
When I come to the end of my journey
And I travel my last weary mile,
Just forget if you can,
that I ever frowned
And remember only the smile.
Forget unkind words I have spoken;
Remember some good I have done.
Forget that I ever had heartache
And remember I've had loads of fun.
Forget that I've stumbled and blundered
And sometimes fell by the way.
Remember I have fought some hard battles
And won, ere the close of the day.
Then forget to grieve for my going,
I would not have you sad for a day,
But in summer just gather some flowers
And remember the place where I lay,
And come in the shade of evening
When the sun paints the sky in the west
Stand for a few moments beside me
And remember only my best.
(c) Mrs. Lyman Hancock
It's getting easier to remember
Much love to all,
Lisa
This entry on the blog has been scheduled to coincide with Dad's birthday.
He was born in 1950 in Comrie and died in 2005 in Hartlepool.
He had a wicked sense of humour, a great work ethic, and lived a very varied life. He had two children (myself & my brother) with his first wife, and then was stepdad to Jenny with his later partner. He was also a grandad to two young bairns.
We all miss him, and the shock of losing him when he was only 54 was sharply felt.
Charles' Graduation, Hull University - with Janet & Bill Keay
Stephen, Charles and Lisa, Caerphilly, 1974/5?
Taking a quick coffee break, Newport.
Here is the text of a poem I read out on the day we gathered to plant a cherry tree in memory of Dad. It's always seemed important to me to remember the good bits (rather than the end of Dad's life) and that's what this poem says to me.
When I'm gone
When I come to the end of my journey
And I travel my last weary mile,
Just forget if you can,
that I ever frowned
And remember only the smile.
Forget unkind words I have spoken;
Remember some good I have done.
Forget that I ever had heartache
And remember I've had loads of fun.
Forget that I've stumbled and blundered
And sometimes fell by the way.
Remember I have fought some hard battles
And won, ere the close of the day.
Then forget to grieve for my going,
I would not have you sad for a day,
But in summer just gather some flowers
And remember the place where I lay,
And come in the shade of evening
When the sun paints the sky in the west
Stand for a few moments beside me
And remember only my best.
(c) Mrs. Lyman Hancock
It's getting easier to remember
Much love to all,
Lisa
Grandad's Date Loaf
Time for a few recipes as we begin to think about Christmas.
Sorry that all these measurements are in Victorian; if you really can't convert 'em (what do they teach kids in schools these days, mutter, mutter), then try this link.
My Grandad Keay first - as he & his fathers were bakers it only seems right.
Sorry that all these measurements are in Victorian; if you really can't convert 'em (what do they teach kids in schools these days, mutter, mutter), then try this link.
My Grandad Keay first - as he & his fathers were bakers it only seems right.
Double Trouble
Jane Clark, Grannie Hutton
Jane Clark is my Great Grandmother, who married (1910 in Crieff) the baker David Keay of Perth. They had three boys in Comrie, Perthshire before David died in France during WWI. Then in 1922 Jane Keay remarried to Charlie Hutton, which is why she is now remembered as Grannie Hutton. Jane & Charlie had two girls (and a baby boy who died as an infant) - more about the Hutton family in this post.
Now for some more information about Jane Clark and her family.
Jane Clark is my Great Grandmother, who married (1910 in Crieff) the baker David Keay of Perth. They had three boys in Comrie, Perthshire before David died in France during WWI. Then in 1922 Jane Keay remarried to Charlie Hutton, which is why she is now remembered as Grannie Hutton. Jane & Charlie had two girls (and a baby boy who died as an infant) - more about the Hutton family in this post.
Now for some more information about Jane Clark and her family.
Clark family photos from Crieff, 2010
These photos relate to the Clark family in Crieff. For more information, see this earlier post.
Can anyone help me decipher this writing?!
Where are we on the tree, here?
My father's father's mother was Jane Clark, of Crieff (1890-1954) - she married the baker David Keay of Perth, and was later known as Grannie Hutton. Her parents were William Clark & Jane Clark (nee McKeith).
Well, William & Jane married in Crieff in 1881, and I have a copy of their marriage certificate. {As always, happy to pass a copy on to anyone who needs it.} But the writing is very unclear - I have reproduced a section here & I wonder if you could puzzle over it with me? In the following text, I have written the particularly unclear part in red. This page (linked here) aims to help us understand handwriting on census returns, but it didn't really help me in this case.
The couple were married in March 1881, by the forms of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland, in Crieff, Perthshire.
William was aged 20, a Journeyman Baker, living at Milnab St., Crieff {that fits, as it is the address known from the 1871 Census of Wiliam's father's household}. A Journeyman is partway between an Apprentice, and a Master. In other words he was fully trained and employed for a daily wage, but not yet working for himself or employing others.
His father was David Clark, but for his occupation I'm stuck - it can only look like 'Scavenger' to me. The 'S' is formed in many different ways by this Registrar on the page. If it's not an 'S', then it surely must be an 'L', which doesn't work at all for me. {Here's an image of that part - William's parents first, then Jane's parents below them.}
Thanks now to Sheila who has agreed with me that it must be 'Scavenger' - which she tells me was a 'scaffie', or street cleaner.
In earlier records he's been a Weaver, then a Mason Labourer. From what we know already from Census returns, he was aged 40 in 1871 - so he'll be aged 50 at the time of William's marriage.
{I'll look him up in the 1881 census for Crieff - he was in a separate household to his son by then, so I haven't seen him yet.}
William's mother was Janet Clark (M.S. McCulloch) - it's not clear here, but I've seen her name on another source where it was much clearer.
As for Jane, she was aged 21, a Furniture Polisher by trade, living at Croftnappoch ??, Crieff. In modern-day Crieff, there is a Croftnappoch Place, so actually that seems right.
Her father is William McKeith, a Labourer in Chemical Works. Her mother is Janet McKeith (M.S. Shaw).
Witnesses were Alexander Livingstone and Janet McKeith.
(I have since then searched the marriage records for Janet Shaw & William McKeith, but found no records yet.)
Searching the Crieff Census, though, gave me some more info on Jane's parents. Jane McKeith was aged 11 in 1871 - she was living at Croftnappoch, Crieff with her father William McKeith (Plasterer's Labourer; born ~1817 in Crieff) and Janet McKeith (born ~1819 in Crieff). They had 5 children including our Jane in the year 1871. The eldest Daniel was a Journeyman Joiner.
In 1861, there were some differences in the records - Jane was named as Jean: she was the baby of 6 children in the household. Her mother Janet is recorded as born in Moyhall, Inverness-shire, rather than Crieff. Her father William was a Cotton Weaver & they lived on High St., Crieff. Their eldest then was a child of 12, Alison, who was a domestic servant already.
{I've had no luck yet in finding William any earlier than 1861. For Janet Shaw, the best match of hundreds is a lass in her mother's house in Dores, Inverness in 1841. Her mother was also Janet Shaw, born ~1791 in Inverness, a Cotter.}
My father's father's mother was Jane Clark, of Crieff (1890-1954) - she married the baker David Keay of Perth, and was later known as Grannie Hutton. Her parents were William Clark & Jane Clark (nee McKeith).
Well, William & Jane married in Crieff in 1881, and I have a copy of their marriage certificate. {As always, happy to pass a copy on to anyone who needs it.} But the writing is very unclear - I have reproduced a section here & I wonder if you could puzzle over it with me? In the following text, I have written the particularly unclear part in red. This page (linked here) aims to help us understand handwriting on census returns, but it didn't really help me in this case.
The couple were married in March 1881, by the forms of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland, in Crieff, Perthshire.
William was aged 20, a Journeyman Baker, living at Milnab St., Crieff {that fits, as it is the address known from the 1871 Census of Wiliam's father's household}. A Journeyman is partway between an Apprentice, and a Master. In other words he was fully trained and employed for a daily wage, but not yet working for himself or employing others.
His father was David Clark, but for his occupation I'm stuck - it can only look like 'Scavenger' to me. The 'S' is formed in many different ways by this Registrar on the page. If it's not an 'S', then it surely must be an 'L', which doesn't work at all for me. {Here's an image of that part - William's parents first, then Jane's parents below them.}
Thanks now to Sheila who has agreed with me that it must be 'Scavenger' - which she tells me was a 'scaffie', or street cleaner.
In earlier records he's been a Weaver, then a Mason Labourer. From what we know already from Census returns, he was aged 40 in 1871 - so he'll be aged 50 at the time of William's marriage.{I'll look him up in the 1881 census for Crieff - he was in a separate household to his son by then, so I haven't seen him yet.}
William's mother was Janet Clark (M.S. McCulloch) - it's not clear here, but I've seen her name on another source where it was much clearer.
As for Jane, she was aged 21, a Furniture Polisher by trade, living at Croftnappoch ??, Crieff. In modern-day Crieff, there is a Croftnappoch Place, so actually that seems right.
Her father is William McKeith, a Labourer in Chemical Works. Her mother is Janet McKeith (M.S. Shaw).
Witnesses were Alexander Livingstone and Janet McKeith.
(I have since then searched the marriage records for Janet Shaw & William McKeith, but found no records yet.)
Searching the Crieff Census, though, gave me some more info on Jane's parents. Jane McKeith was aged 11 in 1871 - she was living at Croftnappoch, Crieff with her father William McKeith (Plasterer's Labourer; born ~1817 in Crieff) and Janet McKeith (born ~1819 in Crieff). They had 5 children including our Jane in the year 1871. The eldest Daniel was a Journeyman Joiner.
In 1861, there were some differences in the records - Jane was named as Jean: she was the baby of 6 children in the household. Her mother Janet is recorded as born in Moyhall, Inverness-shire, rather than Crieff. Her father William was a Cotton Weaver & they lived on High St., Crieff. Their eldest then was a child of 12, Alison, who was a domestic servant already.
{I've had no luck yet in finding William any earlier than 1861. For Janet Shaw, the best match of hundreds is a lass in her mother's house in Dores, Inverness in 1841. Her mother was also Janet Shaw, born ~1791 in Inverness, a Cotter.}
Janet & William Keay
My Grandparents were both born in 1914 in Comrie, Perthshire.
William (Bill) Clark Keay was born 16th March 1914.Janet Brack died in Stockport in 1991, after she had suffered with Alzheimer's disease.
Janet Brack & William (Bill) Clark Keay married in 1939 in Comrie.
William (Bill) Clark Keay was born 16th March 1914.
Immediately, Bill was sent out with his regiment in France (WWII) - see photo in an earlier post of Bill in Uniform, and photos also from their wedding day. Wonder if he knew how close he got to the final resting places of his father & uncles?
His young wife, meanwhile was living with her elderly Mum (Janet McKerracher). Her father (William Spence Brack) had died in January 1940, and then her Mum died on 3rd November 1941 (aged 73) while Jen was heavily pregnant with her first child. I have heard the tale of how Jen & her Mum were sharing a bed when her Mum died. Jen laid her out herself, as folk did then.
The gravestone pictured here is at the Comrie burial ground. We can see that as well as Jen's parents, her brother John M. Brack (Jock) is also remembered here. He died 18th February, 1983.
In the weeks after her Mother's death, Jen gave birth prematurely to a tiny girl who was named Janette. She lived only 9 days, and is buried in the grave alongside Mum's parents. (A choice which led to a long-term split between Jen and her brother, very sad.)
We have her birth and death certificates - just 9 days apart. Her father, Bill, never saw his first child as he was away at war.
Bill & Jen went on to have 3 lovely children in Comrie, and in the 1950's they moved to live in Manchester, where Bill worked as a baker. They finally settled in Stockport, and there are now 8 grandchildren!
Here are links with some further reading on Comrie, on Perthshire, and on the Strathearn area generally.
Large guide to Perthshire genealogy resources - pdf file to download - go here.
His young wife, meanwhile was living with her elderly Mum (Janet McKerracher). Her father (William Spence Brack) had died in January 1940, and then her Mum died on 3rd November 1941 (aged 73) while Jen was heavily pregnant with her first child. I have heard the tale of how Jen & her Mum were sharing a bed when her Mum died. Jen laid her out herself, as folk did then.
The gravestone pictured here is at the Comrie burial ground. We can see that as well as Jen's parents, her brother John M. Brack (Jock) is also remembered here. He died 18th February, 1983.In the weeks after her Mother's death, Jen gave birth prematurely to a tiny girl who was named Janette. She lived only 9 days, and is buried in the grave alongside Mum's parents. (A choice which led to a long-term split between Jen and her brother, very sad.)
We have her birth and death certificates - just 9 days apart. Her father, Bill, never saw his first child as he was away at war.
Bill & Jen went on to have 3 lovely children in Comrie, and in the 1950's they moved to live in Manchester, where Bill worked as a baker. They finally settled in Stockport, and there are now 8 grandchildren!
Here are links with some further reading on Comrie, on Perthshire, and on the Strathearn area generally.
Large guide to Perthshire genealogy resources - pdf file to download - go here.
Janet Brack's parents
So: I've found details of my Gran's parents. She was Janet Keay (nee Brack), born in 1914, Comrie, Perthshire.
We have a copy of the marriage certificate of her parents (William & Janet Brack). We also saw their gravestone in Comrie in an earlier post.
Also, I looked them up in the census return for Comrie in 1901 (28, Drummond St., Comrie), and in registry office indices…The following is a summary of the details I've found so far.
We have a copy of the marriage certificate of her parents (William & Janet Brack). We also saw their gravestone in Comrie in an earlier post.
Also, I looked them up in the census return for Comrie in 1901 (28, Drummond St., Comrie), and in registry office indices…The following is a summary of the details I've found so far.
More on the Bracks in Coldingham
Here I'm following on from this other post, where we first met William Brack (father of my grandmother) and his wife Janet McKerracher. From their marriage certificate, we found the names of William's parents; William Brack and Catherine (Spence) Brack.
I have seen that the couple married in 1868 in Coldingham (Berwickshire). We can calculate from other records that their son William was born in 1867, in Coldingham.
I have seen that the couple married in 1868 in Coldingham (Berwickshire). We can calculate from other records that their son William was born in 1867, in Coldingham.
Life Images
Just wanted to share these with you all.
They are images from the Life collection archives - previously unpublished.
They range from the 'Ouch!!' to the 'Ooh!'
They are images from the Life collection archives - previously unpublished.
They range from the 'Ouch!!' to the 'Ooh!'
The Dash - Linda Ellis (1996)
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning...to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth...
and now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own; the cars....the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard...are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real,
and always try to understand the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile...
remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they say about how you spend your dash?
by Linda Ellis
Link here to the author's site.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning...to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth...
and now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own; the cars....the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard...are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real,
and always try to understand the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile...
remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they say about how you spend your dash?
by Linda Ellis
Link here to the author's site.
Family History - how to get started on some of your own...
A guide to family history research (in the UK). See someone else's guide, too - on the FFHS site.
And No, I didn't do it the way I set out below - I made lots of mistakes and had many false starts!
Always remember the Genealogists' Code of Conduct.
And No, I didn't do it the way I set out below - I made lots of mistakes and had many false starts!
Always remember the Genealogists' Code of Conduct.
- As the King of Hearts said, it's important to "begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop".
- First ask questions of all the relatives you can find and make sure you won't be duplicating research someone else has already done,
- Then find all the original birth, marriage and death certificates (BMD) you can find, also documents such as old letters, photos, family bibles etc can give interesting clues.
- Keep careful records throughout, of course!
- The best place to start with genealogical research on the internet is Genuki as it covers everything.
- Research on the internet can begin with accessing further BMD data. It's best to start with the local indexes - see a rather patchy county-by-county access from here, or for direct access to local indexes try the library in the locality. Free access to the national indexes here, up to around 1911. Scottish BMD data is available here for a fee. Some useful information is accessible for Northern Ireland, here.
- If you find that there are several different people who all fit the age & location you are searching (eg 10 different John Smiths) then you'll need to try and narrow it down - that means more questions around the family, using the National Census, or paying for the certificates will mean you can see the full details on the certificate. (You can buy the BMD certificates you need from here (£7 each, but if you want to be sure, it saves a lot of wasted effort & time later!)
- It's really important to get your facts right!
- Then you can access data on family groups, occupations etc from Census returns (link here to GENUKI's guidance on the UK census). Always try & work backwards from what you know for sure!!!....Begin with the 1901 census, although access to 1911 census data is beginning to open up early - search online (pay-per-view) at Find My Past here. Data in the full England & Wales 1901, 1891 and 1881 censuses {censi??} are transcribed into searchable databases (free access to 1881 data via the Latter Day Saints website here, via FreeCen mainly for the 1891 census, and a limited service here on the 1901 census). These sources are good, but can be patchy - they are not yet fully transcribed, so you may like to buy credits for access to an image of the original 1901 document here, or all census returns at Ancestry.co.uk).
- Older Census returns can be accessed, back to 1841 in England & Wales via FreeCen (patchy) and also at Ancestry.co.uk.
- Then access to parish records can help to track relatives beyond 1837 (when BMD records began, or pre-1855 in Scotland) - these records are generally accessed in person locally, but some records are online (the Latter Day Saints site here, for example. Find out more here).
- If you know a relative was in the military, records can be searched:- in Ancestry.com (if you are a paid-up member); at the National Archives (for a £3.50 fee per search); or free at the Commonwealth Graves Commission. *NEW* Excellent guide to what's available online for researching military history; UK-MFH
- You may find some interesting stories; Workhouses, Immigration, Emigration, (also the Ship's List) Trials & Prisons. Old newspapers (e.g family announcements and their 15 minutes of fame!) are searchable online free, here
- Do make sure you Google your relatives (but, oh please, not this way!). Use the Advanced Search button.
- If you feel you need to find some family who are still 'with us', there are all sorts of resources for 20thC. researches, but for a fee - such as this site, the BT archive of old phone books, or 192.com to search electoral rolls.
- Don't forget to share your researches with family members - something you have found may trip a memory that lay hidden before. Also the internet can help you to unearth relatives with whom your family had lost touch. (eg GenesReunited, Rootsweb, also regional family history societies)
- Best of luck with your searches, but watch you don't take things too far!
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