Genealogy Chat

Im trying to find out more information about my nans sister, my nan died in 1970 and mum has been brilliant telling me things and she is 81, but my mums cousin wont tell me anything, his mum died not long after my nan and everytime I ask he says its so sad talking about his mum. My dad has been brilliant hes 87, its his fault Im doing all of this and he told me everything, didnt think he had so many ancestors. Im afraid you will just have to grin and bear it, even though its so frustrating at times. I wish my nan could have lived longer she would have told me so much. Regards Yvonne

Often facts just disappear because bits of the family have fallen out over stupid small things. My father's two uncles fell out back in the 1950s over a dispute over what happened to four dining chairs that had originally belonged to their sister - my father's mother. My father had inherited them, but had passed two of the six to his maiden aunt who had been a nanny all her life and had no home of her own when she retired. This had been totally forgotten about for years as it had happened at the end of the war when no-one was likely to take much note of the fate of two chairs. The other four he had given to a close friend who was setting up home after the war when there was no furniture available. They were his to give away. When the aunt died, the two brothers wanted to know where the other four chairs were.No-one could remember for months, by which time the two brothers, actually spurred on by their two wives, had reached the point of no return, and as far as we knew, never spoke again. A very sad, and silly outcome. I was a small child at the time, and thereby lost two great-uncles of whom I was fond, and also a second cousin, grandson of one of the uncles. He probably does not know why the family lost contact, but if he does recognise the story it would be nice to hear from him. Talking of family bibles and photos, husband's sister took all that stuff on their side of the family when husband' mother died, and did not offer my husband so much as a vase or a 'photo. She also made off with, legally - just - but not morally, with £75,000 which had been left to my husband, but which she said mother had 'given' her, just before she died. Yeah, right......' We don't talk to the sister now!!!!! Thereby our children and hers have permanently lost their cousins.

20 yrs ago my Aunty tried to do her Family Tree. My grandma (her mother) wouldn't give anything. A yr ago my grandma had a bad fall and she isn't too well apart from her memory. 6 months ago i started doing My Tree and she has told me everything. I never pushed her but I have a feeling that she wants things known now. We have even found out about a child she had that died my Dad and Aunty never knew they had a brother. My advice is don't push just say what your doing and see what happens. Tracy x