Genealogy Chat

Merry Actually, it appears to me that the whole population of Darwen was certifiable - its not just the Fishes and the Holdens who did this, but all the other families too. I have done a lot of research into Darwen of the 1700s and 1800s, tracking the descendants of one Timothy Holden, whose 'common' name was Owd Timothy o't'Looms. Darwen in early 1700s had a population of about 700 people, most of whom were Holdens and everyone intermarried, giving you 55 men called Timothy Holden for instance. So, in order to distinguish one from the other in their absence, they were all given nicknames. Which meant that Timothy, the son of Owd Timothy of the Looms was familiarly known as (wait for it) Owd Timothy o' Timothy. Well, gosh, what a lot of help THAT has been in distinguishing between the 55 Timothys. However, Holden Duckworth and Duckworth Holden etc etc, have actually been quite useful - I always know the mother's Maiden Name and ancestry! Not so the TWO Fish Fish - I think they are third cousins but still not sure. Olde Crone

I pity the man that married this lady - wonder if he sniggered when he said his vows..... Name: TESTER, Virgin Maria Record Type: Marriages Quarter: June Year: 1840 District: Boston County: Lincolnshire Volume: 14 Page: 327 (click to see others on page) ---------------------------------------------------------- 1861 Name: Man of Colour Age: 30 Estimated birth year: abt 1831 Relation: Lodger Household: View other family members Gender: Male Where born: St Luke Civil parish: St Luke Ecclesiatical parish: Charterhouse St Thomas County/Island: Middlesex Country: England says ''cant speak English''! ------------------------------------------------- with no disrespect to any religion what so ever 1861 - made her a catholic then did they? Not Christain Baby Height abt 1861 Leamington, Warwickshire, England Daughter Leamington Priors Warwickshire

We were shocked when my Mum's friend's ancestor's birth cert appeared. Born in Wooden Box - we wondered what that was all about. It was the old name for Woodville as there was a wooden toll box on the Liverpool to London Road. I much prefer the thought of them all living in a small box! Pippa

reminds me of the joke, (if its permitted on this board) About the young indian brave questioning his father about how he got his name... '' Father ,Great Moon Above...is it true, that we get our names by the first thing that is seen after we are born?'' ''Yes My Son, I was named after The Moon, and your mother was Young Deer Stalking, why do you ask? 'Two dogs Copulating'?'' Bob

There are 47 Virgins on the Ancestry census collection. So much for our ancestors' virtue! nell

Even better, I was offered the opportunity to 'Search for a living Virgin in the MyFamily People Finder '! nell

Fantastic ladies.....I have had a really good laugh at this! Sal x

Merry kindly found my Nye family, mistranscribed as Hye on the 1901 census, but I hope no-one is searching for the family living in the same house at 33 Leather Lane, Holborn,it would seem they are Russian, but its all squiggles, so if you've lost Russian rellies in that area who ran a Hosiery Shop check out RG13-248 fol.8 pg.8 .

I love the idea of those enumerators having a sense of humour ........ next to one of mine - a 70-odd year old man - and in the occupation bit - is written 'tailor (worn out)' . One of the strangest I've come across is the word (died) - in brackets, next to a name. Can't help but wonder if the person dropped dead while the enumerator was there .......! Bev x