Genealogy Chat

Andrea Another relation who contacted me on here told me she'd seen his gravestone! Me being a plonker didn't ask her where it was - just assumed it would be in the grounds of the church! I've since e mailed her and it isn't in the churchyard at all but I will find it - it was years ago when she saw it but she's described the area LOL! Have a great time in Wales! Debby

Thanks for the update Debby. Glad you enjoyed it. I'm hoping it won't rain in Wales, but that is probably unlikely. Just a thought - do you have certificates to confirm they went to that particular parish church. Maybe the graveyard was full and they were buried at the local cemetry, which these days are huge places. I've found out my ancestors went to a chapel (Methodist I think), so I'm hoping to find out information there. I'll still take photos of the parish church. Regards Andrea

Hi Andrea Besides the weather (poured down from the moment we got out of tha car!) I really enjoyed it. Lots of photos of the church where the weddings and baptisms will have taken place and found the area where my gg grandfather had lived and also his brother- that felt very strange. Unfortunately I didn't find his gravestone - assumed it was in the church grounds - wrong! Need to go back and visit the library and records office - ran out of time. Des was right - you need far more time than you think but it's a lovely place and I will be returning! Wish I knew why my g grandmother ended up in Bradford! Have a lovely day Andrea - you really get a feel for your ancestors and it's well worth it! Debby

Hi Debby, Did you enjoy your trip? Find out what you were looking for? My trip is getting nearer and I'm getting excited, as I've found more information on the 1861 census! Andrea

I hope you have a wonderful day out. I find it so exciting to look at the churches (and the graveyards) connected with my rellies, and to see the places where they lived. I am getting quite a collection of photos of gravestones and putting them in an album!!! Last year I visited the village a Greywell in Hampshire where some of my rellies came from. I was very proud to go into the tiny church there and be able to write in the visitors book 'My great-grandmother was baptised in this church in 1865'.

Hi again Debbie, If its 'snippets' you`re after then the library could be just the place for you, the records for the local paper The Westmorland Gazette, which go back at least 150yrs, are kept there, you have access on fiche to bmd. records, & if you have the year of death you can find the obituary for all your ancesters, there is also electoral records which go way back, there are records to find, giving details of employment, we found the staff there very helpful & if you find anything relevant you can get a copy for 50p, you can also go on the net for 15 or 30min. We found two obits, one of which gave details of a son which we never knew about, there is a multi-story car park next to the bus station and everything is within walking distance. You should treat yourself and go B/B for a night,then you could also visit the scenic areas around Kendal, Windermere & Bowness on Windermere, Ambleside are all within 15mins of Kendal and well worth taking time out to visit, oh and do`nt forget your Kendal Mint Cake! enjoy your day, des,.

How I wish I could do what you are about to it would be great I have been to two cemetary's but didn't find the ancesters that I thought were there. One day in the not too distant future I will come to the UK and go to Gloucester Norfolk , Somerset , Devon, Warwickshire,Lancashire, boy they are all over the place, just realised will have to come over for a while , Lara

Going tomorr0w now - had to have pooch to the vet but she'll be ok. Might get some housework done today - got the week off and spent most of it on here! Des - thanks for that info - will try the library if time although I know quite a lot - it's the snippets I'm now after. Gerri - I too printed that poem off - it's lovely - makes you realise what it's all about. George - Sounds like I'll need to return - a day obviously is not going to be long enough! I've also Somerset to visit one day - lots of ancestors there. Jacqui - Hope you too have a great day. Debby

Debbie Hope you have a good day. I'm also going on my first away day to Canterbury tomorrow aswell. Cant wait. Staying overnight in a BB on one of the streets some of my rellies actually lived in. Jacqui

Me and my parents hired a farmhouse for a week on the outskirts of one of our ancestral villages, wonderful scenery, friendly & helpful locals, we even met the current owner of the blacksmiths forge where our ancestors worked (its now a converted family home) and he allowed us to see inside his home, went to the local carnival too, the atmosphere was amazing, a real community It was the best holiday I have had in years (since Australia in 1999) George

Hope you have a wonderful day Debby. I found this on the boards ages ago and saved it .... ================== Dear Ancestor Your tombstone stands among the rest Neglected and alone The name and date are chiselled out On polished marble stone It reaches out to all who care It is too late to mourn You did not know that I exist You died and I was born Yet each of us are cells of you In flesh and blood and bone Our blood contracts and beats a pulse Entirely not our own Dear Ancestor..the place you filled One hundred years ago Spreads out among the ones you left Who would have loved you so I wonder if you lived and loved I wonder if you knew That someday I would find this spot And come to visit you. Author Unknown ============================== Enjoy :o))) Gerri x

hi debbie, we have just come back from our first trip to kendal.we also had rellies living at 48 highgate.we also found a lot of other houses and took loads of photo`s,we also went to the records office but found the liberary more useful.we had a week but could have done with longer. have a good day des

Andrea My areas seem quite nice so far except the local ones although that has it's advantage of being on your doorstep! I've had a couple of registry offices so far - would much rather have a church! Debby

Debby I've had some ancestors marrying at registry offices and I must admit I feel a little disappointed, as they're not photogenic places really....are they!? I was so exited when I found one ancestor had been baptised at the oldest church in Sunderland! Regards Andrea

How lovely Sheila - you're very lucky! Only thing is nearly all my g grandmother's family married there and where does she marry? Salford Register Office! Debby

Sheila You are lucky. I wish my ancestors had lived close, but then again it's a nice way to explore the UK. Most of my ancestors seem to be in places you would never dream of visiting. Regards Andrea

Andrea Another good one - schools - hadn't thought of that! Wish I'd thought of hotel - if I don't get everything done and want to return I could book a cottage - brilliant! Jenny - I wish someone else int the family enjoyed it as much as me - a few of my cousins do but they're not local! Debby

Enjoy your trip!

We're taking the dog! He'll have to keep himself busy looking after her! Just read there were narrow yards and lanes branching from the main street. There were 150 yards often named after the owner of the main house which usually stood at the top of the yard - mine were living at Highgate Yard so hoping I'll see some examples. Debby

I'm going on a trip too and I can't wait! My hubby and I are going to Wales for a couple of days next week. We've even taken days off work. I'm going in search of the places they lived, went to school, married, and buried. I will be taking loads of photos. Will be staying in a nice plush hotel in the Breacon Beacons......bliss! Just hope it doesn't rain.... fingers crossed. Luckily my hubby loves looking round churches, so hopefully he will not get bored of looking for my Welsh ancestors. Andrea