Genealogy Chat

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,.

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 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

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

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

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