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Amongst my many gifts, I got 'Family Tree Maker 2010'
Which carries the proud boast, 'No 1 selling family history software!' It includes a 6 months membership of Ancestry (wow, that thing is expensive!) and 50% off the cost of an ancestry DNA test. (meep. Wonder what that will show up?).
So last night I took it out of its box and fired it up on the ole' Compaq.
I've been looking at Dad's family - my mum's side are quite posh, well documented and decidedly dull, tbh (a long, long line of forkers, as a friend once put it). Dad's, much more of a mystery and it's been interesting to see who they were and where they came from but most of all - good golly, those people had harsh lives!
Let's take the Beresford's of Crich on my dad's grandmother's maternal line. Living in one small workman's cottage (basically the same sort of place I live in now, a front room, a back kitchen, a bedroom and a loft, earth closet out the back - in Crich! Lol. That house, if it still exits, will probably set you back at least quarter of a million these days, but I digress).
From the 1851 census, we have: James Beresford, age 64, working as a limestone quarryman. His wife Martha, 60, son Joseph, 36, and James 34, both limestone quarrymen, Joseph's wife Elizabeth, 36, washerwoman, granddaughter Harriett (sic) age 11 and Alfred aged 9, both working as cotton mill gleaners. Also a lodger (where did they put him? Remembering my Dad grew up one of 9 children in a house smaller than this), James Hunt, age 70 also working as a limestone quarryman. There's a long list of dead babies in the births and deaths.
Never ever let me complain about my pathetic life of ease ever again.
I''m also finding a lot of family lore coming true. I got to the Beresford's via a widowed great aunt Theresa, living with my great grandparents when my grandpa was a child, in 1901. In the 1891 census, she's still down as a widow, listed as 'head of house' at another address, living with an older brother (that seems unusual for the time? Assume she was the main earner, the name on the rent book?) whose name is James MacKay (yes Sentinel peeps! Tis in the very blood!) listed as being born, not in Sheffield like all the rest but in Weedon barracks (which I believe is in Northamptonshire) - My Dad (James) was told he was named for a Scots ancestor who emigrated to America, so this looks a promising lead.
Another family story is that the family had ancestors in Eyam at the time of the plague who are listed in the great book there and, indeed, I find a branch of the poor Beresfords in Eyam in the 1851 census, I'll have to dig and see if they were there in the 17C.
I've only used it for an evening, barely scratched the surface of what the software does yet but, cool, ain't it? *g* A terrible time-waster but decidedly cool. I might have a crack at gramma's side next, see what that turns up before we get too far back and it starts getting tricky. I have dad's family back to the mid 18C now but I suspect it'll get harder as we travel further back - not helped by the fact we have a plethora of names like George Walker, James Walker and etc who are like needles in a haystack in this bit of Yorkshire. Best of all, Dad, who reckoned he couldn't remember 'anything' did start to remember - names, addresses, stories - as I asked 'is this him? Is this the one?' over and over. it's been great for him, too but gosh, I miss my mum for all of this, she'd have remembered everything. ::sigh::
I found Mum's sister, too; Joan Foster, d. 1928 age 2 yrs, there amongst the vast list of under 5s, lest we forget how bloody lucky we are to live when we do.
ETA: OMG! Heavy heavy sudden snow! It was blue and clear and thick with frost when I started writing this. Oh wow, that's a lot of snow, falling on ice, there goes my stroll in the woods. Better stay in and eat a mince pie I think, for purely medicinal purposes of course, fortitude against this terrible weather. ::nod::
So last night I took it out of its box and fired it up on the ole' Compaq.
I've been looking at Dad's family - my mum's side are quite posh, well documented and decidedly dull, tbh (a long, long line of forkers, as a friend once put it). Dad's, much more of a mystery and it's been interesting to see who they were and where they came from but most of all - good golly, those people had harsh lives!
Let's take the Beresford's of Crich on my dad's grandmother's maternal line. Living in one small workman's cottage (basically the same sort of place I live in now, a front room, a back kitchen, a bedroom and a loft, earth closet out the back - in Crich! Lol. That house, if it still exits, will probably set you back at least quarter of a million these days, but I digress).
From the 1851 census, we have: James Beresford, age 64, working as a limestone quarryman. His wife Martha, 60, son Joseph, 36, and James 34, both limestone quarrymen, Joseph's wife Elizabeth, 36, washerwoman, granddaughter Harriett (sic) age 11 and Alfred aged 9, both working as cotton mill gleaners. Also a lodger (where did they put him? Remembering my Dad grew up one of 9 children in a house smaller than this), James Hunt, age 70 also working as a limestone quarryman. There's a long list of dead babies in the births and deaths.
Never ever let me complain about my pathetic life of ease ever again.
I''m also finding a lot of family lore coming true. I got to the Beresford's via a widowed great aunt Theresa, living with my great grandparents when my grandpa was a child, in 1901. In the 1891 census, she's still down as a widow, listed as 'head of house' at another address, living with an older brother (that seems unusual for the time? Assume she was the main earner, the name on the rent book?) whose name is James MacKay (yes Sentinel peeps! Tis in the very blood!) listed as being born, not in Sheffield like all the rest but in Weedon barracks (which I believe is in Northamptonshire) - My Dad (James) was told he was named for a Scots ancestor who emigrated to America, so this looks a promising lead.
Another family story is that the family had ancestors in Eyam at the time of the plague who are listed in the great book there and, indeed, I find a branch of the poor Beresfords in Eyam in the 1851 census, I'll have to dig and see if they were there in the 17C.
I've only used it for an evening, barely scratched the surface of what the software does yet but, cool, ain't it? *g* A terrible time-waster but decidedly cool. I might have a crack at gramma's side next, see what that turns up before we get too far back and it starts getting tricky. I have dad's family back to the mid 18C now but I suspect it'll get harder as we travel further back - not helped by the fact we have a plethora of names like George Walker, James Walker and etc who are like needles in a haystack in this bit of Yorkshire. Best of all, Dad, who reckoned he couldn't remember 'anything' did start to remember - names, addresses, stories - as I asked 'is this him? Is this the one?' over and over. it's been great for him, too but gosh, I miss my mum for all of this, she'd have remembered everything. ::sigh::
I found Mum's sister, too; Joan Foster, d. 1928 age 2 yrs, there amongst the vast list of under 5s, lest we forget how bloody lucky we are to live when we do.
ETA: OMG! Heavy heavy sudden snow! It was blue and clear and thick with frost when I started writing this. Oh wow, that's a lot of snow, falling on ice, there goes my stroll in the woods. Better stay in and eat a mince pie I think, for purely medicinal purposes of course, fortitude against this terrible weather. ::nod::
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Once upon a time in Oz no-one wanted to uncover a convict past; now it's considered quite the social thing to have ancestors who came out on the First Fleet. No such claims to fame here though.
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I'm always amused when aussies proudly boast about the convict ancestor, dispatched to Botany Bay by the wicked, wicked poms, forgetting that rather a large proportion of said ebil poms were actually the parents, sisters, wives, aunties etc. of the convicts and really not responsible for what was being done by the judicial classes and their ilk. Sad not to have one in the ancestry though, I'd be quite pleased to find one myself.
Nice choice of icon, btw. :o)
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When I read your reply in my inbox I couldn't remember which icon I'd used - twas your AotB one which I love like crazy, and just seemed kinda relevant.
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squeaks: Bob Fossil! He really don't like cricket!
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Wow - fascinating stuff - I had no idea that family history software was so good now. ::wets lips and eyes bank balance:: The death of babies really brings you up short, doesn't it? My mum's mum was one of the youngest of her family, and she once told me that there were 23 children, although we can only find actual evidence for about 10 making it to adulthood. Presumably there are 13 or so babies out there somewhere, buried and forgotten. It doesn't help that they re-used names of dead children; I only discovered very recently I had two Aunt Mays - the one I adored who lived into her 90s, and the one she replaced who died at a few months of age. So sad.
And you've got more snow? We had a sort of powdery dusting last night that froze into the frost, and everything is pale and sparkly this morning. Mince pies cure many of life's ills. I think I'll go take a dose myself.
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omg, 23 children! It's hideously sad, they must have felt the loss just as keenly as we would and to lose so many, it hardly bears dwelling on. I knew about Joan, she was remembered, but in my grandad's family, next under him was a baby girl, Ever who Dad knew nothing about. She was 8 months old in 1901 but I can find no further mention of her anywhere, despite it being such an unusual name. I'm assuming, since Dad knows nothing of an Auntie Ever, that she died but can;t find her in the deaths.
One hideous story I only found out about just before Mum died was that my Grandma (Dad's mother) had a sister who was abducted and murdered at the age of 8. They were so matter of fact about it too, like it was an old family story everyone knew but I only heard a couple of years ago. Like I say, all so unimaginably sad but - looking at the lives they led, working at 9, popping out a baby a year by the time they were 17, it's hardly surprising so many died so young. :o(
It's snowing heavily here, now. I promised myself I'd lay off the rich foods today but I do feel the loreli lure of a hot mince pie and cream right now...
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a sister who was abducted and murdered at the age of 8.
Oh lord, how awful... and I know what you mean about the matter of factness - my family all seemed to accept what to me was great tragedy like it was nothing much, just the way life was. Maybe that was the only way to survive it.
It's great that your research is jogging your dad's memory... and keep up the good work with the mince pies - you're making me feel less guilty *g*
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We have the white stuff here - almost can't see anything but snow...
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Enjoy your snow, stay safe, keep the Bev warm for me. :o)
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Ahhhh!
Stay warm sweetie and remember, snow is just God's way of telling us to eat more.
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I was just talking about your post with my parents (65 years old) over dinner, while my mother recalls something (if pressed) my father hasn't any story about his father's family so he went into a huff when we pointed out his side wasn't into talking about family matters.
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Thankfully, in America most libraries I've been to have subscriptions to Ancestry as does the Latter Day Saint's church (not a member, but they do share their research facilities with non-members). Plus, I found quite a bit of information through Rootsweb and other free volunteer projects.
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When i look for info, it's usually through the canadian archived which doesn't get me that far. I have boxes of family info in my basement though!
There's a canadian show called Ancestors in the Attic. It's very cool. I'm almost out of time for the moment, but I'll try to come back a little later in the day and tell you about it.
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Anyway, I really like the show. I don't know if there are others like it, but it's cool!
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I'll let you know what we find if we decide to go with the DNA test. *g*
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Please do! That would be cool! I think you should do it! :)