Shake the tree and nuts fall out!

Week 52 (Dec. 23-31): Resolution From Amy Johnson-Crow - Are you thinking about research goals for next year? Who or what are you wanting to find? SO, for the final week of this 52 ancestors challenge the theme is “ resolution ”. This could cover many things. But I have decided that as I started this challenge with me, I am going to end it with me as well. This year has been very challenging in many ways. Not only with the pandemic that hit the world but in my every day life. I had been doing so well with the weekly challenges set by Amy Johnson-Crow and had them all planned out, with a name of who I was going to use and all sorts. THEN, disaster stuck and my laptop died a very painful death whilst it was in the process of backing everything up to the external hard-drive and not only did I lose my laptop but the external drive as well. This meant that I lost everything! And this included all of the family history documents I had gathered from online sites, newspaper cuttings, bir...

  Week 51 (Dec. 16-22): Winter From Amy Johnson-Crow - Here in the northern hemisphere, we will be welcoming winter on December 21. Yay! (I say "Yay" not because I love winter -- I don't!! -- but because it's the shortest day of the year... meaning we get more daylight after that! Yay!) How would winter have affected your ancestors? Any Snow, Winters, or Frosts in the family tree? I am lucky enough to have a “ Winter ” family branch in my tree, they are very distantly related, but still related all the same, so I am going to write about them. Even though I know very little on them. The furthest back “ winter ” person I have is William “ Winter ” who was born about 1819 in Chester-le-street, Durham. They are linked to my ancestors by a family that adopted 1 of my paternal Lackey lineage. The families daughter married the grandson of William “ Winter ”. William married Elizabeth Scorer and they had 5 sons and 2 daughters. I have no idea what he did for a living ...

  Week 50 (Dec. 9-15): Witness to History From Amy Johnson-Crow - It's important to put our ancestors in context with their time and surroundings. What would your ancestor have witnessed? I encourage you to think beyond the "big events." I think about my farming ancestors and the changes they would have seen in equipment and getting their crops to market. For this weeks theme of “ witness to history” the 1 st person that came to my mind was a gentleman called “Abner Haylock”. His story is a rags to riches tale and one him and his family would not have had or seen had they not left the UK! Abner is my 2 nd cousin 4x removed in my maternal lineage, my Mum was born a Haylock. He was born in 1844 in Great Thurlow, Suffolk to John Haylock and Ann Guymer, he was 1 of 13 children known, some people have 11 others have 16. This photo of Abner (left) to me screams wealth and good fortune. Abner’s father was an Ag-lab on the farms of Suffolk, he didn’t have his own farm ...

  Week 49 (Dec. 2-8): Oops From Amy Johnson-Crow -   Everyone has made mistakes -- including our ancestors. This week, think about a mistake an ancestor made or perhaps a mistake that you've made in your research. There has been so many “ oops ” moments linked to my research over the years that it is too hard to pin point just 1. But I think a big one would be deleting a person in the tree that was a linking ancestor to many other people and not realising at the time and having loads of “floating ancestors” and not being able to remember who they linked to!

  Week 48 (Nov. 25-Dec. 1): Gratitude From Amy Johnson-Crow - In the US, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving on Thursday. Is there a family history memory that you're especially grateful for? What is a discovery you're grateful to have found or a resource you're grateful to use? I have decided to take “ gratitude ” out of my ancestors for this theme. This is not linked to my ancestors but to everyone who has taken the time to transcribe records and digitise them to help others, photographing gravestones and adding to websites and everything else that is linked to family history and helping others. (I have done some of the transcribing and know it’s not an easy task). Many people like myself, have disabilities and are not able to travel to graveyards, or go to record offices easily and records all being added online is such a big help and I am very “ Grateful ” for it.

  Week 47 (Nov. 18-24): Good Deeds From Amy Johnson-Crow - Do you know about an ancestor's good deeds? Maybe someone did a good deed for you that led to a family history discovery? Deeds could also refer to land records. So many possibilities this week! I have taken this weeks them of “good deeds” and applied it to a lady ancestor. Elizabeth Ann Haylock is my 3 rd cousin 3x removed. I have limited information on her but I do have a photo which tells me she would have done “good deeds” for others. Elizabeth was born 27 th June 1880 in Charlton, Victoria, Australia. She was one of 11 children of her parents Daniel Frederick Haylock and Elizabeth Ann Tanner. Elizabeth married Walter Henry Ward. The photo I have of Elizabeth shows her in her Salvation Army Uniform, and this is how I know she would have done “good deeds”. The salvation army is known for helping others as well as being a religious organisation. This is all I know on this lady.  

  Week 45 (Nov. 4-10): Bearded From Amy Johnson-Crow - Did you know that some men celebrate "No Shave November" (or, as some call it, "Novembeard")? This would be a great time to write about the bearded or mustachioed people on the family tree. This weeks theme of “ bearded ” has been a task. From day 1 of seeing the themes I could not think of any ancestor that had a “ beard ”, let alone any that I had a photo of etc. I began to lose hope (and even considered using my family pet dog as he has long hair under his chin, or 1 of our 2 “ bearded ” dragons. Lol.) I was on a family history site and a hint popped up for a gentleman ancestor, I clicked it and the person it took me to has a photo of himself and the photo of him I have on his profile he was “ bearded ”. John Valentine Thompson (also known as Valentine on records) was my 2 nd Great Grandfather. He was born 15 th April 1827 in South Runcton, Norfolk. He died 18 th October 1894 in South Runcton, Norfol...

  Week 44 (Oct. 28-Nov. 3): Scary Stuff From Amy Johnson-Crow - Any ghost stories in your family lore? Any relatives live in a haunted house? Of course, you don't have to go with ghosts for the theme. I look forward to seeing how everyone interprets this theme For the theme of “ scary stuff ” an ancestors life event near here would be good. BUT something even better is a relative that is believed to be a Witch AND died at this time! Let me introduce you to My Grandmother HILDA WOOD, the family WITCH. Hilda was born 12 th February 1910 in Bradford, she married William Liddle Lackey on 14 th June 1932 at the Parish Church in Peterborough. She died 30 th October 1979 in Peterborough. Hilda was my Grandmother, but I never met her, which in 1 way is a shame as I like all things witchcraft, but in another was good as she wouldn’t have liked me. Hilda was the eldest child and only daughter of her parents – Arthur Wood and Mary Elizabeth Mitchell, she had 3 younger brothers. The...

  Week 43 (Oct. 21-27): Quite the Character From Amy Johnson-Crow - The clown. The eccentric. The one who follows the beat of a different drummer. Who is that person in your family tree? For this weeks theme of “ quite the character ” I have decided to go with my youngest son Blake again. This boy is something else! As I’ve already said he’s really small but has a big personality and can make anyone smile and laugh. He is not afraid of anything and will quite happily sing (badly I may add), dance, entertain wherever he is. He doesn’t care who is watching him. A few years ago we were at the Christmas panto and before it started they had party songs playing, he just stood up and started doing the actions to the songs. If he has to stand in a que he will just randomly start singing songs. He has happily made up his own songs and dances – one that comes to mind was “cutting the grass with a lawn mower” – he was singing that his brother is cutting the grass with a lawn mower, mo...

  Week 46 (Nov. 11-17): Different Language From Amy Johnson-Crow - Have you thought about the experiences of ancestors who moved to an area where the language they spoke was considered "different"? Have you worked with any documents that were in a different language than the one you speak? I am hitting a blank on this week sadly. My ancestors lived in the UK and those who did leave went to/came from countries that spoke some variant of English. The Lackey lineage came from northern Ireland, and moved to Durham uk, both English speaking. The Haylock lineage moved from Cambridgeshire to parts of Australia that again spoke English. With regards to the above, it also means that documents have only been in English as well.

  Week 42 (Oct. 14-20): Proud From Amy Johnson-Crow - Who is an ancestor that you are proud of? What about an ancestor who did something they should have been proud of? Maybe a discovery that you're proud you made because it was so hard to find? The theme of “ proud ” could cover many things. I’m “ proud ” of all 3 of my sons, I’m “ proud ” of how my Mum battled cancer for over 20years etc. HOWEVER, I don’t feel that does the word (or the people) justice. And for that reason I am not using them. I am going to use to my 2 Grandfathers though, as they both served in the war and I am “ proud ” of them and the fact that I have their medals. William Liddle Lackey, was my Paternal Grandfather, he was born 12 th  March 1906 in West Rainton, Durham. He married Hilda wood in 1932 in Peterborough. He died 23 rd  November 1959 in Bourne, Lincolnshire. William’s military career began in 1939, when he signed up to serve in the Royal Army Service Corps as a dispatch rider. (The pho...

  Week 41 (Oct. 7-13): Newest From Amy Johnson-Crow - Who is the "newest" ancestor you've found? Most recent immigrant? Newest discovery you've made? For the theme of “ Newest ” I have decided to go with the “ newest ” piece of information I have found. That is linked to a slightly distant relative (but of direct maternal lineage) my 2 nd cousin 4times removed Charles William Haylock, and his wife Julia Burton. Charles was born in 1862 in Great Thurlow, Suffolk, he was the youngest known child and only son of William Haylock and Mary Anne Coote Smith. During the first lockdown of 2020 my laptop crashed and I lost everything. This meant that I have had to start searching for information again linked to many people, but as I’ve been doing it I have re-checked other people, and Charles William Haylock has been one of those. The “ newest ” information linked to him is that not only did he make beer, he was also landlord of one of the pubs in the village he live...

  Week 40 (Sept. 30-Oct. 6): Oldest From Amy Johnson-Crow - The oldest member of your family? Your oldest ancestor? The oldest house you lived in? The story behind the oldest item/picture/family treasure you have? Was anyone in your family the oldest to achieve something? For the theme of “ oldest ” I could use the “ oldest ” person I have found in my tree, but as I have written about my other 2 sons I think it’s only fair that I now write about my “ oldest ” son Jarred. Jarred was born in 2002, he was my 1 st son. During his younger years he was a total nightmare when it came to sleeping and would only have 2-3hours a night! And this was every night from a baby. If he was awake so was everyone else. As he got older and learnt he could play he made even more noise to keep us all awake. This was exhausting. Up until he was 12 he had white-blonde hair (the picture left he was 2) and then it started to go darker, like it is now (picture below right). He wont let me cut it or sp...

  Week 39 (Sept. 23-29): Should Be a Movie From Amy Johnson-Crow - Good movies have good stories at their heart. What ancestor has a story that you think should be a movie? This hasn’t been an east theme for me, as people I thought of have been used for other things. So it has come down to someone that I think would “ make a good movie ” (and you will see why) and that is my Great Grandfather Arthur Linett/Linel/Lynes/Linneth Thompson. (his name changes per document). Arthur was born the 11 th December 1876 in South Runcton, Norfolk. He was 1 of 11 children his parents had. He was 2 nd from youngest. His parents were farmers and he kept this on during his life. In the photos I have of him, he is always well dressed and has a hat, a pipe, shirt, waistcoat and pocket watch, which don’t add to the farmer feel. To me it seems that he dressed up for photos to be taken, or he didn’t take an active role in the farming (which according to my Nan – Doreen, he did.) The last farm t...

  Week 38 (Sept. 16-22): On the Map From Amy Johnson-Crow - Location is key for our research. What is a discovery you've made using a map? Any ancestors found a town? What about a family who lived in a town with a strange or funny name I decided to add to a Map showing locations of where my family/ancestors lived. I dont have every place or every ancestor included, but have done quite a few. My paternal line was those in Ireland and mostly from yorkshire northwards, my maternal line was mainly cambridgshire, norfolk and suffolk areas and london, the odd ones are were people moved to.

  Week 37 (Sept. 9-15): Back to School From Amy Johnson-Crow -   Any stories of schools days in your family? (I'm thankful for the collection of my dad's grade cards through 8th grade.) What about teachers or principals in the family? I know that I have already used my Mum (Barbara May Haylock) but she comes to mind (along with a story from myself, and my sons - my eldest son (Jarred), and youngest son (Blake). I recall my Mum telling me that she used to have to wear a beret for school and that she hated it! She did all she could to get rid of it but it kept being returned to her. Her class/school had gone on a trip to the river in Peterborough and on the way back she dropped her beret over the bridge into the water. A passing gentleman saw it and called to the teacher, they had to wait whilst her beret was recovered and returned to her! Another of her tales of trouble at school was for talking, she was made to stand at the front of the class by the blackboard. She appar...

  Week 36 (Sept. 2-8): Labor From Amy Johnson-Crow - How did your ancestors make a living? Have you found an unusual occupation in your family tree? Don't forget about the often unsung labor of female ancestors. Most of my ancestors were agricultural “ labourers ”/famers so did lots of hard work, therefore it’s hard to just pick a single person linked to this weeks theme of “ labour ”. I know that my Great Nan Amy Rose Bland was a famers wife and farmers daughter and I have a receipe handed down that she would cook, so she could be linked to the “ labour ” of females. Another branch of my tree, the Lackey's, the males were all boot & shoe makers, and from what I have heard and read this was a hard “ labour ” and poorly paid job. Linked to this it is believed that the females would be involved in the curing and treating of the leather for the males to make the shoes. They did this  as well as doing all of the household jobs of cooking, cleaning and looking after the c...

  Week 35 (Aug. 26-Sept. 1): Unforgettable From Amy Johnson-Crow - Family history is about remembering. Who or what in your family is unforgettable? What have you discovered in your research surprised you that it was forgotten? What are you doing to make sure your discoveries aren't forgotten? There is no way I could pick just one person for this theme of “ unforgettable ”.   There are 4 people that fit to it and they made up 2 couples. The 1st “ unforgettable ” couple are Auntie Sue and Uncle Fred. S usan Roberts was born in Ely, Cambridgeshire On 2nd October 1933. She married in July 1953 to my Mum’s Brother Frederick Thompson, who was born in outwell, Norfolk on 12 th  March 1926. After they were married they moved to Elm, a village on the outskirts of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. They stayed in the same house until Fred died in 1998. Sue then moved back to Ely where she stayed until she died in 2010. They never had any children of their own. But they were loved by a...

Week 34 (Aug. 19-25): Chosen Family From Amy Johnson-Crow - Family isn't always related by blood. Adoptions, step-children, foster children, and special friends of the family can be just as much "family" as those who share DNA. (I think I was 10 before I realized that my Uncle Bob and Aunt Mabel weren't actually related to us.) This is the week to highlight one of their stories. This weeks them of “ chosen family ” has been thought provoking for me. My parents pretty much kept themselves to themselves, they didn’t really socialise much and I don’t recall meeting many of their friends when I was younger, maybe I did but I don’t remember them (they can’t have made much of an impression on me that is for sure!) The only person I could call “ chosen family ” is a lady my Mum became very good friends with later in her life, as she is still living I will refer to her as D. D is a lovely lady, she has a heart of gold and will help anyone she can do. From day 1 of mee...

From Amy Johnson-Crow - There's one in every family. If you don't want to write about a literal troublemaker, how about an ancestor who has been troublesome to research? For the theme of “ trouble maker ” my initial thought was myself as I don’t follow rules, I do as I please, I’m outspoken and many of the family don’t like it, but I don’t want all of this to be about me, it kind of defeats the purpose of doing it. But I was bad, I was hyperactive and outspoken and many of the family didn’t like this and they still don’t to this day! I'm classed as the modern day "black sheep". I have adapted the theme slightly to “ troublesome ” and have gone with a distant relative - my 1 st cousin 5x removed John Haylock. It isn't so much that he was a " troublesome " person, but he was " troublesome " to research. John was born in about 1808 in Great Thurlow, Suffolk, as it stands I don't have a definite date and the year varies on different ...

  Week 32 (Aug. 5-11): Small From Amy Johnson-Crow - Small house, tiny person, a small detail that helped unravel a mystery? How will you interpret the theme this week? Following on from last weeks theme of “ large ” it’s only right we do the opposite and go ” small ”. Linked to this I am using my youngest son Blake, he was born in 2009. Blake weighed only 6lb 2oz at birth as he was 3 weeks premature. He was so “ small ” I even asked the midwife how much I had to feed him etc, to which she replied “you have two others you should know”. YES, I do have two other children but they were both near 8lb at birth. He was my little dinky dot, and even now he still is. This picture shows him in his car seat at only 15 hours old, and just how “ small ” he was, this is a normal “new born” baby car seat. Even with the added head hugger he was only just big enough to use it safely. All of his clothes were too big for him as we had bought newborn size, and we had to order tiny baby as even ...