Shake the tree and nuts fall out!

  Week 21 (May 24-30): At the Cemetery I have to say that of all the grave photos I have linked to my tree there is only a couple that I have taken myself   “at the  cemetery”.  The rest have all been via a request online or are already online.   Robert & Mary Lackey (my 2x great grandparents) gravestone is one that I took myself as is that of Albert E Liddle (1 st cousin 2x removed) and his wife Catherine. Although I haven’t taken many of my own ancestors gravestones “at the cemetery” I have taken loads of other people’s over the years if there has been a request in my area. More recently I have been taking them in “the cemetery” at the bottom of my road. It is a huge place and is spread over 2 pieces of land with a main road in the middle. I’ve done quite  lot but there is much more to do when it’s a nice day. Some people really don’t like being “at the cemetery” due to what they are, however, I have no issues with being there or taking p...

Week 20 (May 17-23): Cousin Bait – Ancestry   I had never heard of the term “cousin bait” before so I had to look it up. From an online search I concluded that “cousin bait” is “to attract research cousins, people that have information on your genealogy and are willing to share it with you.” So from this my initial thought was Ancestry! There are many people who share the same ancestors as me, most of us probably don’t even realise we are related in someway! Ancestry has helped me in the past via the message boards and I have connected with a few cousins, some of whom I am still in contact with. A lovely lady in USA, who is related to me via my 2nd great grandmother Mary Jane Jackson. Mary is her 2 nd great aunt. Mary’s brother is the main link of this lady. I didn’t even know about the said brother (I knew of others but not him). We have swapped information and certificates and helped each other with the trees not on this line. Around the same time as the above a lady had...

  Week 19 (May 10-16): Mother’s Day So many of my ancestors were mothers and without them being mother’s I most likely wouldn’t be here today. So rather than listing out 1 in particular I think I will just put this to all of them. Each and everyone will have had their own stories, good and bad tales to tell and hopefully have been treated well on this day. I’m not sure if its just a modern day thing or not. Many of the mothers back in my tree also had to suffer the loss of their babies as medical care wasn’t as good as it is now. And I’m sur that this would have been hard for them. Being in the UK, mothers day is celebrated in March not in May.

  Week 18 (May 3-9): Crime and Punishment – Joseph Guymer I have found a few people in the tree who fit the “crime and punishment” theme and could be classed as criminals, 1 person that I thought of using has quite a funny story; but I only have limited information on him and his story, so at the moment James Lackey and his stealing of ladies lingerie and selling on has been put on hold. However, the person I am going to use has quite a long list of crimes under his belt! Joseph Guymer is a distant relative of mine (but relative all the same), he is the nephew of the wife of my 1 st cousin 5times removed! Joseph was born in 1839-1840 in Great Wratting, Suffolk, UK. He was the son of David Guymer and Mary Anne (Mariann) Bentley. He was one of 6 children. According to his police record card he was described at white, with black hair and brown eyes and was about 5ft 7 tall. He was a farmer by trade. In 1853 Joseph and his family all moved from Suffolk UK to Australia, they wen...

  Week 17 (Apr. 26-May 2): Favourite Place – Ashness Bridge linked to Mum and Dad When I saw this weeks theme there was no question about where it had to be. One of my “favourite places” is Ashness Bridge near Keswick in the Lake District, UK. However, it does link to two people that were both used last year – My parents Peter William Lackey and Barbara May Haylock! Ashness bridge is a “favourite place” of mine for a couple of reasons. 1. It is a beautiful place no matter the time of the year as the surrounding landscapes is always really nice and changes every time you visit. 2. It was the place me and my sister scattered my parent’s ashes after they died. Even if there are people around you can always find a stone near the bridge to sit on and just think (and cry). Occasionally passing people will ask if you are ok etc, but many just say hello and carry on their way. In 1972 when my parents got married; they spent their honeymoon at the Lodor Falls Hotel, which is about a 10min...

  Week 16 (Apr. 19-25): DNA "DNA" = Does not apply . I have not taken a " DNA" test and nor do I plan to. The reason for this is it will upturn everything I know and have been brought up knowing and researched as my family tree. This is because my “dad” is not my biological dad, but he was there from the day I was conceived as an IVF baby in Harley Street London in 1981. As far as I am concerned I am a Lackey and I have traced his family lineage as well as that of my mums side. I did ask my sister years ago about doing a “ DNA”  test as she is a true Lackey and my dads real daughter, but she isn’t keen on doing one. But there again, she's not bothered about the family history either. I would be interested in doing one to see what it comes up with but as above I can’t link it to the tree and I don’t really want to go down the route of finding a whole new family.

  Week 15 (Apr. 12-18): Brick Wall “Brick walls”!!! We all have them linked to our trees and ancestors, some we do manage to crumble and break down others we merely make a dent in and some seem to be that strong and stubborn that they could be around long after I am! I have a few “brick walls” that I would love nothing more than to break down, but have no idea on how or when or if it will happen. A big “brick wall” that I have been looking at for many years isn’t so much in my main tree but linked to it. I have been trying to find out if all of the Lackey Family in the UK are related to my line of them. I have 10 separate trees linked to various Lackey families across the UK. 1 tree only has 1 person in it as I can’t find definite links or records to the person. I know when and where he died and where he is buried BUT there is no gravestone as was a pauper from the workhouse. This poor man has my surname but I can’t even find if he had a wife let alone a link to me. Of the 10 tre...

  Week 14 (Apr. 5-11): Great I wasn’t sure what I was going to do for this weeks theme of “great ” as it could cover so many things (like many of the topics/themes). But after some thinking time and going back to an ancestor I only had basic information on, I have decided to use my 5 th “great ” grandfather Oakley Briggs. Up until recently I had limited information on him – I had his name, his date of birth, date of death, both of his marriages and a few of his children. BUT, I thought he needed looking into as he’s not a “great” grandparent I really know much about. My 5 th “ great” grandfather  Oakley Briggs was born 23 SEPTEMBER 1761 in Bethnal Green, UK. He was the 2 nd child but the 1 st son of Oakley Briggs and Anne Shears, he did also have 2 older half siblings from his fathers 1 st marriage. He was 1 of 7 children (that I have found). Oakley died in October 1835 when he was 74years old, and he was back in Bethnal Green, which is where he is buried. During his li...

  Week 13 (Mar. 29-Apr. 4): Music I have had many thoughts as to who I could use linked to the theme of “music” – both myself and my sister played “musical” instruments, my Dad claimed many times “he had “musical” farts” great uncle Cecil was well know in the “music” industry as a singer (but have used before), a distant cousin was apparently a great “musician” but I have limited information on him. Then there was a close cousin who I have decided to use. John Dennis Collen was born in May 1970 in Peterborough, to Margaret Thompson and Dennis Collen. I don’t know much about John’s life during childhood as he was almost a teenager when I was born. It wasn’t until later in life that we got to know each other better. I do remember that he would come to my Nan’s house most weekends for Sunday dinner. I thing I recall from my early years linked to John was that he performed magic tricks at one of my birthday parties. I think I would have been about 4years old. I don’t think this was...

Week 12 (Mar. 22-28): Loss “Loss” could cover so many things – jobs, houses, family & babies, personal belongings etc. This really is a wide topic. Once again, I can’t link it to one person or one family as so many of my ancestors have suffered terrible “loss” over the years. Many of the ladies of my family have suffered the “loss” of a baby (or babies). I for one am included in this title. Therefore, I am dedicating this entry to all of those who have suffered the “loss” of a baby or child. Luckily in today’s world and thanks to the wonderful healthcare system we have there are not as many baby “Losses ” as there were 50+years ago.   I know how much it hurt and upset me over 3 miscarriages, but luckily I didn’t have to face what many of my ancestors did of having the baby and then it dying hours, days, weeks or months old. I can’t begin to think how hard this would have been, and for many it wasn’t just the 1 “loss” they endured. So in memory of all the ladies i...

  Week 11 (Mar. 15-21): Fortune This theme of “fortune” had me thinking of all sorts of things – did I have anyone called “fortune ”? no I don’t. was anyone really rich and worth a “ fortune ”? not that I know of. I also googled other words for “ fortune ” and nothing made a sensible link to the family tree. The only person who came to mind was an ancestor whose family went Australia during the gold rush and he became a pioneer out there. But I have already used him. However, it did occur to me that actually trying to research the family tree has cost me a “ fortune ”!!! From site subscriptions to buying certificates, to petrol in cars to go to places, my electricity, postage costs linked to writing to request info or sending it to other people, paid credits at library's and record offices and so much more. But it keeps me amused and out of trouble, and I love finding out new things and new people. So I would say this “ fortune ” has been money well spent.