Week 21 update

My mum told me that my grandfather worked as an errand boy for Sargents shop in Swindon, this was before he started his apprenticeship at the GWR Works around the late 1920s. The only mention I could find for Sargents was in this online article from the Swindon Advertiser: https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/4057692.on-the-verge-of-a-fresh-start/

The writer stated: Funnily enough, our Villett Street salon was formerly Sargents garden tool shop and the Catherine Street salon was their main tool store.

I’m not sure which shop my grandfather would have worked at. Sadly neither street survived the town planners and the Brunel North Car Park.

Previous posts:

Week 19

Week 18

Week 13 update

Week 12 update

Week 6 update

Week 5 update

Week 4 update

Week 3 update

Week 2 update

Week 1 update

The problem with Ancestry

Week 19 update

Another week rolls by with me still giving my hard earned cash to Ancestry!

Progress this week includes the certificates I ordered arrived so I was able to add some more details to my family tree (current people tally is 512). Unfortunately I made a hilarious typo when I applied for a Probate record – I put the year of death as 1068 instead of 1968 and my search was returned as not found (unsurprisingly). The place must be run by robots but I now have to place the order again, this time without the typo.

As I was downloading records I discovered a little more about my Leigh family and came across a few new to me records which specified an address. Previously the place of residence was just listed as Knighton but I found a burial record for Elizabeth Wavell (the mother. of Elizabeth Leigh) which named Knighton Mill in 1816. Then I did a quick google search and found a document on The National Archives website entitled ‘Bargain and sale and release of the manor or lordship of Knighton alias Knighton Gorges’ in 1823 (AC/90/50/15). This listed Upper Knighton water corn mill and millhouse (21a.) in occupation of Jeremiah Urry Wavell who I’m hoping is a relation. The Wavell family also occupied James’s or Mapleton Closes (20a.) and Lands called Harts Ash (50a.). It was good to see the family mentioned in documents and also pin down a place.

Previous posts:

Week 18

Week 13 update

Week 12 update

Week 6 update

Week 5 update

Week 4 update

Week 3 update

Week 2 update

Week 1 update

The problem with Ancestry

Week 18 update

A few weeks have passed and I have been plodding away at downloading and sorting my family history records. I have only added 8 people to my current family tree on Ancestry but these are all well researched and I am confident in the records I have collected (some of the Ancestry hints are really bad records!).

As well as saving historical records I sent off for some BMD certificates for close family as it felt strange not having these. It also helped to fill in some information and add connections I didn’t previously have.

I enjoyed watching the recent D-Day commemorations and was hoping to find some new information as so many family history sites were free over the weekend. Unfortunately I didn’t manage to find anything. I have a couple of relatives who fought in the Second World War but have not been able to access their service records yet.

Previous posts:

Week 13 update

Week 12 update

Week 6 update

Week 5 update

Week 4 update

Week 3 update

Week 2 update

Week 1 update

The problem with Ancestry

Week 13 update

Thanks to all the paperwork I found last weekend I’ve been busy scanning and saving over 100 documents. It was quite fun looking back at my old research and I found letters I wrote, including one from 1990 when I was just starting my research whilst still at school!

It was interesting to see the letters because now everything is via email and I haven’t kept any of them, and I also make less enquiries as so much can be found online. I also came across lots of research I had forgotten about and done again, reminding me how valuable this project is to save everything in the right place. I am still keeping paper documents, but it is much easier to find digital versions on my laptop.

As well as the scanning I did a little saving of Ancestry documents. I merged some duplicate entries and added a few and the total number of ancestors stands at 504 people.

Previous posts:

Week 12 update

Week 6 update

Week 5 update

Week 4 update

Week 3 update

Week 2 update

Week 1 update

The problem with Ancestry

Week 12 update

I’ve had a little Bank Holiday push to get some more records saved and organised. My people count has now increased to 500 people and 72 photos and I’m being firm with myself and trying not to add any more people from branches .i.e siblings and their children. I’m also not adding any of my own photos as I really want all my research on my own site.

We also sorted out a cupboard and I found a few certificates I had lost, thank goodness for Bank Holidays.

Previous posts:

Week 6 update

Week 5 update

Week 4 update

Week 3 update

Week 2 update

Week 1 update

The problem with Ancestry

Week 6 update

I completed the Stage 1 family history course with the Society of Genealogists which was really good.  I’ve now completed the Stage 1 and Stage 3 so I’m thinking I will sign up to the Stage 2 course.

Last week I spent a lot of time learning about Marianne Nantes, the first wife of Henry Harper. His second wife was Julia Young, sister of Alfred Young, my 2xgreat grand father. I should not have become side tracked by Marianne Nantes but she had a fascinating life, about 9 children, and an infamous father (Henry Nantes, look him up).

Previous posts:

Week 5 update

Week 4 update

Week 3 update

Week 2 update

Week 1 update

The problem with Ancestry