I've been taking advantage of the free access to the 1921 census offered by Find My Past over last weekend. I'd already paid for the copies of returns for both my sets of grandparents and found my parents listed along with some of their brothers and sisters. This time I was looking for great grandparents. On my father's side three of the four great grandparents were still alive. On my mother's side all four were no longer alive. Three of those great grandparents are buried in the same cemetry as my maternal grandparents and my father. My mother is buried with my step-father in a nearby village churchyard.
I've also found my father's elder sister Millicent Mabel (always known as Millie) on the 1921 census. She was in service with a retired land agent and his wife. Edwin Henry and Emily Ada Story lived at Brownhill House in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. Millie was one of three girls working for them and they were cook, housemaid and under housemaid. There was also a butler called William Lionel Graves and he came from Tewksbury in Gloucestershire. Two of the girls were from Upper Midway near Burton-on-Trent and one of them was my Granny's younger sister Clara so an aunt to Millie. The other girl, had the wonderful name of Eveline Modwina Staley and she came from Ashby-de-la-Zouche, Leicestershire.
All this is quite fascinating, probably only to me but I'm enjoying myself with family history again.
For years I've wanted to do something about my father's grave as it was rapidly deteriorating. It had been there since 1955, although the stone surround was added by my Granny Rose in 1961. I applied to the local council and was recommened a memorial stonemason and then had to apply to take over the management of the grave from my Granny who'd died in 1963. It entailed a visit to a solicitor to get a witness signature.
All done quite quickly and the replacement stone is now in place. I've been sent photos but have yet to go and see it.
It's so satisfying tracking relations in the Census and often leads you off on another search for someone else. You've done well especially as you have the photos to link them to. It's interesting to hear how you got on with the grave too and reassuring that they take care to check too. 😊
ReplyDeleteThank you CK, yes I had to prove that I was the direct line living relative, luckily I had all the necessary birth and death certificates, it's hard to prove I am me though as not having a driving license or a passport I only have my photo on my bus pass:)
DeleteFamily history is fascinating. I love delving into mine, but can go only so far, for my grandparents immigrated from Ukraine in the early 1900s. So glad you could get your father's gravestone repaired.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lorrie, yes family history is fascinating I am lucky to be able to get back to the 1700s on most of my lines, all very much the English midlands but I do have a Scottish ancestor on my mothers side and according to DNA a Scandinavian link too. I was pleased to be able to restore the grave stone, it should last quite a while now:)
DeleteIt’s lovely when you can add to your knowledge of family history. I too enjoyed the free weekend especially looking through the newspapers. B x
ReplyDeleteThank you B, glad you were able to make use of the free weekend too. Old newspapers are fascinating aren't they? The way they write and report happenings. I used them quite a bit for research when I worked in Museums, in one office they still had the originals before they were gradually digitised:)
DeleteI love the photos Rosie. Your family had some wonderful names! I like Millicent Mabel! You don't hear people called Mabel anymore do you? I am glad that you managed to get your father's gravestone replaced. x
ReplyDeleteThank you Simone, I still have letters written to me by Aunty Millie. The only Mabel I know of lately is a beautiful long haired cat who lives across the road:)
DeleteSo sorry for the late comment - we are away at the moment and I must have missed the post. Lovely photos and I am so pleased you have found out more information on your family history and taken over management of your father's grave and replaced the headstone. Family history can be so addictive but so interesting and exciting when you make new discoveries.
ReplyDeleteThank you RR, I hope you are enjoying being saw, I'll look forward to your posts on that. My father's grave should have been sorted years ago but life and or finances made it impossible. I'm so glad it has been done:)
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