Genealogy Chat

Thanks Heather I hate getting 3rd hand info cos you can never be sure what to make of any of it! But I know he died and when he died so hopefully I can piece things together from there. Louise I've e mailed you everything I know! Lou

Lou, part of the fens comes under both Norfolk and Cambridge. For instance, he could have lived in Downham Market Norfolk, right on the border of the fens in Cambridgeshire and just walked a mile down the road and would come under Cambridgeshire. The whole of the area is criss/crossed by big drainage dykes - to you or I they would look like continuous canals or rivers. Have a look at a decent map and you will see what I mean. Same for a place called Upwell, big fishing area, just over border from Norfolk or Welney, ditto. You remember that oft quoted Noel Coward line 'Norfolk, very flat'. Well, it isnt the REAL Norfolk that is flat, we are quite rolling countryside (seemed like the Himalyas last week when my clutch was going!) but the eastern side is the fens along with Cambridgeshire and south Lincs.

Hi Just tried google. Lots of people with the same name in Norfolk but late 1800's! Just trying to find my way round the newspaper site now! Lou

I'll bet if you google the local paper and his name you'll get something. especially being such 'modern history' Jess

Hi Peta Yes, I tried that but a long while ago. Might give it another go! Lou

Hi All The details I have are a little sketchy, one of those chinese whispers things in a way! His mother and my mother were sisters but she died when he was 4 so well before I was born and my mother lost touch with his father. With me so far??? When his mother died they had a 6 week old daughter who was then placed for adoption. She traced her father several years ago and in turn contacted my mum. It was the daughter who told Mum that he'd died 'some years before', he'd drowned whilst out night fishing at the age of 34. She'd got this information from her father. They have a pretty unusual surname so his death was easy to trace in the GRO indexes, the DOB on the index matches his etc and it was registered Cambridge (even though he was born and raised Norfolk). I did wonder at the time about the Cambridge/fishing thing but my geog is awful! I know ZIP about deaths....if he, for example, went overboard whilst fishing in Norfolk but they found him in Cambridge, would he then be registered in Cambridge? Sorry...I'm tying myself up in knots here and creating more problems, aren't I??? Louise, any help would be appreciated. I know I never met the guy but hey, I never met any of the ones I'm researching...I'd just like to know a little more about what happened to him. Lou

Hi Lou, I can try and return the favour for your help...I live nr. Camb. and am often in the Central Library. Must say I've never tried looking up old newspapers there, but I can always try. We're no where near the coast...but the number of people who drive off the road into water filled ditches is amazing! Louise

There are quite a few deaths every year from drowning in the fens Lou. Also cars going in them during snow. Its a treacherous place. NB The drainage system was carried out by a dutch engineer I believe in late 17century.

Where in Cambridge is near the coast Lou? The Fens are pretty wet, don't know how far back the drainage ditches go historically. Jess

Thanks everyone I'll try all suggestions. I just wasn't sure whether only knowing the quarter and 'Cambridge' would be enough for anyone to help. I don't know where in Cambridge it happened, other than I assume it would be near the coast! Lou

My sister lives in Cambridge Lou, don't know if she is of any use toyou - let me know if there is anything she can do jess x

The local paper is the Cambidge Evening News. If you Google you will find it. Alice

Hi Lou Long shot i know but, give Cambridge Central Library a ring. See if they have a family history center there, you might get lucky and there will be a kind researcher there who might look it up for you and email the info. Especially as you know roughly when they died. Julie

I'm after picking someone's brains about how to locate info on my cousin's death. He died March Qtr 1974 in Cambridge and given that he drowned whilst out fishing, I was wondering whether it was likely to have been covered in the local newspaper and who/where to try for details? Thanks Lou