Genealogy Chat

Just think Ann, if they hadn't stolen that pair of boots you wouldn' t be able to see that record.(I've Warmed up a bit today). i'M waiting for copy of inquest of my grt grandfather who only had one arm and died after he fell out of a tram in london, he broke the other arm and was so badly gassed in the war he didn't survive the operation (using whatever method to put you under in 1927 )he never came round and he was only 40 something.Mum has just found document's and inquest papers in an Aunt's Attic. KIM

well, short of them stealing a pair of boots in Gloucester - and being sentenced to four months hard labour, or attempting suicide ... thus turning up on the Gloucester Records Office site there don't seem to be many uk sites with this info. Shame, isn't it xx A xx

Ann I know how you feel about seeing descriptions of your relative. My Canadian grandfather enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in WW1 and I have seen his enlistment papers on the Canadian archives site. It tells me he had blue eyes and fair hair, his height, chest size etc. Also his next of kin, address, place and date of birth. Although I have photos of him, I never met him as he died in Canada when I was 2. It somehow makes him more 'real' to me. I wish there was a site for my British relatives that gave out so much info! Sue

It's such good advice .. Am fascinated that I have just bought some court records of my family (blush, what a lot of naughty people). In the papers their height, face shape, distinguishing features etc are recorded, apart from their crimes. It brings history home to read that my ancestor in 1865 was five foot and half an inch with black hair and a scar over her right eyebrow. I discovered (lucky me!) a diary belonging to my great grandad, it has his observations on life in late 19c and his feelings about things like Oscar Wilde's court case and his first baby's death from diptheria. I have to admit I wept reading his recorded feelings about his baby. You never know, in 100+ year's time, your own feelings might strike a chord with your descendants ... Cold in Cardiff eh Kim? xx Ann xx

Hello You can also cut and paste from this very good website too. C:\MyDocuments\GENEALOGY\Useful dates in British history(.)htm Shirley

I remember being dragged out of bed by two excited parents becuase someone landed on the moon. I was about 2or 3 and couldn't really understand why I had been woken up. I didn't really understand the fuss after all everyone tells small children about the man in the moon and cows can jump over it too. But looking back that memory has stayed in my head if not for the right reasons! KIM

I did this with my grandmother. She was born in 1896 and died in 1986. When she was a kid no planes, cars, radio, tv - all the things we take for granted. She and my grandfather celebrated their golden wedding the day man landed on the moon and watched it on tv. Do you think there will be another generation that sees so many changes? Nes

you could just do certain areas like what changed in your street since you lived there or what tv was like in the old days!or just do bits when you feel like it and can't find any names or dates.

What a great idea but could be time consuming. Viv.

Read a very interesting article the other day. it said sit down and write down about everything you can think of that has changed since you were born .Keep it with your genealogy bits. it will give your descendants a picture of what it was like in our lifetime. when you think there is a heck of a lot of changes just in the last ten years, mobile phones, internet, pcs etc. Not to mention advances in medicine. Then write another one about the things that have stayed the same. You will end up with two interesting pieces of work . KIM