Exciting genealogical finds!

[clarefmshaw]

Has anyone found anyone or anything !TRULY EXCITING! in their genealogical searches - ie someone who was famous/infamous?! Or just something wildly unexpected?!

Probably a bit of New Year gloom, but I've just felt strangely glum about my ancestry (other than a couple of naughty grandfathers - army desertion/bigamy......)

best wishes
Clare

[Burrow Digger]

Other than the fact that Paul McDonald, one of New Zealand's Olympic canoeists at the 1984 Olympics who several won gold medals, is distantly related to my family only by marriage, no I havent found anyone of interest.

Two of Paul's uncles married two of my fathers cousins. :)

BD

[RichardMarcJ]

George Bernard Shaw is distantly related to my family through a couple marriages.

[clarefmshaw]

George Bernard Shaw is distantly related to my family through a couple marriages.

Wow! you lucky person.....believe it or not, I've always dreamed of being related to G B Shaw (only because of my surname and an Irish family connection).....

[Wirral]

Just found today in 1851 census, living in Shipston on Stour, Worcs:

Robert Strong, head, widr, 57, Cordwainer, Worcs. Shipston on Stour
Mary Strong, sister, wid, 73 Worcs. Shipston on Stour
David Duford, cousin, unmarried, 80, income from French Government, London, insane

I'd love to know the story behind that! :eek:

[clarefmshaw]

Just found today in 1851 census, living in Shipston on Stour, Worcs:

Robert Strong, head, widr, 57, Cordwainer, Worcs. Shipston on Stour
Mary Strong, sister, wid, 73 Worcs. Shipston on Stour
David Duford, cousin, unmarried, 80, income from French Government, London, insane

I'd love to know the story behind that! :eek:

blooming heck Wirral! Presumably this is a relative!

[Wirral]

No such luck. Just the entry above the one I was looking for (who weren't related to me either!)

[kazrbutler]

Recently, I did a little research on my uncle's (mother's brother in law) ancestors. Some of these were a family RODDAs, who moved from Cornwall to Derbyshire - from copper/ tin mines to coal mines. Searching for them in 1881 census on Family Search, I came across one entry which looked familiar. There was Samuel Rodda the brother of my uncle's ancestor (Eliza Hoskin nee Rodda), living as a lodger in the household of Ann Wainwright in West Mosbro, Eckington. Nothing especially unusual, until I realised why it was familiar and that I had already printed off this information. Ann Wainwright was my Gt GT GT Grandmother on my father's side!

Coincidences keep cropping up in my family tree, but they never seem to stop surprising me.

Karen

[Colin Moretti]

Frustrated by the lack of progress with my MORETTIs I started looking at someone who seemed to be associated with family (Charles PAGLIANO, witness at marriages & baptisms, one Moretti got married from his hotel, another lived there). It was a bit like looking for the car keys under the street light, lots of references to Charles, his father and their business on the internet and at Kew. I found references to a case concerning his will in Chancery papers at TNA so followed it up. Imaging my delight when I found that one of the documents was a family tree of my Morettis prepared for the court to resolve the distribution of the estate as a number of the original legatees (including my gg grandfather) had died. It was only two generations but the number of questions it answered concerning dates of marriage, names of spouses and children, dates of birth, relationships, was astonishing. The original will was very helpful too!

Colin

[Moulder86]

I haven't actually looked into it properly yet, but on my Grandads family tree one of my relative was a house maid and had a child with the a Duke of Norfolk. When I get the chance it'll be good to see how that all turned out.

[Diane Grant-Salmon]

The only bit of *fame* is in my husband's family tree! My lot were all *ordinary* :D

Erasmus Welby's (born 1815) Gt.Gt. Uncle was Erasmus Darwin, who was the Grandfather of Charles Robert Darwin. This makes Erasmus Welby (who was named after his Gt.Gt. Uncle) the second Cousin once removed of Charles Robert Darwin ....... very remote connection I know, but it's nice to have * a bit of posh*! ;)

[peter nicholl]

Hi Clare
A couple from your neck of the woods. Raymond Mays, the racing car driver and the man behind the ERA and the BRM was my third cousin once removed. Also for a long time I thought that through our common ancestor, William Shilcock, we were related by marriage to Matthew Flinders. In one of his letters he talks of his "Aunty Shilcock" who died from falling from her horse. There still may be a link, but if there is it goes back a few more generations.
Peter

[morrisb2]

I have a good one. My g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-grandmother was an accused witch. Winifred King Benham was accused of and tried for witchcraft 3 times in Connecticut, US, during the late 1600's. She was acquitted all 3 times. Her third trial was the last trial for witchcraft in the colonies, just after the infamous Salem trials.

[Burrow Digger]

I have actually just discovered another one :)

Last week I thought I would check out a fellow named Edward Bentall Collis from Essex who married my grandmothers sister.

I found two things -
One was a website with the entire family tree back to the 1600s

And the second was a convicted murderer!!!
This Samuel Collis turned out to be Edward Bentall Collis's uncle.

I would like to say thank you to Ann Brock who was very generous in locating these two websites for me.

I wasnt expecting to find anything much, and I'm kind of jealous coz NOTHING like this ever happened in my tree. :(
Edward Collis is not related to me (except by marriage) although his grandchildren are my second cousins.

BTW Ann, Bert turned out to be a very nice chap.

Burrow Digger

[Sheleen]

I have a John Lewis, a Robert E Lee, a Matthew Hopkins, ... and none of them are famous or infamous....lol
HOWEVER..,
My great-grandfathers first wife was a friend of Lily Langtry. Not related, as far as we know..... but there is a 14 year age gap between Lily and Elizabeth (grandpappies first wife), and our family has no idea exactly how they became friends (lifelong, or later on in life). One tale in the family states that these two were actually related - but I can find no evidence of this at all - though what a fantastic tale that would be.
Elizabeth actually had two children, and they have not been traced either.

One other little thing... that little hozelock device you stick on the end of your hose to make the water sprinkle or spray... my mums cousin invented that.

Thats as close to fame or infamy I have. (apart from the bent railings in Devon).

[Ladkyis]

My father's cousin, Mai JONES, wrote the music for the unofficial Welsh national anthem "We'll Keep a Welcome in the Hillsides".

Now here's the thing she was called Gladys May JONES when she was born and in the 1901 census but I cannot find the correct birth certificate for her - over 30 quid spent so far - and I have this vague memory of my father saying that he had discovered that she was adopted although he never said how he knew this.

there is also the vague family story that my grandmother's family were related to someone called Anthony HOPE who apparently invented the post office or perhaps it was postage stamps or even post boxes. Hmmm there's a subject for a rainy afternoon.
Ann

[AnnB]

BTW Ann, Bert turned out to be a very nice chap.

Burrow Digger
Glad to hear it BD, and pleased to have helped. If only our Collis's were as happy to be found - even with a murderer included ;)

Best wishes
Ann

[ziksby]

Sheleen mentioned Robert E Lee. I have the real one in my tree, very distantly related as follows.....
Peter Jones (b.1819), the brother of my great great grand father converted to Mormonism and emigrated to the States in 1844. He married Mary Lee Bland in Utah. She came from Kentucky. My genealogy software says that ....
Mary Lee Bland`s grandfather`s cousin`s grandson is Robert `E`Lee.

In addition and also on the Mormon theme, I find that my great grandfather`s cousin`s wife`s father was John Taylor - 3rd President of the Church of Latter Day Saints. The cousin was Daniel Harrington, nephew of the above Peter Jones.

[joette]

Keep hoping, but there may be a connection & how appropriate on his birthday a connection between Rabbie Burns & my Grandfather's Uncle James Scott.Still trying to work it out & as Rabbie was a "one" for the ladies may be a long trawl.
Having said that I understand that he always held his hands up when paternity was questioned & admitted the possibility & provided financially where possible & needed.

[norfolk white]

Whilst carrying out research on my mother's line I found that her g.g.grandmother was called Mary Brownrigg born 1813 at Whitbeck, Cumberland (christened 17 May 1813 also at Whitbeck).

Then, looking up my father line I found that his great grandfather was called James Brownrigg born 1826 at Annaside near Whitbeck and was christened 5 November 1826.

Mary Brownrigg's parents were called John Brownrigg and Sarah Tyson.
James Brownrigg's parents were called John Brownrigg and Sarah Tyson

John and Sarah had 13 children, Mary was the eldest and James was child number seven. Between Mary and the youngest child (Hannah) there was 27 years and between Mary and James there was 13 years.

So, not only are my parents husband and wife but also 3rd cousins once removed and not only am I my parents' son but also 3rd cousin twice removed to my father and 4th cousin to my mother.

[JohnMorrisonIOM]

In doing my research on my Grandmother, I came acroos this one.
It's a mouthful, My GG Aunt's Husband's Grandmother' first husband, apparently killed his first wife with a red hot poker.... AND got away with it!!
Still trying to track down the details.
His name was John Cowx, bn around 1780 in Cumberland but moved to Ballaugh in the Isle of Man.
I haven't yet managed to find out the name of the wife he is supposed to have killed.

[GillC]

My only claim to fame as far as my ancestors is - my Grandfathers great uncle is a Yorkshire Cricketer called George Ulyett. He played in the "Ashes" game, with W G Grace, that was so bad it caused the ashes to be. In fact he was the highest english run scorer on the test.
He was also porported to be the cricketer to have created the "yorker ball" - because of his unusual bowling technique.
So if anyone else is related to him - they may well be related to me............ cool eh

[dance]

My Gt. Gt. Gt. Gt grandfather was John Lamb. His brother was Charles Lamb the famour essayist and poet.

Their sister Mary murdered their mother with a table knife, and Charles Lamb looked after her. I wonder why she was not imprisoned?

[ElaineMaul]

Hi Dance,

Are Mary and Charles Lamb the same Lambs that lived in Edmonton, (then) Middlesex, (now) London?

There is a memorial to them inside my church, All Saints Church in Edmonton (I know, I know, I live in Cheshunt now but I lived in Edmonton for a long time and still go to the same church) ..... rather a nice memorial as well ...... familiarity breeds contempt in that I can't quite visualise it at the moment, but I'm sure it has two reliefs of their faces on it.

Elaine

[dance]

Yes, that is the same Charles Lamb.

I was born in Cheshunt so it was interesting to hear your information

[rene196]

Has anyone found anyone or anything !TRULY EXCITING! in their genealogical searches - ie someone who was famous/infamous?! Or just something wildly unexpected?!

Probably a bit of New Year gloom, but I've just felt strangely glum about my ancestry (other than a couple of naughty grandfathers - army desertion/bigamy......)

best wishes
Clare

My husband didnt know anything about his mothers family,other than that she was an orphan.
We had her birth cert. which gave place of birth,mothers name,fathers name,and date of marriage.
I tried for months and couldnt get anywhere.
Eventually I got a breakthrough.
Her mother married, and the husband died a year later.
The best man at the wedding was a man called William Murray.
About 4 years later,she married again 5/4/1895 to an Anderson. 3 years later she had her daughter who was named Margaret Murray,with a middle name Anderson. I tried to find a marriage to Murray ,but no.
So I thought, maybe Anderson had died,but no,I found his death some years later [Widower]of Mary,so she had already died. But why give her daughter her husbands name ,also her lovers.
I still couldnt find where the daughter[My husbands mother] had been brought up,with whom, so I thought obviously one of her family would have done this, if she had died.
I saw she had a sister Margaret on a census,I would try and find her,obviously married.
I found Margarets marriage, 2 months after Marys, to a William Murray.
Is this a coincidence or am jumping to conclusions.
It could have been a different William Murray altogether.
But no marriage cert for Wiliam and Mary.
The marriage date on her childs birth cert. was the date she married Anderson, yet her childs fathers name was given as William Murray.
Andersons death cert says widower of Mary,so presumably they werent divorced.
The end of the story is -Margaret died in her early 30s with cancer of the face,Mary died in an asylum with general parallysis.
And I still dont know anything about my husbands mothers childhood,which was why I started this in the first place

[Ledganteast]

I got part of my family tree written in 1904 from a maritime museum at the top it states "descendants of Gallant Hampton of historic fame" I have never found out who on earth he was or what he was famous for.Which I guess makes him not very famous at all!

[Ledganteast]

That is an incredible link.


"His sister Mary, "worn down to a state of extreme nervous misery by attention to needlework by day and to her mother at night", was seized with acute mania and stabbed her mother to the heart with a table knife. With the help of friends he succeeded in obtaining his sister's release from what would otherwise have been lifelong imprisonment, on the condition that he take personal responsibility for her safekeeping."

[shasfern]

Hi Clare, this may be of interest to you on both the infamous and Shaw fronts. I was adopted - but my birth father was Frederick Charles paul Shaw born 1927 in Plumstead (believed also to have been adopted so no birth records), died 1964 in Lambeth Prison. He was tried and convicted at the Old Bailey for producing the 1st 'Ladies Directory'. Quite a conversation piece!!!
Sharon.

[Pegasus]

Not 'Proven' (Yet!)

But, My Maternal Grandfather was 6 Generations removed from John & James Hardman of Allerton Hall (one of them, [I can never remember which] was married to the Daughter of a Major of Liverpool (Cockshut).

The tale of 'Great Expections' was Inspired by the Hardman/Allerton Hall Mystery!

Both John & James died within a few Years of each other, their children having died (or been Murdered) before their passing, so their Estate (which was Quite Large even by Todays Standards) was left to anyone that could Prove Descent from a Common Ancestor ( Heirs in Common or Heirs Appartant)!

My Grandfather was aproached by distant cousins (who wanted His Help to Prove Their Claim), He would'nt even let them 'Accross the Threshhold' & told them "I want Nothing to Do with 'It', There is Blood on That Money".

What He Knew (but Never told them) was that there had Already been an Act of Parliament passed (at the request of Liverpool City Council, which Held Most of the Freeholds & Leases of the Hardman Properties/Lands) to Bar ANY Further Claimants to the Hardman Estate!

P.S.

If Fate had'nt been so Cruel I might have been born in a 4-poster Bed in a Panelled Room (with a Silver Spoon in my Mouth!).

[irisrose]

My list is endless here are some of the famous people in my tree.
Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay and his Father Zachary both buried in Poets Corner Westminster Abbey.
Sir Charles Trevelyan
Sir Aulay Macaulay
Sir James Parker Smith
Head Masters of Harrow, Rugby and Repton Schools.
Ursula Darwin Great Grandaughter of Charles Darwin married one of my distant relatives.

[Donauschwaben]

I have a good chunk of interesting and famous memebers of my Family Tree...

William Henry Whiteley III (inventor of cod trap, founder of Bonne Esperance Fishery, member of newfoundland assembly)

Sir Wiliam Courtenay 2nd Viscount of Powderham, Earl of Devon

about 10 kings of england.....

[RichardMarcJ]

My great-grandma's sister's husband was the nephew of George Bernard Shaw.

[chopendoz]

In my family there are no outstanding relatives - apart from a couple of bigamists, a prostitute and an uncle who wrote a book about UFO's. Of course, Lloyd George knew my mother!

[GeoffD]

In my family there are no outstanding relatives ... and an uncle who wrote a book about UFO's.

Hmmmmm .... not Richard T*mb***g by any chance?

[JeanetteH]

Yes I have . . . I was surprised to discover a while back that I am a distant cousin of the Duchess of Gloucester . . . through my Danish great-grandfather. Not strictly "British genealogy" I know, but sort of in an indirect kind of way.

Searching for descendants of your ancestor's siblings can be very rewarding - you never know who you might have a connection to!

Jeanette
Brisbane, Qld

[GeoffD]

I am privy to a tree (from a distant cousin many times removed) which contains some old Pommy geezer named PLANTAGENET, Henry (III) and his delightful (?) offspring, Edward I "Longshanks" and, of course, the latter's fancy Spanish in-laws.

Delving further, I also find someone called William, born October, 1024 in Normandy. He did a bit of conquering in 1066, I am told. His pa-in-law was Baudoin V, but I've got a quicker way to get to that family - my great-uncle Harry married one of 'em.

Following the lines down from these worthies is a wonderful lesson in the 'decline of the nobility', with eventual marriages into humble fisherfolk families of West Penwith. Ain't genealogy grand?

[JeanetteH]

I am privy to a tree (from a distant cousin many times removed) which contains some old Pommy geezer named PLANTAGENET, Henry (III) and his delightful (?) offspring, Edward I "Longshanks" and, of course, the latter's fancy Spanish in-laws.

Delving further, I also find someone called William, born October, 1024 in Normandy. He did a bit of conquering in 1066, I am told. His pa-in-law was Baudoin V, but I've got a quicker way to get to that family - my great-uncle Harry married one of 'em.

Following the lines down from these worthies is a wonderful lesson in the 'decline of the nobility', with eventual marriages into humble fisherfolk families of West Penwith. Ain't genealogy grand?

LOL! I suppose it all depends on what one finds "exciting".

[BevGibbs]

I come from an steady line of agricultural labourers, brewery labourers, grocers and blacksmiths but.......

Unproven but my maternal great-greats were related to the "Rugely Poisoner" who I understand was Britains first serial killer. I say unproven but one of his portaits simply looks like my brother in fancy dress. Uncanny

I also have Charles Bannister who was deputy director of what is now the Laboratory of the Government Chemist (interesting to me as I worked at the physics lab. for 7 years which is on the same site as the chemists in Teddington)

If you look at the shape and nature of family trees, think it unsurprising that everyone would come across someone famous or notorious, especially by the time you have gone back a few generations - so I just keep looking. Having said that Im prepared to swap my Rugely Poisoner for William the Conqueror...........

[GeoffD]

I love seeing the occupations of my ancestors - fisherman, carpenter, net maker, quarryman, cigar maker ...

If you look at the shape and nature of family trees, think it unsurprising that everyone would come across someone famous or notorious, especially by the time you have gone back a few generations - so I just keep looking. Having said that Im prepared to swap my Rugely Poisoner for William the Conqueror...........

My point exactly - even an ordinary person from the tiny village of Mousehole can have Kings of England in the family tree. Time and marriage are great levellers.

[chopendoz]

I have been researching the CAMPINI family originally from Switzerland and came across an entry on the LDS site. It seems that one Ottone CAMPINI married a French princess in 1936 and there is a record of her pedigree with princes, dukes, kings, countesses.. you name it. It goes way back to some Bohemian aristos in 654 AD. Sadly, the guy is probably an Italian CAMPINI so I can't really claim noble blood. Perhaps I could adopt him ?

[Burrow Digger]

In doing my mothers family tree over the last 12 months, I came across her 2x gt grandmother - Jane Pellew Mallett. Jane was born in Cornwall, the bastard child of Mary Mallett, but it looks like Mary's mother was a Pellew - descended from the famous Pellew Royal Navy family of Trafalgar Battle fame.

Anyway, out of curiousity I was looking at Drew Barrymore's ancestry recently (yes the American actress) and came across a mention that said that she had an ancestress who was also a Pellew descended from the same Cornish family.

I got quite excited about this possible distant connection - until I did some further research and discovered that the original Pellew name in Drews line was not correct. I had found this Pellew name on Rootsweb, and I think it was just someones imagination, but everything I researched said it was wrong.

I'm a little disappointed. :(

BD