Delving into your family history and tracing your roots can be a captivating journey filled with discoveries just waiting to be uncovered. I’d love to share the fascinating world of genealogy with you and how websites such as Find My Past we’re lucky enough to have access to today can help you build your family tree, find historical records, and connect with your ancestors. Join me on a trip down memory lane as I share my personal experience and some valuable tips for researching your family history.

If you’ve ever watched Who Do You Think You Are, have you been intrigued and considered researching your own family history? If so hopefully this will get those fires burning!

There’s too much to share in just one blog post but there have been many fascinating finds! I’ve recently been exploring Find My Past and would definitely recommend taking a look! One touching moment in my genealogy journey was uncovering my great grandmother’s early life. I have fond memories of her from my childhood, but little did I know about her past. Through online genealogy platforms, I learned that her father was a coach painter – not the National Express type! We’re talking the ornate and intricately designed coaches that horses used to pull along. Don’t forget during Victorian times cars were a rarity. In fact the first car was invented in 1886 and looked absolutely nothing like the cars we have today. His father before him was a horse keeper which interestingly entwined and really makes me yearn for more information. At the age of 16 my great grandmother worked in a sweet shop, which was referred to as a confectioners back in 1911. I also discovered that she worked as a housekeeper for one of the mayors of London during the first half of the 20th century.

Connecting with Cornwall:

Among many other interesting places, my ancestral roots led me to Cornwall, a place I’ve always had a special connection with, even before I knew about my family history there. Cornwall’s beauty and charm have always drawn me in, and now, knowing that some of my ancestors hailed from this region, it feels like an even more significant part of my heritage.

Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner

Well actually I’m not but many of my ancestors were true cockneys! The original definition of a cockney was being born within hearing distance of the church bells of St. Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, in the city of London. It has been estimated that, prior to the noise of traffic, the sound of the Bow Bells reached about 6 miles to the east, 5 miles to the north, 4 miles to the west, and 3 miles to the south.

Exploring Ancestral Graves

During a visit to Cornwall, I stumbled upon (well ok, actually researched meticulously!!) the ancient churchyard where some of my ancestors were laid to rest. Walking among the weathered gravestones, some dating back over two centuries, was a surreal experience. It made me feel deeply connected to my family’s past, confirmed dates and allowed me to pay my respects to those who came before me.

The Trinity Pilots

One intriguing discovery in my family tree was the occupation of several ancestors as Trinity pilots. At first, I had no idea what this role entailed, but further research revealed that they were responsible for safely guiding ships into the harbour. This occupation not only highlighted their maritime connection but also their vital role in ensuring the safety of seafarers. My 4x great grandfather had this role and I discovered, by further research into this, that he continued the role until the great age of 66 – pretty impressive considering we’re talking the early 1800s!! I wonder what he looked like, or what his boat was called…

Seeking Ancestral Photos:

One of my ongoing quests in genealogy is to find photographs of my ancestors. It’s a thrilling thought to see if there are any family resemblances that span generations. While this search can be challenging, the internet and online communities dedicated to genealogy have been invaluable resources in my quest to connect with the past. I even discovered that one of my ancestors was a portrait photographer!! The fact that he had an almost doubled barrelled name enabled me to find more about his history and where his photography studio was based.

Family history search Tip:

Some people are easier to research than others, especially as in the past they didn’t always spell their names consistently in the same way. For example Harris could have also been spelled Hariss, Harries, Harrise or may have even looked like Harriff when you factor in that many records were handwritten. You need to keep an open mind and explore every avenue.

A recent exciting update in my genealogy journey is the release of the 1921 census. Currently available exclusively on the Find My Past website, this census provides a wealth of information about our more recent ancestors, possibly even our grandparents lives when they were young.

Tip:

A handy tip for you – If you find an address, you can use Street View to see if the house still stands, allowing you to imagine your ancestors’ daily lives in the local area.
Exploring my family history is an ongoing journey filled with remarkable discoveries and a deepened connection to my roots. Through the power of genealogy websites, I’ve unearthed stories of my great grandmother’s youth, connected with my Cornish heritage, and gained insights into the important role my ancestors played as Trinity pilots. The search for ancestral photographs continues, and the release of the 1921 census has added another layer to my exploration. Genealogy truly is a captivating and meaningful adventure, one that I’d encourage everyone to embark on to discover their own rich family history.

Some people are easier to trace than others, particularly when there are middle names, which help to confirm you’re on the right track. Although a lot of information is freely available, particularly in certain areas of the country (for example Cornwall parish records) I’d recommend creating your tree on one of the more comprehensive sites such as Ancestry or Find My Past

A free trial on one of these would be a great place to start. Click here to find out more

Start your own family history journey today and uncover the hidden treasures within your ancestral roots. Drop me a message on one of my social channels if you’d like some help! Let me know if you’d like me to write more on this subject as it’s something I’m really passionate about and I’d love to help you discover it too!

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