NDFHS - Key Persons
Dudley George gave a talk on the future of Genealogy, noting how much DNA analysis poses both new challenges and opportunities. This is most especially true in the area of generating "true" family trees, as opposed to current ones, which are created from "official" BMD and census records. A researcher working in the interface between these and DNA -based relationships recently stated that they had never, ever come across a family tree that proved to be 100% accurate.
Branch member Greg Geissler is a member of the Mayflower Society, an American-based society for people whose ancestors sailed to America in 1620. Greg has traced his connection back to his 12th Great-Grandfather, named William Brewster.
is a member of the Mayflower Society, an American-based society for people whose ancestors sailed to America in 1620. Greg has traced his connection back to his 12th Great-Grandfather, named William Brewster.
The talk related to William Brewster's role in taking four children whose surname was More to the New World. The children - Ellen, Jasper, Richard and Mary - were the children of Samuel and Katherine More of Shipton in Shropshire. The parents' marriage seems to have been one of convenience and arranged for dynastic reasons - Samuel and Katherine were cousins, and her father had no male heir to inherit his estate. Samuel worked in London as secretary to Lord Zouche, a diplomat and Privy Councillor. He came to believe that the four children were not his, but had been fathered by a tenant farmer, Jacob Blakeway to whom Katherine later testified that she had been betrothed prior to her marriage to Samuel. This testimony came during a lengthy legal battle over the custody and parentage of the four children, whom Samuel had disinherited. It appears that his solution to the whole issue was to send the children to America with the Pilgrims as indentured servants. Two of the children were indentured to William Brewster, with Samuel making financial provision for them by paying £20 for each child - twice the going rate - which would guarantee them a parcel of land when they came of age in the New World.
Job Titles:
- Holborn through the Eyes of Its People
Kathryn Ferry highlighted the 350-year history of the British Seaside, and how many aspects of it are coming full circle. Eg The initial focus was on cold water bathing-hence Northern beaches esp. Scarborough; now the health benefits of this are receiving TV coverage. Initially only the rich could afford to use bathing machines, some of these were converted to the first beach huts, and now these sheds can achieve 5-figure prices. It is hoped the post-Covid focus on UK holidays will permanently rescue many once-thriving resorts. (Kathryn then signed copies of her latest book)
11 members present plus 5 apologies attended the meeting on 3 May 2022 when members discussed volunteers to help at local & family history fair on 14 May and the branch outing on 7 June.
The talk: "Lifeboats and Rescues RNLI", Speaker Bill Nicholson gave a talk about the RNLI with particular reference to the rescue of the hospital ship 'Rohilla' in 1914 and the part played by the lifeboat ‘Henry Vernon'. Bill's ancestor Thomas Cummings was a crew member and was awarded a silver medal for his part in the rescue.
Lady Mary Eleanor Bowes-Lyon was once probably the most eligible young lady in Europe, fabulously rich and well educated, if somewhat plain. Whilst her first marriage was no love match, her second was a descent into Hell. She had been tricked by the media into wedlock with a true psychopath who tortured her physically and mentally. This included burning her with a candle, stabbing her through the tongue and throwing a pan of boiling water over her. Her kidnap, subsequent escape, and eventual burial in Westminster Abbey holds one final secret, which still attracts criminal interest to this day.
was the speaker who talked on the complex issue of DNA and how testing can be a helpful tool in family research. Having first given a breakdown of how our DNA is made up, John went on to say that whilst technology continues to improve, DNA testing through sites such as Ancestry can be more limited in that they tend to go back no more than 5 generations. Well known cases when DNA was used were the identification of Richard III (using the female line) and the supposed children of Tsar Nicholas II who shared DNA with Prince Phillip. The various testing sites may well give differing results and they do not share information but data can be downloaded on to the free site Gedmatch. There was much food for thought for those who have done a DNA test but the results should always be treat with caution and like much of our family history we need to be aware of those ‘skeletons in the cupboard'.