Category Archives: Genealogy

My Italian family tree keeps on growing… in unexpected ways!

Nota bene: There is a simplified family tree at the end of this article, which some of you may find helpful to navigate the numerous Pietros, Marias and Giovannas mentioned in the text. I think one of the main reasons … Continue reading

Posted in Genealogy, Italy, San Marzano Oliveto | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A flurry of potentially new cousins

These last two months I have been kept very busy by delving deeper and deeper into my Italian ancestry. Ever since I discovered that at least two of my great-great-great-grandparents shared the same surname (Terzano), I wondered whether these two … Continue reading

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My mysterious Terzano cousins

Today’s blog post is about resourcefulness and, above all, perseverance. For years, I have been obsessed with a particular line of my family tree (I know none of you has ever experienced this!). It all started a couple of years … Continue reading

Posted in Antenati, Archives, Emigration, Family Search, Genealogy, Italy, San Marzano Oliveto | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The descendants of Harry Cartwright (1796-1842)

Today I’m going off-piste as I follow the line of descent through a collateral branch in my family tree. Harry Cartwright (1796-1842) was the only son, and the middle child, of Henry Cartwright and his wife Jane. Harry was also … Continue reading

Posted in 1841 Census, Birth, Death, Emigration, England, Genealogy, Herefordshire, Marriage | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Elizabeth Walker, née Vickress (1816-1865)

My great-great-great-great-grandparents William and Elizabeth Vickress had twelve children, all of whom – remarkably – reached adulthood. Sadly, several of them succumbed to tuberculosis in their early twenties, depleting the number of family members considerably. One of the daughters that … Continue reading

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From Fred to Ed: Ellen Tomkins’ elusive husband

My great-great-grandfather’s second cousin Ellen Tomkins was born on 2 May 1864 in Colwall, her family’s ancestral birthplace in Herefordshire. As one of no fewer than thirteen children, Ellen belonged to a tight-knit family whose branches stretched across the county … Continue reading

Posted in 1871 Census, 1881 Census, 1891 Census, 1901 Census, 1911 Census, Archives, Birmingham, Colwall, Death, England, Genealogy, Herefordshire, Women | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Why I’m quitting social media

When I first joined Twitter back in 2016, I was amazed to get to know so many “like-minded” people, from all over the world, old and young, professionals and amateurs… a thriving and incredible community of people who love history … Continue reading

Posted in Genealogy | 3 Comments

When was the last time Europe lacked a female ruler?

I am slightly digressing from my usual focus on genealogy and family history to discuss another of my favourite topics: royal history. And if you like quizzes and riddles, please stay put! I want to discuss what yesterday started off … Continue reading

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The mystery of Samuel Morris’s origins

Morris was my great-grandmother’s maiden name, so when I was growing up, I was well aware of its existence in my recent family history. However, when I later became interested in genealogy, I soon discovered how difficult it was going … Continue reading

Posted in 1841 Census, 1851 Census, 1861 Census, Archives, Birth, Death, England, Genealogy, Herefordshire, Kington | Leave a comment

What happened to Joseph William Rodway?

The Rodways of Castlemorton In 1853 my great-great-great-great-uncle John Rodway, a wheelwright by profession, died in the Worcestershire village of Castlemorton, where he had lived for most of his adult life. He was 60 years of age, a widower, and … Continue reading

Posted in 1851 Census, 1861 Census, 1871 Census, 1881 Census, 1891 Census, 1901 Census, 1911 Census, Civil Registration, Genealogy, Marriage, Murder, War, Women, Worcestershire, Workhouse, World War II | Leave a comment