Category Archives: Property

“You May Kiss the Child”

“I have always considered marriage as the most interesting event of one’s life, the foundation of happiness or misery”. These very wise words, addressed to a friend, were written by George Washington in 1795. That same year, one of my … Continue reading

Posted in Colwall, Engagement, England, Genealogy, Herefordshire, Marriage, Money, Property, Spain, United States, Women | Leave a comment

A New Branch Full of Surprises

Every time I assume that by now I have located and traced entirely all the collateral branches of my family tree, I am (happily) proven wrong. A couple of days ago I logged on Ancestry.co.uk where a pop-up message informed … Continue reading

Posted in 1871 Census, 1881 Census, 1891 Census, 1901 Census, 1911 Census, Birth, Colwall, Death, England, Genealogy, Herefordshire, Illness, Marriage, Property, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Workhouse | 1 Comment

Unearthing a tyrant in the family

We genealogists have an inevitable tendency to visualize all our ancestors through the lens of romanticism and redemption. In most cases we may well be very near the mark, as I am sure many of our forebears were generally nice … Continue reading

Posted in Death, Engagement, Galicia, Genealogy, Illegitimacy, Illness, Marriage, Money, Property, Spain | Leave a comment

Henry W. Sherry: the lover and killer of Mrs Waldock

This is for my friend Belinda, whose interesting ancestor I have been very happy to research. Henry Walter Sherry was born in the first half of the year 1839 in the parish of Stourmouth, near Dover, in the English county … Continue reading

Posted in 1841 Census, 1851 Census, Australia, Death, Emigration, England, Genealogy, Marriage, Murder, Property, Ships | 13 Comments

The National Archives’ Old Currency Converter

When tracing your family tree, undoubtedly you will come across many types of documents: from church records to military rolls, pension books, trade directories, passenger lists, maps, and so on. When dealing with property, whether in a will or the … Continue reading

Posted in Death, England, Genealogy, Money, Murder, Property, The National Archives | 1 Comment

You’re A Lady, Not Toad Of Toad Hall!

Some months before ITV’s Downton Abbey was first released to the general public in Britain last year, I had already become fascinated by American heiresses who one way or other managed to become the wives of some of the wealthiest … Continue reading

Posted in Cuba, Emigration, Engagement, England, Famous Genealogy, Genealogy, Louisiana, Marriage, Property, United States, Women | 6 Comments

The Granny from Codling Hall

It’s always exciting to discover a relative who had a bit of money, or at least owned some property here and there. It makes you feel slightly above other genealogists who so far have only been able to trace labourers … Continue reading

Posted in 1861 Census, 1871 Census, 1891 Census, 1911 Census, England, Genealogy, Herefordshire, Hope-under-Dinmore, Property | 4 Comments