Category Archives: War

A fatherless line of Italian ancestors

When my 24 year-old Italian great-grandfather Giacomo boarded a ship and emigrated to the United States in 1910, he left behind a tiny family unit composed of solely by his mother, Margherita. She was listed on the passenger list as … Continue reading

Posted in Birth, Civil Registration, Death, Genealogy, Illegitimacy, Italy, Marriage, Nizza Monferrato, War, World War II | 1 Comment

The San Marzano Oliveto war memorial

When my 17 year-old great-grandmother emigrated from Italy to America in late 1912, she could hardly have imagined that in less than three years her homeland would take part in the First World War – a conflict which was to … Continue reading

Posted in Death, Genealogy, Italy, Killed In Action, War, World War I | 1 Comment

Looking for Edwin

In 2014 I decided to take advantage of my Ancestry.co.uk subscription and expand my research area beyond my own blood-relatives to collateral lines and families who intermarried with my own. By doing so I knew I would probably hit a … Continue reading

Posted in 1911 Census, 1939 UK Register, Adoption, Ancestry.com, Birth, Civil Registration, England, Genealogy, Herefordshire, Illegitimacy, Killed In Action, War, World War I | 1 Comment

Researching Clara Allen

Several years ago I learned, thanks to the English census, that my great-great-grandfather John Allen had a younger sister called Clara. For some inexplicable reason, I have always felt a keen interest in Clara’s story – perhaps because for many … Continue reading

Posted in 1851 Census, 1861 Census, 1871 Census, 1881 Census, 1891 Census, 1901 Census, 1911 Census, Birth, Colwall, Death, England, Genealogy, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Illness, War, Women, Work, World War I, World War II | 1 Comment

Remembering Ash Villa

There are not many buildings left standing where an ancestor of mine once lived. One of the few exceptions that I know of is a quaint yet ordinary-looking, four-bedroom house called Ash Villa, in Upper Colwall, Herefordshire. Nestled behind the … Continue reading

Posted in 1851 Census, 1861 Census, 1871 Census, 1881 Census, 1891 Census, 1901 Census, 1911 Census, Adoption, Birmingham, Birth, Colwall, Death, England, Genealogy, Herefordshire, Property, War, Worcestershire, World War I | 7 Comments

Who Do You Think You Are Live! 2016

My head is still buzzing with information, my feet occasionally still hurt, and my bank account is a sad sight. Yes, the effects of the annual Who Do You Think You Are! Live trade fair are still fresh in my mind … Continue reading

Posted in 1939 UK Register, Bigamy, Birmingham, Birth, Colwall, Divorce, Emigration, Famous Genealogy, Genealogy, Herefordshire, Jewish Ancestry, Marriage, The National Archives, United States, Wales, War, Who Do You Think You Are?, Worcestershire, World War I | Leave a comment

Almond John Bratt (1891-1917

Almond John Bratt was born in Colwall in early 1891, one of twelve children born to Thomas William Bratt and his wife Margaret. The Bratts, who lived in Lyttelton, Colwall were a working-class family, and in his youth John worked … Continue reading

Posted in Colwall, Colwall Soldiers, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Death, England, War, World War I | Leave a comment

Walter Booton (1882-1915)

Walter Booton was born in Rock, Worcestershire, in the spring of 1882. He was one of four children born to Thomas Booton, of Cleobury Mortimer, and his wife Elizabeth (née Oliver). Walter’s father worked as an agricultural labourer, a profession … Continue reading

Posted in Colwall, Colwall Soldiers, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, England, Genealogy, Killed In Action, War, Worcestershire, World War I | Leave a comment

Penrith Sutton Beauchamp (1893-1917)

Penrith Sutton Beauchamp was born in Colwall, Herefordshire in early 1893, the fifth of the seven children born to Frederick William Beauchamp and his wife Minnie Blanche (née Dixon); he was christened at St James “the Great” Church on 24th … Continue reading

Posted in Colwall, Colwall Soldiers, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Genealogy, Killed In Action, War, Worcestershire, World War I | 3 Comments

Forrest Beauchamp (1883-1918)

Forrest Miles Beauchamp was born on 19th October 1883 in Cotham, Gloucestershire, the eldest son of Frederick William Beauchamp and his wife, Minnie Blanche (née Dixon). Forrest had three brothers (Frederick Gordon, Arthur Kenneth and Penrith Sutton Beauchamp) and three … Continue reading

Posted in 1901 Census, Canada, Colwall, Colwall Soldiers, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Emigration, England, War | 5 Comments