Every Family has a story to tell……….Welcome to mine
From the Banks of the Thames to the Mud of Passchendaele: The Life and Loss of Harry Joseph Keyes Before the mud, the gunfire, and the chaos of the Western Front, before the thunder of artillery at Ypres silenced his young life, Harry Joseph Keyes was a boy growing up in the heart of working-class … Continue reading In the Shadow of Passchendaele: Remembering Private Keyes
A Journey Through Victorian Essex and Beyond In the spring of 1866, in the quiet rural village of South Ockendon, Essex, a young boy named William Chiddicks was born into a world poised on the brink of immense change. He was born on 18 March 18661, the first of seven children born to Matthew and Elizabeth Chiddicks (née Lake), at a … Continue reading In the Footsteps of William Chiddicks
The Oak Tree Remembers: A Chiddicks Family Story Through the Eyes of the Village Oak Tree I have been standing here longer. than you can remember. My roots run deeper than the graves in the churchyard, and my limbs have reached higher with every passing century. I am the old oak on the village green, … Continue reading The Tree On The Green
About Forgotten Ancestors – Every family tree holds stories lost to time, distant relatives whose lives passed quietly, leaving barely a mark, but whose experiences shaped the generations that followed. In this series, I explore the lives of those forgotten ancestors, bringing their names, stories, and voices back into the light. “History remembers only the celebrated, genealogy … Continue reading Forgotten Ancestors: Remembering James Hallsey
About Forgotten AncestorsEvery family tree holds stories lost to time — distant relatives whose lives passed quietly, leaving barely a mark, but whose experiences shaped the generations that followed. In this series, I explore the lives of those forgotten ancestors, bringing their names, stories, and voices back into the light. “History remembers only the celebrated, genealogy … Continue reading Forgotten Ancestors: Remembering Henry William Chiddicks
About Forgotten Ancestors - Every family tree holds stories lost to time, distant relatives whose lives passed quietly, leaving barely a mark, but whose experiences shaped the generations that followed. In this series, I explore the lives of those forgotten ancestors, bringing their names, stories, and voices back into the light. “History remembers only the celebrated, … Continue reading Forgotten Ancestors: Remembering Horatio Nelson Hallsey
The people of London lay blissfully asleep in their beds, completely unaware of the chaos and devastation that was about to unfold in the early hours of the morning. On a cold and rainy January morning in 1928, disaster struck the city when the River Thames flooded with devastating effect, claiming the lives of fourteen … Continue reading The Great London Flood of 1928
History is All Around Us Everywhere we go we are surrounded by history, whether it's your family's history, the history of your house, or just local history, it's there all around us, often going unnoticed and untouched. But have you ever paused to think about the history woven into the buildings, roads, and landscapes that … Continue reading Touching The Past
Family history research is often a journey of twists, turns, and unexpected breakthroughs. But when you're dealing with a family member who was adopted and separated from the family at a young age, the search can feel even more daunting. In this post, I’ll share with you the unique circumstances that led my friend Rob, … Continue reading Separated by War – Orphaned Siblings Reunited After Decades Apart
Make the most of this folks this might be a once in a lifetime opportunity as you catch a rare glimpse of me stepping outside of my comfort zone. You can watch my first ever video blog where I explain why I started researching my family tree by clicking on the link below:Stepping Into the … Continue reading Stepping Into the Spotlight: My First Ever Vlog!
The Chiddicks Family Tree 