Every Family has a story to tell……….Welcome to mine
Discover the dark tales of the past in my brand-new series: "Stories From The Grave." Some family history stories announce themselves quietly, while others arrive and take hold of the heart. The story of Little Merrit Beardsley belongs to the latter. It is brief, tender, and heavy with the kind of love that refuses to let … Continue reading When Love Shines Through: The Story of Merrit Beardsley
In the summer of 2025, I travelled to the battlefields of the Western Front to pay tribute to three members of my extended family who gave their lives in the First World War. The experience was both moving and deeply humbling, walking among the countless white headstones, each one marking a life ended too soon … Continue reading In the Shadow of the Great War: Remembering William George Curtin
Genealogy is an exciting journey of discovery, but it’s easy to get caught up in the thrill of the chase. With the explosion of online tools and databases, anyone can start creating their family history instantly – but how many of us pause to ask: does my tree have solid roots? It’s tempting to go … Continue reading How Strong Are Your Tree’s Roots?
Ever had one of those skeletons from the past come knocking at your door? Should you answer? I guarantee that every family will have secrets, some might call them 'skeletons in the cupboard' but it amounts to the same thing. Something was kept hidden from the family, for what at the time, appeared to be … Continue reading Whose Truth Is It Anyway?
Something a little bit different from me this time..........whoever said history was boring? Somebody recently sent me a very interesting story regarding the origins of some well-known phrases associated with graveyards and burials and as you can imagine, this piqued my interest a little. I have more than a passing interest in the past and … Continue reading Never Let The Truth Get in the Way of a Good Story….
After recently moving house, I was absolutely delighted to discover that there is a vast amount of history that surrounds the market town of Nantwich in Cheshire, where I live, and as someone with a keen interest in local, as well as family history, I felt compelled to tell you about “The Battle of Nantwich” … Continue reading The Battle of Nantwich
Sometimes we discover a story that's so remarkable that even though it's not a member of your own family, we feel compelled to make sure that the story is told. The photograph of the young boy standing outside the White Star Line offices in London, holding an Evening News poster announcing ‘Titanic Disaster Great Loss … Continue reading The Boy Behind The Picture
In many ways being a family history researcher can feel a bit like being a 'detective', on the hunt for clues to help you solve the latest 'mystery'. You might have a few uncorroborated facts that you have pieced together, but it's that one piece of 'Critical Evidence' that is missing, which is stopping you … Continue reading How To Become A Family History Detective Using My ABC Guide
Previously I wrote a blog about the top 10 sins of a genealogist, which proved to be an extremely popular blog, if you want a quick read it can be found here: Top 10 Sins of a Genealogist In the interests of addressing the balance, I thought it was about time that I shared with … Continue reading My Top 10 Genealogy Tips
So where do you go from here? You have a pile of certificates, photographs and notes, but how do you turn all your hard work into something more tangible and something that your friends and family would love to read? It's not easy, but here's a little helping hand. Writing a family history biography, or … Continue reading The Curious Descendants Club
The Chiddicks Family Tree 