Category: family history

family history, WatkinsLeave a comment

Squaring the circle Connecting from Cummins to Watkins

Cutlock & Co

One of those “It really is a small world” moments – discovering a distant in-law cousin on my dad’s side is connected to a close cousin on mum’s.

Cutlock & Co has been researching the family tree for a second cousin’s spouse for quite a while. Roy’s line goes back to William Cummins, a ‘tide waiter’ (customs officer) and later ‘Chief Collector of Customs’, born 1835 in Portsmouth. William came from a humble background, his mother Jane the housekeeper (and perhaps more) to prosperous tobacco merchant William Cavander in Portsmouth. » Continue reading “Squaring the circle Connecting from Cummins to Watkins”

family history, Howes, Maps, NorfolkLeave a comment

Bottling it in Besthorpe Giving the Howes line a home

Cutlock & Co

Of all the ancestral home towns and villages, that of the direct Howes line, namely Besthorpe in Norfolk, has been the most neglected to date. This stands alongside the minimal details held on the last known family member to spend all his life there, 3x great grandfather James Howes. The direct line can be quite easily traced back to him, born in the village at the turn of the 19th century {1}. » Continue reading “Bottling it in Besthorpe Giving the Howes line a home”

family history, WatkinsLeave a comment

A tribute to Islwyn His contribution to Knighton and beyond

Cutlock & Co

Your editor recently met Ken Harris at Malvern U3A’s family history group, after a presentation by me which mentioned in passing cousin Islwyn Watkins. Here is the resulting tribute from Ken to his old friend.

A fellow South Walesian

Islwyn and I were friends virtually from the time I arrived in Knighton in 1985. Both being from South Wales, we immediately struck a rapport and later, when his father arrived to live with Dwynwen, he and I struck up a similar rapport and friendship. » Continue reading “A tribute to Islwyn His contribution to Knighton and beyond”

family history, Records, ScottLeave a comment

Bardic furniture poses a question or two Has the family a poet, and doesn't know it?

Cutlock & Co

The will of great aunt Emma Jane Evans nee Scott has emerged out of the ether {1, 3}. This confirmed that cousin Joseph Gregory was indeed its named executor in 1961, even if he was described in the probate record as an ironmonger rather than in his more well-known musical role.

There are a number of other reasons why this document is of interest.

Who’s bardic chair (and desk)?

Clause 5 of the will contains this:

to Rhoda Gregory of 286 North Road Cardiff the monies owing to me from the purchaser of 7 Park Crescent Barry … also my oak sideboard and my late uncle’s Bardic Chair and desk.

 » Continue reading “Bardic furniture poses a question or two Has the family a poet, and doesn't know it?”
Events, family history, Newspapers, ScottLeave a comment

A fraud of a husband Court appearance throws light on family history

Cutlock & Co

On first glance the attached newspaper article, about a fraud allegedly undertaken by William Walters, would seem to be just a background piece to the main family history. William was at one stage married to great aunt Phyl – Phyllis Amelia Scott.

By reading through to the end, however, three distinct lines of inquiry emerge which have a broader impact.

The cutting is from The West London Star, Friday 21st September 1934, under the column heading ‘Police Court News, Monday’ (sourced from British Newspaper Archive/ FindMyPast). » Continue reading “A fraud of a husband Court appearance throws light on family history”

family history, Howes, Neal, Newspapers, WatkinsLeave a comment

Newspapers ablaze with minor family insights Passing educational references, and an indepth story

Cutlock & Co

After some time without, getting access to the British Newspaper Archive – part of a (half price) FindMyPast Pro subscription – raises the dilemma of where to start researching. Perhaps firstly with those individuals in the tree most likely to appear in the news, and then close relatives to see if any notices, in the absence of news items, might add another angle.

The approach has already led to shining some contrasting light on youthful grandparents plus an interesting incident not of any great relevance to the family tree. » Continue reading “Newspapers ablaze with minor family insights Passing educational references, and an indepth story”