Joe Gregory’s name crops up online from time to time, usually as a mention in the history of “the oldest record shop” Spillers Records in Cardiff. An album launch by big name rock band The Pixies at the shop got it (and Joe) page 3 attention in The Guardian (14th September print edition) {1}.
Continue reading More than a musical footnote Joe Gregory, popular accordionist and band leader
The fascinating family photos keep on emerging. This time third cousin Alan Croad has found two photos which were in the same style as an earlier discovery for ‘Uncle Bill’ Osborne.
Continue reading Meeting a younger Millie Even great grans were youthful once
There are various articles on Cutlock & Co covering 1914 to 1918 family experiences. These are linked below, along with some further information.
Note that only about 40% of World War One army service records survive. Medal records can give some minimal info, if the name isn’t too common -otherwise look out for local press coverage of casualties or other events.
A guest article from Alan Croad {1}.
A number of factors may explain the movement of the wider Osborne family between Clydach Vale, Blaengwynfi and Tonyrefail. {2}
An important entrepreneur William Perch 1831-1891 of Perch & Co. opened mines in the Rhondda Valley, including one at Clydach Vale in 1847 and later in the Afan Valley in 1892; he later acquired the Glyncorrwg and Glynneath mines. Perch’s success included obtaining Admiralty contracts in 1898 supplying coal to the Navy. It may have been easy to transfer to the coal owner’s new mines where new housing was available. A number of the managers and under managers at Blaengwynfi were from Tonypandy and this may have benefitted miners wanting a transfer.
Continue reading Blaengwynfi and beyond Osbornes spreading out in the valleys
Another delightful occupational title has come to light, after a little gap filling and “new” records checking on the family tree {1}. Previously I had somehow identified 4x great grandfather Joseph Osborne as a (farm) labourer, supposedly per his son Robert’s marriage registration {5}. However, on making use of Ancestry’s Somerset collection, the original image for this event shows him to be a ‘Pig Jobber’!
Continue reading Squeals of delight The wheeling dealing Osbornes
Having coughed up for a Findmypast annual sub to access the 1939 Register details {4}, it is time for Cutlock & Co to do its usual job, as per earlier censuses, transcribing the whole information for Bush Houses {see notes 1, 2}.
Continue reading The 1939 Bush Houses bulletin A dwindling, but similar, population
