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Dr William Barlow & Virginia Tech

William Edward Barlow (1870-1938) was born in Bury, Lancashire, the eighth of ten children to our 3rd Great Grandparents William Smyth BARLOW (1830-1903) and Mary YATES (1830-1916). The family ran a successful Letterpress Photographic Printing, Framing, & Stationary business. William studied at the private school, Bury Grammar for Boys, before being awarded the Kay Exhibitioner and Openshaw Scholarship to St....

Barlow Comments: 0

William Porter & The Driffield Navigation

The Blue Bell Inn sits opposite River Head, at the northern end of the Driffield Navigation. The landlord in the mid 18th century was our 6th Great Grandfather William PORTER (1714-1790). William was one of several Gentlemen, Freeholders, Tradesmen, and others, of the County of Yorkshire who petitioned Parliament in 1767 to pass legislation to build a navigable waterway from...

Porter Comments: 0

Ralph Ryder & The Black Bear

“You can take a man out of Yorkshire but you cannot take Yorkshire out of a man.” You can always rely on a Yorkshireman’s sound judgement, economical turn of phrase, and thrifty ways. Why pay for a professional when thou can do it thissen? Having spent nigh-on forty years in these United States, twenty of them farming in Wisconsin, this...

Shepherdson Comments: 0

Alfred Maddison & The Fleet Review

On this day in 1914 our 4th cousin, Boy 1st Class, Alfred Maddison participated in the Fleet Review at Spithead in the Solent, serving aboard the Royal Navy Cruiser, HMS Hawke. Alfred signed up, age 15, for twelve years service in 1913. He initially trained at the shore establishment, stone frigate, HMS Ganges. Upon achieving his Boy 1st Class rating,...

Scott Comments: 0

Bill Gracia & Cupertino Foothills

William “Bill” E Gracia (1901-1978), our 2nd Great-Granduncle, was the youngest of seven children born to Maggie MAHOOD (1856-1921) & Frank P GRACIA (1852-1930). Bill is sat on the far left of this historic Gracia family photo. The occasion for the picnic is the celebration of Bill purchasing this property in the Cupertino Foothills during the summer of 1915. By...

Gracia/Mahood Comment: 1

President John Adams & Popular Culture

On this day in 1826, on the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the second and third Presidents of these United States passed away, John Adams (1735-1826) & Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). Curiously the Bacon side of the family share a common immigrant ancestor with John Adams, their 9th Great Grandfather, Joseph ADAMS Sr (1626-1694). Joseph was...

Adams Comments: 0

Henry Loftus Wisker & Penal Transportation

Today, a convict ancestor is a matter of pride for Australians. It provides a connection to the earliest pioneer (and prison colony) days of a nascent Australia! Between 1788-1868, 162,000 convicts were transported to Australia. In 1841 our 1st cousin 5x removed, Henry Loftus Wisker (1805-?), became our first ancestor to be sentenced to transportation for seven years! Penal transportation...

Wisker Comments: 0

William Clark & Iron Puddlers

William CLARK (1852-1902), our Great Great Grandfather, worked as an Iron Puddler in the iron foundries of England and Scotland during the Second Industrial Revolution. Born in the small village of Seaton in Cumberland, William was the second child of nine, raised by parents Jane DREWERY and Joseph CLARK, a farm labourer and husbandman. The village economy had transitioned over...

Bowness/Clark/Drewery/Wandless Comments: 2

Ronald Hardacre & The Commander of the British Empire

Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood St. James’s Palace, London, S.W.L The QUEEN has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of the Celebration of Her Majesty’s Birthday, to give orders for the following appointments to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. To be Ordinary Commanders of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order (CBE): Geoffrey...

Hardacre Comments: 3

Joseph Henry Hudson & The Lords Feoffees

The Court Leet 1919, July 17th, the day after the Peace Pageant. The Court Leet was a local court set in front of the Bayle Gate, formerly the gatehouse of the priory, in Bridlington and continued during the period of the Lords Feoffees. Joseph Henry HUDSON, our 2nd Great Grandfather, is the man seated in the back, closest to the...

Hudson Comments: 2