This photo collage features my great grandparents and grandparents who emigrated from the United Kingdom. It is their roots I am tracing and their histories I am researching for a book I am writing about our family history.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Some of the ancestors
This photo collage features my great grandparents and grandparents who emigrated from the United Kingdom. It is their roots I am tracing and their histories I am researching for a book I am writing about our family history.
Heading to the land of my ancestors
In three weeks time RP and I will be at the beginning of a one month exploration of the United Kingdom, land of my ancestors. Rupee thought it would be appropriate to also trace the history of golf and that of Scotch. We begin in Edinburgh, Scotland tracing the Sutherland, Matheson, McDonald and Munroe clans who hailed from the Highlands and the Skye. We have allowed some time in Glasgow to see Nicole's family and to visit Greenoch where my Dad spent some time during WWII. Hopefully by the time we are done in Scotland driving on the opposite side of the road will be old hat.
We will make a stop in Liverpool to see just where the old folks sailed from and take a mystery tour in the home town of the Beatles. Then onto Wales with a game of golf at beautiful Royal St. David's on the Irish Sea. In Swansea I hope to visit the small seaside town of Laugharne, where my 3rd great grandmother was born in 1806. My kindred soulmate, Jane Margaret Richard was born 140 years prior to my birth on October 30. In nearby St. Ishmael is the church where she married Thomas Evans. The church dates back to the 13th century. We then travel to Cardiff, which will be our base for visiting the mining towns of Merthyr Tydfil and Tredegar. Thomas and Jane moved their family to this area during the Industrial Revolution. We have many family names of interest in Wales - Evans(2 branches), Davis, Watkins and Williams. Our last stop in Wales is a small village named Berriew, home of my great grandfather. In the mid 1800s he and his 3 brothers left Wales and settled in our Cowichan Valley. The story of my mother's family from Scotland and Wales is fascinating and extensive.
We leave Wales for a short drive to the West Midlands of England, not far from Birmingham. It is here we will trace the roots of my Dad's family. Of course the name Smith is not easy to trace and the name Bird is as common in England as is Evans in Wales.They were coal miners during the time Great Britain was expanding the empire. We will make a respectful visit to the home of Shakespeare while we're at it.
Our trip ends with 4 days in London. Rupee will be golfed out by then and we will find our way without a car to drive. From what I hear that will be a good thing. Since we are staying in the West End a theatre visit is on the list along with the usual tourist spots. Great Grandfather John Newell Evans did a draper's apprenticeship in Covent Gardens. Perhaps his residence at #13 King Street still exists.
This will not be a quiet, relaxing, sit in the sun vacation but a grand adventure, which I hope will add some more pieces to the puzzle of my family tree, give me a sense of where it all began for my family and provide some photos for the family history book. Rupee will certainly enjoy the advantage of Royal Colwood reciprocals and maybe I will even develop a taste for Scotch. Stayed tuned for updates through the month of September.
We will make a stop in Liverpool to see just where the old folks sailed from and take a mystery tour in the home town of the Beatles. Then onto Wales with a game of golf at beautiful Royal St. David's on the Irish Sea. In Swansea I hope to visit the small seaside town of Laugharne, where my 3rd great grandmother was born in 1806. My kindred soulmate, Jane Margaret Richard was born 140 years prior to my birth on October 30. In nearby St. Ishmael is the church where she married Thomas Evans. The church dates back to the 13th century. We then travel to Cardiff, which will be our base for visiting the mining towns of Merthyr Tydfil and Tredegar. Thomas and Jane moved their family to this area during the Industrial Revolution. We have many family names of interest in Wales - Evans(2 branches), Davis, Watkins and Williams. Our last stop in Wales is a small village named Berriew, home of my great grandfather. In the mid 1800s he and his 3 brothers left Wales and settled in our Cowichan Valley. The story of my mother's family from Scotland and Wales is fascinating and extensive.
We leave Wales for a short drive to the West Midlands of England, not far from Birmingham. It is here we will trace the roots of my Dad's family. Of course the name Smith is not easy to trace and the name Bird is as common in England as is Evans in Wales.They were coal miners during the time Great Britain was expanding the empire. We will make a respectful visit to the home of Shakespeare while we're at it.
Our trip ends with 4 days in London. Rupee will be golfed out by then and we will find our way without a car to drive. From what I hear that will be a good thing. Since we are staying in the West End a theatre visit is on the list along with the usual tourist spots. Great Grandfather John Newell Evans did a draper's apprenticeship in Covent Gardens. Perhaps his residence at #13 King Street still exists.
This will not be a quiet, relaxing, sit in the sun vacation but a grand adventure, which I hope will add some more pieces to the puzzle of my family tree, give me a sense of where it all began for my family and provide some photos for the family history book. Rupee will certainly enjoy the advantage of Royal Colwood reciprocals and maybe I will even develop a taste for Scotch. Stayed tuned for updates through the month of September.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)