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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2019 19:06:20 GMT
I don't know if anyone else is interested in doing this, but there is a thread on the main football board "Anecdote". It revealed many things about our social history. Even if it were only fifty years ago -it is still history.
I did actually spend many years researching my own family history. About 99% of my family come from the Potteries and mainly Longton. I have gone back to the 1600s on one line, but mainly my "line" is Stokie. If they didn't mine coal, they made pots.
My research has "dug up" some really good tales. I have two horse thieves from Caverswall - both were transported. Whether or not it was the same horse, or both brothers picked the slow horses to steal I don't actually know. They were both shipped out on different ships. One of them did very well for himself in Aus.
I have a very mysterious Gt Gt Grandmother who was involved with eastern european jews. A jewish hospital built in Manchester. AND A DIVORCE! I have the court papers.
My grandfather was a "tunneler" in WW1 - ex miner from Florence. My God that job took some balls. My father was Radio Op on Lancaster bombers.
So. It doesn't have to be earth shattering or anything - just tales/stories about your family. Does anyone want to contribute? Even twenty years ago is history. Well yesterday is history really. Tales about a milkman, coalman anything.
I do realise that there are many many other sites that cover this subject - but a Stokie one could be interesting.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2019 19:21:35 GMT
I will start.
My wife died in 2001 and I decided to do a bit of family tree stuff. I remembered my grandad telling me that our family came from Cornish miners who moved to the Welsh coal mines and eventually turned up in the Staffs coalfields. So I set out to prove, or disprove his claim.
After about five years I gave up. Trust me I had spent a huge amount of time. No single sign of a Welshman.
I did however spend about £100 and had my DNA tested.
A couple of years after I had given up, I received an email from a guy related to me (from the DNA sample). His family were in London, but had originated in Cornwall, then to Wales .....
My grandad had been right all along.
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Post by onesteino on Sept 7, 2019 20:13:28 GMT
Did my family tree a few years ago trying to find out more about my Great Grandfather, who had passed away when his son, my grandad, was 5 years old.
My great nan had kept his photograph and she always told me that he died from the effects of mustard gas in WW1.
Managed to find out quite a bit about him through regiment numbers (he served with the North Staffs) and was on the receiving end of the German Spring Offensive. The Germans used gas in the opening day of their attack (21st March 1918) and only sporadically around the area he was fighting in St Quentin. Luckily he survived but found himself transferred to the Labour Corps towards the final months of the war following being wounded in the attack. Poor bloke died in the early 1930s and doesn't even have his own grave. Glad I could find out about him though and keep his story going.
Otherwise, with the exception of my nan's family who were all miners in Scotland (and a GG Grandfather who was Lithuanian!) all others are local to North Staffs and were all either miners or potters. Interesting that the miners who all lived in the Audley area all lived to a good age. The potters from Hanley were pretty much all dead by the age of 42. Tough times!
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Post by cooper67 on Sept 7, 2019 20:58:51 GMT
My elder brother did our family tree-on my old man's side they were potters or miners. Mother's side it was harder to trace as her dad changed his surname so he could join up under age in WW1.
He did find out that one of our ancestors was one of the first professional basketball players in the US after he emigrated.
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Post by PotterLog on Sept 8, 2019 2:04:11 GMT
Literally the only thing I know about my ancestry beyond my grandparents is that I am directly descended from Cora Pearl, the 19th century high-society courtesan to the French aristocracy (read: high-class prostitute  ) I think her story is fascinating but my grandmother was never too keen to talk about her for some reason  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cora_Pearl?wprov=sfti1 |
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Post by zerps on Sept 8, 2019 5:53:32 GMT
Something I’ve been meaning to do for a while.
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Post by felonious on Sept 8, 2019 6:04:29 GMT
I discovered very early on that one of my grandmothers was the village gossip.
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Post by Boothen on Sept 8, 2019 6:39:42 GMT
My Grandad was on the books of Stoke City back in the 30s, alongside some other guy by the name of Stanley something or other, but had to jack football in when he got married and was offered a job at a local refractory that paid him four times what he was getting playing football. Somehow, I don't think that'll happen these days.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2019 7:02:10 GMT
I've been meaning to do this for some time. Where is the best place to start the research ? I've seen the ads on Tv for AncestryUk but are these sites any good ? Are they expensive ?
Thanks for any info.
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Post by chuffedstokie on Sept 8, 2019 7:12:01 GMT
Two very diverse strands running through my lot. Dads side followed the mining industry from Wales ending up in North Staffs, mainly in the Audley area and most living to a ripe old age similar to steino, must be something in the water around there. First world war records were interesting to look up, one particular individual who was killed one week before the war ended.
Mums side reads like who's who. Probably the most fascinating person was the one that has his signature on the death warrant of Charles 1 and was right hand man to Oliver Cromwell. How they ended up in Norton generations later running Norton hall farm still remains a bit of a mystery.
I can really recommend Audley historical society for all things connected with the area, they have open get togethers and all records are available to browse through. £1 a pop.
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Post by chuffedstokie on Sept 8, 2019 7:16:03 GMT
I've been meaning to do this for some time. Where is the best place to start the research ? I've seen the ads on Tv for AncestryUk but are these sites any good ? Are they expensive ? Thanks for any info. Go to your nearest library and get onto their computer system. Ancestry Library Edition is the site to head for and it's all FOC. The Staffordshire county records are all there as well. The staff at Biddulph were very friendly and helpful and pointed me in the right direction. A lot of the online research sites now charge a subscription which can be expensive. Definitely the library. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2019 7:47:06 GMT
I've been meaning to do this for some time. Where is the best place to start the research ? I've seen the ads on Tv for AncestryUk but are these sites any good ? Are they expensive ? Thanks for any info. Go to your nearest library and get onto their computer system. Ancestry Library Edition is the site to head for and it's all FOC. The Staffordshire county records are all there as well. The staff at Biddulph were very friendly and helpful and pointed me in the right direction. A lot of the online research sites now charge a subscription which can be expensive. Definitely the library. Thanks Chuffed - I've been interested in doing this for years but never got round to it. I'll have a go when I get back from my hols. |
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Post by partickpotter on Sept 8, 2019 7:56:39 GMT
I will start. My wife died in 2001 and I decided to do a bit of family tree stuff. I remembered my grandad telling me that our family came from Cornish miners who moved to the Welsh coal mines and eventually turned up in the Staffs coalfields. So I set out to prove, or disprove his claim. After about five years I gave up. Trust me I had spent a huge amount of time. No single sign of a Welshman. I did however spend about £100 and had my DNA tested. A couple of years after I had given up, I received an email from a guy related to me (from the DNA sample). His family were in London, but had originated in Cornwall, then to Wales ..... My grandad had been right all along. Did the guy ask you to send him some money? |
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Post by marylandstoke on Sept 8, 2019 16:39:09 GMT
There is a superb quote that, I believe, is on the anecdote thread.
“You can tell people from Stoke when your abroad because they turn the plates over to see who made them”
I paraphrase here but it made me laugh and I thought it deserved a few more views.
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Post by cerebralstokie on Sept 8, 2019 17:21:56 GMT
I must confess to being an inveterate "plate turner". I remember Longton in the 1940's. My father had a wholesale fruiterers business based in the railway arches below Longton station. I remember a railway wagon with a cargo of bananas being shunted onto a siding outside the arches. Some interesting wild life occasionally emerged from the bunches of bananas while ripening in a gas heated darkened storehouse. A relative who I had never met before turned up outside my house one day a few years ago and grilled me about my family history as he was compiling a family history for his father's 90th birthday. I found out a lot that I didn't know about my ancestry which included potters, miners and a publican. One of my great uncles played for Stoke City, was called up to fight in the First World War and survived. He subsequently played for Rochdale and Stockport County where he was top scorer in the late 1920's. I am fascinated by the sort of stories which emerge on a thread such as this.
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Post by cooper67 on Sept 8, 2019 19:25:23 GMT
I will start. My wife died in 2001 and I decided to do a bit of family tree stuff. I remembered my grandad telling me that our family came from Cornish miners who moved to the Welsh coal mines and eventually turned up in the Staffs coalfields. So I set out to prove, or disprove his claim. After about five years I gave up. Trust me I had spent a huge amount of time. No single sign of a Welshman. I did however spend about £100 and had my DNA tested. A couple of years after I had given up, I received an email from a guy related to me (from the DNA sample). His family were in London, but had originated in Cornwall, then to Wales ..... My wgrandad had been right all along. My brother also did the DNA bit. Showed my paternal side came from Scandinavia and my maternal from Northern Spain. I always wondered why I was called Pedro Jorgensson. |
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Post by maxplonk on Jun 6, 2020 15:01:05 GMT
I've been meaning to do this for some time. Where is the best place to start the research ? I've seen the ads on Tv for AncestryUk but are these sites any good ? Are they expensive ? Thanks for any info. Just saw this. When I started "digging up the ancestors", more experienced people always told me to start by talking to elderly relatives - while they're still around. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2020 17:34:33 GMT
I've been meaning to do this for some time. Where is the best place to start the research ? I've seen the ads on Tv for AncestryUk but are these sites any good ? Are they expensive ? Thanks for any info. Just saw this. When I started "digging up the ancestors", more experienced people always told me to start by talking to elderly relatives - while they're still around. Yes you're right - it's good advice to speak to the elderly relatives. I only really knew as far back as my grandmothers as both my grandfathers were already dead when I was born. Now that my mum and dad have both passed away the only other elderly relative that I have is my one remaining aunt who's in her eighties and she has filled in a few names and dates for her grandparents and her great grandmother so the tree is slowly taking shape. So far I've discovered that my mum's side were from the Ruthin area in North Wales, and my dad's family were from around Bishop Auckland in County Durham, but there are several more leads opening up to follow. |
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Post by maxplonk on Jun 6, 2020 17:47:52 GMT
Just saw this. When I started "digging up the ancestors", more experienced people always told me to start by talking to elderly relatives - while they're still around. Yes you're right - it's good advice to speak to the elderly relatives. I only really knew as far back as my grandmothers as both my grandfathers were already dead when I was born. Now that my mum and dad have both passed away the only other elderly relative that I have is my one remaining aunt who's in her eighties and she has filled in a few names and dates for her grandparents and her great grandmother so the tree is slowly taking shape. So far I've discovered that my mum's side were from the Ruthin area in North Wales, and my dad's family were from around Bishop Auckland in County Durham, but there are several more leads opening up to follow. For online resources www.freeBMD.org.uk is, as the name suggests, free. It's incomplete but can be useful. Also, for the Bishop Auckland line (I also had ancestors from there) www.durhamrecordsonline.com can be useful. Searching is free (although you have to make an account) and then it's 1.50 for the details of each record. |
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Post by Linx on Jun 6, 2020 18:16:52 GMT
My mum did a lot of family tree research, getting as far back as around 1800. She only did her side; my dad’s lot are Birmingham and Shropshire based. Apart from one of my great grandmothers, who was Irish, all my maternal ancestors were Stokies, based mainly in the Fenton and Blurton area. Ironically, apart from a couple of my aunts, none of my direct family line over that 200 years or so worked in the pottery industry. Our greatest claim to fame is being distantly related to R J Mitchell: he was my grandmother’s cousin (her mother’s sister’s son).
Hence the avatar - Uncle Reg. 😎
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2020 22:35:01 GMT
I have no English relatives, my Great Grandfather I found out fought in the Spanish Civil War which was interested to find out as I did a degree in Spanish Literature and had no idea at the time.
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 7, 2020 12:34:05 GMT
I have no English relatives, my Great Grandfather I found out fought in the Spanish Civil War which was interested to find out as I did a degree in Spanish Literature and had no idea at the time. Now I'm confused - so should your ID name be Jesús??? I've been calling you Jeezy - if your name should be Jesús rather than Jesus I'll have to change that to (pron.) Hazy…. Erm…. do you mind if we ask how you can have no English relatives? |
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 7, 2020 12:36:34 GMT
My mum did a lot of family tree research, getting as far back as around 1800. She only did her side; my dad’s lot are Birmingham and Shropshire based. Apart from one of my great grandmothers, who was Irish, all my maternal ancestors were Stokies, based mainly in the Fenton and Blurton area. Ironically, apart from a couple of my aunts, none of my direct family line over that 200 years or so worked in the pottery industry. Our greatest claim to fame is being distantly related to R J Mitchell: he was my grandmother’s cousin (her mother’s sister’s son). Hence the avatar - Uncle Reg. 😎  Thank you, Uncle Reg. The whole country owes you. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2020 4:36:19 GMT
I have no English relatives, my Great Grandfather I found out fought in the Spanish Civil War which was interested to find out as I did a degree in Spanish Literature and had no idea at the time. Now I'm confused - so should your ID name be Jesús??? I've been calling you Jeezy - if your name should be Jesús rather than Jesus I'll have to change that to (pron.) Hazy…. Erm…. do you mind if we ask how you can have no English relatives? None were born there  My Great Grandfather fought in the Spanish Civil War but was from Downpatrick. He fought for the Briogáid na hÉireann against the Red Terror as they were known. I think Franco described them as the most unprofessional army he'd seen due to their excessive drinking and taking up hospital beds as the food played havoc. Kind of makes you proud.   |
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Post by Northy on Jun 8, 2020 11:24:16 GMT
My Mrs side of the family always claimed to be associated with Lawton's of Lawton Hall, Church Lawton, the brother in law who retired 5 years ago has been looking into it, and recently proved they are. Although it could be the woman who drank and gambled away the money  |
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Post by chuffedstokie on Jun 8, 2020 11:41:15 GMT
My Mrs side of the family always claimed to be associated with Lawton's of Lawton Hall, Church Lawton, the brother in law who retired 5 years ago has been looking into it, and recently proved they are. Although it could be the woman who drank and gambled away the money Your last sentence resonates. My lot on my mother's side were doing ok in Norton until one generation in particular did the same!. |
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 8, 2020 11:51:25 GMT
My Mrs side of the family always claimed to be associated with Lawton's of Lawton Hall, Church Lawton, the brother in law who retired 5 years ago has been looking into it, and recently proved they are. Although it could be the woman who drank and gambled away the money Your last sentence resonates. My lot on my mother's side were doing ok in Norton until one generation in particular did the same!. Believe it or not, my lot have always been remarkably sober!  Apart from when I won that drinking contest (as it turned out to be) in Venice, the two finalists being yours truly and a 6'4" Australian guy called Geoff!  Let's 'ear it for Murph! Worra champ!  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2020 12:18:00 GMT
My Mrs side of the family always claimed to be associated with Lawton's of Lawton Hall, Church Lawton, the brother in law who retired 5 years ago has been looking into it, and recently proved they are. Although it could be the woman who drank and gambled away the money I went out with a gal who went to school there, think was the last year was open. Was falling down a bit at the time but have good memories of a cupboard at a school bash. |
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 8, 2020 12:31:49 GMT
My Mrs side of the family always claimed to be associated with Lawton's of Lawton Hall, Church Lawton, the brother in law who retired 5 years ago has been looking into it, and recently proved they are. Although it could be the woman who drank and gambled away the money I went out with a gal who went to school there, think was the last year was open. Was falling down a bit at the time but have good memories of a cupboard at a school bash.  Bluddy hell, how are ya, Pete? Haven't seen you in YEARS! 'Ell of a night that was!!! xxx |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2020 16:59:04 GMT
I went out with a gal who went to school there, think was the last year was open. Was falling down a bit at the time but have good memories of a cupboard at a school bash. [img class="smile" alt=" " src="//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/fwGSRilBFZwfei5Q6XIp.gif"] [img alt=" " src="//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/fwGSRilBFZwfei5Q6XIp.gif" class="smile"] [img class="smile" alt=" " src="//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/fwGSRilBFZwfei5Q6XIp.gif"] Bluddy hell, how are ya, Pete? Haven't seen you in YEARS! 'Ell of a night that was!!! xxx Wrong cupboard ...thankfully 😁 |
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Thank you, Uncle Reg. The whole country owes you. 
Let's 'ear it for Murph! Worra champ! 
