My Blog

Ari’s great-great-grandfather Harry (my Grandad) was born on 22 May 1908 in Hackney, London. I think I got my love of words from Harry,...

Mary was Ari’s 5x great-grandmother, born on 24 February 1821 in Bonsall, Derbyshire, and baptised at the church there two days later....

While writing my blog I have discovered (through a newspaper account) a 4x great-grandfather of Ari’s – an agricultural labourer – who...

Francis was one of Ari’s 6x great-grandfathers. We know that he died in Belton, Rutland, in 1794 and was buried there on 3 April. On 27...

One of Ari’s 3x great-grandfathers was Walter Penny, the son of gamekeeper Henry Penny. Walter was born on 19 September 1860 at Fonthill...

Site of one of the goals for the annual Ashbourne Shrovetide football match, which dates back to the seventeenth century Ari’s 7x...

James Cobley was one of Ari’s 3x great-grandfathers, born in 1846 in South Luffenham, Rutland. His father was William Cobley and his...

I’ve just done a very quick map to show where all of Ari’s ancestors were born (or at least the places we know so far). Each pin on the...

One of Ari’s 5x great-grandfathers was William Payne Curtis, son of Thomas Curtis and Rachael Pain. He was born in Warminster, Wiltshire,...

Ari’s 5x great-grandfather Shaya Hatskelzon (or Khatskelzon) was born in Silale, Lithuania, some time in the 1820s, and we know that he...

William was Ari’s 6x great-grandfather, the husband of Frances. He was born in 1782 in Cawston, Norfolk. William White’s History,...

Anne was Ari’s 7x great-grandmother. She was born in Wirksworth, Derbyshire, in about 1752. (There is a possible baptism in 1754, of Ann,...

Ari’s 8x great-grandmother, Alice Robinson, was born in 1709 in Huddington, Worcestershire and christened on the 10th of April that year....

Ari’s 3x great-grandfather, John Edgar Pearson Wheeldon, was born on 27 July 1878 in Holloway, Belper, Derbyshire. His parents were...

One of Ari’s 6x great-grandmothers was Ann (Nancy) Martin, who was born in 1770, probably at or near Kempsey in Worcestershire. This...

Joseph Beckett (son of John), was Ari’s 5x great-grandfather. He was born in 1773 in Chilmark, Wiltshire. His mother was Ann Sopp. Here...

One of Ari’s 6x great-grandmothers was called Itka. She was born in 1804 in Lithuania, probably in Svencionys (also known as Švenčionys,...

Harry (christened Henry) Spencer was born on 15 August 1901 in Wirksworth, Derbyshire, and was Ari’s great-great-grandfather. His parents...

Elizabeth Butt was born on 27 July 1846 in Christchurch, Dorset. Sundial Cottage, Christchurch (not where she lived, but very pretty, and...

Yesterday I discovered that Sarah Thickett, Ari’s 7x great-grandmother, was from Old Brampton, Chesterfield, and had relations called...