There are some family members that I have discovered quite by chance. Looking through cemetery records, for example, I have stumbled on names I had never seen before. Searching the newspapers is another way to find people and stories I would otherwise miss.
Grace Russell is one such person. I found her searching the name Livingston Russell. Livingston is a name that runs through my family tree on my paternal grandmother’s side. The first Livingston Russell I have found was born in 1746 in Stirlingshire. I would say it is unusual enough that any time I see it I think there might be a connection.
Searching on the British Newspaper Archive site I came across Grace as she is the daughter of a Livingston Russell. The family lived in Wishaw, Lanarkshire which is where my Russell family had ended up. Checking my family tree I confirmed that this Livingston Russell was the son of another Livingston Russell whose father was my great, great, great grandfather.
Her full name was Grace Goldie Russell and she was named for her paternal grandmother, Grace Goldie. She was born in 1923 and lived with her parents in Wishaw, Lanarkshire This article relates to her death in 1926.
It’s easy to imagine her excitement at being given some money to spend on a treat. With her mind on what she was going to buy with her penny she had no thoughts of road safety. What 3 year old would? There is no mention if Grace was on her own at the time of the accident. A further article tells of the impact of her death on her family and the local community.
Later articles see the family thanking the local community and in particular her Sunday school group for their support and tributes to their daughter.
Such a tragedy.
Shaking The Branches 
Terrible! Poor dear. It leaves us with so many questions not knowing if she was sent to cross alone, or ran ahead – or if the driver of the car had any responsibility. Regards the first name Livingstone – I found with my kin, a least common first name often saved the day in census finds where surnames were botched.
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I’m sure there will have been guilt and regrets whatever the situation.
I had expected to find the name Livingston as a surname along the way but not yet. It was certainly used widely in that branch of the family.
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Wonder what they shortened it to. I don’t recall knowing a Livingston, but it is a mouthful.
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Livi maybe? I know that’s what we call the town of the same name.
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Probably so, then.
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A poignant story of discovery and tragedy! There is something compelling about reading of your ancestors in old newspaper articles that makes the blood quicken!
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Very much so. I love old newspapers. The BNA is such a treasure trove.
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