Some of the best family history finds come from newspapers. Yes the official records will tell you where an ancestor was born and died, who they married etc but those records won’t tell you much about the type of person they were. Newspaper articles can tell a lot and it’s not always good news. I … Continue reading Police Raid 1890
Author: Shaking The Branches
Who Do I Think I Am?
If you are reading my blog it is likely that you have an interest in family history. Maybe you have been researching for a long time or perhaps you have landed here via a Google search of a family name. I’ve been researching for a few years now and I am sometimes asked what prompted … Continue reading Who Do I Think I Am?
New Year, No Pressure!
2021 was not a great year. I’m sure many of you will feel the same. I started off the year with the fairly straightforward target of posting on my blog once a week. In the end I only managed 19 new posts. It’s not that I didn’t have the time as I was at home … Continue reading New Year, No Pressure!
Happy Birthday Granny Rae – Margaret Dalziel Dickson 1907-1966
Margaret Dalziel Dickson Today would have been my paternal granny’s birthday. I never met her as she died before I was born. I really didn’t know much about her. I do know that she and my mother didn’t get along and, as a result, I haven’t really heard any positive stories about her. Margaret was … Continue reading Happy Birthday Granny Rae – Margaret Dalziel Dickson 1907-1966
Born On This Day (In The USA?) – My Grand Uncle Daniel Brawley
My maternal grandfather’s eldest brother, Daniel was born in Pennsylvania, USA. His parents, while originally from Scotland, married in Scranton and the three lived there for a few years before returning to Scotland. Daniel had an American accent which caused him to be teased by the local children. Well, that was the story that was … Continue reading Born On This Day (In The USA?) – My Grand Uncle Daniel Brawley
Stories From The Poorhouse (Part 6) Margaret Keenan 1868-1886
My 2nd great aunt, Margaret Keenan was just 18 years old when she died on 19 September 1886. She was the 7th child of Irish immigrants, Patrick Keenan and Agnes Haughey and the closest in age to my great grandmother, Ellen Keenan. Ellen was my mother's paternal grandmother. Margaret was born in the Parish of … Continue reading Stories From The Poorhouse (Part 6) Margaret Keenan 1868-1886
Shaking The Branches 