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Soccer Star

The Mistory of Ruth

An Unexpected Outcome

The Palmers and the Parson

Norman's Story

The Torpedo That Struck

August 2007

Wednesday, 1st August 2007

Hello and a big warm welcome to one and all,

Today we launch a brand new venture for Family Tree Forum in the shape of our very own magazine. It is a chance for you to find out a little bit more about the research of your fellow members and to share in these interesting snapshots of their family tree.

As we approach our first anniversary we would like to thank all site members for helping to make Family Tree Forum such a success. Who would ever have imagined that on one September day last year a small band of genealogists looking for a new home would lead us to this. It is a credit to everyone involved behind the scenes and to all of you that the site goes from strength to strength. Our doors are now open to all and we are welcoming new members every day.

By now we hope you have all had a chance to have a look around the Wiki which is a fantastic resource for all genealogists. It is something that can only get better as you all now have the chance to add to it and help it grow. Along with this the looker-uppers and problem solvers on Research Advice have been helping to breakdown brickwalls all over the place so if you have a puzzle of your own waiting to be solved get posting.

Finally, if you have a favourite story from your family tree, a tale of a success, how you bashed down a brickwall or anything you have the urge to share with your fellow members then we would love to include it in our next magazine so do get in touch.

Family Tree Forum

In our first issue you will find a mixture of interesting articles and resources which we hope will help you with your research. Our writers for this issue are samesizedfeet, Grampa Jim, Guinevere, KiwiChris and Lemon Nelly. All have been members of Family Tree Forum since the start and have been researching their trees for quite a number of years between them. In this issue we also have a guest author, Douglas Holmes, who retells his experience of having survived the torpedoing of the SS Strathallan in 1942.

The Editorial Team

My Great Grandfather Played for Manchester United

Soccer Star

How a family story she thought was untrue led Zoe Linkson on a search through historic newspapers to uncover the truth behind her football playing great grandfather.

When I was younger my Nan often dropped into conversation that her father-in-law played for Manchester United. Most often this fell on deaf ears. My brother and I were very unimpressed as we were Tottenham fans anyway. Nan passed away shortly before I started researching my tree so at the outset I knew no more than the surname I was researching - Linkson. I decided to begin with a resource I was familiar with - the internet ...
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The Girl from Wensleydale

The Mistory of Ruth

Did the village maiden wait for years to wed her lifelong true love?

Ruth Wedrald was born during a Century of great changes within England. The Scottish Rebellion, under Bonnie Prince Charlie, had been finally crushed at Culloden Moor only 23 years earlier.

George III - the first of the Hanoverian kings to have been born in England, had been on the throne for about 9 years, and England was once again at war with France, in spite of the humiliating defeat which John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, had inflicted on the French in 1704, and the Peace Treaty signed in 1713.

The Hunt for Samuel

An Unexpected Outcome

How Chris' search for her family solved the mystery of a long lost father.

My Great-great-grandfather Henry Thomas Hickton was born in Warwick in 1826 and killed in the Crimean War in 1855. He had one brother Samuel Hickton born Stratford-Upon-Avon in 1828. Their parents were Thomas Hickton, a soldier, and Caroline Bunn.

I had discovered what had become of Henry and was interested in finding out more about his only brother
...
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Paupers and Pig Killers

The Palmers and the Parson

The Vicar vs a "wild set of People".

When the Reverend William Holland became Parson of Over Stowey in Somerset in 1779 my ancestors, the Palmers, had already been living in the Parish for at least a century. William kept a daily diary, extracts from which have been published as “Paupers and Pig Killers, Diaries of a Somerset Parson 1799 - 1808” edited by Jack Ayers.

Jack describes William as a man w...
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Lost at sea

Norman's Story

Seeking the truth about a sailor lost at sea and his mother's broken heart.

I grew up with a lot of stories and Norman’s story is just one. I never knew the facts or details and neither did anyone else in the family.

Norman’s story is a long one but one I feel should be told, even though he was just one more name, one more young life lost too soon, and because I don't know who else to tell apart from f
...
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Wartime Rescue

The Torpedo That Struck

A tale of survival in World War II.

It was a cold dark December morning in 1942 when the troopship I had embarked on set sail from Grennock, Scotland. The "Strathallan", 23,000 ton and ex pride of the P.O. line was now on active service and in battledress grey. This was to be my home for the next few days.

I was one of approximately 3,000 troops, consisting of the Army, R.A.F. and a small contingent of nurses wh

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