Amongst the genealogy community I've read so much about the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner and I can see the merits in having such a useful little gadget. In fact, I'm sold on having one except, wait for it, you still can't get one in the UK.

I've been in touch with the manufacturer and their response was...

"Unfortunately, we do not yet distribute in UK. Of course we are actively investigating what that would take. It is a matter of both the distribution/support processes as well as regulatory approvals. Currently, even if you could have a friend in the US or Canada order and ship it to you, the warranty is not valid outside of the US."

I replied that I didn't mind about the warranty but didn't know anyone in the US who could help me get hold of a Flip-Pal but the reply was much the same.

How disappointing that after more than a year (perhaps longer) since launch they still haven't come up with a way of sending the Flip-Pal abroad. I can't believe it takes rocket science!

Ah well, I'll have to start looking around for an alternative so I can quickly and easily scan the numerous boxes and albums of photographs which I have in my possession. If anyone can suggest something similar that is available in the UK (not sure the hand-held ones are all that good), please could you let me know, either by leaving a comment or using my contact form.

[Why Sorting Saturday? This phrase has been included in the title in order to take part in Blogging Prompts at Geneabloggers]

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I can't believe I've overlooked the television show, Find My Past. 4 of the 10 episodes have already been aired but I shall definitely be watching as from tomorrow (Thursday).

I imagine it takes a similar format to Who Do You Think You Are but with ordinary people. Each episode features three members of the public who are connected to each other through an event in history. This week will be about the Mutiny on the Bounty.

The program goes out on Thursdays at 9pm on the Yesterday Channel: Freeview channel 12, Sky 537 and Virgin Media 203. I understand that repeats are aired the next day.

14th NOVEMBER

1824 - Caroline Dando was born 187 years ago. She was the daughter of Nathaniel Dando, the elder, and his second wife, Caroline nee Hewitt.

1823 - one year before, Emma Rowlandson was born in Hadstock, Essex, but sadly, she died in 1826.

20th NOVEMBER

1893 - William Tyler died at Woodcroft, Tidenham, Gloucestershire, 118 years ago and was buried in St Mary & St Peter's Churchyard at Tidenham five days later. His headstone remains there today.

21st NOVEMBER

1930 - Brian W Dando was born in Teddington, Middlesex, but it is believed he died a few months later. He was the grandson of my great-great-grandfather, William Elbert Dando. Brian's birth announcement appeared in The Times as follow...

DANDO.-On Nov. 21, 1930, at Oketon, Hampton-road, Teddington, to SYBIL (nee Roylance), the wife of MALCOLM DANDO-a son. (F.M.S. papers, please copy.)

23rd NOVEMBER

1809 - my 5 x great-grandfather, John Dando, the younger, died in Bristol, 202 years ago. There is a grave and plaque in the cemetery at Rodborough Tabernacle commemorating John and his first wife, Ann Dando (nee Brothers), and six of their children. However, although John's name appears on the plaque in Rodborough, he was actually buried in New Yard, Broad Mead Baptist, Bristol, in Mr Shipway's grave where his second wife, Esther (previously Mrs Shipway), was also buried. The register shows...

1809 Novr 30th John Dando Interr'd in Mr. Shipway's Grave 10s 6d.


The Dando grave plaque at Rodborough, Gloucestershire
Click the image to see a larger version.
26th NOVEMBER

1940 - Alice Amies Sill (nee Dando), died in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, at the age of 82.

28th NOVEMBER

1822 - 189 years ago, Nathaniel Dando, the elder, & Caroline Hewitt, were married at Holy Trinity, Clapham Surrey. The Times announcement read as follows...

MARRIED.
On Thursday, the 28th inst., at Clapham church, by the Rev. Wm. Dealtry, B.D., F.R.S., rector, Mr. Nathaniel Dando, of Pennsbury, Clapham, and Cheapside, to Caroline, second daughter of the late John Hewitt, Esq, of Clapham common.

1791 - William Hall & Carolina Browning were married at Arlingham in Gloucestershire. After William died, Caroline/a married my 5 x great-grandfather, John Fryer.

1887 - the great-grandson of John Fryer, mentioned above, celebrated his marriage 124 years ago when John Augustine Fryer & Mary Ann Julia Girling wed in Chepstow, Monmouthshire.

29th NOVEMBER

1798 - Richard Fryer & Sarah Roberts were married by licence at Fretherne, Gloucestershire. Richard was the younger brother of my 5 x great-grandfather, John Fryer.

30th NOVEMBER

1726 - 285 years ago, John Ball & Hannah Pitcher, were married at Ross on Wye, Herefordshire. Hannah was the daughter of my 7 x great-grandparents, Arthur Pitcher and Ann (nee Ansley).

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Gallery > Potpourri > War Memorabilia section

• As this is Remembrance Day, I've decided to add my grandfather's WWII medals to the gallery. William Hellyer Geake enlisted in the Royal Marines on 1st January 1941 and won the 1939-45 Star, the Burma Star, the Africa Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal. You can view his medals here.

Gallery > Places section

• A couple of years ago, I briefly visited the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire as various branches of my family came from there. I've recently confirmed my Pitcher ancestors were connected to the villages of Newland and Clearwell and so I've added some photographs to the gallery, which I took when I was there.

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Post a tribute of remembrance at Ancestry's Facebook page and they'll donate £1 to the British Legion up to their target of £10,000.

I posted the following about my great-grandfather...

Pte Henry James Weaver 4732, my great-grandfather, killed by accident on 8th September 1916 whilst at the base in France. Buried at Merville.

See more about Henry on my website.

Ancestry.co.uk are offering a selection of their World War I records FOR FREE between 10th-13th November.

For 4 days you can access:

• British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920
• British Army WWI Pension Records 1914-1920
• British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920

3rd NOVEMBER

1767 - 244 years ago, my 5 x great-grandparents, John Dando & Ann Brothers, were married in Dursley, Gloucestershire, before moving to Rodborough on the outskirts of Stroud.

1898 - Georgina Emma May Hibbitt (nee Williams) was born 113 years ago.

4th NOVEMBER

1833 - William Tyler & Elizabeth James were married at Chepstow, Monmouthshire, which was the bride's parish. William was from Tidenham in Gloucestershire.

6th NOVEMBER

1838 - the marriage of Joseph Hart & Hannah Fryer took place in the Parish Church of St Thomas, Bristol. Hannah was the grand-daughter of my 5 x great-grandparents, John Fryer & Phoebe (nee Taysum), and Joseph was a mariner.

7th NOVEMBER

1808 - and there was yet another wedding when Charles Tyler & Mary Price tied the knot at St Mary & St Peter's Church, Tidenham, Glos., 203 years ago.


St Mary & St Peter's Church, Tidenham, Gloucestershire
9th NOVEMBER

1813 - my 3 x great-grandparents, Robert Free & Mary Adams, celebrated their marriage in St Botolph's Church, Hadstock, Essex, this day 198 years ago, their banns having been read in the previous May and June.

10th NOVEMBER

1761 - early November was certainly popular for weddings for exactly 250 years ago my 6 x great-grandparents, Richard Fryer & Mary Harvey, were married at Westbury on Severn in Gloucestershire.

1948 - William John Smale died 63 years ago.

12th NOVEMBER

1881 - Henry Richard Fryer & Mary Walters were married at Tidenham, Glos. Henry was a turner and Mary was a servant.

1903 - Mary Pockett (nee Fryer) died at the age of 50 and was buried in St Mary the Virgin's Churchyard at Fretherne, Glos.

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

Family Tree section

• Since the recent release of the Warwickshire parish records on Ancestry, I've discovered that my 4 x great-grandmother, Elizabeth Avins, was a widow when she married my 4 x great-grandfather, George Arnold the elder, therefore I've updated Elizabeth Avins to Elizabeth Rayner and added her first husband, Thomas Avins.
• Added a few more notes for my 3 x great-grandparents, George Arnold the younger & Mary Bacon, plus a copy of their signatures from the marriage register.
• Added my 8 x great-grandparents, Arthur (senior) and Ann Pitchard, after obtaining a copy of Arthur's will from the Gloucestershire Archives. Arthur was a yeoman who lived during the 17th century. For all we know, he may have fought in the English Civil War! I wonder which side he was on.
• Added the remainder of Arthur and Ann Pitchard's children and grandchildren, including James Pitchard and his daughter, Ann, Mary Pitchard and her husband, Robert Lock, Thomas Pitchard and his wife, Alice Powell, and children, William Pitchard and his wife, Mary Wanklin, and children, Ann Pitchard and her husband, James Worgan, and children and Sarah Pitchard and her husband, Walter Knowles, and children.

Relevant place names: Nuneaton in Warwickshire, Newland, Clearwell and Redbrook, all in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, Monmouth in Monmouthshire and Walford in Herefordshire.

Resources > Biographies section

• Added a biography page for Arthur Pitchard.

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It's been 12 months since I started my blog (the main site has been going for about 4 years now) and in that time I've posted over 150 articles ranging from items from Mrs Beeton's Cookery Book, images from my grandpa's collection of slides, 'On This Day' in the history of my family, features on specific ancestors, a slection of genealogical links and tips, and more.

I don't have a favourite post but I like my 'Ancestors Corner' category most of all as it fleshes out some of the details of my forbears and, at times, allows me to indulge in my own thoughts and draw my own conclusions.

I'm not entirely certain what sort of following I have so if you'd like to say hi, please drop me a line in the comments section. I'd love to hear from you.

Here's looking forward to my next blogiversary!

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

If you have your own family tree website you might consider archiving it to a CD or DVD and handing it on to the next generation. After all, who's going to maintain your site after you've gone? The snag here though, is that there'll be a finite number of peope who'll be able to appreciate your efforts and that's only if they happen to share your interest. You could find your research destined for a dusty drawer or, worse still, put out with the rubbish.

In this digital age of readily available information, it seems logical that your site should remain on the internet for a wider audience to read and enjoy. So how do we do this?.....Read more »