Click the image above to see a larger version.


Click the image above to see a larger version.
My grandpa (Charlie Hibbitt) probably took these photos some time during the 1950's or 1960's.

(From my grandpa's collection of old slides - see this post for more information.)

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

1709 - Richard Seldon and Hannah Clemett were married in the village of Merton in Devon. The couple were my 8 x great-grandparents.

1767 - Mary Fryer (nee King), my 7 x great-grandmother, died on 17th May and was buried three days later in her husband's tomb in St Mary the Virgin's Churchyard in Arlingham, Gloucestershire. I've visited the graveyard several times and the tomb is looking a little worn now and is slightly tilted too.

1816 - John Banister Worgan and Sophia Powell were married in Bristol. John was the son of Edward Worgan and Sarah Banister.

1746/7 - James Pitcher, my 6 x great-grandfather, died and was buried the following day in St Mary's Churchyard, Lydney, Gloucestershire. He was aged 56. Bigland had noted down the memorial inscription during the 18th century but when I visited Lydney in 2009, I wasn't able to locate the grave.

Do you ever wish you could see the places where your ancestors lived but perhaps it's not possible or practical to visit? Well the next best thing might be to use Google Street View. I often look up my ancestors' homes, or the churches they were married in, etc. using this facility.

It's very simple - go to Google Maps (eg. UK = http://maps.google.co.uk, US = http://maps.google.com). The link is also available from the Google home page amongst the Google links at the top left.

On the Maps page, put in the number or name of the house/farm (if known), street name and the area you're interested in and, all being well, you'll see a conventional map appear with a marker showing the location of (or close by) the property. You may also see a preview of the street on the left of the map, which can be clicked on to reaveal the street in the larger pane.


If you don't get the preview, then grab the little yellow 'man' icon above the + (plus) sign on the zoom bar and drag him with your mouse to the marker on the map. You need to place the 'man' icon onto a road which becomes highlighted in blue when you drag him onto the map. The street view should now be visible.


To turn around, hold your left mouse button down on the image and drag it from side to side to suit. You can also drag the mouse up and down to view taller buildings. To move along the street, just click on the white arrows which should appear on the road.

To return to the map, click the - (minus) sign on the zoom bar a couple of times. You may find you'll want to zoom out a bit further when the map is displayed once more.

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

Our names are used virtually every day of our lives and yet the oddity remains that it's the privilege of our parents to choose it for us, whether we like it or not. I tend to go by the name, Annie, when in fact I'm an Anne – I somehow think Annie sounds friendlier and less formal. It's not just people who have names, look at the clamour to get hold of web domain names for use in the virtual world. What we're talking about here is our identity, who we are and how we wish to present ourselves to each other. The fact is, names matter!

Looking through my family tree, there are several names belonging to various individuals, which have caught my eye along the way......Read more »

(From my great-grandmother's 1909 publication of 'Mrs Beeton's Every-Day Cookery' - see this post for more information.)

Today's the day William & Kate tie the knot so here's a recipe to toast the Royal couple...

WEDDING PUNCH
INGREDIENTS.-I quart of champagne, I bottle of claret, I bottle of seltzer water iced, I wineglassful of curaçoa, sugar to taste, ½ pint of crushed ice, strips of cucumber, sprigs of young mint.

METHOD.-Mix all the ingredients together, and serve with the mint and cucumber floating on the surface.

(Image: my wedding bouquet - 1987.)

[Why Family Recipe Friday? This phrase has been included in the title in order to take part in Daily Blogging Prompts at Geneabloggers]

Click the image above to see a larger version.
Continuing the Royal theme, this photo of Buckingham Palace was most likely snapped by my gran, Ivy Alice Hibbitt (nee Dando), some time during the 1950's. The crowds were gathered perhaps to watch the Changing of the Guard, Trooping the Colour, or some other event. Buckingham Palace looks much cleaner these days, compared to the grey facade seen in this picture.

(From my grandpa's collection of old slides - see this post for more information.)

[Why Those Places Thursday? This phrase has been included in the title in order to take part in Daily Blogging Prompts at Geneabloggers]

(From my great-grandmother's 1909 publication of 'Mrs Beeton's Every-Day Cookery' - see this post for more information.)

Continuing on the Royal theme, here's a recipe with a regal title. Somehow I can't see William and Kate eating this on their big day...

ROYAL PUDDING
INGREDIENTS.-I oz. of fine flour, I oz. of butter, I gill of milk, 4 yolks of eggs, 5 whites of eggs, I dessertspoonful of castor sugar, 2 ozs. of crushed Savoy biscuits, vanilla essence.

METHOD.-Melt the butter, stir in the flour, add the milk, and cook and stir until it leaves the sides of the stewpan clear. Cool slightly, add the sugar and vanilla, the yolks of eggs one at a time, beat well, and then stir in the biscuit crumbs. Whisk the whites stiffly, stir them lightly in, and pour the mixture into a well-buttered souffle mould. Cover with a buttered paper, and steam very gently for 40 minutes, or bake in a hot oven for 25 minutes. Serve with wine or jam sauce.

TIME.-To cook the souffle, from 25 to 40 minutes. AVERAGE COST, 10d., exclusive of the sauce. SUFFICIENT for 3 or 4 persons.

[Why Family Recipe Friday? This phrase has been included in the title in order to take part in Daily Blogging Prompts at Geneabloggers]

As Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 85th birthday today, I thought I'd check my family tree to see if anyone in it celebrated a special event on the same day.

I couldn't find any specific birthdays although that's not to say there aren't any (for most individuals, I just have an estimated birth year). However, I did notice a double wedding celebrated on the 21st April 1919 in Blakeney, Gloucestershire. Sisters, Annie and Helen Fryer married Stanley Dutton and Francis Henry Andrews Pow respectively.

According to my family tree software, Annie and Helen were my half second cousins 4 times removed. Put another way, they were the grand-daughters of my 5 x great-grandfather, John Fryer (abt 1762-1816). Stanley Dutton was a commercial traveller and Francis Pow was a Lt. in the Durham Light Infantry.

I think at 85, the Queen has done and continues to do a marvellous job. Thank you Ma'am for your dedication to serving the people of the Commonwealth.

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