User:RosieKnees-1130

THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE

Sometimes we look at information, on the censuses for instance, and believe it to be true. In my quest for the whole truth the following are an example of <not the truth?> and the second is the person I was hoping but had no evidence (this needs major re-writing!)

Was Minnie From Littleport?

Edward Norman was born on <11/11/11> in Balderton and his brother Tobias on <22/22/22> also in Baldertong. Their mother was called Minnie and both the boys were illegitimate. I found a Minnie Norman on the 1901 census working as a domestic servant in Newark, the town three miles away from where the boys were to be born. Minnie was listed as being aged 20, unmarried and born in Littleport Cambridgeshire. I always had a feeling that she was the person I was looking for but couldn't be sure she was the mother of Edward and Tobias unless I could find them on a document with 'Minnie Norman of Littleport' as their mother. My only hope looked like waiting for the 1911 census to be released.

Nevertheless, I followed my instincts and decided to search earlier censuses. I found <ENTER DETAILS ETC..> At this stage I put all the information safely in the file; it could turn out to be completely the wrong family after all and I didn't want to waste too much time and effort searching a line that wasn't mine.

The Normans sat quietly on the shelf, occasionally being taken down and thumbed through, for over three years. At a loose end one day I decided to send a short letter to my local paper (still in the Newark area) asking if anyone had any information about Edward, Tobias and Minnie. ...so my instincts turned out to be correct, but I am so happy I wrote that letter.

The Hunt For The Death Of George Thatcher

In my search for juicy tit-bits about my ancestors, to put meat on the bones as we say, I have been working my way through 'killing them off' in the hope of finding something of interest. George Thatcher was a Tallow Chandler

Don't take the 'facts' for granted!