Newsletter – 18th
June 2022
One day left to save 25% at Findmypast ENDS SUNDAY
What happens when I don’t take my own advice
Ancestry DNA still discounted in the UK
Gardeners Corner: a rose with no name?
The LostCousins
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What happens when I don’t take my own advice
You
may recall that in the last issue there was an article entitled Missing
from the 1939 Register? followed immediately by another headed A
double marriage with a difference, about the marriages between Herbert
Jeapes and May Bond. The second article ended with a comment about the trivial
sum that May left when she died in 1953, but my investigation into why that might
have been was hindered by the fact that I couldn’t find them on the 1939 Register.
Why
couldn’t I find them? Because I only looked on Findmypast, and not Ancestry –
even though that was the core piece of advice in the first article! My only excuse
is that those articles weren’t written in the order in which they appeared in
the newsletter – indeed, when I wrote the article about Herbert and May’s
double marriage I hadn’t planned an article on the 1939 Register.
I
certainly can’t blame the transcribers – in each case their interpretations of
the handwriting were perfectly feasible. What really hindered me in my search was
the fact that Herbert and May weren’t together on Registration Day – May was in
Surrey with her son Anthony and his family, whilst Herbert was in
Buckinghamshire living in a big house with a housekeeper (many thanks to Maria
who wrote in to tell me where May was living). What’s not clear is how
permanent that arrangement was, though I couldn’t help noticing that the unmarried
housekeeper had a 3-year-old daughter, and wondering who the father was. If Herbert
and May were living separate lives by 1935 it would help to explain why May
left so little when she died intestate in 1953.
I
don’t mind admitting that I got it wrong – but I certainly won’t ignore my advice
again. Will you?
The
other case study in the last issue involved the amazing discovery that I’m
related to one of my cousins on both sides of my tree (and both sides of his). I
knew we were 2nd cousins on our mothers’ sides (though we’ve never met), but
finding out that we were also 5th cousins once removed on our fathers’ sides
was totally unexpected.
In
20 years of research nothing like this has ever happened to me before, so you
could have knocked me down with a feather when I received an email from a
LostCousins member who is the widow of a 2nd cousin once removed on my mother’s
side, telling me that she’s also descended from Abraham Anthoney and Rebecca Denton,
so we’re 6th cousins one removed on my father’s side. Two amazing coincidences in
the course of a week – perhaps I should buy a lottery ticket this weekend?
Note:
two other LostCousins members wrote in to tell me that they’re descended from
Abraham and Rebecca – but that’s not nearly so surprising considering that the
newsletter goes out to 70,000 experienced family historians with British ancestry,
especially when you consider that we each have around 200,000 relatives who are
our 6th cousin or closer.
Two
weeks ago I was marooned at the end of the 18th century, working on
this part of my tree on my own – now there are at least 5 of us puzzling over the
same 17th century ‘brick walls’. Some blinkered people aren’t
interested in finding such distant cousins – more fool them!
Of
course, if the only way to find cousins researching the same lines was to get
an article published in a large circulation newsletter or journal there wouldn’t
be much progress made – but fortunately, as a LostCousins member you can make
the connections much more easily, simply by completing your My Ancestors
page; indeed, that’s how I would have connected with my own cousins had I not
rushed into print.
However,
do remember that ALL of your living cousins are descended from the collateral
lines of your tree (what I normally call the ‘branches’), so it’s the relatives
from those lines that are most likely to connect you to them. A good strategy
is to start with all the relatives you know about in 1841, whether you can find
them on that census or not, then track each branch and twig until you get to
1881.
Ancestry
DNA still discounted in the UK
If
you live in the UK you can still save 25% on Ancestry DNA tests – and make
discoveries like the ones I’ve written about (and the ones I can’t write about
because they involve adoptees and others who didn’t know who their parents
were).
Ancestry.co.uk
– SAVE £20 PER TEST
Tip:
if the link doesn’t work first time please log-out and click the link again
(even if the offer page appears when you log-out); also remember that you don’t
have to specify who will be testing when you place your order.
In
December 2013 I contracted dengue fever while on holiday in St Lucia – yes, I know
it sounds glamorous and expensive, but it was the cheap season and my Tesco
Clubcard Rewards vouchers covered most of the cost.
On
the NHS website it says of dengue fever “The symptoms normally pass after about
1 week, although you may feel tired and slightly unwell for several weeks
afterwards“. Make that a couple of years! In fact, more than 8 years later I
still have some symptoms of the illness, thankfully minor ones – unless I’m
right about my peripheral neuropathy being caused by the virus, something that
all the medical experts pooh-poohed at the time, but now seems to be supported
by more recent research papers.
The
reason I’m dragging up this virus from nearly a decade ago is because my
experience seems to be mirrored by that of many people who have caught COVID-19
over the past couple of years. It’s estimated that 2 million people in the UK
are currently suffering from ‘long COVID’, and whilst that’s only a small
fraction of the number who have caught the disease since the pandemic began, it’s
not something one can ignore (it’s 8 times the number of people who have ME/CFS
– chronic fatigue syndrome).
Infections
are on the rise in the UK – well over half a million people contracted COVID in
the latest week for which ONS (Office for National Statistics) survey figures are
available, and this year’s figures compare unfavourably with 2021. It seems
that the Omicron variants may be less likely to cause long COVID, but as an
expert quoted in this BBC article
points out, this is cancelled out by the greater transmissibility of the
variants – which must be further enhanced by the considerably reduced level of social
distancing and mask-wearing, and the fact that the level of protection against
infection provided by past vaccine doses is virtually nil for those of us who
have yet to be offered a 4th dose.
Almost exactly 18 months ago
I reviewed
Charles I’s Executioners by James Hobson, in which the author wrote about
some the lesser-known characters of the English Civil Wars, providing a refreshing
perspective on that troubled time. In
his latest book, Radical Victorians: the Women and Men Who Dared to Think
Differently, the author takes a similar approach in tackling the free
thinkers of the Victorian era, picking characters whose views were so out of step
with their contemporaries that it was only in the 20th century that they
were acted upon.
That
doesn’t mean that modern readers will find them sympathetic characters, nor
that we will agree with their arguments – in some cases what was outrageous then
is accepted now, but in other cases it’s considered even more outrageous than
in Victorian times. A good example of the latter is Francis Galton, now mostly
remembered for eugenics, and almost as reviled as Hitler (though the author
argues convincingly that Galton has been unfairly condemned). Less
controversial in our day are those who stood up for women’s rights – but whilst one
of them has a surname that you’ll know well, he’s not one of the Pankhursts
that you’d normally associate with that movement (he was their husband and
father, the one who gave them their distinctive surname).
What
I gained from this book was a much broader view of Victorian society than usual
– and not just the middle classes, though most of the key characters did come
from relatively privileged backgrounds. In the course of the journey I discovered
answers to questions I’d pondered over many years – and to questions I’d never previously
thought to ask. In terms of the insight it gave me into the period it bears
comparison with the 6 week course (one evening a week) that my wife and I
attended at the Victoria & Albert Museum in the mid-1990s – even though the
subject matter was quite different.
I
came to this book having recently watched the 26-part adaptation of Trollope’s
Palliser novels, which are largely about politics in the mid-Victorian era – so
it followed on quite well. Whilst it’s not written specifically for family
historians you’ll encounter many familiar topics within its pages. Just don’t expect
to sympathise with all of these radicals – you won’t!
I
read the hardback edition, but it’s also available on Kindle. Out now in the UK
(and discounted at Amazon), and at the end of the month in the US, but you
might have to wait a little longer in other territories:
Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com Amazon.ca Amazon.com.au
Gardeners Corner: a rose with no name?
My
wife has once again contributed an article on a subject that is proving very popular
with readers – and she would like to thank all of those who have written in to
say how much they’ve enjoyed previous articles. Perhaps in a year or so you’ll
be able to send in a photo of a plant you’ve grown following one of Siân’s
recommendations?
Last
Saturday was much hotter than forecast and I soon gave up on the weeding to sit
and admire a slightly sunken, south facing area of the garden that was planted
up with shrubs and perennials about a year ago (I don’t bother with annuals
except when growing vegetables). The idea was to create a ‘hot’ colour palate
of summer blooms, with foliage ranging from the acid yellow of spirea japonica
through to the darker plums of corkscrew hazel and dark-leaved roses. I added
weeping crab apple and Cheals cherry for spring blossom, height, and a little
shade. The combination sounds slightly chaotic- and it is already wonderfully
so!
The
number of roses planted was a surprise until I remembered having bought a dozen
‘lost label’ bare root roses that eventually needed somewhere to live. It was a
large area to fill, so they went in at random. I was now wondering what they
were, having noticed that some were substantially larger than others; all of
them were stunning and highly fragrant.
As
with genealogy, the internet has revolutionised and democratised gardening. We
can discover in minutes what might once have taken several weeks of asking
around, letter writing, or leafing through a limited range of books. Few people
would have had the opportunity to substantially expand their knowledge or
skills beyond what was already known locally. Within moments I was searching
online to identify these anonymous beauties while still admiring them in the
sunshine. A friend phoned for a chat; she was unimpressed and mystified as to
why I would even bother. But it takes a lot of dedication to breed a rose of
lasting quality. I wanted to understand something about their origins and
character- and a rose with no name just doesn’t seem right.
It
is possible to use a plant identification app, but I searched the internet
based on features such as overall size, leaf colour, type, colouring and shape
of bloom, fragrance and flowering season. There are thousands of registered
roses worldwide, yet within 30 minutes or so I had a strong shortlist to match
most of the roses. At this point, any genealogical researcher would caution
against applying certainty to what sounds like unbelievable luck – I will study
how the roses change over time to inform further research, but for now they all
have tentative names which coincidentally lead back to the same rose breeder in
France. If this is the case, then at a mere £3 each I am delighted – especially
as they may be harder to obtain post-Brexit.
Another
so-called ‘ground cover’ rose from an anonymous bulk pack has grown into a
handsome glossy-leaved, delicate pale pink bush rose. I now believe it to be Our
Beth, affectionately named in memory of a woman who worked in the offices
of rose breeder Peter Beales for several years. Frankly, this seems more
meaningful than naming a rose after a celebrity! My efforts to identify it also
led to the realisation that many roses are edible – although sampling a few of
my David Austin rose petals left a nasty taste in the mouth! I found this article
which contains some amazing recipes, including one that looks deliciously
tempting for all the wrong reasons – Rose Vodka.
Later
that day, my research efforts prompted a moment of happy extravagance. I placed
an order for some potted shrub roses from the German breeder Kordes for my
nephew in Germany, having learned that he is keen to make his garden as lovely
as his house. I knew of this breeder only by chance, having felt sorry for a
half dead £5 supposedly “red climbing rose” in a DIY store. It grew into a
nutmeg-sweet, yellow-apricot Kordes Westerland rose. The surprise
delivery arrived yesterday, a few days after my nephew learned that one of his German
uncles had passed away. Gardening is all about creating new memories: we plant
today, often reflecting on the past, to create a more beautiful tomorrow. I
could not have timed it better, and hope that planting his new roses brings him
solace now, and pleasure for many years to come.
Yesterday I took
delivery of two potted Nostalgie roses; substantial raspberry-ripple blooms
held high on a neat bush rose which is perfect for a pot or gap in the border.
They are about 2 ½ feet tall in their pots and covered in blooms. Highly
recommended, but you’ll need to be quick: follow this link.
However,
most of the plants delivered were ferns, also bought on special offer. I was
pleasantly surprised to find that they were large enough to divide before
planting – which is best done with a wet root ball and working from the base
upwards (and if necessary, using a small saw to cut through the woody bit at
the top). Like all the shrubs and perennials planted in my garden, I give the
root ball a light dusting of rootgrow
(mycorrhizal fungus) just before planting. This is expensive but you don’t need
a lot – and it does stimulate root growth. However it only works when the
fungus is in direct contact with the roots, so don’t be tempted to just mix it
into the soil or the water.
The fern offer (5 for £39.99) was
still going when I checked just now. I have bought plenty because they are
versatile, attractive in many shady locations, large enough to establish
quickly – and pest-free. Their foliage lends an ethereal, timeless beauty
lasting from spring to late autumn.
Talking
of ethereal plants, a passing interest in the alpine Rapunzel flower led
to me discover the sublimely delicate artwork of the botanical painter and
author Mariella Baldwin. At some point I will study her paintings of flowers
that have inspired folk stories more closely. Some of her work can be viewed here.
Now
it might seem the very definition of madness (or obsession) to have been
planting on the hottest day of the year, with the temperature in south-east
England reaching 32C or higher yesterday afternoon. However, many people create
beautiful gardens and grow food in warm climates around the world, and getting
a plant into deep, damp ground is surely better than letting the roots cook in
a black plastic pot. I spent the morning planting 6 large shrubs in a shady
spot – and although this required extensive use of the hosepipe at each stage,
they are now off to an excellent start. But I will wait for cooler temperatures
before planting in sunnier locations. Plants waiting their turn are kept in a
shady spot, stood in large plastic growbag (or greenhouse) trays where they can
be easily watered and monitored for health. It’s a handy way to make the most
of summer bargains – with the caveat that planting out and maintaining good
moisture levels is harder work during the summer. Mulch can help a great deal
with this.
There
are some good summer bargains in the UK at present – especially roses and
hydrangeas, but also hardy geraniums (cranesbills) and other valuable
perennials. Hydrangeas are very forgiving to a point; they need plenty of
water, but also adequate drainage. I almost lost a sizeable hydrangea paniculata
Polar Bear by planting it in a dip. It has since been moved to an
equally sunny spot with better drainage. Similarly, I moved a non-flowering
mophead from shade to a sunnier patch where it formed flower heads within days.
They instantly tell you what they need. I have read that paniculatas cope
better in direct sunlight than the classic mopheads or the lacy woodland-edge serrulatas,
which both prefer some shade during the day. The range of hydrangeas is
extensive and if the football-sized white, blue, and yellow mopheads are not to
your taste, I can recommend the lime-vanilla-blush palleted paniculatas, both
for elegance and subtle colour changes from mid-summer through to the close of
the season.
If
you’re in the UK there some good offers on potted roses and hydrangeas at the
moment. These highly desirable potted
roses are well worth a splurge, and you’ll find large hydrangea plants at
keen prices here (I can
certainly vouch for their size and vigour!). Or for a more extensive selection
of available varieties follow this link;
the plants are smaller, but hydrangeas tend to grow faster than many other
shrubs and will soon catch up.
Talking of size and
vigour (as my wife was in the previous article), I don’t remember seeing this
2017 article
at the time, but it’s quite astonishing to read how the bodies of British men changed
over the course of half a century. Mind you, in 1967 I was already 7in taller
and a stone heavier than the average adult male – though I was still legally a
child.
When
I started travelling to school by train in the early ‘60s my mother used to make
me cheese sandwiches (with Ryvita, rather than bread) as it was quite a long
day; inevitably the once-crisp Ryvita was well-soggy by the time I got to eat my
mid-morning snack, but I wolfed it down all the same; these days I have to be
more careful about what – or rather, how much – I eat. I was never a great fan
of Ryvita, but by chance I recently discovered Finn Crisp sourdough rye
thins, which are wonderful with cheese (and only 20 calories in each, though
you won’t be able to stop with one).
These
delicious crisp breads are on special offer in Tesco until Tuesday – just 93p
per pack rather than £1.25 (though if recent experience is anything to go by,
when the promotion ends the regular price will go up). Many of the food items I
buy regularly have gone up by 10% to 15% since the Ukraine war began – I’m sure
you’ve noticed the same. Thankfully I don’t have to buy diesel any more: charging
my electric car costs less than £10 at the moment, though things will change
when our fixed price electricity deal ends In August. That said, it could actually
be cheaper – it all depends which EV tariff we switch to.
But
one thing that won’t be going up, at least not if I can help it, is the LostCousins
subscription – at just £10 for 12 months, the same price as in 2005, people
tell me it’s a bargain (and who am I to disagree). Even better, if you really can’t
afford £10 you don’t have to buy a subscription at all – genealogy shouldn’t be
just for the landed gentry!
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Peter Calver
Founder, LostCousins
© Copyright 2022 Peter Calver
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