Hi Everyone
I am so ecstatic I must share my excitement with the list as some of you
have helped me so much, just back in November all I had was my fathers name,
birthday and that he was illegitimate since then I have found so much and
been helped by so many especially Bob Capstick, Brian Davey, and Marion
Young to name but a few there are lots of others who follow my progress.
Well my brother went to Eldroth yesterday to an address given for my
great-grandmother on the War graves site.
Would you believe there are still Benthams living there I now have a whole
new family , there is a family bible , A war book of Hector who died WW1,
photographs etc.
For the first time I have seen a photo of my grandmother Caroline taken 1920
I never knew her and she didn't know I existed, the saddest part is she only
died 12yr ago.
Grandmother had left my father with her mother and married ( he was
illegitimate ) she had 4 more children at least one of whom
still alive and she had met her brother ( my dad ) only once so she wants to
know all about him and is delighted we exist.
My Great grandmother Margaret whose twins Hector and Caroline) were
illegitimate also had another illegitimate son Norman before she married
Thomas Bentham and had two more children the widow of one being who still
lives there today and of course she also raised my father, she died 1948 but
is described as a formidable woman.
More astounding news emerged about my father I had previously discovered
what I thought was his first marriage in 1945 and his son born 1946 well Dad
had a busy life seems he married young and had two children and up and left
everyone in the early forties no one at Eldroth knew about what happened to
him after that but his first wife never remarried and my half brother and
sister are alive and well.
All amazing stuff and believe me LIVE ONES are much better than the long ago
deceased .
While working on my Tree last night ( I use Family Tree maker)
suddenly it went ping and a little window came up saying congratulations you
have now added your hundred individual to tree, great and I still have more
to add.:-)))))))
Hope I haven't bored you all but it just goes to show once you start digging
who knows what treasure you will find.
Hi Marion
That's incredible - I'm just so pleased for you! All that in 4 months!
You must be on cloud seven. A family Bible, photographs, and even half
brothers and sisters. What more could you ask for!
Congratulations
Marian
Marian Young
Canberra, Australia
[Westmorland Look-Up volunteer at:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/2544/west.htm ]