Getting up early this morning to walk Brodie before we went to church was the hardest part of the week. Other than that the extra time out has not been a chore. Jo and I had lunch in the 'garden' at the Coach and Horses on Saturday and Brodie sat with us and was very well behaved. The family has talked more - we spent an evening swapping dog stories, and I'm getting to know my youngest son again, having walked with him and the dog twice.
Today, leaving him behind and going to church was difficult, it was also the first time he had been left on his own. He was not happy when we returned some 3 hours later.
Warner preached on Luke 10:1-9 and started by showing Bubble Creek Canyon. He talked about being sent (to Billericay for an awful lot of people), and ended with the acronym P.R.A.Y
Pray for Peace
Relationships (esp Hospitality)
Acts of Kindness
Yahweh's Kingdom.
To make sense of it all the text is here.
After Church we left poor Brodie again and headed for Foulness Island (my last attempt is here). Revd James Knight, one of my Great Great Great (enough greats, or too many - not sure) Grandfathers on my mothers side, was Rector there from 1832 until he died in 1844 he was in his eighties. I suspect that he wanted an easy parish for the last few years of his life, there being no retirement in those days. In 1845 the current Church was built, so perhaps I'm wrong thinking he had an easy last few years. The current Rectory was built slightly later. The local historian gave us an idea of the location of the previous church, and told us where to look. It was just a small chapel built many years before (13??) so that the local people did not have to travel to attend Church.
Once again there was no physical evidence of my ancestors.
Then it was back home to see a limping dog. What happened I do not know, but when he gets going it eases up and he can trot and run OK, so there isn't much wrong.
Showing posts with label Family Tree. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family Tree. Show all posts
Sunday, June 06, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Grave Hunting, Jam and Windows 7
The nice thing about graves is they move very slowly, unfortunately it is not a slowly as you might hope.
There are other things that make it difficult to have any idea who the stone relates to. Lichen can obliterate the writing very quickly (see album), sometimes the stone flakes and the top layer is missing. In the case of Mountnessing, the church was closed for a while, when it was re-opened the grave yard was tidied up, and many of the broken and damaged stones lost.
We arrived at Buttsbury just as Evensong began, there the church yard is also missing stones, but we don't know why.
We did not find any of the names we were looking for - this time on Jo's side of the family.
That was Sunday afternoon, a lovely day for wandering in the countryside, and the churches provided some lovely views, if not the right grave stones.
Jam is not like stone, but I promised here, that I would talk about the jam. At the alternative Christmas Fayre we bought a pot of Elderberry Jelly from the Mum and Me Jam Company. It's been in the cupboard a while, as is the way with jam in our house. Jelly, well yes, I suppose, but the jelly has the consistency of the jelly you have at children's parties. It is quite difficult to spread, however rather that than the commercial version of some "jellies", which turn to liquid at the first slice. The taste is very good and that's what really counts.
Now that the Projection project is finished at Church, I can get on with my own migration to Windows 7. Migration is slow, but is happening - you can see the updates here.
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| 2010_0411 |
We arrived at Buttsbury just as Evensong began, there the church yard is also missing stones, but we don't know why.
We did not find any of the names we were looking for - this time on Jo's side of the family.
That was Sunday afternoon, a lovely day for wandering in the countryside, and the churches provided some lovely views, if not the right grave stones.
Jam is not like stone, but I promised here, that I would talk about the jam. At the alternative Christmas Fayre we bought a pot of Elderberry Jelly from the Mum and Me Jam Company. It's been in the cupboard a while, as is the way with jam in our house. Jelly, well yes, I suppose, but the jelly has the consistency of the jelly you have at children's parties. It is quite difficult to spread, however rather that than the commercial version of some "jellies", which turn to liquid at the first slice. The taste is very good and that's what really counts.
Now that the Projection project is finished at Church, I can get on with my own migration to Windows 7. Migration is slow, but is happening - you can see the updates here.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
'Long lost' Relative
Both my sister and I found it quite a strange experience to be talking to a relative who is so obviously part of the family - but who we really hadn't met before. Some of the memories that we have of family stories begin to fit together a little more.
Monday, September 07, 2009
Foulness, Old Leigh, Hadleigh Castle & Wallasea Island
An alternative title might have been "No Entry" or "Places we haven't been", either as it turned out could have been the theme through the day.
We started the day on an ancestor hunt. James Knight is a great grandfather of mine, he was rector of Foulness. We decided to visit the church. There was information on the web that suggested there are public roads on the island. The man at the gate agreed they were public, but still insisted that we could not drive on them. He seemed incapable of seeing the contradiction. We tried the next island round, and couldn't get on there either. The road to Potton Island was just a dead end.
After discounting a visit to the archives on such a lovely day we went to Old Leigh. Last time I was there was probably 30 years ago. Many of the boat yards have gone, and the town is now full of places to eat. The other noticeable difference is that the trains are much quieter. There is also a museum now, and in what looks like a derelict house a stone marking a spring, which is presumably why the town was recorded in the Doomsday Book.
Then on to Hadleigh Castle which has changed a lot. I remember it as a neglected ruin, now it has had the English Heritage treatment - about time too. There are still cows in the surrounding fields, and they are still menacing enough to stop me going in the field. We had lunch at the Salvation Army Tea Room. I think they were a little overrun by the result of the good weather, they had already run out of some items.
We decided to return to Wallasea, and got to walk along the sea wall. Even this is being blocked (further on from our walk) as they return some of the land to salt marsh. There are pictures on Picasa (see link above), in one there is a tiny spot on the horizon which we believe is Foulness Church. On another there is a large plume of smoke. The sky was dark at the time and I thought it was thunder, but I suspect it was just a test on Foulness.
On our way back from the first attempt we saw a sign saying 'Foulness cycle ride' - perhaps that's the way on to the island.
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| 2009_0907 Old Leigh, Hadleigh Castle, Wallasea Island |
We started the day on an ancestor hunt. James Knight is a great grandfather of mine, he was rector of Foulness. We decided to visit the church. There was information on the web that suggested there are public roads on the island. The man at the gate agreed they were public, but still insisted that we could not drive on them. He seemed incapable of seeing the contradiction. We tried the next island round, and couldn't get on there either. The road to Potton Island was just a dead end.
After discounting a visit to the archives on such a lovely day we went to Old Leigh. Last time I was there was probably 30 years ago. Many of the boat yards have gone, and the town is now full of places to eat. The other noticeable difference is that the trains are much quieter. There is also a museum now, and in what looks like a derelict house a stone marking a spring, which is presumably why the town was recorded in the Doomsday Book.
Then on to Hadleigh Castle which has changed a lot. I remember it as a neglected ruin, now it has had the English Heritage treatment - about time too. There are still cows in the surrounding fields, and they are still menacing enough to stop me going in the field. We had lunch at the Salvation Army Tea Room. I think they were a little overrun by the result of the good weather, they had already run out of some items.
We decided to return to Wallasea, and got to walk along the sea wall. Even this is being blocked (further on from our walk) as they return some of the land to salt marsh. There are pictures on Picasa (see link above), in one there is a tiny spot on the horizon which we believe is Foulness Church. On another there is a large plume of smoke. The sky was dark at the time and I thought it was thunder, but I suspect it was just a test on Foulness.
On our way back from the first attempt we saw a sign saying 'Foulness cycle ride' - perhaps that's the way on to the island.
Monday, August 31, 2009
St Giles Flower Fesitval - Songs of Praise
I missed the main flower festival, as I was 'at work' preparing for next week. Around 5:30pm yesterday we stopped scanning pictures of long dead relatives, and quickly shutdown the computer to go to the Songs of Praise service at St Giles. The church is only a couple of miles outside Billericay, and the way to get there is walk across the fields, but that takes too much time at 5:30, when you want to be there by 6:00. So we drove and parked in a field, in the long grass.Above is just one of the many displays. This is the one we were closest to, and as the service went on I had to resist the urge to see whether the bread was real - I was getting hungry!
After the service I met an old friend from the CCS days. I haven't seen him for ages, but can see something of him on Facebook. Tonight was not the time for a reunion - he was busy too.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
On yer Bike ...
As one of our more 'colourful' politicians used to say to the unemployed.
I was up earlier than expected this morning, so decided to cycle to church. This is the bikes first outing since the injury. I have normally managed 6 or 7 trips by now. It is only 2 miles each way, and there's plenty of time to rest in the service, as I wasn't doing anything. I was tired when I got back, and expect to have a little stiffness tomorrow. This shows me how much of my fitness I have lost, and there wasn't much to start with!
Christ Church had a new service leader for the first time, and he did very well, and said he enjoyed it. Being a fifth Sunday the youth band played - they are better than they realise, even though I make a point of telling them. Our preacher was also not one of the regulars, and she did a good job of making us thing about the situation between Mary and Jesus on her return to the temple to find Him. What was Jesus thinking when he stayed behind? What was Mary thinking when she returned, and when she found him? Right now I am more in tune with Mary, as we have learnt that Karen and her young people must spend the night in Cairo.
The illusive grandfather has made an appearance. Here he is in a picture with two others, who I don't know, standing behind them. This is the only picture of him we have found.
George Fisher was apparently 56 when he died, although I have to say he looks older to me.
Below is grandmother Annie Fisher, with my Aunt Phyllis (20) and my uncle Philip (16):
I was up earlier than expected this morning, so decided to cycle to church. This is the bikes first outing since the injury. I have normally managed 6 or 7 trips by now. It is only 2 miles each way, and there's plenty of time to rest in the service, as I wasn't doing anything. I was tired when I got back, and expect to have a little stiffness tomorrow. This shows me how much of my fitness I have lost, and there wasn't much to start with!
Christ Church had a new service leader for the first time, and he did very well, and said he enjoyed it. Being a fifth Sunday the youth band played - they are better than they realise, even though I make a point of telling them. Our preacher was also not one of the regulars, and she did a good job of making us thing about the situation between Mary and Jesus on her return to the temple to find Him. What was Jesus thinking when he stayed behind? What was Mary thinking when she returned, and when she found him? Right now I am more in tune with Mary, as we have learnt that Karen and her young people must spend the night in Cairo.
The illusive grandfather has made an appearance. Here he is in a picture with two others, who I don't know, standing behind them. This is the only picture of him we have found.
George Fisher was apparently 56 when he died, although I have to say he looks older to me.Below is grandmother Annie Fisher, with my Aunt Phyllis (20) and my uncle Philip (16):
Saturday, August 29, 2009
A Bright Idea and a missing relative
I took a day off work yesterday to attend the projector demonstration at Christ Church. We have been trying to raise money to improve the projection. The projector we have now is OK for words but is not good for pictures and hopeless for video. We will also get a new screen (hopefully). We looked at two - one about 4,000 ANSI lumens, and one about 6,500 ANSI lumens. The demonstration was in the middle of the day, so not that many could attend. Those who did will have seen our projector deliver a very difficult to see piece of video. The lower specification machine gave us something that was visible but not easy to watch. The higher specification machine gave us a picture that was easy to watch. I know which one I want. Two of the younger people in the church suggested that if we are to spend some money we need to see that it has made a difference. Again, I agree.
After lunch Jo and I headed to Southend Sutton Road cemetery to look for grandfather George and his wife Ethel. They should be in the same grave. My grandfather died in 1929, when my father was still a boy, and this is the first time I have tried to find his grave. Grandmother died a little over a year later and should be in the same place.
We arrived to find rush hour at the cemetery, and had to park along the road. The rabbits have burrowed deep into the graves and many of the headstones are broken or missing. We walked up and down the rows counting graves and trying to work out where the plot might be.
After a couple of failed attempts we arrived here - at the row between the bush and a very well kept grave. The plot is the one immediately to the left of the grave, and immediately in front of my feet.
It seems that my grandfather does not want to be found!
We drove down the road to look at the church where Mum & Dad were married. It is in Sutton road and is called 'All Saints', Jo found it on the map and off we went. I don't think it is the right one though. There is another 'All Saints' in Sutton Road, which I do think is the right one.
After that we drove to grandfather's last house which can be seen in the picture. I wonder if there is any evidence of him in there?
Lastly we went over to Shoebury east beach. That beach used to be wild and open but it has been tamed and civilised, and is not what it once was.
After lunch Jo and I headed to Southend Sutton Road cemetery to look for grandfather George and his wife Ethel. They should be in the same grave. My grandfather died in 1929, when my father was still a boy, and this is the first time I have tried to find his grave. Grandmother died a little over a year later and should be in the same place.We arrived to find rush hour at the cemetery, and had to park along the road. The rabbits have burrowed deep into the graves and many of the headstones are broken or missing. We walked up and down the rows counting graves and trying to work out where the plot might be.
After a couple of failed attempts we arrived here - at the row between the bush and a very well kept grave. The plot is the one immediately to the left of the grave, and immediately in front of my feet.It seems that my grandfather does not want to be found!
We drove down the road to look at the church where Mum & Dad were married. It is in Sutton road and is called 'All Saints', Jo found it on the map and off we went. I don't think it is the right one though. There is another 'All Saints' in Sutton Road, which I do think is the right one.
After that we drove to grandfather's last house which can be seen in the picture. I wonder if there is any evidence of him in there?
Lastly we went over to Shoebury east beach. That beach used to be wild and open but it has been tamed and civilised, and is not what it once was.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
My Grandfather was an alien
Yes, you've always suspected it, haven't you!
Well, he might have been. Or a criminal mastermind who changed his name to escape from the Peelers. (He probably wasn't that old, actually.) We can't be sure because he does not exist in the official records before his marriage. I had tried to track him down before, and had singularly failed to make any progress, so we handed the problem over to our genealogist. I'm not sure if I was relieved or saddened when he made almost no progress down my fathers fathers side. George Fisher put George Fisher as his father on his marriage certificate. Neither of them exist. All of my fathers' generation are long gone, so there is little help from there.
Stories in the family relate to some rift and dis-inheritance, after asking around his grandchildren, at least those we know (as we have lost contact with some), it appears he enjoyed telling a story, and no-one was sure if it was true or not. Jim managed to put together a theory about a German immigrant changing his name. That fitted with my grandmother being a maid in a house where there were German visitors staying. Proving it will be interesting.
Today we heard a story that he was from Finland.
Well, he might have been. Or a criminal mastermind who changed his name to escape from the Peelers. (He probably wasn't that old, actually.) We can't be sure because he does not exist in the official records before his marriage. I had tried to track him down before, and had singularly failed to make any progress, so we handed the problem over to our genealogist. I'm not sure if I was relieved or saddened when he made almost no progress down my fathers fathers side. George Fisher put George Fisher as his father on his marriage certificate. Neither of them exist. All of my fathers' generation are long gone, so there is little help from there.
Stories in the family relate to some rift and dis-inheritance, after asking around his grandchildren, at least those we know (as we have lost contact with some), it appears he enjoyed telling a story, and no-one was sure if it was true or not. Jim managed to put together a theory about a German immigrant changing his name. That fitted with my grandmother being a maid in a house where there were German visitors staying. Proving it will be interesting.
Today we heard a story that he was from Finland.
Monday, March 16, 2009
The way we were (I was)
Jo has been working feverishly on the family tree. As a result there are a lot of old photos going around. This was me:
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