Saturday 9 December 2017

Happy Birthday Great-Grandma!


On Wednesday, 9th December 1891, Dorothy Hawley was born in Codnor, Derbyshire. She was the fifth of the six children of John James Hawley and Elizabeth Waterfall. 








She was the youngest daughter to survive and the youngest child to survive overall after her baby brother Fred was run over by a bus in the blackout during World War II. 







This is the earliest photo I have of her. I suspect that it was taken around the time of her marriage to Robert William Dawson, which happened in September of 1918. 
He would later tell his granddaughter "She had jet black hair".








Just over 15 months after their wedding, on 1st Jan 1920, she gave birth to identical Twins.
Olive was the elder twin and weighed two and a half pounds, then came Edna weighing two pounds. The two tiny newborns slept together, nested in a drawer.


May Queens' Handover 1936
Incoming Queen Appleblossom (Edna) left
Outgoing Queen Anemone (Olive) Right


In January of 1948, aged 57 she became a Grandmother for the first time. She would have three more Granddaughters before the end of 1952.

Seven Great-Grandchildren followed (5 girls and 2 boys) between 1973 and 1986.


I am the sixth of seven Great-Grandchildren and the last that she would meet personally.
This was the day we first met at Edna and Douglas' house 22nd Jan 1983.
She was 91.

She died on Wednesday 1st May 1985
in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire (where Olive lived), at the age of 93.
Edna passed away that Friday, aged 65.


Her descendants today include 
one more Great-Grand-daughter,
9 Great-Great-Grandsons
and 6 Great-Great-Granddaughters.



Happy 126th Birthday Grandma Hawley

Wednesday 15 November 2017

Our very own Impossible Girl

It is the 7th of July 1893. Early morning in the historic fishing town of Mola .

Close to the Cathederal of St Nicholas of Bari, Vito Dottari is working in the Town Hall.

Around 09.00 he adds a record to the notes, corrections & omissions section of the Atte di Nascita for the day before:


Atto di nascita for Maria written by Vito Dottari

Luckily for us, 124 years later, thanks to social media bringing together some of the most lovely people on the planet, a volunteer named Ligia Cavallari of the Facebook Group 'Genealogy Translations' very kindly translated it for us:

"1893,July 7th in the Town Hall...appeared Furio Palma,53 years,housewife,who presented a baby, male sex,seeming to have few hours of age and declared that this morning at six AM ,I say (dico )of female sex,appearing only few hours of age and declared that this morning ,I say,yesterday at six hours AM was delivered to her the foretold girl wrapped in four cotton rags,without any signal or monogram;to the foretold girl I gave the name of Maria and surname Giacinto and entrusted her to the wet nurse Viciliano Margherita,wife of Taseo Francesco Paolo,who has promissed to take on the breeding and to give account to each request of the authority.Witnesses Bizzi Giuseppe ,50 y,leather craftsman and Didonna Giuseppe,57 y.pasta maker."

It doesn't read well because our hero makes a couple of pretty fundamental errors and has to correct himself. In fact, the foundling presented by Palma Furio is a baby girl born, left, and then found around 06.00 the day before.

On behalf of the town he gives the child the name Maria Giacinto. At this point, if the parentage of a child was unknown, the custom was to give the child a family name that does not belong to any other family in the area so that this child's descendants have a name, but the child could not be confused as the natural child and heir of any community member.

Thus the foundling baby roughly one day old embarked on the best start that her town could offer her. Entrusted to the care of a wet nurse, Margherita Viciliano and her husband Francesco Paolo Taseo.

So the legend goes (the document at this point cannot be found), 19 years and 10 days later, on 17th July 1916, Maria married her sweetheart, Michele Lombardi. They are said to have adored each other. At some stage (again the document at present cannot be found), Maria became pregnant, but sadly it was not meant to be. Both Maria and her baby passed away during childbirth.

While uniquely horrible, this was by no means an uncommon thing 100 years ago. Time moves on and so do people. Michele found love again with Loreta Sassano They married 16th Nov 1926 and built a family.

Today, 124 years after her birth, by chance Maria's Atto di nascita still exists in a collection immortalised in photographs. It could well be that some of her family somewhere are researching their family history and taking DNA tests to find other relatives. It is extremely unlikely though, unless her first family secretly kept knowledge of her alive, that anyone will have her name recorded anywhere in their family tree. Possibly, they mightn't even know where to look. Effectively, though she lived, loved and died, she has been lifted out of time and space as though she was never there.

However, it is because of her absence that Michele went on to gather: 

8 children
12 grandchildren
10 great-grandchildren

That's 30 people to date who exist because she no longer does.

In recognition of what she meant to my husband's Nonno and the fact that there is very likely no-one else to claim her, we have kept everything we know in our tree.
Some day, perhaps we'll find another document for her - her marriage lines, or death certificate. There's always an outside chance that perhaps a photo survives, but until then, we've given her a portrait in our tree. We found it in a "free to use" Google clipart search:





Tuesday 26 September 2017

Just 28 Days (on time and DNA testing)

We're finally really getting down to doing our DNA testing. I can hardly believe the thing we've talked of for so long (especially for himself and his Italian side) is actually happening.

In the end, we decided that the best one for us at this time is the My Heritage kit (which is currently on special offer as it happens). We got a fantastic deal and the test is beautifully low-tech in that it's a really simple cheek swab.

Should you have an opportunity to try one, I highly recommend it. I think most of us have had those times where a place or activity has been somehow familiar and then we've later gone on to find that we had ancestors in that place or doing that activity. It's like it resonates with something deep within us. Stating my bias here, I'm extremely interested in the notion of collective/generational memory. I also highly recommend reading some of the scientific investigations around it if you're interested too. They're an absolutely riveting read.

It was very peculiar to sit there last night, watching a digital clock display on the computer counting off the seconds to one minute either side, rolling that swab around.
Of course there's nothing to see and very little sensation - it's a bit like if you've ever had a piece of cotton wool brush against the inside of your cheek, but it's a strange and oddly confronting thing to sit and think 'what would even my grandparents think of this?'
We are in an age of more scientific privilege than ever before and progress is so swift. Isn't it frightening to think that there are now University graduates who couldn't, without help tell you what the relationship is between a cassette tape and a pencil?!
...these are just a few of the thoughts that raced through my head while performing my test.

It was such a small thing and a large thing at the same time. Stupidly, I felt a little under-dressed for the occasion sat at my desk in sweater and jeans. Though for the life of me, I couldn't tell you what would have felt more appropriate. As though somehow, magically, it might improve the test I also felt as though I should be thinking 'good thoughts' of all my ancestors (though truly, I haven't yet found an ancestor I haven't at least fallen for a little bit). It's a huge responsibility in some ways too. I found myself thinking: "What if my DNA's broken, or damaged? What if there's not enough of it? What if it doesn't carry enough information to be worthwhile?" I had to give myself a stern talking to on that and as with this blog, I called to mind the future ghost of some downward descendant who's often with me when I'm tracking our family's history and remember that as much as genealogy is a pursuit for one's own edification and pleasure, potentially some point down the track, it may also prove to be a tiny treasure for those who come after, particularly for those of us who bridge the gap between the analogue and digital eras.

Now there's just that four weeks wait for results. That in itself is an odd thing. In today's world it seems like such a long time, and yet, four short weeks ago from today I was back to work following time off for our wedding (separate post on that sometime soon. You've probably noticed it takes me a while to get the words to come together) and four weeks from now it will almost be Samhain and the Celtic New Year, which is one of my most favourite holidays in the world.
I'm also remembering back to childhood. There was a book that used to be put out (by Royal mail I think) that covered all kinds of interesting and educational activities that, if you liked the look of them, you could send 28p and however many stamps and in "just 28 days" you'd receive a parcel - honest-to-goodness exciting post. That time just used to seem to fly by, so I think I'm going to have to remind myself that it's "just 28 days" and contain my soul in patience. After his and my results arrive we have to do it all over again for the other members of our family who've kindly agreed to test as well.

I'm excited with the potential learning opportunities from this experience. On my father's side, my cousin has kindly agreed to test, which is lovely as we are sadly low on males to test on our Laity side now. I'm aware of other males who have tested up our common lines, particularly the Spencer/Spencer-Churchill side & I believe there is someone out there who tested some Hobbins Men also. On my mother's side, my two second cousins have agreed to test with me. This will be interesting for all of us as their maternal grandmother and my maternal grandmother (Olive and Edna Dawson respectively) were identical twins, so we're expecting that between us, we may have some very interesting results.


Have you done any DNA testing? What was your experience like?

Sunday 2 July 2017

A Letter For A Coming of Age

 I can hardly believe my tiny baby girl who spent the first three weeks of her life in dolls' clothes is already coming of age!

  • 2/7/5 5lb 8oz all in a rush to arrive. I carried you sideways in the papoose all pinned up and padded with a towel. I still have the scar where you would reach for my chest and I will never forget that first Moot when Yak held you so I could nip to the loo. When I got back you were clutching his Thor's hammer in one hand and wrapped yourself into his beard, tickling it against your nose that way you always did.

    I will never forget Uncle Simon telling me about Uncle Gary and his first walk in the park with you. How that evil lady said that for a child to have two godfathers was wrong and how he'd glanced down at you in your pram and you flashed him the first smile you ever gave him and he knew he would be a great godfather. You raised his confidence so much he even held you all through your naming ceremony.

    I will never forget how you and Loki could never be parted and how she would insist on being got up in mornings too, though for afternoon naps she was well able to come and tell me you were awake. To this day she still calls 'Mama' in that funny half spoken, half mewed way you both used to.

    I'll never forget watching you in the bath with Grandpa and comparing against baby photos with Grandma. I'm sorry darling girl, it seems you're cursed to look the spit of me.

    I'll never forget how Farah, having watched you cruise round the sofa and let you stand and lean on her, little fists gripping tight for dear life, walked you out into the middle of the kitchen floor and barred the doorway so Grandma and I couldn't get to you. She sat and watched you wobble for a moment, then gave you a low, soft woof and kept it up until you walked to her on your own for the very first time. After all the excitement died down the two of you went and curled up together and fell asleep.

    I'll never forget when Jack decided to give you your first taste of chocolate icecream - the first wearing of your new sleepsuit when you hadn't even grown into the toes yet.

    I'll never forget teaching you to count and how gleefully you would say "SIX" when we got to that page.

Not many kids could do that consistently at your age. A lot of the 'experts' thought you couldn't, but you always proved them wrong, my clever little girl. I hope that to this day you still always have a book with you, no matter what.

I remember listening to everyone's wishes for you at your naming day and hearing the ones read for folks who couldn't be there and wondering what today would be like - seeing you start to take your first steps as a young woman, not quite maiden, nor yet full woman, but starting to feel for your footing.

I wrote the wishes out for you and put them in the bag so you will have them when you string your beads tonight. They were:

* The seed pearl is from me. So you never forget you are beautiful and strong, and can agitate if necessary.

* The acorn was carved for you by Nigel. He wanted you to always appreciate forested spaces and always have forest to appreciate.

* Ferret carved the wooden one for you. He wanted you always to trust your instincts and follow your own path.

* The striped yellow and orange one came from Patrick. He wanted you to enjoy the sun as much as druids do.

* Cheryl, your antenatal midwife chose green. She wanted you to develop a calm and tranquil nature, and to be a good sleeper. Elizabeth and sister Chang at the hospital, who delivered you, chose at the same time. Elizabeth gave you the blue. She wanted you to always be and know beautiful, but with wisdom to get past the superficial. Sister Chang chose red in honour of your feistiness. She was taken with so much spirit in one so small and her wish was that you always hold onto that fight and tenacity.

* The moonstone was held and blessed by everyone at the Moot for your naming celebration. Some focused on the woman they'd like you to become, some whispered secret things as they held it and some said little prayers for you.

You can also start to wear your pendant from tonight. Your other mum will no doubt have talked to you about how to take a little note of the moon and why it's important to your health to do that.

Darling girl, I am SO proud of you! Even though we are far apart, you children are always in my thoughts and my heart. Right now, four years until you're 16 and can get in touch if you choose to seems like such a long time away, but look at how fast we got to here. I can't wait for the year you get to eat some of your birthday cake.

Your cake this year is lemon, under chocolate buttercream. Sometimes it's going to get tangy and sharp out there, but if there's any justice in this world, though cursed to look like me, perhaps at least you'll also have inherited my odd blessing of something really sweet and lucky always following tight behind anything rough.



Just as at your naming then, and since we don't know which patron you will choose for yourself at whatever ceremony your new folks give you, we will also rededicate you to Edana. She was the perfect choice for you from infancy, being the patron for firey, spirited women. Your double 'n' is special only to you and is a memory that you are not only named for your patron, but also for Great Grandma and all the other strong, amazing women you descend from.



Step out on your journey towards adulthood, no longer my tiny baby, but a brave, beautiful, clever young woman and know that we will always love you and be here for you. Mum xxx

Friday 13 January 2017

2017 Looking backwards and forwards

Happy new calendar.

Wow - 2017. The year that not so long ago felt like it would never get here. Don't you just love time? It fascinates me endlessly.


Up until only very recently, I've had something of a funk with my genealogy pursuits.

That whole wikitree struggle I was having in the summer - that sapped a lot of my enjoyment and desire to do anything genealogical in company for really, most of the summer and autumn if I'm honest. 
However, with the help of a really lovely chap who's one of their senior bods, I managed to get things on the road to sorted out, so that's awesome.

One thing that's definitely come out of that whole experience: If your ged.com fights with their system the way mine did (and seemingly, several others too), then it turns out the important thing to know is, that the proper advice is: Don't panic and put everyone up then go back with sources, they'd much prefer if we all add up single individuals with their sources one at a time, even if that means it could take forever to get anyone up there.


Then, later into the Autumn, following a tip, I treated myself to a copy of the subsidies of land grants in Cornwall made by Henry VIII (I will definitely do a post on that resource at some stage this year - it's awesome). Together with cousin Russell (who's a 'proper' genealogist and one of my favourite relatives in the extended family) and a couple of others, we managed to push our Laity family lines further.

Up until now, the earliest we'd managed to find was Richard Laytye, whose son was baptised in 1563. Over the last three months we've managed to flesh that out with some sibling information, worked out how some of the main sections of the family intersect AND we've found and confirmed some information on his parents, so allow me to introduce my newly found 11th Great-Grandparents:

John Laytye b 1500 & Elizabeth 1505 - 1 Aug 1570



Given how the summer and autumn went, there hasn't been much new action in other lines. We're still searching to prove out or not the theories for the Hawley and Spencer lines, and my search for the missing time with William Hobbins continues to be unfruitful just now...
...and then, in a 'funny five minutes' as my Grandad would've said, a couple of nights ago, I started playing with one of those ''which in/famous person are you (vaguely) related to'' things while killing some time waiting for himself. That threw out a gateway in amongst Mum's Heeson branches that connected to the HOWARD family. Interesting in itself as we seem to have more direct Howard links in a different line that I was aware of. Since I was messing around killing time, in light of recent discussions with genealogy friends around where searches of branches can/do/must end, I thought I'd take a quick few minutes and (I must stress this is NOT sound genealogy and I don't recommend it as a methodology - it was fun though...) click around to see *POTENTIALLY* where could that line lead me.

Turns out, there's truth in that saying about never ask a question unless you're ready for the answer. My clicking adventure wandering through time along that potential line took me first to Rollo of Normandy.
- For those who, like me, don't watch ''The Viki
ngs'', he was apparently the one who ended up taking his boat up the Seine (as you do) and demanding land from the King of the Francs. ...okay, so that puts my ''Bad Billy'' even more into perspective. 

It seems that things don't even stop there. - I estimate it'd take me at least 35 years to get all that lot properly researched and traced ...and that would be assuming I have a total personality transplant and don't get distracted with anything else at all, but if I were to be on-task enough that far, it seems that there may even be sagas etc that would take us back to roughly 100 CE. Weird huh?! - I can't decide how I feel about that potential yet. 

Back to 2017 then and there's just so much going on. Our wedding is set for later this summer so there's A LOT of new relations (to say nothing of whole new language and culturecoming along not so far over the horizon. Also, a first cousin just got married and my little sis got herself engaged to her lovely fella over the holidays, so our little bough of the family Oak is set to sprout madly!

There's just so much, so I figured I'd joi
n up for 2017's 'blog a month' and have another crack at it, starting with a look back to this point last year and see what I can come up with for this year.

2016 Target:
2017 and beyond...




2016 Monthly blog challenge
Signed up again for 2017.
Already have a post for Jan, so already doing better this year!


Sort out why my GedCom isn't being 'liked'/accepted by certain platforms.
Have that pretty much sorted out. It’s just TOO huge for some systems. I see more manual data entry in my future this year.


Continue working to copy all the existing ancestors across to all platforms (I currently have fragmented information spread across RootsMagic, GenesReunited, Family Tree Circles, GeneaWiki and various other places). In an absolutely ideal world, it would be great to have everything match absolutely, so that I can really work on pushing out to new generations.
Getting somewhere with WikiTree finally. So glad I made a note of the other places I’m behind on.


Update the paper tree when all the online ones are fixed
Yeah. Whenever that happens.


Figure out some kind of nice mounting system for the current paper tree so that we can display it properly.
I have this figured out too. To make it happen though, any one of three things needs to happen:

* I get cast in something that makes serious money
* I find a craft or genealogy customer prepared to pay me in a custom size piece of perspex
* I meet an art or woodwork student prepared to take on the challenge as part of their coursework.


Finish off my four generations project for my licensing exam. - Shooting for sitting the May level 1 exam if at all possible.
I REALLY have to sit down and actually write this up. I’d love to shoot for the May sitting again, but realistically, that’s coming up FAST, and we’re getting married in August, so I guess I’m aiming at the November sitting.


Craft something involving my genealogy.
The MKAL for my shawl design on ravelry last year was really cool.
This year I have to either finalise or kill the design idea I started last summer. I’d also like to do something else crafty that’s genealogy involved.

Start to write a book on Bad Billy


What are your genealogy targets for 2017?