Website updated 31 December 2012

You will have noticed that I have changed a few pages on the website.  Sadly the program I use has many limitations and although I have managed to work around many of them over the months the problem getting the background correct has now caused me to look for another program. If you know of an inexpensive easy to learn one please shout. I would like next year to completely revamp the website.

Happy New Year to everyone, whether we have met or that is a pleasure for the future.

DNA Project

Even better news if you are considering taking a test for the Greathead project

Family Tree DNA. They have now announced their December sale prices which include the popular 37-marker test kit at US$119 from the normal (group members discount) price of US$ 149. This brings the price in GBP down to about £75.

The offer ends on  31 Dec 2012

Website updated 1 December 2012

Having discovered a second marriage for John Lamb I met up with this new family and was kindly offered some wonderful pictures I had not seen including one of my grandparents wedding.

Lots more photographs and new source data

DNA volunteers wanted

FTDNA have periodic sales [like right now up to 31 December 2012], so a 37 marker tests is currently $119 dollars or about £80  pounds 

How about taking this opportunity and see if we can see how we are all related.

Oh I wish I were a MAN !!

Maybe one of you will offer to become the Greathead DNA expert and run the project, any offers?

Please come forward if at all interested, we have real experts within the Guild of One-Name Studies who will willing give advice and help.  This is definitely the road we need to go.  I can only go so far with researching documents

Photograph out of the blue

This weekend I was sent a picture of my Paternal Grandparents Thomas Greathead and Marion Stewart's wedding and guests.  I had not seen this picture before.  So image my joy.  Thank you so much John and Mavis, two very generous people.

Flowers

A while ago I received an email from a solicitor in New Zealand wanting to contact someone I had named as a source of information.  I never give away contact details.  However I passed the email on to my source.  She was a little sceptical but did contact the solicitor.

When I came home today I discovered a beautiful bouquet of flowers had been delivered with a note saying:  Please accept these flowers with my sincere thanks.  I received a lovely Xmas bonus from Uncle David.

The email was not a hoax

But what a lovely gesture I was really touched and so pleased I was able to help

West Surrey Family History Open Day

Yesterday I attended the West Surrey Family History Open Day.  The Guild of One-Name Studies had four local members on the stand which was quite busy all day.  I was not needed after a while so spent my time going around meeting other members for the Guild, West Surrey FHS and U3A.

If I missed you I am sorry

Website updated 2 November 2012

Website updated a little late as I have been having wonderful email conversations with some new contacts over the last few days and needed to get that information as best I could onto the website.  There is more to come.

Day at TNA

Spend the day at the National Archives, chasing the Greathead Excisemen.  Solved one problem.  Still got more to solve.

Also discovered a divorce but who is the Thomas Greathead who is sited as the third person in the relationship.  He did not marry the lady in question. 

QR code

Last night I learned how to create a QR code for www.greathead.org.  So those with telephones with bar code apps can now go straight from the blog to the website.  I will experiment where else these codes may be useful.

Always good to learn something new

Website updated October 2012

I visited Chicksands on 16 September and toured the house.  Then onto All Saints, the  Parish Church, Campton, nr Shefford, Bedfordshire where Edward Harris Greathed  married Charlotte Frederica Caroline Osborn  on 4 August 1869 to visit the Osborn graves, some in the Churchyard and others in the crypt below the church
Still working on the Greathead books and hoping some kind gentleman will start the DNA ball rolling shortly.
Chart 28 now includes the family descended from Thomas W Greathead who married Frances Hux and travelled to America in 1819 and most of their family is documented on the website.  Chart 10 has been absorbed into Chart 28
Many new dates and references updated

Website updated September 2012

Much of this month has been revisiting old data and checking information supplied many years ago.  It is surprising how information that meant nothing when supplied, now makes sense and I can carry it much further forward with the primary sources now available.
Met a lady who had travelled from Australia with her husband who was playing hockey for Australia in the World Championships.  We had a wonderful time chatting.  Thank you Allanah.
I have arranged the visit Chicksands in September

Womens Olympic Marathon go past JHG statue

Watched some of the Women's Olympic Marathon from the safety of my arm chair today and was delighted to see the route go past the statue of James Henry Greathead off Cornhill.  I am sure he looked down on the runners and gave a little cheer

1940 US Census

At last completed all the 1940 census entries.  A few mistranscriptions but found most entries and solved a few I could not find on previous years.  All now on my database.  Will be shown on next update due 31 August

Website updated 1 August 2012

Do look at Recent updates for all the amended and new narratives

What a month, I updated TMG to v8 and it took a while before I discovered I was using the wrong database in Second Site.  But all ok now, I hope!!

My hard drive also failed rather dramatically, but after a few fraught days I discovered a miracle worker who managed to get what appears to be all my data back.  Magnificent job, especially since I had not backed up for a month (I usually do it each month but things stopped me last month)  Now I back up daily.  

Lots of 1940 census entries added this month

I have a planned trip to Chicksands in September

A promise of a wonderful gentleman in US offering to take a DNA test before Christmas, come lads you aren't going to let him be the only one.  Do contact me please.  Lets break down some walls.

Website updated 1 July 2012

Do look at Recent updates for all the amended and new narratives
More actual dates of events and a few pictures.  New contacts and sadly a few deaths.  Working on the Greathead book and gathering data and pictures

Next Greathead gathering

Please put in your diaries Saturday 14 June 2014

We will meet in London as last time under the statue of James Henry Greathead for photographs, then back to Weatherspoons, I hope to have some books written and special charts available. 

Let me know if you plan to attend

Yes I know it is a long time in advance but I want everybody to keep the date free, so we really can make a great gathering

So come on please send me those pictures, copies of certificates and information so the books really are special

It would also be lovely to get some DNA tests done so come on gentlemen please think about it.  Lets prove we are all related

Website updated

Do look at Recent updates for all the amended and new narratives 

I have been updated on a special party for a lovely Greathead lady in Australia and am awaiting details and photographs.  I am meeting one of the cousins later this year in England.

 

Welcome to a new little Greathead

I have just been informed that on 28 April we welcomed Connor David Alec Greathead into the world.  A little earlier than planned and weighing in about 4lbs but he and his Mum doing well.  His Dad is overjoyed. 

Congratulations to all three

Website updated 1 May 2012

Do look at Recent updates for all the amended and new narratives
Yes I have scanned all my birth and death certificates.  A job well done.  Hurrah.  Maybe you have some certificates that you could share with me?
I now have included two search methods on the website.  Search by ID has been there a while, but now you can search by names and dates.  Hope you find that useful.
I have added lots of data about our St Kitts Greatheads, more is still to come.  I purchased two books about St Kitts for background reading
A good friend born in South Africa has been passing me some great SA sites and I am gradually working my way through them and adding data to the website.  More will follow......
Lots more gravestones, hope you enjoy

Back from Guild Conference

Just returned from Th Guild of One-Name Studies held in Malden in Essex.  I was elected their Secretary for the third year.  Great weekend, busy and hard work, but fun.

Website updated 1 April 2012

Do look at Recent updates for all the amended and new narratives

I have now downloaded all the relevant FreeReg, UKBMD entries and have attempted to add the data to the database. Some items I cannot reconcile but I will keep trying. It has helped as this exercise has identified several children that were born and died between census years. Also Some death registers hold ages a lot prior to those available on the GRO indexes.

At long last I have scanned all my Marriage certificates. Now to make sure all the birth and death ones are scanned. All an attempt to get as paperless as possible. The idea being everything is then available to me in a digital format.

London

Today went on a trip with Wonersh U3A to visit sites related to Charles Dickens and was delighted to have coffee within site of James Henry Greathead's statue. Brought back wonderful memories of the Greathead April gathering last year. Then on to Bloomsbury for lunch where we have our Guild of One-Name studies committee meetings. Then onto Museum of London to visit the Dickens exhibition.

Great day in wonderful weather

Guild of One-Name Studies Regional meeting

Attended the Surrey and West London Regional meeting on Family history gatherings. Sixteen members attended and we heard about a members gathering in Salt Lake City. Wonderful pictures and made me quite envious. Love to go there

U3A Study Day

Attended the U3A Study day in Ash today and gave a couple of talks: Parish Chest and Wills.

Over 100 people attended the day, wonderfully organised. Great to meet new people

Ash U3A

Gave a talk to members of Ash U3A on Parish Chest. Dress rehearsal for next week at their study day. Seemed to go OK

Website updated 2 March 2012

At last found an evening when I could update the website. All done. Please let em know ifthere are any problems or I have misinterpretted any information.

Lots more data on Merriman family thanks to Tony

Sadly a few new people due to their recent deaths.

Website update - NOT

I am sorry for those who look out for my website update. Things have overtaken me this moth and it will be a few days late. It will happen because I have lots of updates. My apologies.

Website updated 1 February 2012

Once again this month has just flown by.

I have added much information on the Merriman family aided greatly by my good friend Tony

Several of the Counties on the BMDUK website has been added and a few queries sorted.

Three marriage certificates from a Guild marriage challenge have given me much head scratching the Greathead mentioned is still not identified.

Several previously unknown contacts have corresponded with me and we have exchanged data

Quite a busy month really

UKBMD again

After a days flying yesterday with my better half I spent the evening downloading the UKBMD Greathead entries for West Midlands, Berkshire, Bath, Cumbria and North Wales.

Very worthwhile doing some real surprises, and a nil return for Berkshire

UKBMD

I decided to start the year off on a good footing. I have been through Staffordshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Wiltshire and Cheshire UKBMD websites. Amazing I have added the references to my database, cleared up some mysteries and corrected some of my geographical County mistakes.

Hope to do some of the other Counties before end of the month

Still a few queries but maybe I will get them sorted before the website is updated