Strickland family

Lots of updates to the Strickland family.  George Ingram married Elizabeth Greathead on 18 December 1838, their daughter Mary married John Strickland and the link to our name progressed.

George is my 3rd cousin 5 times removed, so this family really were close to my personal interest. Thanks to John for pointing me in the right direction

Sad news

Today I heard some very sad news.  My second cousin once removed Hugh Reginald Birks sadly died earlier today.  Hugh had developed Shingles (on his face) starting 1 September and had recovered but the toll was simply to too great.

Hugh was born on 26 August 1917 in Hartlepool.  He was part of the crew when the "Strathallan" was sunk.  It was a P & O liner and was converted to a troop ship off coast of Oran, Tunisia.  He was also took part in Operation "Corkscrew" liberation of Pantelleria 7th Armoured Division.

He married Catherine Vansteenwinckel on 20 August 1945 in St Mary the Virgin in Arkengarthdale.  They had two sons with whom they emigrated to Toronto in June 1951.  While in Canada they had two further sons and and a daughter.

When my own parents died and I discovered some photographs which I found strange.  My parents were only children and so why had they kept a photograph of a family and written 'Uncle' Henry on the back.  Uncle Henry Lamb turned out to be Hugh's grandfather and my great great uncle.

I started my search for Hugh and found what I hoped was his email address and wrote to him asking whether he might be or know the gentleman I was after.  His reply came swiftly and read the few magnificent words 'I am he'.

I was so fortunate to meet him when he came to London for a short visit and spent an amazing afternoon with him and his daughter.  We spoke on several occasions by telephone and once by skype and exchanged endless emails.

My heart goes out to Catherine and his immediate family, who have become real friends.  I feel really privileged to have known him.  I have lost someone I held really dear.

Sadly Catherine died just five weeks lateron 1 November 2017.

Website updated 1 November 2015

Website updated again lots of entries on people who had to sadly spend some of their time in the workhouse, more details on our Excise men and much more....

Looking forward to getting some information from the 1939 Register, but not going to spend money on it yet, need to make sure good investment.  If anyone does pay for a household related to Greathead do please share.
 

Website updated 1 September 2014

On Tuesday of this week I met in London my 8th Cousin and his wife - Bruce and Judy Bartle.  I did not know of the exact relationship until a couple of days previous to the meeting when I made a breakthough and now have managed to join Chart 7 and Chart 1.

You can imaging my joy, one less chart.  Now onto try to join up some others, there must be connections.  We cannot have so many Greathead trees coming from the same are and not being related.  Just need the documentation - or do I.  If we could get some Greathead men taking the genealogical DNA test - The Guild offer the 37 marker test for £80

Thanks Bruce and Judy for the wonderful time in Somerset House, we chatted and exchanged information.  They are returning to their native New Zealand next week.

Safe journey to both of you.

The website was updated to incorporate this great news and more finds during the month

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.

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.

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

Birks Lamb Reunion

At long last I have updated the website with some relevant pictures from the Reunion and update the home page. I have many more pictures and of course lots of family data that has already been added. Now I have contacts all over the world to the living family members. I look very forward to working with them all to improve the website.

Website updated 1 September 2011

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

I spent a fantastic weekend in Hartlepool attending the reunion of many people related to Hugh Hallifield Birks and Emily Douglas Lamb. I am their 3rd Cousin once removed. So this month I have been able to add lots of pictures to my database of people who attended the reunion. Many of them bought pictures of their deceased parents and family so those are now on the website. I also visited Seaton Carew Church where my Great grandparents are buried as well as many other relatives. See blog for a picture.

No real breakthroughs this month, but I hope to make more in roads into my brickwalls over the winter months. Made some great new contact this month and hope to find out more. Look forward to receiving emails from lots of people

Reunion

I was delighted to be invited to the Lamb-Birks reunion in Hartlepool last Saturday. We celebrated the wedding of my first cousin once removed Emily Douglas Lamb to Hugh Halliford Birks on 30 August 1911 almost 100 years ago.

Thirty five members of the family joined together for a photograph on the steps of the Grand Hotel, Hartlepool where the original wedding photographs were taken and then retired to a room full of pictures and memorabilia supplied by many of the group. We had a three course dinner and splendid cake.

The main organisers were Sally Richardson and her husband Peter Birks and Michael Hall. They are to be congratulated for a splendid weekend.

I was delighted to see from the newspaper article in the local paper on 30 August 1911 that my great grandparents gave the couple a cheque and my grandparents gave them two pictures.

Brickmaker in Yarm

A very kind fellow Guild of One-Name Study gentleman looked up on his indexes of brick makers and discovered that John Greathead was a brickmaker in Yarm in Yorkshire in 1811. This fits with what I know. But who were his parents? He appears in the Holden's directory for that year. Anyone got access to anything of that time or maybe apprenticeship records. My guess is brickmakers may have had to be apprentices before they became full brick makers.

Shots in the dark here. Can anyone help please?

Gathering was a success

Over 60 people attended the gathering. Most arrived in time for the photoshoot and one picture taken can be found on the from page of the website. Others arrived and joined us for lunch and a natter, sharing pictures and memories and viewing the three main charts that I took. I think people were quite surprised at just how large the charts were.

Over the next few days I will be creating a page showing more photographs and hoping to update the website tomorrow.

Many thanks for all those who attended and made the day so enjoyable for me. Hope you found it fun too.

As many said, lets hope we can do it again. Is there another Royal wedding impending!!!!!!!

Website updated 2 April 2011

Do look the charts.  Maybe you are on there or related. It would be great if some of your descendants would consider performing a DNA test. We might then be able to see just to whom you are related ? Website updated ready for the gathering in London. If you have not already contacted me to say you are coming or want more details do shout looking forward to seeing you there

Royal Mail Archive

Yesterday went to the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) in the morning and over to the Royal Mail Archives in the afternoon for a tour aroound their archives. Good day. Managed to get some up to date birth, marriages and death GRO references in the morning. Then across to Freeling House where Claire gave us a talk, before we walked around their Archives and then looked at some of the documents left out for inspection. I will certainly look at their catalogue asap. Fascinating. I looked for the entrance entry of young Thomas Greathead but could not find it, next time maybe. He could not have been a telegraph clerk for very long.

Let's all meet up - Greathead photo shoot

Those of you who read my Facebook pages will see the messages following my birthday greetings. It would seem that there are quite a few Greatheads or related to Greatheads wish to get together.

It has been suggested that maybe on Saturday 30 April 2011 is a good date and we plan to meet at 12 Noon by the Statue of John Henry by the Bank Tube Station and Cornhill Exchange. Easy to get to by bus, tube or Shanks' pony from all Main line Stations. We plan then to go for a "pie and pint" as they say in a local pub. We shall take a photograph of us all for the website and anyone interested

Let me Jan1coops@aol.com know if you plan to come, and I will bring the relevant trees, and maybe you can bring copies of any certificates, photographs, bibles, momentos etc

Would love to see as many of you as can make it

Greathead book

Early this year I was informed I had a won a prize in the December issue of Family History Monthly. Today (2 July) I received my fantastic prize. I would like to express my thanks to Ian Trevett from Relatively Speaking for a truly magnificent book. I wrote a story about my branch of the Greathead family and sent many pictures. Ian produced a book beyond my hopes, his design with the pictures to go with my text was superb. I cannot recommend him more.

My book is entitled Four brothers and their mysterious mother

London Marathon

We search for entrants on past marathons. So I am saving details now. My son John completed the London Marathon in 4 hours 6 minutes 8 seconds. This is his third marathon. He completed the New York and Edinburgh previously. I am one very proud Mum Well done John

The elusive James Taylor

I had a brainwave, maybe James died about the time of the birth of William Greathead and Sarah Brown's second child. Hence her announcing her previous name. So before the cost of certificates went up I ordered four possibles. 1855/Q4 Teesdale, 10a-69. 1852/Q2 Darlington 10a-8, 1854/Q2 Houghton le S 10a-154 and 1855/Q4 Easington 10a-140.

Sadly none of these can be the correct one.

Ho hum, back to the drawing board and that brickwall!!

Parish Register Research

Snow all gone - thank goodness. Maybe now we can get about again. Did use some of the time going through some of the parish registers on the Family History Centre Pilot website. Searched the Seaton Carew 1833-1879 and Heighington 1765-1821. Now need to find time to go through some of the others.

Just met Stephen who is my 3rd cousin and he has sent some extra details but we need to check the different dates.

Elizabeth Ann Greathead

Paul has sent me some photographs of Elizabeth's son John and daughter in law Sarah among others which will appear on the website when it is next updated. However those that are of living people only I will be able to have the pleasure of "seeing" as I do not place them on the website. I do love receiving them though. Thanks Paul and for all the data you sent