General Chat

I do hoe you have a nice day for your trip out with your friends.

See you in the morning hope you all get a good nights sleep tonight and we all feel better tomorrow. Iv'e felt a bit better today but taken pills at the right times and wrote down when I took them.

Love to Frank and Gill.<3

Night night.

Electoral Register AnnG. Have a lovely trip out tomorrow. Hope the weather’s kind to you.

oops just checked it is pick up at 10.15am

Brain is not working Vera, well it is a bit late for me! What is an ER (where you found your man)? I am sure I should know but I don't.

No Annx today, did she have a class? Hope all is ok with them both.

Off to bed now, out tomorrow with U3A garden visits group. Just to Cheltenham Pttville Park for a walk around and a chat.

Might get on before I leave though, being picked up at 10.30.

Goodnight all

Well rooted out Vera.

Oh, that is a sad story Mel. It’s terrible that such an elderly man worked such long hours but I suppose with no state pension to rely on older people were glad of a job.

I have found my man in an ER for 1920 and he is calling himself Frederick Albert. I am sure it is him as he is right next to his wife Isabella’s parents.

He was my gt grandmother's father. Mum knew gt gran and said she was a lovely little lady with pure white hair.

John Labdon worked for the railway from the age of 16 Iv'e seen his papers and he earned 12/- a week.

Gosh Mel age 73 and working at such an important job for sixteen hours. How sad though.

Vera I meant to say I enjoyed your story. I found it harder doing T’s tree than my own what I found intriguing though was that in the 19th century a distant cousin of mine marries a distant cousin of T’s. In Somerset.

Well I enjoyed the story Vera. I always find it interesting knowing something about your trees. I have a Hannabuss who was a Pikeman in the armarda and another interesting one was a farmer and on his death cert it says KIlled by a Cow. I had my 2 x gt grandfather killed on the railway.

Don't know if anyones interested but this is what the papers said.

RECENT ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY. The funeral of John Labdon, an elderly man, who was killed on the London and South-Western Railway near Newton St. Cyres took place in the parish churchyard on Sunday afternoon, and was witnessed
12 October 1885 - Exeter and Plymouth Gazette - Exeter, Devon, England

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 07 October 1885

The deputy Cornoner ( H. W Gould Esq) held an inquest at the Railway Inn Newton St. Cyres yesterday on the body of John Labdon who was killed Saturday, on the London and Southwestern Railway, between Newton St Cyres and Cowley Bridge. Thomas Labdon, son of the deceased, residing in Crediton identified the body as that of his father. He was a signalman in the employ of London and South Weston Railway and was about 73 years of age. He last saw him alive about 11 o'clock on Saturday morning. Deceased was then on his way home to go to bed. ********** as going on duty in the morning. Deceased was ***** in his usual health. He had been in the employ of the railway company for 30 years and his hearing was not impaired. Deceased was a married man. James Elders, Labourer residing in Crediton, said he saw the deceased about half past four o'clock in the evening while he was at work *** Marsh Mills? Witness was a day signalman to the plate layers while they were at work and it was his duty to warn them on the aproach of a train. Deceased said "Good morning John" and witness repeated in similar terms. He then let the deceased have the watch which was supplied to the gangers by the Company and the flags, and left the deceased as he wanted to get home early. Witness had known deceased as a signalman for three years A juryman-- What time would he be releived again? Witness-- Not until witness came again in the morning about six o;clock on weekdays and half past seven on Sundays. By a Juryman ) He would be on for 15 or 16 hours. The Corenenor : At what time did the platelayers leave work? - Witness : about three o'clock. Deceased's duty was the same as witnesses James Wilcocks railway guard, residing at Exeter, said that he worked the **** train from Framington to Exeter on Saturday. When at Crediton he was told by the driver of the 8.45 goods-train from Exeter he had seen something on the line between Newton St Cyres and Cowley Bridge. He told the driver to slacken speed and looked carefully along the line. When opposit Marsh Mills he saw something lying on the inside of the up rail. There was a wound on the top of the head: but he did not notice any blood on the face. The body appeared to be quite dead. Deceased's lamp was about seven yards on the Exeter side of the body. The line is a broad and narrow gauge and is owned by the Great Western Railway as far as Crediton. He left the body as he found it and proceeded towards Exeter. When he arrived at Cowley Bridge he adsked the signalman there to telegraph to Crediton. The deceased was very tenative to his duty. John Pomeroy, engine driver, resideing at Exeter said he worked the 8.45 goods train from Exeter to Davenport. While looking over the side of the engin he noticed something on the line but it was so dark he could not distinguish what it was. He mentioned this to the last witness. The deceased duty was to only signal the up trains. John Crocker resideing in Palmington? square Exter said he was the driver of the 4.55 down train from Exeter to Davenport. He passed Cowley Bridge about 7.34?. He was not signalled at this place where they were relaying the rail niether did he notice anything on the line as it was very dark. John Harris stationmaster at Newton St Cyres said he recieved a telegram about ten minuets past ten from the signalman at Cowley Bridge saying that a man had been killed on the line. He went with a ganger and a policeman on a trolly to the spot. He found the deceased on the broad gauge line. He noticed that the watch in the deceased pocket has stopped exactly at 23 minuets past seven Several trains passed during that time deceased was on duty.he time aloud for a train to cross Queen St, Exeter was 2 minuets. William Western foreman of the gangers resideing at Newton St Cyres said he went with the witness and a constable to the spot where the deceased was found. He minded to take him to the Railway Inn. He noticed a wound on the top of the deceased head and he thought on feeling the deceased side that his ribs were broken. A constable named V******* also examined him with witness Vanstone? coraborated the last witness's statments. The jury after a consultation returned a verdict of "Accidental Death" and added a recommendation that men of such an age as the deceased should not be employed as many hours. Inspecter Foster who watched the case on behalf of the Company said he would inform the railway authorities of the recommendation.

Vera, oh yes I used to really enjoy it when I was in the thick of finding out things and tracing them across country (mine never seem to have stayed in one place. Rather like T and I.) But I started doing my tree when I was in my 30s so have been going a long time. In some ways people have it a lot easier now with the information on the internet rather than having to go to register offices and searching on micro fiche. All that original writing was hard on the eyes. But great fun.

Well, OH got his wish as it is raining. I just managed to get the washing in before it really poured. Most of it was almost dry so some is finishing off on a clothes airer and some in the tumble dryer.

Back to OH's great uncle Ferdinand. Having seen a marriage for him on an Ancestry tree I tried to check it out. I could find no trace of a marriage between Ferdinand and this Beatrice Portman anywhere so goodness knows where the tree owner got it from. However, while searching I stumbled upon a real marriage for him. It was a Roman Catholic ceremony in Liverpool in 1917 (OH's family were R.C.) He still gives his address as Sheffield. The odd thing is that under his name is written "alias Frederick...). The name looks like the latinised version of Frederick Alfred but I am wondering if it could be Frederick Augustus, which was the name of his older brother who died aged 19 in 1903. Why would he need an alias? Strangely, the civil registration of the marriage is in the name of Frederick.

Next step was to check the 1939 Register. His wife and 3 daughters are there, still in Liverpool, and wife's status is given as married not widowed, but where is Ferdinand? I can't think that he is in the services as he would be about 51. Is he on the 1939 as Frederick? There are loads of possibles in that case though I haven't yet found one with his birth date.

So after a few years I've moved Ferdinand on from last sighting 1911 to last definite sighting 1917 and he was probably around till at least 1928 when the last of the daughters was born, assuming the 3 girls with his wife in 1939 are his children.

It's quite hard following the ins and outs of someone else's family when you don't know the people involved so I have probably bored you all rigid, in which case I apologise.

AnnG I understand why you feel FH could be a waste of time for you. I don't do a lot these days but I enjoy doing the research for its own sake. I like the detective work involved. You all do your lovely art and craft work but I am useless with my hands so I have to try and find hobbies that use what little brain I've got, lol.

I haven't done any FH for several years now. got back a long way on maternal side and quite a way on Paternal side. Seems a bit of a waste of time as I am not sure any of the family are interested. One brick wall none of us can demolish is my Paternal Great Grandfather's birth quote as born in France on a couple of Censuses. and we also have his Father and Mother noted as 'gone to France ' when they left the workhouse. However Mother returned and remarried and died a few months after marriage and Isaac (Gt Grandfather joined the R Marines. But can you believe we can find no record of him joining. Except he lived in RM quarter and RM is quoted on his marriage cert.

Vera I look forward to the continuation.
You can't compare pain to others' pains, your pain is 'painful' to you.

I eventually fell asleep some time after 4 am and was awake again at 7 so I am a bit heavy headed today. It's good that you slept well Mel - sleep is the best thing if you are in pain or unwell. How did you sleep last night Ann?

I'm not comparing my pain to anyone else's as mine really isn't that bad but since the bones in my foot healed out of line it does sometimes give me gyp and today is one of those times. I'm limping around like Billy-One-Leg. Maybe I should get the trusty "chariot" out again ;-)

I think OH got a bit more sleep last night and seems a bit better for the rest. He's still in pain but seems more cheerful in himself.

It's cooler here today and very overcast but I've done 3 loads of washing and it seems to be blowing nicely in the breeze. OH is hoping it will rain as, if it doesn't, we will have to get the hose out tonight. I've been keeping pots watered but the beds are bone dry and some of the plants look as though they are suffering now.

I know what you mean about some FH giving you a headache AnnG but it's exciting when you make a discovery that breaks down a brick wall. I remember when I discovered what had become of my great grandfather after 7 years of searching. I couldn't stop smiling all day :-)

Well, yesterday I had a small breakthrough with a great uncle of OH, though it seems to have produced more questions than answers. OH's grandfather had 5 siblings, 2 died young so OH didn't know them, he could remember 2 others but he had never even heard of the other one, his great uncle Ferdinand. Ferdy was born in 1888 in Southwark and was with parents and siblings in the 1891 and 1901 censuses but not in the 1911 one. After a hunt I found him as a lodger in a house in Sheffield. Why did he move there? After 1911 he seemed to completely disappear apart from a possible death in Gosport in 1968. At one point 3 or 4 years ago I asked for help on the Find Ancestors board but no-one was able to get any further than I had.

By chance yesterday I came across a tree on Ancestry that had our Ferdinand married to a Beatrice Portman but gave no source.

(OH has just called out that he has made us some lunch. I'm going to post this in case it disappears but will continue the story later)

Hoovered up the spiders in the hall and bathroom and done the kitchen and diner. Deadheaded the petunias put more compost on the courgette. Done one lot ofd washing which is blowoing on the line and fed the chickens and bantams and Robby. Fed the fish. Emptied the hoover and tidied some bits up.

The wind is very cold today and cuts right through you while you are outside.

Just one third filled the garden bin. cut back an aggressive jasmine that is on the trellis in front of the conservatory It was totally out of control so that was my main job for today took almost an hour.

Morning Vera Anng and all,

Blue sky with white clouds and the sun is trying to shine today so lets hope it stays that way and we have a nice day.

Slept well got up twice in the night for the loo but went back to sleep as soon as I was back in bed.

Nothing planned here for today so shall just see how the day goes and how much pain I will have later on. It dos'nt hurt when I first get up it comes on later.

Island lovely pics and that sunflower is great with its forever spiral eminating from the center. When young we had to draw a flower like that at achool. I remember it clearly mine was orange and looked like a dahlia.

good morning all. Hope your book was boring enough to make you drowsy vera. sometimes reading works, other times it gets your brain going. I slept quite well again last night from about eleven until 6.15 although I still got up once for the loo.

Thanks for the photos island some good ones there as I said in my email back. Not sure what is planned for today. Might be a bit of gardening as I won;t be able to do any tomorrow or Wednesday but I shall see what the day brings.

I thought I’d be the first to wish you Good Morning today. I’ve been in bed since soon after 10 pm but just can’t sleep. OH is in our bedroom downstairs and it’s the coolest room in the house but I am upstairs under the eaves and it’s very hot and sticky even with a fan going.

That’s quite a complicated family relationship you uncovered Ann. I had to read it through twice to get the hang of it. I made a little discovery of my own yesterday and will tell you about it tomorrow if I remember.

I hope the rest of you are fast asleep, especially those of you in pain. I’m going to read for a while now in the hope that it makes me drowsy.

I ALWAYS FIND IT AMAZING AFTER A WHILE OF NOT DOING FAMILY HISTORY THAT WE COME ACROSS A BREAKTHOUGH. Sorry did'nt mean to shout. I can never work out how people are related to me and get muddled now I am older. That was an interesting find though Ann. It surprising what we can find is'nt it.

Annx sometimes FH makes my head hurt.that was all complicated.