When I started building my tree on Ancestry some years ago you would find that, as "Hints", you were given a choice of a number of other member's family trees to help you. Two or three years ago this was restricted to just being given three (although on occasion you would find more came up) The three given could be compiled by a DNA cousin you didn't know about (because their tree was unlinked) or provide two or three different versions of 'the truth' as to your individual's parents and... Ancestry Family Trees as hints ..read more

I read with great interest the 'detective' story about the life of Angela Redgrave who died recently aged 106, the difficulties in tracing her origins not being helped by untruths in the written records. Thanks for relating this story - it made my day. I noticed that in the 1921 census for the family, in the right hand column (ages of all living children under 16) the father had (I assume) correctly entered the ages of his children as : Under one, 2, 3, 4 and 8 years, and then the enumerator... Dance teacher mystery ..read more

Because I think there is a chance that my point might get a little lost in explanation – my questions are as follows: Is my supposition that there is a relationship between my Elizabeth Saltonstall and the American Saltonstalls (based on some DNA results) seem reasonable? [Does that suggest that the family tradition is correct?] Is attempting to make the link between them probably impossible? The scenario: My 5x great grandmother is Elizabeth Saltonstall. Her death... Looking for a Link ..read more

My father was drafted towards the end of World War 2 after he turned 18. I have his service record which I found when clearing out my parents' house. He joined the RAF on 28th Dec 1942 and was posted to the Gold Coast in Africa. He was discharged from the RAF on 30th June 1945 as his services were no longer required. But instead of being sent home he was transferred to the Navy the following day and served until 28th Apr 1946. I initially though this RN period was National Service, since the... War Service Question - WW2 ..read more

Hi, I am looking for help in finding a marriage about 1769. The baptismal records for St Marys, Portsea, Hants, record the baptisms for 7 children of Josiah Wadge (name variants !) from Frb 1770 to Mar 1780, mother recorded as Sarah in some of these. In December, Josiah - described as a widower aged 42 - married Sarah Levinstone/Livingstone at the same church. I know from other legal records that Josiah was born in Callington, Cornwall in 1768. I have been unable, despite extensive & repeated... Missing data ..read more

Hi everyone. I would like some advice on how to find proof (or otherwise) that my husband has a connection to Arthur Worsley, the famous ventriloquist. A comment made by my father-in-law years ago has always intrigued me. "'E favours the Worsleys" was his quote and right enough, in his younger days, my hubby James does have the same features as Arthur Worsley and also a musical career. I cannot find any connection in his aunts, uncles, immediate cousins or even a generation further back.... Searching from hearsay ..read more

A new contact has been reported to me, but the other person's relationship is only Neighbour. I don't want to make contact, but I would like to delete the contact as it is irrelevant. Is there any way of doing this? David ..read more

Hello, I have heard that the disinterred bodies from the churchyard at Stoke Mandeville will be respectfully buried with a memorial. Does anyone know if this has happened yet? I believe my ancestor would have been buried there in 1833. Thanks ..read more

Several years ago, I discovered a first cousin of my great-grandfather who popped up in the 1911 Canadian census in Carrot River, Saskatchewan. He was one of four in that generation to cross the Atlantic (my great-grandfather emigrated to Vermont in 1903, his older brother to New Brunswick in 1912, and a third cousin went to Ontario, and later migrated down in to New York). Recently, I read A Place Called Winter, by Patrick Gale. The author's great-grandfather had, as a result of some... Settlement of Canadian Prairies 1910s ..read more

Please can anyone help with this "relation to head of household" from the 1851 census for William Kirkbride aged 4. He was illegitimate and is here living with the Tweddle(Tweedle) family in Farlam, Cumberland. FMP have not attempted to transcribe this field while Ancestry have "Nurse Child". I think the "Child" is correct but I'm not convinced about "Nurse". View attachment 2461 ..read more