Cyrus (Buckley) Whiteoak is my 3rd cousin 2x removed. His parents are Craven (Buckley) Whiteoak and Martha Moore. Our common ancestors are James Buckley and Sarah (Sally) Sharp – my 4x great grandparents. Cyrus was born in Addingham, West Yorkshire, his birth is registered in the March quarter of 1879. He was the first of fourteen children of Craven and Martha Whiteoak. Sometimes when researching ancestors I get the feeling that their story is particularly sad and that  destiny plays its cards in a way that is difficult to understand. This was certainly the case for Cyrus. On 27 January 1 ..read more

Barbara Waite is my wife’s 5th cousin. Her parents are James Burt Waite and Nellie Samways. Their common ancestor is John Aspley – my wife’s 4x great grandfather. Barbara was born on 1 May 1929 in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire. On Wednesday 5 July 1950 the Staffordshire Sentinel reported on Barbara’s marriage to Brian Peters at St. George’s Church, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire (image from http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). From Trieste to Attend Newcastle Wedding The wedding was solemnised at St. George’s Church, Newcastle, of Mr. Brian Peters, BSc, younger son of Mr. H. Peters ..read more

Hazel Turner is my 2nd cousin 1x removed. Her parents are James Turner and Grace Matilda Waite. Our common ancestors are Thomas Turner and Mary Jane Carradice – my 2x great grandparents. Hazel was born in Clitheroe, Lancashire. Her birth is registered in the December quarter of 1935. On 31 March 1956 Hazel married Peter Walker at St. James Church, Clitheroe. The wedding was announced in the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times on Friday 6 April 1956 (image from http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). WALKER – TURNER The wedding took place at St. James’s Church on Saturday of Mr. Peter Walker, t ..read more

Annie Stobbs is my 2nd cousin 1x removed. Her parents are Samuel S Stobbs and Mary Ellen Musgrove. Our common ancestors are Harrison Musgrove and Jane Rooking – my 2x great grandparents. Annie was born sometime in the March quarter of 1920 at Clitheroe, Lancashire. On Tuesday 22 December 1942 Annie married George Lambert at St. Paul’s Church, Low Moor, Clitheroe. The wedding was announced in the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times on Thursday 24 December 1942 (image from http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). LAMBERT – STOBBS Mr. George Lambert, third son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Lambert, of 16 Ribb ..read more

Fred Blackey is my 4th cousin 1x removed. Our common ancestors are Francis Blackah and Frances Ripley – my 4x great grandparents. Fred was born on 5 October 1884 at Thornton in Craven, near Skipton, Yorkshire. He was the second child of Alfred Blackey and Elizabeth Pickles. In the First World War Fred served with the Duke of Wellington’s (West Ridng Regiment) – his service number was 266733. In the 1939 Register (taken at the outbreak of WW2) he was living at 4 New Street, Carleton in Craven. Fred was a single man working as a “general labourer”. Eleven years later in the summer of 1950 Fred t ..read more

Thomas Ernest Ridding is my 4th cousin 1x removed. His parents are Frederick Richard Ridding and Sarah Atkinson. Our common ancestors are Isaac Kighley and Ellen Jackson – my 4x great grandparents. Thomas was born on 9 June 1909 in Colne, Lancashire. Thomas married Eleanor Richardson on Saturday 12 October 1935 at Providence Independent Methodist Church, Nelson, Lancashire. The wedding was announced in the Nelson Leader on Friday 18 October 1935 (image from http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). A Nelson Wedding Colne and Nelson families were united by a wedding which took place at Provid ..read more

Darnella Turner is my 1st cousin 2x removed. Her parents are Alexander Turner and Jane Alice Brotherton. Our common ancestors are Thomas Turner and Mary Jane Carradice – my 2x great grandparents. Darnella was born on 7 September 1915 in Clitheroe, Lancashire. On 18 September 1937 Darnella married James William Woods at Mount Zion Chapel, Clitheroe. The wedding was announced in the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times on Friday 24 September 1937 (image from http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). WOODS – TURNER At Mount Zion Chapel, Clitheroe, on Saturday, much interest was taken in the marriage ..read more

Frank Price is my 1st cousin 1x removed. His parents are Edward Price and Leah Musgrove. Our common ancestors are Joseph Musgrove and Elizabeth Ann Turner – my great grandparents. Frank was born on 27 March 1925 in Clitheroe, Lancashire. On 27 December 1947 Franck married Audrey Veronica Peters at St. Leonard’s Church, Langho, Lancashire. Details of the wedding were published in the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times on Friday 2 January 1948 (image from http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). PRICE – PETERS At St. Leonard’s Church, Langho, on Saturday, the Rev. H. Townsend performed the marria ..read more

Mary Proudfoot is my 3rd cousin 1x removed. Her parents are Arthur Proudfoot and Ellen Ann Myers. Our common ancestors are William Stowell and Ellen Lane – my 3x great grandparents. Mary was born in Burnley, Lancashire on 27 February 1909. On 26 June 1943 Mary married Arthur Riley at the Bradshaw Street Baptist Church in Nelson, Lancashire. The wedding was announced in the Nelson Leader on Friday 2 July 1943 (image from http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). RILEY – PROUDFOOT The marriage was solemnised at Bradshaw Street Baptist Church on Saturday between Miss Mary Proudfoot, daughter of ..read more

James Paley Webster is my 1st cousin 2x removed. His parents are Matthew Webster and Betsy Paley. Our common ancestors are James Paley and Mary Ann Spink – my 2x great grandparents. James was born 16 April 1903 at Hawkswick, near Settle in Yorkshire. On 28 March 1933 James married Mary Slinger at Gisburn Parish Church, Lancashire. The wedding was announced in the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times on Friday 31 March 1933 (image from http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). WEBSTER – SLINGER The wedding took place at Gisburn Parish Church, on Tuesday afternoon, of Mr. James P. Webster, eldest so ..read more