I am just sooo pleased for my OH!!!!!!!

meritaten

My OH and his brothers have been almost obsessed with finding their Grandmother, their dad was brought up by his uncle (GMs brother) and his wife. They knew very little about her, only having FILs birth cert to go on which actually took her husbands name OFF as father. FIL died in 1989 so its been a long time with them having no success. I started getting interested in Family History about 12 years ago and traced their mothers lineage back to the original family who settled in Cornwall. I digress! OHs grandmother was a 'brick wall'! I couldn't find her on census after 1901 and the only 'bit' of evidence had her at her family home in 1918 when FIL was born!
Monday I got her marriage cert and she was here in Wales! not in middle England at all! Tues I found her on 1911 Census in London working for a posh family! Today - on another subscriber to ancestry's family tree, I find her back in Wales with her husband and going on to have six more children! and best of all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a PICTURE of her! and the resemblance to my FIL is strong!and of some of FILs half brothers and sister - sadly all deceased now.
I was over the moon to find it, and called to OH 'come meet your grandmother'! even now he is still finding it hard to take in.
I have also traced his paternal side back into the 1700s which he can hardly believe.
I am amazed at how 'research' this week has just 'fallen into place'!
the only dilemma is - the tree I found her on is of a direct descendant of hers - I have no idea whether to contact this person or not. I don't want to set cats among pigeons - but all this happened nearly a hundred years ago now - and I can certainly help her with one branch of the tree going back to 1790.
I had this with my nan - and I contacted a distant cousin who advised that the living relatives would be upset if got in touch - so I didn't. I don't regret that.

Yorkie1

Well done! I can remember how triumphant even a minor discovery made me feel, so to achieve this must feel wonderful.

If I hadn't heard about the story related to your nan's family tree, I'd have suggested getting in touch. I would assume (perhaps incorrectly?) that if someone uploads their tree for all to see, they're OK about being contacted with further information. Is there a way to contact the originator of the tree?

meritaten

Yes there is Yorkie but only through Ancestry. she is quite young so I surmise she is GMs great granddaughter. I could get my DD to see if she is on facebook and contact her through that.

It feels amazing! I feel quite shellshocked actually as I only clicked on the tree out of curiosity never dreaming it was her! I thought it a name coincidence (I have marriage certs here of complete strangers her name is such a common one and she married one just as bad!
I have checked and re-checked and its definitely her! she even named her daughter after her own mother! and the father is right and the marriage matches in every detail!

marisco_2

I am so glad to hear that all your hard work and persistence has paid off :T

It must have been an incredible feeling to find the last piece of the puzzle and trace your OHs grandmother. To have a picture of her too is brilliant. My dad and I put our family tree together a few years back. The things we discovered came as quite a surprise in some instances. Very glad we did it though, and it is something I will pass on to my own children one day for them to add to

meritaten

Yes - I am still 'basking in the glow'! lol.
I cannot believe I have found this woman at last! and to have a picture of her and some of my FILS half brothers! (one of which looks just like my FIL because they both take after her). I cannot believe how lucky I am! it was complicated because GMs father had a brother very close in age and for some reason they duplicated names a lot? so in both families there was a Charles H and a Winifred L and an Elizabeth - how the hell other family members (of which there was quite a few) kept them straight I have no idea! it made research a nightmare cos they lived in the same town!

Looby_-_Lou_2

Not sure if this is any help or not but my Grandmother (well in her 90s) is the daughter of a 'married man'.

My cousin traced 'his' family a few years ago and Gran was able to look at online pictures of a family reunion of his legitimate descendants. Family resemblances were fascinating.

My Gran took the decision that although she enjoyed seeing pictures of her family it wasn't fair to them to put the cat among the pigeons. I don't believe any of her half-siblings were still alive but she didn't feel able to shatter the illusions of his clearly adoring grandchildren.

Personally I would love to contact them - my Gran had a miserable life as an illegitimate child and I'd love to make them realise he wasn't perfect. However I have to respect her decision.

I guess what I'm saying is are there still people alive who actually knew her and would your revelations have an impact them?

Sorry possibly not much help.

A decision for your OH and his brothers I guess.

L-L

Tiglath

Well done I was contacted by a man in his 90s who'd seen my tree, and it helped solve the mystery of what happened to my great-grandfather. He went out one day for a walk, never came home, and ended up settling down elsewhere and having a second family.

meritaten

You've hit the dilemma nail on the head L-L! while its fantastic for US, I don't want to shatter anyones illusions of GM!
I would have to approach it very carefully and tactfully. or maybe Ancestry would let the 'cat out of the bag'? because they put hints up that 'your' tree has something in common with anothers. so perhaps a personal approach to a great granddaughter wouldn't be a bad thing? she could then decide what she shares with an older generation?

meritaten

Tiglath wrote: »

Well done I was contacted by a man in his 90s who'd seen my tree, and it helped solve the mystery of what happened to my great-grandfather. He went out one day for a walk, never came home, and ended up settling down elsewhere and having a second family.

oh my Gawd! you hear of that happening but would never dream of it being personal to you! but, it gave you 'closure' I would think.
with my OH and his bro's it was 'not knowing' - it ATE at them! every family funeral, wedding or gathering the conv always turned to the mysterious mum of FIL!

meritaten

I thought OH was 'quiet' as he was taking this in -BUT he has had trouble believing it! he was resigned to never knowing about his grandmother and he just couldn't believe it. I have had to get out ALL the paper evidence and go through it with him. several times!!!!

I do sympathise - but at the same time I am rather peed off he doesn't trust my research! which he knows is meticulous - I check, check again and cross reference if possible and check that! feel a bit deflated now!
I KNOW this is right 100%!

Melonade

Wow that's some serious research you've done, well done and made up for your OH

I would contact the person to see what she says, IMO it's been a fair time and like you say she can use the info how she wants and she will know better than anyone if it would upset another family member. She'll no doubt be chuffed with the info you have too.

I am waiting on an email right now from someone researching on behalf of their friend. If I am the correct family member we will be getting the most amazing little bit of history ever.... excited!!!!!