2001 Update
21st March 2001
As promised I am updating the site.
After starting my research on my own family in about 1974 I came to a full stop and didn't attempt any further research until I moved to North Wales and met other people interested in researching family History. I started work again on my family in 1993. Working in Mold, Ruthin and Rhyl I had quite a good result. Last year I purchased a computer and have had some wonderful results. I am now also researching my friend George Stubbs' family tree.
I have to thank all the people who have helped me since last year. Jane Stubbs in particular has given me lots of details about the Stubbs family as she has done a one name study. I have also found two ladies doing one name studies of the Crimes family which is George's mother's side of the family. I have had lots of e-mails from people helping with most of the names I gave to the Cheshire Family History Society who publish them all. I also have to thank the Cheshire Family History Society who have been a great help and their site giving details of Births and Marriages is a boon to researchers.
Last year I wrote a letter to the Cannock Mercury asking about George Crimes. He was George Stubbs' mother's brother and had gone to live in Cannock many years before. After finding Archie Crimes death details from the War Graves Commission I saw that the next of kin was given as George Crimes, brother, Wedges Mill, Cannock. The Mercury printed my letter and I had a phone call from George Crimes' grandaughter, Margaret. She didn't know much about George because he had left her grandmother when her mother was small. Several other phone calls from people calling him Crimey and giving me a picture of George Crimes. I have since found that his name was George Ernest Crimes and have his Birth Certificate dated 1896.
I never knew my grandmother Esther Chadwick who was married to James Nicholson but I have had a great stroke of luck. Last year I entered her name on the Lancashire Surnames list and early this year had an e-mail from Yvonne Chadwick. She has sent me all the details of the Chadwick family and opened up new horizons for me. Esther Chadwick was a difficult one to find and was one of the reasons I gave up. There were two birth certificates for Esther Chadwick born on the same day with the same parents---which do you choose? We have now solved the problem and the Chadwick family have now taken shape. Still researching and hunting for further relatives.
Thanks to everyone concerned for their help and I must say that Family Researchers are a great bunch of people who will help all they can. I have lots of friends on the internet sending me regular e-mails. I have helped people in America and was able to help a lady from Arizona who was related to the Gerards. My late husband was related to the Gerards so I replied. She was related to Lord Gerard as I explained in my Welcome. I was able to find a book at the Wigan History Shop. They made a photo-copy for me and I sent it to Peg. She really wanted to know about the homes of her ancestors but unfortunately a lot are now derelict. Garswood Hall in Ashton was a very palacial place and I remember prisoners of war being there in the 1940's. If there ia anyone who knows about these homes please contact me.