Genealogy discoveries

[MrsH]

I know a few others on here are researching their family trees and I wondered if any of you have discovered previously unknown (or unmentioned ) family stories that you feel you can share?

I discovered a terribly sad tale some time ago that I can only now bring myself to tell you about. I knew my maternal grandmother was not very "lucky" in raising babies but I was shocked at what I found in the 1911 census.

She and my grandfather had been married for 9 years and 6 babies had been born to them, but only 1 was still alive. 5 babies had died! I find it impossible to imagine the scale of the grief in this little family, how frightened she must have felt each time she found herself pregnant, believing that she would probably end up losing that baby too She was the wife of a coal miner in NE England and must have had such a hard life, a limited diet probably lacking some essential vitamins and minerals and no access to any form of family planning. In those days babies just happened as a natural consequence of married life.

The baby that was mentioned on that census did however survive and she went on to have 2 more babies, my mother and her younger brother. I wonder if she lost any more babies though?

[angieh]

That's a terribly sad tale MrsH. It's hard to imagine what life must have been like for the majority of people - there is a skill in interpreting the facts in order to understand what our ancestors were feeling.

I have come across a scandalous story of bigamy in the past of one branch of my own family history. It was in The Times - I'll see if I can make a slightly briefer note of the goings-on!

[dandysmom]

Fascinating, if sad, stories. I really should try to check my family again; never had much luck with sites as I'm lacking a lot of vital facts. My paternal grandma had 6 living children!