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You don’t have to look far for your ancestors to have been involved in industry. Those who lived in towns and cities in the 1800s and a large part of the 1900s would more than likely have been surrounded by factories, foundries, heavy industry and manufacturing. This way of life would have been the norm for those in urban environments, and the noisy, intense and often dangerous workplaces would have touched most families’ lives. So, it stands to reason that, in days before rigid health and safety procedures, these hazardous places often contributed to injuries, long-lasting medical conditions and – even – deaths of those who make up our family tree. In this episode, I look at one aspect of this – mining accidents. Now, even if you don’t think you have any such occurrences in your tree, I hope this episode gives you some pointers to explore, a little more closely, those who worked in industry, and may have been affected by the places they worked. I tell the story of a huge colliery explosion that claimed the life of my great-great grandfather – along with more than 60 others in 1889… as well as looking at the various record sets and resources that I used to uncover his fascinating story. Links to resources discussed in this episode National Archives Discovery catalogue Hansard (link takes you to a page about this disasters, so you can see the navigation and structure) Transcript of John Lumsdon’s excellent talk on the Mossfield disaster Page 1 Page 2 HealeyHero site, indexed on Find My Past CMHRC site (seems unresponsive at time of writing) but indexed on Ancestry. Northern mining research society If you would like to join me for a chat on this, or any other aspect of family history, please do get in touch. It’ll be splendid to hear from you. Recommended drinks to enjoy while listening to this episode: tea out of a dented flask and metal cup for that real miner’s experience Recommended biscuits to enjoy while listening to this episode: charcoal biscuits (yes, they’re a thing – although seemingly more for dogs than people!) Listen now

Last time, I looked at how you can preserve your family history research in book form – thanks to listener, Amy, who talked us through how she compiled detailed volumes to be shared with friends and family. This episode goes a little further, and looks at two different approaches for documenting someone’s life. I’m joined by two more splendid listeners, Marie and Alan, who I hope will inspire you to put pen to paper and document your ancestors’ lives. Marie Gage, is an author, whose family story began in the UK in the early 1900s before her grandfather emigrated to Canada, creating stories, family folklore and legend that inspired Marie to dig deeper. Coupled with a detailed journal (what we all wouldn’t give for one of those!?), Marie’s account of his life is based on real events, facts, records and evidence – but (and this may initially go against our genealogical instincts) her imagination. The resulting book, ‘A Ring of Promises’ is somewhat fictional account, but also highly plausible, factual and enjoyable. My second guest, Alan Bergman, is a professional biographer, who specialises in that gold standard of family documentation; the first-hand account of a person’s life. As genealogists, we are regularly reminded of the need to interview living relatives to document their day-to-day lives, to fill in the ‘real’ detail of their existence and to delve further into their knowledge of their ancestry. Alan, who runs Life Stories Preserved, gives hints and tips on doing just that, as well as giving insights into stories he has uncovered, as well as what to expect from services such as his. Please support my contributors for this episode who have given their time for free to share their wisdom (I do not endorse any product or accept any paid promotions, so am really grateful for their time) by visiting their websites: About this episode’s guests Marie’s book ‘A ring of Promises’ is available from Amazon by clicking here or more details are available from www.mariegage.ca Alan’s company, Life Stories Preserved, provides the full spectrum of professional biographical services and more detail can be found at https://lifestoriespreserved.net/ or you can contact him here. Thanks to them both for their input, and thanks to YOU for listening, subscribing and for all your nice messages. Remember, you can get in touch here. I’d love to her from you if you have any stories of industrial accidents in your ancestry as described in this month’s episode. Listen now

So, you’ve done all the hard work, and now your genealogy project is finished. Yeah, right.  Genealogy, is – as we know – never finished.  But there is likely to come a time when you want to commit your research (or some of it) to printed form, to share with family and friends.  But with most of your research in files, folders, computer systems, websites or even just in your head, how do you go about creating something that will endure many years to come? In this episode, I chat with Amy who has spent years researching – but also years putting together a book to show off her hard work to members of her family and to preserve it for future generations. Of course, you may not want to embark on a project of such a mammoth size, and maybe you just want to produce something small and manageable – but however you choose to commit your backstory to print, Amy has a host of hints, tips and techniques from her experience. My top tip for this episode is to listen to the podcast first, and then head over here where I have included a number of photos from Amy’s project to give you a feel for what it looks like, and to bring everything nicely together. If you have any experience of collating your story into book form – or would like to join me on future episodes for a natter about any aspect of genealogy, then it’d be marvellous to hear from you. Recommended drinks to accompany this episode: In honour of the fabulous city of Manchester, as mentioned in this episode, Vimto (maybe only Brits will understand this), which was first created in the city in 1908. Recommended biscuits to accompany this episode: Eccles cakes – for coming from the same location. Listen now

In the previous 20 episodes, I’ve tried to cover hints, tips and techniques to help you discover this fabulously addictive hobby of genealogy. In this latest podcast, I look at how you can refine this knowledge – AND work in a much more methodical and logical fashion – to research someone else’s tree. Maybe you want to give someone a special gift, or one of your friends has dropped the odd hint about you ‘doing their tree’, but you didn’t know where to start. This episode looks at ways you can undertake the challenge, based on the skills you’ve picked up along the way, and how you’ll no doubt tackle it in a completely different way to when you first started researching your own ancestry. Now that you are an accomplished genealogist, you have the luxury of planning your project, setting deadlines and realistic expectations.  If you’re anything like me, when you did your own, you were blundering through the first (and, ironically, most important) stages of this hobby. This podcast details my personal experiences and advice – but yours may be completely different.  Why not share your thoughts, expertise and advice.  I’d love to include them in a future podcast. Recommended drinks to accompany this episode: Tea for two.  For you and your chosen recipient. Recommended biscuits to accompany this episode: Anything that comes in pairs.  Twix, KitKat, you get the idea.  This episode is all about sharing. Listen now https://amateurfamilyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/episode-21.mp3

There are hundreds, thousands – maybe even millions of genealogical sources – and the previous 19 episodes have only really skimmed the surface of this fascinating hobby. This time, I look at some of the things that don’t easily fall into any of the previous topics… a mixture of family history odds and ends that, hopefully, you’ll find useful and inspirational. Much of the content has been derived from messages and communication I’ve had from my listeners over the last year or so, and I’ve collated some of the most useful into this handy episode. Contents include; general philosophies on family history, suggested sources that you may not have discovered – in fact, a veritable smorgasbord of subjects that may help you discover your back story. Please do keep sending your hints and tips and I’ll include them in future episodes.  If you’d like to join me for chat on an upcoming podcast, or would like to suggest a topic, it’ll be great to hear from you. Recommended drinks to accompany this episode: To reflect the mix of topics, a cocktail of your choice Recommended biscuits to accompany this episode: For the same reason, an assortment. Preferably with those pink wafers. Listen now https://amateurfamilyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/episode-20.mp3

Well, it’s been a thoroughly enjoyable mini-series on this, most intriguing of topics: Irish family history research.  But this is the final part of my chat with Valerie Prince on hints, tips and suggestions on how to trace your ancestors from, in and across Ireland. Huge thanks to Valerie for joining me on these three podcasts, and thank you for your kind messages and tweets.  In this 25(ish) minute chunk, we tackle the following topics: As more and more information becomes available – what have we we seen coming online recently? New – and very different records The value of familysearch and some tips on what you can get from the site Recap on searching irishgenealogy.ie What can you find on rootsireland The Geography of Ireland – and how all the records fits together How are civil records structured Trends in migration and peoples’ movements Chain migration The role of DNA Should I go to Ireland? Social media and groups – where to go Should you use a local researcher? – What can you expect? Recommended drinks to accompany this episode: A certain famous Irish liqueur wouldn’t go amiss Recommended biscuits to accompany this episode: Digestives. With the above drink suggestion, it will give the illusion of a cheesecake. Listen now https://amateurfamilyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-19.mp3

Welcome to the second part of my chat with Valerie Prince from Ancestry ProGenealogists about all things Irish family history related. This episode follows on from the previous podcast, where myself and Valerie – who has given her time completely free – discuss the practicalities of tracing Irish ancestors. We look at hints, tips, tricks, techniques and tools to fill in the gaps in the availability of records – along with what IS available and where you can find it. Covering lots of ground (and bouncing around topics in my signature style!) we look in this episode at: The great famine Migration Workhouses in the great famine and where to find records Assisted emigration Evolution of Ireland in the 1920s Census substitutes Censuses themselves – and what exactly is available – and the effect of the ‘census black hole’ Commonality of names – what to do when you find a common name Dealing with ages that drift between census Why Irish people may have three different names What happens when all you know is ‘Ireland’? Links and notes for this episode workhouses.org.uk and search for workhouses in the relevant poor law union GRONI = General register office of northern Ireland Before 1922 Antrim Armargh, Derry Down Fermanagh and Tyrone – records are available lso on irishgenealogy.ie The Public Record Office for Northern Ireland (PRONI) has valuation books, applotment books and other census substitutes National Archives – the place for censuses (see last time) Some parishes in County Kilkenny are available at the NLI Genealogical office in Dublin. Census coverage Only fragments exist for 1821-1851 1821: parts of counties Armagh, Cavan, Fermanagh, Galway, Meath, and Offaly 1831: Much of County Derry 1841: Killeshandra Civil Parish, County Cavan, originals, and transcriptions for parts of Cork, Fermanagh, Kilkenny, Monaghan, and Waterford. 1851: Parts of Antrim and one townland in Fermanagh, Clonee – plus transcriptions of parts of Monaghan, and heads of households for Dublin City and one ward in Belfast.  (Offline transcriptions for some parishes in Kilkenny are available at the NLI’s Genealogical Office) 1861 & 1871 completely destroyed shortly after being taken – except: 1861 – one parish in Wexford for 1861 (Enniscorthy, Roman Catholic families only), and for 1871 – a transcription of Drumcondra & Loughbracken parish, County Meath. 1881 and 1891 pulped during WWI No originals or transcriptions for those years survived. If you have any hints, tips and suggestions for census substitutes that you have unearthed, please get in touch and share your experience. Thanks for listening! Recommended drinks to accompany this episode: At the time of writing, supplies may be short. A simple cut of tea will suffice, while we wait for the situation to pass Recommended biscuits to accompany this episode: For the same reason, whatever you have in the biscuit tin. Listen now https://amateurfamilyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-18.mp3

Irish Genealogy is notoriously difficult.  Or is it? I have faced my fair share of brickwalls when it comes to tracing my ancestors from Ireland but, if you’re in the same position, this episode may help you to chip away at those barriers – if not smash them down completely! I’m joined by the marvellous Valerie Prince, a highly experienced family historian who works at Ancestry ProGenealogists in Dublin – and, in this first episode, she talks me through some of the vital record sets that can help add detail and colour to the Irish branches of your tree. It’s the first of three episodes on the subject – the first published on St. Patrick’s Day 2020, we talk about the following subjects: what’s available and for what dates BMDs -equivalent of GRO Non catholic records Church records -dependent on religious denomination What to do when you have common names What websites to use Census coverage Property valuation records Tracing cemeteries Maps of surname distribution Religion: Catholic, Church of Ireland and Presbyterian Subjects covered in the next two episodes can be found here. Links and notes for this episode We cover many sources and resources in this episode, and – for convenience – they are listed below www.irishgenealogy.ie is similar to the GRO, free and you can see images (search by Superintendent Registrars District www.census.nationalarchives.ie for censuses www.johngrenham.com for Griffiths Primary Valuation (1845 and 1864) covering all Ireland This page at the National Archives for Tithe Applotment books 1820s-1840s This page (subscriptions apply) at Ancestry (indexed and searchable) and this page (non indexed) at the NLI for Roman Catholic Sacramental registers Church of Ireland website for church of Ireland registers http://www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com for Presbyterian congregation records Recommended drinks to accompany this episode: Without wishing to stereotype, there’s an obvious choice. Recommended biscuits to accompany this episode: According to a recent-ish ‘survey’, Ireland’s favourite biscuit is the chocolate hob-nob.  Let’s face it, they go with anything. Listen now https://amateurfamilyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/episode-17.mp3

You don’t have criminal ancestors, do you?  Surely not.  That’s what I thought, but two of my ancestors (one direct, one step) turned out to be criminals, and it makes them two of the most interesting people in my tree. Even if you don’t think you have criminality in your heritage, you never know when those errant ancestors may turn up, so this episode is about the practicality of identifying, tracing and following those with a criminal background through your family back story. I’ll look at records that are available on subscription sites, freely available at the National Archives, on free websites (even on the other side of the world), and how they can enhance you genealogy hobby. We’ll meet Jesse and Ralph – two members of my family in the mid 1800s, and look at how they were caught, tried and convicted – with one of them being send half way round the world, before starting his new life ‘down under’.  We’ll talk about prisons, courts, assizes and hulk ships – and the very real differences between justice being administered today, and 150-odd years ago. Notes for this episode: Records on Ancestry are called England and Wales Criminal Registers 1791 to 1892 – and – UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849 Records on Find My Past are called  England & Wales, Crime, Prisons & Punishment, 1770-1935 Tasmanian records are at https://libraries.tas.gov.au/family-history/Pages/Convict-life.aspx. (Those I found relevant were CON14, CON18 and CON33) Recommended drinks to accompany this episode: Pruno – worth a Google.  But, clearly, DON’T drink it! Recommended biscuits to accompany this episode: Tim-Tams – there is transportation to Australia in this episode, after all Listen now https://amateurfamilyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/episode16.mp3

Following on from Episode 13, this podcast delves into the places your ancestors called home around 1910. If you have searched the 1911 census, there’s a separate record set that really takes this to the next level by adding detail to the PLACES where your family would have lived. The Valuation Office Survey took place between 1910 and 1915, and each property or piece of land was assessed, valued and described in volumes of ‘field books’ which are available for family historians to browse. These small windows on the past can be viewed at the National Archives at Kew – and make for a great reason to visit the archives, and to experience the heart of the country’s official records. In this episode, I talk about how you can find the field books and zoom in on particular houses, farms, buildings etc. by cross referencing them with huge maps, marked up by the valuers as they did their rounds. I also talk about how to get the most out of your visit to the archives, and how you can maximise the value of your day out. Throughout this episode, I refer to the National Archives webpage with links to maps and books – and it can be found here. Small warning: while this record set can be fascinating and absorbing, you’ll need to visit the Archives, of pay for copies to be sent to you.  Spend money and time at your own risk Recommended drinks to accompany this episode: Sadly none.  You are not allowed drinks in the document reading rooms.  And with good reason! Recommended biscuits to accompany this episode: Anything from a supermarket’s ‘value’ range.  We are talking about valuations, after all. Listen now https://amateurfamilyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/episode-15.mp3

There’s nothing more morbid than making a list of who gets all your stuff after you die.  But, for those of us who do, we are leaving a valuable genealogical legacy for our descendants who may want to delve into family history. Earlier in 2019, it was announced that there would be a big reduction in the cost of sending off for a will (and/or probate and/or letters of administration), prompting something of a flurry of activity from the family history community. This podcast details my experiences of the hidden gems that you can find from wills and probate, along with an explanation of how to go about researching this valuable resource. Lots of information can be had for free – and if you choose to order documents, you can find out all sorts of, often very personal, details about the members of your family tree. I look at the sort of info you can get from wills, probate and what to expect if a person died intestate – i.e. not having left a will. Additional sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.com licensed under Creative Commons. Recommended drinks to accompany this episode: Something mulled.  It’s Christmas at the time of writing. Recommended biscuits to accompany this episode: KitKat – because, where there’s a will, there’s a wafer Listen now https://amateurfamilyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/episode-14.mp3

So, you’ve trawled the records, located the certificates and built that family tree.  How do you immerse yourself in the lives of your ancestors? What better way than walking the streets that they walked… finding their houses… or locating where it WOULD have been, if it’s since been demolished? The places that our ancestors called home will hold a very special place in your family history research, and in this episode, I look at ways you can seek out the exact location of their houses, workplaces and neighbourhoods. I also discuss ways in which you can actually see what their homes, environment and community would have looked like on old photos, aerial shots, maps and other documentation.  Also, I have suggestions on how you can visualise the impact of their neighbourhood on their everyday lives. So, join me for a chat about how to put yourself in your ancestors’ shoes, and thanks once again for the kind comments and reaction on email and Twitter. Recommended drinks to accompany this episode:  Whatever you were given when you went to visit your grandparents.  You’re with family now.  No need for posh china. Recommended biscuits to accompany this episode: Morning coffee finger biscuits.  Even today, they put me in mind of being in an old house.  Preferably with the tick-tock of a grandfather clock in the background. Listen now https://amateurfamilyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/episode-13.mp3

So you’ve done your DNA test, and listened to the first DNA episode in this podcast series (of course you have!), so… what next? In this latest episode, I’m joined by Donna Rutherford, whose many presentations at genealogical events have gone down a storm for helping people make sense of this new and emerging branch of genealogy. We discuss everything from managing your DNA matches, types of tests, tips for making sense of your results, understanding ethnicity estimates – and some tips for taking your quest to the next level. Plus, why you probably don’t need a chromosome browser. Donna’s Facebook group DNA help for genealogy UK is also a goldmine of friendly help and advice – and well worth joining. Recommended drinks to accompany this episode: Put some champagne on ice, in the hope that you make a DNA breakthrough Recommended biscuits to accompany this episode: Hob Nobs – as, in this episode, I’m hob-nobbing with the crème de la crème of genealogical royalty Listen now https://amateurfamilyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/episode-12.mp3

This – slightly longer than normal – episode, aims to give an introduction to the world of genetic genealogy.  It covers the basics of taking a test, the types of test – and what results they can provide.  It includes the necessary science you need to understand the concept, along with how it fits in with family history research. This 11th episode in the series explores many aspects of genealogical DNA at a high-level and, because it’s such a wide-ranging concept, I recommend pausing regularly for a nice cup of coffee and a sit down.  DNA can make your head hurt. It has been designed for anyone who is deciding to take a test, or has done so and wants to understand more about the results both inside and outside your provider’s website. The aim is to provide a foundation to future episodes where I’ll explore the detail of DNA analysis and the various techniques and websites available to the family history community. Note of caution: Testing your DNA *may* throw up unexpected, unwanted or unpleasant revelations about your family.  All advice is given in good faith, with no responsibility taken for your interpretation of the outcome, or use of any of the content in this podcast.  That said, it’s fascinating.  Have fun! Recommended drinks to accompany this episode: Organic coffee.  Coffee to keep you awake.  Organic, because we’re going on a biology lesson. Recommended biscuits to accompany this episode: Digestives, Nice and Arrowroot.  Serious, worthy, and they spell out DNA. Listen now https://amateurfamilyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/episode-11.mp3

Genealogists love a cemetery.  But how do you find the right graveyard for your ancestors, and – when you’re there – how do you find the precise plot where your your relatives are buried? There may be no headstone – but this shouldn’t stop you from finding those all-important final resting places.  If there is a memorial, it can provide valuable additional information about your family. In this episode, I look at ways in which you can use online and offline resources to locate the cemetery in question, and I detail ways in which you can (records permitting) find the exact burial location. Part-recorded in the cemetery where many of my ancestors are buried, this episode also looks explores some of the reasons why you should make visiting graveyards a key part of your family history quest. Proof that I was actually there, can be found here. along with some of the images that I talk about during this episode. I hope you enjoy it. Recommended drinks to accompany this episode: Anything you like – as long as it’s consumed from a flask while sitting on a cemetery bench. Recommended biscuits to accompany this episode: Angel biscuits.  They’re a real thing! https://amateurfamilyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/episode-10.mp3

So, you’ve searched the censuses, found the BMDs and built the family tree. But what do you know about the day-to-day lives of your ancestors? Who did they fraternise with? Who did they NOT get on with? Did they get into trouble? Were they pillars of the community? Historic newspapers are a great way of finding out this type of information, as well as validating data that you’ve found from other sources. Newspaper stories about your ancestors add colour to your tree – and family announcements (births, marriages and deaths) can provide pointers to burial locations and other circumstances surrounding their deaths. This episodes explores the options for scouring newspapers (both online and offline), and to mix things up a little, I’m joined by a guest co-host – regular listener Jeremy – who is a keen advocate of the role of newspapers in genealogy. Recommended drinks to accompany this episode: Very strong coffee. (As a former journalist, I know this drink POWERS newspapers!) Recommended biscuits to accompany this episode: Digestives to go with the ‘news digest’. Listen now https://amateurfamilyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/episode-9-vfinal.mp3

Something a little different for this episode, as I’m joined by Pat Reynolds, who runs FreeBMD – a website you will almost certainly have used (lots!) when researching your family history. Find out about how this iconic free genealogical resource is kept running, its plans for the future and how you can get involved or get more out of FreeBMD – and its sister sites, FreeReg and FreeCen. Thanks to Pat taking time out of her busy schedule for this interesting chat – where you can hear about what goes on behind the scenes at a family of sites that forms the backbone of online genealogy in the UK. If you are involved in any free genealogy resource that you would like to discuss in future episodes, please drop me a line.  I – and the genealogical community – would love to hear from you. Recommended drinks to accompany this episode: Green tea.  It goes with FreeUKGenealogy’s logo. Recommended biscuits to accompany this episode: Honeycomb shaped cookies.  For the same reason. Listen now https://amateurfamilyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/episode-8-v2.mp3

Often described as a good way of taking your research back before 1837 (when civil registration started), parish records can provide so much more than this. Records stored in churches, cathedrals and records offices often complement your existing research by adding extra detail, opening up new avenues and verifying assumptions, facts and data from elsewhere. This episode looks at how I used parish records, both Anglican and Catholic, to bulk out my research – using online and physical sources.  I talk about the time I sat in the basement of a cathedral looking at details of my parents’ marriage, along with other baptism, marriage and burials going back nearly 200 years.  White cotton gloves are essential! Regardless of what you’re hoping to achieve in researching your family’s past, parish records are an essential tool in your kit-bag, and can uncover detail unavailable elsewhere. Other religions are – of course – available, so please get in touch at amateurfamilyhistory@gmail.com with your experience of trawling through these records, and I will share them on future episodes. Recommended drinks to accompany this episode: Whatever you can find in the vestry.  Sherry usually. Recommended biscuits to accompany this episode: Hot cross buns.  Not strictly a biscuit, but they have religious connotations and it is Easter. Listen now https://amateurfamilyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/episode-7.mp3

Morbid, inevitable, often poignant – and a huge part of genealogy.  In this episode I look at searching death records, what to look out for, what you may find on certificates – and how an ancestor’s cause of death can tell us so much about their lives. Also in this episode, I share an invaluable experience of seeking out living relatives, as well as covering some of the recent developments in genealogy websites and record sets announced in the last month. The main subject, however, is the natural successor to the previous two podcasts.  First we had births, them marriages – and now, it’s the much less celebratory ‘death’ category.  Topics include; which deaths to look at in detail, when you may want to order certificates, how to deal with inquests and some of the striking causes of death that I’ve come across over the years. A difficult subject to cover, but I hope I’ve managed to strike the right tone – balancing the genealogical significance of death records with the respect due on such occasions. As ever, all content is offered in good faith.  Please remember if you choose to spend money on certificates, this is done at your own risk.  I hope you find this episode useful. Recommended drinks to accompany this episode: It’s quite a long episode.  Maybe consider something that won’t go cold. Recommended biscuits to accompany this episode: Funeral biscuits.  They’re a real thing and worth a Google. Listen now https://amateurfamilyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/episode-6.mp3

In this episode: marriage records, price changes at the GRO and Stuart’s story. Following on from the previous podcast about births, this episode looks at marriage records, how to find them, how to order them – and what to look for if you go on to buy certificates. Obviously, marriage information is vital to genealogists, but – from personal experience – marriage records seem to take a back seat compared to birth and death records, but they contain SO much detail that they’re worth revisiting again and again. Also in this episode, I’ll go over the recent price increases at the GRO (still the cheapest way of buying certificates), and tie that into ordering printed marriage certificates which are not yet available as PDFs. Finally, we’ll hear from fellow genealogist, Stuart, who has traced his family back to a part of the country, which today, is synonymous with big business, hustle & bustle and mass tourism.  Who says genealogy is all about country churches and remote thatched cottages?! Recommended drinks to accompany this episode: It’s a wedding.  There’s a free bar. Recommended biscuits to accompany this episode: Fruit shortcake.  A reasonable substitute for wedding cake. Listen now https://amateurfamilyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/episode-5.mp3