UK Family Tree Researcher

25/09/2024

Family Tree News 25 September 2024

I have added some more information to my website to help people interested in the Coventry Blitz, and anyone researching their family tree who had ancestors with the surnames of Collins / Holroyd, Clifford, Courts and Cramp, including information about where their lived, their occupations, who their relatives were, how they tragically lost their lives in the blitz, and where their remains were buried, in case relatives wish to pay their respects. Have a look on familyresearcher.co.uk for more details.

07/09/2024

Looking for a special gift for Christmas? Check out my research options. These are also available as gift certificates.
https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/default.html
The Coventry Blitz Resource Centre has received a large update to over 25 names including Arthur Thomas Butler who posthumously received a medal for his bravery during the April raids.
Arthur Thomas Butler
Born 08/09/1923 in Coventry, Warwickshire. Son of Thomas Arthur Butler and Rose Esther Egan. Resided at 25 Cheveral Avenue, Radford, Coventry, Warwickshire. Home Guard and Assembler at Humber Ltd. Posthumously Awarded with a National Commendation for Bravery during the April Raids on 09/04/1841. He had stopped a dangerous escape of gas and tackled a fire at a factory using a fire hose. He worked in dangerous conditions for four hours receiving injuries to both hands and legs from incendiary bombs that required his legs be heavily wrapped in bandages. Finally he was badly injured at Lydgate Road while attempting to fetch an ambulance for a badly wounded man and died Aged 17 at Gulson Road Hospital, Coventry, Warwickshire. Buried in the Communal grave at London Road Cemetery, Coventry.
Also updated were the Harrison, Cuthbertson and Evans Families including Dudley Firefighter William Verdun Evans.

23/08/2024

My lovely flowers from another satisfied customer. They really made my day.😁

15/08/2024

I have had a little break and spend this adding extra information to my Morris family tree. 😁

02/08/2024

Family Tree News August 2024

Of interest this month was a Cornish family who went to Brazil in 1833 to find work after mine closures in their native Cornwall. We tend to think that our ancestors didn’t travel much, especially before modern times but it is amazing to see how far people were prepared to travel for work. Some of these miners left children at home with relatives or even in the Workhouse, sending money back for their support while others made the move permanent.

The Coventry Blitz Resource Centre has been updated with new information about sad deaths in the Knight and Lee families, and information regarding Emma Knutton has been expanded. If you have any further information for any of the other people listed, just let us know and we’ll be happy to add it.

Coventry Blitz Home page. Here you will find Coventry Blitz facts and information about various Coventry air raids including Operation Moonlight Sonata, and a lists of Coventry blitz victims, researched by Jane Hewitt.

12/07/2024

Fords Hospital

10/07/2024

Some interesting snippets from the families we have been researching this month include one with an ancestor who married five times. Starting with the second husband, the lady had a new husband approximately every ten years.
I have also been exploring a Coventry family who were butchers based in Butcher Row. This enabled me to use some of my local history knowledge. It was interesting to see several newspaper articles about their businesses and a story about the theft of their horse!
Update: I added additional information to the Dictionary of Old Occupations. The new occupations added were Sally Winder, Simoloer, Sleeper Cutter / Sleeper Chopper, Ticket Porter, Wire Card Setter / Wire Setter and Wood Collier / Wood Colyer. You can access the information for free on familyresearcher.co.uk.

03/07/2024

Family Tree News July 2024
I have added a few more old job title definitions to The Dictionary Of Old Occupations. If you find any of the following terms listed on your family census records, you can look them up here. The newly added job titles are: Chip Seller, Cop Winder, Medical Rubber, Pirn Filler and Poindler. I also expanded the existing definition of Floatman.
A big thank you to John L who got in touch about the occupation of Poindler. Much appreciated.
Hope you find these helpful!

26/06/2024

I found a bit of time this week to update my Dictionary of Old Occupations; click the link below to view this free of charge resource. This update comes with special thanks to Richard J for contacting me regarding a number of old occupations, two of which have now been added to the dictionary of old occupations ‘Butter Badger’ and ‘Chalk Drawer’.
I also had an email from Jeff P who wanted to; ‘acknowledge the value of your work in providing such a useful resource for those of us who are tracking down our ancestors, and often puzzled as to the occupations listed on various historical documents. I’m really grateful!’
Thanks Jeff your email was much appreciated.

Dictionary of Old Occupations index page. The A-Z lists in this glossary show name and definitions for well over two thousand old occupations, jobs, trades and professions researched by Jane Hewitt.

19/06/2024

Family Tree News June 2024

This month one of the families I researched lost eight children all aged under 3 years of age. I managed to locate their grave in London Road Cemetery, Coventry. Records showed that most of the children died from Tuberculosis. Of the three children who survived to adulthood, one of these died in childbirth. We forget today thanks to modern medicine that TB was once the world's greatest infectious killer.

I also managed to add another update to the Coventry Blitz pages, adding the details for the Hill, Holder and Jackson families. One of the Jacksons I added was a fireman whose name also appears on the dedication plaque in St Mary’s Guildhall, Coventry.

https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/Blitz-Victims/Coventry-firemen.html

30/05/2024

This month has yielded further exciting results for some of my customers. One ancestor risked his life to save historical treasures from the 1841 fire at the Tower of London. Further research into a different family revealed a convicted murderer who escaped punishment by moving to a different part of the country.

I also managed to add another update to the Coventry Blitz pages adding the details for John Matthew Davis, James Stuart Donald, Mary Ann Hill nee Norton and May Hill nee Taylor.

Coventry Blitz Home page. Here you will find Coventry Blitz facts and information about various Coventry air raids including Operation Moonlight Sonata, and a lists of Coventry blitz victims, researched by Jane Hewitt.

23/05/2024

I love emails like this.

22/05/2024
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all the work, research, and advice you have provided over the last few months, and I would not hesitate in recommending your services to anyone requiring a genealogist. Best regards from a very satisfied customer.

David H

13/05/2024

Found a bit of time for another update to the Coventry Blitz pages adding the details of another four victims to my pages all named Clarke.

https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/Blitz-Victims/Coventry-Blitz-Resource-Centre.html

My other research this week has been really interesting. It was fascinating to find a hero in one family; he lived by the canal in Birmingham and saved several people from drowning. It is amazing how much information you can get from the local newspapers. These often include details of the occasional black sheep.

Coventry Blitz Home page. Here you will find Coventry Blitz facts and information about various Coventry air raids including Operation Moonlight Sonata, and a lists of Coventry blitz victims, researched by Jane Hewitt.

02/05/2024

I was able to add some new info to the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre this week. With thanks to Shuna H for providing updated details for her grandfather, Francis Hutchinson, who sadly lost his life in the Coventry Blitz.
Newly researched names are: Archibald Blair, John William Horace Bright, Gertrude Bryant and Vera Ellen Bryant.

My research findings into the deaths of victims of the Blitz in Coventry. Historical data are organised alphabetically by surname. This page shows surnames beginning with the letter 'W'.

07/03/2024

I was asked today if I am still researching as I haven’t updated posted any updates in quite a while. The answer is yes if your family is from England, Scotland or Wales I would be happy to help research your family history and put together your family tree. For further details of how I can help you or for examples of my work visit my website www.familyresearcher.co.uk .
Best Wishes
Jane

Professional Family Tree Researcher available to research YOUR family history, and build YOUR family tree. Genealogy, family tree research and family history research - I provide a range of friendly, cost effective research services. Family Researcher is one of the longest established professional g...

28/08/2022

Updated my cover photo

28/04/2021

What a year it has been since I last updated the news page on my website! Family Tree Research has kept me incredibly busy all through the various lockdowns we have had in the UK. I would like to thank my customers for making this happen. It has been a delight to keep working and get to know your family histories, which have been so fascinating to research.

Debi B got in touch with me from the USA regarding her fiance’s grandmother Florence Tunnicliffe Thompson, who was born in 1890, and sadly lost her life in April 1941 during WW2 air raids in Coventry. I have been able to add details for Florence to the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre, including a lovely photograph of Florence. I would like to thank Debi for sharing this family history with us.

https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/Blitz-Victims/Coventry-Blitz-Resource-Centre.html

Coventry Blitz Home page. Here you will find Coventry Blitz facts and information about various Coventry air raids including Operation Moonlight Sonata, and a lists of Coventry blitz victims, researched by Jane Hewitt.

28/03/2020

For those who have asked… I am still working on existing family tree projects during the coronavirus pandemic, and I am taking on new research projects for new customers, as normal.

Being able to work from home means I am able to safely continue research work for customers. So do feel free to check out my main website at www.familyresearcher.co.uk, and get in touch with me if you are interested in having your family tree researched.

The government site I order birth, marriage and death certificates from is still operating. Their latest announcement is that they may not meet their usual timescales during the pandemic, so all of us genealogists and family tree enthusiast might need to be a little bit patient with them until things return to normal.

As ever, my best wishes to you all, and I hope you stay safe during these unusual times. As I said, I am available to undertake family tree projects for new customers, so if you are interested in that then the best way to contact is via https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/family-tree-contact-form.html
All the best,
Jane

27/12/2019

31/03/2019

I would like to thank Pete S for getting in touch this week, with a query about Frederick George Waterer, who Pete is researching. I was able to find a newspaper article from the Coventry Evening Telegraph in October 1940, which provided useful information.

I was also able to provide some supplementary information regarding Frederick, and have added all this to the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre to help other researchers.

https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/Blitz-Victims/Coventry-Blitz-Victims-detalls-W.html

My research findings into the deaths of victims of the Blitz in Coventry. Historical data are organised alphabetically by surname. This page shows surnames beginning with the letter 'W'.

03/02/2019

Paula R got in touch recently asking if I could help provide any information regarding her granddad’s first wife Kate Dawson nee Stephenson, and youngest son Christopher Dawson who were tragically killed in the Coventry Blitz during World War 2.

I was able to research some information for Paula, and have updated the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre with the details. https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/Blitz-Victims/Coventry-Blitz-Victims-detalls-D.html

My research findings into the deaths of victims of the Blitz in Coventry. Historical data are organised alphabetically by surname. This page shows surnames beginning with the letter 'D'.

13/01/2019

I would like to thank Alan B for getting in touch regarding the definition of Press Maker in my Dictionary Of Old Occupations. After a bit of detective work including checking the 1901 Census, I have expanded the definition to include the manufacture of mangles.

https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/glossary/Dictionary-of-Old-Occupations-jobs-beginning-P7.html -Maker

A glossary of definitions for old occupations, historic job titles, trades and professions beginning with P. This page lists the old jobs I have identified so far beginning with the letter P, part 7.

24/12/2018

Wishing a very Happy Christmas and a joyous and prosperous New Year to all family historians and fellow family tree enthusiasts everywhere!

17/11/2018

I was able to add some new info to the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre this week. With thanks to Janet S for providing new details about her grandmother, Catherine Williams, who sadly lost her life in the Coventry Blitz.

https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/Blitz-Victims/Coventry-Blitz-Victims-detalls-W.html

My research findings into the deaths of victims of the Blitz in Coventry. Historical data are organised alphabetically by surname. This page shows surnames beginning with the letter 'W'.

27/10/2018

Thank you to Jean H for sending me updated information regarding Jean Reeves and Lily Bessie Reeves nee Bennett which I have added to the information on the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre.

I would also like to thank Heather S for providing new info obtained from Coventry Council regarding the burial place of John George Downing, which I have added to my website too. Interestingly, the site was recorded incorrectly by the War Graves Commission, Coventry Roll of the Fallen, etc.

https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/Blitz-Victims/Coventry-Blitz-Resource-Centre.html

Coventry Blitz Home page. Here you will find Coventry Blitz facts and information about various Coventry air raids including Operation Moonlight Sonata, and a lists of Coventry blitz victims, researched by Jane Hewitt.