Karen Musilová: Genealogist & Historian

14/03/2024

I really enjoy doing 'then and now' comparisons, such as this one (Bicester, Oxfordshire: 1882 vs. 2023). The building on the right in the first photograph was demolished during the 1960's, but aside from that, very little has changed!

14/03/2024

I am currently hard at work conducting research for my book, which will focus on how a cholera epidemic in 1832 affected Bicester (Oxfordshire) and surrounding parishes. Stay tuned for updates!

03/01/2024

The words of Phillis Wheatley (1753 - 1784): a black woman who was brought to the USA from Africa as a slave during her childhood, and ended up becoming a published author/poet.

Was named 'Phillis' after the ship which brought her to America, and 'Wheatley' after the family who 'owned' her. Despite English not being her native language, and having very little in the way of an education, the Wheatleys realised that Phillis had a marvellous way with words. They decided to encourage her literary talent.

Shortly after publishing her own book of poems in 1773, the Wheatleys freed her. She married a poor grocer named John Peters, but their three children all died during infancy. Sadly, she died just over a decade later, aged only 31, in poverty.

Unfortunately, Phillis' work only really became famous after her death.

03/01/2024

This gorgeous Tudor property in Wilmcote - near Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire - was the childhood home of William Shakespeare's mother, Mary Ardern. It was built by Mary's father, Robert Ardern, circa 1514. It is now managed by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, and is open to the public.

30/11/2023

My latest article, published in this week's issue of the Bicester Advertiser.

25/11/2023

This week's charity shop bargain - only £2.

No matter how experienced you are as a genealogist, you should never stop learning!

23/11/2023

MyHeritage are currently selling their DNA kits for just £33 each (with free shipping if you order more than one), as part of their Black Friday Sale.

This offer is valid until 11.59pm on 24th November 2023 (tomorrow)!

23/11/2023

Various intriguing discoveries - including the crockery below - have recently been made by archaeologists excavating the site of the infamous St Pancras Workhouse (London), which has links to Charles Dickens.

Click here to read more: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/nov/15/archaeologists-uncover-colourful-walls-and-fireplaces-of-london-workhouse?fbclid=IwAR0nhNYr-CdXPTAVPI8ZxyWO7MpX_WpmAcIC8CpoNr-PHGCkEML0GMT48O0

23/11/2023

On this day 524 years ago (23rd November 1499), a young man known as 'Perkin Warbeck' was hanged at Tyburn, London.

Whilst he was executed for being an imposter, it is possible that he was actually the younger of the Princes in the Tower - Richard.

Following several unsuccessful attempts to garner support and claim the throne of England, Warbeck was forced to surrender in 1497. He was subsequently imprisoned in the Tower of London. Following his capture, Warbeck retracted his claim, instead confessing that he was actually a Flemish-born lad from Tournai (modern-day Belgium), and that his parents were Jehan de Warbecque and Katherine de Faro.

Unfortunately, nobody really knows for certain who 'the pretender' was - perhaps his confession was forced? We will sadly never know for sure. It would definitely have been in King Henry VII's interest to proclaim that Warbeck was not Richard, even if he was.

Perkin Warbeck would have been around 24 years old at the time of his death.

19/11/2023

I've just finished watching this, and I have to say, I found the new evidence very compelling!

Hats off to Philippa Langley and Rob Rinder for their meticulous research. I'd love to see them team up again in the future, to reexamine other historical 'cold cases'!

Did Richard III kill his nephews? Philippa Langley and Rob Rinder explore new revelations.

18/11/2023

Bicester Shopping Week was held from the 20th - 25th July 1931, and I have in my possession a souvenir which advertised many local businesses - some of which continued trading for many years hence.

16/11/2023

This really is an excellent read, and a very poignant insight into how high mortality rates affected families throughout the 19th century. It is brilliantly researched, and beautifully written - facts entwined with imaginative dialogue and storytelling. Whilst it focuses on the village of Littleham (Devon), a similarly sad tale could be told virtually anywhere else in the country during that period.

16/11/2023

My 2 x great grandmother was Eleanor Susannah Allen, born 9th November 1857 in Burnham Norton, Norfolk - the daughter of James Allen and Elizabeth Frances Ford.

Sometime during the 1860's, the Allens moved to Sussex, where Eleanor married William Burgess in 1874. Their eldest child - Robert George Burgess (1874 - 1932) - was my great grandfather.

William and Eleanor had many children, with the youngest being twin sons Allen and Jacob, who were born in August 1897 in Horsham, Sussex. Sadly, Eleanor died due to 'puerperal sepsis' (an infection resulting from childbirth) on the 23rd August at 23 Park Terrace, East Horsham, followed by the twins shortly afterwards. Eleanor was just shy of 40 years of age, and her sister Mary Ann Hollick, née Allen was present at her death.

A very sad end for poor Eleanor and her little boys.

Following her death, William emigrated to Canada, along with some of their children. He died in Port Colborne, Niagara, Ontario in 1917 - two decades after losing his beloved wife and sons.

15/11/2023

Fabulous news - the GRO (General Register Office) has extended the availability of digital images, meaning that you can now order birth certificates from 1837 - 1957, and death certificates from 1837 - 1922, for just £2.50 each! They are available to download instantly after purchase.

14/11/2023

A couple of my articles, which were published in the Bicester Advertiser last year.

13/11/2023

My husband and I posing outside the beautiful Zamek Lednice in Czech Republic earlier this year; it began life as a Gothic fort, first recorded in 1222 AD.

By the end of the 13th century, it had become the residence of the Leichtenstein family, who were originally from Styria (Austria). They built a château on the site during the 17th century, which was subsequently rebuilt between 1846 - 1858.

It is well worth a visit if you happen to be in the area! Both the château and it's extensive grounds are stunning.

13/11/2023

St Mary's Church, Charlton-on-Otmoor (Oxfordshire): where many of my ancestors were baptised, married and buried.

The church was built in the mid-13th century.

13/11/2023

The Swan Inn (Islip, Oxfordshire) dates back to the 17th century.

The photograph below shows the pub in 1906.

09/11/2023

Market Day in Bicester, Oxfordshire (1955).

09/11/2023

Just a heads up, folks: Findmypast are currently offering FREE access to certain records between today (9th November) and 13th November, so make the most of it!

08/11/2023

Cardiff (Wales) takes its toponym from the medieval Welsh 'Caerdyf', meaning 'fort on the River Taff'.

08/11/2023

A painting of High Street, Oxford, by J. M. W. Turner (1810).

08/11/2023

The autograph of Guy Fawkes, before and after he was tortured.

08/11/2023

A short stroll through the ruins of Minster Lovell Hall last Friday.

08/11/2023

Edinburgh Castle was built upon a now-extinct volcano (Castle Rock) in the 12th century; however, the site was first occupied during the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age (c.12,000 BC - 550 BC).

The picture below shows an engraving of the castle, made by Nathaniel Parr c.1740.

Source: National Galleries of Scotland.

08/11/2023

An Irish family photographed living in unsatisfactory conditions in Carraroe, Galway, in 1898; they were suffering due to one of many food shortages which rocked the country throughout the 19th century.

Source: National Library of Ireland.

08/11/2023

A very handy (albeit simplified) visualisation of how DNA ethnicity inheritance works.

Whilst we inherit 50% of our DNA from each parent, each child will be born with a random combination of genetic traits, passed down from their maternal and paternal ancestors; because of this, full siblings can often receive different ethnicity results when taking autosomal DNA tests!

08/11/2023

I couldn't agree more! Genealogy and historical study are truly glorious (and worthy) pursuits.

08/11/2023

I have always loved this quote! 🌳❤️