So here we are, the sixth and final episode of Ancestral Neighbours.
Thank you so much for following the series. If you missed any of the previous installments, you can catch up here with Episodes 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.
This series began when I discovered my favourite aussie soap was about to turn 39. It got me thinking about the neighbours I had around me when I was growing up, and how they influenced my life. One of my favourites was a wise old lady called Pansy, who could always be found tending to her immaculate garden. She would often stop and chat to me as I walked past on my way home from school. Pansy became a dear friend of my mother’s, and they would regularly meet up for a cup of tea and a natter.
Our ancestors most likely had similar encounters with their neighbours – a conversation over a brew, a chat on the walk to work. Perhaps they cared for the elderly gentleman two doors down, or babysat the children from across the road. Getting to know who lived in our forebears’ streets can open up a door to their world.
Recently, a genealogy friend of mine used the FAN method to discover how her ancestors met. A young lady from London, was in service to a family who sent her to their estate (over a hundred miles away) in Shropshire. She met a young man who was working on the estate next door, and needless to say – they married! It just goes to show how invaluable this research approach can be.
This final week, I am looking at the 1851 Census for the Monksfield branch of my family tree.
Original held at The National Archives, London; Reference: HO107; Piece: 1533; Folio: 526; Page: 14
I hope you have enjoyed the series. If you have been knocking on the door of your ancestors’ neighbours, please share your findings in the comments section below. I would love to hear about your discoveries.
Thank you again for tuning into Ancestral Neighbours.
P.S. Congratulations to all the cast and crew of the team at ‘Erinsborough’. Thank you for all the happy memories.
Who Am I? Family Tree Research 