In this podcast from the National Archives, David Annal takes a practical approach to overcoming the most common problems faced by family historians when using the 19th century census returns. It may sometimes seem that your ancestors are missing from the returns - this talk aims to convince you that, if your ancestors were living in England or Wales at the time of the census, they were almost certainly recorded and you should be able to find them. The odds are firmly stacked in your favour.
Derek Anthony Seagrim was born at Bournemouth, Hampshire, England on September 24, 1903 the third of five sons of the Reverend Charles Seagrim and Amabel Emma Halsted Seagrim. His younger brothers was Hugh Seagrim GC, giving these two brothers the distinction of being the only siblings to receive the Victoria Cross and George Cross. Derek was educated at the Norwich School, Norwich, where Derek and his younger brother Hugh also attended later.
The High House Press was founded at Shaftesbury, Dorset in the summer of 1924. In this article from the Dorset Life magazine, Jeremy Archer looks at a 1930s publication on Shaftesbury and how the town has changed.
Frederick Charles Riggs was born on July 28, 1888 at Christchurch, then in Hampshire, England. In the 1891 census Fredeick is living in the household of James & Elizabeth Fowler at 55 Garfield Avenue, Springbourne, Bournemouth where he is described as an orphan. His entry in the Commonwealth War Graves Commissions roll of Honour describes him as the ‘Adopted Son of Elizabeth Burgum, of 39, Capstone Rd., Bournemouth.’
The town of Lyme Regis, Dorset, England is justly proud of its seafaring son, George Somers, who in 1609 was wrecked upon the island of Bermuda after his ship, the Sea Venture, was separated in a hurricane from the main fleet heading for the east coast of America. but much of the detail of the disaster which befell the Sea Venture comes from an account written by another man on board, Sylvester Jourdan.
A Picture of Wrens stationed on Portland, recently featured in the Dorset Echo, stirred up memories for Velmia Watson (nee Ruffley) and Jean Rawson (nee Moir) who were also stationed with HMS Attack on the run-up to D-Day.
Watch this video by Stuart Morris on the threat to Portland’s historic landscape a World Heritage site. Included is a brief history of Stone Quarrying on the island and its effect on the environment.
William Philip Colfox was born on February 25, 1888 at Bridport, Dorset, England the son of Colonel Thomas Alfred Colfox of Coneygar, Bridport and Constance Nettlefold of Birmingham. He was educated at Eton College and Woolwich.
