Genealogy Chat

Having read the 'Where do you live?' thread (fascinating reading!) it's amazing to see how these days so many people move from one place to another, and one country to another, and then back again... But have any of you, like me, been surprised about how many of our ancestors moved around? Before I started researching my tree, I thought my ancestors had probably been born, bred and died in the same town or village - but no. Back in the mid-1800's I've got one gggrandfather from Ipswich who married my gggrandmother from Devon and they ended up in London; my grandmother from Northamptonshire married my grandfather in Kent; a whole load of rellies from Wiltshire ended up in London; a great-aunt moved from London to Wales and another to Canada... In comparison my family today seem quite staid, mainly staying in their home areas of London, Kent and Essex. But don't you wonder why all those ancestors moved around (in search of work?) and how (journeys would have been so long and difficult).

My family is the exact opposite, staying in an area for generations, maybe only moving about 20 miles. Its great for the branch that came from round here but my grandmothers family came from the London area nearly 150 miles away and that the brach that facinates me.Then again they are the same staying in the same area generation after generation

I have a GGG Granfather William Turle, born Taunton Somerset, married Mary Matthews born Tenby Wales. They had children in Coventry and ended up in Islington North London This was in the mid 1800's how on earth did they do that? Also just found another GGG Grandad John Daniels who came from the U.S.A now thats going to be interesting to find out how and why He came, but as yet don't know where to start. Lynda

Yes I was also surprised to find them moving all over the shop. My mum in particular thought her lot had always been in Essex, so to find them coming from Cambs, Beds, Kent and Sussex was a bit of a shock for her! Even her Gran, who lived with her, was brought up in Norfolk and NEVER mentioned it!! Dad's side a bit more staid, dockland folk, but one did come from Hunts, and dad's great uncle emigrated to NZ. Apparently my grandfather went to visit him around 1900 - amazing! Wonder why he came back and if he regretted it??? Maz. XX

My husband and I were having a conversation about this very item a few days ago. Probably in those days, because most families lived in rented houses or rooms, they didn't own many possessions, so found it easier to move to wherever the work was. These days, a lot of us own our homes and we tend to have a lot of possessions so we settle things around us and so, move less. Also, work is easier to come by these days too.

Have just worked out that one of my g grandfathers was born and grew up in Northamptonshire and then sometime between 1880 and 1901 moved to work in London, went back to Northampton, moved to Norfolk, went back to Northampton again and finally settled in Kent... My mind is buzzing! I wonder how he and his family would have travelled? Did they find work in the next town before moving on? Why did they go to Yarmouth and St Mary Cray (neither of which were exactly bustling cities if they were in search of work). I still find the whole concept of these early mobile populations somewhat mind blowing!