General Chat

So interesting and Sue obviously enjoyed it, even taking her disappointments in her stride as all genealogists have to. Only complaint I had was that she was a bit upset that her ancestor was an engine 'cleaner'. Snob-wise this was not as bad as she seemed to think. When you got a job as a cleaner on the railway in those days, (and even up to the 1950's), you knew that you were on the first rung of the ladder towards being a driver. It was a sought after job and not one to be ashamed of.

I really enjoyed this programme as my mothers family worked on the railway in Derby, and in the Manchester area. Perhaps that is why I found it more interesting than the others. I was determined to watch despite the apparent demise of my T.V. set. Watched on a 25 yr old black and white portable with poor sound and flickering picture. Still enjoyed it though. Rosemary(Essex)

I agree that it makes it look easy..... if only it was tho eh? I have people who won't spill on ancestors so I can only presume that I have many a skeleton to find!! Can't wait!! :O)

Typical, waited all week for programme to come on and then half way through it mum is called as a taxi (I think I will have a meter fitted in my car) so I missed ten minutes of it. My ggfather was a railway porter and Manchester Victoria Station, what would he have aspired to become and did they tell you where I would find any documents relating to this? elaine:))

Really enjoyed it.... even cut short a girlie drink after work so i could be home in time to watch it.... HOW SAD? I loved the bits where she was saying that the chap must have been very pompous and then realised exactly why he was later on!! I managed to find out that my GGGrandfather had married twice and my Grandmother still won't have it although i have all the documents!! Destroys the memories even tho it may be fiction!!

I like Sue Johnston, she seems to have a warm and reassuring manner and once she had built up a picture of James Cowan's life - his career and the loss of his wife and children - she was able to appreciate the difficulties he had faced along the way. It's always nice to add flesh to the bones whenever you are trying to chart a particular ancestor's life and to try to understand why certain events happened in the course of their life. So far, I would just give the nod to Amanda Redman's episode although possibly Sue Johnston's one was probably the more informative one, genealogy-wise, with references to using the censuses etc... I agree that the programme may unwittingly give the impression that looking for information requires very little digging. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a relative who has done a fair amount of the spade work already. Also when you watch the programme, it's easy to forget the amount of travelling that's involved, again something that can act as a barrier to people researching their ancestors. However, they have to show that it CAN be done and I think the objective of the series is to give people the taste for wanting to start tracing their families, after that, it is down to the diligence and persistance of the individual themselves. Andy

I agree this was very interesting. But I don't know why she had to find a doctor to ask what "phthisis" was, all she needed to do was post a query on the boards here! I am a bit narked with the overall impression the series gives that you can just waltz into a register office or records office and someone will hand you an envelope with the correct information in it! If only! nell

Really enjoyed this one, but couldn't hear the last 10 minutes as I got a phone call. Will have to turn the phone off next week. She was saying a lot too. Never moind Diane

I really enjoyed the programme, as my dad was Engine Driver, and I know he was a Fireman which is on my birth cert but didn't know that they started as cleaners. I know he was in a union so, If I got it right there would be records of him at Warwick University. I can't wait for next weeks. Pat

Loved it, and I had ancestors from Workington and Carlisle so v good for me Jacquie

I enjoyed the programme as well because my grandfather was a Porter for the L.M.S railways in later life, he worked in the cotton mills in his younger days He was so proud of his waistcoat with it's L.M.S buttons that he wore every day until he died Also whislt he was working his family were able to go on holiday because they got cheap travel One thing I think should be mentioned is the cost of obtaining certificates because in all of the programmes they have just walked in a got one. Tonight they mentioned the online 1901 census but again didn't talk about the cost Bren

It quite complicated! It doesn't cover what is currently called London! By that I mean not necessarily the parts that have London in the address NOW, or are part of Greater London NOW. It covers the area that WAS London before the boundaries were changed and Greater London etc was invented. For instance, my ancestors were from Poplar and Plaistow. Poplar was always shown as Middx on the old census, and is still in London, Esomething - the parish records for Poplar are at the LMA. Plaistow - a few streets away - was down as Essex on the old census, although it is NOW London Esomething too - the parish records for Plaistow are at the Essex Record Office. Very frustrating when you have got people on the borders like me - was the church in Middx or Essex - grrr!! Have a look at their website for the sort of things they have and the area they cover. www(.)cityoflondon(.)gov(.)uk/applications/family-research/index(.)htm Don't forget to take out the brackets first! Maz. XX

The LMA is the London Metropolitan Archives - the County Record Office for London - well, what WAS London,Middx on the old censuses. They shut for 2 weeks every year at this time for stocktaking. Maz. XX

I agree, excellent stuff, and although we as members of this site are probably not learning a great deal there are some bits that make you think. It was clear to see that Sue was moved by the experiences of her forebears, but we all have sickness and early deaths in our past and come accross the same situations that are quite moving - the whole point is that we are the products of the survivors.

fab fab fab!! This series just keeps on getting better and better for me! Its the highlight of my week!! My grandfather was an engine driver in the 1930's and my gt gt grandfather was one in the 1860's, so this had particular relevance for me. MUST go to Kew!! I was very pleased to see Sue Johnstone getting so caught up in it and doing a lot of her own research. Can't wait for Clarkson next week - "what happened to the MONEY??" roflmao Maz. XX

Arrr missed it.

Yes Christine, I quite agree. There's some really tragic histories around, aren't there. Still wondering what else I'm going to find in my history .......... Really enjoyed the programme, again. Glenys. x

The best one so far.

Yes excellent series, but do you find yourself shouting instructions at the tv?? I wish they had put a notice up telling folk that the LMA is closing for the first two weeks of November.

Another good story, with some interesting film footage to go with it!..