My Mum and Dad

My Mum and Dad
Charladies Ball abt 1956/57

Wednesday 30 June 2010

Looking for Ancestors Overseas

Computers love them or hate them well depends on if it going your way, I have had to get a new computer so not only going through who I lost between last backup & what I done
I had been finding some of the ancestors while not direct line they be siblings of my so many times grandparents ect.
Well I been told of a site   Family Search   but they have a new way of searching so off I go via internet to search for people in the UK while there I browsed their catalogue & went to the Asian records for DH & I had much more success there for him than I had for me as not only did I find more out father's name was given more often than not on there so did well.
I am still trying to get to grips with the computer & the different ways of doing things but at least I am having luck with the family tree so may be if you get stuck give the site a try

Friday 25 June 2010

Importance of Backing Up

Why should we back up our research well my computer packed up on Tuesday & I have had to get a new one.
With this happening I was about a week out of date from backing up & with the offer that been on when England play to be able to look at the  1911 census & other records I had saved them to computer plus added people I found but guess what I had not backed up to my memory stick.
Plus while I have 2 Genealogy programs Family Tree Maker 2008 & Generations I prefered Generations but this program is really for windows 98 I did manage to get it to work on XP but this new computer is Windows 7 & no way will it work so while what I had backed up on there & to stick I hadn't to FT so I am out of date.
Which means I have to not only add people I had already done I have to remember who they were plus get the census & other info on them
So the moral is to back up & often so that you not only don't lose your work but you don't have to do it twice
I guess the good side is I am having to learn how to use FT which I hadn't before

Monday 21 June 2010

1911 Census

While the World Cup Football has been on I been taking advantage of a offer to see records when England are playing their games.
Well I was looking for Charles Pettitt (aka Poulter) & I found him with his brother Robert now this find has been great as it given me his family which I didn't know about as not found him before so that was good.
I also received a marriage certificate I had ordered for Jesse Barnes as on his marriage in 1936 I found out he was a widow so got his first marriage certificate he married a Alice Bloomfield in 1923 Cambridge.
I also been getting bits on other members of my side of the family using the 1911 census mostly siblings of my direct line but it certainly been interesting.
How I gone about it is by making a list of ones I want to try to find that way I not wasted time thinking of who it was I wanted to look for as the free offer is only for 90 minutes & believe me that soon goes.
As Yesterday was Father's day I am putting a photo of my Dad on it was taken during WW2 he passed away 22 years ago on the 27th June so this is to say your not forgotten plus I do think this is a really nice photo of him.

Tuesday 15 June 2010

Is a Blog Worth It?

The title may seem a bit strange but the question Is a Blog Worth it or should it worth doing it as who reads it; where will it lead.
Well in my last post I said about Harry Game husband to Ada Rebecca Barnes & posted about where he worked.
From this I had contact from a lady Toni who has given me permission to share a photo which is of Harry's brother Charles Robert Game who married Agnes Ayre on 16th November 1895 Thurston Church Suffolk, Harry was a witness at the wedding & below is the happy couple.
Now while the Game family are not really connected, I do enjoy going off on these branches of families that a member of my ancestors have married in to & who knows somewhere there may be someone famous or gone down in history for doing something either very good (that what we all hope for) or bad.
So in answer to my question yes a/this blog is worth it as I now know just that bit more about the Game family with a photo, I know that my side don't really have photos not even many of me growing up so it nice to know that there are some who took & kept photos.

Monday 14 June 2010

Thurston Grange & Ada & Harry Game

While England was playing their football/soccer match in the World Cup on Saturday there was a offer on to free access to records at   FindMyPast    so of course I took advantage of it well so did a lot of people as the site was very slow am hoping that when England play in their next 2 matches it won't be so bad as the offer is on for all England games
Anyway I found James & Harriet Barnes nee Turner daughter Ada Rebecca Game nee Barnes with her husband Harry.
Harry is down on the 1911 census as a Groom & they lived at Thurston Grange Bury St Edmunds Suffolk.
Well did a bit of searching & the place is now a hotel below is a photo of how it looks now but if you go to   Thurston Grange   this link will take you to the history of the grange & if you click on home when there you see the plush place it is now now if I save up may be I will one day go there for a meal & be where my Gt Grand Aunt & her husband worked & lived, Harry in later life was in the Woodbridge (Mental Hospital) where he died 1924 age 59 Ada went on to live 1936 age 70 They are buried in Holy Innocent Church at Gt Barton Suffolk & a photo of their grave is below.


Friday 11 June 2010

Pettitt/Poulter What is in a Name

When I first started to look for my mum's grandmother I course got my Nan's birth certificate which gave her name as formally Murkin so I got the marriage certificate of my Gt Grandparents James & Hannah & it showed that Hannah was a widow & her father was John Poulter.
I spent at least the next year trying to find a birth for a Hannah Poulter around 1857 which of course I never did.
On looking census I found the family so again started to look for a Marriage of a John Poulter to a Julia, by going back I found the answers so if i explain from the earlier time you may understand the name more.

Susan Pettit had a son John 1797 Kirtling Cambridge, she then married Jan 1802 a Samuel Poulter & they had a son James 1802 Bapt Oct 1802 all in Kirtling.
John married a Elizabeth Fisher 1819 & they had 5 children the eldest John Pettit born 1821 Kirtling This John (Jr) I found married Julia Jane Stigwood, & for quite a while I thought that John had either died or she left him & took up with a John Poulter.
But this John & Julia went by the name Pettitt (various spellings used could just be the way they said it or how they thought it was spelt) this is confirmed on census that they are Pettitt on census 1851 & 1861 & on the 1851 & 61 he a coal Carter, but on the 1871 census he now John Poulter Butcher
Once I had the info that Poulter was Pettitt I looked for a birth for a Hannah Pettitt & found it.
Some of their sons actually used the Pettitt name as a middle name so they were Pettitt Poulter & their son Samuel on his marriage put Samuel Pettitt Poulter & his father John is John Pettitt Poulter & no way do you use a previous husband name as your middle name that for sure lol
I have a theory which while I can not prove it seems the most likely & that Samuel Poulter was the father of John Sr & may be he was already married anyway Samuel & Susan married later & it was a condition of John Jr taking over his butchery business that he used the name Poulter or that it was know as that so he used it
It funny that another child of John & Julia went under the name Poulter but had the marriage & his daughter's certificate altered to note the change in name yet his wife had been dead a good 30 years so we come to the title of this post What is in a Name, Below is more details of John & Julia's children & then Hannah & her husband James Barnes


Name: John Pettit
*********
Birth: 1821 Kirtling, Cambridgeshire
Baptism: 21 Apr 1821 Kirtling, Cambridgeshire
Death: 11 May 1889 Addenbrookes Hospital
Father: John Pettit (1797-)
Mother: Elizabeth Fisher (~1800-)
Spouses:
*********
1: Julia Jane Stigwood
Birth: abt Oct 1825 Wood Ditton, Cambridgeshire
Death: 4 Feb 1903 Upend Kirtling Cambridgeshire
Father: James Stigwood (~1783-)
Mother: Mary Ann Brett (~1781-)
Marriage: 31 Oct 1844 Wood Ditton Cambridgeshire
Children: James (~1845-)
Susannah (~1847-)
Elizabeth (~1849-)
William (1851-1851)
Male (1851-1851)
William Walter (~1852-)
Thomas (~1854-)
Hannah (1857-1928)
Frederick (1859-)
Robert (~1863-
Charles (User-Defined 1) (~1865-1938
Samuel (~1867-)
Harry (~1870-)
Notes for John Pettit
John Sign the register as John Pettetit confirmed by a note with certificate.
John is know as either John Pettit or John Poulter from about 1871 Known as John Poulter
on son Samuel's marriage 1899 gives as John Pettit Poulter

Name: James Barnes
*********
Birth: 16 Nov 1859 Bradfield St George, Suffolk
Baptism: 1 Apr 1860 Bradfield St George, Suffolk
Death: 17 Apr 1928 46 Marsden Street St Pancras Lnd
Occupation: Horsekeeper/Cab Driver/Cab Proprietor Horsekeeper
Father: James Barnes (1836-1902)
Mother: Harriet Turner (1834-1922)
Marriage: 10 Aug 1884 Parish St George, Bloomsbury, Middlesex
*********
Spouse: Hannah Pettit
*********
Birth: 2 May 1857 Upend Cheveley, Cambridgeshire

Baptism: 26 Jun 1870 Kirtling, Cambridge

Death: 24 Feb 1928 4 Kings Road Pancras London

Father: John Pettit (1821-1889)

Mother: Julia Jane Stigwood (~1825-1903)

Other Spouses: Henry Merkin
Children:
*********
1 F: Elizabeth Murkin (Step)
Birth: 2 Qrt 1879 Dalham, Suffolk

Occupation: Housemaid

*********

2 F: Annie Barnes

Birth: abt 1885 London, England

*********

3 F: Alice Barnes

Birth: abt 1888 London, England

Death: 15 Jul 1939 2 Grove Rd Richmond Surrey

Spouse: Samuel John Dartnall

Marriage: 8 Feb 1909 The Register Office Pancras London

*********

4 F: Ada Barnes

Birth: abt 1888 London, England

Spouse: Charles J Mackin

Marriage: 6 Dec 1910 Register Office St Pancras London

*********

5 F: Julia Barnes

Birth: 1 Jun 1890 33 South Crescent Mews St Pancras London

Death: 12 Jan 1963 5 Gedeney Rd. Tottenham, London

Burial: 19 Jan 1963 Public Grave 7559 Tottenham London

Spouse: John McCarthy

Marriage: 23 Aug 1908 Holy Trinity Church, Grays Inn Rd London

*********

6 M: James Barnes

Birth: abt 1893

*********

7 M: John Barnes

Birth: 5 Apr 1896 28a South Crescent Mews Pancras London

Census Notes for James Barnes

1881: 6 Mayne Water Lane, Bury St Edmunds St Mary, Suffolk

Census Notes for Hannah Pettit

on 1901 census with family but Emma is the name on census living at 28a South Crescent Mews St Pancras London

Misc. Notes

Also used the surname of Poulter

Lived at 46 Marsden Street St Pancras

Notes for James & Hannah (Family)

Both give their residence as 10 Kenton Street

Witnesses Harry Sale & Alice Sale

Census Notes for Elizabeth (Child 1)

on 1901 census she is a Housemaid working for the Rt Hon WFD Smith & Lady E Smith she is under the names Barnes

Misc. Notes

On the 1891 census it gives Elizabeth as daughter of head, James Barnes their address is the same as where Julia was born. Known As a BARNES

Notes for Alice (Child 3)

Alice died at 2 Grove Rd Richmond Surrey, Informant SJ Dartnal Widower of deceased, living at 2 Gothic Cottages Castelnau Barnes, Alice died of

A)Chronice Interstitial B) Nephritis


Notes for Samuel John & Alice (Family)Samuel Was a bachelor & occup. Horsekeeper

Both were living at 49 Harrison Street

Witnesses were J McCarthy & May Mooney

Census Notes for Ada (Child 4)

1911 was living at 49 HARRISON STREET LONDON W C Husband not down on census

Notes for Charles J & Ada (Family)

both were residence at 49 Harrison St Pancras, Maud Wheeler & James Barnes were witnesses

Notes for John & Julia (Family)

John is a bachelor age 24 working as a packer living at 8 Chapel St

Julia is a spinster age 20 living at 49 Harrison St

Signed in the presence of Jane West Turner & Annie Barnes


Thursday 10 June 2010

Barnes Family of Suffolk


The Barnes family is on my Mother's side her mother was Julia Barnes who was the daughter of James & Hannah Barnes & James is the son of James & Harriet Barnes nee Turner
Hannah Barnes was a Pettitt but known as Poulter (will go in to this family next time)
Name: James Barnes
*********

Birth: 2 May 1836 Market Weston, Suffolk

Baptism: 4 May 1836 Market Weston Suffolk

Death: 29 Jan 1902 Great Barton Suffolk

Burial: cent Church Great Barton Suffolk

Occupation: Shoemaker (1859) Gamekeeper 1861onwards

Father: James Barnes (~1808-1890)

Mother: Ann Kervill (~1809-1895)

Marriage: 23 May 1859 St James Church Bury St Edmunds Sfk

*********

Spouse: Harriet Turner

*********

Birth: 6 Jul 1834 Denham, Suffolk

Baptism: 7 Sep 1834 Denham, Suffolk

Death: 19 Oct 1922 Great Barton Suffolk

Burial: Holy Innocent Church Great Barton Suffolk

Father: William Turner (~1807-1860)

Mother: Maria Macro (1809-1875)

Children:

*********

1 M: James Barnes

Birth: 16 Nov 1859 Bradfield St George, Suffolk

Baptism: 1 Apr 1860 Bradfield St George, Suffolk

Death: 17 Apr 1928 46 Marsden Street St Pancras Lnd

Occupation: Horsekeeper/Cab Driver/Cab Proprietor Horsekeeper

Spouse: Hannah Pettit

Marriage: 10 Aug 1884 Parish St George, Bloomsbury, Middlesex

*********

2 M: William Barnes

Birth: 1 Qrt 1861 Nowton Suffolk

Occupation: Traveller Leather Trade

Spouse: Eliza Pollintine

Marriage: 30 Dec 1884 Parish Church Great Barton Suffolk

*********
3 F: Ada Rebecca Barnes
Birth: Jun Qrt 1866 Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Death: 17 Aug 1936 Bury St Edmunds Suffolk

Burial: 1936 Holy Inocent Great Barton Suffolk

Spouse: Harry Game

Marriage: 24 Oct 1896 Parish Church Great Barton Suffolk

*********

4 M: Charles Barnes

Birth: abt 1868 Horringer, Suffolk

Death: 4 qrt 1959 Harrow Middlesex

Occupation: Warehouse Man

Spouse: Emma Crabb

Marriage: 24 Dec 1897 Parish Church Marylebone Lnd

*********

5 M: Henry John Barnes

Birth: abt 1870 Horringer, Suffolk

*********

6 F: Mary Barnes

Birth: abt 1873 Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Baptism: 31 Oct 1875 Holy Inocent Great Barton Suffolk

*********

7 M: Jesse Frederick Barnes

Birth: Oct 1875 Barton, Suffolk

Baptism: 31 Oct 1875 Holy Inocent Great Barton Suffolk

Death: 10 Jan 1961 Brooklyn Cottage Great Barton

Burial: Holy Innocent Great Barton Suffolk

Occupation: Roadman

Spouse: Doris Gertrude Gillings

Marriage: 31 Oct 1936 The Parish Church Gt Barton Suffolk

*********

8 F: Amelia Ann Barnes

Birth: Dec Qrt 1877 Barton, Suffolk

Spouse: William John Henry Deacon

Marriage: 16 Apr 1910 Parish Church Great Barton Suffolk
Notes for James Barnes

From Frank Holmes: James, a retired gamekeeper, was charged on the 26th October, 1898 with setting snares at Barton Mere( just along the road from Brooklyn Cottages,). He was fined 10/- with 6/6d costs or 7 days ! He paid up !
Census Notes for Harriet Turner

1911: Brocklyn Cottages Great Barton Near Bury St Eds - 4 rooms

BARNES, Harriet Head Widow F 76 1835 Old Age Pensioner Denham Suffolk

was married 52 years - had 10 children - 8 living

RG14PN10633 RG78PN571 RD207 SD3 ED9 SN8
Misc. Notes

JF Barnes Son, of Great Barton was the informant of Harriet's death he was present at death
Notes for James & Harriet (Family)

On Marriage both give St Edmunds Hill as residence

Witnesses Robert Hunt & Sarah Turner
Census Notes for James (Child 1)

1881: 6 Mayne Water Lane, Bury St Edmunds St Mary, Suffolk
Notes for James & Hannah (Family)

Both give their residence as 10 Kenton Street

Witnesses Harry Sale & Alice Sale
Census Notes for William (Child 2)

1881 Census:Traveller Leather Trade census RG11 0242/ 4/ 1


1 & 2 Wellington Street Lnd Middx

1891 Census: RG12/94 Folio 67 Page 42

1901 Census RG13/111 Folio 94 Page 29
Misc. Notes

Nowton in Reg district Thingo Sfk
Traveller Leather Trade as given on 1881 census RG11 0242/ 4/ 1


1 & 2 Wellington Street Lnd Middx
Notes for William & Eliza (Family)

William gives residence St Pancras London & Eliza Great Barton

Witnesses Walter Pollintine & Emma Pollintine
Census Notes for Ada Rebecca (Child 3)

1891 census, Cook at 39 Queen Anne St Cavendish Sq Marylebone Lnd

1901 census, wife at Meadow Lane Thurston Sfk
Misc. Notes

Spelling of middle name can be Rebeccah
Notes for Harry & Ada Rebecca (Family)

24 October 1896 by Banns Parish Church Gt Barton

Ada Rebecca BARNES age 30 Spinster Resident Gt Barton Father James BARNES Labourer

to

Harry GAME Age 34 Bachelor Labourer Residence Thurston Father Thomas GAME Labourer

Witnesses James PARNELL & A. GAME

Notes for Charles & Emma (Family)

Charles was at 10 Balcombe St & Emma 102 Gloucester Pl

Witnesses were E Murkin & J Barnes
Notes for Henry John (Child 5)

On the 1871 census it gives a year old child as Harry on later census it gives Henry
Census Notes for Jesse Frederick (Child 7)

1881 at home with parents

1891 at home with parents

1901

1911 with Mary Johnson (Aunt)

at Hockwold near Brandon and was aged 35.
Misc. Notes

Birth reg in Dec Qrt 1875 Thingo 4A 504

Jesse was the informant on his mother's death in 1922 he down as living in Great Barton

DG Barnes widow was present & the Informant of death

Occupation Retired Roadman

He is buried with his parents at Holy Innocent Church
Notes for Jesse Frederick & Doris Gertrude (Family)

On Marriage Certificate it gives Jesse as a 61 widower & Doris 42 Spinster
Medical
Cause of death 1a Congestive heart failure, Auricular Fibrillation, Arteriosclerosos

Senility

Military
Enlisted on 5 February 1906 at Bury St. Edmunds for
5 year 'Active Service' and 7 years in the Reserves

height (5 ft 4 ins) and his Chest Measurement (38 ins); Hair: Brown; Eyes: Brown; Complection:Fresh; and the 'Wounds, Scars, Marks, etc.: a Mole on his left forearm

Royal Naval Barracks in Devonport VIVID II 5 Feb 1906 until 17 July 1906 as a Stoker 2nd Class

He is then drafted to H.M.S. "PELORUS" (a 3rd Class Cruiser, which was probably quite old as she was sold in 1920 soon after WW1 ended !) He was promoted to 'Stoker 1st Class' on 1 May 1907, but stayed on the same ship until he went into R.N.B., Devonport again on 24 April 1909. On 7 Sept 1909 he was drafted to H.M.S. "CUMBERLAND" - this was an Armoured Cruiser' which was sold off in 1923. He stays on her until 14 Jan 1911 when he goes back to Barracks to prepare for his transfer to the Reserves as his time of 5 years was nearly up. His last day of 'Active Service' is 4 Feb 1911 is 'Discharged to Shore' on 5 Feb 1911. This is the meaning of
"Transferred to R.F.R. Devonport, B 3603, 5 Feb 1911" - the 2nd "R" has NOT shown up very well as the nib seems to have run dry - but R.F.R. = "Royal Fleet Reserve".
He has only been out on Reserve for 3. 5 years when he is recalled to 'Active Service' on 6 August 1914 - i.e. 2 days after WW1 broke out ! He goes back into Barracks that day and a month later is drafted to H.M.S. "AURORA" - a Light Cruiser, which was eventually sold off in 1927. He stayed on her until 4 Dec 1917 and the next day joins H.M.S. "CURLEW" - also a Light Cruiser, but I suspect a more modern ship as she lasted until 1940 when she was sunk off Norway.

He stays on her until 19 June 1919 when he was "demobbed" (demobilised) - I think back to the Royal Fleet Reserve

May 1916.Stoker Jesse Barnes of H.M.S.Aurora was home on leave with his mother at Brooklyn Cottages.

May 1917. Jesse Barnes was again on leave with his mother. He has spent years at sea.November 1917 Again Jesse was home on leave.
HMS Aurora
Built Devonport Dockyard, laid down October 1912, completed September 1914.
Aurora Leader 1st Destroyer Flotilla Grand Fleet.
1915 Leader 10th Destroyer flotilla Harwich Force.
June 1915 5th Light Cruiser Squadron Harwich Force.
August 1915 Took part in sinking of German raider Meteor.
1918 7th Light Cruiser Squadron Grand Fleet.
1927 Sold for scrap.

Census Notes for Amelia Ann (Child 8)

1901 Census Amelia was a laundry maid in the household of the Bishop of Lichfield Augustus Legge



Sunday 6 June 2010

Aitkins, Eate, Pettigrew & Pritchards

I thought I would share some photos of my DH's side this is his 2nd Gt Grandmother Eleanor Eliza Pritchard she was born 9th Dec 1849 in Bellary, Madras India to Benjamin & Caroline Pritchard nee Krout, she died 15th Nov 1915 at Whitefield Nr Bangalore India she was 1 of 9 children
She married George William Eate son of William James & Eliza Eate nee Krout (yes Eliza & Caroline were sisters) George was born 30th August 1846 at Bellary, Madra India & he died 6th Feb 1910 at Poonamalle India
Eleanor & George had 13 children they were married at the LM Chapel Madra 2nd July 1869 with their 1st child born June 1869 & their last child 28th April 1891
The 2nd photo is Eleanor with her Granddaughter who was Miriam Eleanor Aitkins she was born 9th Sept 1891 her mother was Jessie Dora Eate born 28th Sept 1870 Madras India she died 19th April 1904 Bhamo Burma.
Jessie married Klive Arthur Parry Aitkins they had 3 children Frederick Eate Aitkins b 1bt 1890, Errol & Miriam Klive died & Jessie married Ernest Alfred Walter Pettigrew 23rd April 1900 in Rangoon Burm they had 1 child Donald Charles Arthur Pettigrew Ernest died in 1906
It is Frederick Eate who is his grandfather on his father's side with Donald being is grandfather on his mother's side







Saturday 5 June 2010

When Researching the Family

As you may know from my profile I am in the UK, so as my ancestors are from here I have to order any certificate from either the local records offices which have all changed what was the district for one places years ago when a BMD was registred may not be where the records are now held.
The other way is to do it online this method can be used from overseas people who need one you go to the  GRO  click on the word will take you there you do have to register but it easy just follow on screen instructions.
Now a problem first you do need to have the information which is where they are registred what year & qrt you can look at various sites for the BMD index to get this information or you can go to the   FreeBMD   where it free to check it out mostly from start of registration which was 1837 to the early 1900s
Anyway when I use to order certificates from the GRO sometime ago not only were they cheaper than the £9.25 they are now when asking for a certificate with the info you have you could put in saying father must be Harry or what ever or the mother must be Sarah ect now you can't.
You may be wondering what this is leading to well I have a Jesse Frederick Barnes who I know was married to DG Barnes on looking for marriages I found a Doris G Gillings So have sent for a Marriage certificate i also found a birth for a Son who mother's maiden name was Gillings & is a Barnes it was wrong area but who knows where you have or go to have your child anyway the certificate for the birth arrived today & it wrong people.
Now if like before you could put in only if the father's name was Jesse I would not have got the certificate & only had a fee charged & the rest refunded
Even with the introduction of having mother's maiden name on the entry you can still end up with wrong certificates & even more so now that you can't ask for these checks to be done.
To show on a family how hard it is to get the right one especially if you have a name like Smith
My grandfather was James Henry Smith (b 1876) I knew his father was also James Henry a shoe Maker mother Caroline so I looked on the 1881 census & would you believe there was 2 James Smiths shoemaker who wife was Caroline & both had sons James but 1 had also got another son Thomas.
So I found Thomas's birth entry & sent for the certificate stating it had to have James as father & Caroline as mother & it came back as the correct one & I found that the difference between the 2 census apart from the place James Sr was born was the place Caroline was born so I could get back as I know knew that the census with the 2 children was my one & it gave where the parents was born so I could get back another generation & futher.
Below is a photo of my Grandfather James Henry Smith he bottom left above his is his wife Emma nee Storey, next to her is Sarah my uncle's wife I had alway though he was uncle Jack but it turns out his real name was John, this was taken at Hastings at the top of the cliff they has 275 steps to go to get there I am not sure who the other 2 people are for sure


Friday 4 June 2010

Welcome To My New Blog

Welcome to my new blog, this blog is for family history, I will be sharing my family's history it problems I have with research & finds & the general highs & lows of having a hobby sorry obsession like Genealogy
I will be not only covering my family but also my husband's who's line goes back to Scotland then to India (as it was before 1947) & now Pakistan then of course here in the UK
My family on the other hand is more shall we say local, in that my Dad's side is from London & before that Yorkshire (way back) my Mum's side well I always thought that her dad was Irish or so I was told just goes to show you do need to do your own research as yes her side did come from Ireland but a few generations before, again she & the parents are in London but on her mother's side well they came mostly from Suffolk & Cambridge so I am a Cockney, Yorkshire Country Lass who is looking for her roots.