My favourite author is Charles Dickens, I have copies of most of his books, and enjoy reading and rereading them. Each time I read one of his stories, I find that I discover a new name, a new place or a new situation that I had not considered before. The thing that comes across with Dickens is that each story has a beginning, a middle and an end,
'
Many of his books were not written 'cover to cover' and published when the book was completed. On many occassions each chapter was written and then published, in serial form, on a monthly basis, then published as a book when the series ended. I think that because of this monthly, or subscription publication, many of the chapters have a beginning, middle and end, and this was certainly my intention when I started this autobiography, and I apologise for failing to do just that.
Saturday 10 March 2012
Saturday 25 February 2012
(4.) Still in the distant past..
Do you remember those early days at your first school. Behaviour next to godliness was the minimum standard the school was prepared to accept. The class room was the work room, and in that room the teacher expected, without exception, absolute diligence and dedication, to the lesson being taught.
The school staff, being aware that this was the first time that pupils had been exposed to a programme of structured learning, arranged, at the end of each teaching period, that the students could make their way to the area, outside the school building, known as the 'play ground', to relax and recover . It seemed that there was no objection to the pupil taking his work, or discussing his work with other students in the playground, but nothing from the playground was allowed to be brought into class, that might distract the student in any way.
When friends and relatives knew that I was about to start school, almost everyone wanted to be the first to crack a joke ,that THEY had just thought up, at school you learn the 'Three R's', Reading. Riting and Rithmatic, plus a few other things. I don't think the comedians realised the problems they were setting for the novice student. If the word looks right and sounds right, why have you got to find place for 'W' & 'A' to a tick in your exercise book.
Two of the other subjects, in addition to the 3R's, that we were expected to take on board were History and Geography. Looking back 75 years it is difficult to be precise as to what subjects we covered, but I do recall that being able to write ones own name was important, and even more so, being able to write and read, ones name and address. This importance of who you were and where you lived seemed excessive but, and unknown to us students, World War II was only two years away.
As my education continued I was always looking for ways to impress the family with my new found ability, and in due course the subject of a Family Tree came to the fore.
The person most interested in what I was doing was my Grandmother, Rose Elizabeth Orme, I called her Nan. When I came home from school each day, she wanted to know what I had been doing, these conversations, were to lead on to my interest in family history, and eventually to the Family Tree.
One day I said to Nan that she was my Grandmother, but unlike my friends, I didn't have a Grandfather. She said that I did have a Grandfather, her husband Frederick, I said I had never seen him. She explained that he had been ill for many years, and lived in a hospital. The reason I had never visited him was that hospitals did not encourage children to visit sick people in hospital. So my question had been answered, I did have a Grandfather like all my friends, so I could get on with other things.
It is a fact of life, if you answer a question posed by a child, the answer is never satisfactory and often leads to further questions. I had my additional questions ready. Nan was married to Frederick Orme, so her name was also Orme, my Mother , Violet was Nan's Daughter her name was Chapman, next door lived Auntie Lou, she was also Nan's Daughter but she was named Davis and round the corner lived Auntie Rose, she was also Nan's Daughter but her name was Savage.
We closed with my Nan trying to explain the structure of the family, and how marriage could change the name of parts of the family, but a Family Tree could show that there was a place for everyone and everyone fitted in. I think that my final question, was the last that Nan was prepared to accept that day. I live with my Mom & Dad, and Nan lives with us in our house, why did'nt she live with her own Mom & Dad in their house?
If I used the example outlined by Nan, the family tree would not be a tree, simply a branch of the tree, therefore I need to put my schooling to one side for a moment and look for the trunk of the tree and its roots, and to look for additional branches, grafted to the trunk, usually by marriage.
The school staff, being aware that this was the first time that pupils had been exposed to a programme of structured learning, arranged, at the end of each teaching period, that the students could make their way to the area, outside the school building, known as the 'play ground', to relax and recover . It seemed that there was no objection to the pupil taking his work, or discussing his work with other students in the playground, but nothing from the playground was allowed to be brought into class, that might distract the student in any way.
When friends and relatives knew that I was about to start school, almost everyone wanted to be the first to crack a joke ,that THEY had just thought up, at school you learn the 'Three R's', Reading. Riting and Rithmatic, plus a few other things. I don't think the comedians realised the problems they were setting for the novice student. If the word looks right and sounds right, why have you got to find place for 'W' & 'A' to a tick in your exercise book.
Two of the other subjects, in addition to the 3R's, that we were expected to take on board were History and Geography. Looking back 75 years it is difficult to be precise as to what subjects we covered, but I do recall that being able to write ones own name was important, and even more so, being able to write and read, ones name and address. This importance of who you were and where you lived seemed excessive but, and unknown to us students, World War II was only two years away.
As my education continued I was always looking for ways to impress the family with my new found ability, and in due course the subject of a Family Tree came to the fore.
The person most interested in what I was doing was my Grandmother, Rose Elizabeth Orme, I called her Nan. When I came home from school each day, she wanted to know what I had been doing, these conversations, were to lead on to my interest in family history, and eventually to the Family Tree.
One day I said to Nan that she was my Grandmother, but unlike my friends, I didn't have a Grandfather. She said that I did have a Grandfather, her husband Frederick, I said I had never seen him. She explained that he had been ill for many years, and lived in a hospital. The reason I had never visited him was that hospitals did not encourage children to visit sick people in hospital. So my question had been answered, I did have a Grandfather like all my friends, so I could get on with other things.
It is a fact of life, if you answer a question posed by a child, the answer is never satisfactory and often leads to further questions. I had my additional questions ready. Nan was married to Frederick Orme, so her name was also Orme, my Mother , Violet was Nan's Daughter her name was Chapman, next door lived Auntie Lou, she was also Nan's Daughter but she was named Davis and round the corner lived Auntie Rose, she was also Nan's Daughter but her name was Savage.
We closed with my Nan trying to explain the structure of the family, and how marriage could change the name of parts of the family, but a Family Tree could show that there was a place for everyone and everyone fitted in. I think that my final question, was the last that Nan was prepared to accept that day. I live with my Mom & Dad, and Nan lives with us in our house, why did'nt she live with her own Mom & Dad in their house?
If I used the example outlined by Nan, the family tree would not be a tree, simply a branch of the tree, therefore I need to put my schooling to one side for a moment and look for the trunk of the tree and its roots, and to look for additional branches, grafted to the trunk, usually by marriage.
Monday 13 February 2012
(3) The London Connection
So far we have been unable to find the reason why Richard Richardson, or the Richardson Family, moved to Birmingham. There was a lot happening in Great Britain at the time and the reason could have been health, work or opportunity.
In London regular epidemics of cholera during the 1840's and 1850's were causing concern, people believed it was an airborne disease and referred to it as a miasma. They were of the view that London, being a major port, had ships sailing to and from there to every part of the world, including Calcutta, where, it was believed, these diseases came from. The sailors came ashore at the end of their voyage and mixed with the locals in pubs, bars and hotels, and no one was suprised when another epidemic appeared.
In 1854 a local doctor, Dr.John Snow, treated the first victim of the 1854 epidemic, he asked where he and his family obtained their water. He was taken to a water pump in Bow and took samples of the water, before he could get his samples analysed, most people who had used the pump, showed cholera symptoms. In addition people who had not drawn water from the pump were also getting cholera. Investigation showed that local businesses were using water from the pump for cooking, for making tea and coffee and for washing plates and cups. During the Summer of 1854 some 2000 people per week were dying of cholera.
The Great Stink.
In the Summer of 1858, the smell of untreated sewage being dumped into the River Thames was almost overwhelming people in central London. It was known that the enclosed flush toilet, recently put on to the market by a certain Mr.Crapper, and others, was using a lot of water as part of the process. The waste went into the cesspit's, they overflowed into the limited number of rain water drains. The rain drains became blocked with solids they were not designed for and caused local flooding. These floods washed horse manure from the roads, waste blood and debris from abattoirs and similar operations, into ditches and eventually in to the River Thames. The result 'The Great Stink'.
I find it difficult to appreciate how bad the atmosphere must have been at the time, the Houses of Parliament was closed for a few days while long lengths of cloth, soaked in chloride of lime, to reduce the smell, were hung across the windows and entrances of the building. An 'All Party' Group of Members of Parliament were appointed to find an alternative location where Government business could be conducted. They eventually selected Hampton Court but never had to use it.
Then the hot Summer changed and a series of heavy rain storms fell on southern England, washing away much of the waste and debris, and putting the rivers in full flow. A lesson had been learned and the London Sewage System became a major factor in Government business for many years,
Work.
Industry was expanding rapidly, particularly in the Midlands, with inovation, invention and manufacture. In the North West with textiles and the Scottish Lowlands with ship building, In the Midlands manufacturing was the key to the future. New things were being invented, machinery was constantly being updated and improved. The use and maintenance of these new tools and systems was beyond the knowledge of the newcomer, but management believed that if you could demonstrate that you were competent in your previous occupation, you could be trained to be competent in new tasks.
Opportunity.
London was getting bigger day by day. Guilds governed what trades and industries were permitted, and the training required to qualify for entrance into a particular body.Large parts of Europe were in a state of change, tens of thousands of people were being forced to leave a country they saw as home, because they refused to change their religion, in particular this applied to the Jews. These outcasts saw England as the place to restart their lives.
It was not just the refugees from Eastern Europe that were looking for a place to live. Between 1845 and 1852 we had the Irish Famine, The whole of Ireland was then part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, they were 'one of us' and when their major economic product, the potato. failed they sought help.
It is estimated that in the 1845/1852 period one million Irish people died from starvation and diseases caused by shortage of a proper diet, and one million emigrated. England could not find homes for a group of this size, they took as many as they could, and then acted as an agent to get them new opportunity in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, the English speaking parts of the Empire.
In London regular epidemics of cholera during the 1840's and 1850's were causing concern, people believed it was an airborne disease and referred to it as a miasma. They were of the view that London, being a major port, had ships sailing to and from there to every part of the world, including Calcutta, where, it was believed, these diseases came from. The sailors came ashore at the end of their voyage and mixed with the locals in pubs, bars and hotels, and no one was suprised when another epidemic appeared.
In 1854 a local doctor, Dr.John Snow, treated the first victim of the 1854 epidemic, he asked where he and his family obtained their water. He was taken to a water pump in Bow and took samples of the water, before he could get his samples analysed, most people who had used the pump, showed cholera symptoms. In addition people who had not drawn water from the pump were also getting cholera. Investigation showed that local businesses were using water from the pump for cooking, for making tea and coffee and for washing plates and cups. During the Summer of 1854 some 2000 people per week were dying of cholera.
The Great Stink.
In the Summer of 1858, the smell of untreated sewage being dumped into the River Thames was almost overwhelming people in central London. It was known that the enclosed flush toilet, recently put on to the market by a certain Mr.Crapper, and others, was using a lot of water as part of the process. The waste went into the cesspit's, they overflowed into the limited number of rain water drains. The rain drains became blocked with solids they were not designed for and caused local flooding. These floods washed horse manure from the roads, waste blood and debris from abattoirs and similar operations, into ditches and eventually in to the River Thames. The result 'The Great Stink'.
I find it difficult to appreciate how bad the atmosphere must have been at the time, the Houses of Parliament was closed for a few days while long lengths of cloth, soaked in chloride of lime, to reduce the smell, were hung across the windows and entrances of the building. An 'All Party' Group of Members of Parliament were appointed to find an alternative location where Government business could be conducted. They eventually selected Hampton Court but never had to use it.
Then the hot Summer changed and a series of heavy rain storms fell on southern England, washing away much of the waste and debris, and putting the rivers in full flow. A lesson had been learned and the London Sewage System became a major factor in Government business for many years,
Work.
Industry was expanding rapidly, particularly in the Midlands, with inovation, invention and manufacture. In the North West with textiles and the Scottish Lowlands with ship building, In the Midlands manufacturing was the key to the future. New things were being invented, machinery was constantly being updated and improved. The use and maintenance of these new tools and systems was beyond the knowledge of the newcomer, but management believed that if you could demonstrate that you were competent in your previous occupation, you could be trained to be competent in new tasks.
Opportunity.
London was getting bigger day by day. Guilds governed what trades and industries were permitted, and the training required to qualify for entrance into a particular body.Large parts of Europe were in a state of change, tens of thousands of people were being forced to leave a country they saw as home, because they refused to change their religion, in particular this applied to the Jews. These outcasts saw England as the place to restart their lives.
It was not just the refugees from Eastern Europe that were looking for a place to live. Between 1845 and 1852 we had the Irish Famine, The whole of Ireland was then part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, they were 'one of us' and when their major economic product, the potato. failed they sought help.
It is estimated that in the 1845/1852 period one million Irish people died from starvation and diseases caused by shortage of a proper diet, and one million emigrated. England could not find homes for a group of this size, they took as many as they could, and then acted as an agent to get them new opportunity in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, the English speaking parts of the Empire.
Wednesday 8 February 2012
(2) Introduction
At 2:15pm on Saturday 16th April baby was born... No this will come later.
We need to look much further into the past, we need to establish who our ancestors were, their state of health, their education, where they lived, did they have an occupation or profession, these and many more questions need to be answered before we can move on. It has been said that quite often the well-being of a person, mentally and physically, could be hereditary.
A Family Tree.
Many years ago I found, in an old tin box, certificates of various types, births, deaths and marriage of people with familiar names to those in our family, but the individuals were unknown to me. There was also a list of twelve names, handwritten on a tatty piece of paper. I did some research and found that the first name on the list was my Mothers Grandfather and that the tenth name was my Grandmother. This was a big step forward, at the time I didn't have a Grandfather,now although a Grandfather was still missing, I had found a Great Grandfather.
Through the good offices of Genes Reunited and the Census of 1831 I was able to establish that the first name on the list was Richard Richardson born on 11th February 1831. I could not find his Mother, but his Father, Joseph Richardson is listed as a Book Keeper. This means that I can add a Great Great Grandfather to my ancestors. Their address at that time was Marylebone, London
At sometime between 1831 and 1856 Richard Richardson left London and moved to Birmingham and married Matilda Homer at St Phillips Church, Birmingham on the 15th May 1856. At this stage we have no information if the whole Richardson family moved together, or if, at a later date Richard Richardson alone moved. We have not been able to establish his occupation but believe it was either a packing case maker, or a pattern maker.
We need to look much further into the past, we need to establish who our ancestors were, their state of health, their education, where they lived, did they have an occupation or profession, these and many more questions need to be answered before we can move on. It has been said that quite often the well-being of a person, mentally and physically, could be hereditary.
A Family Tree.
Many years ago I found, in an old tin box, certificates of various types, births, deaths and marriage of people with familiar names to those in our family, but the individuals were unknown to me. There was also a list of twelve names, handwritten on a tatty piece of paper. I did some research and found that the first name on the list was my Mothers Grandfather and that the tenth name was my Grandmother. This was a big step forward, at the time I didn't have a Grandfather,now although a Grandfather was still missing, I had found a Great Grandfather.
Through the good offices of Genes Reunited and the Census of 1831 I was able to establish that the first name on the list was Richard Richardson born on 11th February 1831. I could not find his Mother, but his Father, Joseph Richardson is listed as a Book Keeper. This means that I can add a Great Great Grandfather to my ancestors. Their address at that time was Marylebone, London
At sometime between 1831 and 1856 Richard Richardson left London and moved to Birmingham and married Matilda Homer at St Phillips Church, Birmingham on the 15th May 1856. At this stage we have no information if the whole Richardson family moved together, or if, at a later date Richard Richardson alone moved. We have not been able to establish his occupation but believe it was either a packing case maker, or a pattern maker.
Tuesday 7 February 2012
(1) Prologue
'Lets start at the very beginning' suggests one of the songs in the film 'Sound of Music' made in 1965, some 47 years into the 80 year (so far) time span of this autobiography. The position of the song within the film, when children are being taught musical scales, is acceptable, but when applied to the period that the film has under review, 'Lets start at the very beginning' means it is unfair to quote out of context.
The film is not a political brainwashing, but a demonstration of how time and major events can, and do, change attitudes and expectations. A huge depression in the years following World War 1, was slowly being overcome, but the ruling classes of Europe had lost their power and in many cases their estates, their money and their influence. New political parties, with new aims and objectives, were becoming powerful and not prepared to accept objections to their policy.
The 'Sound of Music' highlights the changes being made on Austria by their neighbour Germany, (which eventually led to the German army marching into Austria, without a shot being fired, but this is not in the film) and was one of their first conquests in World War II. To remember these changes first hand, the reader would need to be about 90 years of age now. With me now getting close to my 80th Birthday, I can remember the effects of those changes on the British Isles, but not the specific changes themselves.
If I accept the advice of the 'Sound of Music', and start at the very beginning, the first line will be '2:15pm on Saturday 16th April 1932, Violet Chapman gave birth to a healthy Son, to be named Gordon Francis Chapman ' Mother and Baby are doing well.' I need a much longer lead-in to the autobiography, and expect to start sometime early in the 1700's.
The film is not a political brainwashing, but a demonstration of how time and major events can, and do, change attitudes and expectations. A huge depression in the years following World War 1, was slowly being overcome, but the ruling classes of Europe had lost their power and in many cases their estates, their money and their influence. New political parties, with new aims and objectives, were becoming powerful and not prepared to accept objections to their policy.
The 'Sound of Music' highlights the changes being made on Austria by their neighbour Germany, (which eventually led to the German army marching into Austria, without a shot being fired, but this is not in the film) and was one of their first conquests in World War II. To remember these changes first hand, the reader would need to be about 90 years of age now. With me now getting close to my 80th Birthday, I can remember the effects of those changes on the British Isles, but not the specific changes themselves.
If I accept the advice of the 'Sound of Music', and start at the very beginning, the first line will be '2:15pm on Saturday 16th April 1932, Violet Chapman gave birth to a healthy Son, to be named Gordon Francis Chapman ' Mother and Baby are doing well.' I need a much longer lead-in to the autobiography, and expect to start sometime early in the 1700's.
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