Born in Shropshire in 1699, Mary Wiggin married in Fleet Prison—a centre of clandestine marriages in 18th-century London. Her story links rural parish records, legal drama, and her brother’s life in Exchange Alley.
Stories from our own family history research - the people in our family tree, discoveries, records, places and unexpected connections uncovered along the way.
Some posts tell the stories of individual ancestors or family groups. Others explore records, places, family mysteries, photographs, occupations and the wider history that shaped our ancestors’ lives.
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Born in Shropshire in 1699, Mary Wiggin married in Fleet Prison—a centre of clandestine marriages in 18th-century London. Her story links rural parish records, legal drama, and her brother’s life in Exchange Alley.
Linda's 1st cousin 4 x removed Emma Boliver was born in Liverpool in 1869, the daughter of David Boliver and his wife Emma, née Smith. Her name might not be found in history books, but her life reflects the quiet complexities faced by many women in Victorian England—stories of love, loss, and starting over that […]
When Elizabeth Craven’s husband died in 1854, she tried to marry his brother—but the Church called it “illegal.” What followed was a quiet act of defiance, a hidden wedding, and a glimpse into how family, faith, and survival collided in Victorian Britain.
[Stephen Wiggin was the brother of Thomas, Linda's 6th great-grandfather.] The life of Stephen Wiggin, wax chandler of London, is tightly woven into the commercial fabric of 18th-century England. If you haven’t read it yet, check out Stephen Wiggin: The Wax Chandler of Exchange Alley — a deep dive into his fascinating life story. To […]
[Stephen Wiggin was the brother of Thomas, Linda's 6th great-grandfather.] Tucked away in the quiet churchyard of Ightfield in Shropshire lies the final resting place of a man whose life intersected with the buzzing heart of 18th-century London commerce. Stephen Wiggin, born on July 10, 1690, in the rural village of Ightfield, made his mark […]
A family history discovery in Chester Cathedral reveals the story of Charles Farrington, Sheriff of Chester in 1653 — and my 10th great-grandfather.
Clockmaker John Benbow of Prees lived to 107, working well into old age and once walking 14 miles at age 104 to fix a velvet collar. His story spans three centuries of rural English life and timeless craftsmanship.
With November 11th approaching and the anniversary of the Gresford disaster just passed, I would like to remember and pay respects to three of my ancestors who were all born in the late 1800s. Arthur Parry, my dad’s uncle, was born in 1889, the son of George and Mary. He grew up in Bronington with […]
Today I attended the 90th anniversary of the Gresford Colliery disaster, North Wales, along with other family members of the men who died due to the disaster. In the early hours of September 22, 1934, a catastrophic event unfolded beneath the Welsh village of Gresford. The Gresford Colliery, one of the deepest coal mines in […]
The snow on the pitch at The Racecourse this weekend, took me back to when I first watched a Wrexham match in 1960 aged 13 with my dad, John Lee Hinton. I remember that match because I remember seeing close family friend Ron Hewitt completing a great tackle right in front of me. Another match […]
