Our AGM was held in November and I was pleased to note that we have some possible new committee members. May I wish them a warm welcome and hope their involvement brings them much joy and pleasure over the years to come.
It’s December already, somewhere I have an account of a family (not mine) celebrating Christmas back in the 19th Century. It describes the people sitting around the fire, recounts what they have to say and paints a picture of domestic peace and concerns. It is interesting reading giving an insight into conditions at that time. Perhaps we should all write a description of our family this Christmas so that our descendants get an idea about how we celebrated this year. Family History is not only dates and places but also events and how we lived.
My memory goes back to my childhood Christmases when we spent hours making decorations from coloured paper and received handmade gifts from parents, grandparents and other relations.
I still have this set of handknitted clothes for my doll, “Wendy”, including underclothes. I must have been about 5 years old when I was given this doll. Later, she had to share the doll’s pram with our dog who allowed my sister and I to push her around in it!
What were your favourite gifts at Christmas apart from the apple and orange in the toe of the sock?
I remember a visit to the Hippodrome to see a Pantomime with an aunt and being persuaded to stand up and conduct the orchestra who followed my frantic waving with commendable ability!
I remember gathering around the piano at my grandparents’ house with my mother playing carols and old songs which were then rendered by my uncles and aunt. I remember the warmth of the open fire, the chicken sandwiches (no turkey in those days) and mince pies. We played hilarious games like charades and paper-based games - I do remember an older member of the family being quite surprised when she wasn’t allowed Addock as a type of fish starting with “A”. Apart from Anchovy I can’t think of a fish which fits this description!
In the next few days Christmas tree decorations dating back over 60 years will be lovingly placed on our tree and fond memories of the first times they were used remembered.
New Ancestry Records
Here are some of the latest additions to Ancestry
· The Royal National Lifeboat Institution Records are particularly interesting and contain several people from Weston. That the RNLI will be able to return to Birnbeck Pier once the renovation is completed is great news for Weston.
photographs reproduced by kind permission of Weston-super-Mare RNLI
· On Ancestry the REME Records also list some Weston residents. One, taken at random, was Percy Arthur COUNSELL, 1902-1979, who lived in Bedford Road. He served in India. He survived the war and both he and his wife Daisy were buried in Weston Cemetery.
· There are several members of the Polish Forces who are buried in Weston Cemetery. They are included in the list on Ancestry of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain 1940-1947. They include Stanislaw WALCZAK, Alojzy MORAWIEC, Felix ZALEWSKI etc.
Findmypast – Military Records
Last month, with the commemoration of Remembrance Day, Findmypast posted a video about how to find Military Records of our ancestors. You can find it on https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/british-army-promotions-medals
I was interested this year in watching the TV coverage of the various ceremonies to mark the occasion that the events at Monte Cassino were included. I have a copy of my father’s military records which include mention of his wounding in Italy on the approach to Monte Cassino at that time, so I was pleased to see it included this year.
Free Sites Online
· A reminder that there are masses of free sites online to aid our family history research. You can see some of them here: https://www.family-tree.co.uk/how-to-guides/doing-your-family-history-online-50-best-websites-for-family-history/ The first one listed is Familysearch which has been available in various forms for years and should not be forgotten as a source.
· How many of these sites have you used? Can you recommend others?
LostCousins Newsletter
I often suggest that you read the frequent newsletters for Lost Cousins and this is no exception, Go to the latest one for news and a mention of the DNA master class which is recommended reading. https://www.lostcousins.com/newsletters2/endnov24news.htm
Society Events
North Somerset Archives Service - 5th December
The next visit of the archivist from the North Somerset Archives Service, Eve Bickerton, is on Thursday 5th December from 10:30am to 12:30pm and 1:00pm to 2:30pm (this is a change from the normal times of 11:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 3:30pm)
Any requests to bring documents up from Taunton should be made by
Email: somersetarchives@swheritage.org.uk
See more details https://www.wsmfhs.org.uk/society_news_view.php?nID=548
Free Help Session at Weston Library – Sat Dec 7th
These sessions take place on the first Saturday of each month from 2.00 p.m. until 3.30 p.m. and all are welcome to attend. Our Society Volunteers are happy to help anyone who has problems with their research and to point them in the right direction.
Society Members’ Meeting – Wed Dec 11th
This meeting takes place at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall from 2.00 p.m. until 5.00 p.m. As this will be the nearest meeting to Christmas it is a special meeting. There will be a quiz, raffle, short talks by members, and of course cake! Non members are welcome.
Facebook Group and Research Forum
· We have had some interesting postings on FB about the PUDDY family of Mark and Wedmore. There was also a post about the PUDDYs on our Research Forum on the Web site. It is a difficult and large family to unravel. One suggestion was that we had a facility to compare family trees. You can post a family tree under the Members’ SURNAME Interests on our Web site.
· Please consider posting your queries about your research, not only about PUDDYs, either on the Research Forum or the Facebook Group. 
Edwin and Catherine PUDDY photographed in 1864 in Wedmore. My aunt married Stanley PUDDY, a son of Thomas PUDDY, pictured far right in front row. My husband’s cousin married the daughter of Reginald, another son of Thomas.
AI and Family History
Last month I asked about how many of you have used AI to assist your research but had no response so perhaps you are not using it. Can anyone recommend an overview of how it can be useful and what pitfalls to avoid?
Finally
Wishing you all a joyeous time over Christmas, however you spend it. Perhaps with family gatherings where you can recount the history of your family, and gather more information.
Looking forward to a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful 2025 when we as a society breakdown all brickwalls, fill in those gaps and find pleasure in those adrenaline shots we get as we find that long lost ancestor. This all helps us to understand the way in which our family lived in the past and to pass it on.
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