This photograph was found among my Grandfathers possessions in a family album. For many years we had no idea who any of them were. Since tracing my tree I discovered that a great great uncle served in the Navy. On searching the 1881 census I found him aboard the HMS Triumph, this led to further research about the ships travels; this then explained the sailors uniform in the picture. He was not married at this time and we have assumed the two ladies with him are his Sisters.
I was able to order his papers from the 'National Archives’, which gave me not only his height and hair, colour but also that he had a tattoo. It also gave the ships he served upon his rating and a wealth of other information.
In the 1901 census I found him living as a coastguard in Christchurch in Bournemouth, this was a position given to many men who had served at sea; this census also gave me his Wife's and children’s names.
Fortunately the family knew the rough date of this photograph. My Great Grandmother (standing) would have been about 19/20. My Great great grandmother (sitting) was born 1844.
Along the way I have found many living relatives in New Zealand, Australia and America and have been in regular contact with them all, I have discovered one or two bigamous marriages and exactly where I originated from despite oral protestations from my grandparents, at the end of the day they don’t always know them selves.
So I have taken it upon myself to search for the ‘Cherished Ancestors’ in my past to give to descendants in my future.
'Cherished Ancestors of the past,
for the descendants of the future'
For help researching your family tree contact 'Cherished Ancestors'
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