We have both been staying with our grandson in his lovely new home in an area very familiar to me - it was once my childhood home. He and his girlfriend both work in London but their spare time is spent climbing, riding their bikes through the dales, and what looks alarming to me, rock bouldering. When he purchased the property he hadn't realised that he was buying in an area so familiar to both me and to his grandfather.
They are both continuing with their London careers, but remotely, all of which appears to work well.
Our grandson has been looking into all of our family trees, and has discovered some interesting data about my side of the family.
Many families have unsubstantiated stories or generational tales regarding their ancestry with elements of truth, but often no firm foundations.
My maternal grandmother's maiden surname was Jacques, and the story told is that her father could have been descended from Huguenot immigrants. The Huguenots were Protestants who fled France and Wallonia (southern Belgium) from the 16th C to the 18th C due to religious persecution during the European Wars of Religion. After the English Reformation, England was seen as a safe place for refugees. Importantly, however, they also brought their skills and expertise as silk-weavers, silversmiths, merchants, vine-growers, wig makers, and hat-makers which helped the country to expand its global horizons.
The ancient market town where our grandson has bought his home is 30 miles away from where I lived, but it was a very important town re: silk weaving. There are still several Heritage silk mills and many terraces of silk weavers cottages, all of which brought wealth to the town. This knowledge re: the silk weaving helps to bring more relevance to the Jacques family story. My grandson has discovered that a young women born in his town, married a man called John Jacques and that they were the parents of my maternal grandmother. They are my great grandparents, and my grandson's great great great grandparents.
Importantly he has also managed traced the name back to three more generations, and is hopeful that he will find more information by subscribing to an Ancestry website.
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Hello Rosemary, How delightful that your son has chosen such a beautiful and meaningful spot in which to settle. I am not sure that I am familiar with the term "Peak District" but those classic British travel posters have me convinced that it is a place that, in the words of P.G. Wodehouse, would "well repay inspection." I hope, however, they stay away from precipices like that illustrated in the first poster.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Hello Jim - that range of high rocks are called Stanage Edge, and they are extremely popular with any serious climber.
DeleteBy the way I was talking about my grandson not my son.
It is a very interesting area, not only for its majestic scenery but also for its historical buildings and the influential people who lived there.
Sorry, Rosemary, my mistake. I meant grandson, but obviously did not proofread my comment well. --Jim
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DeleteLove those beautiful National Park posters! Isn't genealogy fascinating -- good luck to your grandson in his investigations!
ReplyDeleteI had a strange sense of connection as I wandered around the very old buildings and busy market place where my grandson has purchased his new home.
DeleteI love hearing family history stories. We have quite a few Huguenots in Jersey escaping from France in the nineteenth century. What fabulous postcards and so good for you that your grandson has settled in such a special place for you. B x
ReplyDeleteIt does feel as if we are on a new road to discovering more about why my Grandmothers surname was Jacques.
DeleteInteresting family history and wonderful posters!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteFamily stories are fascinating. From the gorgeous posters it looks like you are staying in a very scenic area with your grandson. There are some unsubstantiated stories in my family history that I'd like to dig into one day.
ReplyDeleteIt is really interesting to investigate your family history. The resources are so much better today than in the past.
DeleteI was delighted to learn what my grandson had found.
Recently there has been a series of DNA stories into various families on TV and it is surprising just how many family stories turn out to have a substantial amount of truth in them.
May be one of your grandchildren might take up the reins for you too.
We lived in Mansfield for a few years and often went to the Peak District. My Canadian husband needed the wide open spaces. I would happily retire there in one of the whitewashed cottages tucked into the hillsides. I enjoy looking at travel posters particularly 1920-40 which I think is the time period for some of these. My sister and I are working on our family history. Tearing our hair out as my mother said her grandmother was from Irish aristocracy and all the names, dates and marriages match up for Suffolk farm workers hmmm.
ReplyDeleteMy grandson loves his new location with dales, hills, moors, and rocky outcrops right on his doorstep.
DeleteDNA appears to have made hunting down family members from the past far easier today.
Hopefully, you may still come across some Irish aristocracy family members as mentioned to you by your mother!