Family history...from beyond the grave!

Walking around an overgrown (conservation area!) part of a churchyard attempting to wade through nettles, brambles and such is trying.  Add in rhododendrons and you cannot get to gravestones.  I knew there was a stone - it was on a listing of memorial inscriptions that unfortunately, did not come with a plan.  Enter Jane!  Not only was the large bush burying the stone located, but Jane said "She died of something beginning 'ec'...".  I knew the family story that Annie had died in childbirth - yet by 1901 she was no longer with her husband: Jane did not know this.  I suggested that maybe it was pre-eclampsia though Jane felt that did not quite fit.   It was "ec" that had me spending yet another £10 to get the 1903 death certificate.  Yes, 'ec' was correct - ectopic pregnancy!

Jane has given other leads that have been proved through documents - without a nugget of information to point me in a particular direction in another county and diocese I would have struggled.  She has also produced information for others when giving talks: "that's my granddad, that's him to a tee...yes, that was his favourite tipple and he always used that phrase".  That family historian was the ultra-sceptic...no wonder his granddad identified himself and in tropical army dress uniform leading to further exploration of army records!  But on another occasion Jane confided in me afterwards that she could not tell one "pestering family historian" that her gt-grandfather would not say anything because he "didn't like her"...ooops!  Knowing the individual involved I had a quiet chuckle about that.

Although still sceptical of "messages" I do use them to lead me to further research into family history stories: sometimes a brickwall comes tumbling down!

JAS, April 2017