1921: Persevered Burns and a Two-Story Fall to Save Her Entire Family

Hull Daily Mail – Monday 12 September 1921

While dashing to save her three children and husband, Mrs. Booty suffered severe burns all over her face and body. After rescuing one child she fell two stories from her burning home. In “less than a second,” she jumps to her feet and runs back into the smoke and flames and safely retrieves the rest of her family.

1898: Heroic Mother Cat: “The bravest creature I have ever seen during all my years of firefighting” 

Goshen Daily Democrat April 12, 1898

This cat earned her title of heroic mother. When a house so engulfed by flames that the teams of firemen dared not enter, onlookers were shocked to see a sprinting cat head straight into the flames. Brushing her off as a crazed animal, they all gasped to see her coming out of the blaze, fur scorched, with a kitten dangling in her mouth. Depositing the cat to safety, she sped back in the flames for many minutes and again emerged, even more scorched and ears completely burned away holding a second kitten. The crowds cheered in astonishment of her courageousness. The little family was taken to the engine house and their wounds were treated.

1931: Powers through Misfortunes to Keep Sons in School

Nottingham Evening Post – Monday 26 June 1931

To put her two sons through University and medical school, a mother started work in a laborious goldfield. Was she was dealt an unfortunate plot of land with no water. Though many thought impossible, she worked days on end to level her hillside property until it was workable. The prospectors were so impressed in her removing the land burden, they gave her permission to use a neighbor’s water source but only from midnight to 6am. Not to be defeated, she took the offer and spent all her nights in the bitter cold washing gold while the rest of her camp slept.

1933: Plunges into Raging River to Rescue Daughter

Gloucestershire Echo – Wednesday 01 February 1933

Mrs. Elizabeth Smith did not hesitate to jump eight feet into the swift running water after her daughter who was thrown in by a car on an icy road. Mrs. Smith was able to get her daughter to shore but she did not survive.

1862: Stands with Sons in Combat

Hereford Times – Saturday 13 September 1862

A mother bravely joins her four sons on the battlefield in combat. One son was killed while holding their nations flag and then was replaced by his brother. Brother replaced brother to keep the flag standing. Once witnessing all four of her sons die for the cause, the heroic mother stepped in to carry on their message in the face of their killers declaring,

“She would never give up the standard until she could place it in the hands of one of her grandsons.”

1931: Underfed and Overworked, a Mother Dies to Feed and Care for Husband and Six Children

Dundee Courier – Saturday 24 January 1931

With a husband wounded in war, Mrs. Hunt was left to support her family of six children. She kept the house spotless and often went without so the rest of her family could eat. All of this done without letting neighbors or friends know about her troubles. She fainted twice while scrubbing a floor before passing from a heart attack.

1788: Defended her household from attack when her husband couldn’t

Derby Mercury – Thursday 30 October 1788

Her house ambushed by Indians and her husband badly injured by the initial attack, this mother stepped up to defend her family. The heroic woman kept the attackers at bay, fatally wounding any who attempted to enter her home. Shaken by her bravery, the ambushers finally retreated. Despite her husband’s broken arm and leg, her family was safe.

1934: Gives Blood in Attempt to Save Son

Dundee Courier – Friday 24 August 1934

Today, blood transfusions common and considered safe. Transfusions in the 1930’s were less successful and considered much more invasive and dangerous for the donor. A mother stepping up to offer blood at this time was seen as an astonishing act of bravery, enough to land a spot in the newspaper. Despite his death, she did all she could to keep him alive.

It’s National Military Appreciation  Month! Throughout the month of May, events and national holidays are observed across the United States to give well-deserved appreciation to all of the men and women, now and throughout history, that have risked their lives to protect their country.

Free military records in honor of Memorial Day

Findmypast.com wants you to honor the brave veterans in your family tree. All US and international military records can be accessed for no charge from Friday, May 24 to Monday, May 27. No code required or payment information taken – just register on our site.

Check out our list of military records.

Check out this fascinating inforgraphic from MyMilitaryBase.com about Military Families in the United States.

The Demographics of Military Families infographic

Whether you are giving a present to your newlywed friends or your own spouse, the idea of gifting on this major life event goes far back into antiquity.We can often credit this tradition for the cherished family heirlooms that have been passed down to us over generations. Learning about these age old customs bring us closer to our ancestors and the important moments in their lives. If you’re inspired, you can search our collection of more than 160 million historical marriage records from around the globe.

Customary gifts for each anniversary year:

1st Anniversary
Gifts: Paper

2nd Anniversary
Gifts: Cotton

3rd Anniversary
Gift: Leather

4th Anniversary
Gift: Fruit or Flowers

5th Anniversary
Gifts: Wood

6th Anniversary
Gift: Candy or Iron

7th Anniversary
Gift: Wool or Copper

8th Anniversary
Gift: Bronze or Pottery

9th Anniversary
Gift: Pottery and Willow

10th Anniversary
Gift: Tin or Aluminum

15th Anniversary
Gift: Crystal

20th Anniversary
Gift: China

25th Anniversary
Gift: Silver

30th Anniversary
Gift: Pearls

35th Anniversary
Gift: Coral

40th Anniversary
Gift: Ruby

45th Anniversary
Gift: Sapphire

50th Anniversary
Gift: Gold

55th Anniversary
Gift: Emerald

60th Anniversary
Gift: Yellow Diamond

65th Anniversary
Gift: Star Sapphire, Gray

75th Anniversary
Gift: Large Diamonds and gold

80th Anniversary
Gift: Diamond and Pearls

100th Anniversary
Gift: 10K diamond

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, held on the anniversary of the Gallipoli landing on the 25th April each year. It is a day to honour those that sacrificed their lives, those that came home and all the families affected by wars all around the world. ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day is now also observed in the Cook Islands, Niue, Pitcairn Islands, and Tonga and honors all those who served.

In commemoration of Anzac Day, findmypast is helping people build their own family wartime memories with the Anzac Memory Bank . This online commemorative vault contains heroic stories, photos, and expert information about Australian and New Zealand involvement in all wars and conflicts around the world. People have shared their own personal and family stories, photos and diary entries so others can learn what it was like to live through these times of turmoil.

The Anzac Day Memory Bank provides a place for people to remember the sacrifices of these brave men and women.

Since its settlement in 1620, many areas of Massachusetts have carefully recorded births, marriages, and deaths in their respective towns. This collection, compiled by the New England Historic Genealogical Society, offers more than 2 million records of births, deaths, and marriages from the 1600s to 1850.

Originally printed in books for each town, these events were compiled from primary source records, cemetery inscriptions, church records, and other private records over the course of many years. Images from the collection offer the original page from the published book, which can reveal the name(s) of an individual’s parent as well as information that can be used to track the original source of the data.

These collections include many early Massachusetts figures from the American Revolution and the founding of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies (Mayflower, Salem Witches, etc.).

For further information, contact the town clerk where the event is recorded.

When Griffin joined findmypast.com to research her husband’s English ancestry, she discovered a burial record for Tabitha Rayson, who died Tabitha Johns in 1831, just two years after the birth her great-grandfather Henry. She pursued Tabitha on findmypast and information about her missing relative started to unfold in front of her.

Griffin’s great-great-grandfather George Johns sailed to the United States from London, England with his wife Maria and two sons David and Henry. It was the older boy Henry who became a successful land owner, brother-in-law to the Rainsbarger brothers and her great-grandfather. George registered as a widower at his wedding to second wife Maria, although no legal transcripts spoke of his first wife. It was the second marriage record that first “handed” Griffin the knowledge to find her real great-great-grandmother who had almost slipped from existence.

“I was just almost numb because after all this time I have been looking for her and here she was right in front of me,” Griffin said about the search for Tabitha, “and I just found everything about her by just typing in those names. It is amazing when you see the marriage, and then all the rest of it, and how it all fits in so easily.”

George married Tabitha Rayson in Middlesex county at St. Martins in the Fields in 1828. One year later, Henry was brought into the world. The Westminster marriage certificate on findmypast included signatures of the

George Johns and Tabitha Rayson in the Westminster Marriages records on findmypast.

happy couple, a memento Griffin called, “just amazing.”

Tragically Tabitha died in 1831, leading George to marry his second wife Maria the following year, and expand the young family before sailing to the new world. Ever the treasure hunter, Griffin pines for the ability to know more about witnesses who attended George’s and Tabitha’s union, which is not included in findmypast’s record.

Griffin’s pursuits paid off and found her true lineage and mother of her great-grandfather Henry, who Mildred believes was poisoned to death by the same doctor that gave him a clean bill of health after Henry sustained a gun shot wound. Although, that is a story for a different day.

Findmypast will offer more fantastic tales of successful family history searches in the coming months. To find your missing ancestors and stories about your family history, visit findmypast.com to get started.

Why Einstein moved on to general relativity

Isn’t it exciting to find out you have a famous historical icon in the far-off depths of your family tree? But when you brag to your friends, what do you call this famous ancestor?

“Thomas Edison is the great-uncle of my great-great-grandfather’s third cousin!”

Confusing, right?

Actually, if you’re familiar with the system we use in designating these relationships, you can see there is a consistent formula to the kinship titles we assign to various family members.

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      In English-speaking societies, we classify based on gender, generation, and consideration of  consanguinity (direct descendants) and immediate affinal (in-law) relationships. Our common familiarity is with immediate family and direct lines – brother, sister, cousins, aunts/uncles and the (great) grandparents. It starts to get confusing when differentiating between the “degrees” and “removals” of cousins.

First, Second, Third Cousins…

     The ordinals in this system, “first cousin”, “second cousin”, “third cousin”, all describe the degree of the cousin relationship or the number of generations to their closest ancestor. For example, your second cousin is a person you share great-grandparents with and is not your direct sibling. It’s easier to think of what your shared ancestors would call you both – if your closest shared direct-ancestor is your great-great-grandparents, and they call you both “great-great-grandchildren,” then you have no removal, you two are second cousins.  

Once, Twice, Thrice Removed…

Table of Consanguinity
showing degrees of relationships

     When the cousins are not in your same generation then they are “removed. “First cousins once removed”  declares that either one of you are one generation away from being first cousins. For example, if your first cousin has kids, they are your first cousins once removed – the closest common ancestor shared are your grandparents but are “once removed” from the level of first cousin (held by their parents).

Here is the confusing part: there are two instances in your family tree that can share this title. This is a reflection of what cousins refer to each as. Up until now, each relationship in your family tree has inverse titles for each other. You are your aunt’s niece or nephew; you are your great-grandparents grandchild. Cousins refer to each other as cousins. Because of this, your first cousin’s kid is your first cousin once removed and you (the parent of their second cousin) are also their first cousin once removed – you each refer to each other as the same. This means that the child of your first cousin and the parents of your second cousin are both “first cousins once removed” despite each of them being generations apart.

Here is the breakdown:

• FIRST COUSINS: Non-siblings that share grandparents
• SECOND COUSINS: Non-siblings that share great-grandparents
• THIRD COUSINS: Non-siblings that share great-great-grandparents
• FIRST COUSINS ONCE REMOVED: Two people for whom the first cousin relationship is one generation removed
• FIRST COUSINS TWICE REMOVED: Two people for whom the second cousin relationship is two generations removed

If this is still confusing, look up the various kinship terminology systems used around the world and you may have a new respect for this terminology. At least this is formulaic. The Chinese use individual terms for every relationship.

Hopefully the below video makes more sense to you now.

NEW UK RECORDS AVAILABLE TO SEARCH ONLINE

STATE OF THE ART LOCAL ARCHIVE CENTRE REOPENS AFTER REFURBISHMENT

For the first time today, records covering baptisms, marriages and burials from Canterbury’s past have been made fully searchable online by leading family history site findmypast.com

The Canterbury Collection of parish records dating back to 1538 has been released to coincide with the reopening of the renovated Canterbury Cathedral Archives and Library reading room and contains records of almost 900,000 baptisms, 100,000 banns, 500,000 marriages and 700,000 burials.

Among the famous figures who appear in the records are dramatist Christopher Marlowe, cricketer Fuller Pitch, who was described as “The greatest batsman ever known until the appearance of WG Grace”, poet and artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Sir George Rooke, Admiral of the Fleet who captured Gibraltar.

One register, for St Alphege Seasalter, includes odd and sometimes cutting entries about the parishioners by the vicar, Thomas Patten; for example, a note about the marriage in 1744 between John Housden “a young gape-mouthed lazy fellow” and Hannah Matthews “an old toothless wriggling hagg.”

Joshua Taylor, lead genealogist for findmypast.com said: “An incredible rich record set, the collection includes records dating back to 1538. For those with colonial American ancestry, this collection offers an exciting resource for tracing ancestors from East Kent who traveled to America.”

Cressida Williams from Canterbury Cathedral Archives added: “We are really pleased that these fascinating records are now available online for anybody interested in family and social history for the East Kent area. Records of baptisms, banns, marriages and burials document the most significant moments in people’s lives and looking through the records gives 21^st century family and social historians a really interesting window through which to view the past.”

All of the registers for the historic archdeaconry of Canterbury are deposited at Canterbury Cathedral Archives, in the care of the Dean and Chapter (except for the registers of Ash with Westmarsh, which are held locally). Registers for the historic archdeaconry of Maidstone are held by Kent County Council at the History and Library Centre in Maidstone.

The Canterbury Collection is available on all of findmypast’s international sites as part of a World Subscription.