Black Country Bigamy

In this episode, we travel to the Black Country in the early 19th century to meet the Webb family, and follow the story of Dorcas Webb and her husband David Baker Aston. When David remarried less than 2 years after his first wedding, he sparked a legal case that was reported in newspapers across England.

What drove him to marry again? Did he think he could get away with it? And what can the records tell us about life among the ironworkers and craftsmen of one of Britain's most industrialised regions?

For show notes, please go to https://geneageek.com/podcast/

Guests: Martin and Richard

Surnames: Webb, Penn, Aston, Deeley, Westwood

Places: The Black Country, Staffordshire, Kingswinford, Old Swinford, Brierley Hill, Worcestershire, Dudley, Lye

Guests: Martin and Richard

Surnames: Webb, Penn, Aston, Deeley, Westwood

Places: The Black Country, Staffordshire, Kingswinford, Old Swinford, Brierley Hill, Worcestershire, Dudley, Lye

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My Belgian grandmother often told the story that she was named after Queen Astrid, who was her godmother. She also said she was once invited to play with the young princess but they fought over toys so she wasn't asked back. Was there ever any family connection to the Belgian royal family, or was it all just 'a load of waffle'?

This episode explores the validity of these seemingly tall tales, and my mother learns some things about her family that she never knew!

For show notes, please go to https://geneageek.com/podcast/

Guest: Brigitte

Surnames: Lemmens, Minne, Baels, Elleboudt, Moulaert, Vroome

Places: Oostende, Ostend, Flanders, Wallonia, Belgium, Belgique, België

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1898, Ellen Cook began working for a carting company in Glasgow, Scotland, and soon became involved with the owner's son. 15 years later, in 1915, their relationship made the international newspapers when Ellen sued John Sinclair for breach of promise. After stringing her along for years, John had decided not to attend his own wedding because 'the weather was bad', and went home to bed instead.

Join us in some historical 'curtain twitching' as we learn more.

For show notes, please go to https://geneageek.com/podcast/

Guest: Dave

Surnames: Sinclair, Cook, Young, Sutherland, Wilson, Lyell

Places: Glasgow, Stirling, Kilcreggan, Gourock, Ayr, Scotland, Gibraltar, Malta

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.