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.

In 1852, it was claimed that a young girl from a tiny village in rural Suffolk was blind, deaf, confined to her bed, and had lived without food for several months. Elizabeth Squirrell became known as 'The Shottisham Angel'. But the sensation soon turned to scandal with accusations that she and her family were frauds. Was Elizabeth Squirrell an imposter? Or had others just been spreading misinformation?

In part 2, we explore the family's response to the accusations of fraud and find out what happened to Elizabeth and her family.

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

Guest: Pip

Surnames: Squirrell, Matcham, Francis, Bendall, Seagar

Places: Shottisham, Hollesley, Bawdsey, Woodbridge, Ipswich, Suffolk

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

In 1852, it was claimed that a young girl from a tiny village in rural Suffolk was blind, deaf, confined to her bed, and had lived without food for several months. Elizabeth Squirrell became known as ‘The Shottisham Angel’. But the sensation soon turned to scandal with accusations that she and her family were frauds. Was Elizabeth Squirrell an imposter? Or had others just been spreading misinformation?

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

Guest: Pip

Surnames: Squirrell, Matcham

Places: Shottisham, Hollesley, Bawdsey, Woodbridge, Ipswich, Suffolk

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

When a body is discovered on a rocky beach in Victorian northeast Scotland, it unravels the buried history of a fishing family marked by tragedy. Life in their harsh coastal village was unforgiving—but what led at least four of them to be committed to the Royal Lunatic Asylum in Aberdeen? Was it madness, misfortune, or something more?

Guest: Eddie

Surnames: Buchan, Strachan, Carle, Tait

Places: Cairnbulg, Inverallochy, St Combs, Aberdeen, Maud, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire

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

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

On a Friday night in September 1842, some young men – local agricultural labourers – went out for a drink or three in Hadleigh, Suffolk. A few hours later, one of them would be found slumped on the road dead.

In part 1, we heard all about the coroner’s inquest looking into John Blandon’s death on the streets of Hadleigh. The inquest decided that Charles Smith had a case to answer, and he was committed to Bury Gaol to await trial.

In part 2, we hear about the trial, its verdict and how my guest’s family is linked to this story.

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

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

On a Friday night in September 1842, some young men - local agricultural labourers - went out for a drink or three in Hadleigh, Suffolk. A few hours later, one of them would be found slumped on the road dead.

My guest's family turned out to be linked to this story in a surprising number of ways.

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

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