An idea

So I have an idea bubbling away in the back of my mind; conducting a one name study.

I would like to do it about Cowton. It's a surname that appears not too far back in my tree, but it's one that is manageable. The village of Cowton is 20 miles from where I grew up, so I know at least one branch of the family hasn't moved far.

I plan to begin by looking through the census' and BMD records before applying to become a fully fledged member of the guild. I return to university at the start of October so I won't have too much time, but I feel a ONS would be easier to do than a family tree (mostly because I desperately need to tidy up my citations in my own tree!).

Am I being realistic? Or taking on too much?

Thankful Thursday: Grandparents

As I nineteen year old, I was very fortunate to still have all four of my Grandparents. I never really appreciated how lucky I was until I lost my Grandad in January 2010 to dementia. Losing him was what prompted me to begin my research; there was so much I didn't know about my own Grandad so I became curious as to what else I didn't know.

Two and a half years later I am grateful I chose to begin my research. My mum located a photo of her parents wedding day, and as the genealogist in the family she passed it on to me. Today is their 65th wedding anniversary, but instead of enjoying it together they'll be spending it apart. My other Grandad also has dementia, and so won't remember the importance of the day. But I do. And whilst I wasn't there, I do have a beautiful photograph to view and remind me of my Grandad.

Happy Anniversary Granny and Grandad.