Hi Nicki, I have so enjoyed reading your email, as I know the others have as well. I think you are right in leaving the questioning for now. I know I get frustrated at not remembering something and I'm not that old. So can only imagine what it's like for someone with dementia.Better to just let her chat away, and hopefully your friend can write it all down. Nicki do you have a copy of your grandparents Marriage Certificate, it might prove helpful if you did. It should list the fathers and their occupations of the married couple. But again, if her father was not known to her, then chances are he is not mentioned on the certificate. But it should give the details of your granddads father and his occupation if he was known to your granddad. Which is something useful to have anyway. If you don't have the certificate and want to get Peter to check our the registrations number for you just let him know. Many thanks to Anne, Kath and Pete for all your help, it is greatly appreciated by not only Nicki but myself as well. As for the spelling Nicki, I have seen the surname spelt every which way :-))))))))) The variants really came about because way back when, most people could not read or write and so it was largely left up to the church minister as to how he thought it was spelt when filling out the details in the Parish Register. It also seems to be a location thing as well. Some places you will find it is mostly spelt one way, and somewhere else it's spelt another way. Then there is the transcriptional room for errors as well. The most popular spelling in modern times is Barraclough. Nicki if ever you want to ask any questions, about how to go around researching or anything else, just ask away. We have some very experienced researchers here who have been doing this for years. Between us all, we can usually help someone with there inquiries. And as you have found we are all a really friendly and helpful bunch of people scattered all over the world. We will keep everything crossed that Pete is able to find Stanley & Violet in the PRO Indexes. Regards Kim ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nicki" <n.atkinson@optusnet.com.au> To: <BARRACLOUGH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, January 14, 2005 2:28 AM Subject: [BARRACLOUGH] Violet and Stanley > Hi Kim, Anne, Kath and Pete, > Thankyou so much for your replies. Attempts to ask Grandma for details have slowed somewhat as our last phone call (particularly the questions) really seemed to disorient and upset her, as she just couldn't remember much and ended up feeling very lost. I felt awful and just let it go for a bit. She lives in a nursing home about 500k away, and my mate calls in each fortnight so we can talk on the phone while he's there. I have asked him to try and write down things this week while chatting, if he can. > > Grandma never knew who her father was, Kym. Nor can she remember her Mums name. I vaguely recall it may have been Elisabeth - but I am not certain about this. She was a dressmaker who worked from dawn til dusk in the upper part of the house, and was largely raising the children alone. Grandma said there was a "kind of stepfather", Joe, who came and went and came in covered in black soot (a coal miner?) Her mother continued to have children and Grandma believed they were his. I remember directly questioning her about whether Joe was a Barraclough, and she was uncertain. She said she didn't think they ever married, so the name must have been her/the mothers. Grandma arrived to care for about 5 girls and went on to help deliver the others. There was at least one set of twin girls. When she counted out the 14 kids, she always began by counting Stanley, despite the fact he was never actually there, and over time began forgetting names past about the fifth one, so I imagine they ! > were still young babes when she met Grandad and moved on. > > I also questioned her why she was not in touch with them (much of this questioning has taken place in my youth) and he commented she had done her time with them, and she really only wanted to find Stanley. Her mother disapproved of her marrying an older man she said, and made her choose her or him. She placed an ad in the paper when my mother was born in 1945, and her mother came to visit and then died shortly after apparently. She was glad they had made their peace with each other. > > Shirley Barraclough seems to me to be the most reliable name. This was the oldest step-sister and was still alive in 1980, living I think in or around Manchester. I think she died a year or two later. I can't find her in any searches either though, but guess she would have married. > > The info about the Halifax bomber is great, Kath. Thankyou. She was very proud of this work, and often mentioned it was because of her diminutive size that she got the job - no-one else could fit into the tiny spaces! Grandad (William I'Anson - born 1907)grew up in Salford/Preston and they were both employed at a workshop together but in different jobs, prior to and possibly after their marriage in July 1943. They may have met there. So, it is highly likely that it was at the Strand Rd factory. Grandma lived with Grandads family for some time too, (I think) before they were actually married - so her name may turn up on a census search in that household? I am slowly working my way through areas, but am not entirely sure if I am in the right ones. > > Anything you are able to locate Pete, would be terrific. Thankyou for thinking of it. > > I have been straining my brain trying to remember the other name she told me when I was very young, but just can't for the life of me, recall it. I remember asking her what her maiden name was and she asked me which one I wanted, with a cheeky grin. She told me she was a Barraclough, and that she also had another name she could never remember. Grandad reminded her what it was and mentioned it had taken a long time to find out that name. When I questioned her about it, she told me not to worry and just laughed and said she could never work out what went on when she was a kid, and family for her, started with Grandad. > > My Gran is very dyslexic - but she was very clear about the spelling of Barraclough, which she pronounced with an accent and with a humorous poshness. It sounded to me like Barrowclough and I spelt that out to her at the time. She was very firm - No W! And I got the feeling someone else had instructed her on this. I have found some children registered as lodgers with a family in Yorkshire ...the boys were spelt Barroclough and the girl is spelt Barraclough in the 1891census register, so I guess it is likely the spelling is very much open to interpretation by others at the time and transcribers today? > > Thankyou all for your help and interest. It is encouraging to know there are others with the same interest who have developed skills in searching. I really appreciate you all. > All the best, > Nic > > P.S. I will let you know ASAP if Grandma shares anything that may be useful this weekend. > > > ==== BARRACLOUGH Mailing List ==== > Would you like to record a Barraclough Biography? > Check out "Biographies" at > http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~surreal/barraclough/index.html > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.6.11 - Release Date: 12/01/2005 > > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. 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