If you read this blog regularly, you’ll know I often end a post with the words… I’ll put it on my To Do list, prompting comments as to how long that list must be by now!
This week I decided to check back through my recent posts and see which mysteries I’d made headway with, where I’d hit a brick wall and what was next to tackle. Then I made a new list to help me to prioritise my actions (there's nothing quite like a list!).
Here’s just a short sample of mysteries left to solve which have been mentioned in recent blog posts, along with a summary of progress made (if any) so far:
What was Henry Patmore ELLISDON accused of in 1864 at The Old Bailey? (See Scandal at the Post Office) Some progress – although I haven’t found any newspaper reports of the trial, or anything on Old Bailey Online, where records say the case was heard, I have learned something about the indictment which has given me a clue as to what may have happened. My “report” coming soon to a blog near you!
Which common ancestors do I share with my husband? (See Shock shared ancestor) I’ve come across another possible family connection with my husband via a second shared surname. I’m currently investigating the families concerned to find out if there’s a link between the two. As it’s a common Suffolk name, it’s taking some trawling! If I find the crucial evidence, I’ll let you know.
Young James and Eleanor Hicks – where did they go? (see Aftermath & Mystery) Brick-wall country here, frustratingly. Nothing has yet come to light over these two, who apparently disappeared from the records after 1871. Neither have I made any progress trying to establish the whereabouts of the mysterious James Hicks senior, prior to 1861 when he was a lodger at my 3x great-grandfather’s home. But I shall keep at it!
The mystery of my Australian Great Aunt Laura… in case you’re wondering, this isn’t something inspired by the writing of a recent blog post but by a comment left on Birthday of a Black Sheep by a relative of my great-grandfather. It seems there’s an intriguing mystery surrounding the disappearance and death of my great aunt’s first husband. But you’ll have to click on the link and read the comment to find out more!
So, what about you? What mystery is at the top of your To Be Solved list?
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Finding the identity of my ex father in law’s biological father is my top task but I am a bit stuck and hope every week for a closer DNA match (his DNA is on 5 sites and we’ve done his Y-DNA as well) I have identified his great grandparents but they had over 10 children and most of their children had around 10 children too. I have fitted in most of his closet paternal matches into his big paternal tree, but there are so, so many places where he can fit into the tree to make the shared centimorgans line up. I get to the point where I have to give it a break and come back with fresh eyes.…