Can of worms

Tonight I registered with an Ancestry website - and subsequently have got lost in trailing my family tree.

I have started on the paternal side. It is clear that there is much mis-information around in terms of details passed down via word of mouth, and potentially some mis-direction from earlier research before my time.

However, I am currently pursuing a line of enquiry relating to my paternal Grandmother and I have made it back to my great, great grandparents at the moment (assuming that the line of enquiry is correct).

If what I have found out is correct, then my Paternal grandfather came from Bermondsey or Lambeth areas of London. I think I have found my great-grandfather's details too, but am yet to find great-grandma who was married to E.G Hebdon.

My maternal great grandma (Bertha) came from parents who lived in Aston (Warwickshire). Bertha was one of 9 siblings. Her father, (my great, great Grandfather) died in 1911, born @ 1853. My paternal grandmother did not ever meet her own grandfather therefore.

At the moment I am running off in all directions and will have to adopt a more methodical approach to this if I am to keep myself organised. But I am now a woman on a mission!!!

So, Mum and Val - I need details about the maternal side. According to my initial research, Grandma is actually ANNIE not Anne - she is the only Anne Lloyd that I can find married to Albert Ronald Lee. What do you know - any clues to names of great grandparents, maiden names etc etc.

The photo contains copies of letters that my own paternal grandfather wrote to a Salvation Army captain who was researching the Hebdon family tree back in the early 1970's. I made contact with this wonderful man in the late 1990's, when he was quite elderly - he has long since passed away. But the copies of the correspondence between him and my Grandfather have given me lots of clues (and a little confusing misinformation) that have helped me on my initial journey tonight. The photograph is of the tombstone of Sir Richard Hebdon who died in January 1668 and who is buried in Wells Cathedral. There is a researched link...I just need to find it. What comes across from the tone of letters is that Grandad must have been a character in his own right and certainly sounds like he enjoyed telling stories (in a good way - not fibs!). It turns out he was stationed at Aldershot during WWII at the Army School of Hygiene at Mytchet. Apparently, Farnborough didn't know what had hit them when Grandad hit the town for "amusement" on Saturday nights! There is intrigue to - an estrangement between my grandfather and his elder brother that was never resolved.

I love history, and the prospect of chasing down my own personal family history is something that I have always relished, but never really had the time to get my teeth into. Now, as technology moves on and the internet makes such a wide range of records available to us, it suddenly doesn't seem the daunting task that it did 13 years ago when I first contacted Cyril.

My Dad will probably read this with trepidation - fearing that I am going to start tormenting him for any old old family photos....he would be right :-)

At least I have found out that Gilston is a family middle name that goes back at least 2 generations.

I am more disturbed that my own middle name could have been "a field somewhere in Alsager" - thanks Dad for that disturbing prospect :-) It was lovely to chat with you tonight.

xxx