Prompt 20 – The Feeling of Home

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Julie Goucher


I am a Surrey girl. I am very proud of my roots and the endless genealogical issues and repercussions of living within a specific area, the boundaries of Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex for about 300 years.

When I research my maternal line, it is quite simply a nightmare! with several surnames appearing more than once; such as ELLIS, DENYER, HARRIS, HOLT, BRIDGER, BUTCHER and even a GOACHER/GOUCHER! – My own Grandparents were 6th Cousins although they didn’t know in their life times.

I have lived away from my native Surrey for about 17 years. I get that sense of giddy excitement of anticipation when I get to go “home”, back to Guildford and the South East of England. In some ways it does seem very ridiculous that someone in their 40’s can experience such a thing, but I really don’t care! I have lived in Devon for 17 years, and never in a million years will the seaside town that is where I live feel like home. That is somewhat sad, but it is absolutely the truth.

As we make the journey, probably along the A303, back towards the south east, across eventually towards the A31, what the locals call the Hogs Back I know I am home when I see the Cathedral at Guildford. In a strange and yet similar way, the journey home, down the B3192 into Teignmouth with a clear view of the sea and neighbouring Shaldon, I get a feeling of I am near to my home and the kettle and the sad task of unpacking looms.

What is stranger is that in the early 1990’s I lived in a City in New South Wales, Australia. My initial visit was for a year and since then I have revisited my family there. I probably feel more comfortable and content in Wagga Wagga than I do where I actually live, which for me, indicates that home is not just a physical structure, but a collection of emotions and people. A feeling of inclusiveness, contentment and safety.

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Desk Ramblings…..(17)

Posted on January 12, 2014 by Julie Goucher

The last five weeks with Mum in hospital has been full of mixed emotions. I have felt everything from fear, weary, scared, anxious, worry, joy,exhaustion and no doubt a few others that I can not remember.

I have always been quite close to my Mum,  We have often during the course of a week experienced a variety of conversations. From the long to the quick and snippy plus emails.Regardless of that, I always forget to mention something and I have a “Mum list” in my notebook!

For much of the last five weeks, Mum has been unable to be bothered to talk on her mobile. She is hopeless at texts so we have managed with a few  brief conversations. I miss our usual routine of chatter. About a week or so ago I heard Mum ask one of the nurses who was looking after her if her Mum was alive. The nurse replied that her mother was. I thought it was just curiosity; and perhaps it was. Then Mum said, that her Mum had died 16 years ago and that she missed her everyday.

I sat with Mum as she drifted off to sleep and pondered with the realisation that I always pick up the phone and chat with Mum. The regular mother and daughter conversations and much more. Now I was suddenly aware that Mum no longer has that with my Grandmother and I guess that no matter how old you are, we all want our Mum’s (or our equivalent) when things are tough. That basic instinct to return to the safe and secure.

How many of us though, take our Mum’s for granted? How many times have I thought in the last few weeks, “oh Mum will know that”. A question I have been forced to contemplate, somewhat reluctantly is, what about when Mum is no longer able to be asked? It is a sobering and depressing thought and yet somewhat inevitable at some point.

What I have shared with Mum over the last few weeks is comments, thoughts and good wishes sent to Mum from friends and family across the globe. Much of it thanks to social media. I shared the fact that some friends have mentioned Mum in prayers and some people have lit candles for her. It raised a smile when she responded with the question of was it greedy if the prayers and candles continued? I reassured her it was not!

Mum and I, along with my husband have been truly touched with the wishes, prayers, candles and messages. It has meant a great deal to us.

We can not thank you enough.

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Society Saturday – The Guyana / British Guiana Genealogical Society

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Julie Goucher


Today I am going to highlight a society that is new to me and I stumbled across, quite by chance.

Society Seal
Image courtesy of the The Guyana /
British Guiana Genealogical Society

The Guyana / British Guiana Genealogical Society formed in 2005.

It is completely free to join and is totally reliant on volunteer assistance with the Society. Sadly, the newsletters have stopped due to the workload and lack of support, but the Society does offer free membership and in order to take advantage of the free membership, all that you need do is register and post a message on the Forum. This is also free to join.

I do not believe that I have any particular ancestry in the region, but that said I have stumbled across several individuals from collateral lines that have popped up where I did not expect them to be. Furthermore, as I am also undertaking two one name studies, for the surnames of Orlando and Worship I find references in all manner of places and documents.

A quick read of the forum revealed an interest in at least two surnames that are registered with the Guild of One Name Studies.

There are numerous transcriptions, sources and other links to explore and I think this is certainly worth exploring if you potentially have ancestors in the region.

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Book of Me, Written by Me, Prompt 20

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Julie Goucher

Today is week 20 of what is going to be a 15 month project. Each Saturday, at around 12.30am UK time I will release the prompt for that week’s Book of Me, Written by You.

 If you are new here, welcome! The details, background flyer and Face Book link to the Book of Me can be found HERE. 

This week’s prompt is  – The feeling of home

Home means different things to different people, so this week we are going to explore what it means to us

  • What does it feel like?
  • How do you recognise it?
  • What makes it home – people, place, time


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    The Chantries or Pilgrims Way circa 1907

    Posted on January 9, 2014 by Julie Goucher

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    52 Ancestors:# 2 – Daniel Brown (1812 – 1869)

    Posted on January 8, 2014 by Julie Goucher
    52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
    No Story Too Small

    This post is for week 2 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge by Amy Crow from No Story Too Small.

    You can read the list of my posts HERE

    Daniel Brown was married to the sister of my Great, great, great Grandmother Prudence Budd.

    Courtesy of Ancestry – Parish Records Puttenham Surrey
    13th October 1839

    The marriage was witnessed by Prudence and her husband George Ellis and they both signed their names with the X indicating that they could not read or write, or certainly not well enough for such an occasion.

    Daniel and Rosanna made their life in Puttenham where they raised a family of eight children between 1835 and 1857. Their eldest child, a daughter called Emma was born 4 years before they married in 1839.

    In this period, a marriage could take place if there was parental consent before the age of 21 years. At the time of the marriage Rosanna was 25 years old, so perhaps there was not consent from Rosanna’s father Richard which might explain the delay in the marriage. Moreover, perhaps it also explains why the marriage was witnessed by her sister and brother in law.

    In the burial records for Puttenham I came across the burial of Daniel Brown who took his own life and was buried in January 1869. He was 55 years old.

    What I like especially about this record is the note at the side of the entry, with the handwritten finger pointing downwards to the bottom of the page, with the explanation of the amendments that were made for this burial.

    Courtesy of Ancestry – Parish Records Puttenham Surrey Burials 1868 & 1869

    Actions to do:

    1. Inquest data
    2. Newspaper  (Surrey Advertiser)
    3. Follow the family post 1869 to see if there were repercussions to the family post Daniel’s death
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    Cow and Gate Advertisement circa 1960

    Posted on January 6, 2014 by Julie Goucher
    Advertisement for Cow and Gate Ltd produced circa 1960

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    Society Saturday – Society for One-Place Studies

    Posted on January 4, 2014 by Julie Goucher

    Last week I announced my thoughts for Society Saturday, so first up is the Society for One-Place Studies.

     I was approached in the late Spring of 2013 and asked if I would be prepared to get involved? Well of course I would, as I believed that such a Society was much needed and long overdue within the genealogical and local history arenas.

    Pne_Place-Studies
    Image courtesy of the Society for One-Place Studies

    The Society formed back in September 2013. It has a truly global focus, both in terms of membership and the location of the registered One Place Studies. The committee is spread across three continents.

    The Society exists to promote best practice, share ideas, sources and debate with other like minded historians. That is of course not all and further details can be found on the Societies web page

    The Society truly has embraced the modern age. Members can benefit by the Society forum, access to Destinations the quarterly digital newsletter and the growing list of resources. Meanwhile, everyone can read and comment on the Society blog and can take part in the monthly hangouts which are hosted using Google.

    In early December the Society hosted a Google hangout with the discussion of “Choosing Your Place“

    The Society will be hosting regular monthly hangouts taking part on the fourth Friday of the month from January 2014.

    The Society has launched a World War One Centenary Project which encourages historians with specific place study to explore the community and the lives of those individuals who contributed to the war effort.

    The Society for One-Place Studies is available across a variety of social media channels – Face Book, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, Blog and the Website.

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    Book of Me, Written by Me, Prompt 19

    Posted on January 4, 2014 by Julie Goucher

    Today is week 19 of what is going to be a 15 month project. Each Saturday, at around 12.30am UK time I will release the prompt for that week’s Book of Me, Written by You.

     If you are new here, welcome! The details, background flyer and Face Book link to the Book of Me can be found HERE. 

    This week’s prompt is –  Who Do You Miss?

    Having just gone through the Festive season our thoughts turn to those not with us. 

    • Whether that is people who live elsewhere and that we will not see over the festive season
    • People that have passed away.
    • Who do y0u miss?
    • Why do you miss them?
      • Them as an individual
      • Something specific to them


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    Floods at Guildford – 3rd January 1928

    Posted on January 3, 2014 by Julie Goucher

    Postcard by D Box. 86 years ago today, this was the view at Guildford. It shows the lower High Street, with St Nicholas Church on the left, looking up to the Mount.

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