Julie Goucher ~ Anglers Rest

Created by Julie Goucher, 2023

Our Genealogical pursuits are underpinned with the history relevant to the country where our ancestors hailed from, and also by wider current affairs. Our people, much like us today did not live in isolation. They, as we are, were affected by social, economic, political and religious facts. Impacted by decisions made by politicians, either those in office, or those that were part of a previous government. It is those elements that underpinned the life factors of our ancestors. 

I am reminded of my great aunt who was born in 1900, telling me that she remembered her grandmother, Caroline Ellis who was born in 1844, qualifying for a pension from the government of 10 shillings a week.

I knew that my great Grandmother had looked after her mother, so my grandfather, my aunt and the rest of the siblings were used to, and aware of the extended family approach to society. Without that family support there was only one other viable option and that was the workhouse.

The ‘Old Age Pension’ was introduced in the UK in January 1909. A pension of 5 shillings per week, or 7 shillings and sixpence for a married couple, was payable to a person with an income below £21 a year. The original state pension qualifying age was 70, and was subject to a means test.

There is a discrepancy of how much the pension was, but whatever the amount I am sure that it was a welcomed addition to the family coffers. The family “home” comprised of:

• my great grandparents – Annie (Harris) & Charles Butcher
• my great great grandparents – Caroline (Ellis) and Henry Harris
  • Caroline born 1844 – died 1935
  • Henry born 1843 – died 1929
  • In 1911 Caroline and Henry are living next door to Annie & Charles. Also living with them is Caroline’s brother, Edward who is now a widower.
• my grandfather – George Butcher plus 11 siblings born between 1900 & 1917. Three sadly died as infants, 1902, 1903 and 1912.

Two additional points of reference:

1. The extended family was an important of my family. Of the row of six cottages, at least half was occupied by family.
2. Edward Ellis had spent a little over four years in the Army, as part of the 67th Regiment of Foot (Royal Hampshire). He contracted chronic Hepatitis whilst serving in Thyetmoo in what was noted as British Burmah, (Burma), where he had spent two years. His condition was recorded as significantly impaired, resulting in an enlargement of his liver. He was found unfit for further service.

Edward returned back to Surrey where he married in 1882. His wife died in 1907 and by 1911 he was living with his brother in law and sister Caroline. He died in 1921 at the workhouse in Guildford, likely because he was unable to receive the care he needed from the family at home.

Created by Julie Goucher, 2023

The range of material that is key to unravelling our family histories is quite astounding. In the modern world with the commercial organisations holding rafts of data it is easy to believe that the material has always been available in this way, and anyone who has researched their family history for decades will be aware that over the last 25 years or so the internet has revolutionised the way we research, access and explore historical material.

Before the big commercial organisations there were organisations such as these:

• Family History Societies & Organisations
  • County organisations such as
    • West Surrey Family History Society
    • East Surrey Family History Society
  • Organisations based on geographical elements
    • Families in British India Society (FIBIS)
  • Organisations based on nationality groups
    • Anglo German FHS
    • Anglo Italian FHS
  • Organisations that are based on specifics
    • Surnames – Guild of One-Name Studies
    • Places – Society for One-Place Studies
  • Organisations based on Local History
    • British Association for Local History
    • Family and Community History Research Group
  • Organisations that have a broader presence
    • Society of Genealogists*

All of these societies and organisations operate with volunteers only (* the SOG has limited staff AND volunteers). Volunteers have sustained these organisations for decades through indexing projects, database building, website maintaining, and much much more. That need for volunteers continues, and without it we risk damaging the very organisations and ethos that we love.

These are not the only organisations that are relevant to family history, there are also

• Museums
• Archaeological Societies
• History Societies
• Record Societies
• Archives & Heritage Centres
• Local History Libraries
• Specialist libraries
• Open Air Museums/Rural Life 
  • Down and Weald, at Chichester which holds the watermill that was once at Lurgershall, Sussex – this is the watermill that my great great grandmother, Mary Denyer (1838 – 1913) would have seen. – How wonderful is that?

Many of these organisations may hold information that directly refers to our ancestors or to people in our wider families. Additionally they may hold information that provides context or wider information about a specific topic.

In this post I have highlighted a few of the Societies and organisations I am involved with, or a member of; in two of these instances I am a founder member. There are many, many more out there, across the UK, Europe, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and elsewhere.

It is also worth mentioning that a number of organisations have research rooms, such as Norfolk and Oxfordshire Family History Societies etc, and a second useful thing maybe that there is a catalogue of material that can be searched by the public – the Society of Genealogists for example have SOGCAT.

We really are only limited by our imaginations. We can cast the net wide whilst researching, otherwise you might just miss a gem.