There is a family secret which no-one in OH's family will disclose. OH's uncle refused point blank to let anyone enquire into the family tree and, as he was the oldest male in the family, his wishes were complied with. After he died over 25 years ago, my father-in-law and brother-in-law started to research. They didn't get very far before my father-in-law became ill and the research was shelved until I took it over about 7 years ago. I have done reasonably well and connected with relatives, one of whom was OH's 2nd cousin that neither she nor he knew about.
Five years ago we visited a cousin of OH's father, who obviously knew the "secret" but told us 'that it's all best left in the past'.
I've just downloaded the 1911 census page for my OH's G grandparents in Broadclyst, Devon. Instead of finding them with their 3 youngest children as expected, I found only the elder daughter (I later found the son lodging in Chertsey, Surrey working as a baker) and a niece. We always understood there were 2 daughters - Elizabeth and Dorothy (now both deceased) but Dorothy is listed as niece, with the surname Radcliffe born in Kingston, Surrey. I have found a birth in Kingston in 1902 for Dorothy Ratcliffe, but I can't find a marriage for a male Ratcliffe (or Radcliffe) with a spouse's name that fits for a niece of OH's G grandparents.
I have a photo of G grandma (top right), her elder daughter Elizabeth (bottom right) and Dorothy (bottom left). The elderly lady is G Grandma's mother-in-law, so presumably only a blood relative of Elizabeth and not of the other two.
What do you think? Is there a family resemblance between Elizabeth & Dorothy and G Grandma? Or do you think the term "niece" is used loosely on the census?
Incidently, the cousin who thought the past is best left there was Dorothy's daughter.
Five years ago we visited a cousin of OH's father, who obviously knew the "secret" but told us 'that it's all best left in the past'.
I've just downloaded the 1911 census page for my OH's G grandparents in Broadclyst, Devon. Instead of finding them with their 3 youngest children as expected, I found only the elder daughter (I later found the son lodging in Chertsey, Surrey working as a baker) and a niece. We always understood there were 2 daughters - Elizabeth and Dorothy (now both deceased) but Dorothy is listed as niece, with the surname Radcliffe born in Kingston, Surrey. I have found a birth in Kingston in 1902 for Dorothy Ratcliffe, but I can't find a marriage for a male Ratcliffe (or Radcliffe) with a spouse's name that fits for a niece of OH's G grandparents.
I have a photo of G grandma (top right), her elder daughter Elizabeth (bottom right) and Dorothy (bottom left). The elderly lady is G Grandma's mother-in-law, so presumably only a blood relative of Elizabeth and not of the other two.
What do you think? Is there a family resemblance between Elizabeth & Dorothy and G Grandma? Or do you think the term "niece" is used loosely on the census?
Incidently, the cousin who thought the past is best left there was Dorothy's daughter.
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