My Ancestors Stories

Birmingham Workhouse c1852 One of my longstanding brick walls has been my 2 x great grandmother, Clara Williams.   It took many years of research to find her birth, only to discover that she was illegitimate and born in the workhouse. But who is her father?  I am hopeful that DNA will help answer that question...

I called both my grandmother's, Nan or Nanna.  My maternal grandmother was born Helen, but was known by everyone as Nell or Nelly. So I was amused to read in a letter she wrote aged 14 to her cousin Martha, in America, that "I am called Helen now, but I will still call you Bunty".  Unfortunately for Helen, Nelly had stuck, as I don't think I ever heard anyone call her Helen!  This blog is written in memory of my nan, Helen, who was born 106 years ago.