Surnames

Paternal family names

Maternal family names


Here's a link to my online tree at Ancestry.

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"I Am Called Helen Now" - Helen Forrest McDougall

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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.
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A Gretna Green Surprise: Discovering the Marriage of My 4 x Great-Grandparents

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Despite researching my family history for many years, I had never been able to locate a marriage record for my 4x great-grandparents, John and Elizabeth Hails — until one day, I stumbled across it quite by surprise. Gretna Green, Scotland  ©  2025 Vicki Hails Family Origins John was born around 1796 in Newbottle, Durham, England, the son of William Hails (~1763–1823) and Isabella Walker (~1755–1844). He was baptised on 8 August 1796 at Houghton-le-Spring, Durham. Based on census records, Elizabeth was born around 1799 in Holyhead, Wales. The couple had 12 children, born between 1818 and 1839. The first three were born in Newcastle upon Tyne and baptised at St John's to John Hails (also recorded as Hailes), a potter, and his wife, Elizabeth: St Peter's Church Monkwearmouth Durham © R J McNaughton William Hails (c1818–<1839) Ann Hails (c1819–1851) Thomas Hails (c1821–<1831) John Hails (1825–1894) Robert Hails (1827–1869) Charles Hails (1829–1835) Thomas Hails (c1831– ) Isa...
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A Life of Adventures - Robert Conway Martin

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I remember my maternal grandfather as being a larger than life character. In trying to think of a word to describe him, the word adventurous comes to mind. The characteristics of an adventurous personality include: throwing caution to the wind venturing where most fear to tread not being bound by the same terrors and worries that limit others living on the edge challenging boundaries and restrictions pitting yourself against your own mortality As I've looked back on his life, I think that was pretty accurate! Early Life Robert Conway Martin was born on 10 May 1914 in the small coastal town of Stevenston, Ayrshire the second son of Irish immigrants, James Martin and Margaret Jane Conway who had married in 1912. Believed to be Robert (in middle) with his mother, Margaret Jane Conway, brother Willie, grandmother, Maggie Moore and sister, Sarah. c1916. Colourised courtesy MyHeritage. Stevenston, is one of the 'Three Towns' along with Ardrossan and Saltc...
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