#52Ancestors, Week 38, Unusual Source

What would be the most unusual source I have used, or made a discovery by using ? Hmmm.

Newspapers aren’t an unusual source, but I think they are often overlooked.

What is newsworthy today isn’t necessarily what was newsworthy in the past. Our communities were smaller and different events were of interest to our forebears who couldn’t just check their email o r smartphone to stay up to date.

Local sports fixtures – who knew cricket competitions between small towns was such a big thing when our nations were young, and that the Davys brothers were regularly members of their local team. Baking skills, vegetable and flower gardening, poultry too. Great grand uncle Thomas Vose was a member of his local and national Poultry Club and frequently had his White Leghorns competing in national egg-laying competitions. (I really must watch that movie.)

Marriages and engagements were often reported with great descriptions of what everyone wore and who the members of the bridal party were, sometimes what gifts were given was included. Other celebrations such as silver and golden wedding anniversaries, church gatherings, recitals and plays were often reported. How many of your relatives played instruments or acted ? You might be surprised.

Local businesses, council meetings, court affairs, who has been on holiday where, or who has come to visit, local and international news, shipping arrivals and departures, weather, school grades and examination results, accidents. It’s all there.

Birth notices, death and funeral notices might give you an exact date without having to buy a certificate. Death notices too often personalise those relatives we never knew, often listed by their nicknames or diminutives rather than their full names we have from official sources. Some are listed as Mrs so and so giving a clue to who they may have married, and often grandchildren’s names are there too.

My elusive great great grandfather Julius was mentioned in a death notice for one his apparent friends, a lodge was mentioned too. Was that a clue that Julius was a Mason or a Druid ?

So they aren’t unusual, but they are a treasure trove helping to build the character of those who are no longer here. Wouldn’t it be great if todays news was a little richer too.