Monthly Archives: January 2022

Genealogy

Kiwi Relatives?

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While researching my mother’s side of the family I thought I would have a look at my great-grandmother Ethel McGregor. I had already purchased the marriage certificate for Ethel McGregor, but only recently have I decided to look more closely at her family.

The marriage took place in 1912 when she was 24 in the parish of Werburgh, her father was recorded as Duncan Charles McGregor.

A search of the census records from 1891 show Ethel aged 4 living with 4 other siblings and her parents Duncan and Jane McGregor, rather interestingly it shows that her father was born in New Zealand.

Duncan McGregor – Head – Married – 32 (1852) – New Zealand

Jane – Wife – Married – 30 (1861) – Napple Common, Buckingham

Duncan – Son – Single – 8 (1883) – Shoeburyness, Essex

Donald – Son – Single – 7 (1884) – Shoeburyness, Essex

Ethel – Daughter – Single – 4 (1887) – Shoeburyness, Essex

Alice – Daughter – Single – 2 (1889) – Shoeburyness, Essex

Ellen – Daughter – Single – 4M (1891) – Shoeburyness, Essex

New Zealand, now I’m intrigued.

Checking the 1881 census Duncan and Jane are living alone in Rochford, South Shoebury, I assume that they have just married. A search for marriages confirms this with a marriage between Duncan McGregor and a Jane Carr in the first quarter of 1881. I need to go back further.

The 1871 census, Duncan is 12 and living with his mother and 4 other siblings.

Mary A McGregor – Head – Widow – 48 (1823) – Clifford, Surrey

Margaret – Daughter – Single – 48 [Should be 18?] – New Zealand

Marion – Daughter – Single – 14 (1857) – New Zealand

Duncan – Son – Single – 12 (1859) – New Zealand

Ida – Daughter – Single – 8 (1863) – At Sea

Alice – Daughter – Single – 6 (1865) – Shoeburyness, Essex

Based on the birth of the eldest daughter, it seems that the family was living in New Zealand from about 1850. Seeing as Ida was born at sea, I assume they moved back to the UK in 1863.

I need to confirm that I have the right family, and I believe that Alice is the key here as she was born in the UK. I have ordered Ethel McGregor’s birth certificate, this should help me confirm her mother and father and help me find her siblings.

Genealogy

Finally found my great-great-grandfather!

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It’s been awhile since I’d last tried to search for my great great grandfather. I hadn’t given up though!

In one last ditched attempt I thought I could try and search for a will. I searched on ancestry, but I couldn’t view anything as I needed to be on a higher subscription. So I searched Google for free wills, and came across an article about the probate office releasing thousands of wills for free

I searched on the probate site [gov.uk]. I didn’t know his date of death, but I did know that he had died before my great grandfather had married, so I started in 1916, the year before his marriage.

I got lucky first time, this is what I was looking for, and found!

Rogers George of 17 Badminton road Ashley road Bristol cabinet maker died 14 September 1916 at General Hospital Bristol Administration Bristol 13 October to Henry George Rogers tailer’s cutter
Effects £250 4s 8d

That was it! After all these years I was finally looking at my great great grandfather. And hopefully his will would name his children and I could finally find my ancestors.
I duly paid my money and waited for the will to become available for download.

When I got the will it was not a will, but an administration of letters. This gives the named person power of attorney over the deceased estate. In this case it was George Rogers’s son Henry George (my great-grandfather) who had power of attorney. It did name two of Henry Georges sisters, Florence Rogers and Nellie Rogers both living at the same address.

This was great news, as these names matched with the family I had found in the censuses I could carry on my research.