FAMILY history is a fascinating subject. I’ve delved into mine hoping to find I’m related to some famous person of the past, but my ancestors are poor Irish farmers who escaped the famines of the 19th century to come to England to work in the coal mines.
Lynne Schofield is a tutor, speaker and researcher who runs classes in Family History, including Irish Ancestry, at St Mary’s Parochial Hall and Social Club in Batley.
One student discovered a Tasmanian convict ancestor and another was related to a Trooper in the Life Guards who was put on a charge for drunkenness on the eve of World War One, which seems like a reasonable time to get drunk.
“He got seven days confined to barracks but on the sixth day embarked to France with the Old Contemptibles,” says Lynne.
Another student found out her great grandfather was James Harvey, a policeman in London’s Whitechapel area in the 1880s who was one of the officers who found a victim of Jack The Ripper. Now that is getting close to history.
Discovering famous connections is fun but, as I have discovered, unearthing even mundane facts and personalities from the past can be incredibly moving and rewarding.
Lynne says: “If anyone is interested in finding out about their ancestors they are welcome to join us. Beginners at 10am to 12 midday, Improvers 2pm to 4pm. Courses are 10 weeks and start Thursday, February 2.”
