It’s been a while since my last post, but I’ve not been idle!

I’ve been investigating more on the two (in)famous knights, both called Sir Robert BALDOCK, of the 14th and 17th centuries. These are my pet project(s). Due to their public/governmental/royal positions, there is a lot of information around. Despite having taken my BALDOCK line back to the 16th century,  I have found no crossover yet (even though I have plenty of BALDOCK ancestors called Robert!) I hope to find links to one or other of them one day …

In addition, I’ve located another two FAGG lines – one via Ash (near Sandwich), and another via Faversham/Sittingbourne. I’m currently investigating where these lead!

Baldock/Fagg/Small Family History - ... or "An insight into personal family history research"

Due to an email migration, I have irritatingly lost a substantial number of genealogy emails; something I had hoped would not happen….

Any of you loyal followers who have been waiting on a response from me relating to previously sent emails, however old, please contact me again. These particluarly relate to surnames CLARK(E), BALDOCK, FAGG, CASTLE, SMALL …

I am so annoyed with myself! That’s what I get for rushing in frustration at poor email provision by my ISP!

Baldock/Fagg/Small Family History - ... or "An insight into personal family history research"

Last week I paid another visit to Canterbury Cathedral Archives, and had more success. I finally found the baptism (and parentage) of my unusually-named Bean HATTON (at Whitfield, near Dover), found another couple of siblings in my Eastry FAGG line (one of whom, after a quick census check, may have been a proprietor of the Five Bells public House in the village), more DAWKINS, and a whole bunch more BALDOCK line at Westwell (connection as yet unknown).
These finds enable me to take my HATTON line back another generation, further my FAGG connections, and hopefully provide more BALDOCK tools on the road to linking those multiple lines!

Baldock/Fagg/Small Family History - ... or "An insight into personal family history research"

After recently revisiting research on the MAYTUM family, I determined12 children of Charles MAYTUM & Emma FAGG, who emigrated to Iowa, USA in 1864.

I believe that their son, Wellington, was a very prominent physician and played an important part in Iowa state politics. In fact, medicine appears to be a chosen family profession.

In addition, Wellington and his brother Walter married two SYFERD sisters.

I intend to investigate this family in a lot more detail.

Baldock/Fagg/Small Family History - ... or "An insight into personal family history research"

Hopes high, expectations dashed …

On visiting Womenswold on Sunday to check the (second) cemetery, I found no BALDOCKs, but a few GROOMBRIDGEs and a couple of FAGGs – these are possibles. If only I had properly checked my tree – one BALDOCK moved to Ewell near Dover, another to Nonington (near Womenswold), another to Eythorne (near Womenswold & Eastry)… ! Sounds like Nonington and/or Ewell may be a good bet next time!

Note to self:  Always check the tree properly before wasting petrol!

Baldock/Fagg/Small Family History - ... or "An insight into personal family history research"

Those of you who are (hopefully) regular visits may recall the brief note of my paternal great-grandfather Joseph BALDOCK’s brother, Daniel, marrying my great-grandmother Ann HARVEY’s sister, Emily Jane.

Well, last night I found another such instance, this time in my grandmother’s line. I discovered that my great-great-grandfather George FAGG’s brother, Alfred, married my great-great-grandmother Charlotte FRIEND’s sister, Roseanna (poss. Rose Hannah).

I guess these farmers had many a family gathering which made such romances with in-laws all the more likely – especially the size of families in my tree!

I wonder how many more I can find!

Baldock/Fagg/Small Family History - ... or "An insight into personal family history research"

A few weeks ago my mother sought the services of a professional photographic studio to attempt to “repair” one of her family photos. It was of her grandmother, Sarah Elizabeth CASTLE (née GOLDSACK) and her adopted daughter, Daisy (born to Frances Georgina FAGG).

Despite my insistence that the photo was really beyond saving, she chose to use the services of The Studio, at Herne Bay in Kent. Despite a little artistic license being required to rebuild baby Daisy’s facial features, I think you’ll agree they did a wonderful job from a very poor original!

Before retouching

After retouching

If you have need of such services, give them a go. Check out their details at http://www.theonlystudio.co.uk/.

Baldock/Fagg/Small Family History - ... or "An insight into personal family history research"

I could not believe my eyes today. Whilst Google-mapping (map.Googling?) and searching the environs of Womenswold for other churches/churchyards where my Womenswold BALDOCK and FAGG ancestors may be buried I discovered a much larger cemetery than that of the churchyard – just around 100 yards from the junction where I would have turned off to the village! I believe it may be classed as “Aylesham cemetery for Womenswold” – it is on the B2046 road towards Aylesham and Adisham.

I think I’ve just discovered where I’m going for my next graveyard shift – again!

Baldock/Fagg/Small Family History - ... or "An insight into personal family history research"

[I must emphasise, before you read on, the rants contained herein are solely the opinion of the author!]

A couple of weeks ago, I visited the churchyard at Barham in Kent to seek out some more graves, since sources indicated that I would find BALDOCKs. I could not believe my eyes on arrival, to find that around 75% of the churchyard was void of headstones, their place being taken up with mole-hills … hundreds of them! All and any headstones which may have been respectfully locating graves were now stacked like dominoes against the back wall of the churchyard, with only the front row showing their inscriptions.

I realise that moles are difficult to eradicate – my father had a devil of a job to get rid of them from our back lawn many years ago, but he did it. And (for all you animal welfare nuts out there) they can be trapped successfully, or even killed humanely.

Walking around the remaining cemetery investigating the graves which were left (locating possible FAGG relatives), I could feel how spongy the grass was, suggesting the problem may see the end of the complete churchyard!

I realise maintaining such places can be expensive, but remedial work at this late stage will be even more costly! And where do relatives now go to pay their respects? Ancestors should not be forgotten just because they died 100 years ago?! After all, isn’t that why we’re all in the genealogy game? I didn’t know how much pity/sorrow/respect I would find myself feeling for long-lost relatives until I started. Tracing family on the internet is all well and good, but visiting their graves makes it all very personal, however distantly they may be related. After all, DNA makes us a part of them…

Maybe it is not considered a priority now that there is a second cemetery on the opposite side of the road where I found more FAGGs (but not necessarily related yet) – but how long before this is affected if moles find the area so homely … ?

Please, Barham Parish Council, or Dover Borough Council, or Canterbury City Council, or Kent County Council, or even Kent Archaeological Society, do something to curb the problem.
Even the dead deserve respect – and their families would expect it!

Baldock/Fagg/Small Family History - ... or "An insight into personal family history research"

I appear to have broken the previous record for number of offspring in my family tree, which stood at 14(!)

My gt-gt-gt-grandfather, William FAGG (b. ~1801, Eastry, Kent) appears to have sired 15 (including a pair of twin daughters) !!

My granny FAGG was one of 10 children herself, but fertile families appear on both sides of my family, it would appear.

Baldock/Fagg/Small Family History - ... or "An insight into personal family history research"