The Family Histories Podcast

In this final full episode of Series Six, host Andrew meets James Danter - a family historian who is also a professional archaeologist. Andrew learns about how he got into both of these areas, and how they overlap and help him with his research in both fields. He also asks James on his thoughts of how these two areas could work closer.
THE LIFE STORY - DARCY FOWLER
James has chosen to tell the story of his wife's ancestor, Darcy Fowler (later known as D'arcy Fowler) who trained and worked as a solicitor. However, as James' research progressed he soon uncovered a story that led Darcy to move from the UK to America, and fighting as a loyalist in the American Revolution.
THE BRICK WALL - GEORGE RICHARD CORDWELL
It's a First World War mystery that has James digging around for clues.
His 2x Great Grandfather George Richard Cordwell, born in 1894, earned medals for his work in The Great War, and James has a photograph of him in his military uniform, but beyond this, he's been unable to find any conscription, army service records, medal cards, or discharge records. Somehow, he's missing.

• Which battalion was George in?
• Does a Cordwell surname variant hide the truth?

If you think that you can help James with a research idea or a clue to turn that brick wall to dust, then you can contact him on his Twitter/X profile at @jdanter or alternatively, you can contact us and we'll send your message on to him.
In the meantime, James is hoping to dig into some new clues in Andrew’s garage, but will he strike gold, and will Andrew take a trip of his own?
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Episode Credits:
Andrew Martin - Host and Producer
James Danter - Guest

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In this seventh and final episode of Series Three, host Andrew Martin meets public historian and tour guide, Sheldon K. Goodman, to find out about how he became obsessed with family history, why he co-founded the Cemetery Club, and how he researches and shares the often hidden lives of LGBTQ+ people.
Life Story: John Traynor
Sheldon has chosen his Great Grandfather's life story to share with us, but it's one that's filled with pain and trauma.
When Sheldon's Grandfather was just 4 years old, in a fit of rage, his father threw him into scalding water, which resulted in burns that were so severe that the 4 year old child received his last rites. He did survive though, badly scarred, but never spoke of what happened, nor about his father. The family subsequently destroyed photographs of John, and removed him from his own headstone.
Sheldon, with help from his Twitter followers, unravelled some of John's earlier life, that has made him reassess his mental state - believing that whilst his act against his son is inexcusable, he may have been suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after his time fighting in the First World War.
The Brick Wall: R H Bates 'The Bird Man of Hyde Park'
In what is probably the most quirkiest of all our guest's brick walls so far, Sheldon is trying to find out what happened to local character R H Bates, known affectionately on the streets of London, and the press, as 'the bird man of Hyde Park'.

• Who was R H Bates?
• What did he do in life before he dedicated his time to feeding the sparrows?
• When did he die, and of course, where can Sheldon visit his grave?

If you think you might have a clue for Sheldon, you can aptly tweet him via his twitter profile @CemeteryClub, or you can head over to familyhistoriespodcast.com and use our contact form and we'll send the message on.
In the meantime, as Andrew and Sheldon head to the garage, there's a surprise waiting for them...
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Episode Credits:
Series Three, Episode Seven

• Andrew Martin - Host and Producer
• Sheldon K. Goodman - Guest
• Prince Sterling - The Intruder

Show notes and more: familyhistoriespodcast.com

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In this third episode of Series Three, host Andrew Martin meets author, genealogist, and counsellor Helen Parker-Drabble to find out how she got hooked on family history, what exactly is a 'geneatherapist', and how she uses this skill within her research to help understand her ancestors' psychological inheritance.
Life Story: Walter Parker
Helen has chosen to tell the life story of her Grandfather Walter Parker, who was born in the village of Upwell in Norfolk, England in 1885. Walter is also the central topic of her book 'A Victorian's Inheritance'.
We'll hear about how a 21 year old Walter's silent protest led to him having to choose either to leave the family home in Thorney, Cambridgeshire, or see his family evicted. He chose emigration to the prairies of Winnipeg, Canada, but sometimes the problems that you're trying to escape from, escape with you.
The Brick Wall: Walter Parker!
Helen has chosen to stick with her Grandfather Walter Parker, as she needs our help to solve a conundrum. Walter emigrated to Canada in March 1907, and she has many pieces of evidence, including passenger lists from the SS Ionian, and postcards, to support this. Yet, there's a vaccination card from the same ship that has survived amongst his papers, stamped from almost exactly one year earlier. What does this mean?
- Did he manage to afford to travel to Canada twice in a year?
- Was the SS Ionian stamping vaccination cards with the wrong year?
- Was this card someone else's, and if so why did Walter have it, and keep it?
If you think you can help Helen with a clue or research idea that can help her break this brick wall, then you can visit her website, her twitter, or drop her a message via our contact form, and we'll pass it on.
In the meantime, Helen jumps at Andrew's offer of help, but will he be able to get her aboard on time?
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Episode Credits
Series Three, Episode Three

• Andrew Martin - Host and Producer
• Helen Parker-Drabble - Guest
• John Spike - Sándor Petőfi
• Debanjali Biswas - Photography

Show notes and more: familyhistoriespodcast.com

Thank you for listening!
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You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky.
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In this fourth episode of Series Five, host Andrew meets family historian, blogger, and Family Tree Magazine columnist Paul Chiddicks. He tells Andrew how he got into family history, about his Old Palace School Bombing project, and shares his ideas for some genealogy-themed Lego sets.
The Life Story - William Wootton
Paul has chosen to tell the life story of his maternal Great Grandfather William Tom Wootton, who was born in 1863 in Kentish Town, London. Paul describes him as an 'entrepreneur' although others might describe him as a 'chancer' given some of his actions.
William had 7 children with his first wife Elizabeth Compton, but the final child saw Elizabeth die in childbirth. William re-married to an Emily Dodd, and they added a further 9 children to their family - and as you might expect - this came at a price!
William worked as a lead glazier on some of England's most impressive architecture, but his determination to keep a roof over his family's head led him to take on a number of other jobs to make ends meet, including Punch and Judy shows, busking and there's even a family rumour about a sale of some well known East End songs.
The Brick Wall - Samuel Chiddicks
It's a brick wall that's been standing for 30 years that is asking for help with, and it's one that he has tried to crack time and time again.
Paul knows that Samuel Chiddicks was buried in South Fambridge in Essex, England, in 1816, with a given age of 55 years old, which in turn gives an approximate birth year of 1761.
He is believed to have married a Mary Turner in 1787 in South Fambridge, but he is known to have married Ann Beard in 1794.
Paul has undertaken an autosomal test with Ancestry, and a Y-DNA test with Family Tree DNA, and this has given him some Chiddicks matches in the USA and Northern Ireland, that all lead back to County Tyrone and County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland... but how?

• Where was Samuel Chiddicks born?
• Who were his parents?
• Is Northern Ireland in his Chiddicks ancestry?

If you think that you can help Paul with his brick wall, you can contact him via his website chiddicksfamilytree.com or you can find him on Twitter @chiddickstree. Alternatively, you can send us a message via our website and we'll pass it on to him.
Meanwhile, Paul is cautious of Andrew's offer of help, but maybe he has a good reason to be...
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Episode Credits
Series Five, Episode Four:

• Andrew Martin - Host and Producer
• Paul Chiddicks - Guest
• John Spike - Sándor Petőfi.

Thank you for listening!
You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news.

You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky.
If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

Host Andrew Martin meets radio presenter and family historian, and host of the Extreme Genes radio show and podcast - Scott Fisher. He finds out how Scott got hooked on researching his family history, the lengths he goes to to solve genealogy puzzles, and how he ended up making his hit radio and podcast show.
THE LIFE STORY - DONALD OLSEN
Scott has chosen to tell the life story of his maternal half-uncle Donald Olsen.
Donald was one of several brothers who ended up serving in the Second World War, but it's a naval record that gave Scott a detailed account of Donald's time at sea in the Pacific Ocean. Whilst there, Donald experienced terrifying and harrowing events that would seemingly haunt him deeply until he decided to take his own life.
THE BRICK WALL - JAMES STOCKS
It's a Brick Wall in London, England, that has Scott stuck. Scott has managed to find a fantastically detailed description of James Stocks - right down to the state of his clothing, thanks to a detailed article in an old newspaper from 1818. Sadly, this article was published because James had abandoned his wife Catherine and their children.
The article, and some US census records for the children (after they'd emigrated) state that he was from Scotland, but some also say he was from England.. so it's a little uncertain. This is where Scott is stuck. Can you help?

• Where was James Stocks born?
• Where did James Stocks go in 1818?

If you think you can help Scott with a clue or research idea, you can send him a message via our contact form and we'll send it straight to him.
In the meantime, Scott is fascinated by Andrew's offer of help, but will it shine a light on things?
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Episode Credits:

• Andrew Martin - Host and Producer
• Scott Fisher - Guest
• John Spike - Sándor Petőfi

Thank you for listening!
You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news.

You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky.
If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.