S03EP03 - 'The Emigrant' with Helen Parker-Drabble

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

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