DS Forums

 
 

Who Do you Think You Are? New Series


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 12-09-2014, 00:34
lundavra
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 25,458
Like a Part 2 - Where did Christopher Berry end up for starters?
You often find unused clips put online and various places often publish the celebrities tree.
lundavra is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 12-09-2014, 00:59
Tourista
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Dagenham Essex UK
Posts: 9,714
Most of the time on this show, it is what is missing that intrigues me rather than the on screen story.

What was her situation in 1841 when the first census was taken, or even 1851?. Did it show her living at home with her father, or was she in service like a lot of poorer girls and the kids were her employers or as she mentioned herself, was Mary on the game?..

If anyone has access to these census records it would be interesting to see what you find out.

As for the bread "mystery", the baking industry at the time was rife with problems, so Houghton wouldn't be alone in adulteration of his merchandise. Even if he was honest, many flour mills were not averse to "padding" their product out with filler such as sawdust and the mentioned ground bone, so the final loaf would have been interesting to say the least.

But overall, a far better episode than the previous lot. Due mainly to the breadth of the story, and not concentrating on one family line.
Tourista is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2014, 08:20
dome
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 52,176
Yes, a much better episode. I wondered about Christopher Berry, strange that they should put an order out on him to pay 20s a week (a lot of money in those days) to keep his wife and 6 children in the workhouse. First they said he had probably abandoned them, but he had the two eldest children with him. I would have liked to have found out more about the aftermath of his bankruptcy.
We don't know that he did, there was no evidence produced that he did.

I would have liked to have known what happened to Christopher, it may have thrown up a few more clues as to what happened with Mary.
dome is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2014, 08:28
towers
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Midlands, UK
Posts: 10,943
As for the bread "mystery", the baking industry at the time was rife with problems, so Houghton wouldn't be alone in adulteration of his merchandise. Even if he was honest, many flour mills were not averse to "padding" their product out with filler such as sawdust and the mentioned ground bone, so the final loaf would have been interesting to say the least..
Yeah, that was covered in a documentary about the dangers of living in Victorian Britain, along with toxic wallpaper and deadly gas lamps etc.

A good show last night...
towers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2014, 09:03
Shrike
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 11,475
(Must admit though, I thought for one horrible moment that the expert on workhouses was going to suggest that the children of the earlier Mary Berry were the children of her father Christopher when she was keeping house for him. When he then said they could guess that Mary hadn't liked her father because she never named any of her sons Christopher, that was pretty mild in comparison!)
My thought too - was it on a previous WDYTYA or something else, where it was revealed it was quite common when the mother died that the eldest daughter would assume the role of housekeeper and often other 'wifely duties' too
Shrike is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2014, 09:47
lundavra
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 25,458
My thought too - was it on a previous WDYTYA or something else, where it was revealed it was quite common when the mother died that the eldest daughter would assume the role of housekeeper and often other 'wifely duties' too
An 'expert' did suggest that in one programme but I seem to remember that many were very sceptical of the interpretation that they put on the situation. Though obviously daughter would assist with normal domestic duties.
lundavra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2014, 10:51
valkay
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 15,280
(Must admit though, I thought for one horrible moment that the expert on workhouses was going to suggest that the children of the earlier Mary Berry were the children of her father Christopher when she was keeping house for him. When he then said they could guess that Mary hadn't liked her father because she never named any of her sons Christopher, that was pretty mild in comparison!)

That occurred to me too, and one of her sons became a printer, was he working for her father.?
valkay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2014, 10:55
lundavra
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 25,458
You can see more detail here and it links to her tree.

http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/feat...ary-berry-157/
lundavra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2014, 21:16
Smint
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,964
Martin Shaw tonight - not sure if they're focusing on just the one person again - his grandfather on his father's side - or if they're casting the net wider

Liked his house and his dog!
Smint is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2014, 22:03
hansue
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,038
I quite enjoyed that. I thought at first it was going to be another programme with just one relative but it turned out to be quite interesting. I have always loved Martin Shaw as an actor but it was nice to see him as himself. How good was that being able to find a half aunt that he didn't know about.
hansue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2014, 22:05
penelopesimpson
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 12,218
Better than usual and I love Martin Shaw, but still not riveting. I think the programme needs resting for a while. Oh well, at least Martin didn't play the banjo!
penelopesimpson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2014, 22:49
jtnorth
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,491
They all feel more padded this year. A lot lesson foreign travel as well. I wonder if the budget has been cut - or spent on the celebs, because it is a good group of people.

I'm going to admit that I've always thought him a very good actor but I've never had that good an impression of Martin Shaw as himself, going on press interviews (which you shouldn't do, of course) and I was really surprised at how sweet and warm he came across as being. Lovely man, and so happy to find out everything he found out it was infectious. It wasn't the most exciting discoveries but it was very human and I enjoyed it, and I felt that he didn't know it all beforehand, which I haven't always felt this year.

Very sad, those two men dying of TB in their 30s, and him writing his will two days before he died with his wife pregnant. I wonder what they invented.
jtnorth is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2014, 23:20
Aurora13
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 10,591
Excellent tonight. Very genuine. I like Martin Shaw as an actor. Judge John Deed is just superb. I've been on holiday so only just caught up with last two. Mary Berry again good episode. I agree about possible incest. Sheridan Smith irritating with too much filler. This series has been very hit and miss.
Aurora13 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2014, 23:46
catsitter
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,237
catsitter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-09-2014, 00:27
ClarkF1
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: London
Posts: 5,858
I wonder what they invented.
That image is for a sugar crushing machine which is only the first part of the patent. The second part is for rolling sugar paste into balls

More information here and here
ClarkF1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-09-2014, 06:35
Bobby'sgirl
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: South East England
Posts: 2,155
They all feel more padded this year. A lot lesson foreign travel as well. I wonder if the budget has been cut - or spent on the celebs, because it is a good group of people.

I'm going to admit that I've always thought him a very good actor but I've never had that good an impression of Martin Shaw as himself, going on press interviews (which you shouldn't do, of course) and I was really surprised at how sweet and warm he came across as being. Lovely man, and so happy to find out everything he found out it was infectious. It wasn't the most exciting discoveries but it was very human and I enjoyed it, and I felt that he didn't know it all beforehand, which I haven't always felt this year.

Very sad, those two men dying of TB in their 30s, and him writing his will two days before he died with his wife pregnant. I wonder what they invented.
Brilliant tonight. Always have loved Martin Shaw. He seemed very genuine and a lovely man. Much better episode than most and more relatives searched. He is my favourite this series with Brian Blessed a close second.
On a lighter note those lucky ladies to have sat that close to him
Bobby'sgirl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-09-2014, 19:09
lundavra
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 25,458
A few thoughts

I was not impressed with definition of machinist given by the 'expert'.

There was no mention of next of kin information on the service records, presumably would have been changed when he left his wife.

The names of the witnesses on the Marriage Certificate could have been interesting if it was done in secret. I don't think someone claiming to be over 21 was particularly unusual, I wonder if the vicar might have turned a blind eye if it made sure the baby was not born illegitimate.

The G GF (or was it GG GF?) was ill with TB for a year but got his wife pregnant?

What's the period of embargo on seeing the full details of divorce cases? I have seen some from the early part of the 20th Century (I think) with all the detail available).
lundavra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-09-2014, 20:17
Stansfield
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 5,982
With Brian Blessed, this one last night with Martin S - was classic WDYTYA.
Stansfield is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-09-2014, 20:48
BirthdayGirl
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 32,020
With Brian Blessed, this one last night with Martin S - was classic WDYTYA.
I've recorded all of these this series but based on this thread, I've not bothered to watch most of them, but I will watch this week's!
BirthdayGirl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-09-2014, 20:11
Eliz_Ellen
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 15
I searched for her in the records of court cases in a site called oldbaileyonline.org and not only found details of her case and a conviction of another more distant relative but also found that several members of my family appeared in various other cases when they were victims of, or witnessed, theft.
Off-thread maybe but thank you for this web address .

From a quick visit there I just found out about two cases involving ancestors of mine.
One female ancestor witnessed in court to a theft in 1841 where she apprehended a thief carrying away a bed from their shop, which I discovered was a pawnbroker not a cabinetmaker as I had assumed
The other female was found guilty of stealing and selling 4 ounces of silk for 4 shillings. She was branded (at the age of 20) and the person she sold it to was transported for 14 years!!

More research needed now methinks to find out about branding. Anyone any ideas on where to look for this?
Eliz_Ellen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-09-2014, 21:49
lundavra
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 25,458
Ancestry divorce records only go up to 1911

England & Wales, Civil Divorce Records, 1858-1911
http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/feat...rtin-shaw-158/


Another thing that struck me was when they showed him the picture of his Great Grandfather on Ancestry, he seemed to just accept it as quite normal. My immediate question would be to ask who posted because it indicates some else had been researching him.
lundavra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-09-2014, 22:06
Eliz_Ellen
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 15
Another thing that struck me was when they showed him the picture of his Great Grandfather on Ancestry, he seemed to just accept it as quite normal. My immediate question would be to ask who posted because it indicates some else had been researching him.
That's just what I yelled at the Ipad - "Click on the family tree for that photo and send a message to that relation of yours who has uploaded it!! "
Eliz_Ellen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-09-2014, 09:54
i4u
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 30,189
At the National Archives they files going uptp 1937, it's where I found details of a relative's divorce in the early 1930's which involved private detectives going to South America to investigate. A summary of what the Judge was told was in the file but their report with all the juicy bits was not in the file.

Ancestry seems to be tied itself to the census hundred years rule, so for example London school records on Ancestry only go up to 1911 but they are freely available upto the 1930's at the London Metropolitan Archives.
i4u is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-09-2014, 21:43
Leicester_Hunk
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Leicester!!!
Posts: 13,021
Anybody watching this? Reggie Yates's great grandfather was a bigamist
Leicester_Hunk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-09-2014, 21:55
mklass
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,296
Yes I am watching!, I am just wondering if he Is going to turn up on the 'English side of the families doorstep'!!..... now that could pu t the cat amoung the pidgeons eh!....
mklass is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 13:21.