Sunday 30 March 2014
Mother's Day
Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, past and present. They are our heritage, a part of ourselves. Every human being ever born has a mother, even if you haven't had the fortune to know much about them - there are a long line of mothers stretching back through history leading to you. Happy Mother's Day!
Saturday 29 March 2014
Love and Marriage
Whether you support it or not, history is being made today by same-sex couples across the country. Marriage law has always evolved to meet the needs of the people making use of it. Laws relating to the age at which you can get married, the licensing of marriage venues, whether you may marry a widowed brother-in-law or sister-in-law, and the civil registration of marriage have all been passed since 1800. The age of marriage was only raised to 16 in 1929, before this a girl aged 12 or a boy aged 14 could marry with their parents' consent.
Yes, marriage law has come a long way since the time when all that was needed was for a couple to state their intention to marry (they could even, at one time, do this in private - no witness need be present,) and (ahem) consummate the union, for it to be binding. This is just one more step.
Yes, marriage law has come a long way since the time when all that was needed was for a couple to state their intention to marry (they could even, at one time, do this in private - no witness need be present,) and (ahem) consummate the union, for it to be binding. This is just one more step.
Wednesday 26 March 2014
Trips to the Past
I went on a trip today and visited the grave of an ancestor. Yes, that may seem a little weird, or maybe even morbid, to those who haven't done so before. I'm not going to lie, graveyards are not the easiest places to navigate (especially in Wales, they tend to be half-way up a mountain,) but if you allow yourself to travel between (and sometimes over, again, difficult to navigate,) the different graves to find the one with significance to you, you can sometimes find gems of information.
Gravestones (and are) a way of creating a memorial to those who have died, sometimes this can be touching and personal, sometimes simple and plain. Often, they can provide details of relations, death dates, ages, and addresses. The stone itself can also give you an idea of your family's circumstances - many poor people could not afford a stone, whilst the rich would have ostentatious monuments, or a memorial in pride of place within the church itself (I think this made them feel they were closer to God, or maybe just that their family could point out the memorial to the entire congregation every Sunday.)
If graveyards freak you out, and I know that they do freak out a lot of people, then you could always focus on the church or village your ancestor(s) would have seen and walked in throughout their lives. A little connection to the life that came before.
Gravestones (and are) a way of creating a memorial to those who have died, sometimes this can be touching and personal, sometimes simple and plain. Often, they can provide details of relations, death dates, ages, and addresses. The stone itself can also give you an idea of your family's circumstances - many poor people could not afford a stone, whilst the rich would have ostentatious monuments, or a memorial in pride of place within the church itself (I think this made them feel they were closer to God, or maybe just that their family could point out the memorial to the entire congregation every Sunday.)
If graveyards freak you out, and I know that they do freak out a lot of people, then you could always focus on the church or village your ancestor(s) would have seen and walked in throughout their lives. A little connection to the life that came before.
Tuesday 25 March 2014
Hidden Pasts
Objects can have their own history. At a visit to the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff, I saw this painting on display.
The painting is of Catrin - also known as Kathryn - of Berain, an interesting lady who lived in the Tudor period. The portrait of her on display in Cardiff was bought (legally, no plundering in this case) by the infamous Hermann Goering in 1940. The painting was retrieved by the adults in 1945, and returned to the dealer who had originally sold it. More of the painting's fascinating story can be found on this fantastic BBC page.
Other pictures of Catrin can be found on the BBC your paintings website (I know, I know, one of my favourites!) here and also here.
The painting is of Catrin - also known as Kathryn - of Berain, an interesting lady who lived in the Tudor period. The portrait of her on display in Cardiff was bought (legally, no plundering in this case) by the infamous Hermann Goering in 1940. The painting was retrieved by the adults in 1945, and returned to the dealer who had originally sold it. More of the painting's fascinating story can be found on this fantastic BBC page.
Other pictures of Catrin can be found on the BBC your paintings website (I know, I know, one of my favourites!) here and also here.
time goes by again
Hi, again apologies for not posting for so long - busy little researcher here!
I'm hoping to start regularly posting again, starting today. Stay tuned folks!
I'm hoping to start regularly posting again, starting today. Stay tuned folks!
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