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This is something that has been nagging at me for years and not helped by something my mother said when I was in my teens.

Some years back I had my DNA tested. The test back then is nothing like the tests they do know but it still gives you some indication. There are few Lonsdale’s that have their DNA tested, but of those that have my results don’t come anywhere near. I have one other male family member who I could ask to take a DNA test but I suppose I’m scared of the result, so won’t ask.
 
It was a casual remark by my daughter that got me searching for my /our family roots. Dad had recently passed away, and mum poor love had Alzheimer’s and had regressed so far back, she was saving for the war effort. So when it came to dad’s family she wasn’t much help.

I was born in London, dad was born in London, and as far as I knew so was his dad. So I had to ask the family, namely dad’s siblings. We all know that family members can be funny about certain things but when I started asking questions I obviously hit a very rare nerve. I had done a bit of research and sent them my findings and asking a few questions and I got a very terse letter from one aunt telling me that I had upset all the family with my “Mumbo Jumbo” and I wasn’t to approach any of them again. I wrote and apologised and explained that I only wanted to trace my roots and I received another terse letter in reply.

It was obvious that the family weren’t a close knit family, at least when it came to our side of it. When my father died he had lived in his current house almost 25 years but to my knowledge neither of his sisters had ever been there. His funeral was their once and only visit. Alright, Mum and Dad lived on the Essex coast and they lived in Sussex, and Somerset but they always seemed to be visiting each other.

One family member died, and we received a letter telling us of the death and that they had been buried. Do families do that? Just a quick line to tell you that …….. Died on the 27th and was buried on Tuesday.

Dad was born in 1918 and I struggled to find his parents marriage and then their births. I eventually found the marriage on April 1st 1918 both aged 22. The surprise was that my Grandfather was only 18 and my Grandmother 23 and dad was born a just weeks later.

So the search goes on to find out who I really am. To see more of my research please click HERE