Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
@ancestralenq.bsky.social
1.4K followers 1.6K following 4.1K posts
Genealogist & Family Historian for 20 years. AGRA Associate, Wakefield, W. Yorks. Pharos Intermediate & Advanced Certificate One Place Study: St. John's Square, Wakefield www.ancestralenquiries.co.uk #FamilyHistory #Genealogy #LocalHistory #Yorkshire
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ancestralenq.bsky.social
Welcome to all new followers. My name is Tony & I started my professional genealogy journey in 2024.
When I'm not researching my ancestors or those of clients I enjoy running, alternative music, travelling & exploring historical buildings, churches, cathedrals, pubs, landmarks & graveyards.
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The grave of William Etty, 1787-1849, one of York's most prominent characters in the churchyard at St. Olave's Church, York.
Special thanks to @graveyardsquirrel.com for bringing this to my attention.
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Letters written by notorious horse thief Margaret Catchpole who lived at Nacton, Suffolk who was eventually transported to Australia to go on display as part of an exhibition at The Hold, Ipswich.
@whoamiftr.bsky.social 👇

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Suffolk horse thief's 18th Century letters on show in UK first
Margaret Catchpole was transported to Australia and her letters form part of a new exhibition.
www.bbc.co.uk
ancestralenq.bsky.social
#OTD In 1925 Margaret Thatcher was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Today sees the start of Thatcher Fest in Grantham with walking tours, exhibitions, poetry & a drag show. 👇
BBC News - Thatcher 100th anniversary: Discord or harmony?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Margaret Thatcher festival to begin in her hometown of Grantham
Margaret Thatcher's hometown of Grantham hosts a festival to mark the centenary of her birth.
www.bbc.com
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Chris Wood who wrote a book on bizarre & tragic theatrical deaths is bringing the stories to the stage at Swindon Arts Centre on 27th October. 👇
BBC News - Children crush disaster and other theatre deaths made into play - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Children crush disaster and other theatre deaths made into play
The one-man show explores untimely deaths that have occurred in theatres across the country.
www.bbc.co.uk
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
ancestralenq.bsky.social
A plaque erected in 1996 outside Rougemont Castle, Exeter for the last people to be executed in England for witchcraft. Temperance Lloyd, Susannah Edwards & Mary Trembles of Bideford who were arrested in August 1682, were tried at the Exeter Assizes, Rougemont Castle on 14th August 1682 & /1
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Oh I didn't realise there was one in Bideford as well.
ancestralenq.bsky.social
witchcraft. Alice Molland was accused & sentenced to death for witchcraft in 1685 though no documentary evidence of her execution has been identified. Calls & petitions for the government to annul their convictions have thus far been unsuccessful. /3
ancestralenq.bsky.social
hanged at Exeter Prison on 25th August 1682. They were charged with sorcery or witchcraft which would now be interpreted as malicious gossip or hearsay. Lloyd was accused of causing death through the dark arts to which she confessed. Edwards & Trembles were accused of causing sickness through /2
ancestralenq.bsky.social
A plaque erected in 1996 outside Rougemont Castle, Exeter for the last people to be executed in England for witchcraft. Temperance Lloyd, Susannah Edwards & Mary Trembles of Bideford who were arrested in August 1682, were tried at the Exeter Assizes, Rougemont Castle on 14th August 1682 & /1
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The Castle Gateway & Athelstan's Tower which form part of Exeter Castle commonly known as Rougemont Castle. Built in 1069 for William I into the northern corner of the Roman city walls under the supervision of Baldwin de Meules who became its first custodian. The original timber stockade was /1
ancestralenq.bsky.social
In 1773 all the buildings within the castle walls were demolished & replaced with a courthouse built in Palladian style. The Northernhay & Gardens & Rougemont Gardens surround the castle. The castle was listed as a Scheduled Monument in 1923. /3
ancestralenq.bsky.social
replaced with a curtain wall & substantial gatehouse before 1200. The outer bailey with walls & barbican were probably in existence in 1136 when King Stephen besieged the castle. They were dismantled after 1587. It became a residence during the reign of King John but was in poor condition by 1325./2
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The Castle Gateway & Athelstan's Tower which form part of Exeter Castle commonly known as Rougemont Castle. Built in 1069 for William I into the northern corner of the Roman city walls under the supervision of Baldwin de Meules who became its first custodian. The original timber stockade was /1
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The abandoned St. Michael & All Angels Church at Bedham, near Petworth, West Sussex which was built in 1880 & abandoned in 1959. It was used as a school in the week & a church on Sunday. 👇
BBC News - The ghostly abandoned school hidden in Sussex woods - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The ghostly abandoned school hidden in Sussex woods
The ruin of St Michael and All Angels'church and school lies deep in the woods in Bedham.
www.bbc.co.uk
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Giles Naish who works at the chocolate factory that his great great grandfather Joseph Rowntree helped to establish. 👇
BBC News - 'I work at York chocolate factory my ancestor founded 130 years ago' - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'I work at York chocolate factory my ancestor founded 130 years ago'
Giles Naish says he is proud of his connection to chocolatier and philanthropist Joseph Rowntree.
www.bbc.co.uk
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
listerlanecem.bsky.social
Remembering a few buried in unmarked public graves, who died on this day in:

Edward MacClea, died 1845, aged 36 years, tailor
Mary Ann Moor, died 1857, aged 11 days
Frederick Mitchell Sykes, died 1862, aged 8 months
Elizabeth Boyle, died 1868, aged 7 years
Joseph Aitken, died 1868, aged 5 years
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Interesting day ghost hunting & tour of St. Olave's Cemetery & York Cemetery with @graveyardsquirrel.com
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Shafts of late afternoon autumn light & sun rays penetrate through the trees in York Cemetery. An afternoon of looking at the graves & bringing the stories of those here back to life with @graveyardsquirrel.com
The Grade 2 listed York Cemetery opened in 1837 & is administered by the /1
ancestralenq.bsky.social
I'm drawing inspiration from the scribes of @graveyardsquirrel.com.
I'm trying to think more about the use of vocabulary when posting 😆
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
cv5480.bsky.social
Every so often a census paper throws up an interesting entry.

Harry Houdini and his wife noted in the 1911 census staying in Huddersfield.

#ancestry
#census
#houdini
#musichall
A census page from 1911
ancestralenq.bsky.social
York Cemetery Trust with support of the Friends of York Cemetery. It is 24 acres with 124,500 burials & 28,000 graves. /2
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Shafts of late afternoon autumn light & sun rays penetrate through the trees in York Cemetery. An afternoon of looking at the graves & bringing the stories of those here back to life with @graveyardsquirrel.com
The Grade 2 listed York Cemetery opened in 1837 & is administered by the /1
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Was Jack Sparrow based on Jack Ward a fish gutter from Faversham, Kent who in the late 16th century became a pirate raiding Spanish ships for gold? 👇
BBC News - Is Jack Sparrow based on a 16th Century Kent pirate? - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Is Jack Sparrow based on a 16th Century Kent pirate?
Jack Ward plundered treasure from the Spanish in the Caribbean in the late 16th Century.
www.bbc.co.uk
ancestralenq.bsky.social
A collection of WW2 Home Guard papers belonging to Major James Webster says the men of the Home Guard were highly skilled soldiers according to Suffolk historian Taff Gillingham. 👇
BBC News - WW2 Home Guard soldiers not 'old duffers', says Suffolk historian - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
WW2 Home Guard soldiers not 'old duffers', says Suffolk historian
A collection of papers reveals the volunteer force's extensive training exercises.
www.bbc.co.uk
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The abandoned St. Michael & All Angels Church at Bedham, near Petworth, West Sussex which was built in 1880 & abandoned in 1959. It was used as a school in the week & a church on Sunday. 👇
BBC News - The ghostly abandoned school hidden in Sussex woods - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The ghostly abandoned school hidden in Sussex woods
The ruin of St Michael and All Angels'church and school lies deep in the woods in Bedham.
www.bbc.co.uk