In 1898, Ellen Cook began working for a carting company in Glasgow, Scotland, and soon became involved with the owner's son. 15 years later, in 1915, their relationship made the international newspapers when Ellen sued John Sinclair for breach of promise. After stringing her along for years, John had decided not to attend his own wedding because 'the weather was bad', and went home to bed instead.

Join us in some historical 'curtain twitching' as we learn more.

For show notes, please go to https://geneageek.com/podcast/

Guest: Dave

Surnames: Sinclair, Cook, Young, Sutherland, Wilson, Lyell

Places: Glasgow, Stirling, Kilcreggan, Gourock, Ayr, Scotland, Gibraltar, Malta

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In 1852, it was claimed that a young girl from a tiny village in rural Suffolk was blind, deaf, confined to her bed, and had lived without food for several months. Elizabeth Squirrell became known as 'The Shottisham Angel'. But the sensation soon turned to scandal with accusations that she and her family were frauds. Was Elizabeth Squirrell an imposter? Or had others just been spreading misinformation?

In part 2, we explore the family's response to the accusations of fraud and find out what happened to Elizabeth and her family.

For show notes, please go to: https://geneageek.com/podcast/

Guest: Pip

Surnames: Squirrell, Matcham, Francis, Bendall, Seagar

Places: Shottisham, Hollesley, Bawdsey, Woodbridge, Ipswich, Suffolk

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In 1852, it was claimed that a young girl from a tiny village in rural Suffolk was blind, deaf, confined to her bed, and had lived without food for several months. Elizabeth Squirrell became known as ‘The Shottisham Angel’. But the sensation soon turned to scandal with accusations that she and her family were frauds. Was Elizabeth Squirrell an imposter? Or had others just been spreading misinformation?

For show notes, please go to: https://geneageek.com/podcast/

Guest: Pip

Surnames: Squirrell, Matcham

Places: Shottisham, Hollesley, Bawdsey, Woodbridge, Ipswich, Suffolk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a body is discovered on a rocky beach in Victorian northeast Scotland, it unravels the buried history of a fishing family marked by tragedy. Life in their harsh coastal village was unforgiving—but what led at least four of them to be committed to the Royal Lunatic Asylum in Aberdeen? Was it madness, misfortune, or something more?

Guest: Eddie

Surnames: Buchan, Strachan, Carle, Tait

Places: Cairnbulg, Inverallochy, St Combs, Aberdeen, Maud, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire

For show notes, please go to: https://geneageek.com/podcast/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On a Friday night in September 1842, some young men – local agricultural labourers – went out for a drink or three in Hadleigh, Suffolk. A few hours later, one of them would be found slumped on the road dead.

In part 1, we heard all about the coroner’s inquest looking into John Blandon’s death on the streets of Hadleigh. The inquest decided that Charles Smith had a case to answer, and he was committed to Bury Gaol to await trial.

In part 2, we hear about the trial, its verdict and how my guest’s family is linked to this story.

For show notes, please go to: https://geneageek.com/podcast/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On a Friday night in September 1842, some young men - local agricultural labourers - went out for a drink or three in Hadleigh, Suffolk. A few hours later, one of them would be found slumped on the road dead.

My guest's family turned out to be linked to this story in a surprising number of ways.

For show notes, please go to: https://geneageek.com/podcast/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Suffolk native, Margaret Catchpole, was a REAL person, and shining star of Australia’s convict history. Unfortunately the story often told about her is largely false. 25 years after her death, the Reverend Richard Cobbold wrote a fictionalised account of Margaret’s life which he declared to be a “perfectly true narrative”. It was not. Unfortunately, Cobbold’s novel, with all its embellishments and inaccuracies, still tends to be the main source for how Margaret’s life story is told today.

This episode discusses the known facts of the life of Margaret Catchpole, a Suffolk girl.

For show notes, please go to: https://geneageek.com/podcast

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Hannah's story comes to its conclusion in this fourth and final part.

Drunkenness, sham marriages, assaults, disorderly houses, attacks, wife swapping, neighbourhood quarrels, domestic abuse... life in the Derby slums is HARD.

How will it all end?

For show notes, please go to: https://geneageek.com/podcast/

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We learn more about how difficult life in 'the slums' of Derby could be, as Hannah and William fight to survive... literally.

What other shady practices will our friends on Willow Row be involved in next?

(Images discussed in the episode can be found in the show notes.)

For show notes, please go to: https://geneageek.com/podcast/

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Our guests finally learn about the incident involving their 2nd great grandmother, that the newspapers labelled 'Shocking Immorality'.

Fights, assaults, infidelity, drunkenness and even disorderly houses... the story of Hannah Bates continues in the West End of Derby in the 1880s.

For show notes, please go to: https://geneageek.com/podcast/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.