In this seventh and final full episode of Season Ten of The Family Histories Podcast, host Andrew Martin meets Danish professional genealogist Lene D. Kottal. She explains how she got hooked on family history, why she turned professional, and how skills in researching patronymics can help researchers of Danish ancestry.

THE LIFE STORY - ANNA MARIA SÖDERLUND 

Lene has decided to tell the life story of her Great Grandmother Anna Maria Söderlund - someone that she has seen smiling in photographs but has since discovered led a hard life.

When Anna's father is fired for supporting a strike, the family fall upon harder times. Lene finds that Anna also worked in a glass factory too, but not within the glass blowing, but in the lesser skilled (and lower paid) jobs - much like her father had been forced into after being fired from his skilled job. 

The hardship continues as Anna marries and grows older, and with her husband, she ends up living in a convent. Lene likes to imagine that she lived here peacefully and in some comfort.

THE BRICK WALL - FREDERIK DRÆBY 

Lene is trying to find evidence that proves or disproves the paternity of her 2x Gt Grandfather Frederik Dræby, born in 1849 as the reputed son of customs official Frederik Dræby of Silkeborg, Denmark. 

However, Lene is struggling to find documented evidence, or genetic evidence that either confirms this, or points to a different paternity.

Frederik Dræby senior has plenty of other children, and Lene has traced their descendants but has not found them in her matches with MyHeritage. She has yet to take an Ancestry test, but hopes that a paternal match for this branch will prove it was Dræby or will point elsewhere instead.

• Can you help Lene find evidence of Frederik Dræby, or do you have that name in your tree?

If you think you can help her with a research clue or idea, then you can send her a message via her website, join her Dræby Facebook group, or alternatively you can send us a message and we'll pass it along to her.

In the meantime, Lene is happy to accept Andrew's offer of help, but they're interrupted by an old friend... or are they?

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Episode Credits:

• Andrew Martin - Host and Producer
• Lene D. Kottal - Guest
• Peter Baker - Santa

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