When is your pilgrimage to be to our fair city, and for how long?
I have researched and traced a lot of my Canadian family who are decended from Sheffield emigrees, and visited them, where I got an overwhelming welcome by the Canadians. Lovely folk. In the light of this I should like to offer myself as a Sheffield and environs guide to you during your stay (in Sheffield I assume). Free of charge of course, to show my appreciation for you Canadians. I am a family history researcher of 30 plus years, and know Sheffield inside out. I also hold various old maps showing old streets and buildings now gone, in case you just want to stand on the turf your family inhabited.(Yes I know that urge!)
I could help you plan your various trips to maximise time. Give suggestions on hotel, B and B's, guest houses etc in central areas. I could do a lot of the prep work before you arrive, with a bit more detailed info of course.
I have a 4 seater car to take you around. Sheffield's one way systems and anti-vehicle city centre, and parking restrictions are not for the faint hearted, and a lot of time can be wasted if you don't know your way around.
Do you want to get involved in any of this when Jim comes over...I mean with your recent expertise for your lads' benefit...if any of it coincides with his areas in Sheffield? A lot of mine do as it happens. Feel free to tag along.
Hello All
I am humbled by these offers to say the least.
There is so much more to genealogy than date determination and certification. I would not know half of what I do now without the help and cooperation of fellow researches and in particular the vast number of indexers that reveal the old records. I tried doing it once and to be honest I found it impossible.
I have been enlightened by folks on this forum and volunteers in Guildford, Preston and Liverpool. Sheffield Family History also provided a solid basis of fact for my research. All in all I consider myself a lucky man. I am the only person living or dead to know the truths that previous generations deemed too sensitive to pass on. Stumbling blindly into the abyss of the past I was able to not only deduce facts but I was inspired to keep digging and learn to ask questions to colour between the lines and look outside the lines for cultural direction and the stories and reason attached to the facts.
My visit will involve a visit to the unmarked grave of my real great grandfather. A man who had 8 children with my great grandmother and all of whom emigrated to Canada upon his death or shortly after. He died in 1910 and I am pretty sure I will be the first visitor to his grave in over 100 years. It is bound to be emotional.
As for placing a stone on his grave I can do that or make the trip but not both. Selfishly I have decided to go as there are other compelling histories up and down the crooked branches of my family tree that need a witness.
Thanks seems a small word in context. Please know it to be sincere.
Cheerio
Jim