Writing a Family History Blog

[chiddicks]

My name is Paul Chiddicks and I am 53 years old and have been researching my tree, on and off, for the last fifteen years. I live in Cheshire with my wife and two grown up children and have been living in leafy Cheshire for around 20 years. Before this, I spent all my earlier years living, working and growing up in Thurrock, in Essex.

I have decided to start writing a family history blog to record my own family tree, to promote interest in our hobby, and to hopefully find people with similar interests to my own. I have shared the links below. Any comments and feed back are most welcome, both positive and negative. Please feel free to comment on the blog pages as well.


I have also started writing a blog for Family History Magazine, see link below

https://www.family-tree.co.uk/how-to-guides/expert-blogs/what-is-family-history-the-alternative-guide

My twitter and blog links as follows:

https://twitter.com/chiddickstree

https://chiddicksfamilytree.wordpress.com/



The main names that I am researching are as follows:

Chiddicks, all areas,

Daniels in Dublin

Keyes in Prittlewell, Essex

Wootton in Mansell Garnage in Herefordshire and London

Stampa in Edinburgh

Lukes in Gravesend, Kent

Luttman in London

[Merry]

Welcome to the forum, Paul :)

You certainly have been busy with your FH blog etc etc

I randomly chose to read about your ancestor Matthew Chiddicks and of course have questions! lol (sorry :o)

Firstly, is there a reason you don't mention the name of the newspaper when you supply a quote from one?

Secondly, are you sure Matthew was a railway engine driver? You say the 1891 census gives that occupation for him, but as far as I can see the entry just says engine driver (though his son, William, works for the railway). I was under the impression it took years to become a driver in those days, so I was surprised he made it to that rank in (presumably) less than ten years. There's no record of him in Ancestry's UK, Railway Employment Records, 1833-1956, but I know that doesn't cover every railway employee! Any thoughts?

Now I feel mean for sounding negative to begin with ;( it wasn't my intention - I was just interested in what you wrote!

[chiddicks]

Hi merry,
No need to feel mean, I put things out there for comment and feedback thats the whole purpose of this. Somebody else on another forum made a similar comment. I have possibly been mis-guided by the fact that two of his sons both worked within the railway industry, the one you mention and laterly his younger son, so I may have made a leap of faith here.

The only reason that I did not mention the newspaper was I was not sure if I would be contravening any copyright laws with the British newspaper archives, thats the only reason.

but thanks for looking at my page all feedback is welcome, positive and negative.

[James18]

Welcome aboard, Paul. I shall give your blog a read after tea. :)

[chiddicks]

Thanks for the welcome, James and Merry

[Sue from Southend]

Hi Paul and welcome. Your name is very familiar! Scanned through my OH's South Ockendon connections and no Chiddicks, maybe I've done a look up on another board for you given my locality..... Whatever, I'll read your Essex sections with interest!

[Merry]

The only reason that I did not mention the newspaper was I was not sure if I would be contravening any copyright laws with the British newspaper archives, thats the only reason.

I thought you might say that - part of the reason I asked was that we regularly transcribe from papers on this site without worrying about copyright. I think (if I remember correctly) the reason it's OK is because we always transcribe rather than copy and paste.

[chiddicks]

Hi Sue,
Thanks for the welcome

Maybe you have found me on another message board somewhere, I am researching the Keyes of prittlewell also, which is right on your doorstep, maybe it was that???



Hi Paul and welcome. Your name is very familiar! Scanned through my OH's South Ockendon connections and no Chiddicks, maybe I've done a look up on another board for you given my locality..... Whatever, I'll read your Essex sections with interest!

[chiddicks]

I am very mindful of copyright when using material from another source, I would rather take a cautious approach.

I thought you might say that - part of the reason I asked was that we regularly transcribe from papers on this site without worrying about copyright. I think (if I remember correctly) the reason it's OK is because we always transcribe rather than copy and paste.

[chiddicks]

New blog added with a slightly different layout, incorporating pictures within the Text and story, which I think looks better.

[chiddicks]

I am adding new material all the time.

[James18]

For some reason I keep reading your name as Chindits. :d

[chiddicks]

there are at least 12 spelling variations that I have found so far, but James thats a new one on me haha

[chiddicks]

The second in my series of blogs written for Family Tree Magazine is out now "Google is your Friend". I hope you enjoy my alternative guide to Family History.

https://www.family-tree.co.uk/how-to-guides/expert-blogs/what-is-family-history-the-alternative-guide-using-google

[Janet]

I know a trick or two with Google, but I did not know you can use an asterisk as a wild card in a Google search. Thanks.

For anyone in want of better Googling, try some of these:

Google Search Help: Refine web searches (https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/2466433?hl=en)

[chiddicks]

Glad I could be of help Janet.

I have written a new blog regarding my Italian ancestors also.


https://wordpress.com/posts/chiddicksfamilytree.wordpress.com




I know a trick or two with Google, but I did not know you can use an asterisk as a wild card in a Google search. Thanks.

For anyone in want of better Googling, try some of these:

Google Search Help: Refine web searches (https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/2466433?hl=en)

[chiddicks]

Is it fair how we judge History? https://chiddicksfamilytree.wordpress.com/2017/09/07/is-it-fair-how-we-judge-history/ via @chiddickstree

[chiddicks]

The Tragic Fatality at Lower House Farm https://chiddicksfamilytree.wordpress.com/2017/10/07/the-tragic-fatality-at-lower-house-farm/


So What does the future hold? https://chiddicksfamilytree.wordpress.com/2017/09/29/so-what-does-the-future-hold/


The Night's are drawing in............. https://chiddicksfamilytree.wordpress.com/2017/10/08/the-nights-are-drawing-in/