Genealogy Em

FAN club analysis is one of the most valuable tools at a genealogists disposal. Conventionally it is used to build a network of people around a single ancestor or family, however the process can be reversed to determine the nature of unknown relationships. The Hub analysis is a method that I came up with that helps break a large group of people into small social circles that are centered around something that they all have in common. For example, this could be a place of employment, worship, or even a club/hobby. By grouping the people in this way we can identify what subgroups exists within the FAN club (I wrote a post here on how these subgroups can be visually represented used a net diagram).  The easiest way to explain the process is by using an example. Lets take a look at a list of names that I found of people who called the family following my great grandfather's death.  **Please note that for privacy reasons I have redacted the full surname and addresses of any person ment

Originally known as the ‘Royal Aquarium Summer and Winter Garden’ it opened on 22 January 1876 on Tothill Street (opposite of Westminster Abbey).  Soon after opening the name was shortened to the 'Royal Aquarium'. The building was designed by Alfred Bedborough in a highly ornamental style faced with Portland stone.   The plans were designed with the wealthy members of parliament  in mind - to serve as a place that they could go and contemplate  political matters while being surrounded by marvelous ocean creatures.  The project scope was quickly expanded to inclu de chess tables, smoking rooms, telegraph office, library, bar, eating spaces, a rt exhibitions, concerts, roller skating rink, hair salon, plays, and other performative forms of entertainment. The theatre was opened under the name of the "Aquarium Theatre" but was renamed in 1879 to the "Imperial Theatre". The theatre featured an equally elaborate design to the rest of the Aquarium and had capacity

The worst electric rail crash in Ontario’s history and the  3 rd  worst in Canadian history (at the time)  occurred at Queenston Heights in Niagara Falls on July 7 1915 . In total the crash of car number 685 claimed the lives of 15 people and was responsible for injuring 130 people.  To put the scale of the accident into context, more lives were lost and more people were injured during the 1915 trolley accident than British soldiers during the battle of Queenston Heights.  The main occupants of the trolley were members of Toronto’s Wood Green Methodist and St John Presbyterian Sunday school groups. The two church groups had organized a day trip to Niagara Falls for the approximate 1,100 parishioners (majority of which were women and children). The accident occurred when the two groups were on their way home.  All day the weather had been ideal for taking portraits and going picnicking, however towards the evening hours (approximately 7:15 pm) it began to rain. The two groups flocked fr

Most genealogists start their research by searching for three dates: birth, marriage, and death. I am no exception to this. When researching my 2x great grandparents, I noticed something that peaked my interest - they were married on Christmas day 1897. During modern times, this would have been most unusual, however it was quite common amongst the lower classes during the Victorian era.  During certain days of the year (such as Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and Easter), some churches in Victorian England would offer to perform cheaper or free wedding services. Due to their low price, these marriages became known as 'Penny Weddings'. They were simple and quick services which are best described by James Greenwood's account of a London church in 1866. His description paints the bride and groom as being of a lower status, dishevelled, and dirty appearance. He goes on to sate that:  " The candidates for matrimony were nearly all of the very lowest order, and the marrying coupl