Family Ties

So much seems to have happened since I last blogged - two amazing vintage fairs, a gallery preview and some successful charity shopping and, if we're friends on Facebook, you'll have seen most of it already, so let's talk about something completely different - my heritage.

I come from a long line of hoarders, people far more interested in the past than the present, which may go a little way in explaining why I love vintage clothes and old houses so much, its in my genes. My Grandpa's aunt Phyllis spent a large part of her life researching the family tree, a tattered document which, after she died in 1977, got passed on to me.

Without the internet it must have taken years to trace our lineage back to Sir Thomas Guy, the founder of Guy's Hospital, London (1644 - 1724).

The scary woman in the hat was his second cousin, Sarah, and the pious looking chap, her husband James Robison.

Together they had nine children, their daughter Sarah (above) married John Cook of Greenwich in 1757.

This miniature is of Harriet (1780 - 1846) one of Sarah and John's ten grandchildren.

Harriet married Andrew Chapman of Trentham in 1806 and gave birth to seven children. The eldest, Robert (1808 - 1885) wed Mary Alice Johnson (1817 - 1882) of Knowsley in 1845. 

Alice, as she was known, was the original owner of not only the brooch I wear,

but also my monogrammed locket,

and mourning jacket.

Alice's son, John James (1853 - 1910) married Elizabeth Adams (b.1854) in 1879 and had 8 children. 

Her first-born was my great grandmother, another Mary Alice (again, known as Alice).

One of her six sisters, Bessie, was the owner of the autograph album I wrote about here.

  Alice married Thomas William Harris at St Michael's Church, Stone in 1908.

His deed box travels with us to all of our vintage fairs.

I have Alice's wedding dress 

She and Thomas lived here.

Thomas outside the garden gate.

Alice in the 1920s

They had one child, my Grandpa, Reginald William, born in 1913.

He married my Grandma, Joan Mary Crosby of Chester, in 1940

They had a daughter, Jennifer Mary, in 1942

Who married in 1966 and I came along a lot sooner than was considered respectable.

The rest , as they say, is history.

1970s maxi (from the magnificent Helga)

The Cheshire Rifleman's jacket from the Boer War, Great-Grandfather's top hat and the handsome daguerreotype who went mad? That's from my maternal Grandma's side and another blog post in the making.

Hope you enjoyed the history lesson.

See you soon!