My 2nd great aunt, Margaret Keenan was just 18 years old when she died on 19 September 1886. She was the 7th child of Irish immigrants, Patrick Keenan and Agnes Haughey and the closest in age to my great grandmother, Ellen Keenan. Ellen was my mother's paternal grandmother. Margaret was born in the Parish of … Continue reading Stories From The Poorhouse (Part 6) Margaret Keenan 1868-1886
Author: Shaking The Branches
Robert Wilson Armstrong 1857-1910 Part 2
When I left my great, great grandfather last time he’d just been chucked out West Riding Police Force for being a two timing rat. We’ll that’s not the official reason obviously but that was what happened. He abandoned my great, great grandmother, Grace Halliday Rae while she was pregnant with his son. That was in … Continue reading Robert Wilson Armstrong 1857-1910 Part 2
Robert Wilson Armstrong 1857-1910 Part 1
I often think about what it would be like to go back in time and find out my ancestors’ stories direct from them. There would be so many questions. And how good would it be to observe their daily lives? Robert Wilson Armstrong was my great great grandfather but I reckon if I could go … Continue reading Robert Wilson Armstrong 1857-1910 Part 1
An Easy Mistake To Make – Finding Sarah Helferty
The only one of my grandparents I got to meet was my Granny Brawley, my mum's mum. I knew that her father was called Patrick Cosgrove and her mother was Sarah Helferty. I knew that she was born in Glasgow in 1900. Prior to starting my research that was pretty much it. My granny died … Continue reading An Easy Mistake To Make – Finding Sarah Helferty
Archibald Bradley 1923-1925
I have previously written about my great grandmother's sister, Hannah Keenan and the hardships she faced in life. You can read the post by clicking here. At the time of writing I did not know about her grandson, Archibald Bradley. Archie was just 2 years old when he died in the most tragic of circumstances. … Continue reading Archibald Bradley 1923-1925
Died On This Day – My Father
Today marks 25 years since my father, Robert Armstrong Rae, died at the age of 69. I wanted to share a few photos of him that I’ve found. Born in 1926 he joined the army in 1944 shortly after his 18th birthday. He enlisted as a Seaforth Highlander and can be seen in this photograph … Continue reading Died On This Day – My Father
