Survivors Of The Titanic – Addie Wells And Children

RMS Titanic

RMS Titanic

A little while ago I discovered that Harvey is distantly related to three survivors of the Titanic. To commemorate the 100th anniversary, Ancestry have released a range of records in relation to the disaster of 1912 .

Addie Dart Wells (nee Trevaskis), and her two young children, Joan and Ralph Wells, were travelling in 2nd class and managed to board life-boat number 14 before being picked up by the Carpathia. Among the records the family can be seen on the Titanic’s Outward Passenger list and the Carpathia’s Passenger list.

Addie was the great-grand-daughter of Harvey’s 3 x great-grandparents, John Barnes & Ann (nee Dawes) from Newlyn, Cornwall, near Penzance. Addie was also from Newlyn and would perhaps have known Harvey’s predecessors, his direct line having lived in Newlyn right up to the millennium.

Another useful website about the Titanic is the Nova Scotia Archives. The Wells family appear on the document entitled, List of Second Class Passengers.

Posted in Family History Links, Famous Connections | Tagged , | (Leave a comment)


Land’s End And The First & Last House – Old Photos

Land's End and the First & Last House

Land’s End and the First & Last House (click to enlarge)

The previous slide which I posted from Grandpa’s collection showed the most easterly point of the UK, Lowestoft. Now I’m posting a photo of the most westerly point on mainland England, Land’s End in Cornwall. My gran, Ivy Alice Hibbitt (nee Dando), is sitting in the group of four in the foreground on the left of the photo. The First & Last House can be seen in the background. Nowadays, the area has been turned into a commercial enterprise but this photo was probably taken some time during the 1950’s when it was much more open and accessible.

(From my grandpa’s collection of old slides – see this post for more information.)

Posted in Grandpa's Old Slides | Tagged | (Leave a comment)


Shutterfly Photo Books

A couple of months ago, I created and ordered a photo book from Shutterfly.com and gave it as a Christmas present. I couldn’t blog about it before as I didn’t want to give the game away.

Anyhow, I thought I’d write about how pleased I am with the product – the finish is excellent. I ordered the 8×11 inch hard photo cover book and created a Custom Book rather than using the Simple Path. Although a bit fiddly and time-consuming because everything is done over the internet, the results are absolutely worth it. The pages are glossy and my photographs came out exceptionally well.

Called ‘Ancestral Trails – Pathways to the Past’, my theme for the book was the homes and districts where my paternal ancestors lived and worked using modern day photographs. I’d taken most of the photos on family history trips. I also added text and labels to explain the pictures.

Because I live in the UK, the postage and packaging almost doubled the cost but I can highly recommend the product and the service and I’m glad I ordered an extra copy for myself.

So, without further ado, here are some images of the book.

Shutterfly Photo Book

Shutterfly Photo Book

Shutterfly Photo Book

Shutterfly Photo Book

Shutterfly Photo Book

Shutterfly Photo Book

Shutterfly Photo Book

Shutterfly Photo Book

Shutterfly Photo Book

Shutterfly Photo Book

Disclaimer – this is my own personal opinion and I have no affiliation to Shutterfly.com.

[Update 2025: since ordering this book, I have taken the opportunity to have more books printed from various other outlets in the UK with similar results.]

Posted in Family History Links | (Leave a comment)


Hodge-Podge Recipe From Mrs Beeton’s Cookery Book

(From the SOUPS section of my gran’s 1894 publication of ‘Mrs Beeton’s Cookery Book and Household Guide’ – see this post for more information.)

HODGE-PODGE.

INGREDIENTS.-2 lbs. shin of beef, 3 quarts water, 1 pint table-beer, 2 onions, 2 carrots, 2 turnips, 1 head celery, pepper and salt, thickening of butter and flour.

Mode.-Put the meat, beer, and water in a stewpan ; simmer for a few minutes, and skim. Add the vegetables and seasoning ; stew gently till the meat is tender. Thicken with butter and flour, and serve with turnips and carrots, or spinach and celery.

Time, 3 hours, or rather more. Average cost, 6d. per quart. Sufficient for 8 persons.

Hodge Podge Recipe

Hodge Podge Recipe

Posted in Mrs Beeton's Books | (Leave a comment)


Custard Sauce (For Puddings Or Tarts) From Mrs Beeton

This custard sauce recipe is perhaps something that might go down well with the Christmas Pudding. (The recipe comes from my great-grandmother’s 1909 publication of ‘Mrs Beeton’s Every-Day Cookery’ – see this post for more information about the book.)

CUSTARD SAUCE (For Puddings or Tarts).
INGREDIENTS.- 1pint of milk, 2 eggs, 3 ozs. of castor sugar, 1 tablespoonful of brandy, bay-leaf if liked.

METHOD.- Boil the milk and bay-leaf, add the sugar, and cool slightly. Beat the eggs well, pour the milk on to them, and strain into a jug. Have ready a saucepan of boiling water, in which to place the jug, keep stirring until the mixture thickens, but do not allow it to boil, or it will curdle. Stir in the brandy, and serve.

TIME. – 25 to 30 minutes. AVERAGE COST, 6d to 7d.

Posted in Mrs Beeton's Books | (Leave a comment)