by Ruth A. Symes [This article was first published in Scots Heritage Magazine in 2016] Balmoral in earlier days, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought Balmoral in 1848 after spending a happy holiday in the Highlands. In 1853, the original house (believed to date from the 13th century) was knocked down and a new, larger... Continue Reading →
Why Did My Ancestor Lie (Quick tip: 4)?
On censuses, many young Victorian girls pretended that they had already reached the age of 15 in order to have a better chance of obtaining work as domestic servants and to command better wages when they did so. Sidney Paget, the Boscombe Valley Mystery, Illustration of 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery', in The Adventures of Sherlock... Continue Reading →
Why did my ancestor lie ? (Quick tip: 3)
On the 1911 census, couples were asked for the first time how long they had been married. Many gave a falsely extended number of years – just enough to render all their children legitimate! Mr and Mrs M Young and their seven children, Waterloo House, Waterford, 1913. Via Wikimedia Commons. For Social History and Women's... Continue Reading →