- My Family History: Introduction An introduction to my research into my family history.
- The Anderson Family My father's ancestors. Includes details of the Anderson, Veitch, Williams and Tricker families
- The McCauley Family My mother's ancestors. Includes details of the McCauley, Donaldson, Ford and Gadd families
- The Britton Family An investigation into the "mystery" of my family; why was my paternal grandmother, Florence Britton, abandoned as a baby on the doorstep of gamekeeper George Freestone and his wife Annie (formerly Heaton)? Includes details of the family of Florence's mother, Eliza Thomas (including the McCauslands) and Florence's recorded father, Joseph Ridgway Britton (including the Boodles)
The Anderson Family
My father's ancestors. Includes details of the Anderson, Veitch, Williams and Tricker families
History Of The Anderson Family
My great-great-great grandfather, Robert Snr. Anderson, was a sheep farmer from Blackford, Perthshire, Scotland; his date of birth and parentage are not known. Robert Snr. married Helen Gray in Blackford on 4 November 1805, the month after the battle of Trafalgar. She may have been the Helen born to John Gray and his wife Louisa (formerly Eadie) and baptised in Blackford on 1 October 1783 but this is unproven. Robert Snr. and Helen lived at Cockpl(e)ay farm, south-west of Blackford, and had seven children, the youngest of whom was my great-great grandfather, Peter Anderson, born at Cockplay, Blackford and baptised on 13 August 1820. No records have been found of the deaths of Robert Snr. and Helen but they were not living in Blackford at the time of the 1841 census, suggesting they were either dead by then or had perhaps moved elsewhere.
Peter Anderson, a baker, moved to Edinburgh some time before 1846. He married Jane Veitch on 23 November 1846 in the parish church of St. Cuthberts in Edinburgh; the minister officiating at the ceremony was Rev. Thomas Guthrie, a very well known minister and social reformer, who still has a statue at the West End of Princes Street, Edinburgh. Jane was born in 1826/7 in the parish of St. Giles, Edinburgh, the daughter of James Veitch, whose occupation was variously described as "wright" or "joiner", and his wife Elizabeth . . . . [view full document]
Family Trees
The documents below are detailed family trees of this branch of my family.
- The Anderson Family Tree - 6 Generations (MS Word document - 114kB)
- The Tricker Family Tree - 10 Generations (MS Word document - 40kB)
Photographs
Here is a selection of images connected to this part of my family. To see a larger version of any photograph, please click onto the thumbnail image; the full-size image will open in another browser window.
Robert Jnr. and Martha Anderson (formerly Williams) and their family
My great grandparents and their 13 children taken in London in the early 1900s. Robert Jnr. was a journeyman cabinet-maker and I am the proud owner of a maple chair made by him. Back Row: Charles Edward (1887-1921); Ernest Robert (1881- ); Janet (1886-1922); James Henry (1882-1919); Helen (1879-1960); Alfred (1884-1954); Peter Frederick (1880-1943); Alice (1891-1924); William Walter (1890-1931). Middle Row: Arthur Harold (1892-1975); Daisy (1894-1962); Robert Jnr. (1849-1920); Martha (1852-1927). Front Row: Margaret Eliza (1895-1979); Beatrice Lily (1897-1966).
White Lion Inn, Stowmarket
Birthplace of my great grandmother, Martha Williams (1852--1927).Top Left: 1880s-Drawing of White Lion sign. Closed as inn in 1892; Top Right: Post 1892-Former White Lion in right foreground. Now shop of F W Robinson, coachbuilder; Bottom three photos: Early 1960s-2/3 of building now demolished. Remnant used as storeroom until demolished in early 1990s to make way for inner ring road.
John Bonthram and Jane Veitch Light (formerly Anderson) and their family
Jane Veitch Light was my great great aunt, the sister of Robert Anderson Jnr. Back Row: Grace Lennie (1885- ); Hector (1893-1983); Jane (1883-1964); John Bonthron (1882- ); Janet McEwan (1889- ). Front Row: John Bonthron (1854-1929); Helen Anderson (1896- ); Jane Veitch (1854-1941)
Graves of Robert Jnr. and Charles Edward Anderson
The graves of my great grandfather and great uncle in Kensal Green Cemetery, London. The inscription reads: "A light is from the household done, a voice we loved is stilled, a place is vacant in our home, which never can be filled"
Family of Alfred and Florence Anderson (formerly Britton)
The 7 children of my grandparents, taken in Wanganui, New Zealand in the 1920s. Left to Right: Eric Robert (1909-1967); Beryl (1912- ); Ian Charles (1918-1986); Allan James (Bunt) (1921- ); John (Jack) Travers (1916-1989); Mary Huia (1910-2002); Jean (1914- ).
Wedding Invitation of Eric Robert Anderson and Hazel Emily McCauley
Note that the invitation was at the request of Mr. and Mrs. H. Ladner, Hazel's uncle and aunt, who brought up my mother and her siblings. My mother's father, George Thomas McCauley, was still alive at the time of her wedding
Eric Robert and Hazel Emily Anderson (formerly McCauley)
Taken on the marriage of my parents on 22 January 1938 at St. Mary's church, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Eric Robert, Hazel Emily, Patricia Rae and Robert John Anderson
Believed to have been taken when my sister, Patricia, was bridesmaid at the wedding of my uncle, Allan James (Bunt) Anderson and Patricia Treadwell in Wanganui, New Zealand.
Eric Robert and Hazel Emily Anderson
My parents leaving a DC3 aircraft of NAC (now Air New Zealand) during a visit to Christchurch, New Zealand, in the early 1960s to attend a Rotary International conference. My father was the second president of Wanganui North Rotary Club
Robert John and Elizabeth Anderson (formerly Clayton)
Taken in January 2006 when I became Captain of Burton-on-Trent Golf Club