A Family History Guide & Finding Elizabeth Cronley

In this special solo episode, Carl Chinn opens up his own family history and turns it into a practical guide to tracing where you come from. He starts with the memories, a story passed down through the women of his family, from his great-grandmother, Granny Wood, to his nan, Lil Perry, to his mom Sylvie Chinn. It is the story of an Irish woman from County Kildare who married an English soldier at the Curragh, came to Worcester, and was abandoned, ending her days alone and in poverty in the workhouse.Carl then follows the paper trail to see whether the family story stands up, working through censuses, baptismal and death records, the 1939 register and the British Newspaper Archive. Along the way he shows how ordinary families surface in the record, often only when there is trouble, and how spellings shift, names change and truths that were softened over the years can finally be confirmed. He weaves in his own advice throughout: talk to the oldest members of your family, ask open questions that draw out stories, and gather every certificate, cutting and photograph you can.At its heart this is a reflection on why the spoken word of working-class families matters as much as any document, and on the quiet act of bringing a forgotten woman back to life and giving her some dignity. If you have ever wished you had asked more before it was too late, this one is for you.Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of domestic abuse, poverty and dying in poverty. Please do take care whilst listening or skip this episode if this could be distressing for you.Find out more: ourlives-ourstories.comAbout This Podcast:The Our Lives, Our Stories podcast features conversations about life stories, family history, memory, identity, and the moments that shape who we are.Our Mission:Our Lives, Our Stories is a living archive for our generation and the ones to follow. Our mission is to empower everyone to tell their story.Record Your Own Story:Our website https://www.ourlives-ourstories.com has free guides on how to unlock memories and record them.My Life, My Story:My Life, My Story is a guided legacy journal curated by Carl Chinn that includes prompts to help you reflect on your memories, experiences, and family history. It's a keepsake to help preserve your story, or a special gift for a parent, grandparent, or loved one.Available now on Amazon.https://ourlives-ourstories.com/mylifemystoryYour life matters. Your story matters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.