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Dad's Uncle had sent us some work he had done about the family history. I'm so excited we have discovered so much:
My 4xGreat-Grandfather came over from Poland and worked as a Hairdresser, meeting a marrying a girl from his local synagogue. His son went on to work in other majority Jewish run businesses and had my great-grandfather and this is where it gets JUICY
Great-Grandad George met a nice girl from Norwich, whilst they were both living in his local area of Hackney. Age 19, he and Annie (the girl) find themselves pregnant and arrange to get married. BUT, SHOCK HORROR. Annie didn't turn up to the church and poor George was left alone.
George joined the RAF soon after, and his son, Cyril was born up North somewhere, listed as Annie's NEW HUSBAND'S child!!!
Now, my Great-Grandmother (the woman he goes on to meet and actually marry), she has quite a drama filled life too.
Now, my Great-Grandmother (the woman he goes on to meet and actually marry), she has quite a drama filled life too.
My Great-Great-Grandmother Fanny Netley was listed as living in a home for unmarried mothers in Sussex, remaining there after giving birth to her daughter (my Gr-Grandmother) Alice Williams who by her Aunt.
This wasn't Fanny's fault, as this newspaper clipping can attest to, she thought she had an agreement the father of her child (a shitebag named Herbert), but when it came time to pay, ol' Herb accused by Great-Great-Grandmother of 'romping' with other men in the rectory :
Now, idk about you but I think Fanny has been slandered here. Her daughter Alice, raised by her sister Emily, had a difficult time and had to find work early. She met my Great-Grandfather George when he was posted to a local base. 9 months later, my Great-Auntie Daphne was born.
Now, Daphne was their only illegitimate child, because in 1928, Great-Grandad George did the right thing and married her just in time for their second child Arthur to be born. This was shortly followed by my Grandmother Gloria and two others.
The family went to 5 RAF bases during their time, causing my Nana Gloria to meet my Grandad Bill (Walter by birth) who was an RAF policeman. Married in 1951, they had my Auntie Carol just 5 short months after the date (a miracle eh?). My Dad was their 7th child born in 1964.
This may seem boring but it's after years of thinking my Aunt Daphne was the illegitimate one of the family (not my Great-Grandfather's daughter). My family history is a mix of hard-working Jewish immigrants and young mothers trying to raise the products of their relationships.
This is my Great-Great-Grandfather's application for naturalization in 1926. Which is just so fucking cool.
