jane

Thank you! Thank you! I have to admit I cried when I was reading your post! It all fits together! In fact, I have "Florence Middleton 1913" on a notepad on my desk with a big question mark next to it. I honestly had just started thinking that Middleton had to be the name of the first husband or maybe cousins of my family! How wonderful that it turns out to BE my family!!!!!

I understand what you said about not asking questions as a child. That is how it was for me and why I didn't have much information to go on. So many times during this search I have thought if only I asked or listened better or understood what they were talking about.

My mom remembers Aunt Jenny. She mentioned her a few weeks back when I was asking questions. She also mentioned Uncle Willie. I already knew about Uncle Bobby because Catherine would talk about him from time to time. And I met Uncle Jimmy several times. He came to America several times and in 1989 we took a trip out to stay with him in Bedlington. I was only sixteen at the time and not at all interested in family history. Catherine was heartbroken about never knowing where Doreen was.

There is so much I want to ask you. I would love to stay in touch and learn all I can about our family. I tried to call my mom this morning but she much be working or out for the day. I left her a message and am anxious for her to call me back! This has been the best email I have ever received!!!! Thank you!

Your cousin,

Dear Jennifer,

I am so glad that we have finally made contact and I have confirmed the information you had on my mum. What I am very curious about is your mention of uncle Jimmy, his visits to America, and your visits to his home. Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Jane and family were not very well off and to be quite honest would be lucky to afford the bus fare from Bedlington to Newcastle, whenever we visited, mum would buy various groceries to help towards our stay with them. Aunt Jane died about two years before my mum and mum died at 82 in 1995. Did your grandmother ever mention aunt Jane's disability? On our search for my ancestors my husband and I used a holiday to go to Ypres in Belgium to see the war memorial of my grandfather Middleton (your grandmother's first husband) and his brother's memorial in Arrass. As I had lost touch with aunt Jane's children we took a trip to Bedlington two years ago and hoped that I might find out what had happened to them by asking for news at the local shops and library, but no success. We have also spent time at the Morpeth archives centre and plan to go back to find further information. I will try to find information on Doreen through various channels. I am so glad that you decided to take an interest in your ancestory otherwise I may not have found you.

Jean

Jennifer

Hi. How wonderful to find a relation that I knew existed somewhere in America. I have read your message and can tell you that I am a neice of your grandmother Catherine. My grandmother Hannah Jane married Bernard Logan 1919. My grandmothers first husband John William Middleton was killed in the first world war when my mother Florence was two years old. My mothers maiden name was Middleton. I have, like you, tried to bring together my family history. It has been very difficult due to the two marriages of my grandmother and the various children. Grandmother's father was Thomas Bottoms born 1867 -1943 he married a Hannah Napier born 1865-1922. I have a copy of my Grandparents marriage certificate and my grandmother Hannah's death certificate which I can confirm she died from child birth pneumonia. My mum relocated to County Durham when I was about two months old and she would take me to Bedlington by bus twice a year to see her sister Jenny (Jane) married name Richardson and family. Until I began the family tree I thought my aunt Jenny and aunt Catherine were my mums full sister now I am not so sure and think they may have been half sisters (now I believe this to be true when you confirm Catherine to be a Logan). Mum was very family orientated and would talk about aunt Catherine emigrating although it was through aunt Jenny that mum would receive news as Catherine always sent letters to Jenny. I can remember on one of our visits when I was about eight of nine years old aunt Jenny proudly showing us a photograph of one of Catherine's daughters (in her cap and gown) when she graduated from university. Mum also spoke about three brothers who I believe was William born 1919, James 1921, Robert 1921. I did not meet any of the brothers on my visits and would wonder why, but mum either did not know of there whereabouts or for some reason she would not tell me, which I found strange but when I was a child it was a case of children should be seen and not heard, don't ask questions of a personal nature. The reason she did not explain may have been because mother was sent to Kent at fifteen to work in domestic service and returned to Bedlington at about twenty five years old. I hope this confirms that we are related and helps towards your search. I look forward to hearing from you.

Jean.