Uldale Family Wedding

The Will of William Williamson
Link To Large Image of The Will Of William Williamson
The Will of William Williamson. Click here to see the transcription of the Will - also an image of the complete original Will

Aldby Farm, Cleator Moor, where in 1857 Joseph and Mary Armstrong and two of their children died in their sleep from the effects of poisonous gas, emitted from a nearby slag heap.

A LOCAL HISTORIAN'S APPROACH TO FAMILY HISTORY
Chris' approach to family history is through the eyes of a local historian as she believes that to investigate the lives of our ancestors, a broader knowledge is needed on the history of a given area.

The old counties of Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire North of the Sands (now known by their ancient name of Cumbria) are rich in colourful history and traditional buildings, giving many clues to the social and economic structure of our ancestors' daily lives.

DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE
There is also a rich legacy of documentary evidence from sources such as parish records, manor court proceedings, records of farming, probate, the Quarter Sessions, nonconforminst churches, title deeds, old maps and plans and many more.

Many enduring family names are linked with the Cumbrian fells, the Scottish Borders, the Solway Plain, the Lake District and other parts of the country.

Low Longlands farm from the road

In the Uldale area of the Northern Fells, Chris has researched the family names of Cape, Harriman, Cowx, and Fell for several overseas individuals and family history societies. In the case of the Fell Family of Longlands in the parish of Uldale, Chris has created a special pack that includes a loosly bound volume on the English ancestry and early life of Joseph Fell who left for America in 1703 and now has hundreds of descendants living in the United States and elsewhere. The pack also includes copies of primary documents connected to the family, including records of probate, parish register entries, manor court documents, (including lists of manor tenants) along with copies of old maps, sketches and photographs.

Other local names researched by Chris include:

Gillbanks
Walker
Craghill
Pearson
Robinson
Ravel
Andrew
Dalston
the Grave family of Skelgill near Keswick, including the Graves of Keswick, Bassenthwaite and Hesket New Market
the Wrens of Castlerigg and Keswick
The Thomlinsons of Evening Hill, Thursby

Click here to view a list of family names connected with the Northern Fells and the Back of Skidda'.

Front door of Low Longlands farm showing date of 1688

Christine Craghill dip.loc.hist, 7 Muscade Close, Tiptree, COLCHESTER, Essex, CO5 0DL
Phone: 01621 810351 (outside the UK: +44 1621 810351)