Geneageek's Gems

GeneaGeek
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Sharing genealogical gems with people about their families. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Belgian Waffle

    MAY 6

    Belgian Waffle

    My Belgian grandmother often told the story that she was named after Queen Astrid, who was her godmother. She also said she was once invited to play with the young princess but they fought over toys so she wasn't asked back. Was there ever any family connection to the Belgian royal family, or was it all just 'a load of waffle'? This episode explores the validity of these seemingly tall tales, and my mother learns some things about her family that she never knew! For show notes, please go to https://geneageek.com/podcast/ Guest: Brigitte Surnames: Lemmens, Minne, Baels, Elleboudt, Moulaert, Vroome Places: Oostende, Ostend, Flanders, Wallonia, Belgium, Belgique, België Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min
  2. A Breach of Promise

    APR 8

    A Breach of Promise

    In 1898, Ellen Cook began working for a carting company in Glasgow, Scotland, and soon became involved with the owner's son. 15 years later, in 1915, their relationship made the international newspapers when Ellen sued John Sinclair for breach of promise. After stringing her along for years, John had decided not to attend his own wedding because 'the weather was bad', and went home to bed instead. Join us in some historical 'curtain twitching' as we learn more. For show notes, please go to https://geneageek.com/podcast/ Guest: Dave Surnames: Sinclair, Cook, Young, Sutherland, Wilson, Lyell Places: Glasgow, Stirling, Kilcreggan, Gourock, Ayr, Scotland, Gibraltar, Malta Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min
  3. The Shottisham Angel - Part 2

    MAR 1

    The Shottisham Angel - Part 2

    In 1852, it was claimed that a young girl from a tiny village in rural Suffolk was blind, deaf, confined to her bed, and had lived without food for several months. Elizabeth Squirrell became known as 'The Shottisham Angel'. But the sensation soon turned to scandal with accusations that she and her family were frauds. Was Elizabeth Squirrell an imposter? Or had others just been spreading misinformation? In part 2, we explore the family's response to the accusations of fraud and find out what happened to Elizabeth and her family. For show notes, please go to: https://geneageek.com/podcast/ Guest: Pip Surnames: Squirrell, Matcham, Francis, Bendall, Seagar Places: Shottisham, Hollesley, Bawdsey, Woodbridge, Ipswich, Suffolk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
  4. The Shottisham Angel - Part 1

    FEB 11

    The Shottisham Angel - Part 1

    In 1852, it was claimed that a young girl from a tiny village in rural Suffolk was blind, deaf, confined to her bed, and had lived without food for several months. Elizabeth Squirrell became known as ‘The Shottisham Angel’. But the sensation soon turned to scandal with accusations that she and her family were frauds. Was Elizabeth Squirrell an imposter? Or had others just been spreading misinformation? For show notes, please go to: https://geneageek.com/podcast/ Guest: Pip Surnames: Squirrell, Matcham Places: Shottisham, Hollesley, Bawdsey, Woodbridge, Ipswich, Suffolk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min
  5. Lunatics in the Family

    05/14/2025

    Lunatics in the Family

    When a body is discovered on a rocky beach in Victorian northeast Scotland, it unravels the buried history of a fishing family marked by tragedy. Life in their harsh coastal village was unforgiving—but what led at least four of them to be committed to the Royal Lunatic Asylum in Aberdeen? Was it madness, misfortune, or something more? Guest: Eddie Surnames: Buchan, Strachan, Carle, Tait Places: Cairnbulg, Inverallochy, St Combs, Aberdeen, Maud, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire For show notes, please go to: https://geneageek.com/podcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 8m
  6. Manslaughter at Hadleigh - Part 2

    04/09/2025

    Manslaughter at Hadleigh - Part 2

    On a Friday night in September 1842, some young men – local agricultural labourers – went out for a drink or three in Hadleigh, Suffolk. A few hours later, one of them would be found slumped on the road dead. In part 1, we heard all about the coroner’s inquest looking into John Blandon’s death on the streets of Hadleigh. The inquest decided that Charles Smith had a case to answer, and he was committed to Bury Gaol to await trial. In part 2, we hear about the trial, its verdict and how my guest’s family is linked to this story. For show notes, please go to: https://geneageek.com/podcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  7. Manslaughter at Hadleigh - Part 1

    03/27/2025

    Manslaughter at Hadleigh - Part 1

    On a Friday night in September 1842, some young men - local agricultural labourers - went out for a drink or three in Hadleigh, Suffolk. A few hours later, one of them would be found slumped on the road dead. My guest's family turned out to be linked to this story in a surprising number of ways. For show notes, please go to: https://geneageek.com/podcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    59 min
  8. The Real Margaret Catchpole

    02/12/2025

    The Real Margaret Catchpole

    Suffolk native, Margaret Catchpole, was a REAL person, and shining star of Australia’s convict history. Unfortunately the story often told about her is largely false. 25 years after her death, the Reverend Richard Cobbold wrote a fictionalised account of Margaret’s life which he declared to be a “perfectly true narrative”. It was not. Unfortunately, Cobbold’s novel, with all its embellishments and inaccuracies, still tends to be the main source for how Margaret’s life story is told today. This episode discusses the known facts of the life of Margaret Catchpole, a Suffolk girl. For show notes, please go to: https://geneageek.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 8m
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About

Sharing genealogical gems with people about their families. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    GeneaGeek
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Alison Ebbans
  • Show Website
    Geneageek's Gems