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.com
About 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/mylifemystory
Your life matters. Your story matters.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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