Tracing Your Ancestors Through Letters and Personal Writings by Symes Ruth A.;

Author:Symes, Ruth A.;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Limited
Published: 2016-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Some diarists made only one entry every few months or years. This one by Lancashire collier Jack Daniels records his employment at different mines around the Wigan area in the 1920s. (With thanks to Mr Colin Daniels)

– Started work at Pearson and Knowles Collieries, August 24th 1925.

– Last day worked at Pearson and Knowles, Friday January 15th 1926.

– Started work at Meadow Pit, Tuesday January 19th 1926.

– Last day worked at Meadow Pit Tuesday afternoon May 24th 1927. Colliery closed down.

– Started work at Lindsay Pit Wednesday afternoon May 25th, 1927.

– Last day at Lindsay Pit Friday Nov 19th 1927.

– Started work at Clock Face Collieries Monday November 22nd 1927.

Money

Our ancestors often recorded a great deal of information about financial transactions of one sort or another in their diaries. This might include an account of wages, the price of school fees, the price of the weekly food budget, or even rises and falls in the prices of stocks and shares. Other diaries will have special pre-printed sections given over to accounts. Again, these entries should not merely be taken at face value. Constant reference to income and outgoings might be evidence of a serious personal struggle against material deprivation on the part of your ancestor.

Health

Some diarists kept an ongoing checklist of health problem, with injuries incurred in the workplace and dental matters appearing with the greatest frequency. Miner Jack Daniels (mentioned above) kept a regular check of his health in his diary, from injuries incurred in the pit to more serious matters.

November 3rd 1934: Accident to leg and back. Night turn; 19th March 1948: My own top and bottom teeth extracted (Friday morning) 20 teeth; Wed 9th 1947: Wigan Infirmary for Medical exam and X-ray; Aug 31st 1953 had X-ray on chest at Wigan Infirmary. Silicosis Pneumoconiosis.

Reviewing such medical information, the diarist, like the family historian at some point in the distant future, might have come to understand how a particular medical condition had developed from a series of more minor conditions. And Jack Daniels also used his diary to record the health matters of other family members:

Saturday December 16th: Son Raymond admitted into Whelley Sanatorium with diphtheria. Discharged on Friday morning Feb 16th 1940; Monday evening Sept 15th 1941: Son Colin run over by car. Sustained fractured thigh and shock, taken to Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan. Discharged Sat Oct 25th 1941.

Reading/Cultural Experiences

Diaries very frequently record what the writer has read, watched or listened to. In fact, diaries are more likely to comment on everyday reading habits than autobiographies. Don’t assume, however, that such information automatically includes absolutely every cultural experience to which your ancestor was exposed. He or she will probably only have recorded books, plays, music and the like which have had a profound impact on his or her thoughts or actions. Thus, a diarist might comment on a favourite novel but not on the fact that he read The Times every morning. Additionally, a writer might not mention the ‘low publications’ that he or she has

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