Samuel and Jemima

   

Let's start with my Paternal Great Grandparents, Samuel John Allery and Jemima Mary Ann Blackburn.

My Ancestral Cards are the starting places for creating my stories. You'll find these in my Trello board here. 

This is my process:

1. I gather some basic facts from my Ancestry Family Tree and then note a few important items from the original documents, evidence of their lives
2. I add an image of the document or a photo to the card and note any details that need further research
3. These are then added to an Ancestral Card. 

Here's how that process is shaping up for Jemima Mary Ann Blackburn.

My research into Grandma Jemima's life, begins in 1884 when she married my Grandpa. I am recording the snippetts of her life as I piece together what it would have been like in her household.

From the 1871 census I found a Mary Ann Blackburn, daughter of Thomas Blackburn, listed as a Milliner and Show Bonnet Maker. This seems to make sense in that she married a Tailor in 1884 - they would have both lived in the same business environment. In fact, according to their Marriage certificate, they both lived in Blackfriars Road, which runs between between St George's Circus at the southern end and Blackfriars Bridge over the River Thames at the northern end, leading to the City of London.

On the day of her wedding I imagine Annie Elizabeth Blackburn, her sister-in-law, helping her get ready for the big event. I know that Annie was in attendance as she is named on the Marriage certificate, along with her husband Thomas Blackburn, Jemima's older brother.

The Marriage certificate created further interest for me in that her own father Thomas Blackburn was deceased, but Samuel's father William was in attendance. There is no mention of mothers of the couple on such certificates. However I am reasonably sure that her mother was Mary, but I will need to double check my records and research further for any Newspaper articles about the marriage in 1884.

After deciphering the full name of the church I was able to locate an image of the ancient parish church of St George the Martyr of Southwark and to obtain some further details about the church itself from Family Search. Adding this to my Ancestral Card for Jemima, the story begins to take shape.

The big picture of her life between 1884 and her death is yet to be revealed from my research. These will become several stories (and posts) as I dig deeper into her past. Looking at her photo conjures up a persona with great dignity and style, a lady with purpose and determination. This is the 'thread' I want to weave throughout her stories.

The end for Jemima and Samuel is noted in this poignant epitaph inscribed on the tombstone marking her grave - a plot she shares with her husband Samuel John Allery who died 20 years before her own death.

Epitaph:

Samuel John Allery who passed away on the 28th June 1922 (aged 74) 

'thy toil is o'er, rest in peace'

Also Jemina Mary Ann Allery (aged 92) wife of the above, Died 21 Nov 1944 

"our motto has always been peace, may you rest in peace."