(This is the second in a series of posts about my patrilineal Rhodes ancestors. The first post can be found here ) It is a feature of genealogical research that the better behaved one's ancestors were, the fainter the footprint they leave in the historical record. This aphorism certainly applies to my 5th great-grandfather, Joseph... Continue Reading →
Miles ye bastard
The earliest of my Rhodes ancestors for whom I have documentary proof is Miles Rhodes (my 6th great-grandfather) and his first appearance in the historical record was an act of extra-marital sex. As a proud Yorkshireman, it is immensely gratifying to know that the surname 'Rhodes' has a long and ancient association with God's own... Continue Reading →
Cyril and Lawrence Marvell – a fraternal tragedy in two acts
One day in November 1914, teenage brothers, Cyril and Lawrence Marvell, leapt on board an army recruitment tram as it passed through the village of Rodley, between Leeds and Bradford, close to their home. They had been at the roadside to watch the passage of the illuminated tramcar and to soak up the carnival atmosphere... Continue Reading →