Family Tree Frog

O is for HMS Orontes My 2nd great-grandfather James Cook (no, not the James Cook) was a Gunner on the HMS Orontes from 15 June 1879 to 19 July 1879. (ADM 196/31 Warrant Officers Register of Service Image 351). He was 31 years old and had been married for nearly eight years to Caroline (nee Jefferies). His daughter Eleanor (my great-grandmother) was just four years old.   According to this site he would have been paid about  £2 6 per annum.   In the remarks column on his register of service, it says " Naval Brigade 8 Mch 79 to VO (perhaps this is WO??) Orontes 6 to 9 June 79, Hosp.(???) to Cape of Good Hope from 10 June to 11 June 79 ".  Before serving on the Orontes , my great-great-grandfather was serving on the Shah .  His service record lists the period 19 April 78 to 14 June 79. Conrad Dixon's Ships of the Victorian Navy advises us that on the way back from her first commission: Shah was diverted to Natal to land 400 officers, seam...

Mother Mrs Conner England c 1922 This is Caroline Cook nee Jefferies - my 2nd great-grandmother. Caroline was born 21 March 1852 Dock Row, Porsea, Portsea Island, Southampton. She married James Vernon Cook 25 October 1871 in Portsea and they had, I think, eleven children. This photo was in my Grandmother's collection, from her husband's side of the family.  This is what is written on the back of the photo: It's such a shame that we don't have the whole postcard anymore with all the writing on the back which might have provided more useful information.  Most frustrating.  But because I can see the date 21 March on it and that is meant to be Caroline's birthday, I wonder if it was taken in honour of her birthday.  A significant birthday perhaps.   Here is a photo of her grave at Wymering courtesy of cousin Geraldine.  She was 76 when she died so maybe it was the occasion of her 70th birthday.  The photo's identificati...