Who do I think I am ? [15] ~ I receive a letter from a firm that has appeared on 'Heir Hunters' ...

From time to time I've watched Heir Hunters on TV partly because of my interest in family trees and partly because I used to deal with people's estates. I don't watch them all but they're fun to watch if you're retired with time to kill ... a bit like Helicopter Heroes ...

Well this morning I had a letter from Celtic Research who have been featured on Heir Hunters. I rapidly tried to think which distant relative might have died and whose estate I was going to benefit from. Alas, it's my Uncle's family they are trying to track down and by my uncle I mean my aunt's husband [so not my uncle at all].

My Aunty Mary married Donald in 1938 [according to the Celtic Research letter] and they had one son who died in 1943 ... as far as I know they had no others and that's what they believe. They wonder though if Aunty Mary and Donald may have adopted another child during World War II ~ I don't think so.

What about Donald's siblings they ask ... well, I know nothing of his siblings ... but I did inherit Aunty Mary and Donald's photographs, some of which are marvellous. This one for example ...



I liked Aunty Mary and [Uncle] Donald ... 

I wonder what "unclaimed assets" might be due to Donald's estate. Will this case be on TV ? I will probably know.

In the meantime I had better respond to the letter and tell them what I know [not very much]. Still, I could put them in touch with my sole surviving Aunty. She may be able to help.

From the Derby Daily Telegraph ~ July 19, 1913

Some months ago I opened an account with the British Newspaper Archive and have found some fascinating newspaper articles. Once I start feeding in some family names or places I can soon lose two or three hours.

Take my grandad, Charles Wildgoose ... and his brother, Robert. They appeared in court in July 1913 described as farmers of Darley Dale and were accused of "keeping dangerous dogs and not having them under proper control."

My grandad's greyhound had been found worrying sheep on the moors "five or six miles away from home". My great uncle Robert had a "cur dog" which "was barking at the sheep".

The owner of the sheep shot both dogs but they weren't so badly wounded that they couldn't get home. They were though subsequently found and identified.

The Magistrates "made an order for the destruction of the hound within seven days, and for the cur to be kept under proper control. - Defendants were ordered to pay costs."

I had never heard this story until I read it in the Archive and whilst it might only be a fairly minor incident it certainly adds something to what I know of my grandad.

Fifteen years or so later grandad still liked his greyhounds. Here he is on the steps of Darley House, where the family lived, with his wife, some of his children ... and a greyhound.