2007 Reunion
On a rather overcast day on Sunday 6th May 2007, fifteen members and friends gathered at the Sherwood Community Centre, Woodthorpe House, Nottingham.
Gathering together we set about arranging the room and setting out the food for our Ploughman's Lunch.
After we were refreshed the committee gathered together to go through the matters arising.
Pat Cherry welcomed everyone to the meeting and began with the sad news that member number 75, Edward Wagstaff of Holmfirth had sadly passed away, he will be sadly missed. We sent our condolences to Sheila his wife.
Edward Wagstaff and his wife Sheila.
Members were invited to give relevant stories of their Wagstaff forbears.
Barbara spoke about her ancestor Jane. Jane did not know who her father was. Barbara sent to St. Pancras records office. After an examination of Eliza. W. records show that she was never married but delivered of a daughter. Barbara eventually found an army sergeant from Sandhurst Berkshire was the father.
Mark Wagstaff related his story regarding his Wagstaff line in and around a shop in London.
Pats story concerned Adam Wagstaff, who was her Great, Great Grandfather who turned out to be a bit of a rouge or was he? Adam Wagstaff was born in Nottingham in 1806 and he seamed a bit of a lad. In 1829 he was involved in a petty robbery and manslaughter at a local Inn. But due to a technicality on the charge sheet Adam and his accomplishes all got off. Then in 1831 Adam got involved with a mob who attacked Nottingham Castle and burnt it to the ground. From there the mob proceeded through the city and eventually burnt down a silk mill. A number of the mob were rounded up and came to trial, but once again Adam was released due to a confrontation of witnesses. Some saying that he was there while others gave him an alibi. A case of who do you believe.
Ian spoke about the DNA research that is being undertaken. It all seems quite complicated but can be very beneficial. Anthony Wagstaff (No. 372) thought he was linked in with the Manchester group but after he received his results he found he was linked with the Essex group, so he found a whole lot of new relations which included Michael Wagstaff (No. 171), who was also having his DNA checked. With this information Barbara was able to readjust the Essex Tree to include Anthony.
It just goes to show that new ideas such as DNA can assist with tracing your family tree, as you can follow the wrong line if there are a number of like names and dates on the records.
Details of how DNA can help is on:- familygenetics.co.uk
The meeting closed and we look forward to our next reunion.