I was thrilled to find a 1924 letter from one of my Great Grandmother Alice's sisters, Anna "Annie" Vince Frankland, my 2nd great-aunt. I thought it was the only one I had but I dug through the boxes and found one more from 1919 and two postcards dated 1906 & 1914.

Feeling inspired, I searched for photos of her. I knew the photo above was Anna, but was unsure of other unmarked photos. I flipped through scanned images, placing them side by side across my screen, desperate to find at least one that was an aged version of the sweet girl above. I focused on the turned up corner of her mouth and a slight drop to her eyes. I found the one below that must be her. And the curiously curly hair led me to another of which I am less certain. How I wish the names had been written on all images!

Anna "Annie" Vince 1877-1932. Photo by Mann & Adock Norwich UK

Anna Vince (I think, but very uncertain.) Photo by John White Ipswich

Before reading the letters, I was able to learn the following from clues in census, birth, marriage, death and probate records found on Ancestry.com and FindMyPast.com .

1877 - Anna was born 27 Jan in Shipdham Norfolk England
1907 - Married Frederick Frankland (1879-1917)
1911 - Frederick's occupation was an Ironmonger Oil & Color Merchant. Anna's mother, Hannah Maria Meachen, age 79, widow, was living with her & her husband Frederick.
1912 - Hannah died 28 Mar
1915 - Frederick enlisted in the British Army
1917 - Frederick died during WWI of wounds at France & Flanders. He served in the Norfolk Regiment 9th Battalion Hingham and was decorated with British War Medal & Victory Medal.
1932 - Anna Vince Frankland of 16 South Quay Great Yarmouth, widow, died 25 January 1932 at the Great Yarmouth Infirmary Caister-road Great Yarmouth (Probate Norwich 10 March to Elizabeth Betsy Vince widow. Effects £251 13s. 11d) - She was a few days shy of her 55th birthday.

Below are the four items of correspondence. Like everything I uncover, there are always more questions than answers, and more clues than I can pursue from my computer. Someday, I hope to enjoy an extended visit to England to further research the Vince & Pinborough relatives and seek answers they may have left behind.

1906 postcard from The Promenade, Hunstanton.London Bazaar Series No. 2149 — 1906 postcard from The Promenade, Hunstanton.
London Bazaar Series No. 2149

1906 May 12 - Darling Sis, My last letter was all nonsense. Am sending parcel by post tonight so you receive monday morning. I felt irritated because you had been so long waiting to me & I worry so. Your own little AV.

1914 Jul 7 - A, So pleased to hear from you. We are all well except colds. The weather here is so changeable. Hope you will send photos as soon as you can. Small one will do. Will write you a letter soon we are busy paper hanging. When nap come rests. Entirely with you & near to all. AF

1919 Letter from Anna in North Walsham UK to Alice in Salt Lake City

c/o Mrs. Appleton
Station Road
North Walsham
8.10.1919

My Dear Sister,
I was delighted with our dear Mother's photograph. Thank you very much. I have taken a situation here for a little while but still keep a house on with Mrs. Beard so when you write please send the letter there as I go home every two weeks.

it is in the drapery here the fact is I thought a change of scene would be beneficial to me for a little while. If the cold is to much for me I shall drop back to Mrs. Beards until the spring. I was very sorry to hear of little Walter's accident I hope he will soon be all right. I saw brother Bill at Yarmouth races a fortnight ago. he looked well

& prosperous. Poor Willie is still missing did you know he was married? Well Alice dear I feel very sad & lonely sometimes but Mrs. Beard makes up for a lot - I wish dearest I could see your dear sunny face but I must cheer up and look on the bright side. I have a bad cold today so feel a but down. Peggy wrote to Mrs. Beard to know about

me but I wrote to her at once & she has not replied. I feel sorry for Walter's daughter perhaps she will get better. As far as I know they have got her baby girl. I am sure you will excuse more now my cold is so queer. I will write you again soon. Give my love to Fred & your dear children & accept the same from your loving sister, A. Frankland.

XXXX Real ones one day. Love.

21 Wellington Road
Gt. Yarmouth
20.2.24

My Dear Sister

You letter containing good wishes for my birthday safely received it cheered me up very much to know some one was thinking of me. Poor sister Peggy never once forgot the 27th Jan even up to last year. well dear sister

I have been very worried in this house & still am it's too expensive for me & you cannot get a house unless you can purchase one. I sent to London for Lizzie & she came down on Valentine's day with her sister & Gracie. 13. they could only stop one night and when they went

I was no forwarder only they helped me a bit financially. Lizzie's accident certainly was terrible she has to wear a wig but she is as cheerful as ever, she told me she had heard from you. I have heard no more from Newmarket so I suppose Walter is just the same. Mr. Heaseman promised to

notify me of any change. Whatever can Percy & Ethel be thinking of Ivy is just a (flapper) Fancy dear Hilda & Johnny picked by the Church as missionaries they must be two dears. Is Winnie engaged yet. What is the matter with the Yankee boys! I am sure by their picture my

nieces are (pretty) enough for anything oh you bad old aunt. Thank you dear Alice for offering me a house in Utah but I do not feel I can come so far at my time of life. After all I have been through really enough to kill a horse. You must admit but still I am fairly well

I see in one of your letters your Dr. advises an operation in your case Alice why won't you risk it? Mrs. Beard refused and even after she was gone her Dr. said she might have lived ten more years. Its always wise to obey doctors

and dear girl I am sure your husband & family need you. and although so far away I like to feel you are alive (darling). We are having a very cold winter in England this year. How is it in Utah? You will be sad to hear Cousin James has lost his only son. 32. left one child.

Poor James. he always say how is Alice when I see him. I will inquire about the knives you mentioned if you wish. but i am sure they are no cheaper here and such a palaver when you send parcels. i remember when i mailed the sweets, now dearest I will close with all good wishes for you all for 1924 & love from your affec sister

A Frankland.

(Bill's Annie postponed her visit until the summer.)

Notes on the Letters

1919

c/o Mrs Appleton Station Road North Walsham was such a nice clue to research Anna's stay there. In the 1911 Census, there were a LOT of Appleton family members living in North Walsham. On Station Road - there were two families John (71) & Ellen (70) and Walter (40) & Ada (38). It is reasonable to guess that Anna moved in the the Appleton family in 1919 to assist as housekeeper, cook or caregiver for the aging John & Ellen or Walter & Ada. Possibly in addition to her work "in the drapery"
My cousin & I are uncertain of which image among the dozens we have is Alice & Anna's mother, but at least this date, 1919, gives me a clue to when one might have been captured that I can hunt for.
Who was Mrs. Beard? Did Anna also help care for her home? Was she a fellow widow? Is it Mrs. Beard or have I read it wrong and it is Mrs. Ward?
What accident did young Walter Pinborough have in 1919?
Brother Bill is William Vince. Willie "missing" must be his son Percy William, maybe he did some time in the service. He must have been found as he lived until 1988.
"I feel sorry for Walter's daughter perhaps she will get better. As far as I know they have got her baby girl." - This must be in reference to Walter's daughter Ethel Rose (1894-1981) Her daughter Betty was born in 1919. Perhaps Ethel had some trouble in childbirth.

1924

"Poor Sister Peggy" passed away the previous year in 1923.
Lizzie from London is most likely Elizabeth Betsy "Lizzie" Thomas (1870-1953), wife of Anna's brother William Vince (1865-1922). Gracie 13 is Grace M. Vince (1910-2006) and Lizzie's sister is either Sarah, Emma or Ann.
I haven't a clue what accident Lizzie had that required her to wear a wig.
Mr. Heaseman could possibly be Walter's employer or landlord. On a rather curious note, I found Walter listed as Deaf from Birth on the 1881 England Census, yet I did not see it noted on other census records. Perhaps it was his sister, Margaret "Peggy" (the name below) who was deaf, though this is also not noted anywhere else...Most interesting.
Percy & Ethel were the brother and sister of Ivy Vince, all the children of Anna & Alice's brother Walter Vince (1861-1928) and his wife Emma Richardson (1861-1921) .
Ivy was a flapper? How fun. I can't wait to find more photos of her!
Hilda, Johhny and Winifred are Alice's children. Hilda is my grandmother.
I do not know what troubles Anna went through that were "enough to kill horse," and will continue to search for details. I suspect it was the early loss of her husband that left her heartbroken and perhaps why she never re-married
I am not aware of Alice's illness, yet.
Who is Cousin James!?
I learned a new word - Palaver - synonyms are: fuss, commotion, trouble, rigmarole, folderol.

I can't wait for 2021 when the 1921 UK census is released as I know more clues will be tucked within!

So much more to learn! Thank goodness I'm headed to RootsTech to learn more research tricks and find more tools to assist in my pursuit.

Until next week,

Happy Genealogy Hunting!

Laurie

Brisbane November 1945 Sushannah to Ben

I hope you get this letter in time for Christmas. I have sent a letter & two papers & a map of Australia & some views since I got your last letter. You said you had not got the first map I sent you so I asked all my friends if they had one at last my granddaughter found one…

Brisbane July 1945 Sushannah to Ben

Views of Brisbane and a lovely family update from Sushannah mentioning Mrs. and Mrs. Tipple. Nelly Atkinson, Nellie Haskins Newman, Adam Kennedy and more.

Brisbane June 1945 Sushannah to Ben

One of the many, and I mean MANY, frustrations of these old letters is references to photos I will likely never see. Gosh darn. I’d LOVE to see a photo of the 2 sets of twins. At least I know who they were, Bernice & Bernard born in 1920; and Marvin and Martha born in 1922.

Brisbane May 1945 - The House Where Ben Lived & Edith Haskins

It’s interesting as all the Haskins’ letters I found, except for this one, were written from Susannah Haskins to Benjamin Atkinson. This one, was written by Susannah’s daughter, Edith, to Ben. Were there more letters she wrote to him? If so, where did they go?….

Brisbane February 1945 - Three Deaths, New Relatives and a Map of Australia

Every time I work on one of these letters I am overwhelmed by the leads they contain and the finite details, discovered and unknown, of the lives that once intertwined with my ancestors. So many people disconnected, so many stories left behind... what a gift that technology gives us the opportunity to re-connect and retrace their steps.

Brisbane Nov. 1938 - A Family Secret

I'm back! Again. As always, life is busy. Which, is a good thing right? Let's not mess around with a preamble - here is a letter from Sushannah Atkinson Haskins to Nellie Debenham. Spoiler Alert: Sushannah joined the LDS church and kept it secret from her daughters, that lived with her, for over 2 years!

Brisbane September 1933 - Death & Quarantine

Sushannah sent this letter to Nelly Daisy Atkinson, my grandfather’s sister, it appears in response to news of the death of Mary Daisy Atkinson, my great grandmother. Mary passed away in July 1933. My father was only 3 at the time so sadly, he has no stories to tell me about her.

It's Been Too Long! Meet Sushannah Haskins.

Has it really been seven months? I miss all these old ghosts. I'm kicking off this next set of posts with letters from Sushannah Atkinson Haskins. My 2nd Great Aunt on my father's father's side. Between 1933 and 1948, Sushannah and her daughters, Edith & Dorothy, sent letters from their home in Brisbane, Australia to my Grandfather Benjamin and his sister Nelly Draisey Atkinson in Salt Lake City Utah.

Ipswich 1936: Jim & Polly Witter (part 9 of 10)

It was such a lovely treat to find this hand drawn map inside a letter from Jim. How fun it would have been if he had sent maps with each letter? More news of changes to Ipswich. So little in details of their personal and daily activities. Perhaps at this point in their lives, Jim & Polly were both 83, all they could physically manage was to watch the town grow.

Ipswich 1931: Jim & Polly Witter (Part 8 of 10)

I’m anxious to wrap up the Witter letters. Not because I’m bored with Mr. Witter and his tales from Ipswich, but simply because once I finish his letters, I can move on to the next stranger’s letters. These two (2) letters from 1931 are filled with news of the Freebie Assistant Department, earthquakes in New Zealand, birthdays, unemployment, more town changes, the stuck up Meadows, grandchildren, the Harveys, and more.

Ipswich 1930: Jim & Polly Witter (Part 7 of 10)

Another letter, a few hundred more questions. This is the fourth time that the Meadows family have come up in a letter from Jim. I wonder how close Alice or her children, Hilda & Winifred, were with them. Alice left Ipswich in 1906 when Hilda was 10 & Winifred 11. Did the Meadows girls babysit them? So many stories to discover, so little time.

Ipswich 1929: Jim & Polly (Part 6 of 10)

I can only imagine how Alice must have felt when she received each of these letters. Was her heart racing to hear news from back home? Did she unfold them quickly? Unwrap them slowly? Caress the paper as her friends shared details of their lives and those she left behind? How I wish I had the letters she had written in response! This delightful letter is filled with more changes to Ipswich and more.

Ipswich: Jim & Polly (Part 5 of 10) 1927 Ipswich

Another lovely letter from Jim Witter from 1927 covering more changes in Ipswich, Suffolk, UK. What a surge of growth! In the course of researching this letter I discovered even more about Jim Witter & his children (step-children!) and got completely sidetracked with the Harvey family. It happens. Family history is full of forks in the road and fascinating discoveries...

Ipswich: Jim & Polly Witter (Part 4 of 10) 1924-1925

An empty envelope (well almost), a Christmas card, and news of more neighbors deaths from Ipswich 1925, including the town clerk struck by a truck. I do wonder what happened in Ipswich in 1924...

Somewhere there is a letter looking for this 13 July 1924 envelope, at least, I hope so. To send only a name and address seems most curious given how chatty Mr. Witter tends to be. Hopefully the letter will appear...

Ipswich: Jim & Polly Witter - Postcards (part 3 of 10)

I was trying to post the Witter letters chronologically, but I just discovered these beautiful 1907 & 1908 postcards and need to jump back in time.

Ipswich: Jim & Polly Witter (part 2 of 10)

Letter from Mr. James George Witter describing to Alice changes in Ipswich England. It seems Mr. Witter knew the whole town! Aldous, Burgess, Cowell, Egerton, Everson, Gallaway, Harvey, Meadows, Rose, Reid, Stannard, Sparrow, Tindell, Tollemache and so many more!

Meet Jim & Polly Witter (part 1 of 10)

Sometimes, the sender of these old letters is self-explanatory. A clear signature on the page easily traced in the genealogy tree. A name and return address on the letter or envelope. Stories told that clearly establish the author's relationship to the recipient. But sometimes, you have to sleuth your way to the sender's identity.

Such is the case with Jim & Polly Witter.

What A Little Photo Restoration Can Lead To - The Story of Martha Jane Atkinson

I knew when I decided to restore some old photos that it would be nice to see the image improved and get a closer look at the faces. I never thought it would lead to travel, twins, abandonment and death! This is the story of Martha Atkinson.

Hello Again! Plus a letter from Tilly - WWII London 1940

Sometimes, it takes a voice from the past to put the present in perspective. This simple letter from Tilly, written in November 1940, was a gentle reminder to stop feeling overwhelmed with my life in general. Damn. I have it so good.

I Love the 1911 Census

The UK 1911 Census is a great way to match handwriting to old letters as it was the first census the household members filled out on their own. Thanks to that census, I was able to quickly verify the identify or J.T. Ives and connect it to this 1938 letter.

Charlie Percival Vince & Other Goodies

This is the only letter I have found from it's author, Charles (Charlie) Percival Vince. He was my 1st cousin 2x removed, son of my Great Grandmother Alice's brother William. He was sixteen years old when he sent this letter to Alice. It was such a delicious letter to read. Simply chock-ful of nuggets that led to other nuggets about my ancestor's lives. It's amazing how much one letter can fill in the gaps.

A Million Dollars & A Flat Tire

My grandfather purchased 150 shares of the John T. Clark Mechanically Inflated Tire Company for $1 per share. He bought 70 on June 16th, 1913, 30 on June 17th 1913 and another 50 on March 26 1917. I figure with inflation and stock splits, that ought to be worth a few million dollars today. Right?

1922 Lafayette School Fire - Salt Lake City, Utah

Among my Great Aunt Winifred's photos were a few striking images of firefighters trying to save a burning building. The images were hauntingly beautiful. For over a year I have been trying to determine what building, when the photos were captured, and why did she take them?

My Great Grandmother Was Not On The Titanic

It's funny what happens when you start writing about your ancestors. Suddenly, cousins appear from across the world (YEAH!) and they begin to share photos, letters, postcards, and stories. One of the most interesting I've heard is that my Great Grandmother Alice was going to return to the US from England aboard the Titanic but she came on an earlier ship.

Struck by Lightning & Aaron Burr

This is not my story. It is the story of my 1st cousin 3x removed telling the story of her ancestors and her mother, my 3rd great-aunt, Sarah Emeline “Emily” Terry. The letter was sent to my 2nd great uncle, Floyd Claiborn Terry and passed down the line to his brother, Ben Lee Roberts, my great grandfather, then to his son Virgil, to my mother, to my sister and shared with me.

Searching for Sawyer In Norwich

There are many ways to determine the year a photograph was taken but when I have the photographer imprint, I start there. So much data is available on the dates and locations of photographers it really helps to narrow the time frame quickly.

Uncle Walter Vince's Last Letter

This is the last letter my grandmother received before he passed away. I know this because on the back it reads, "Uncle Walter's letter My Mother's brother. Cousin Ethel's father, and Ivy's and Percy's. Last one before he passed away."

How to Skip School in the 1930s

So you want to get out of school for a month? Get the flu, then the measles, run down your immune system and live in a city that is reporting record cases of contagious diseases. Then find a doctor that advises your parents to take you to California for some rest.

Genealogy Is Not For Old People

I texted my nephew the other day asking “How does someone make genealogy more interesting to Millennials, like him?” His reply, “You’ve got to change the perception that it’s something for old people.” I wasn’t too surprised by that answer, until recently, I felt the same way.

Notes on the Letters

1919

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