Tracing Your Roots is the series that helps put branches on your family tree.
Each week Sally Magnusson follows the ancestral trail back in time to uncover colourful stories and hidden slices of social history. Resident genealogist Nick Barratt is on hand with tips and inspiration to help you explore your own family's lineage.
Programme details
7 November 2007
Does your family tree have roots in the sea?
With Britain being an island nation, it’s quite likely that your ancestors might have had a connection to the sea at some point. Whether they were fishermen, sailors, merchants or smugglers, there are plenty of resources for the family historian to get their teeth into.
Stories in this week’s programme…
Cornish smugglers
Alan Toms made the shocking discovering that one of his distant relatives was a notorious smuggler who’d been involved in the murder of a customs officer – before turning King’s Evidence and ratting on his mates. He tells us about uncovering this gripping tale and we’re also joined by smuggling expert Richard Platt to find out how you can delve into smuggling folklore to shed light on those who traded in illegal imports.
Catching the contraband
The smugglers didn’t have it all their own way though – customs officers would be trying to catch them in the act. Robert Webb’s ancestor Lazarus Roberts claimed to have been one of the most successful coastguards in the history of the service, risking his life on numerous occasions in the line of duty. Robert found an abundance of material at the National Archives relating to this courageous man.
Taking on the US Navy
During the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln’s forces blockaded the ports of the southern states to stop the export of cotton. This had huge consequences for the cotton mills in Hull, which were forced to close, causing widespread poverty. The mayor of the city at the time was Zachariah Pearson and he decided to fight back, sending a fleet of ships to try and get past the warships. Marian Shaw is his great-great-granddaughter and she tells our reporter Neil Rudd what became of his ambitious scheme. Nick Barratt describes some of the fantastic online resources that Marion used in her research.
Tracing Your Roots is the series that helps put branches on your family tree.
