A beautifully illustrated 1837 commonplace book kept by the Brevoort children reveals their distinct personalities, youthful ambitions, and family tragedies
The Brevoort Family Commonplace Book
Author: Natalie Mayhew
Originally a London girl, now living in Rochester, Kent. Fascinated by social history and passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion
New York’s First Grand Costume Ball of 1840
In February 1840, New York hosted its first grand masked ball, organised by Henry and Laura Brevoort, captivating society and setting a new standard for extravagant celebrations
One Photograph, Four Generations
One faded photograph of a 1920s motorcycle outing transformed my understanding of a grandfather I had known only as a bitter old man
Poor Cottages in the Wilderness
John Coolidge (1604–1691) left Cambridgeshire in 1630 to help establish the Puritan settlement of Watertown in early colonial Massachusetts
Each Name a Story: The Lives Behind a Forgotten War Memorial – Part 2
Fifteen young men, lost too soon, their names rediscovered on a forgotten Second World War memorial in Rochester - each one a life, a story, and a promise to remember.
Understanding PTSD Through Ted Mayhew’s Story
A FamilyHistories podcast explores Ted Mayhew's experiences as a POW and the lasting effects of trauma, featuring insights from Prof. Walter Busuttil on veterans' mental health
A Life Shaped by War – and Peace
Henry Baynes (1785-1844): A Waterloo artillery officer who survived war, wounds, and service abroad - yet a small act of kindness in 1834 reveals the man behind the medals
A Woman of Her Own Making
Catherine Dibben (1850-1934) rose from a poor Hayling Island childhood to running a successful boarding house and inspiring four generations of women
Twins and the Paths of Poverty and Prosperity
Henry Mayhew (1812-1881) and Priscilla Mayhew (1812–1886): born together, lives apart - twins in an age of change
Discovering the Missing Mayhew Child
Lily Violet Dorothy Mayhew (1907–1942) vanished from the records as a baby, only to re-emerge as a young woman whose life was shaped by loss, work, and war
