A tantalising find in an online archive reveals a family conversation hidden in plain sight for nearly 200 years
Cracking a 19th Century Cross-Written Letter
Category: 🗺️ Places
The Brevoort Family Commonplace Book
A beautifully illustrated 1837 commonplace book kept by the Brevoort children reveals their distinct personalities, youthful ambitions, and family tragedies
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
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
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
A Voyage of Controversy
Peter Poulton (1925–2004) sailed aboard HMS Pickle during the historic 1946 voyage that marked the end of Sarawak’s White Rajahs
Witness to surrender: Far East 1945-46
Peter Poulton (1925-2004) left behind photographs and letters that illuminate his wartime experiences in the Far East during and after World War II
Still thinking of you: letters after VE Day
Peter Poulton (1925-2004) was on active service in the Far East as the West celebrated VE Day 1945. Family letters reflect joy, longing, and ongoing war concerns
