Please Help Us

If you can help us with any of the following problems, please email us on bethellj@talk21.com

How did Padra de Bera contact the Elwes family?

Padra de Bera left France after the 1830 revolution, arriving in Dover in 1831. She was the orphaned child of a Spanish army captain and had been raised in France by the de la Tour Family. Once in Britain, she found work with the Elwes family of Northampton and Brigg, and their relatives the Barnard family. How on earth did she make contact with them? Did she have a letter of introduction from the de la Tours? Did the de la Tours know the Elwes family? (There are no hints in the Elwes family papers in the Northampton record office.)

Amateur music in Hull circa 1900?

Henry Bethell and his sisters Charlotte and Pamela were actively involved in amateur music making. Henry was a member of a Minstrel Group - the sort where the musicians blacked up in impersonation of African Americans, but we don't want to give it its usual description in case the N-word leads to us being banned from Yahoo. Charlotte, on the other hand, played in a ladies' mandolin band. Pamela was a pianist. Has anyone come across any articles or photographs illustating amteur music making at this time? We know a photo existed of Henry's group, but it has unfortunately not been handed down in the family!

Where did Jane Brotherton marry Laurence McAnelly?

Jane was a servant in the barracks at Berwick on Tweed in 1851. Her father was a retired military man who was born in Berwick and had retired there after service in England, Ireland, Scotland and the North American Colonies. Jane and Laurence had children baptised in Newcastle upon Tyne in the 1850s and 1860s, but their marriage is proving elusive. Has anyone come across any clues?