Genealogy Forum UK

Hi

Whilst tracing my family history I found I had a distant relation in USA.

She has sent me the attached picture of members of "our" family. Neither of us have any idea where it was taken and we are very curious as to what the horsehsoes are about. We know it is traditional to give a bride a horseshoe but have not idea why each lady (obviously not brides) is holding one.

Can anhy one help here?

Jan

I wouldn't think that it's a 'ritual' of some kind as the horseshoes are the wrong way up; horseshoes hold luck when turned spoke side up but spill it when held toe side up (as in the photo). They also look to be much the same size so may well come from the same horse so maybe the picture is celebrating the first shoeing of a horse in the family, although, with the bicycle in the background, it may be the end of horses (or a particular favourite horse) in the family. I'm no expert but the shoes look new so I'd be inclined to look to see if one of the family became a farrier/blacksmith, maybe a favourite child's first set of shoes in his new trade.

Maybe they all had a go at making them!
and are proudly holding them aloft

is one of the Willetts ladies on our BCC tree?

Hi Northern lass

Neither I or Lisa (my relation in USA) know who the ladies are. There is a comment on the back of the photo saying "Willetts ladies", that is all but I can see that at least one of them looks like a Willetts, the others could be Willetts by marriage. They all havve wedding rings on.

We are both puzzled.

Jan

Do you know where the photo was taken?
In the Uk?

have we run with asking who these are before?

if not it would be fun trying to find out

which branch did the photo emerge from?
Then we could trace back the line?

Hi
We don't know where the photo was taken, it is either in the Old Hill Area or in the USA. The picture is there at the moment but Lisa and I thought that if this horseshoe thing was a tradition somewhere, then that may give us a clue as to where it was taken.

I would love to find out more and Lisa would be over the moon, the family / ies originated in Pear Tree Lane, Old Hill. Daniel who is Lisa's relation (G Grandfather, I think) went to America. We do know that he popped back to The Black Country and so he could have taken the photograph back with him.

Jan

Is this the line

http://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/tr ... =263000347

Is that Samuel b 1874

there two reason of why a horseshoe is upside down

1.
a horseshoe is good luck.

the horseshoe holds your luck if it is upside down then your are getting your luck if i it right side up "U" then you are saving your luck. if it is sideways then you are getting a little of your luck at a time when you need it.


2, The horseshoe can symbolize protection from evil, but may also symbolize an individual whose profession or passion involved horses. ( i know someone who has one above his front door for this)

Moved this to the BC section to run with

this is Daniel b 1869
http://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/tr ... =611710566

how does he link to those 4 Willetts ladies?
When did he marry?
When did he move to Us?

When is that photo dated?

Daniel is here in 1881
but not with family in 1891

1881 - At 22 Pear Tree Lane, Old Hill, Rowley Regis
John Willetts Head 42 Labourer b. Cradley, Worcs.
Emma Willetts Wife 39 Nail Maker b. Cradley, Worcs.
Rebecca Willetts Daur 18 Nail Maker b. Cradley, Worcs.
Susannah Willetts Daur 16 Nail Maker b. Cradley, Worcs.
John Willetts Son 14 Nail Maker b. Rowley Regis, Staffs.
Daniel Willetts Son 11 Scholar b. Rowley Regis, Staffs.
Samuel Willetts Son 7 Scholar b. Rowley Regis, Staffs.
Ruth Willetts Daur 4 Scholar b. Rowley Regis, Staffs.
Benjamin Willetts Son 2 b. Rowley Regis, Staffs.
Ruth Willetts Mother 65 (Think this is Emma`s mother) b. Dudley, Worcs. (Actually Mother-in-law)
Joseph Jones Visitor 59 Widower Unemployed b. Rowley Regis, Staffordshire

Transcribed as Willett looks like Willetts
1891. 22 Pear Tree Lane, Rowley Regis
John Willetts, head, M, 53,
Ironworks labourer
Samuel, son, 17,
Benjamin, son, 12,
Ruth, Mother, W, 76
All born Rowley Regis
(Emma and Ruth with Susannah and husband)

Where is that marriage to Elizabeth Shelley from?
cant see it on bmsgh

190O. Millcreek, Erie, Pennsylvania.
Daniel Willetts 30. Labourer, iron works. Emigrated 1894.
Elizabeth Willetts 37.
Archabald Willetts 1.

All born England.

1910. Millcreek, Erie, Pennsylvania.
Daniel H Willett 39. Labourer, craneman. Emigrated 1896.
Elizabeth Willett 46.
Arelia Willett 10.
John L Willett 9. Pennsylvania.
Earl Willett 8. Pennsylvania.

Jano which one of the ladies looks like a Willetts?

If that is peartree lane we should be able to match that wall up somewhere
is it dated that photo about 1880's?

any thoughts

Jimmy wrote:190O. Millcreek, Erie, Pennsylvania.
Daniel Willetts 30. Labourer, iron works. Emigrated 1894.
Elizabeth Willetts 37.
Archabald Willetts 1.

All born England.

1910. Millcreek, Erie, Pennsylvania.
Daniel H Willett 39. Labourer, craneman. Emigrated 1896.
Elizabeth Willett 46.
Arelia Willett 10.
John L Willett 9. Pennsylvania.
Earl Willett 8. Pennsylvania.

Thanks Jimmy is this ancestry I will add to bcc

192O. Erie Ward 5, Erie, Pennsylvania.
Daniel Willetts 50. Crane operator.
Elizabeth Willetts 56.
John Willetts 19. Pennsylvania.
Earl Willetts 18. Pennsylvania.