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Lisa | Regency Relatives

@regencyrelatives.bsky.social
280 followers 629 following 168 posts

Hello, I'm Lisa. Family historian with a love of the Regency era, strong tea, and research rabbit holes. Honest about the chaos of genealogy. Founder of Regency Relatives: regencyrelatives.co.uk

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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
📍Sarehole Mill, Birmingham. There has been a mill here since 1542, with the present building dating largely from the 18th C. J.R.R. Tolkien grew up just across the road and explored the mill and countryside, which later helped inspire the landscapes of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
Sarehole Mill beside the millpond on a bright, sunny day, with the red-brick mill and tall chimney reflected in the still water and surrounded by lush green trees and vegetation.
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
In 1875, Martha appeared in court again, this time for stealing a shirt and an umbrella from William Tarlton. She was sentenced to eight months’ hard labour, followed by one year of police supervision. [Birmingham Mail, 14 Sep 1875].
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Martha found herself in Birmingham Borough Gaol at Winson Green, sentenced to six months’ hard labour for “simple larceny”. She was 29 years old. #familyhistory #VictorianPrison #Birmingham
Page 29 of a Birmingham Borough Prison register for the County of Warwick, dated 4 April 1874, recording details of prisoner Martha Lawrence, number 253, under the Prevention of Crimes Act 1871. The handwritten record describes Lawrence as aged 29 on discharge, 5 feet tall, with brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. Her birthplace is given as Gloucestershire, with “Frampton on Severn” written beneath. She was married and worked as a charwoman. A distinguishing mark is recorded as a scar on her left elbow, with her ears pierced. Her address at the time of apprehension was 15 Reservoir Terrace, Birmingham. The record states that she was summarily convicted at the Police Court on 17 October 1873 of simple larceny and sentenced to six calendar months’ hard labour. On the right is a sepia prison photograph of Martha, shown seated facing the camera in a dark dress, holding a slate bearing her name, prisoner number 253 and the year 1874.
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Martha was employed as a #charwoman by Alfred Mizan, an engineer. In 1873, she found herself on the wrong side of the law after stealing clothing from her employer and pawning it for cash. [Birmingham Mail, 17 Oct 1873].
Black-and-white newspaper clipping headed “ROBBERY OF WEARING APPAREL.” The report concerns Martha Lawrence, aged 29, a charwoman from Reservoir Terrace, Osler Street, who was accused of stealing clothing from her employer, Alfred Mizam, an engineer of Hyde Road. It reports that clothing had repeatedly gone missing, that the stolen items were found pawned, and that Lawrence was sentenced to six months in gaol.
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Hello #familyhistory friends. I have taken some time away from #genealogy for personal reasons, but I am slowly starting to creep my way back into the records. Another #mugshot discovered today... 6M hard labour for larceny in Apr 1874. Digging deeper into this one...
Sepia-toned Victorian prison photograph of a woman facing the camera with a serious expression. Her dark hair is centre-parted and pulled back, and she wears a long, dark dress with a high neckline. She holds a slate bearing a handwritten name and prisoner number, 255. Above the image is the printed heading “Photograph of Prisoner.”
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Lastly, we visited the residence of another pair of ancestors, John and Elizabeth Felton, who ran a lodging house close to Berry Hall Farm in Solihull c.1841. This area is still a working farm.
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
We popped into Warwick Castle for jousting and falconry
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
It is also the final resting places for Rosanna and 4 of his children who all died within weeks of each other in the Winter of 1826. We didnt spot a headstone for the family - they were very worn and it may be that finances did not allow for headstones to be made for the family.
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Next up was Burton Dassett, Warwickshire, to visit the area of residence of another ancestor, Francis Anderton, sheep farmer. All Saints Church is situated on a steep hill, and the churchyard is a little precarious underfoot! This is where Francis was baptised in 1788 and married to Rosanna in 1799
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
New access to Newspapers have provided the following about how King died. He left behind his second wife wife, Ann, and 11 children. Perriway Road is now Perry Way and runs alongside Frampton Manor, also pictured. The Whitminster Inn is now an Indian restaurant and physio clinic.
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Workers' Cottages in an area in Eastington formerly known as Muddleshole. Which of these did King and his second wife, Ann, live in?
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
The Lazy Goose in Eastington, formerly known as the King's Head Inn. When King moved to Eastington in c.1850, was this his local? Lovely cake and coffee now and B&B rooms 😍
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
The Bell Inn at Frampton. Did King pop in for ale and conversation with his fellow villagers?
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
First up: Frampton-on-Severn and Eastington, Gloucestershire on the trail of King (yes, that's his actual first name) Charles and his kin. St Mary the Virgin Church - scene of King's baptism in 1793, his marriage to Hester in 1822 and to Ann in 1835 following Hester's death, and his burial in 1870.
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
This desk has witnessed more rabbit holes than I care to admit. Every Regency Relatives article starts here, usually with one question, and ends with twenty more. #FamilyHistory #Genealogy regencyrelatives.co.uk
A wooden writing desk set up for family history research, with an open laptop displaying a draft article, handwritten research notes, notebooks and reference books. Family photographs, a lamp and shelves of books create a warm, personal workspace where genealogy research and writing come together.
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
I was there today too!
An open Board of Excise minute book at The National Archives, surrounded by notebooks, archive volumes and research notes beneath a ring light. Another day spent tracing the movements of an eighteenth-century exciseman through the records.
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Back on the train to Kew. Today's mission is John Hardwicke (again). I'm hoping somewhere in the Excise records there's another piece of the puzzle waiting to be found. If history has taught me anything, I'll probably leave with three new questions instead. #FamilyHistory #Genealogy
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
I completely forgot about #AncestryHour tonight while trying to crack my latest #FamilyHistory case. Two possible ancestors. One has to go. Time to eliminate one from my enquiries... Actual footage of me this evening. 👇
Black-and-white publicity photograph of Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau. Dressed in the character's signature detective outfit—a deerstalker-style hat, light trench coat, dark leather gloves, and moustache—he peers intently through a large magnifying glass while looking upward with a thoughtful, slightly suspicious expression. The close-up composition emphasises Clouseau's comic detective persona.
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
A glorious weekend solo camping in the #NewForest, including a visit to #BucklersHard, an important 18th C. shipbuilding community, where HMS Agamemnon - reportedly Nelson's favourite ship - was built from 1777 and launched in 1781.
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Morning coffee under the parasol, with chilled music and #familyhistory sleuthing. Is this the perfect morning? #genealogy
A silver laptop sits open on a dark outdoor table in a sunny back garden, displaying genealogy resource files on Google Drive. Beside it is a peach-coloured mug labelled "MUM" and a drinking glass. The garden features a neatly mown lawn, paved patio, flowering shrubs, a small greenhouse, string lights overhead, and comfortable outdoor seating beneath a bright blue sky with a few clouds.
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
A well earned coffee while the records elves find one more book for me. No joy yet, but I think this last book holds the key 🤞 #familyhistory #genealogy
A compostable takeaway coffee cup on a picnic table outside The National Archives at Kew. Benches overlook the lake, with birds wandering across the grass on a bright, cloudless summer day. The scene captures a peaceful pause during a day spent researching historical records.
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Morning all. I'm heading to @natarchivestrust.bsky.social at Kew today to look at tax records from 1785. I realise this may be a niche enthusiasm, but if old records and forgotten stories make you smile too, then you'll understand exactly why I'm looking forward to it. #familyhistory #genealogy
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Want to be a guest author on Regency Relatives? I share articles on local and social history, ancestors living in Regency times, and research guides to help others on their #familyhistory quests. If these topics align with your interests, get in touch - hello@regencyrelatives.co.uk #genealogy
Regency style engraving featuring a gentleman writing with quite a large quill in a record book
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Next week, I'm visiting @natarchivestrust.bsky.social in Kew to review some records from the Regency period to try and dismantle one of the brick walls I've had for a while. What trips have you been on in the name of ##familyhistory research?
The entrance to The National Archives. The building is largely made of glass squares, with concrete pillars.
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Ancestor chaos: that's not my John Felton! Why a last resort "John Felton Portsmouth" Google search was not the best way to try and break through a brick wall. Comic relief while navigating yet another rabbit hole. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fe... 📷: Me #genealogy #familyhistory
A pale green historic building in Portsmouth with an ornate dark timber doorway and cream-coloured door bearing the name "Buckingham House." Mounted beside the entrance are several commemorative plaques, including a red plaque stating that George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, was assassinated by John Felton on 23 August 1628. Black railings with gold finials frame the foreground, while potted plants and palm-like foliage surround the entrance, creating a distinctive streetscape scene.
A view along a historic street showing Felton Cottage in Portsmouth, a three-storey pale green townhouse with cream trim and a striking purple front door. The house sits behind black railings and a small planted garden filled with flowers and architectural foliage. Red-brick neighbouring buildings, a lamppost, and a wide pavement lead the eye down the street under a dramatic cloud-filled sky. The name "Felton Cottage" is displayed above the doorway.
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Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Thank you 😃 I hope that this will help with finding the #gardening folks. One of many beautiful roses in my garden. Variety long since forgotten, unfortunately. Painstakingly keeping the black spot away!
A single, beautiful, dark pink rose and foliage in a sunny garden
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