From: <NOBR>mickym1951</NOBR>  in response to Message 1

Sent: 2007/05/02 09:49 PM

Hi Dee,Just to Set things Going for you In 1867 There was an Alexander Farrell Born He was born 22 Mar 1867 in Newhills Aberdeen To parents Peter Farrell And Margaret Bissett.Now your Robert Could Be Decended From These Farrells. forget the O' farrell .Use the prefix Farrell..A lot Of Irish And Scotch  Dropped the O' part of the name.With  the name Robert It is widely used in Scotland.You could also try The Adoption Registries.To help you trace.His Original Parents.Do you Know if he was adopted at birth.Or as an older Child. I will Try to Find the site where you can check it out   Mike

Hi Mike

thats great thanks, there is a bit of confusion on my Dad's side my dad was origianally born Charles Conn in Invururie and was adopted by Sophia and Robert, we know that Sophia was a friend of his mother Annie

Gammi Conn and she took on my dad and adopted him when he was about 6 weeks old, speaking to my dad tonight he said that Robert was adopted by Alexander  and there were three other children who he thinks were their birth children Brother Alexander, and sister Jean and Margaret (have i confused you yet as i am lol) and the funny thing is my dad has always said himself he would love to drop the O in his surname.  But we are not sure if Robert was adopted as a baby or an older child but would appreciate any information you can find out, by the way think this site is brilliant and only found it by mistake messing about on Microsoft works a programme i have had on here for a couple of years and never bothered with it but me being a woman and being nosey when i was bored one night found it and i have had more luck on here in the past week than i have had in over a year i think you are all brilliant.

Dee

From: <NOBR>BarmyCheekyDee</NOBR>  (Original Message)

Sent: 2007/05/02 11:16 PM

Just wondering if anyone knows of Isabelle O'Farrell Her parents were Robert Scott O'Farrell and Sophia in 1934 known to be living in Park Street Aberdeen not sure of her date of birth or where she was born but is my Dad's adopted sister and i remember her from when i was a small child back in the late 50's early 60's and then i know nothing so if any one could help i would appreciate it many thanks Dee

Hi Dee

 

Here is a link to a site about adoptions:

 

 

The Managers

Hi Dee

 

May we ask you to do something to help us?  Could you please make sure to post your messages all in the one place under O'FARRELL on the 'O' surname board?  Just click on "Reply" on the latest message in your thread and then type your message.  

 

This will help our managers enormously and save us valuable time needed for helping you, and others like you, to find your ancestors.

 

Thank you.

 

Marian

Hi Dee, Im not Sure if there is a connection here.But it Tells of a James Conn who was a War HERO won Gallantry Medals from Aberdeen

Mike

 

Distinguished Conduct Medal. GV first issue (630036 Sjt J.Conn, A.255/High Bde R.F.A.); 1914-15 Star (256 Cpl. J. Conn, R.A.); British War Medal (256 Sjt. J. Conn, R.A.); Allied Victory Medal (256 Sjt. J. Conn, R.A.) This group of awards to a Highland Division Gunner represent an unocommonly well documented incident during the Battle of the Lys, in April 1918, when 'A' Battery of the 'Highland Gunners' (51st H.D.) temporarily stemmed the tide of the German Spring Offensive, by engaging the advancing enemy over open sights at only 300 yards distance.
James Conn a native of Aberdeen Scotland, was a member of the 1/1st City of Aberdeen Battery Royal Field Artillery, which later became 'A' Battery, 1st Highland Brigade R.F.A. (in May 1916 becoming A Battery 255 Brigade R.F.A.). Throughout his period of service in France and Flanders - which theatre he entered on 2/5/1915, Segeant Conn and his battery served under higher formation with the famous 51st Highland Division. Sergeant Conn is believed to have fought with his Battery in all of the following battles of the Legendary 51st'; Festubert & La Basee, 1915; Beaumont Hamel, High Wood, Marne, Somme, 1916; Arras, Vimy Ridge, Ypres, Paschendale, 1917; Baupaume (21 March) and Lys Valley 1918.

Evidently James Conn was a skilled artisan, in addition to being an accomplished volunteer soldier, as his medals repose within a magnificent bespoke gilt and wood frame measuring about 24 inches long by 18 inches wide, the sides surrounded by highly ornate and lavishly coloured cold enamelling and paint work on glass, upon which are inscribed all of the 'battles' he fought in - see aforelisted. The top of the glass surmounted with the legend France and Flanders and the dates 1914-18 - between which is a replica of the cap badge of the Royal Field Artillery. Below at the foot of the glass is the divisional patch/badge of the Highland Division. The frame is personally signed 'J.Conn, 1922'. The frame with the medals contained within, is of the highest rarity, as an example of veterans art-work. Nimrod Dix ,of leading auctioneers DNW who has examined the frame says it is one of only 2 or 3 frames of this genre that he has encountered in almost 30 years of medal dealing.

The citation for Sergeant Conn's 'Immediate' award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal was published in the London Gazette on 3/9/1918

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an enemy advance. When his gun was brought into action within 300 yards of a bridge in the open to hold a canal crossing, he acted as layer, and by his skillful shooting he knocked out three machine-guns, and caused heavy casualties to the enemy, and greatly helped his guns to be got safely away."

51 Highland Division suffered approximately 2500 casualties during the battle of the Lys Valley in April 1918.

 

wow thanks Mike i will follow that up and will let you know what i find out many thanks

Dee

thanks Fran will try that and will let you know how i get on Dee

Hi Mike

am i thick or what lol, i am very new to this searching and have lost the plot now, i dont have a clue where to go to look to follow up on this great information you have found out for me, and after reading it i am hoping that this is one of my ancestors, after reading the history of the Conn family that i have we have allsorts of characters in our family tree but this is so interesting and can not find anything like this, our tree seems to start around the 1600's and does not seem to go any further that the 1800's i know most people are going the other way and going back in time but me being me wants to go forward to the more present time. If you are anyone else can point me in the right direction i would love to hear from you/them.  I have only been a member on this site since last week and have found everyone so helpfull and friendly so even if i dont get anywhere i can honestly say it wasnt for the lack of help from you all, once again many thanks Dee

Hi Dee,My suggestions,Really you should have started from your family,Then traced them back..Starting from Great grand parents.Can always be a problem.That way census can be checked.They started in 1837.Free Bmd is good for English,while Latter day saints is good checking up most Families.In the past decade,more Irish info is becoming available.Our Managers are all good,They will always help you.Certificates show up parents,and on Baptism certs Godparents etc.From these you can always take it just that little bit further.On one side of my Mothers Family.It is back in the 1300s.   I too had help,This i was very gratefull for.As i recieved this help,I love to help others.in the same way.

Do you have a tree maker,If so.You could always just find one little snippet of info,that you can add.at a later stage this could be really usefull.

Scottish ancestry,is a wee bit different,There are numerous sites where info can be found,But to find most of the census material there is a small charge,but worth it.

if you write to churches in the areas concerned,via the parish they were born.Most priests are very helpfull.last but not least.is the brickwall.Everyone hits it at some stage.So you are not alone,Try looking via searches on the web,Typeing in names,It often throws up the odd name of family members.As long as you Know areas of birth.

One member  was stuck for 3 years on her family,she knew where grandparents were born.But nothing.Our manager in America helped her find most of her family,and our team Of other Managers helped with the rest.Just by chance i came across a biography of a John Quinn,this is on our site and worth reading.It turned out to be her lost Family.So you see Dee.Brickwalls can be broken.

Dont forget if you want help on other family Members just add a Message,and we will search for you

Mike and the Team

Hi Dee,For Checking out Scottish ancestry use this site

There Charges

It costs 6GBP (approx. 8EUR or 11USD), to search the Old Parish Register, Statutory Register and Census indexes in the database.
This gives you 30 'page credits' and allows access for a period of 90 consecutive days (starting from the time your credit card payment is authorised), however many times you log on and off in that time.
If you download 30 pages before your 90 consecutive days are up, you can buy a further 30 page credits for 6GBP, and your access time is extended for a further 90 consecutive days.
You will not lose your existing credits when your 90-day session is expired; when you buy more credits they will simply be added to your existing credits.
Charges for index-searching are based on the number of pages actually displayed, not on the number of records retrieved.
Each time you do a search, you are told how many records have been found; each record refers to a specific event, ie a particular birth/baptism, marriage or death.
Before displaying the records, you have the opportunity to re-define, and narrow the search, without displaying the results.
If you decide to view these records, they are displayed in pages each containing a maximum of 25 records.
Viewing images costs 5 credits per image.
Viewing an 1881 census transcription costs 1 credit

Or if You are looking for Birth OR marriage certs Link below

 

Hope this helps

 

Mike

 

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Hi Mike

hope you dont mind me sending you another message and bugging you did email you but not sure if i was supposed to.  I was just wondering if you could tell me or point me in the right direction to where you found this information out about J Conn the war hero as i have had quiet a bit of luck on my dads side of the family and it looks as if this could be my dads birth mum's brother so would like to try and follow it up if it is possible but knowing me will probably get lost along the way lol many thanks for your help

Dee

Hi Dee believe it it or not it was on a site that is selling Medals,That was the info they had with the medals that were for sale

 

Mike

Ok thanks Mike, strange i was messing about on a site and found the whole of the Conn family history by mistake lol but thanks again will let you know how i get on

Dee