Paper Trails...

Finding and following the paper trail sources to make the connections on your family tree is necessary and fun but it gets even better when you can add faces to those names and dates.

This past week I was able to add faces to my "Cape" Line from...

 pictures sent to me several years ago by a 5th cousin who had inherited them from her Grandmother, who at the time was not sure of the identity of some of them. This week after contact with my 5th cousin new conclusions were made.  I was able to add a few of those faces to my Tree.

This is the first time I have blogged about this branch of the family, I have about 175 ancestors on my direct line with this name.  According to ancestry.com the name Cape is of French/English origin "meaning a maker of Cape's and Cloak's or a nickname of  someone who habitually wears a cloak".

In 1835 Mary Cape my second Great Grandmother was born in Harrington,Cumberland England, the eldest child of the nine children of John Cape and Sarah Craig.  Her Father John was a Master Shoemaker. 

 On my Tree I have Mary's pedigree dating back to 1710.  Her Grandfather William Cape born in 1775 in Plumbland, Cumberland ,England married to Mary Storey was also a Shoemaker. 

Will -Sample

Will -Transcribed

.

William did have a second son George born in 1802 briefly mentioned in the Will and this is where the Photo's fit.

George Cape with wife Mary Cartmel and only child son William Cape.

(I know he looks like a girl, it was customary to dress boys like that)

William born 1829 with his son George Francis Cape born 1853 and daughter

Mary Louisa Cape born 1855.

William Cape's wife Mary Elizabeth Matches with we believe to be baby Hannah Cape.

Back to Mary Louisa Cape...

She married Edward Aiston in Northumberland in 1878 

This is their daughter little Louisa Aiston born in 1887...

my 3rd cousin 2x removed.

My thanks to Margaret for the photo's and I hope a lesson to all of us to always date and label pictures.