Great Great Aunt Eliza was my Grannie's Aunt - sister of grannie's father. My Grannie is still alive at the age of 100 and we're lucky that she still provides a link to the past.
When I asked who Eliza was, the story unravelled about a family who started in Scotland and spread across the world in the 19th centuary. One of Eliza's brothers left for America and started in publishing, sending magazines back to Scotland each Christmas. Another sister Jane, married a man in shipping and moved to Weston Supermare where she had a lady's companion and gardeners. My mum has the photos. Another left for Canada.
Aunt Eliza Duncanson, nee Calvert - the Calverts were boarder raiders or Reivers. Many of them are burried at Lanercost Priory in Cumbria. My mother's middle name is Duncanson to keep that part alive. In my village in Northumberland has a tower and a fortified pub, specifically built to keep the Reivers out.
Another of Aunt Eliza's siblings became a female chemist and another moved to Gateshead when married and ended up returning to Scotland. My mum is Scottish and my dad a Geordie so it seems that our family has always been tied to the borders and Tyneside in some way.
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