S09EP01 - 'The Secretive' with Ron Williams

In this first episode of Season Nine of The Family Histories Podcast, host Andrew Martin meets Canadian genealogist Ron Williams whose family tree research resulted in him encountering a 57 year old mystery...  Understandably, Ron couldn't not investigate and in doing so, uncovered a fascinating story which he then turned it into a book.

THE LIFE STORY - ALFRED VICTOR WILLIAMS
Ron has chosen to tell the fascinating story of his paternal Grandfather - Alfred Victor Williams - one that involves mystery and intrigue, and 57 missing years.

The story sees Ron find just a few clues that hint towards some very different elements of his Grandfather's missing first 57 years - an affidavit, a school photograph of a son, and a letter. Why did Alfred spend years living under the alias Roy Hammond?

Ron has turned Alfred's story into a book titled 'The Lost Fifty-Seven - A genealogical journey of discovery, deception, secrets and scandal' (2024).

THE BRICK WALL - MARY WILLIAMS
It's the identity of his 2x Great Grandmother - Mary Williams - that is causing Ron problems in his research. 

He knows that she was born in about 1831, and likely in Shropshire (or Salop as it was known back then). After finding a confusing 'Cumberland in Salop' reference, Ron has found further Salop references in her census entries after her marriage to George Williams.

As Ron doesn't know the birth name of Mary, he's struggled to find the correct marriage, which he estimates was circa 1853, as the couple rapidly grow a family, starting with his Gt Grandfather in 1854.

• What was Mary Williams' pre-marriage surname?

If you think you have a clue or a research idea, you can contact Ron at his website, or alternatively you can find him on Twitter and Bluesky. You can also send us a message, and we'll pass it on to him.

In the meantime, Ron is fascinated by Andrew and Sándor's offer of help... but someone's clearly hungry....

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