THE BROWNS OF BOSTON

On Tuesday morning we headed off to visit my maternal relatives who mostly lived in the Boston (Lincolnshire) area. It was a beautiful 2 hour drive through the countryside. We arrived just in time for lunch. The couple we were staying with were related in some way I knew but was unaware of the relationship. We were warmly welcomed and once we were settled I asked the question of our hostess, "Where do you fit into the family?" "Your Grandfather was my uncle" was the reply. As Eileen was approximately my age I was a bit stunned. My mother passed away in early 2006 aged 92 and Eileen was her first cousin! Most of my family history research has been in relation to Dad's family so I really had no idea. Bob, Eileen's husband and a former Mayor of Boston has a part time job and had to leave after lunch. Eileen guided us on a local tour and took us to Frampton Church where my G/Grandfather and G/Grandmother were buried. Theirs were the first ancestors graves I have found on this trip. Most of the old grave headstones have weathered and eroded away to such an extent that they are unreadable. She then showed us where they (great grandparents) had once lived. It is now only a vacant allotment. She then showed me the farm where my grandfather (Mum's Dad) worked prior to his immigration to Australia in 1912-13.




The following morning we were escorted on a tour of Boston markets by ex-Mayor Bob while Eileen prepared lunch for a family 'get-together'. On our return the family members were beginning to arrive. By about mid-day 6 of Mum's first cousins and three of their husband's together with Ann and I were assembled. What a wonderful day ensued. Out came the photos, stories, facts AND the most wonderful family Bible. WOW! Two family members who children of some of those attending are into genealogy and sent the printed results of their work for my information. WOW! WOW! What a wonderful day. It is amazing how you can meet family members who you do not know and never even knew of their existance and feel so comfortable with them. When the meeting broke up and everyone went home I was suffering a bad case of information overload. That evening Ann and I took Bob and Eileen to the pub for a meal. What a pleasant end to an amazing day.

Thursday morning we again visited Boston to visit 'The Stump' which is the local name for the Parish Church. Parish Church! This Parish Church has a tower 272 feet high (83 metres) and the nave is 74 metres long by 32 metres wide. The area of the Church is 1864 square metres. It is sure SOME Parish Church! I think this is one of the most astounding Churches in a land of astounding Churches. It is not known for sure why it is called 'The Stump' but is suggested that it may be because the tower looks like a stump rising out of the flat ground from up to 40 kilometres away! While in the Church I found an Australian Memorial acknowledging locals who were involved in the early explorations in and of Australia. These included Joseph Banks and several men from Cooks Ship the Endeavour, both Bass and Flinders, and several other significant explorers in Australia's history. Unfortunately it was very embarrassing to see an Australian Memorial in such a shocking state of disrepair.

After that we then visited the Guild Hall, another old building with a very colourful history over a period of about 600 years. You never stop learning over here!

After a quick bite of lunch Ann and I were off for another very pleasant 2 hour drive home to The Lodge in Bury St. Edmunds. Today was another quiet one, wandering around the shops for a few hours, the supermarket to fill the larder and some necessary laundry.

Tomorrow we will head off in some new direction to see what we can find. Until the next post keep well.

Cheers and blessings from Ann and Dave.