Tracing your Marginalised Ancestors in Britain

Using a series of case studies, this presentation focusses on helping family historians with British ancestry to research those family members whose conditions or behaviours may have led them to become marginalised, or discriminated against. These circumstances were often the result of personal misfortune, exacerbated by society’s intolerance. The sick, prostitutes, those accused of crimes, those in asylums, the poor, the illegitimate all might be stigmatised. Many of these conditions intersect; a single relative might, be poor, illegitimate and sick. This session deals with subjects that may make us uncomfortable. Searching for our ancestors in the records described in this presentation can at times be harrowing. In addition, sensitive issues can be raised, so the findings should be handled with care. The intention is to provide some context, to outline the principal relevant sources and to set listeners on the right path. On occasions, the session will quote from contemporary documents and use terms in their context that are not acceptable today. This is the language of the past and it is important not to shy away from the fact that these words were commonly used, often with pejorative connotations. Whilst we need to be mindful of the sensitivities of our living relatives, we do need to take an holistic approach and ensure that ancestors do not get disregarded just because their stories take us down a difficult path. If we, as genealogists, do not research the life histories of the victims of prejudice and preserve their memories, who will? This presentation is designed to encourage listeners to seek out the marginalised ancestors in their own families and tell their stories. At the same time, there are ethical issues involved here. Would great-granny want the world to know that she was a criminal, a prostitute, or in an asylum? She was not a character in an historical novel but a real person, with her own sensibilities and feelings, that need to be respected. There is a fine balance between recording the lives of the people of the past and exposing our ancestors to the public gaze in a sensationalist manner. We need to try to understand our ancestors and be aware that all their stories deserve to be told, even if they do encompass challenging topics. What is crucial is that the accounts are handled in a sensitive and non-judgemental way and that the experiences of our ancestors are set within the context of their times.