Mike Covell’s Blogg

Well it is 2009 and firstly I would like to thank everyone for their ongoing support on the blogg, their comments, and of course well wishes.  May I take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year!!

Stephenson research

One thing I love about the internet is the amount of new material that is added on a daily basis.  Last year I was looking for gaps in my chronology on the Stephenson and Dawber families, and searched serveal online archival sources, finding only the material I already have.

Yesterday I re-searched these sites and eventually found a couple of new references.  What sets these aside from other referecnes is that fact that the findings where found not in a Hull Trade Directory, but a York Trade Directory!

The names, dates, locations and occupations all match what is known both before and after the entries, but finding them in a Trade Directory from another district was quite a coup, and of course, opens up new avenues for research!!

Origin’s of the name “Sudden Death”

The search is on to now find the origin of the name “Sudden Death” which was allegedly used by Stephenson, and has brought up some interesting observations and theories!

See the discussion here, http://www.jtrforums.com/showthread.php?t=5633&page=2

Now where is a researcher supposed to search?

With the closure of Hull City Archives, Hull’s Local Studies Library and Hull University Archives, where is a Hull based researcher supposed to search?

Well, yesterday I recieved reassurance from Hull’s Carnegie Heritage Centre, that they will remain open and welcome new visitors and researchers.  The building is a lovely place, with a wide range of research tools.

http://www.carnegiehull.co.uk/index.php