Embedded Files
Created 2011, Changed 18/06/2023, 29/01/2023
My family tree subsection website.
This subdomain is about my family. The pages were fixed width, but that has had to be changed because the host, new google sites, does not support fixed width pages.
Picture - Norway ~1982, I took this with my Agfa Sillette I was using Fuji slide film.
This website is a collection of stories bound together by my family tree. I have done very little genealogy research, although I have used my Kent public library's access to ancestry.com. I have also added or corrected detail given by people who came across this website.
Observation;
Observation;
If you go back 500 years, we are all related to each other. Even so, many of us still let others lead or force us into war against our brothers. Others find the intensity of killing and surviving addictive, call it adrenaline buzz. Royal families keep records of their bloodlines and eat their vegetables as a discipline, similarly to livestock breeding to maintain their blood health, but in reality, it is not the DNA line, and it is usually fixed a bit to conceal so-called wrong behaviour. These are disciplines, but people used to talk and tell stories more informed gossip, family knowledge and truths than rely on TV. On the other hand, with care, the internet is a great enhancement to those traditional ways.
I asked a friend born in Iceland if the Icelandic heredity records could be distorted by lies to conceal so-called wrongdoing, the answer was no because Icelandic people never have been secretive such as about birth without marriage.
Family Tree at a glance
Family Tree at a glance
From Hanover, Germany, circa 1714. Piece of paper handed down that my grandfather knew of and thought he had, but Joan Hawkins found it with Gangan her mother's (my great-grandmother) things.
Hermann Lohmann {+ Three brothers, one sister may be other siblings}
Was one of Wilhelm's sons who also came from Germany.
Lohmann and Beaufort (1740 ish?)
Oral history Alicia or Elizabeth Berkeley - mother's maiden name used
Marquis of Granby, Lewisham, Public house. My great-grandfather's pub.
Pianist of concert standard. The Fagg family were musicians and pianists. My father's mother.
Mary Greenwood, not Greenfield
Great-grandmother was married to Berkeley Lohmann. Known as Gangan.
Cricketer, there is a block of flats (Lohmann House) at the Oval, Surrey County Cricket Ground. Although related as a cousin that I am the nearest living male line descendant, but this may not be true.
Lived for many generations at; Homer Park, Brentor, near Plymouth. My mother's father, who was a photographer.
Dameral
The family connection to Dameral may go back to a naval captain in Plymouth in the 1500s was my mother's guess (I think, suggested by ancestry advice purchased in the 1980s?). My Mother's father's mother.
Dawe
I don't know anything other than the mother's surname was passed on as a middle name or hyphenated surname.
Elfin 1066
Landowner thought all Brailsford was descended from.
The Postmaster, Brailsford, Derbyshire. My mother's mother's name. Granny was a photographic technician, a fatalist, and chance always fell the right way for her.
Geake or Geake-Philips
Her surname was Geake, but seems to be recorded as Geake-Philips?
My grandparent's parents and near family;
Harold Lohmann & Beatrice (Fagg) ------ Edgar Parken & Dorothy (Brailsford)
Jean (Parken) & John Lohmann (mum and dad)
Cousins and other relatives in the UK, Canada, USA and Austria.
Andrew Lohmann {Electronics Design Engineer} ----- Avril [Lohmann] {share guest house owner} & Simon Edwards {Shop Manager}
My grandfather Edgar Parken gave me his sea fishing rod, line, hooks and zinc-plated reel when I was a boy. The ratchet did not work on the reel, but everything else was in good order. It was not rusty then and all the porcelain runners were in place. Aunty Dot may have purchased a good second-hand real for about £2 when we were out with mum, but dad, and I never caught any fish.
Observation
My mum heard her oral history from her grannies as a small child. That history would have been retold many times, so was checked and remembered. At first, the stories are a little spun, but later they became more consistent and less spun.
I recall watching TV at my grandparent's home (my father's parents) whilst my grandpa talked about gardening. My mum and Nan nan talked about a lot of family history and gossip. My grandpa added detail. Two of my granddad's sisters went to Monte Carlo, and they lost a lot of money gambling. Although I did not remember much of this, mum did and retold a lot to me. My father's auntie Joan (who is a bit more distant relative) recalled other things.
Mum has told me a few times that her sisters Dot and Flossy (Parken) would both have known more of the Parken oral history. My auntie Elizabeth collected a lot when visits from Canada to the UK.
By comparison, things I have written on social media or in other ways can then be forgotten, and the post disappears.
My father did not like to hear family history, there was something he was uncomfortable about. On the other hand, he handed down his Hornby train set, Meccano and his very nice fast light to peddle Lenton sports bicycle. He handed down these and other things with a similar appreciation of them as mum handed down the stories.
People talk to each other less, reading the promotion and pay for work to be done more now rather than sharing advice and doing it themselves. There is a lot of poor advice about bicycle maintenance - for example, on YouTube, but discussions with the video and on Facebook groups tend to correct that advice, but you have to judge from a range of discussions and ask again.
The modern age is quite transitory, things change a lot and the past is romanticised or remembered as a bad thing rather than remembered as different. Some of these differences in perception are down to the Temperament of the person. The amount of make to last, re-use, repair and recycling was considerable for example when I was a boy now it is greenwash much too much. I am not trying to build a detailed family tree but put together the stories in which one goes back 300 years, but the record is very unreliable. Some things told were spun a bit as well - first told but then on second thoughts as an adult decades later told with an opposed opinion to correct what was said to me as a child or reconsidered on reflection. All the same, the recollection of the story is interesting getting it right and when you are confident that you have it right.
My Father John Harold Lohmann, 1929-2002 Said there would never let another war like World War two which was fought on our land rather than elsewhere happen again because people were isolated from the media talked to each other about what they wanted, and then largely got it after that war.
My motherJean Helen Lohmann, 1933-2022;Her mind and physically were deteriorating exasperated by lockdowns, she suffered many falls, in those last two years, followed by visits to the hospital which she argued against with the ambulance crews but on the last occasion mum did not argue, she had a lot of infections. The hospital kept her comfortable, the single room door open, so she could hear things going on. She smiled and waved good-by then died a few days later in April, Covid measures were the last straw she was not allowed to go out, a taxi driver had told her off and after that, she could do less and less to the point in the last few months she had said she said the end bit was taking a long time. Mum had walked over anyone who would not stand up for themselves and she always voted, and usually Labour if the candidate was good. The only person she bullied but was normally outmanoeuvred by was dad. Mum grinned if you tried to tell her off and usually carried on doing it but occasionally and if you were precise, accurate and gave her no wriggle room with your criticism she would accept it and thank you. She spoke directly to people, so they often spoke about things that worried them in a way very few other people could do, which could be kindness or unkind but firm and correction. Mum had done everything she wanted and could do and had travelled considerably, and what she told you was a mixture of a little truth and spin.
Mum was a fatalist and, for example, gave visitors past its best food based on the assumption that you don't know won't harm you. One of her brothers Tom said their mum did the same, it did not harm them. Dad hated that way of behaving. Dad was also particularly good at catching her out when she cheated then stopped playing cards for example with her, mum could not stand being caught and would spin and mislead to avoid it.
Both parents were World War 2 children brought up allowed and encouraged to eat and enjoyed eating lots of vegetables, but dad was told not to pick the fruit in the garden but eat all the dropped fruit he liked, which he did all his life.
My granny purchased many paintings for about 10 shillings each in Brighton. They were all over my grandparent's house, and she sold one or two when they wanted a TV or something. Some of the pictures were very big, such as much of the length of a long hallway. These two pictures were given to my mum and dad, one picture each. As the number of purchased things reduced, they moved to smaller houses and spent the money on cruising to many parts of the world. Neither of them ever expected to or had a state pension, although they were due a pension.
The pictures are described by Gorringe's Auction House
Attributed to Clarkson Frederick Stanfield (British, 1793-1867), Coastal Scene, oil on canvas.
19th century continental school, beached boat with figures, oil on canvas (unsigned). * the frame and the painting are best kept together.
The price estimate of the first painting, which mum had cleaned the picture, and restore a bit of the frame, is half what it was 30–40 years ago. The second picture I find is like a real fire that you can keep on looking at, its value is a little less. Neither of the pictures have great value.
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Technical detail
Technical detail
Generally, see; http://www.andrew-lohmann.me.uk/about
This site is hosted by; New Google Sites (2019)
My family tree is the website that used to be set to fixed width to maintain the formatting, this was hard to work on using spaces and dashes that did not tabulate columns nicely or consistently.
In any case, Classic Google Sites (the host and template provider) is now withdrawn, and the site will be or has been transferred to New Google Sites. I now use smaller PDF documents of sections of my family tree. Therefore, PDF can be expanded without losing of detail.
Old website; https://sites.google.com/site/andrewhlohmann/
PDFs are stored on Google Drive and pictures are stored on Google photos. These are a bit strange, and you need to also set up sharing, to a web link for the public to see anything on the drive.
In August 2022, Google Drive was found to not be running properly - it had been good until recently. The local files were not consistently up to date, or the drive is not updated when the local files change consistently. The solution click the Google Drive icon, Windows bottom right-hand corner, switch to Streaming in Preferences, delete all the files on the PC copy of Google Drive and set it back to mirrored and set the local drive path in preferences. Note, if you do not delete the files, Google Drive seems to delete or replace the out-of-date files anyway.
Renaming or overwriting files on the local PC copy of Google Drive will ensure that the sharing status remains unchanged, and the files should track through to sites or blogger without further changes being required. This option does not work when uploading the same file name files to the drive website.
If you use the website and upload the files, you will need to delete the old duplicates, re-apply the sharing then re-insert the files into sites or blogger. If files were not updated on the sites or blogger, pictures will disappear on sites or blogger probably after a month when Google erase those deleted files.
Spelling and grammar checking in Google sites;
I have been using Grammarly extension to the web browser, but it does not integrate well, making editing difficult, and it is necessary to manually enter the correction. I need to log in to use this tool and thereby my personal settings can be used globally. I am turning this tool off.
I have just started using LanguageTool extension to the web browser it integrated well, editing is fine, and it is much more thorough and fast. On the other hand, text blocks must not be too big, or it won't work on those (consequently the free version LT does not work with blogger.com, but you can use cut-and-paste to edit and check sections separately). The outcome is much more traditionally English corrections, and I find the text clearer after just 10 minutes use. But it is necessary to save and refresh the page I have written to or edited. My personal settings and spellings are not retained off-line, though, unless I chose to log in.
Web browser - Opening the page tab works better in Chrome, Chromium and Edge than with Firefox which is difficult otherwise those web browsers work well.
I use various Genealogy tools;
Import and export family trees using the GEDCOM format. This format introduces errors though, but it is necessary to use this export format for backup, to copy data to another tool. Other formats are not widely supported. A good strategy is to keep the family tree within the chosen editing tool but to export from it as a backup or to print from another tool but avoid repeatedly exporting and importing projects back and forth between different provider's tools because this will cause projects to grow in size and could cause errors to be introduced.
The tools probably clean up some of the errors caused by importing and exporting using GEDCOM, but the files do get bigger for just exporting and importing them. UPD and irrelevant notes, but when these are found they are best simply deleted using the MyHeritage online tool or from individual cards (people) in Tree builder.
I use Gramps for Linux or other operating systems, version 5.1.x - more information; https://gramps-project.org/
Create or edit a family tree with other tools, and then import it using the GEDCOM file to create a PDF picture of it.
I found Reports-Graphic-Relationship PDF output to create the desired picture that I want. Change the output file name to match the project name. I am using PDF output, it works well enough with sites.google.com
The paper size does not matter but A4 usually works or use one of the American or custom paper sizes that have a different aspect ratio then select Landscape to get the best view. This gives a good plain view - selecting curves, rounded corners and hexagons also improve the view without losing the uncluttered plainness of the picture. Otherwise, the other settings are fine.
It is also useful to select show dates, places and all other information.
I avoid using this tool for editing or creating a tree, but the tool is good for splitting and merging trees.
Gramps lists people clearly and removing unconnected people or people (cards) that you can not disconnect and therefore delete in Tree Builder or myHeritage.com, for example.
Merging two projects, you identify pairs of the same people cards a pair at a time and press the merge button. For each case, you should check through the new card formed.
Although, Gramps imports and exports GEDCOM and other formats. The combination of tools and the online website works well.
Branches are maintained on the genealogy website; www.MyHeritage.com and the companion Windows tool Family Tree Builder. 8.0.0.8625 March 2021 - 32-bit Windows (XP probably), 7 or higher. There is also an Android version that appears to provide access to the internet site information.
I am using the Free version which provides;
Limited to 250 cards (people) 500 MB for each site. You can have a number of sites, each with a number of family trees.
The company is based in Israel, and I do not know what its policy is toward Palestine and the occupation. It has some records from 1937-1948, when the British occupied Palestine. On the other hand, I observe my German ancestry has been accepted.
The Windows offline tool Tree builder works best if it is only on one user and that user keeps his work synchronised to the website. The tools do not appear to handle multiple users you must manage your own systems for sharing with others, such as ensuring only one person works on the same project at the same time. You must inform other users of project name changes and to delete the old name versions of projects;
A new project can be started on Tree Builder or MyHeritage.com or imported using GEDCOM format.
Tree Builder project can be synchronised to MyHeritage.com using the Synchronise button. Before this first synchronisation, the project (this version) only exists in Tree builder. This will leave a duplicate on MyHeritage.co.uk site, so if there is an old version it needs to be removed from the site.
MyHeritage.com project can be updated to Tree Builder using the Files - Restore button. Before this first restoration, the project (this version) only exists on MyHeritage.com. This will replace an existing same-name project on Tree Builder.
The tool may in any case offer synchronise after 8 days and therefore then you can accept and download any new projects.
The Synchronisation button does not always synchronise, and its behaviour may not be consistent, but with care it is safe. The synchronisation function does work reliably when the site version is more up-to-date, but this is the method you use to upload to the site. Use the Files - Restore button to download the updated version from the site, you need to close the open project first. This is the safest strategy before working on a project using Tree builder.
In Tree Builder if you chose to use the synchronisation status (which is not reliable) the Tree Builder icon (bottom right of the Windows toolbar).
Revision Mismatch - opening an unsynchronised project you will be offered to download and this will synchronise that project.
Not Found - Unsynchronised download is not offered, so use Tree builder - files - restore and chose from family sites.
Although there is the same name copy on sites, if there is a duplicate you need to pick the right version and delete the wrong version, but the date is not a good indicator. You do not need to accept the backup option.
Site is up-to-date - This may be wrong to use the Restore button to download and therefore update your local project.
NOTE If you have, inadvertently, synchronised an old local PC version then this will be duplicated on the website but with a newer, current time, synchronisation time. Unless this was intentional, you need to delete it from https://www.myheritage.com (Tree builder; Family site - View site) top left select the sites - Hover over near the top - Family Tree - select Manage trees - you can see and delete the tree you wish to from here.
If a duplicate project appears online, it may be the older version you need to use, unless it is a damaged 0 cards version. The date shown is the last load or synchronisation date, but not the last changed date. Check the last change you made is present online. Delete the unwanted project on the web and refresh the web browser page.
This occurs when you may have uploaded a new version and removed the old version of the *.GEDCOM from the site (online) so although you may have an old version in Tree builder with the same name synchronisation window will show it as not found on the specific site. In this case, use Restore to download and overwrite the local old version.
Take care importing GEDCOM it will not merge two trees. It will leave you with duplicate cards that you will not know which to delete.
Click the synchronisation button if it becomes marked, such as after you carry out an edit, for example in Tree builder.
Before completing any work, check the website for duplicates of all your project.
The synchronise button does not always highlight it can be necessary to click it to properly check, even if the tree is shown as synchronised elsewhere.
Synchronise first time does not always show all your sites on myheritage.com you can upload to. It is better to start a new project on myheritage.com, then use the restore button to load it in Tree Builder.
If you want to rename a project, do that offline with Tree builder. You will also need to make an edit before the project will upload. You may or may not then need to delete the online version of your project and open the offline project and press the synchronise button. If that does not work, then use the files - backup button and probably therefore the restore button on other instances of Tree Builder.
Family Tree builder handles file management well. It has been updated in about 2021 and works better now. It took many going around and opening synchronised projects on different PCs in order for the synchronisation to start working smoothly in 2022. Part of that was working out and changing the project naming convention. I use; Family Tree - Surname - other surnames - distinguishing detail.
The editing tool can be too clever by half in that to move a card you need to attach it somewhere else, then you are offered the option to delete the old connection. What other cards also moves as well need to be checked and corrected.
The offline tool is important because both the website and the Windows tools have different and useful editing tools. The visibility is better offline.
The Trees can also be output as pictures in JPEG or PDF. I have chosen to not use these.
I was hoping to put back the links that used to exist in the old version of the website. This looked difficult, but it has turned out not to be possible.
Ancestry;
Available on Kent Libraries as part of my membership of the library. You have to use a library computer.
Much of the checking of dates has been done with this tool.
I have not evaluated www.ancestry.co.uk for editing our family tree other than to note;
The Free account now allows 500 MB.
Import and export *.ged
You can print your family tree from this site, but the format does not look good because of the way a tree is split into two pages down the middle, and it is cluttered with portraits.
I have an account and the trees are copied to Ancestry.co.uk
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Other resources to consider;
I have also got a www.findmypast.co.uk free account
This appears to be a good online wiki
Limitations - number of levels. Unknown.
Can in port and export GEDCOM.
Limitation - only part of the online data appears to be downloadable?
https://www.familysearch.org/en/
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (I have an account, but I have not looked at this yet, but it is basically free and is open to non-church people)
I have not used this link which I was sent, but it looks useful;
Web-host;
New Google sites are what I am using now.
I have a single web page hosted by Freeola to which I could upload the basic family tree to. FileZilla, which I used to use for managing web pages, was very good. I have not used this.
Google Chrome extension (MyHeritage)
Said to be difficult to use. On the other hand, it might integrate well with my google hosted website?
Advice websites;
Advice websites and software lists.
I have been recommended RootMagic software for PC; https://www.rootsmagic.com by Facebook Fugal Ancestry group
This can output a tree and story format, which looks like it will do what I am looking for.
The advice given on Facebook was to use RootMagic and WordPress.
For a coat of arms and some information on surnames, see;
It looks like there is or can be created a coat of arms for any surname.
Dameral my mum's granny on her dad's side has lived in Devon for a very long time, mum had said that about her father Parken, Granny Brailsford on the other hand never really stayed still anywhere long like her grandfather the piano tuner Sydney. The oldest ancestor was Elsin a small spelling difference who fought with William The Conqueror.
But for surname ancestry, probably there would not be any DNA distinction with anyone else. This is an interesting curiosity all the same.
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