Throwback Thursday

When I was growing up I was never allowed to meet any of my dad's family.  My mom was adamant about that, and my dad pretty much did whatever she said.  I understand that there was a lot of alcoholism in the family, my dad was an alcoholic, and his mom, well, let's just say she didn't have the best reputation, but she was my grandmother, and it would have been nice to have met her....even if only once.  This was an entire part of my family that I was cut off from, and they were just as much a part of me as her family was.  I feel like because of my mom's decisions, I missed out on so much.  Fortunately, when I began working on my family tree I was able to piece a lot of their history together...and even meet several cousins I didn't know I had.  It's wonderful that I found these pictures, but it really doesn't make up for all the face-to-face contact I missed.

My great grandmother Constance Mary and her step father, John Staff.  My great great grandfather, Richard Hazel, died when Constance was three months old, and her mother, Harriet remarried.  They came to America a few months later.  This photo is from the early 1900's.

Constance Mary's sisters, Annie and Flossie.  Annie was blind. When she lived in Newton, she had a clothesline tied all around her yard which helped her to get around.

Constance Mary.

 Constance Mary with her daughter, Edith and her first born, Ruth.

Constance Mary with her son,  my grandfather, Harry.  They called him 'King'.

My dad sent this to my great grandmother Constance Mary who raised him and his brother.  All the family had nicknames.  His was 'Beatle'.

This is my dad's twin brother, Harry.  He always stayed thin while my dad gained a lot of weight.  Harry's nickname was 'Twinny'.

 My great great grandfather, Ralph...Constance Mary's husband.

 My grandfather Harry as a young man.

Constance Mary

 Harry (dad's twin), myself, and my Dad.