I am trying to locate the link to my family in the US to my family in England, most likely from the Chalbury region. Any help would be greatly appreciated. If you know of anyone with this name or anyone that might have information, please contact me. Anne

Dear Barbara, thank your for your response. Have you connected with anyone else with our surname? I am having problems locating the middle of the family. I have my fathers side to his father adn then I have the family history that has been passed down for generations but I cannot connect the two. Do you have any other information you can share? Any info is greatly appreciated. Later, Anne

My great grandfather was Isaac Blandford. Born March 11, 1811 in Dorchester, England and died Jan 14, 1887 in Vienna, Ontario, Canada. He was the son of ANN GRAY AND WILLIAM Blandford. He married Mary Roberts on June 14, 1831 in Milborne Point. Isaac, his wife Mary and her parents (Ann and John Roberts) immigrated from Dorchester, England to Vienna, Ontario Canada in 1832. The 1861 Vienna census lists Isaac as a carpenter and a Methodist. He may have had a brother William.

Hi Barbara, Yes I did get the info you sent and I saved it to look at more closely later. I am in the middle of getting my mother in law settled in with us, getting my mother back from a rehab center where she has been recovering from a stroke, keeping tabs on my step dad, he also lives with us, and finding out today that I have to have my 5th back operation on July 2nd. Its a looney house around here, LOL. SO I will get to the info later when I can study it 'quietly'. DO you know of any Blandford brothers, back I don't know how far, that were Dukes or Earls or somehow connected to the chain of royalty? According to my family history there were two brothers that argued. One left and came to the US and the other remained in England and continued his lifestyle with the aristocrats. I have also been told that all Blandfords are related but I know there was an orphanage in Blandford England that was destroyed with the majority of the town. All records were also destroyed so the remaining children were given teh surname Blandford when they came of age adn went out on their own. So for that matter there are Blandfords that would not be blood related. My father was adament about the aristocrat connection and since I have hit a stonewall on this end I am shooting for the stars on that end. Let me know if you know of this lineage and/or if it is part of yours. Later and many thanks, Anne

I recently put together a 50 page book titled The Blandford Family History. While working on it, I found a distant cousin, Keith Blandford. His great great grandfather was my great grandfather.Keith was also interested in geneology and we shared information. My great, great grandfather was William Blandford, born 1785 in Motcombe, Dorset, England. His son, my great grandfather, was Isaac Blandford, born March 11, 1811 in Dorchester, England. My grandfather, Isaac Roberts Blandford, was born September 15, 1848 in Vienna, Ontario, Canada. My father, Roy Blandford, was born March 27, 1894 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I put everything from the book and more in the Reunion program which I e-mailed to you in an attachment. Did you receive it? Barbara

Hi Barbara, I live in Laurel, Delaware but grew up in New Hampshire. My dad grew up in Winchester, Virginia but was from Ohio prior to that. His Dad was from the VIrginia/Kentucky/West Virginia area. I think the town is called Blue Bell or soething similar and is located in two states. I don't have it right in front of me. I contacted the town/state he was from but there is no birth record so now I am going to have to contact New Hampshire for a death record. Dad was Hildren Randolph Blandford and his Dad was Hildren Ashly Blandford. My Uncle was James and there is/was a sister Mary Jean. All contact was lost of Mary Jean due to a marriage dicision she made so I have no way of knowing where she is or even still alive. I think she married a doctor from Puerto Rico and moved there but that was along time ago. My grandmother was Julia Belle Hemphill and she was also from Ohio. DO any of these names have any resemblance to any in your family? I have found that names seem to be passed down forever so hope you may notice a connection there.

ON my mothers maternal side I have 13 generations and around 6 generations for my maternal grandfather. My dad's side has been really frustrating. Is there any Churchill connection with your side. This can be fun but so time consuming and so frustrating. I had placed 300 entries with World Family Tree from my side and my late husbands side so my kids would have it. When I got the new computer I couldn't download my software so am going to sign on to the online program when I know I have time to make paying for it worth it. What entries I had went to cd50 and 51 I believe. If you are connected online you can check it out to see if there is something there. Later, Anne

You asked " DO you know of any Blandford brothers, back I don't know how far, that were Dukes or Earls or somehow connected to the chain of royalty? According to my family history there were two brothers that argued. One left and came to the US and the other remained in England and continued his lifestyle with the aristocrats." My Dad said that Blandfords came from royalty but the 1861 Vienna census lists Isaac as a carpenter and a Methodist. The 1872 Vienna business directory lists Isaac as an undertaker. The 1881 census also lists him as a carpenter and undertaker. That doesn't sound like royalty to me. I have also heard about the orphanage, but my Blandford ancestor came over before that happened. My father also said that all Blandford's with a 'd' in it were related. I am looking forward to see if you find any connections when you go through the reunion attachment. I live in Goshen, Indiana and grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Where are you located? Barbara

My Dad had a brother names Jim but that was the only resemblence to my family. You have done really well to have gone back 13 generations on your Mother's side. I haven't heard of any Churchill connection. I think we need to go further back to find a connection in your and my families. Barbara

Anne - hi! Been eavesdropping on your queries re BLANDFORDS. First point - the first son of the Duke of Marlborough (descendants of John Churchill , family home Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire) is traditionally the Marquis of Blandford. The name was taken from their original home - Blandford in Dorset. Interested too in your comment re all Blandfords with a 'd' are related. I've only recently been researching Blandford line in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire and am back in unbroken male line twelve generations to John Blandford (born c 1680 Cirencester Glos) I've more research to do (only been at it a a fortnight) Might be of interest to you. BOB Blandford (Robert Alan dob 30/12/47 Worcester England

Hello Barbara,
I am a descendant of Robert Roberts, who was the brother or Mary Roberts that married Isaac Blandford. I am interested in sharing and comparing notes.
Carol
carolvanharn@yahoo.ca