They tell you to “never start with an apology”, so I will just tell you that 2010 was a full and good year that unfortunately left no time for Mutches Website Newsletters. But now it is 2011 and the absence of newsletters does not mean any lack of updates on the website.

The “Wish List” page has outlived it’s usefulness now that the Forum allows researchers to post their own messages. I have replaced this with a link to the “Newsletter Archive” which will be more useful for those who are new to the website.

Photographs

Sandra Dymock sent me two photographs of Robert, son of J50, and Ann Falconer. As I was adding new links for these I came up with the idea that using thumbnails as links in the main Family Line text would be an improvement. This makes the pages more interesting and it easier for users to find photographs.

Thumbnails have now been added to family lines where I have photographs. You can check these out on the A14, A24, A29, A43, J50, J59 & P8 pages.

As a further enhancement I am looking at setting up a special page to gather all photographs on the site together, with links to the relevant family lines. I’ll be glad to add any photographs you have of people listed on the website.

A Scottish Soldier?

The old Andy Stewart song is very apt for Heather Smith who is trying to find the parents of her Great Grandfather William. She has a photograph of him in uniform.

I have a copy of a photograph of my great grandfather in army uniform sent to his daughter as follows - “Lizzie Smith Mutch, May 21st 1883 from Willie Mutch”

I paid a visit to Gordon Highlanders Museum today with the photograph of William Mutch (1883) and the ‘guess’ was that he was in the Highland Light Infantry, wearing Mackenzie tartan trews, and sporting the Egypt Medal and Turkish Star. I went on to the National Archives tonight and have downloaded attestation papers etc of a William Mutch - the only one I could find. This one was reputed to be about 25, born Fyvie and next of kin, father, Alexander Mutch. Can’t think he’s my William, but on the other hand his papers showed that he had been awarded the Egypt/Turkish Medals (59th Brigade > HLI/1879-1885). So it’s a mystery.

If anyone thinks they can help I can put you in touch with Heather.

Updates and new Family Lines

The updates have continued during last year. Some of the main changes included:

  • New family line A50 added for Alexander & Margaret Johnston. Jim Irvine found the death registration of son Alexander A48 showing his parents.

  • G11 was updated when I found George’s dc on the GRO site. It was one of the first registered under the new regulations and contained a wealth of information. This allowed G13 to be merged here as well as showing J4 as the parent.

  • Added details of W13 son George’s marriage to Mary Allan.

  • J15, John & Margaret Sim, confirmed as parents of J91 Joseph & Isabella Smith.

  • A25 was updated; David Dickie provided details of a son by Alexander & Jane Dickie and Heather Smith provided the details of son William & Ann Williams family.

  • J50 added family for son Robert. Details provided by Sandra Dymock

Additions to the Links page include a surname profiling site where you can map the concentration of Mutches in different parts of the UK over time. Thanks to Nancy Loe for passing this on.

Also there is a new link to the Old Bailey archives where you can find eight references to Mutch. Not all as witnesses! This one is taken from a recent Scotland’s People newsletter.

Database status - We currently have details of 1,516 Mutches and 544 spouses.