At our recent meeting [ Details here ], Sue Honoré of the Oxfordshire Family History Society opened her talk with a reminder that ‘local’ and ‘family’ history are never truly separate pursuits. Anyone who has traced a family line—whether their own or someone else’s—quickly discovers how deeply personal stories are rooted in place.
Sue emphasised the irreplaceable value of speaking with family members and recording their memories. Recollections passed down through generations, and even the stories of long-standing neighbours, can illuminate the lived texture of a community.
With this foundation laid, Sue guided us through the wide range of resources available to anyone embarking on family research—whether into their own lineage or a family of particular local interest.
A Real-World Example: The Hedges, Rathbands and Honeybones of the Wychwoods
Inspired by Sue’s talk, we turned to the web in search of examples of family history research connected with the Wychwoods. In doing so we came across a compelling piece by Dr Douglas Hope, who includes genealogical research among his many interests.
His article traces the ancestry of his daughter‑in‑law, Trudy Hope (née Hedges), whose curiosity about her roots opens a story that stretches across Shipton, Milton and Ascott. Her family line divides into two major strands:
- The Hedges of Shipton under Wychwood, a family present in the parish since at least the sixteenth century, forming one of the long-settled threads of the community.
- The Rathband–Honeybone line of Milton and Ascott, whose history intersects with the dramatic events surrounding the Ascott Martyrs of 1873.
A Historical Side-Branch
Dr Hope also touches on a branch not directly in Trudy’s line but still part of the wider Hedges story: Richard Hedges (b. 1819), whose emigration to New Zealand links the family to the tragic loss of the Cospatrick in 1874, one of the worst maritime disasters of the nineteenth century.
The result is a fascinating read—an example of how genealogical research, when handled with care and curiosity, becomes far more than a list of names and dates.
The full story of The Hedges of the Wychwoods (1800-1939) is here >>> [Opens in new tab]
