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Private Notes
Gavin Andrews takes the Laughlins, an Ulster-Scots family, on a personal historical journey back in time to discover what life was like for their ancestors at the turn of the 19th century. Abandoning their comfortable 21st-century lives, mum Kerry, dad Ainsley and daughters Sophie, Anya and Hope find out what it is like to run a small farm with no electricity and a kitchen made up of a table and an open fire. While they struggle with pigs, laundry and fire pots, grandfather Alan begins a genealogical detective trail which eventually leads to a celebrated historical figure.
This week, the Laughlin family attempt to spend the night with a goat in a traditional one-room byre dwelling. While dad Ainsley digs the ground for potatoes, Hope and Anya experience the discipline of a Victorian national school. As grandfather Alan continues to research the family's genealogy, he discovers the harsh realities of the poverty experienced by his great, great relatives, some of whose names he finds in workhouse registers.
The Laughlin's final step back into their family history begins in 1718, and presenter Gavin Andrews reveal a direct link to a famous ancestor known in America as the Moses of the Ulster-Scots. Three hundred years ago their ancestor led an Ulster-Scots community to America. It was one of the earliest and most celebrated mass emigrations in modern times and the Laughlins are completely unaware of the central role played by one of their family. Gavin takes grandfather Alan and his son Ainsley on an American road trip to find out what life was like for the early Ulster-Scots settlers, before visiting the community that their ancestor founded. While they do that, the rest of the family look into the early life of their ancestor. The programme culminates in a surprise party where the Laughlins get to meet an American branch of the family.
Gavin Andrews leads the Smyths, an Ulster-Scots family from Bangor, on a genealogical detective trail as they piece together their family tree and discover fascinating insights into the lives of their family members in the 18th and 19th centuries. It's an adventure packed with surprises that ultimately leads to a connection with a notorious historical figure. Episode 1 starts with a boat trip for the Smyth family as they cross Belfast Lough from Bangor to Carrickfergus, where Peter's family lived for generations. Their first big discovery is that the former family home is now a tanning parlour! The trail leads them to Belfast's industrial past where they discover some relatives who became big shots in a very big business - linen. Going further back, they find out about other business interests which took this adventurous family overseas. Their next family footstep takes them all the way to the majestic St Petersburg in Russia, where it's revealed one of their ancestors, Robert, ran a prestigious bookshop. Amongst his customers were Russia's literary elite, including author Vladimir Nabokov. This leads to revelations of royal connections for the Smyth family – Robert’s sister, Lizzie, who became a trusted retainer for Nabokov's aunt, a famous Princess. The Smyths feel it's all a long way from Bangor!
The Smyths discover another family member operating in St Petersburg in the early 20th century. Ralph, brother of Robert and Lizzie, was ostensibly a businessman, but evidence points to him actually being a British spy! The Russian Revolution was to have devastating consequences for this branch of the family and sent them fleeing for their lives. Back home, Emily and Ruby take etiquette lessons to discover what life may have been like for a governess. A family will reveals a prized musical possession, and the family enjoy a Victorian-style sing-song. Finally they discover a connection to a New Zealand prime minister and a legal drama. The Smyth family story is never dull!
It transpires there’s another adventurer in the story of this Ulster-Scots family - this time a sea captain who survived a dramatic shipwreck and sailed around the world. In this final episode we travel back to 1711 and finally reveal family ties to a controversial woman, and a fascinating link to one of the most dramatic early chapters in the story of the Ulster-Scots! The family is traced back to a woman who was accused and convicted in a notorious trial. Found guilty of a scandalous crime, the family discover her fate. Although their family story is full of foreign adventure and travel, the Smyths discover in a dramatic final programme that the real danger was much closer to home.
Presenter Gavin Andrews takes the Quail Walker family from Banbridge, County Down, on a genealogical journey to discover their Ulster-Scots roots and how their ancestors lived at the beginning of the 20th century.
With Gavin Andrews as their guide, the Quail Walker family travel further back in time. Teenagers Noah and Fionn hop on a steam train to find out about a family connection to the railways while grandad Desmond discovers a shocking family secret. Then it's off to Canada where Desmond and Caroline follow in the footsteps of a great-uncle who worked in a fellow Ulster-Scot's retail empire. In London, Fionn and Noah play cello and viola with a composer cousin they've never met and find out about their family links to The Sound of Music and Frank Sinatra.
The Quail Walkers' final step into their Ulster-Scots history starts in Toronto where Gavin Andrews finally reveals to Desmond and Caroline the identity of a famous ancestor. He was at the centre of a Victorian maritime mystery and his story is the stuff of legend. The Quail boys have learnt about him at school but had no idea there was a family connection.
