The Hampshire Family Historian | Volume 50 No.2 | Sept 2023

Member’s article

George Hatcher and his mother Rosina

Addendum I gave a talk about the Hatcher brothers for the Andover HGS group in April 2023. A few weeks later a DNA match appeared in Ancestry for a Hatcher relative – at 80 centimorgans. I sent an introductory email naming a few males in the direct Hatcher line, not expecting too much. Here is the reply I received on the 12th May. ‘Hi Richard, Thanks for reaching out. My line of the Hatcher family began here in Australia with the arrival of my grandfather in 1957. He was born George Thomas Hatcher around 1920 I believe. Unfortunately, I don’t know anything more about my family from England as my Grandparents did not divulge any information about their life in England prior to leaving. There seems to be some secrecy about it and I once heard my Dad’s sister say they left England due to some sort of family scandal. Who knows ! Regards, Trevor Hatcher’ I was completely taken aback and a number of lengthy messages were exchanged. At Trevor’s request, I sent him this article and the

Rosina Hatcher and Alfred Hatcher

presentation slides for him to share with his family. It felt a little odd to reveal all the research to him but he was delighted to hear about the family secrets. He sent me photographs I had never seen and I was finally able to see the key players in my story. George had served in the RAF during the war before emigrating in 1957 (eight years before his parents died in the gas accident). So here, finally, is George with his mother Rosina Hatcher and then Rosina with Alfred Hatcher at George’s wedding. A wonderful outcome to my research and, maybe one day, I will meet Trevor (now established as my 2nd cousin once removed). Richard Backhouse (Member #12569)

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