Tony Wait Genealogist

28/12/2025

Two years before 'A Christmas Carol' was published, my 4×great-grandfather John Wait (1797–1868) lived with his family in Three Cup Alley, Shoreditch, according to the 1841 Census. I’ll never know if he celebrated Christmas—likely it was a modest affair, perhaps with rabbit if they were lucky, and gin or beer instead of fresh water. A carpenter by trade, John struggled to survive and even applied for church relief in 1840 when his wife Jane fell ill with rheumatic fever. She lived another nine years, dying in 1849.

Despite its quaint name, Three Cup Alley was notorious for squalor. In 1831, it was described as dark, filthy, and foul-smelling. First shown on Rocque’s 1746 map, most of the area was later demolished during 19th-century railway construction.

21/12/2025

A Note of Thanks!
Since starting my family history research business in 2018, I’ve been dedicated to uncovering the past for my clients and helping them reconnect with their forebears. Each journey has been fascinating, filled with remarkable discoveries and meaningful surprises—from ancestors who fought at Trafalgar and the Battle of Hastings to, most recently, Waterloo.
I’m very grateful for the trust so many of you have placed in my work, and proud to now have pages of recommendations on my website.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for allowing me to continue pursuing something I love.

20/12/2025

At the beginning of the year, I came in the 1911 census a wonderfully amusing entry recording a wife named “Rattlesnake”, an occupation of “does as she wants”, a marriage that ended seven years earlier “thank God”, and a birthplace listed as “hell, no idea”, finishing with the plea, “Please don’t send her back!"

15/12/2025

13/12/2025

The Christmas tree at Trafalgar Square in 1948. This was the second year the tree was gifted to Britain by Norway as a token of gratitude for the support they received during WW2.

08/12/2025

On this day, 45 years ago — December 8, 1980 — John Lennon was shot and killed in the archway of The Dakota in New York City. I still remember waking up that morning to the news coming from my little radio alarm clock. I cried. As a lifelong Beatles fan, I was devastated. The entire day felt surreal, as if the world had shifted. John wasn’t just a member of the greatest band in history — he was a voice for peace, using his fame to champion non-violence and social change.

07/12/2025

This photograph, taken in 1865—the year of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and the publication of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland—is an extraordinary glimpse of London that never fails to astonish me.