Ann Jesson (1734-1799). Ann was born in Warwickshire to Pudsey Jesson and Elizabeth Freeman. Her claim to fame was marrying Sir Charles Holte, 6th Baronet of Aston Hall in Birmingham UK.

Thomas Jesson (1779-1860) was the son of Richard Jesson who I talked about in my last blog, the one who patented the first commercially successful method for producing wrought iron with coke. Needless to say, Thomas lived a privileged life.  

He married Ann Elliot Percy in 1803. American born, Ann is the daughter of Rev William Percy, who was an ordained minister and a chaplain to Lady Selina Huntingdon the Countess of Huntington and became very prominent in spreading the gospel in America.

What made the Jesson family so prominent in the small area of West Bromwich in England?

Wealth, I discovered came in the form of iron.

Intrigued that there is a Jesson who is a Baron, I wanted to explore this Baron line further.

Figuring out the line that was documented on my hand drawn family tree with the assistance of Ancestry.com, I identified 12 generations of the Jesson family. I then researched Thomas Henry Percy Touchet-Jesson, an actor, mauafacturer, a baron and married briefly to Sir Winston Churchill’s daughter.

Are you putting off a Family History research project? Set a goal to work on it THIS YEAR. Stay on track by being accountable to me or another fellow researcher.

Follow my 2026 Family History Research Project “How the Other Half Lived” for tips on completing your project.

Why is it important to look through a photo album?

Photos prompt memories of those special days.

Photos preserve memories of loved ones who were once in our lives but are no longer with us.

Photos remind us of what we have achieved and how much we are loved. This is so important went life gets tough.

Scrapbook albums provide flexibility when it comes to photos of different orientations and photos of different sizes (particularly heritage photos). Scrapbook albums also allow you to include memorabilia such as certificates, newspaper articles etc.

A scrapbook page serves as a blank canvas, allowing you to add flat memorabilia. Using an archival album with polypropylene sleeves keeps items organised, protected, and slows their natural aging.

Tips for creating a simple and classic scrapbook album.

What products should you use when making a archive quality scrapbook album?

Displayed photos help us remember people, places and occasions. Just as how you store your photos is important for longevity, how you display your photos is equally important.

The way you store photos is very important. Original photos can be damaged by acid, lignin (yellowing), light, heat, moisture/humidity, human neglect, vermin and other animals.

Organise your photos- broadly, generally and specifically.

What photos do you keep?

• What will these images mean to future generations? Prioritise those older photos.

• Focus on photos of specific people and places.

• If you have multiple versions of the same scene, pick the best one: the one with the most people looking at the camera, the least blurry, and so on.

• Get rid of duplicates. All you need is one original and a high-resolution scan. You can offer extra copies to interested family members.