This is a private web-site. It belongs to the Upton family and others who have joined it through marriage. Current geneological research can trace the Upton name back to the early 1800's. Any records before that are the challenge for furure generations to research.
The genesis of this record began in 1987 when my father, John Peter or “Jack” as he was universally known, handed me a sheaf of paper a month or so before he died. He informed me that this was his memoir and duly charged that it was not to be destroyed, that it was to be published with a copy given to each of his grandchildren. At that time there were eight and all, except for the two youngest, were approaching the age of majority.
His objective was simple. Of the eight, only three remained in England and a similar distribution existed with nephews and nieces. To my father this meant that future generations of Uptons, probably with different nationalities, may not have an opportunity to learn about their ethnic and genealogic roots. He believed this would be a loss to these future generations. His task therefore was to contribute something to their knowledge of themselves, as indigenous peoples had done for centuries through family gathering and tribal conclave. His objective was a noble idea, if not somewhat impractical.
First, there was the question as to whether future generations would be interested in their ancestry. Second, his memoir had been typed on a battered and ancient portable typewriter of questionable print quality. Third, it covered two hundred and forty-six pages, single spaced with some of it barely readable. Fourth, the text had no structure, it was a random memory dump of his childhood, his relationship with his parents, his brother and dozens of other incidents in his life. Finally, he offered no contribution to the cost of such a publishing venture!
Several years passed until I started to read my dads memoir, during a vacation in Florida, hunkered down somewhere hoping to avoid a hurricane! Why so many years? First it had to be transferred from the typewritten form to the digital form. That took several months over a few more years by dictating the text to a computer using voice recognition software (ancient technology now). Next, all the slander, scandle, libel and outright distortions of fact had to be identified and removed – no small task! That required more months over more years. Following that, the story had to be organized into something approaching a cohesive narrative and upgraded to 21st century language.
The end result was not one but two memoirs: my fathers plus his fathers (you can figure out what "G-child/nephew or niece" level that makes you). Both memoirs were now reduced to something slightly more than a total of one hundred pages. While this was in process, my mothers father’s memoir had surfaced, a fascinating record of life as a gold miner in the Yukon in the early 1900's. It to was processed in the same way as my fathers – but without the need to vet and sanitize the narrative!
Finally, a medium had to be chosen for the launch of these memoirs. Respecting my father’s original wish, which now includes multiple great grandchildren and no doubt soon to be great-great-grandchildren, the internet was the only viable medium. This could facilitate universal distribution of all the “ancients” life stories – should anyone want to read them. Another advantage was an ability to add other life stories as my generation reaches that period of reflectiing on our lives. If nothing else, it may give future generations an appreciation of past generations achievements and accomplishments, respectable by any standard!
The decision to use the internet required a whole new dimension of resources and the relearning of a technology I had left some thirty plus years ago – but I think I have honoured my fathers last wish to pass-on many of the stories of his life.
Here then are the stories of my (our) father and our grandfathers. No matter what your name or nationality may be, this is the evidence of your roots and your ancestry, the people who contributed to the shape of your nose, the colour of your eyes or the size and shape of you body – and don’t forget the capacity of your intellectual abilities. You didn’t invent those characteristics or create them, your ancestors did. Don’t forget that!
Hugh Upton. Montreal. June 28th 2024