In this episode of Series Seven, host Andrew Martin meets professional Anglo-Belgian genealogist, author, and MyHeritage Country Manager – Marie Cappart. She tells him how she got hooked on family history, how she wasn’t daunted by those she met at the archives, what led her to write the guide to researching in Belgium, and how she ended up working for MyHeritage.

Listen to the episode

Also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, and others…

The Life Story – Marguerite Nicholls

Marie has chosen to tell the life story of her Great Aunt, Marguerite Nicholls.

Whilst Marie thought that she knew her family tree, she was surprised to discover that there was a relative missing from her tree, and from family conversations – her Great Aunt.

Digging deeper, Marie was able to discover that Marguerite (also known as ‘Maggie’), who had moved to Belgium with her family, but stayed behind when the Second World War broke out, had joined the Belgian Resistance. A highly dangerous and secretive operation, she assisted with the rescue of several British and Canadian pilots.

Sadly though, she was discovered, arrested, and executed for her work against the Nazis.

The Brick Wall – Corneille de Lestre

It’s a delve far back in time for Marie’s brick wall, but she remains hopeful, despite having many options for a potential location.

She’s looking for a baptism record for a Corneille de Lestre which took place in about 1540. She’s searched the 1540s and 1550s, but is thwarted by not really knowing the location within Belgium. Marie did find some work in an archive with theories of who his parents were, but it had no cited sources, and whilst she has attempted to research its theories of the identity of Corneille’s father and the travelling that person did, there’s nothing clear enough to be sure.

Can you help her answer;

• Where Corneille de Lestre (or le Lettre) was baptised?
• Who are Corneille’s parents?

If you think that you can help Marie with a clue or research idea to solve this brick wall, then you can send her a message on Twitter at @histfamilles, or alternatively, you can send us a message and we’ll pass it on to her.

In the meantime, Marie is curious of Andrew’s offer of help… but can you smell burning?

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Episode Credits

• Andrew Martin – Host and Producer
• Marie Cappart – Guest
• John Spike – Sándor Petőfi