Greenock, Renfrewshire, August 1871, and my widowed 2x greatgrandmother Emma Susannah Riboldi has just tied the knot again, four days short of her 30th birthday. Her new husband is a 31-year-old ship steward called Jan de Neef. Well, I say de Neef, but what is it with my family and ‘interesting’ names? I thought Riboldi was tricky enough, but I have a sneaking suspicion de Neef might give it a run for its money…
Off to an easy start
But let’s not jump the gun, because at Findmypast one key result pops up easy as pie. It’s a transcript of the 1881 Scotland Census showing John de Neef, 41, occupation ‘Agent ships store’, living with his 39-year-old wife Emma S de Neef, born in England. As for John,
