I’m waiting for something. Or someone.

Someone to open up the Willock world and reveal their family stories to me. Or someone to tie the Willocks to the Collmans with certainty, but the something or someone doesn’t seem to be coming.

I’m willing to wait – what else can I do?

Today I heard from another Willock researcher, someone whose children descend from one of my great grandmother Miriam Willock’s brothers. She’s looking for answers too

For some reason, virtually no history has been handed down through the family. Although x’s siblings kept in close contact with each other, there was always very little mention of their parents. There was some suggestion of something unusual around the birth and early life of x..that perhaps they didn’t look after her?/ she was mistreated?/ brought up in infancy by others?? Some ill- feeling, I sensed.

Miriam left babies behind. Edna left children behind. Is this another example of a Willock baby being left behind?

Which makes me wonder – is there such a thing as an Abandonment Gene? Not just abandonment of babies and children, but abandonment of relationships or an inability to bond with another? Is it a family trait? All these ‘left behind’ children and absence of a family story can’t be coincidence.

Oh, and speaking of coincidence, look what I found out! The address where Mabel Willock was living towards the end of her life was almost over the back fence from my grandmother Edna Willock Dorney! Did they know each other? Did they realise their aunt/niece family tie?

Meanwhile, mystery person with all the Willock and Collman answers, I’m sure you’re out there. I’ll be here, patiently waiting…