March 2025 Monthly Meeting

Event type: Meeting
Date: 25th March 2025
Time: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Venue: Carterton Community Centre
Organiser:

Guest Speaker: Ben Nicholls

Topic: The Devils Daughter and Me

It turns out I’m descended from the Devil which explains why I’ve always been a bit of a maverick. Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself anyway! Having discovered my own family history, it’s been very enlightening to find out that I’m in very good company. Allow me to show you the underside of Victorian respectability through the eyes of some of my ancestors who had a devilish streak. There’s Aaron who broke with his religion and his community to be with the woman he loved. And Caroline whose passions for a dashing Parisian left her in total disgrace. Then we’ll travel to Mexico City in 1596 and see what the Inquisitors make of my non-conforming ancestors there. And finally, we’ll meet Melusine herself…

Edith Da Costa is my great-great-great grandmother and this photo was taken in Brighton in 1869.