This month, Paul Chiddicks presents a code breakers theme involving postcard messages, and shares a genie-celebrity challenge for readers to try...

Paul Chiddicks

A coded 1905 postcard

The theme to this month’s edition is code breakers, as we take a look at some secret coded messages written on postcards, along with some that tell a wonderful story of ambition and achievement. We also have the usual mix of the unexpected, the unusual and the amusing things we discover whilst researching our family trees.

Can you crack the code?

We start this month’s edition with an email from a ‘celebrity guest’, none other than forensic genealogist Morton Farrier. Morton has written into ‘Dear Paul’ asking if our readers can help decode this postcard he has received. He writes:

Dear Paul,

My name is Morton Farrier and I am a forensic genealogist and whilst carrying out some important research for a client, I received this anonymous postcard with a coded message.

Due to client confidentiality, I am unable to divulge the person that I am currently working for and I presume that you will respect my client’s wishes of anonymity.

Are your readers able to help decode

the message please? Kind regards Morton Farrier

The code written on the back reads as follows:

I\ III\ IIIIII\ II^ III\ II\

III III\ I\ IIIII IIIII\ III^ III~ III IIIII~

I\ I< IIIIII~ III~ IIIIII IIIII

III~ I^ III~ II\

IIII I II\ I~ IIIII IIIIII\

IIII\

Can we help Morton crack the code?

We also have another secret coded message written on the back of a postcard. Rosie Rowley sent me this intriguing postcard (see above right) dated 3 November 1905, that she purchased from an auction website.

We sometimes forget in today’s modern world of emails and texts, that for many Victorians, the only form of communication was the post and you would receive up to four deliveries a day! It’s worth noting that the coded message on the postcard is written upside-down as well as in code, to make doubly sure the postman didn’t read it! The message was written in ‘pigpen cipher’ and the decoded message reads:

If you haven’t anything special to do tomorrow afternoon cycle over to Kate’s bridge and get there about three. I want to see you rather particularly. I have got a ‘crow to pull’ with you so shall look forward to seeing you there. Au revoir till Sunday, NW, Baston

I am intrigued to know what was discussed at this secret rendezvous.

Can readers help Morton crack the code on this mysterious postcard?

The long-livers of Parham

Many family historians eventually branch out and carry out a one name study or a one place study and it was whilst Simon Charnwood was carrying out his Parham One Place Study in Suffolk (https://familytr.ee/parham) that he stumbled across this old photo and subsequent newspaper article from the Ipswich Evening Star of 20 November 1896. The photo is fascinating given the ages of those pictured: