Tracing (Indian) roots of our grandparents

We had always wanted to visit India to see and experience the places of our Mother's childhood. She was born and raised in India until 20 years old, one of four children of Methodist missionaries. We visited in 2010 to discover our roots! L'orient Travels had been recommended to us, and before leaving we supplied them with the names of the places where Mother had lived, and as many appropriate old photos as we could find. Hector from L'orient Travels was able to locate appropriate guides to help us explore the four communities where our mother, Eleanor had lived: Lucknow, Pauri, Nani Tal, and Bareilly.

Our first FIND was the SAME, the church in Lucknow where our grandparents were married in 1904 was STILL there! The photograph was unmistaken the LalBagh Methodist Church. The current pastor showed us around the church and the interior was also much the same after 106 years! Our grandfather also was pastor of the church and we were shown Baptismal certificates that he had signed. What a great beginning to our roots explorations!

We had interesting times in Nani Tal where Mother had attended school and the family had lived in the summers. The Hydes also spent many years in Bareilly where Preston taught in the Seminary. We enjoyed visiting the same Seminary (North India Theological College) and meeting its head, the Rev. Dr. Hanuk B. Ram.

Another thrill was our search for their home in Pauri, in the Himalayan foothills. Our grandfather, Preston S. Hyde, had been a pastor in a new church there, head of a boys' school and had traveled on evangelical work. After a false start to find their home we spotted in the distance a large house with a level yard, and beyond it a small church! Could it BE? Checking our photos with the distinctive front pillars made it certain that we were looking at the Pauri home where the Hyde family lived from 1912-1916. We had found the mission at Chopra! (Pauri district). Upon arriving, it was CLEARLY the same home, with a few modifications! We met the current residents of the home, several retired pastors and their families.

They were excited to tell us that this home was originally built by the East India Company as part of its tea business. Later the building was owned by the British government until sold to the mission in the latter part of the 19th century. We enjoyed conversations with the residents and their engaging children. We were thrilled to be able to visit the house where the family had lived, where the youngest child was born, and which had given rise to so many fond memories of little girls playing and growing up. We couldn't have done any of this without Hector!

Lois Logan and Jan Fenwick, USA