I'm heading away for a couple of days, and fully intend to have a hangover on Tuesday, so not sure how much I may be able to blog over the next couple of days.
So in the meantime, Happy New Year / Bliadhna Mhath Ùr - and hopefully see you on the other side! :)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Sunday, 30 December 2012
2012 genealogy review - part 3
And now for the third and final part of my review of some of the bigger stories affecting UK and Irish genealogy this year, as well as a few personal occurrences!
September
I started off September by flagging up some free Glasgow newspapers available on Google News, along with several US and Canadian titles (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/some-free-glasgow-newspapers-online.html). I thought I was being a right smart alick by advising people to back up their files regularly after avoiding a minor crisis (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/the-wisdom-of-backing-up-files.html), without realising how inadequate my own efforts would actually soon turn out to be.
The RCBL in Dublin added the first Irish Church Directory to its online holdings (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/irish-church-directory-1862-now-online.html) and the People of Medieval Scotland website was launched (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/people-of-medieval-scotland-website.html). Archaeologists announced that they had nearly found Richard III (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/richard-iii-nearly-found.html) and Guy Crannum released a new edition of his Tracing Your Caribbean Ancestors (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/new-edition-of-tracing-your-caribbean.html). Deceased Online added Greenwich records to its collections (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/greenwich-cemetery-records-on.html) and headstones in Dorset started to host QR codes (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/qr-codes-on-dorset-gravestones.html). Ancestry went a little crazy and started to release loads of items purchased some time back from Archive CD Books (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/ancestrys-early-christmas-present.html). Junk DNA, the useless bit of DNA that genealogists use for research turned out not to be quite so useless (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/junk-dna-not-quite-so-useless.html) and the National Archives released a podcast on the history of the Paralympics (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/tna-podcast-history-of-paralympics.html).
There was another great National Family History Fair in Newcastle, with yours truly giving a talk this year also for the first time (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/national-family-history-fair-2012-report.html). Peter Calver of Lost Cousins revealed how much it would cost to resurrect the GRO's bird-brained and half-completed DOVE project (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/no-pulse-for-dove-project.html) - as ScotlandsPeople, which did work out how to do it effectively for Scotland's records, celebrated its tenth anniversary (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/scotlandspeople-10-year-gallery.html).
Andy Murray ascended to Godhood...
FindmyPast made friends with the UK's professional genies with revised T&Cs (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/findmypast-uk-makes-friends-with.html) and Ancestry launched a superb collection of Masters and Mates Certificates (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/masters-and-mates-certificates-online.html). Eight Aberdeen libraries were reported to be facing potential closure (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/aberdeen-libraries-under-closure-threat.html). An Daonchartlann in Dún Laoghaire revised its opening hours (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/an-daonchartlann-opening-hours.html). The National Records of Scotland advertised for a new Registrar General at a salary of £75,000 (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/new-registrar-general-for-scotland_14.html) as the Big Yin himself, George Mackenzie, stepped down from the role (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/george-mckenzie-steps-down-as-real-big.html).
Lancashire and Surrey wills joined Origins.net (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/lancashire-and-surrey-wills-on-origins.html) and free burial records were released online by Magherafelt District Council (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/magherafelt-launches-online-graveyards.html). Genealogy in Time announced an update (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/genealogy-in-time-upgrade.html) and MyHeritage announced its new Records Matches facility (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/myheritage-launches-record-matches.html). Academic bods announced Jesus might have had a wife (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/did-jesus-have-wife.html), and Alex Kingston's WDYTYA episode ended up as a real version of a previous parody made by Alexander Armstrong (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/who-do-you-think-you-are-alex-kingston.html). An heir hunter in Leeds was jailed for 16 months (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/leeds-heir-hunter-jailed-for-16-months.html), and TheGenealogist launched its version of Griffith's Valuation, with maps (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/griffiths-valuation-on-genealogist.html). Ancestry redesigned its Irish gateway page (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/ancestrys-redesigned-irish-gateway-page.html), and I announced how to research Irish police service records, both north and south, from 1922 onwards to the present day (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/researching-irish-police-after-1922.html). Documents Online became the genealogical equivalent of Kenny from South Park (who used to die in each episode) with yet another announcement of a date for its eventual demise (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/documents-online-to-die-again.html).
The Irish Famine Museum opened in Connecticut (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/irish-famine-museum-to-open-in.html) and some old Asian colonial photos emerged online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/more-old-asian-colonial-photos-placed.html). Scientists broke some hearts in Ulster's Unionist community by seemingly disproving a long held myth on the 1912 Covenant - though a few have held onto the 10% uncertainty as being good enough for them (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/was-ulster-covenant-signed-in-blood.html)! New Zealand wills were updated on FamilySearch (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/new-zealand-wills-update-on-familysearch.html).
Yours truly had a brilliant time as a speaker at the BIFHSGO Conference in Ottawa, where I was also able to get a bit of family history research in (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/bifhsgos-2012-conference-report.html).
October
The Republic of Ireland's privacy bill reared its ugly head again (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/privacy-bill-in-ireland-rears-its-head.html) and privacy issues were also raised over the US based SSDI (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/privacy-winds-of-change.html). A First World War diary from Dublin 1916 was placed online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/irish-1916-first-world-war-diary-online.html), and the second Irish Family and Local History handbook was launched in Dublin (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/the-irish-family-and-local-history.html).
FindmyPast UK was the last of the FMP sites to add access to international records, but thankfully kept its own original search system for UK records, unlike its compatriot sites (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/findmypast-uk-adds-international-records.html). TNA summarised the last year's progress in leading the archive sector (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/archives-leadership-one-year-on.html). Throughout the month I ran a series of YouTube videos on the blog which I found, concerning a BBC TV series called War Walks which I worked on as a researcher in 1996, one of my all time fave projects (here's the first, with some behind the scenes facts also - http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/war-walks-hastings.html).
GenesReunited launched a Keepsafe (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/genes-reunited-launches-keepsafe.html) and the Manorial Documents Register was updated to add Warwickshire (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/warwickshire-manorial-documents.html). Your Family History magazine sought nominations for Volunteer of he Year and Archive of the Year (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/yfh-archive-and-volunteer-2012-awards.html). RTE released a TV series to promote the 2013 Irish Gathering event (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/the-gathering-homeward-bound-tv-series.html), and the BBC ran an interesting online gallery of the changing nature of the English police (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/changing-face-of-english-police.html). FindmyPast commenced a second series of its TV series on Yesterday (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/find-my-past-tv-show-series-2.html) and the Churchill Archive went online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/churchill-archive-online-goes-live.html).
The Adopted Illegally Ireland campaign was reported (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/adopted-illegally-ireland-campaign.html) and the Northern Irish Historical Abuse Enquiry was extended (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/northern-ireland-institutional-abuse.html). There was also more bad news on the Certificate of Irish Heritage (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/failure-of-certificate-of-irish-heritage.html), and Origins commenced the release of 19th century Dublin directories (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/major-dublin-directories-collection-on.html).
The National Library of Ireland launched a YouTube channel (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/national-library-of-irelands-new.html) and the Family History Show made its video podcasts accessible via iTunes (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/family-history-show-podcasts-on-itunes.html). Westminster plans to commemorate the centenary of the First World War were announced (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/first-world-war-centenary-commemoration.html), and the historic Edinburgh Agreement was reached, legal proofing the Scottish referendum in 2014 which may see Scotland secede from the UK (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/scottish-independence.html). The agreement itself was placed on display at TNA in Kew (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/edinburgh-agreement-on-independence.html). The Scottish Council on Archives relaunched its website (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/scottish-council-on-archives-new-website.html), and Ancestry sold itself for US$1.6 Billion (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/ancestry-to-be-sold-for-16-billion.html) - but not before a few hurdles would raise themselves with shareholders.
November
Cambridgeshire's CAMDEX indexes for BMDs went online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/cambridgeshires-camdex-indexes-for-bmds.html) and Forces War Records added a documents library (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/forces-war-records-adds-documents.html). Some of the nonsense surrounding the modern Scottish clan industry was highlighted by Electric Scotland (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-bubblegum-of-clans-and-septs.html) and maps for Aberdonian cemeteries were added to Deceased Online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/aberdonian-grave-maps-on-deceased-online.html). In the US, copyrighted material was allegedly stolen from the highly respected Cyndi's List site, prompting an international rallying of support from the worldwide genealogical community (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/cyndis-list-copyright-theft.html).
The Scottish Genealogy Network launched a blog and Twitter account (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/scottish-genealogy-network-blog.html). Records for the Isle of Harris were added to Hebrides People (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/hebrides-people-adds-isle-of-harris.html), whilst ScotlandsPeople's wills were extended to 1925 (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/scotlandspeople-wills-to-extend-to-1925.html).
The Teesdale Mercury newspaper archive was made freely available online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/teesdale-mercury-archive-online.html), and Ancestry added more military material (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/ancestry-releases-new-military.html). Who Do You Think You Are Live 2013's talks timetable was announced (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/wdytya-live-workshop-timetable-now.html) and records for Bolton joined Deceased Online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/boltons-burial-records-to-join-deceased.html). A major collection of First World War pension cards was saved for the nation by the Western Front Association (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/world-war-1-pension-cards-saved.html). The Matheson Dome at the ScotlandsPeople Centre was closed (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/closure-of-matheson-dome-at.html) and the FFHS launched a writing competition (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/ffhs-writing-competition.html). The 1922 Irish military census was placed online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/1922-irish-military-census-now-online.html) and TNA made more colonial material available for consultation in its reading rooms (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/more-colonial-records-to-be-released-by.html).
Durham Records Online made changes to its search facility and prices (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/durham-records-online-new-records-price.html) and The Wellcome Library made changes to its blog (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/wellcome-library-blog-and-website.html). The Internet Archive continued to add Scottish trade directory material like the plague was in town (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/internet-archive-continues-to-add-nls.html). RootsMagic 6 was released (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/rootsmagic-6-released.html) and a York Church History app was released (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/york-churches-history-app-to-be-launched.html). Birmingham Archives closed its search room doors for a year (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/birmingham-archives-year-long-closure.html), and it was announced that Lord Viscount Morpeth's Testimonial Roll would go on tour in Ireland in Feb 2013 (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/lord-viscount-morpeths-testimomial-roll.html). MyHeritage acquired Geni.com (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/my-heritage-acquires-genicom.html).
Somewhere in North Ayrshire, some wee shug by the name of Paton suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/annoying-hard-drive-failure.html). Despite the optimistic tone of the post, I later found that a real casualty of the crash was that months worth of emails had not been backed up... Now trying even harder to keep things backed up! A Kindle edition of my Tracing Your Family History on the Internet was released (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/kindle-edition-of-tracing-your-family.html).
December
A historic crannog settlement was excavated in Fermanagh (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/thousand-year-old-settlement-exavated.html) and yours truly travelled to Belfast to take part in the new PRONI User Forum (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/proni-user-forum-meeting-december-2012.html). Belfast City Council also updated its burials site (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/belfast-city-council-burial-site-update.html).
A Caribbean Family History site was revealed (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/caribbean-family-history-website.html) and TheGenealogist added more death and army records (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/new-death-and-army-records-from.html). A new Australian online magazine, Forgotten Times, was launched (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/australian-magazine-forgotten-times.html).
Plans for a UK based genealogy cruise in 2015 were announced by Unlock the Past (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/uk-genealogy-cruise-planned-for-2015.html) and I accepted an invite to be an international speaker on the company's 2014 cruise in Australia (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/signed-up-for-unlock-pasts-4th.html). The FFHS joined the FHISO (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/ffhs-joins-fhiso.html) and the RAF Museum announced plans to digitise WW1 material (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/raf-museum-to-digitise-ww1-material.html). Cheshire parish register transcripts were added to Family Search (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/cheshire-parish-register-transcripts.html). Geoff Swinfield described his recent Nightmare on GRO Street (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/nightmare-on-gro-street.html), and FindmyPast UK released Kilmainham pension records, and other military collections (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/findmypast-releases-kilmainham.html). .
A World War 2 bomb sight site went online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/bomb-sight-website-launched-for-ww2.html) and Nick Barratt revealed plans to return to the National Archives (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/nick-barratt-to-return-to-national.html). Gloucesterhsire FHS revealed a new website (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/new-gloucestershire-fhs-website.html) and Peter Higginbotham's Workhouses site added a virtual museum (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/workhouses-site-adds-virtual-museum.html). Ancestry's sale was temporarily held up (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/ancestry-sale-temporarily-held-up.html) and TheGenealogist added more Illustrated London News editions from the 1870s (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/1870s-illustrated-london-news-editions.html).
The efforts of Bomber Command and Arctic Convoy crews in WW2 were finally recognised by the state (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/bomber-command-and-arctic-convoys.html).
A Register of BMDs on Hovercraft was announced by Peter Calver on Lost Cousins, amidst other unique GRO holdings (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/register-of-births-and-deaths-on.html). Northern Ireland's GRO wished everyone a Merry Christmas by raising the cost of certificates to £15 whilst they were out shopping for turkey (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/northern-irish-bmd-certs-price-increase.html), and yours truly celebrated five years of genealogy news blogging (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/five-years-of-genealogy-news-blogging.html)!
And so there we have it! All of that is just a drop in the amount covered this year, with some 1619 made to date since January 1st. Check the full archive by searching for keywords, using the tab headings to the right of the page, or by a browse though each month!
Happy New Year all - and here's to 2013! :)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
September
I started off September by flagging up some free Glasgow newspapers available on Google News, along with several US and Canadian titles (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/some-free-glasgow-newspapers-online.html). I thought I was being a right smart alick by advising people to back up their files regularly after avoiding a minor crisis (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/the-wisdom-of-backing-up-files.html), without realising how inadequate my own efforts would actually soon turn out to be.
The RCBL in Dublin added the first Irish Church Directory to its online holdings (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/irish-church-directory-1862-now-online.html) and the People of Medieval Scotland website was launched (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/people-of-medieval-scotland-website.html). Archaeologists announced that they had nearly found Richard III (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/richard-iii-nearly-found.html) and Guy Crannum released a new edition of his Tracing Your Caribbean Ancestors (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/new-edition-of-tracing-your-caribbean.html). Deceased Online added Greenwich records to its collections (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/greenwich-cemetery-records-on.html) and headstones in Dorset started to host QR codes (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/qr-codes-on-dorset-gravestones.html). Ancestry went a little crazy and started to release loads of items purchased some time back from Archive CD Books (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/ancestrys-early-christmas-present.html). Junk DNA, the useless bit of DNA that genealogists use for research turned out not to be quite so useless (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/junk-dna-not-quite-so-useless.html) and the National Archives released a podcast on the history of the Paralympics (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/tna-podcast-history-of-paralympics.html).
There was another great National Family History Fair in Newcastle, with yours truly giving a talk this year also for the first time (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/national-family-history-fair-2012-report.html). Peter Calver of Lost Cousins revealed how much it would cost to resurrect the GRO's bird-brained and half-completed DOVE project (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/no-pulse-for-dove-project.html) - as ScotlandsPeople, which did work out how to do it effectively for Scotland's records, celebrated its tenth anniversary (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/scotlandspeople-10-year-gallery.html).
Andy Murray ascended to Godhood...
FindmyPast made friends with the UK's professional genies with revised T&Cs (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/findmypast-uk-makes-friends-with.html) and Ancestry launched a superb collection of Masters and Mates Certificates (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/masters-and-mates-certificates-online.html). Eight Aberdeen libraries were reported to be facing potential closure (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/aberdeen-libraries-under-closure-threat.html). An Daonchartlann in Dún Laoghaire revised its opening hours (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/an-daonchartlann-opening-hours.html). The National Records of Scotland advertised for a new Registrar General at a salary of £75,000 (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/new-registrar-general-for-scotland_14.html) as the Big Yin himself, George Mackenzie, stepped down from the role (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/george-mckenzie-steps-down-as-real-big.html).
Lancashire and Surrey wills joined Origins.net (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/lancashire-and-surrey-wills-on-origins.html) and free burial records were released online by Magherafelt District Council (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/magherafelt-launches-online-graveyards.html). Genealogy in Time announced an update (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/genealogy-in-time-upgrade.html) and MyHeritage announced its new Records Matches facility (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/myheritage-launches-record-matches.html). Academic bods announced Jesus might have had a wife (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/did-jesus-have-wife.html), and Alex Kingston's WDYTYA episode ended up as a real version of a previous parody made by Alexander Armstrong (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/who-do-you-think-you-are-alex-kingston.html). An heir hunter in Leeds was jailed for 16 months (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/leeds-heir-hunter-jailed-for-16-months.html), and TheGenealogist launched its version of Griffith's Valuation, with maps (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/griffiths-valuation-on-genealogist.html). Ancestry redesigned its Irish gateway page (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/ancestrys-redesigned-irish-gateway-page.html), and I announced how to research Irish police service records, both north and south, from 1922 onwards to the present day (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/researching-irish-police-after-1922.html). Documents Online became the genealogical equivalent of Kenny from South Park (who used to die in each episode) with yet another announcement of a date for its eventual demise (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/documents-online-to-die-again.html).
The Irish Famine Museum opened in Connecticut (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/irish-famine-museum-to-open-in.html) and some old Asian colonial photos emerged online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/more-old-asian-colonial-photos-placed.html). Scientists broke some hearts in Ulster's Unionist community by seemingly disproving a long held myth on the 1912 Covenant - though a few have held onto the 10% uncertainty as being good enough for them (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/was-ulster-covenant-signed-in-blood.html)! New Zealand wills were updated on FamilySearch (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/new-zealand-wills-update-on-familysearch.html).
Yours truly had a brilliant time as a speaker at the BIFHSGO Conference in Ottawa, where I was also able to get a bit of family history research in (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/bifhsgos-2012-conference-report.html).
October
The Republic of Ireland's privacy bill reared its ugly head again (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/privacy-bill-in-ireland-rears-its-head.html) and privacy issues were also raised over the US based SSDI (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/privacy-winds-of-change.html). A First World War diary from Dublin 1916 was placed online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/irish-1916-first-world-war-diary-online.html), and the second Irish Family and Local History handbook was launched in Dublin (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/the-irish-family-and-local-history.html).
FindmyPast UK was the last of the FMP sites to add access to international records, but thankfully kept its own original search system for UK records, unlike its compatriot sites (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/findmypast-uk-adds-international-records.html). TNA summarised the last year's progress in leading the archive sector (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/archives-leadership-one-year-on.html). Throughout the month I ran a series of YouTube videos on the blog which I found, concerning a BBC TV series called War Walks which I worked on as a researcher in 1996, one of my all time fave projects (here's the first, with some behind the scenes facts also - http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/war-walks-hastings.html).
GenesReunited launched a Keepsafe (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/genes-reunited-launches-keepsafe.html) and the Manorial Documents Register was updated to add Warwickshire (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/warwickshire-manorial-documents.html). Your Family History magazine sought nominations for Volunteer of he Year and Archive of the Year (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/yfh-archive-and-volunteer-2012-awards.html). RTE released a TV series to promote the 2013 Irish Gathering event (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/the-gathering-homeward-bound-tv-series.html), and the BBC ran an interesting online gallery of the changing nature of the English police (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/changing-face-of-english-police.html). FindmyPast commenced a second series of its TV series on Yesterday (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/find-my-past-tv-show-series-2.html) and the Churchill Archive went online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/churchill-archive-online-goes-live.html).
The Adopted Illegally Ireland campaign was reported (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/adopted-illegally-ireland-campaign.html) and the Northern Irish Historical Abuse Enquiry was extended (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/northern-ireland-institutional-abuse.html). There was also more bad news on the Certificate of Irish Heritage (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/failure-of-certificate-of-irish-heritage.html), and Origins commenced the release of 19th century Dublin directories (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/major-dublin-directories-collection-on.html).
The National Library of Ireland launched a YouTube channel (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/national-library-of-irelands-new.html) and the Family History Show made its video podcasts accessible via iTunes (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/family-history-show-podcasts-on-itunes.html). Westminster plans to commemorate the centenary of the First World War were announced (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/first-world-war-centenary-commemoration.html), and the historic Edinburgh Agreement was reached, legal proofing the Scottish referendum in 2014 which may see Scotland secede from the UK (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/scottish-independence.html). The agreement itself was placed on display at TNA in Kew (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/edinburgh-agreement-on-independence.html). The Scottish Council on Archives relaunched its website (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/scottish-council-on-archives-new-website.html), and Ancestry sold itself for US$1.6 Billion (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/ancestry-to-be-sold-for-16-billion.html) - but not before a few hurdles would raise themselves with shareholders.
November
Cambridgeshire's CAMDEX indexes for BMDs went online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/cambridgeshires-camdex-indexes-for-bmds.html) and Forces War Records added a documents library (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/forces-war-records-adds-documents.html). Some of the nonsense surrounding the modern Scottish clan industry was highlighted by Electric Scotland (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-bubblegum-of-clans-and-septs.html) and maps for Aberdonian cemeteries were added to Deceased Online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/aberdonian-grave-maps-on-deceased-online.html). In the US, copyrighted material was allegedly stolen from the highly respected Cyndi's List site, prompting an international rallying of support from the worldwide genealogical community (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/cyndis-list-copyright-theft.html).
The Scottish Genealogy Network launched a blog and Twitter account (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/scottish-genealogy-network-blog.html). Records for the Isle of Harris were added to Hebrides People (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/hebrides-people-adds-isle-of-harris.html), whilst ScotlandsPeople's wills were extended to 1925 (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/scotlandspeople-wills-to-extend-to-1925.html).
The Teesdale Mercury newspaper archive was made freely available online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/teesdale-mercury-archive-online.html), and Ancestry added more military material (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/ancestry-releases-new-military.html). Who Do You Think You Are Live 2013's talks timetable was announced (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/wdytya-live-workshop-timetable-now.html) and records for Bolton joined Deceased Online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/boltons-burial-records-to-join-deceased.html). A major collection of First World War pension cards was saved for the nation by the Western Front Association (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/world-war-1-pension-cards-saved.html). The Matheson Dome at the ScotlandsPeople Centre was closed (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/closure-of-matheson-dome-at.html) and the FFHS launched a writing competition (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/ffhs-writing-competition.html). The 1922 Irish military census was placed online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/1922-irish-military-census-now-online.html) and TNA made more colonial material available for consultation in its reading rooms (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/more-colonial-records-to-be-released-by.html).
Durham Records Online made changes to its search facility and prices (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/durham-records-online-new-records-price.html) and The Wellcome Library made changes to its blog (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/wellcome-library-blog-and-website.html). The Internet Archive continued to add Scottish trade directory material like the plague was in town (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/internet-archive-continues-to-add-nls.html). RootsMagic 6 was released (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/rootsmagic-6-released.html) and a York Church History app was released (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/york-churches-history-app-to-be-launched.html). Birmingham Archives closed its search room doors for a year (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/birmingham-archives-year-long-closure.html), and it was announced that Lord Viscount Morpeth's Testimonial Roll would go on tour in Ireland in Feb 2013 (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/lord-viscount-morpeths-testimomial-roll.html). MyHeritage acquired Geni.com (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/my-heritage-acquires-genicom.html).
Somewhere in North Ayrshire, some wee shug by the name of Paton suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/annoying-hard-drive-failure.html). Despite the optimistic tone of the post, I later found that a real casualty of the crash was that months worth of emails had not been backed up... Now trying even harder to keep things backed up! A Kindle edition of my Tracing Your Family History on the Internet was released (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/kindle-edition-of-tracing-your-family.html).
December
A historic crannog settlement was excavated in Fermanagh (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/thousand-year-old-settlement-exavated.html) and yours truly travelled to Belfast to take part in the new PRONI User Forum (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/proni-user-forum-meeting-december-2012.html). Belfast City Council also updated its burials site (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/belfast-city-council-burial-site-update.html).
A Caribbean Family History site was revealed (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/caribbean-family-history-website.html) and TheGenealogist added more death and army records (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/new-death-and-army-records-from.html). A new Australian online magazine, Forgotten Times, was launched (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/australian-magazine-forgotten-times.html).
Plans for a UK based genealogy cruise in 2015 were announced by Unlock the Past (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/uk-genealogy-cruise-planned-for-2015.html) and I accepted an invite to be an international speaker on the company's 2014 cruise in Australia (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/signed-up-for-unlock-pasts-4th.html). The FFHS joined the FHISO (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/ffhs-joins-fhiso.html) and the RAF Museum announced plans to digitise WW1 material (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/raf-museum-to-digitise-ww1-material.html). Cheshire parish register transcripts were added to Family Search (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/cheshire-parish-register-transcripts.html). Geoff Swinfield described his recent Nightmare on GRO Street (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/nightmare-on-gro-street.html), and FindmyPast UK released Kilmainham pension records, and other military collections (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/findmypast-releases-kilmainham.html). .
A World War 2 bomb sight site went online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/bomb-sight-website-launched-for-ww2.html) and Nick Barratt revealed plans to return to the National Archives (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/nick-barratt-to-return-to-national.html). Gloucesterhsire FHS revealed a new website (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/new-gloucestershire-fhs-website.html) and Peter Higginbotham's Workhouses site added a virtual museum (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/workhouses-site-adds-virtual-museum.html). Ancestry's sale was temporarily held up (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/ancestry-sale-temporarily-held-up.html) and TheGenealogist added more Illustrated London News editions from the 1870s (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/1870s-illustrated-london-news-editions.html).
The efforts of Bomber Command and Arctic Convoy crews in WW2 were finally recognised by the state (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/bomber-command-and-arctic-convoys.html).
A Register of BMDs on Hovercraft was announced by Peter Calver on Lost Cousins, amidst other unique GRO holdings (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/register-of-births-and-deaths-on.html). Northern Ireland's GRO wished everyone a Merry Christmas by raising the cost of certificates to £15 whilst they were out shopping for turkey (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/northern-irish-bmd-certs-price-increase.html), and yours truly celebrated five years of genealogy news blogging (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/five-years-of-genealogy-news-blogging.html)!
And so there we have it! All of that is just a drop in the amount covered this year, with some 1619 made to date since January 1st. Check the full archive by searching for keywords, using the tab headings to the right of the page, or by a browse though each month!
Happy New Year all - and here's to 2013! :)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Saturday, 29 December 2012
Rootschat revamped
Not quite sure how long ago this may have happened, but one of the best British Isles based genealogy discussion forums online, Rootschat, appears to have had the decorators in.
Access the revamped site at www.rootschat.com - I can't even begin to tell you how helpful this site has been for my research over the last ten years!
UPDATE: I've just been told that this went live on 20th December, and that amongst the new features is compatibility with various mobile devices and tablets. There's also a Facebook page for the site I was not aware of at www.facebook.com/rootschat (With thanks to @AtcherleyOrgUK on Twitter)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Access the revamped site at www.rootschat.com - I can't even begin to tell you how helpful this site has been for my research over the last ten years!
UPDATE: I've just been told that this went live on 20th December, and that amongst the new features is compatibility with various mobile devices and tablets. There's also a Facebook page for the site I was not aware of at www.facebook.com/rootschat (With thanks to @AtcherleyOrgUK on Twitter)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
2012 genealogy review - part 2
A few more stories you may have missed from May to August 2012!
May
Channel 5 popped up and showed us never to judge a channel on past performance with the simply brilliant series War Hero in My Family. This can still be watched online until June 2013 at www.channel5.com/shows/war-hero-in-my-family/episodes. Staying on all things military, Europeana unveiled its first findings from its WW1 roadshow across Europe (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/europeana-ww1-roadshow-results.html), and later in the month the new Falklands War Memorial was dedicated (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/falklands-war-memorial-dedication.html). In Dublin, the Military Archives announced plans to release a major collection of republican records concerning the fight for southern Irish independence (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/bureau-of-military-history-records.html). In Scotland I went searching for my MacGillivray roots in Inverness and got so angry about the aftermath of Culloden that I made a donation to the visitor centre (http://walkingineternity.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/macgillivrays-and-culloden.html).
FindmyPast Australasia had a revamp (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/findmypast-down-under.html) and Tasmanian records were added to Ancestry (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/tasmanian-records-added-to-ancestry.html) - not long after Ancestry passed 10 billion records online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/ancestry-10-billion-records-and.html). Another major addition to Ancestry was its extended National Probate Calendar collection (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/national-probate-calendar-and-english.html)
There was industrial action at several national archive based repositories, and plans to phase out the National Archive's Documents Online service were first announced and then temporarily delayed. The Genealogist extended its Illustrated London News collection (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/genealogist-update.html) and part of a wall at Glasgow Cathedral's New Burial Ground collapsed (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/glasgow-cathedral-burial-ground-wall.html). The National Library of Wales hosted an exhibition on medieval wax seals (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/seals-in-medieval-wales-exhibition.html). I was asked to give a plug to the Catholic Heritage website (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/catholic-heritage-website.html) and controversy soon emerged over plans for the Scottish Catholic Archives (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/controversy-over-catholic-archive-plans.html).
FIBIS updated its Times of India records (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/fibis-updates-times-of-india-bmd.html), whilst in the US the American version of Who Do You Think You Are was axed after just three series (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/us-version-of-wdytya-in-doubt.html), leading to a sudden drop in the share value of Ancestry, its sponsor (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/ancestry-shares-fall-following-wdytya.html). The National Library of Scotland Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/national-library-of-scotland-bill.html), and SAFHS announced the date and venue for its 2013 conference (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/2013-safhs-conference.html). The Irish Lives Remembered site launched a series of county based discussion forums (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/irish-lives-remembered-forums.html), and concerns were raised about Ireland's privacy laws (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/gsi-seeks-irish-privacy-law-clause.html).Also in Ireland, the National Archives in Dublin suddenly dropped its genealogy advisory service.
The IGI mysteriously came back from the dead (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/igi-returns-to-familysearch.html), and I was delighted to learn that this blog, and its predecessor Scottish GENES, were to be archived by the British Library (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/british-genes-to-e-archived-by-british.html).
June
The UK shut down for two days and the Queen and her elderly husband were made to stand out in the rain for a bit to stare at a few boats. Lots of people went jubilee mad, and lots of others didn't (http://walkingineternity.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/jubilee-and-winds-of-change.html)...
Some photos from 1860s Gwynedd were placed online by the BBC (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/gwynedd-life-in-1860s.html). Belfast City Council made its burial records downloadable for just £1.50 each - one tenth of the current cost for a death certificate, and yet carrying more information (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/downloadable-belfast-burial-records.html). I found a great tribute to WW1 Scottish soldiers on YouTube (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/old-boys.html). War Hero in my Family ended its first run to great critical acclaim, and news that Ancestry was looking to sell itself emerged on Bloomberg (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/ancestrycom-up-for-sale.html).
The Bank of England launched its catalogue online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/bank-of-england-archive-catalogue.html) and details on the forthcoming opening of the English National Football Museum were revealed (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/english-national-football-museum.html). A new genealogy advisory service was unveiled by the National Archives of Ireland (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/national-archives-of-ireland-new.html) and SAFHS announced further details for a special conference in 2014. Problems continued to bedevil the switchover to the new Discovery catalogue at TNA (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/tna-discovery-switchover-delayed.html). 150 brass plaques stolen from Tonbridge Cemetery in Kent were recovered by police (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/stolen-cemetery-plaques-recovered.html).
The Republic of Ireland announced plans to pardon almost 5000 wartime Irish Defence Force deserters who absconded to fight for the Allies against Hitler (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/republic-of-ireland-to-pardon-wartime.html), whilst sales of the Certificate of Irish Heritage turned out to be disastrous after its first year (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/low-certificate-of-irish-heritage-sales.html). The free monthly Irish Lives Remembered magazine launched (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/irish-lives-remembered-magazine.html) and ITV Wales donated its archive to the National Library of Wales (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/itv-wales-archive-donated-to-nlw.html). Europeana launched an online exhibition on the First World War (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/europeana-ww1-untold-stories-exhibition.html), and plans were announced in Wales for a major digitisation project concerning the same war (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/welsh-experience-of-world-war-one.html). Findmypast Ireland released more petty session records (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/more-petty-session-records-from-fmp.html) and MyHeritage announced its new SuperSearch facility (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/myheritage-releases-supersearch-search.html). In Northern Ireland, evidence that God is an Ulsterman was corroborated by plans announced for the digitisation of BMD records by Jan 1st 2014 (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/gro-northern-ireland-to-set-up.html)
ScotlandsPeople reduced the cost of access for its testamentary records (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/scotlandspeople-reduces-wills-and.html), whilst census record transcripts were added to Family Search. In a quiet corner of North Ayrshire, some wee shug by the name of Paton had a book released about the murder of his three times great gran, the UK's longest unsolved murder by a modern police force (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/now-available-mount-stewart-murder.html)...
July
A new Scottish Post Office Directories page was launched by the National Library of Scotland (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/new-scottish-post-office-directories.html) and Audrey Collins flagged up the 175th anniversary of the English and Welsh GRO (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/happy-birthday-civil-registration.html). Belfast's PRONI site had a bit of a facelift, and Scapa Flow's First World War shipwrecks were mapped (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/scapa-flow-war-wrecks-mapped.html).
Everyone went a little doolally over the Olympics...
Ancestry was the news with details emerging of of some sort of relocation to Dublin (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/more-on-ancestrys-plans-in-ireland.html). Jackie Bird presented a great documentary on Scotland's Forgotten War: Korea (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/scotlands-forgotten-war-korea.html), and FindmyPast launched its Canterbury Collection (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/findmypast-launched-canterbury.html). The UK's 30 year rule for government file releases was changed to 20 years (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/30-year-rule-to-change-to-20-years.html).
In Scotland, Kirsty Wilkinson gets my genie of the year award for her brilliant guide to Scottish poor law records holdings (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/scottish-poor-law-records-guide.html), and plans for Ancestry's forthcoming release of Lord Morpeth's roll from 1841, a major Irish census substitute with almost 300,000 names, were revealed (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/coming-soon-irish-1841-census.html). First World War airmen records were released by the National Archives at Kew (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/ww1-airmen-records-now-searchable.html) and the National Archives in Ireland fixed its catalogue (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/national-archives-of-ireland-catalogue.html).
The US version of the FindmyPast site stepped out into the light (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/all-new-findmypast-in-beta.html), soon launching with a heavily discounted 'Pioneer subscription', and the digitisation of more India Office records by the British Library and Brightsolid was announced (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/more-india-office-records-to-be.html). Eneclann in Dublin also announced plans to computerise Irish Military pension records (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/eneclann-to-digitise-irish-military.html). A petition was launched to save the Scottish Catholic Archives (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/former-keeper-speaks-out-on-catholic.html). FamilySearch launched a new London research guide (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/familysearch-london-research-guide.html).
In a quiet corner of North Ayrshire, some wee shug by the name of Paton had a book published by Australian venture Unlock the Past, entitled Discover Scottish Land Records (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/discover-scottish-land-records-now-on.html), and elsewhere in Scotland, the Scottish Genealogy Network began to hit its stride (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/the-scottish-genealogy-network.html)!
August
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission started a new project to raise awareness of war graves in the UK (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/cwgc-to-erect-signs-around-uk.html), and the Irish Bureau of Military History records went online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/irish-bureau-of-military-history.html).
An Irish Presbyterianism history conference was announced for September 2013 (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/irish-presbyterianism-conference-in-2013.html), and the Certificate of Irish Heritage descended further into the realms of mockery with relaxed criteria for applicants (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/certificate-of-irish-heritage-shambles.html). Also in Ireland a series of Dublin based lunchtime talks were held on various subjects at the NAI (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/nli-lunchtime-talks-series.html).
I wrote several posts on the contradictory positions of the various FindmyPast websites around the world, with the US site offering professional genealogists access via subscription, but not the other sites, despite the same records collections being made available. (This was subsequently resolved, with UK based genies now having the same privilege as their American counterparts.)
Deceased Online launched a new blog (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/deceasedonline-blog-launches.html) and the Federation of Family History Societies created a new page concerning forthcoming WW1 centenary related events (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/ffhs-websites-new-ww1-section.html). FindmyPast released a useful 1918 muster roll for the RAF (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/raf-1918-muster-roll-online.html), and Ancestry released Articles of Clerkship records for Britain (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/uk-articles-of-clerkship-1756-1874.html). FamilyRelatives relaunched its site (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/familyrelatives-relaunches-with-beta.html).
Plans for a new family history themed comedy were announced by the BBC (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/family-tree-bbc-mockumentary.html), and the new series of Dallas went head to head with the new series of Who Do You Think You Are (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/dallas-versus-wdytya.html). Back to comedy for a moment, the GRO at Southport once again confirmed its complete lack of ambition to digitise its resources (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/gro-no-plans-to-recommence-digitisation.html). Wolverhampton Archives won the 2012 National Archive Volunteering Award (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/congratulations-to-wolverhampton.html), and the Scottish Catholic Archives was granted a temporary reprieve (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/scottish-catholic-archives-reprieved.html).
Tax records and Ordnance Survey field books were added to a new section of ScotlandsPlaces, behind a paywall (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/tax-records-and-os-name-books-added-to.html), and Google Street View in 3D provided a lot of fun (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/google-street-view-in-3d.html)...
The Wellcome Trust launched an online history magazine (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/wellcome-history-magazine.html), and in a quiet corner of North Ayrshire, some wee shug by the name of Paton accepted a tutorial position for the University of Strathclyde postgraduate genealogical studies programme (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/university-of-strathclyde-tutor-role.html).
To be continued...!
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
May
Channel 5 popped up and showed us never to judge a channel on past performance with the simply brilliant series War Hero in My Family. This can still be watched online until June 2013 at www.channel5.com/shows/war-hero-in-my-family/episodes. Staying on all things military, Europeana unveiled its first findings from its WW1 roadshow across Europe (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/europeana-ww1-roadshow-results.html), and later in the month the new Falklands War Memorial was dedicated (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/falklands-war-memorial-dedication.html). In Dublin, the Military Archives announced plans to release a major collection of republican records concerning the fight for southern Irish independence (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/bureau-of-military-history-records.html). In Scotland I went searching for my MacGillivray roots in Inverness and got so angry about the aftermath of Culloden that I made a donation to the visitor centre (http://walkingineternity.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/macgillivrays-and-culloden.html).
FindmyPast Australasia had a revamp (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/findmypast-down-under.html) and Tasmanian records were added to Ancestry (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/tasmanian-records-added-to-ancestry.html) - not long after Ancestry passed 10 billion records online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/ancestry-10-billion-records-and.html). Another major addition to Ancestry was its extended National Probate Calendar collection (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/national-probate-calendar-and-english.html)
There was industrial action at several national archive based repositories, and plans to phase out the National Archive's Documents Online service were first announced and then temporarily delayed. The Genealogist extended its Illustrated London News collection (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/genealogist-update.html) and part of a wall at Glasgow Cathedral's New Burial Ground collapsed (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/glasgow-cathedral-burial-ground-wall.html). The National Library of Wales hosted an exhibition on medieval wax seals (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/seals-in-medieval-wales-exhibition.html). I was asked to give a plug to the Catholic Heritage website (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/catholic-heritage-website.html) and controversy soon emerged over plans for the Scottish Catholic Archives (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/controversy-over-catholic-archive-plans.html).
FIBIS updated its Times of India records (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/fibis-updates-times-of-india-bmd.html), whilst in the US the American version of Who Do You Think You Are was axed after just three series (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/us-version-of-wdytya-in-doubt.html), leading to a sudden drop in the share value of Ancestry, its sponsor (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/ancestry-shares-fall-following-wdytya.html). The National Library of Scotland Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/national-library-of-scotland-bill.html), and SAFHS announced the date and venue for its 2013 conference (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/2013-safhs-conference.html). The Irish Lives Remembered site launched a series of county based discussion forums (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/irish-lives-remembered-forums.html), and concerns were raised about Ireland's privacy laws (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/gsi-seeks-irish-privacy-law-clause.html).Also in Ireland, the National Archives in Dublin suddenly dropped its genealogy advisory service.
The IGI mysteriously came back from the dead (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/igi-returns-to-familysearch.html), and I was delighted to learn that this blog, and its predecessor Scottish GENES, were to be archived by the British Library (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/british-genes-to-e-archived-by-british.html).
June
The UK shut down for two days and the Queen and her elderly husband were made to stand out in the rain for a bit to stare at a few boats. Lots of people went jubilee mad, and lots of others didn't (http://walkingineternity.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/jubilee-and-winds-of-change.html)...
Some photos from 1860s Gwynedd were placed online by the BBC (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/gwynedd-life-in-1860s.html). Belfast City Council made its burial records downloadable for just £1.50 each - one tenth of the current cost for a death certificate, and yet carrying more information (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/downloadable-belfast-burial-records.html). I found a great tribute to WW1 Scottish soldiers on YouTube (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/old-boys.html). War Hero in my Family ended its first run to great critical acclaim, and news that Ancestry was looking to sell itself emerged on Bloomberg (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/ancestrycom-up-for-sale.html).
The Bank of England launched its catalogue online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/bank-of-england-archive-catalogue.html) and details on the forthcoming opening of the English National Football Museum were revealed (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/english-national-football-museum.html). A new genealogy advisory service was unveiled by the National Archives of Ireland (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/national-archives-of-ireland-new.html) and SAFHS announced further details for a special conference in 2014. Problems continued to bedevil the switchover to the new Discovery catalogue at TNA (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/tna-discovery-switchover-delayed.html). 150 brass plaques stolen from Tonbridge Cemetery in Kent were recovered by police (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/stolen-cemetery-plaques-recovered.html).
The Republic of Ireland announced plans to pardon almost 5000 wartime Irish Defence Force deserters who absconded to fight for the Allies against Hitler (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/republic-of-ireland-to-pardon-wartime.html), whilst sales of the Certificate of Irish Heritage turned out to be disastrous after its first year (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/low-certificate-of-irish-heritage-sales.html). The free monthly Irish Lives Remembered magazine launched (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/irish-lives-remembered-magazine.html) and ITV Wales donated its archive to the National Library of Wales (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/itv-wales-archive-donated-to-nlw.html). Europeana launched an online exhibition on the First World War (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/europeana-ww1-untold-stories-exhibition.html), and plans were announced in Wales for a major digitisation project concerning the same war (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/welsh-experience-of-world-war-one.html). Findmypast Ireland released more petty session records (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/more-petty-session-records-from-fmp.html) and MyHeritage announced its new SuperSearch facility (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/myheritage-releases-supersearch-search.html). In Northern Ireland, evidence that God is an Ulsterman was corroborated by plans announced for the digitisation of BMD records by Jan 1st 2014 (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/gro-northern-ireland-to-set-up.html)
ScotlandsPeople reduced the cost of access for its testamentary records (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/scotlandspeople-reduces-wills-and.html), whilst census record transcripts were added to Family Search. In a quiet corner of North Ayrshire, some wee shug by the name of Paton had a book released about the murder of his three times great gran, the UK's longest unsolved murder by a modern police force (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/now-available-mount-stewart-murder.html)...
July
A new Scottish Post Office Directories page was launched by the National Library of Scotland (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/new-scottish-post-office-directories.html) and Audrey Collins flagged up the 175th anniversary of the English and Welsh GRO (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/happy-birthday-civil-registration.html). Belfast's PRONI site had a bit of a facelift, and Scapa Flow's First World War shipwrecks were mapped (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/scapa-flow-war-wrecks-mapped.html).
Everyone went a little doolally over the Olympics...
Ancestry was the news with details emerging of of some sort of relocation to Dublin (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/more-on-ancestrys-plans-in-ireland.html). Jackie Bird presented a great documentary on Scotland's Forgotten War: Korea (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/scotlands-forgotten-war-korea.html), and FindmyPast launched its Canterbury Collection (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/findmypast-launched-canterbury.html). The UK's 30 year rule for government file releases was changed to 20 years (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/30-year-rule-to-change-to-20-years.html).
In Scotland, Kirsty Wilkinson gets my genie of the year award for her brilliant guide to Scottish poor law records holdings (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/scottish-poor-law-records-guide.html), and plans for Ancestry's forthcoming release of Lord Morpeth's roll from 1841, a major Irish census substitute with almost 300,000 names, were revealed (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/coming-soon-irish-1841-census.html). First World War airmen records were released by the National Archives at Kew (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/ww1-airmen-records-now-searchable.html) and the National Archives in Ireland fixed its catalogue (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/national-archives-of-ireland-catalogue.html).
The US version of the FindmyPast site stepped out into the light (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/all-new-findmypast-in-beta.html), soon launching with a heavily discounted 'Pioneer subscription', and the digitisation of more India Office records by the British Library and Brightsolid was announced (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/more-india-office-records-to-be.html). Eneclann in Dublin also announced plans to computerise Irish Military pension records (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/eneclann-to-digitise-irish-military.html). A petition was launched to save the Scottish Catholic Archives (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/former-keeper-speaks-out-on-catholic.html). FamilySearch launched a new London research guide (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/familysearch-london-research-guide.html).
In a quiet corner of North Ayrshire, some wee shug by the name of Paton had a book published by Australian venture Unlock the Past, entitled Discover Scottish Land Records (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/discover-scottish-land-records-now-on.html), and elsewhere in Scotland, the Scottish Genealogy Network began to hit its stride (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/the-scottish-genealogy-network.html)!
August
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission started a new project to raise awareness of war graves in the UK (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/cwgc-to-erect-signs-around-uk.html), and the Irish Bureau of Military History records went online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/irish-bureau-of-military-history.html).
An Irish Presbyterianism history conference was announced for September 2013 (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/irish-presbyterianism-conference-in-2013.html), and the Certificate of Irish Heritage descended further into the realms of mockery with relaxed criteria for applicants (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/certificate-of-irish-heritage-shambles.html). Also in Ireland a series of Dublin based lunchtime talks were held on various subjects at the NAI (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/nli-lunchtime-talks-series.html).
I wrote several posts on the contradictory positions of the various FindmyPast websites around the world, with the US site offering professional genealogists access via subscription, but not the other sites, despite the same records collections being made available. (This was subsequently resolved, with UK based genies now having the same privilege as their American counterparts.)
Deceased Online launched a new blog (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/deceasedonline-blog-launches.html) and the Federation of Family History Societies created a new page concerning forthcoming WW1 centenary related events (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/ffhs-websites-new-ww1-section.html). FindmyPast released a useful 1918 muster roll for the RAF (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/raf-1918-muster-roll-online.html), and Ancestry released Articles of Clerkship records for Britain (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/uk-articles-of-clerkship-1756-1874.html). FamilyRelatives relaunched its site (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/familyrelatives-relaunches-with-beta.html).
Plans for a new family history themed comedy were announced by the BBC (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/family-tree-bbc-mockumentary.html), and the new series of Dallas went head to head with the new series of Who Do You Think You Are (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/dallas-versus-wdytya.html). Back to comedy for a moment, the GRO at Southport once again confirmed its complete lack of ambition to digitise its resources (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/gro-no-plans-to-recommence-digitisation.html). Wolverhampton Archives won the 2012 National Archive Volunteering Award (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/congratulations-to-wolverhampton.html), and the Scottish Catholic Archives was granted a temporary reprieve (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/scottish-catholic-archives-reprieved.html).
Tax records and Ordnance Survey field books were added to a new section of ScotlandsPlaces, behind a paywall (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/tax-records-and-os-name-books-added-to.html), and Google Street View in 3D provided a lot of fun (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/google-street-view-in-3d.html)...
The Wellcome Trust launched an online history magazine (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/wellcome-history-magazine.html), and in a quiet corner of North Ayrshire, some wee shug by the name of Paton accepted a tutorial position for the University of Strathclyde postgraduate genealogical studies programme (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/university-of-strathclyde-tutor-role.html).
To be continued...!
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
More free FindmyPast credits!
I've previously noted a couple of codes that can allow you to claim free credits from FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk), through promotions by both FindmyPast and LostCousins (see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/another-free-50-findmypast-credits.html). The following additionally valid promotion codes have since been posted by a reader in response to one of my previous notes on this, and I thought it worth sharing wider in a post of their own. The extra codes are:
WDYTYA
SNOWMAN
FMPTV2
To claim these (and previous offers) visit www.findmypast.co.uk/account/pay/special
In total, I now have 230 free credits as a consequence of all of this, so thanks to the anonymous poster for this top-up!
Have fun!
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
WDYTYA
SNOWMAN
FMPTV2
To claim these (and previous offers) visit www.findmypast.co.uk/account/pay/special
In total, I now have 230 free credits as a consequence of all of this, so thanks to the anonymous poster for this top-up!
Have fun!
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Family Tree magazine and Pharos promotion
I've just obtained a copy of the latest Family Tree magazine, and thought I'd help give a plug to a promotion it is running. The magazine has teamed up with Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Limited to provide a free complimentary family history lesson on Liz Carter's course "Parish registers" at the end of February. The lesson needs to be registered for by February 15th - full details on how to do so are in the current issue.I'm one of the tutors for Pharos, which provides a range of courses on all sorts of subjects, in my case teaching two Scottish based courses originally written by Canadian based genie Sherry Irvine. Details of the course programme for 2013 can be found online at http://pharostutors.com/coursesmainsd.php. The courses typically last from two to five weeks dependant on the subject, and there are opportunities for live chat room based discussions and a dedicated forum for each throughout the run of the lessons.
Full details on how Pharos operates can be found at the main website at www.pharostutors.com - and for those interested in the Scottish side of things, my first course this year will be Scottish Research Online from March 13th. Hopefully see a few of you there!(And if you do pick up the latest Family Tree, check out my article on the records you use to get underway with your research - do you really understand what they are, and how they were created?!)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Friday, 28 December 2012
Manchester indexes added to FamilySearch
I've just received a news update from FamilySearch which notes the recent addition of miscellaneous Manchester records from 1700-1916, a new indexed collection of some 853,243 records. The collection is not yet listed in the United Kingdom and Ireland category, but the link to the collection is live at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://familysearch.org/searchapi/search/collection/2075052. The indexes are available with very basic details, but the original images are accessible only at FindmyPast UK or at an LDS family history centre.
(With thanks to FamilySearch)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
(With thanks to FamilySearch)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
More Fife headstone records on Deceased Online
Deceased Online (www.deceasedonline.com) has added more Scottish monumental inscription records, for Fife, as recorded by Helen Grant's Scottish Monumental Inscriptions team. The new additions are (with earliest year recorded):
Auchterderran Churchyard and Bowhill Cemetery, Fife 1756
Ballingry Churchyard and Cemetery, Fife 1759
Beath New Cemetery, Fife 1834
Beath Old Cemetery, Fife 1757
Burntisland Cemetery, Fife 1838
Burntisland Churchyards of Kirkton and St Columbas, Fife 1756
Crombie Churchyard, Fife 1753
Culross Churchyard, Fife 1874
Culross West Kirk and Culross Abbey, Fife 1753
Cupar Churchyard and St James Cemetery, Fife 1776
Douglas Bank Cemetery, Fife 1838
Ferryport On Craig Cemetery, Fife 1822
Forgan Churchyard, Fife 1756
Full details at https://www.deceasedonline.com/servlet/GSDOSearch?AcctView=Login&SrchView=Basic&DetsView=Content&ListSource=Contributors§ion=CONTRIBUTORS&context=SCOTMI&lang=E&sessionid=643681403
(With thanks to Deceased Online)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Auchterderran Churchyard and Bowhill Cemetery, Fife 1756
Ballingry Churchyard and Cemetery, Fife 1759
Beath New Cemetery, Fife 1834
Beath Old Cemetery, Fife 1757
Burntisland Cemetery, Fife 1838
Burntisland Churchyards of Kirkton and St Columbas, Fife 1756
Crombie Churchyard, Fife 1753
Culross Churchyard, Fife 1874
Culross West Kirk and Culross Abbey, Fife 1753
Cupar Churchyard and St James Cemetery, Fife 1776
Douglas Bank Cemetery, Fife 1838
Ferryport On Craig Cemetery, Fife 1822
Forgan Churchyard, Fife 1756
Full details at https://www.deceasedonline.com/servlet/GSDOSearch?AcctView=Login&SrchView=Basic&DetsView=Content&ListSource=Contributors§ion=CONTRIBUTORS&context=SCOTMI&lang=E&sessionid=643681403
(With thanks to Deceased Online)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
2012 genealogy review - part 1
It's coming to the end of 2012, and if norovirus doesn't get me in the next couple of days, Hogmanay probably will! As such, I though I'd flag up some of the key posts from this blog in the last year by way of a short three part review of key developments - here goes for the first four months of the year...!
January
This was the month that saw the launch of the new Commonwealth War Graves Commission website (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/new-commonwealth-war-graves-site.html), and the horrendous first incarnation of the new National Archives of Ireland catalogue, thankfully now brilliantly fit for purpose after a less than auspicious beginning. Brightsolid announced plans to invade the United States (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/brightsolids-growing-us-army.html) and the Internet Archive dramatically improved its scans of the Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/fasti-ecclesiae-scoticanae-improved-on.html).
As well as adding the Scottish 1881 census, FindmyPast UK announced plans to digitise the records of Canterbury Cathedral, and the Mitchell Library provided access to the ScotlandsPeople computer system for £15 a day (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/scotlandspeople-system-now-at-mitchell.html), albeit without the Roman Catholic records which were also announced as coming soon to the ScotlandsPeople Centre (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/roman-catholic-records-in.html).
Family Search kicked the British Isles out of Europe (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/familysearch-kicks-british-isles-out-of.html) and in London, the bell started to toll for the old catalogue on the National Archives website(http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/end-of-present-tna-online-catalogue.html).
Across the water, Irish TV showed an excellent house history series called Cé a Chónaigh i mo Theachsa? (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/ce-chonaigh-i-mo-theachsa.html), whilst in the north the GRO in Belfast announced plans to start adding parents names to death certificates (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/northern-irish-death-certs-to-add.html).
February
Rootstech in the United States streamed live coverage of certain talks worldwide - whilst Josh Coates gave a great talk at the event, he also referenced another helpful lecture on how to survive a zombie apocalypse (see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/rootstech-day-2-online-lectures-and.html for the link on that one!).
Ancestry launched a new online image viewer, and added various Warwickshire records (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/warwickshire-records-on-ancestry.html) and cess and stent roll records for Perthshire (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/ancestry-releases-perthshire-cess-and.html).
As Hampton Court announced an exhibition on the Stuarts (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/hampton-court-exhibition-on-stuart.html) it emerged from an old 1968 RTE film that Kilkenny girls were the wrong shape for a restoration comedy (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/kilkenny-wrong-shape-for-restoration.html)!
Cheshire and Chester burials were released on Deceased Online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/cheshire-and-chester-burials-join.html) and a National Library of Wales cultural project for WW1 received funding from JISC (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/welsh-ww1-project-receives-funding.html). The National Archives at Kew launched a new blog (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/new-blog-from-national-archives.html), as FindmyPast updated its app for Apple devices (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/findmypast-updates-app.html) and launched a new series of merchant seamen records online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/19th-century-merchant-navy-records-go.html).
I gave talks at Who Do You Think Live for the first time (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/wdytya-live-2012-part-1-review.html) and met a woman with whom I shared a somewhat extraordinary connection back to 1866 (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/wdytya-live-part-4-victims-descendants.html)
And an embryonic Scottish Genealogy Network had its first meeting in London without realising what it had just begun...! (http://scottishgenealogynetwork.blogspot.co.uk)
March
Four million Welsh parish records went online at FindmyPast (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/four-million-welsh-parish-records.html) and TNA released a great podcast by Paul Carter on the Victorian workhouse (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/tna-podcast-victorian-workhouses.html).
Ancestry announced a new test for autosomal DNA (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/first-look-at-ancestrys-autosomal-dna.html) and some possibly optimistic news on the release of the southern Irish 1926 census was first announced (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/1926-irish-census-go-ahead.html). Even more important on the Irish front, Tayto crisps announced a newly designed Titanic packet (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/titanic-crisp-too-far.html)!
Bradford FHS announced a project to help make local tithes maps available online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/bradford-tithes-maps-project.html), and my ancestral home in Scotland became a city again (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/fair-city-regains-status.html). Durham Records Online passed the one million mark in terms of online records (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/one-million-burials-at-durham-records.html), and Friends Reunited was relaunched with a more genealogical slant (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/friends-reunited-relaunch.html) - and has barely been heard of since on that front.
After a visit to Preston, the Europeana WW1 roadshow visited Dublin (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/europeana-ww1-roadshow-in-dublin.html). News that Scottish sasine records would be making their way online soon was included in a podcast by the NRS's Tristram Clarke (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/scottish-sasine-and-servants-taxes-to.html), the 1915 valuation roll was placed online by ScotlandsPeople (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/1915-scottish-valuation-roll-to-go.html) and the John Gray Centre opened in East Lothian (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/john-gray-centre-new-east-lothian.html).
And RootsIreland made some very unpopular changes for its database (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/rootsireland-makes-search-and-payment.html), still in play to this day...
April
The unindexed US federal census from 1940 went online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/usas-1940-federal-census-release.html), sparking a race between several online vendors to get indexes uploaded first. Plans for the National Archives' Discovery catalogue were announced (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/national-archives-launches-discovery.html), though were subsequently delayed, whilst new £3 million premises for West Yorkshire Archives were announced to be in the pipeline (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/west-yorkshire-archive-new-facility.html).
Everyone went a little crazy about Titanic for a bit.
The National Records of Scotland revealed a trendy new logo (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/national-records-of-scotland-logo.html), and God smiled on Ayrshire and provided access to the ScotlandsPeople computer system in Kilmarnock, for £15 a day (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/scotlandspeople-access-at-burns.html). Glamorgan FHS heroically came to to the rescue when contractors destroyed a local cemetery at Tonyrefail (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/glamorgan-fhs-helps-with-chapel.html). The Express looked at "ancestral therapy" sessions (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/ancestral-therapy-psychic-sally-meets.html), and the Telegraph announced 20 spitfires from Burma that had been buried in WW2 and perfectly preserved would be soon dug up (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/20-spitfires-to-be-returned-from-burma.html).
I attended the SAFHS 2012 conference in Dundee (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/safhs-conference-2012-report.html) and Ali MacDonald announced how to join the Scottish DNA Project, hosted by the University of Strathclyde (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/scottish-dna-project-update.html). Also in Scotland, Registers of Scotland's Glasgow office moved to new premises (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/registers-of-scotland-glasgow-office.html), and Google Books released the Retours of Services and Heirs in 3 volumes from 1544-1699 for free (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/retours-of-services-of-heirs-1544-1699.html)!
Emma Jolly released her brilliant book, Tracing Your British Indian Ancestors (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/review-tracing-your-british-indian.html).
More soon!!!!
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
January
This was the month that saw the launch of the new Commonwealth War Graves Commission website (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/new-commonwealth-war-graves-site.html), and the horrendous first incarnation of the new National Archives of Ireland catalogue, thankfully now brilliantly fit for purpose after a less than auspicious beginning. Brightsolid announced plans to invade the United States (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/brightsolids-growing-us-army.html) and the Internet Archive dramatically improved its scans of the Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/fasti-ecclesiae-scoticanae-improved-on.html).
As well as adding the Scottish 1881 census, FindmyPast UK announced plans to digitise the records of Canterbury Cathedral, and the Mitchell Library provided access to the ScotlandsPeople computer system for £15 a day (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/scotlandspeople-system-now-at-mitchell.html), albeit without the Roman Catholic records which were also announced as coming soon to the ScotlandsPeople Centre (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/roman-catholic-records-in.html).
Family Search kicked the British Isles out of Europe (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/familysearch-kicks-british-isles-out-of.html) and in London, the bell started to toll for the old catalogue on the National Archives website(http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/end-of-present-tna-online-catalogue.html).
Across the water, Irish TV showed an excellent house history series called Cé a Chónaigh i mo Theachsa? (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/ce-chonaigh-i-mo-theachsa.html), whilst in the north the GRO in Belfast announced plans to start adding parents names to death certificates (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/northern-irish-death-certs-to-add.html).
February
Rootstech in the United States streamed live coverage of certain talks worldwide - whilst Josh Coates gave a great talk at the event, he also referenced another helpful lecture on how to survive a zombie apocalypse (see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/rootstech-day-2-online-lectures-and.html for the link on that one!).
Ancestry launched a new online image viewer, and added various Warwickshire records (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/warwickshire-records-on-ancestry.html) and cess and stent roll records for Perthshire (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/ancestry-releases-perthshire-cess-and.html).
As Hampton Court announced an exhibition on the Stuarts (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/hampton-court-exhibition-on-stuart.html) it emerged from an old 1968 RTE film that Kilkenny girls were the wrong shape for a restoration comedy (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/kilkenny-wrong-shape-for-restoration.html)!
Cheshire and Chester burials were released on Deceased Online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/cheshire-and-chester-burials-join.html) and a National Library of Wales cultural project for WW1 received funding from JISC (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/welsh-ww1-project-receives-funding.html). The National Archives at Kew launched a new blog (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/new-blog-from-national-archives.html), as FindmyPast updated its app for Apple devices (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/findmypast-updates-app.html) and launched a new series of merchant seamen records online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/19th-century-merchant-navy-records-go.html).
I gave talks at Who Do You Think Live for the first time (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/wdytya-live-2012-part-1-review.html) and met a woman with whom I shared a somewhat extraordinary connection back to 1866 (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/wdytya-live-part-4-victims-descendants.html)
And an embryonic Scottish Genealogy Network had its first meeting in London without realising what it had just begun...! (http://scottishgenealogynetwork.blogspot.co.uk)
March
Four million Welsh parish records went online at FindmyPast (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/four-million-welsh-parish-records.html) and TNA released a great podcast by Paul Carter on the Victorian workhouse (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/tna-podcast-victorian-workhouses.html).
Ancestry announced a new test for autosomal DNA (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/first-look-at-ancestrys-autosomal-dna.html) and some possibly optimistic news on the release of the southern Irish 1926 census was first announced (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/1926-irish-census-go-ahead.html). Even more important on the Irish front, Tayto crisps announced a newly designed Titanic packet (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/titanic-crisp-too-far.html)!
Bradford FHS announced a project to help make local tithes maps available online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/bradford-tithes-maps-project.html), and my ancestral home in Scotland became a city again (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/fair-city-regains-status.html). Durham Records Online passed the one million mark in terms of online records (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/one-million-burials-at-durham-records.html), and Friends Reunited was relaunched with a more genealogical slant (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/friends-reunited-relaunch.html) - and has barely been heard of since on that front.
After a visit to Preston, the Europeana WW1 roadshow visited Dublin (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/europeana-ww1-roadshow-in-dublin.html). News that Scottish sasine records would be making their way online soon was included in a podcast by the NRS's Tristram Clarke (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/scottish-sasine-and-servants-taxes-to.html), the 1915 valuation roll was placed online by ScotlandsPeople (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/1915-scottish-valuation-roll-to-go.html) and the John Gray Centre opened in East Lothian (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/john-gray-centre-new-east-lothian.html).
And RootsIreland made some very unpopular changes for its database (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/rootsireland-makes-search-and-payment.html), still in play to this day...
April
The unindexed US federal census from 1940 went online (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/usas-1940-federal-census-release.html), sparking a race between several online vendors to get indexes uploaded first. Plans for the National Archives' Discovery catalogue were announced (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/national-archives-launches-discovery.html), though were subsequently delayed, whilst new £3 million premises for West Yorkshire Archives were announced to be in the pipeline (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/west-yorkshire-archive-new-facility.html).
Everyone went a little crazy about Titanic for a bit.
The National Records of Scotland revealed a trendy new logo (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/national-records-of-scotland-logo.html), and God smiled on Ayrshire and provided access to the ScotlandsPeople computer system in Kilmarnock, for £15 a day (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/scotlandspeople-access-at-burns.html). Glamorgan FHS heroically came to to the rescue when contractors destroyed a local cemetery at Tonyrefail (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/glamorgan-fhs-helps-with-chapel.html). The Express looked at "ancestral therapy" sessions (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/ancestral-therapy-psychic-sally-meets.html), and the Telegraph announced 20 spitfires from Burma that had been buried in WW2 and perfectly preserved would be soon dug up (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/20-spitfires-to-be-returned-from-burma.html).
I attended the SAFHS 2012 conference in Dundee (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/safhs-conference-2012-report.html) and Ali MacDonald announced how to join the Scottish DNA Project, hosted by the University of Strathclyde (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/scottish-dna-project-update.html). Also in Scotland, Registers of Scotland's Glasgow office moved to new premises (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/registers-of-scotland-glasgow-office.html), and Google Books released the Retours of Services and Heirs in 3 volumes from 1544-1699 for free (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/retours-of-services-of-heirs-1544-1699.html)!
Emma Jolly released her brilliant book, Tracing Your British Indian Ancestors (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/review-tracing-your-british-indian.html).
More soon!!!!
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
TNA podcast - New file releases from 1982
The latest podcast from the National Archives at Kew (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) covers the new batch of Westminster government files to be released from 1982. It can be listened to at http://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/new-files-from-1982/ or downloaded from iTunes.
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Thursday, 27 December 2012
FamilyRelatives Christmas sale
Family Relatives (www.familyrelatives.com) is currently having a Christmas sale with 20% off 12 month subscriptions (down to £20 from £25). The full detail is at http://familyrelativesnews.com/CMU-174OF-D91GUB2YA2/cr.aspx.
As part of he page there is the following on forthcoming records:
Throughout 2013 we will be adding new records including:
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
As part of he page there is the following on forthcoming records:
Throughout 2013 we will be adding new records including:
- Vital Records (Births, Marriages & Deaths)
- Parish Records
- Military records
- Trade Directories
- Divorce Records
- and so much more...
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Forthcoming City of York Family History Fair
Details of the forthcoming City of York Family History Fair, to be held in York on Saturday 13th April, are available online at www.yorkfamilyhistory.org.uk/april2013fairflyer.pdf.
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Wednesday, 26 December 2012
Welsh History Review Group established
There's an interesting blog post on Click on Wales, the blog for the Institute of Welsh Affairs, on the way that history teaching has been developed over the last years in the country as part of Curriculum Cymreig. A new body has been set up to review the way forward (The Welsh History Review Group).
Family history gets a mention, and the focus is on whether there are betters ways for people to attain the goals of Curriculum Cymreig, which are "to understand and celebrate the distinctive quality of living and learning in Wales in the 21st Century, to identify their own sense of ‘Welshness’ and to feel a heightened sense of belonging to their local community and country". The full post is at www.clickonwales.org/2012/12/learning-to-belong-in-wales/.
COMMENT: I genuinely don't know if any of the panel have specific experience in the family history arena, but it's heartening to note that it is a consideration as part of the mix. Family history above all else is about identity, and whilst 'history' can provide many canvases as a backdrop, family history will always provide the direct connection.
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Family history gets a mention, and the focus is on whether there are betters ways for people to attain the goals of Curriculum Cymreig, which are "to understand and celebrate the distinctive quality of living and learning in Wales in the 21st Century, to identify their own sense of ‘Welshness’ and to feel a heightened sense of belonging to their local community and country". The full post is at www.clickonwales.org/2012/12/learning-to-belong-in-wales/.
COMMENT: I genuinely don't know if any of the panel have specific experience in the family history arena, but it's heartening to note that it is a consideration as part of the mix. Family history above all else is about identity, and whilst 'history' can provide many canvases as a backdrop, family history will always provide the direct connection.
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Another free 50 FindmyPast credits
FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has commenced its Start Your Family Tree Week today, and as I reported last Friday (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/start-your-family-tree-week-with-free.html) it is possible to claim 50 free credits to help you get underway with your research. In addition to this, however, you can also claim an additional 50 credits, thanks to Peter Calver's latest Lost Cousins newsletter.
In order to do so, obtain the relevant code at www.lostcousins.com/newsletters/xmas12news.htm and then after you have logged in to the FindmyPast site visit www.findmypast.co.uk/content/start-your-family-tree-week/26 input the code via the Claim Your Credits Now box. I've just done so and my account is now showing a healthy 100 credits balance. Not sure of an expiry date to claim the credits using Peter's code, though the FindmyPast code alluded to in last Friday's post expired January 2nd.
Don't forget that you can also claim 10 free credits for the ScotlandsPeople site, also run by Brightsolid, by registering for the Ancestral Scotland newsletter at www.ancestralscotland.com/newsletter/
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
In order to do so, obtain the relevant code at www.lostcousins.com/newsletters/xmas12news.htm and then after you have logged in to the FindmyPast site visit www.findmypast.co.uk/content/start-your-family-tree-week/26 input the code via the Claim Your Credits Now box. I've just done so and my account is now showing a healthy 100 credits balance. Not sure of an expiry date to claim the credits using Peter's code, though the FindmyPast code alluded to in last Friday's post expired January 2nd.
Don't forget that you can also claim 10 free credits for the ScotlandsPeople site, also run by Brightsolid, by registering for the Ancestral Scotland newsletter at www.ancestralscotland.com/newsletter/
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Durham Records Online update
New from Durham Records Online (www.durhamrecordsonline.com):
Earsdon baptisms & burials 1813-1844
A large package of 5,481 baptisms and 4,687 burials from the parish of Earsdon St. Alban in the Tynemouth district of Northumberland, from the beginning of 1813 to the end of 1844, from the Bishop’s Transcript of the parish registers. These registers include events recorded at the chapel of ease at Blyth, which had existed since 1751 and was replaced in 1859 by the current church dedicated to St. Cuthbert.
Earsdon marriages 1813-1836
900 marriages at Earsdon from the beginning of 1813 to the beginning of May 1836, from the Bishop’s Transcripts.
Chester-le-Street marriage index updated with full details for 1800-1851
Replaced the Chester-le-Street marriage index for 1800-1851 with full entries so those 2,732 marriages are now instantly available, including 1 new marriage we missed the first time around.
Kelloe marriage witnesses 1837-1858 + new 1858 marriages
Added 2,086 witnesses to our existing 992 marriages at Kelloe St. Helen in Easington district, covering July 1837 to March 1858. Added 7 marriages we had missed in that period, made numerous minor corrections to occupations and names, and added 39 new marriages to take us to the end of 1858. If a significant error was corrected in a record you purchased, it will be emailed to you. We recommend that all purchasers of Kelloe marriages in this period log in and click My Previous Orders and review those marriages for changes. One global change was that the original transcriber recorded “coalminer” whenever he saw “pitman”; we have now returned all occupations to their original wording.
Sunderland marriage witnesses 1818-1819
Added 644 witnesses to marriages at Sunderland Holy Trinity for 1818-1819, and added one marriage we had missed the first time around.
Files in the processing queue, not necessarily to be released in this order:
Earsdon marriages 1837-1844
Earsdon baptisms, marriages, and burials pre-1813
West Hartlepool North Cemetery 1856-1869
Stranton Grange cemetery 1912-1919
Tynemouth baptisms 1818-1826
Etherley baptisms & burials 1834-1862
Monkwearmouth Venerable Bede baptisms 1877-1885
Gateshead St. James baptisms 1865-1879
Lumley baptisms & burials 1861-1867
Sacriston baptisms 1866-1875
Further down the road:
Records from Hexham, Hartlepool St. James, Newcastle All Saints
(With thanks to Holly Cochran)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Earsdon baptisms & burials 1813-1844
A large package of 5,481 baptisms and 4,687 burials from the parish of Earsdon St. Alban in the Tynemouth district of Northumberland, from the beginning of 1813 to the end of 1844, from the Bishop’s Transcript of the parish registers. These registers include events recorded at the chapel of ease at Blyth, which had existed since 1751 and was replaced in 1859 by the current church dedicated to St. Cuthbert.
Earsdon marriages 1813-1836
900 marriages at Earsdon from the beginning of 1813 to the beginning of May 1836, from the Bishop’s Transcripts.
Chester-le-Street marriage index updated with full details for 1800-1851
Replaced the Chester-le-Street marriage index for 1800-1851 with full entries so those 2,732 marriages are now instantly available, including 1 new marriage we missed the first time around.
Kelloe marriage witnesses 1837-1858 + new 1858 marriages
Added 2,086 witnesses to our existing 992 marriages at Kelloe St. Helen in Easington district, covering July 1837 to March 1858. Added 7 marriages we had missed in that period, made numerous minor corrections to occupations and names, and added 39 new marriages to take us to the end of 1858. If a significant error was corrected in a record you purchased, it will be emailed to you. We recommend that all purchasers of Kelloe marriages in this period log in and click My Previous Orders and review those marriages for changes. One global change was that the original transcriber recorded “coalminer” whenever he saw “pitman”; we have now returned all occupations to their original wording.
Sunderland marriage witnesses 1818-1819
Added 644 witnesses to marriages at Sunderland Holy Trinity for 1818-1819, and added one marriage we had missed the first time around.
Files in the processing queue, not necessarily to be released in this order:
Earsdon marriages 1837-1844
Earsdon baptisms, marriages, and burials pre-1813
West Hartlepool North Cemetery 1856-1869
Stranton Grange cemetery 1912-1919
Tynemouth baptisms 1818-1826
Etherley baptisms & burials 1834-1862
Monkwearmouth Venerable Bede baptisms 1877-1885
Gateshead St. James baptisms 1865-1879
Lumley baptisms & burials 1861-1867
Sacriston baptisms 1866-1875
Further down the road:
Records from Hexham, Hartlepool St. James, Newcastle All Saints
(With thanks to Holly Cochran)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Eneclann's sale starts today
Eneclann's Winter Sale starts today with 50% off nearly all titles - the sale runs until January 13th 2013. From the company:
The Eneclann office and phone lines will be closed until 4th January 2013. Please note that no orders will be dispatched before this date. Any e-mail enquiries will be answered as quickly as possible. Existing special offers are excluded from the Winter Sale.
Full details of Eneclann's holdings are at www.eneclann.ie/acatalog/index.html
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
The Eneclann office and phone lines will be closed until 4th January 2013. Please note that no orders will be dispatched before this date. Any e-mail enquiries will be answered as quickly as possible. Existing special offers are excluded from the Winter Sale.
Full details of Eneclann's holdings are at www.eneclann.ie/acatalog/index.html
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
British OS Revised New Series of Maps on Ancestry
Ancestry has released a collection of maps described as UK Revised Series of Maps 1896-1904. Despite the title, and the subsequent description that states it to be containing "Revised New Series Ordnance Survey maps of England, first published between 1896 and 1904", the collection actually contains the maps in question for all of Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), though not Ireland (the whole island was in the UK at this point).
The collection and description can be found at http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=5127
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
The collection and description can be found at http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=5127
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Monday, 24 December 2012
Merry Christmas!
I'm having a day off to stuff my face with turkey and mince pies, and to watch the Doctor Who Christmas Special - so Merry Christmas to all readers of British GENES!!!
Back soon, with some more real time travelling! :)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Back soon, with some more real time travelling! :)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Sunday, 23 December 2012
FamilySearch adds Westminster parish register indexes
FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org) has added Westminster parish records indexes online from 1538-1912, though to see the images you must either visit FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) or visit a FamilySearch family history centre.
The indexes are searchable at http://familysearch.org/searchapi/search/collection/2072795 and provide name, event, year and parish of event, and Family History Library microfilm details.
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
The indexes are searchable at http://familysearch.org/searchapi/search/collection/2072795 and provide name, event, year and parish of event, and Family History Library microfilm details.
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
DNA questions asked
Some questions have been asked by the Sunday Times concerning recent claims apparently made about the work of Britain's DNA (www.britainsdna.com) on the BBC Radio 4's Today programme in July. Most of the article is located behind a paywall at www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Tech/article1182305.ece, but another consideration of the points raised in the piece, by Vincent Plagnol (a statistical geneticist at University College London), is available at www.genomesunzipped.org/2012/12/exaggerations-and-errors-in-the-promotion-of-genetic-ancestry-testing.php.
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Saturday, 22 December 2012
Ireland's Genealogical Gazette Index 2006-2012
The Genealogical Society of Ireland (www.familyhistory.ie) has published an online index to its Ireland's Genealogical Gazette publication at www.familyhistory.ie/docs/GAZINDEX20062012.pdf. It's a fairly hefty 120 pages long and indexed at a great deal of detail in five main section: Index of Gazette Contents 2006-2012, Index of Gazette Articles 2006-2011, Queries Received, Index of Authors/Contributors, and Links. Well worth exploring.
(With thanks to @GenSocIreland on Twitter)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
(With thanks to @GenSocIreland on Twitter)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
ScotlandsPeople BMD update news
From ScotlandsPeople (www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk):
Release of the New Year's images on ScotlandsPeople
We are delighted to announce that the New Year's images will be made available on the ScotlandsPeople website on the 1st of January 2013. Images from statutory register of births for 1912, the statutory register of marriages for 1937 and the statutory register of deaths for 1962 will be made available on the ScotlandsPeople website at the turn of the New Year. We hope that you enjoy using these new images, and that the post-Hogmanay lull is the ideal time for it!
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Release of the New Year's images on ScotlandsPeople
We are delighted to announce that the New Year's images will be made available on the ScotlandsPeople website on the 1st of January 2013. Images from statutory register of births for 1912, the statutory register of marriages for 1937 and the statutory register of deaths for 1962 will be made available on the ScotlandsPeople website at the turn of the New Year. We hope that you enjoy using these new images, and that the post-Hogmanay lull is the ideal time for it!
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
More English parish records added to The Genealogist
From The Genealogist's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thegenealogist
TheGenealogist ends 2012 on a high. We are pleased to announce another 300,000 parish records have just been added covering areas including Durham, Leicestershire, Shropshire, Suffolk, Worcestershire and Yorkshire.
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
TheGenealogist ends 2012 on a high. We are pleased to announce another 300,000 parish records have just been added covering areas including Durham, Leicestershire, Shropshire, Suffolk, Worcestershire and Yorkshire.
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Forthcoming Society of Genealogists events
Forthcoming Society of Genealogists events in London:
Sat 19 Jan 14:00-17:00
Practical Blogging for Family History (using Wordpress)
Blogging has entered a realm of its own, from fad to industry. People are entering the blogosphere daily, thousands every day. At one time, a blog would have been called a diary, journal, scrapbook, or storytelling. It is just one form of a website but one that is much simpler to use and needs no knowledge of programming languages. We will look at some of the development of blogs and help you learn more about blogging and how to use and install your own blog using the wordpress platform.We will go through step by step how to install a blog and the different aspects of blogging using plugins, themes, text, images, sounds and videos as well as the common mistakes to avoid.
A half-day course with Alec Tritton £17.50
Wed 23 Jan 16:30-17:30
Records of the Goldsmiths' Company
The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, more commonly known as the Goldsmiths' Company, is one of the Twelve Great Livery Companies of the City of London. The librarian will discuss the company’s library collections, which include over 8,000 books and is also responsible for the Company’s archives, which date back to the 14th century.
A one-hour lecture with David Bersley £6.00
Thu 24 Jan 18:00-20:00
Stage 1 Evening Skills Course
The Society's successful family history skills course begins with the first ten-week series of classes for those who are new to family history or who have had a little experience and want to build upon their initial progress. Our team of professional genealogists will introduce the records and illustrate how they should best be used for the study of family history. Publications, electronic finding aids and the internet will, of course, be included along with all the basic sources needed to start research. (Stage 2 will run from 23 May and Stage 3 will run from 5 Sep)
Thursday evenings, £150.00 (book all 3 courses and receive a 10% discount)
Sat 26 Jan 10:30-17:00
My Ancestor was Irish: Further Sources.
We will look at problems in Irish family history research and how to tackle them, early Irish marriages, the Irish Poor and what’s new online.
A full-day course with Roz McCutcheon, Michael Gandy and Peter Christian £30.00
Wed 30 Jan 14:30-15:30
Visit: (New) Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum
The Caird Library is a specialist reference library which houses unparalleled collection. paper-based collections of Royal Museums Greenwich. Together, the archive and library collections are the most comprehensive maritime resource in the world. £10.00
Sat 2 Feb 10:30-13:00
Marriage & Death in the Church Courts
Often described as the "bawdy courts" or "court of scolds" these records illustrate the moral and religious constraints that governed communities in the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. English family historians are familiar with church court records relating to wills and marriage licences but much more information can be found amongst the records of the church courts. Appearance in the church courts of the seventeenth century might just be as common as a parking ticket today!
A half-day course with Else Churchill £17.50
Sat 2 Feb 14:00-17:00
My Ancestor Came From Hampshire
'Do you have Hampshire ancestors? This course will show you where to look, how to get the most from the records and how to organise your research.
A half-day course with Les Mitchinson £17.50
Sat 9 Feb 10:30 17:00
How to get the Most from Family Pictures
This full-day course is a visual Power Point presentation that provides an in-depth guide to dating, analysing and understanding all types of family portraits, from inherited paintings, drawings and silhouettes, to Victorian studio photographs and 20th century snapshots. Accurate dating is essential when trying to identify and discover more about unlabelled family pictures and the course demonstrates how to establish an accurate time frame, using a variety of techniques and research tools. It also discusses the portrait tradition and considers the historical context in which artworks and, later, photographs were commissioned: what did these special pictures mean to our ancestors and how should we interpret them? You are welcome to submit family photos/artworks from your own collections for analysis.
A full-day course with Jayne Shrimpton £30.00
Sat 16 Feb 10:30-13:00
Assisted Migration Sources for Family History
We will look at assisted immigration sources, how and where to find them, as well as a look at a the Petworth Emigration Project, a case-study of assisted emigration from England to Canada.
A half-day course with Simon Fowler & Alison McCann.
Sponsored by the Halsted Trust £6.00
22-24 Feb
Who Do You Think You Are? Live! show at Olympia, London.
The country’s largest and most comprehensive family history show is back.
The Society of Genealogists is again providing a great line-up of talks as well as advice in the ‘Ask the Experts’ area. Pre-booked tickets 2 for £25 can be purchased at: www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.co.uk and quote “SOG2425”. Tickets will also be available in the bookshop, as usual (single tickets £13.00)
Wed 27 Feb 14:00-15:00
Inconvenient People: Lunacy, Madness & Mad Doctors in Victorian England
Based on her book of the same title, Sarah will look at the darker side of the Victorian upper and middle classes - fears of inherited madness, financial greed and fraudulence - and evoke the black motives at the heart of sane individuals being locked away in lunatic asylums. With the rise of the 'mad-doctor' profession, English liberty seemed to be threatened by a new generation of medical men willing to incarcerate difficult family members or 'inconvenient persons' in return for a fee, paid by an unscrupulous spouse or friend.
A one-hour lecture with Sarah Wise £6.00
Sat 2 March 10:30-13:00
Tracing North London Ancestors
A half-day course with Michael Gandy £17.50/£14.00
Sat 2 Mar 14:00-17:00
My Ancestor was a Gentleman
What was a gentleman? And how can we find out more about them? This workshop will provide you with some answers to these questions. We will begin by looking at the history of the gentry, and then examine some of the major sources where they can be traced. Has it been done before is an important question for all genealogists. In the case of gentlemen, the answer is probably yes - by heralds of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Heraldic visitation pedigrees will therefore be the first source to be considered. Landed property provided the basis for gentility. The settlements, deeds, and other estate records which they kept in their muniment rooms provided the evidence they needed to prove their title. Now, they provide the evidence we need to trace their land-holdings. Tax records, loyalty oaths, educational records, and occupational sources all provide much further evidence. Gentlemen are amongst the most knowable of our ancestors, as they left behind them so many records. This workshop will suggest many sources that you could exploit to discover more about them.
A half-day course with Stuart Raymond £17.50
Sat 9 Mar 10:30 13:00
How to Find Ancestors and Living Relatives using MyHeritage Trees & Databases
Learn how to create a MyHeritage family tree, effectively search the MyHeritage databases containing more than 4 billion historic records (SuperSearch), and find living relatives A half-day course with Laurence Harris £17.50
Wed 20 Mar 14:00
Living the Poor Life
A one-hour lecture with Gillian Draper £6.00/£4.80
To book a place, visit www.sog.org.uk/shop and select the events tab, or call 020 7553 3290
(With thanks to Lori Weinstein)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Sat 19 Jan 14:00-17:00
Practical Blogging for Family History (using Wordpress)
Blogging has entered a realm of its own, from fad to industry. People are entering the blogosphere daily, thousands every day. At one time, a blog would have been called a diary, journal, scrapbook, or storytelling. It is just one form of a website but one that is much simpler to use and needs no knowledge of programming languages. We will look at some of the development of blogs and help you learn more about blogging and how to use and install your own blog using the wordpress platform.We will go through step by step how to install a blog and the different aspects of blogging using plugins, themes, text, images, sounds and videos as well as the common mistakes to avoid.
A half-day course with Alec Tritton £17.50
Wed 23 Jan 16:30-17:30
Records of the Goldsmiths' Company
The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, more commonly known as the Goldsmiths' Company, is one of the Twelve Great Livery Companies of the City of London. The librarian will discuss the company’s library collections, which include over 8,000 books and is also responsible for the Company’s archives, which date back to the 14th century.
A one-hour lecture with David Bersley £6.00
Thu 24 Jan 18:00-20:00
Stage 1 Evening Skills Course
The Society's successful family history skills course begins with the first ten-week series of classes for those who are new to family history or who have had a little experience and want to build upon their initial progress. Our team of professional genealogists will introduce the records and illustrate how they should best be used for the study of family history. Publications, electronic finding aids and the internet will, of course, be included along with all the basic sources needed to start research. (Stage 2 will run from 23 May and Stage 3 will run from 5 Sep)
Thursday evenings, £150.00 (book all 3 courses and receive a 10% discount)
Sat 26 Jan 10:30-17:00
My Ancestor was Irish: Further Sources.
We will look at problems in Irish family history research and how to tackle them, early Irish marriages, the Irish Poor and what’s new online.
A full-day course with Roz McCutcheon, Michael Gandy and Peter Christian £30.00
Wed 30 Jan 14:30-15:30
Visit: (New) Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum
The Caird Library is a specialist reference library which houses unparalleled collection. paper-based collections of Royal Museums Greenwich. Together, the archive and library collections are the most comprehensive maritime resource in the world. £10.00
Sat 2 Feb 10:30-13:00
Marriage & Death in the Church Courts
Often described as the "bawdy courts" or "court of scolds" these records illustrate the moral and religious constraints that governed communities in the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. English family historians are familiar with church court records relating to wills and marriage licences but much more information can be found amongst the records of the church courts. Appearance in the church courts of the seventeenth century might just be as common as a parking ticket today!
A half-day course with Else Churchill £17.50
Sat 2 Feb 14:00-17:00
My Ancestor Came From Hampshire
'Do you have Hampshire ancestors? This course will show you where to look, how to get the most from the records and how to organise your research.
A half-day course with Les Mitchinson £17.50
Sat 9 Feb 10:30 17:00
How to get the Most from Family Pictures
This full-day course is a visual Power Point presentation that provides an in-depth guide to dating, analysing and understanding all types of family portraits, from inherited paintings, drawings and silhouettes, to Victorian studio photographs and 20th century snapshots. Accurate dating is essential when trying to identify and discover more about unlabelled family pictures and the course demonstrates how to establish an accurate time frame, using a variety of techniques and research tools. It also discusses the portrait tradition and considers the historical context in which artworks and, later, photographs were commissioned: what did these special pictures mean to our ancestors and how should we interpret them? You are welcome to submit family photos/artworks from your own collections for analysis.
A full-day course with Jayne Shrimpton £30.00
Sat 16 Feb 10:30-13:00
Assisted Migration Sources for Family History
We will look at assisted immigration sources, how and where to find them, as well as a look at a the Petworth Emigration Project, a case-study of assisted emigration from England to Canada.
A half-day course with Simon Fowler & Alison McCann.
Sponsored by the Halsted Trust £6.00
22-24 Feb
Who Do You Think You Are? Live! show at Olympia, London.
The country’s largest and most comprehensive family history show is back.
The Society of Genealogists is again providing a great line-up of talks as well as advice in the ‘Ask the Experts’ area. Pre-booked tickets 2 for £25 can be purchased at: www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.co.uk and quote “SOG2425”. Tickets will also be available in the bookshop, as usual (single tickets £13.00)
Wed 27 Feb 14:00-15:00
Inconvenient People: Lunacy, Madness & Mad Doctors in Victorian England
Based on her book of the same title, Sarah will look at the darker side of the Victorian upper and middle classes - fears of inherited madness, financial greed and fraudulence - and evoke the black motives at the heart of sane individuals being locked away in lunatic asylums. With the rise of the 'mad-doctor' profession, English liberty seemed to be threatened by a new generation of medical men willing to incarcerate difficult family members or 'inconvenient persons' in return for a fee, paid by an unscrupulous spouse or friend.
A one-hour lecture with Sarah Wise £6.00
Sat 2 March 10:30-13:00
Tracing North London Ancestors
A half-day course with Michael Gandy £17.50/£14.00
Sat 2 Mar 14:00-17:00
My Ancestor was a Gentleman
What was a gentleman? And how can we find out more about them? This workshop will provide you with some answers to these questions. We will begin by looking at the history of the gentry, and then examine some of the major sources where they can be traced. Has it been done before is an important question for all genealogists. In the case of gentlemen, the answer is probably yes - by heralds of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Heraldic visitation pedigrees will therefore be the first source to be considered. Landed property provided the basis for gentility. The settlements, deeds, and other estate records which they kept in their muniment rooms provided the evidence they needed to prove their title. Now, they provide the evidence we need to trace their land-holdings. Tax records, loyalty oaths, educational records, and occupational sources all provide much further evidence. Gentlemen are amongst the most knowable of our ancestors, as they left behind them so many records. This workshop will suggest many sources that you could exploit to discover more about them.
A half-day course with Stuart Raymond £17.50
Sat 9 Mar 10:30 13:00
How to Find Ancestors and Living Relatives using MyHeritage Trees & Databases
Learn how to create a MyHeritage family tree, effectively search the MyHeritage databases containing more than 4 billion historic records (SuperSearch), and find living relatives A half-day course with Laurence Harris £17.50
Wed 20 Mar 14:00
Living the Poor Life
A one-hour lecture with Gillian Draper £6.00/£4.80
To book a place, visit www.sog.org.uk/shop and select the events tab, or call 020 7553 3290
(With thanks to Lori Weinstein)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5