TNA webinar - tracing female ancestors in the First World War

The latest podcast is in fact a webinar from the National Archives in England entitled Tracing your ancestors – women in the military services during the First World War. It is a 30 minute recording with slides by Emily Stidston, and discusses records from the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Merchant Navy, nursing services and voluntary organisations.

To watch and listen to the webinar please visit http://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/webinar-women-first-world-war/ or download from iTunes.

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

UK Press Online launching new version of site

From the tabloid newspapers archive website UK Press Online (www.ukpresonline.co.uk):

New Site Rolling Out

UKPressOnline will be launching a new version of the site on the evening of the 29th June.

As such the site may go down intermittently and you can check our Facebook page for updates as they happen.

The main changes so far are when using the site with a mobile phone or tablet; the site scales accordingly and is much more responsive.

We do hope any interruption will be kept to a minimum and appreciate your patience

If you have any concerns or struggle to log-in then please email:
andrew.ford@ukpressonline.co.uk

We hope you find the new site useful and will continue to update the look and feel in the coming weeks and months.

(With thanks to UK Press Online)

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Review of my "Down and Out in Scotland" book

It's been a busy year on the book writing front for Unlock the Past, with my Irish Family History Resources Online book updated in January for a second edition, and my Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis book released in February.

American based genealogist (originally from England) Paul Milner has given a great review for the Down and Out in Scotland book at http://www.milnergenealogy.com/?p=725, noting in particular that it "assumes you have done your basic research and you want to go further, into more depth, and explore the troubled lives of your Scottish ancestors. It will help you understand how Scottish society worked, what records were created, may have survived, and may have been indexed and how to access transcripts or the originals. There is much in this volume that I have not seen in other Scottish guide or reference books, so is highly recommended for those wanting new avenues to explore."

A huge thanks to Paul, and a quick plug in return for his own UTP books, Buried Treasure: What's in the English Parish Chest and Discover English Parish Registers.

Our books are available from several retailers across the world, along with titles from many other authors. The outlets are:

My History (UK) www.my-history.co.uk/acatalog/Unlock-the-Past-Booklets.html
Gould Genealogy (Australia) www.gould.com.au/Unlock-the-Past-guides-s/2576.htm
Beehive Books (NZ) http://beehivebooks.co.nz/
Global Genealogy (Canada) http://globalgenealogy.com/resources.htm
Maia's Books (US) www.maiasbooks.com

And keep an eye out for the imminent release of my next title Discover Irish Land Records - and other forthcoming Unlock the Past titles...!

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

FindmyPast releases English and Welsh criminal records datasets

The following is an abridged press release from FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk):

1.9 Million Historic Criminal Records Spanning Over 150 Years Published Online for the First Time:

• Wide Variety of Victims and Perpetrators Revealed Ranging from Petty Crooks to Infamous Assassins and Serial Poisoners
• Over 1.9 million new records from Findmypast.co.uk shed light on 150 years of crime
• Available online for the first time, these records from The National Archives provide fascinating details of the crimes, punishment and prison standards in England and Wales
• Spanning 1779-1936, the records allow you to discover villains and victims in your family history and piece together their journey through the criminal system

London, UK, 29 June, 2015 – Leading family history website FindmyPast.co.uk has today released over 1.9 million digitised crime and punishment records in association with The National Archives. FindmyPast’s collection is now the biggest online set of crime records, with a total of almost 3 million crime and punishment records available online.

The records, covering 1779-1936, reveal many ordinary and extraordinary stories of criminals, victims and law enforcers from the criminal history books. The records include mugshots and coloured images of historical records, as well as detailed accounts of Victorian serial killers, notorious executioners, and the only assassination of a British Prime Minister.

“These new records offer a unique insight into the country’s criminal past. Whether villain or victim, anyone can now discover whether their family tree contains any hidden “black sheep” or victims, from their very own home at the touch of a button. Offering unrivalled detail and content, the records now online make it possible today to trace criminals through the justice systems from details of their arrest to punishment and rehabilitation,” said Myko Clelland, historian at Findmypast.co.uk.

Caroline Kimbell, Head of Licensing at The National Archives said: “We have worked with Findmypast to digitise this fascinating collection of historic criminal and prison records held here at The National Archives, Kew, making them available online for the very first time. The personal records for those locked up can be heart-breaking, especially those of child convicts. They shed light not just on individual family stories, but on a long history of crime and punishment in England.”

The records released today include records from criminal lunatic asylums, Central Criminal Court, prison registers and the Newgate Prison calendar among many others. The release marks the beginning of Findmypast’s Crime & Punishment month: four weeks of records, guides and stories to help you discover your family’s criminal history. Full details of the content released today and throughout the rest of the month can be found at www.findmypast.co.uk/crime-prisons-punishment.

COMMENT: The press release, as is often the case from FindmyPast, does not list the sources at TNA, but a browse of the England & Wales, Crime, Prisons & Punishment, 1770-1935 page at http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/england-and-wales-crime-prisons-and-punishment-1770-1935 reveals that the following record sets are now available:

• Admiralty: registers of convicts in prison hulks (TNA Ref: ADM 6)
• Central Criminal Court: after-trial calendars of prisoners (TNA Ref: CRIM 9)
• Home Office: Convict Hulks, Convict Prisons and Criminal Lunatic Asylums: Quarterly Returns of Prisoners 1824-1876 (TNA Ref: HO 8)
• Home Office: Criminal Entry Books 1782-1871 (TNA Ref: HO 13)
• Home Office: criminal petitions Series 1 (TNA Ref: HO 17)
• Home Office: criminal petitions Series 2 (TNA Ref: HO 18)
• Home Office: Register of criminal petitions (TNA Ref: HO 19)
• Home Office: Registers of Prisoners from National Prisons lodged in County Prisons 1847-1866 (TNA Ref: HO 23)
• Home Office: Prison Registers and Statistical Returns 1838-1875 (TNA Ref: HO 24)
• Home Office: Judges’ Reports on Criminals 1784-1830 (TNA Ref: HO 47)
• Home Office: Newgate Prison Calendar 1782-1853 (TNA Ref: HO 77)
• Home Office: Miscellaneous Criminal Books 1798-1831 (TNA Ref: HO 130)
• Home Office: calendar of prisoners (TNA Ref: HO 140)
• Home Office and Prison Commission: prison records (TNA Ref: PCOM 2)
• Home Office and Prison Commission: Male Licences 1853-1887 (TNA Ref: PCOM 3)
• Home Office: Old Captions and Transfer Papers 1843-1871 (TNA Ref: PCOM 5)
• Metropolitan Police: Criminal Record Office: habitual criminals' registers and miscellaneous papers (TNA Ref: MEPO 6)

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Crime and Society talks at PRONI

From the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (www.proni.gov.uk):

PRONI is pleased to announce that we are hosting a 5 part lecture series on Crime and Society throughout the month of October.

This lecture series starts at 1pm on Thursday the 1st of October and runs every Thursday throughout the month.

1st October - 19th Century Prison Records, by Chris Colvin
8th October - The Women's Suffrage Campaign, by Margaret Ward
15th October - Female Political Imprisonment during the Irish Civil War, by Laura McAtackney
22nd October - DeLoran: Back to the Failure, by Graham Brownlow
29th October - NIGRA & Decriminalisation, by Jeff Dudgeon & Richard Kennedy

Contact PRONI at www.proni.gov.uk/index/contact_us.htm to reserve a place.

(With thanks to the PRONI Express)

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Australian Ryerson Index passes 5 million records

Congratulations to the Australian based Ryerson Index (www.ryersonindex.org), which has now passed 5 million obituary notices on its site.

For more on the Ryerson Index's story, read Alon tester's post at www.gouldgenealogy.com/2015/06/ryerson-index-hits-5-million-australian-death-and-obituary-records/.

(With thanks to Alona)

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Searching for a diaspora is big business

The Economist magazine has an interesting article concerning attempts to mine a country's diaspora for resources, both economically and in talent. The article kicks off with a look at the Ireland Reaching Out (Ireland XO) genealogical initiative, and how it is attempting to trace the Irish diaspora to welcome them back to Ireland and re-establish connections, but it goes beyond Ireland to look at case studies from across the world.

An interesting article that is well worth a read at www.economist.com/news/international/21656176-governments-believe-their-diasporas-can-solve-all-sorts-problems-they-are-picky.

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Sligo and Clare workhouse records and Australian convict records now on FindmyPast

FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has released two new workhouse records collections for Ireland. These are as follows:

Containing of over 9,000 records, the Sligo workhouse registers 1848-1859 consist of handwritten registers taken at the Sligo Union workhouse, one of three workhouses in the County Sligo. The records pre-date civil registration and will be a valuable resource to those with Sligo ancestors given the lack of 19th century census material available in Ireland. Each record includes a transcript and an image of the original document. The registers list the names of new arrivals and details including their age, occupation, religion, any illnesses or infirmities, family members, local parish, their condition on arrival (usually describing clothes or cleanliness) and when they were discharged or died.

Containing over 63,000 records, the Clare Poor Law Unions Board of Guardians Minute Books cover the Kilrush and Ennistymon unions, two of eight poor law unions located in County Clare. The Board of Guardians oversaw the running of the poor law unions as well as the hiring of teachers, staff and contractors. Guardians were elected by those who paid the taxes that funded poor law relief. The books recorded weekly reports on the number of inmates, new arrivals, births, deaths and discharges. They also recorded expenditures including food supplies and salaries as well as the number of inmates receiving medical treatments. Each record contains a transcript and an image of the original handwritten minutes.

Also released are some Australian convicts collections, and some English parish records:

• Nearly 27,000 Australia Convict Conditional and Absolute Pardons 1791-1867.
• New South Wales Registers of Convicts’ Applications to Marry 1825-1851 contains over 26,000 records.
• Over 188,000 Australia Convict ships 1786-1849 records
• Over 7,000 records from Victoria Prison Registers 1855-1948, for prisoners who passed through Pentridge prison, Coburg, Victoria.
• Over 4,000 parish records for Southfleet, Kent.

Full details at http://blog.findmypast.co.uk/fridays/

(With thanks to Alex Cox)

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Discover Irish Land Records - coming soon

I've been a little quiet on this blog for a couple of weeks, as I have had my head down doing a raft of client research, talks and articles. In amongst that, there was also the little matter of a new book for Unlock the Past (http://unlockthepast.com.au). The first draft has been submitted, and I'm hoping it should be ready within the next fortnight, before I head off on a genie cruise with the company to the Baltic.

If you've had a look at my Irish Family History Resources Online from the company (recently revised this year for a second edition), then consider this the sequel! Discover Irish Land Records will be coming along shortly...! In the meantime, a quick sneak peak at the artwork being developed for the cover is on the right.

Will update soon when it is ready and available...

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Pharos Tutors and Society of Genealogists announce new Advanced Certificate

From the Society of Genealogists (www.sog.org.uk):

The Society of Genealogists & Pharos Teaching & Tutoring today announced a new joint programme of education, the distance learning Certificate of Family History Skills and Strategies (Advanced).

The Society of Genealogists, in conjunction with Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd has been running its popular Intermediate distance learning programme since September 2010. The Advanced Certificate builds on this. It brings a two-year programme of assessed education online starting on 1 October 2015, consisting of taught modules and special stand-alone tutorial sessions. Pharos and the Society are working with the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA) to enable students to reach the standards necessary for membership application should they wish to work as professional genealogists in the future.

Taught modules are:

Old Handwriting – An Introduction to Secretary Hand
Manorial Records for Family and Local Historians
Church & Community 1540 – 1800; Selected Records
Researching Online for Advanced Genealogists
An Introduction to Medieval Genealogy
Researching in Archives for Advanced Genealogists
Land and Legal Records
Advanced Reports and Methods

Each module is monitored by the Society to ensure excellent standards of content and teaching.

The Advanced Skills and Strategies Certificate course is open to those who have successfully completed the Intermediate programme and are now looking for advanced instruction and the chance to undertake a family history project under supervision and in an early time period.

Students who have not completed the Intermediate course may, alternatively, choose not have work assessed and may take any module as a stand-alone option. Courses taken individually without assessment cost less.

To find out more or sign up for this great learning opportunity, visit www.pharostutors.com/fhssa.php

Information abut the course and a link for bookings can also be found on the Society of Genealogists’ website at www.sog.org.uk

Helen Osborn, Managing Director of Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd, said today

“We are very pleased to continue and build on our collaboration with the Society of Genealogists. We know that many of our students are interested in working in earlier and more advanced sources and towards a certificate that acknowledges their achievements. The Skills and Strategies Advanced course continues to meet those needs, offered by organizations and teachers with shared standards of excellence.”

Else Churchill, Genealogist at the Society & tutor on the new programme, said today

“The Society of Genealogists is delighted join forces with Pharos to offer the highly regarded SoG courses and education programme to a wider audience than can attend the Society’s classes in London. The Skills and Strategies course will offer a practical opportunity for family historians to take their research further and to develop their own expertise and understanding of genealogical sources and techniques.

(With thanks to Else Churchill)

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

2011 Scottish census outputs survey

The National Records of Scotland (www.nrscotland.gov.uk) is asking for feedback on the 2011 census outputs process:

The purpose of this survey is to seek views from users about their use of Scotland’s Census 2011 outputs and evaluate what National Records of Scotland (NRS) did well and what could be improved upon. Your views and input are needed to help us consider our activity in relation to Scotland’s Census 2011 and inform our plans for the next census in 2021.

Specifically, we need views from users on:

• your use of census outputs and products;
• how well you felt that the outputs were publicised;
• the accessibility of the outputs and other information on Scotland’s Census website
• your overall satisfaction with the outputs; and
• suggestions you have for future outputs and their dissemination

To fill in the survey please visit https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/national-records-of-scotland-survey/5f6d1d09/consult_view

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Were your ancestors lifters or anti-lifters?!

I had to have a wee chuckle last night. I was reading an excellent book by Callum G. Brown entitled The People in the Pews: Religion and Society in Scotland Since 1780 (published 1993), when I noticed a reference to a church schism concerning the 'lifters' and the 'non-lifters'. I'm familiar with schisms from the Kirk (the established Church of Scotland until 1929), and the various denominations that broke away, usually over the issue of patronage, but this was a new one on me. Forget the 'burghers' and 'anti-burghers', and the 'auld lichts' and the 'new lichts'...!

After a bit of digging, I eventually found a bit more detail. The schism took place in a secessionist church in the parish of Kilmaurs in Ayrshire.

Mr Smeiton, a burgher minister established at Kilmaurs, thought fit to insist, that in administering the sacrament, it was absolutely necessary that the minister should break a piece of the bread, and hold it in his hand while uttering the prayer of consecration. Mr Smeiton and his brethren differed about this point... The argument was keenly agitated, and terminated in a rupture. Mr Smeiton refused to hold communion with those who did not punctually conform to his opinion; and his brethren passed a sentence of expulsion against him for his obstinacy. He despised the authority by which this was done, and continued to preach. His congregation were divided, and went to law about the property of the meeting-house; but Mr Smeiton was supported by sufficient numbers to enable him to maintain possession. Hence, however, originated a schism; and the parties were distinguished by the name of lifters and anti-lifters. 

(The full story is here in Robert Forsyth's The Beauties of Scotland, published 1805)

The Church of Scotland's various splits, and later reunions, cause some of the biggest problems in Scottish family history research, because of the issues surrounding how to locate the records of the denominations which broke away. The ScotlandsPeople website only hosts the records for the Church of Scotland and the Scottish Roman Catholic Church, but not those for the Free Church of Scotland, United Presbyterians, Associate Session and others, not to mention the non-presbyterian based faiths, whilst FamilySearch has only indexed a small number of the nonconformist records.

If you wish to take your research a wee bit further, my best-selling guide book Discover Scottish Church Records helps to explain the history of the church in Scotland and explores how to locate and use the records of her various denominations. It is available from My History in the UK at www.my-history.co.uk/acatalog/Discover-Scottish-Church-Records-UTP0281.html#SID=876 or in an ebook format at www.gen-ebooks.com/discover-scottish-church-records.html. To obtain copies in Australia and Canada please see the Books section of this blog.

I hope it helps!

Chris


The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Yorkshire Family History Fair's 20th anniversary event

Saturday 27th June 2015 sees the 20th Yorkshire Family History Fair event taking place at The Knavesmire Exhibition Centre, The Racecourse, York, YO23 1EX. The fair takes place from 10am-4.30pm, with tickets at £4.50 for adults and kids under 14s gaining entry for free.

For further details of the vendors in attendance, please visit www.yorkshirefamilyhistoryfair.com.

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Who Do You Think You Are series 12 celebrities announced

The names of those being featured in the twelfth series of Who Do You Think You Are have been announced. They are:

TV presenters Paul Hollywood and Anita Rani, model Jerry Hall, actors Sir Derek Jacobi, Anne Reid, Jane Seymour and Frances de la Tour, choirmaster and broadcaster Gareth Malone, news reporter Frank Gardner, and actor/writer Mark Gatiss (keep an eye out for a visit by Mark to PRONI in Belfast!).

For more on the story visit http://insidemediatrack.com/2015/06/who-do-you-think-you-are-stars-announced/.

(With thanks to Helen Smith via Facebook)

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Lord Belmont in Northern Ireland as a research resource

Regular readers may know that I don't have a lot of time for the fancy dress trappings of the so called 'great and the good' politically, and certainly show no deference to the absurd institution of monarchy or the landed gentry. However, I do appreciate a good resource for historical research concerning them, simply because much of what they did in the past did affect us, particularly in their role of landholders and landlords. There is a great blog on that front for those researching the landed gentry in the north of Ireland, entitled Lord Belmont in Northern Ireland, which can be accessed at http://lordbelmontinnorthernireland.blogspot.co.uk. He's not a genuine lord, it is a spoof title by a blogger called Timothy William, but it does carry some interesting material.

Today, I notice it has a post on Caledon House in County Tyrone. My mother's line, the Grahams, can be traced back, at present, to my three times great grandfather Thomas Graham, who was born about 1820, and for whom I know he had a likely sister called Margaret born in 1809. They settled in Belfast, but the only possible clue that I have on their origins is a vague note from Thomas' youngest grandson Brian, who passed away in 2007, that he believed that the family came from Caledon. It's on my to do list to check for any possible parish and estate records for the area, but the post itself explains about the families of landed gentry that were resident at the estate - a useful resource in terms of knowing for whom I need to start looking for records!

The Caledon post is available at http://lordbelmontinnorthernireland.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/caledon-estate_21.html but do spend the time exploring previous posts - there may well be something of relevance there to your own research.

Incidentally, the site also deals with other parts of the British Isles, as landowners held interest all over the shop, so you'll find material there on Scotland and the Republic of Ireland also.

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Scottish Military Research Group guides

The Scottish Military Research Group (www.spanglefish.com/ScottishMilitaryResearchGroup/index.asp) has a series of superb research guides for research into Scottish soldiers and
units, including the following:

Researching your pre-WW1 ancestors
Researching your First World War ancestors (updated)
Researching Second World War ancestors
Common Military Abbreviations
Scotland and the First World War - A Chronology
Researching military ancestors after 1945

Also now available is a brand new guide entitled Identifying Scottish military units from photographs, and in the near future two new guides are promised: Ranks and Formations and Scottish military regiments and units

To access the free guides please visit http://www.spanglefish.com/ScottishMilitaryResearchGroup/index.asp?pageid=583118

(With thanks to David McNay)

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Durham Records Online additions

The latest additions to Durham Records Online:

Birtley St. Joseph Roman Catholic marriages 1846-1901
539 marriages at St. Joseph Roman Catholic church in Birtley, district of Chester-le-Street, from the start of the first marriage register in November 1846 to the end of the register in April 1901.

Lamesley baptisms & burials 1730-1765, marriages 1689-1764
At Lamesley St. Andrew in Chester-le-Street district:
2,317 baptisms from 1730 to March 1765 inclusive
1,138 marriages from 1689 to the end of 1764
1,690 burials from 1730 to March 1765 inclusive

This is an important data set because Lamesley was never indexed by FamilySearch, so much of this information may be new to many researchers.

Escomb baptisms 1546-1764, burials 1543-1764, marriages 1543-1812
At Escomb St. John in Auckland district:
851 baptisms from the beginning of the first register in 1546 to the end of 1764
578 burials from the beginning of the first register in 1543 to the end of 1764
266 marriages from the beginning of the first register in 1543 to the end of 1812

Ovingham burials 1762-1797
1,751 burials at Ovingham St. Mary the Virgin in the Hexham district of Northumberland, covering 1762-1797

Ovingham baptisms 1769-1789 and 1805-1840
3,891 baptisms at Ovingham St. Mary the Virgin in the Hexham district of Northumberland, covering 1769-1789 and 1805-1840, from the Bishop's Transcript.

Winston marriages 1574-1797
377 marriages at Winston St. Andrew in the district of Teesdale, from the beginning of the first register in June 1574 to the end of 1797. These met up with our existing collection, which previously started in 1798, so we now have marriages here from 1574 to mid-1837.

Petition to release Sunderland men who are prisoners of the Napoleonic Wars
There is a new article in the Local History section: Petition to release Sunderland men who are prisoners of the Napoleonic Wars
Around 16,000 British prisoners of war were confined in France between 1793 and 1815, some for many years. Among them were many sailors from the Sunderland area. Without their income-producing husbands, the wives (and children and even parents) of these men, left behind at home, suffered terrible poverty and deprivation. Desperate, they sent a petition to the Prince Regent, begging him to get the prisoners released, and including a list of the names of the prisoner's dependents and their relationships. For example:

Name
Relationship of prisoner
Years confined in France
Family left

Coming Soon:
Durham St. Oswald burials 1538-1749
Tynemouth burials 1841-1849
Tynemouth baptisms 1833-1849
early Whitworth records
early Hamsterley records
South Shields St. Paul Presbyterian baptisms 1809-1968

(With thanks to Durham Records Online)

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Family history internet taster sessions across Craven

A series of family history internet taster sessions, using Ancestry and FindmyPast, will be taking place in libraries in Craven, North Yorkshire, in early July.

For further details visit http://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/nostalgia/research-your-family-history-1-7311485

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Belfast based Roman Catholic baptism records added to RootsIreland

From RootsIreland (www.rootsireland.ie):

We are pleased to announce the addition of almost 9,000 new Catholic baptismal records! These records from Sacred Heart Belfast, St Mary's Belfast and St Vincent de Paul Belfast cover the years 1890 to 1930.


The records are available on the County Antrim page.

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

UK Press Online site to be redesigned

From newspaper site UK Press Online (www.ukpressonline.co.uk):

UKPressOnline will be launching a new version of the site (planned for the end of June). As a result of this there is a need to restart the existing site services on a relatively frequent basis.

Moving towards a site redesign, there will be some disruption to UKPressOnline's services throughout June 2015.

We will attempt to keep interruptions to the service to a minimum in terms of frequency and duration.

Should you find that UKPressOnline is unavailable at any time please wait for around a minute and try again.

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

The Belfast Blitz - ebook version

News from the Ulster Historical Foundation on Jonathan Bardon's revised book The Belfast Blitz:

The Belfast Blitz – eBook now available
We are pleased to announce that the Foundation’s new publication, The Belfast Blitz by Brian Barton, is now also available as an eBook. Available in ePub and mobi formats, the eBook is priced at only £7.99 (US$ 12.38, AUS$ 16.06, CAN$15.22)

The book is the most wide-ranging, comprehensive and accurate account of the Belfast blitz yet written. Drawing on a rich range of primary and secondary sources it gets closer to the events described than any previous publication. Large numbers of people, including first-hand witnesses, were interviewed, and documentary material was assembled from some thirty archive centres.

Vividly illustrated with almost two hundred original photographs, many previously unpublished, the book also contains for the first time the full list of civilian dead – almost nine hundred names – compiled by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It will thus serve as a timely memorial, on the seventy-fifth anniversary in 2016, of one of the most devastating periods in Belfast’s history.

To access the ebook version visit http://www.booksireland.org.uk/store/all-departments/belfast-blitz-city-war-years

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Scottish Genealogy Society talks programme 2015-16

The Scottish Genealogy Society has announced its forthcoming tralks programme for the 2015-16 'season', commencing with a beginners talk on Scottish genealogy on October 17th.

The full programme is available at www.scotsgenealogy.com.

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Dublin based talk on migration of Irish women to Australia

Details from Eneclann (www.eneclann.ie) of a forthcoming talk at the National Library of Ireland (www.nli.ie):

Expert Workshops
This June we welcome Dr Liz Rushen to the National Library of Ireland as our guest speaker for the Expert Workshop for CPD. Following on from the success of the Australian Seminar in May, Dr Rushen will focus on adventurous Irish women and their migration experience to Australia in the 1830s, Read more here.

Special Guest Speaker
Liz Rushen
“The migration of Irish women to colonial Australia”

Date: Wednesday 17th June.
Time: 3.pm-4.30pm.
Location: National Library of Ireland.

Further information is available at http://www.eneclann.ie/2015/06/expert-workshop-for-cpd-in-june/

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Exhibition - Lifting the Lid: 400 years of food and drink in Scotland

News of a new exhibition from the National Library of Scotland (www.nls.uk):

Lifting the Lid: 400 years of food and drink in Scotland

Using the Library’s rich collections of manuscript and printed recipe books, our new exhibition explores Scotland’s changing relationship with food and drink over the centuries, as part of the Year of Food and Drink 2015.

Lifting the Lid has been designed like the chapters of a modern day cook book with separate sections on soups, oatmeal and bread, fish, meat, vegetables, desserts and baking, jams and preserves.

Each section has a kitchen counter with items displayed and memorable quotes about food and diet appear on chopping boards.

Admission free.
George IV Bridge, Edinburgh

(With thanks to the NLS)

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Ancestry's New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 database updated

Ancestry has a collection on its site that has just been announced as having been updated, but which I had not twigged was there at all. Entitled New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957, it includes records from Castle Garden (1855 to 1890), Ellis Island (1892 to 1954), and other immigrant processing stations used through the years.

I have no idea what the update is, but it seems a good one to flag up, as up to now I have accessed the same records from other dedicated platforms. You can access the database at http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=7488.

Information contained in the index includes:

Given name
Surname
Age
Gender
Arrival date
Port of arrival
Port of departure
Ship name

Full source details are available via the link.

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

TNA Podcast - Fanny and Stella: the young men who shocked Victorian England

The latest podcast from the National Archives in England is entitled Fanny and Stella: the young men who shocked Victorian England, a 41 minute talk from author and journalist Neil McKenna (who initiated the campaign for gay law reform in the Isle of Man and for fighting against Clause 25). It concerns "the gripping story of the trial that shook Victorian England – a tale of cross-dressing, cross-examinations and the invention of camp". The event was recorded on 19 FEB 2015 as part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ) History Month at The National Archives.

Bizarrely, the archive has issued a warning under the description: "Warning: the following material may not be suitable for all listeners." (I guess you'll only find out once you've listened...!)

The podcast can be listened to freely at http://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/fanny-stella-young-men-shocked-victorian-england/ or downloaded for free from iTunes.

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Latest English records releases on FindmyPast

FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has added the following English collections to its site:

• Hue & Cry Index 1797-1810 (newspaper index)
• Surrey, Southwark, St Saviour Poor Relief 1818-1821 (4000 outdoor relief applications)
• 16,000 marriage records for Kent - parishes of Queenborough, Shepherdswell, Ashford, Aldington, Birling, Chart Sutton, Snodland, Ryarsh, Kemsing, Halling and Lower Birling.
• 2,700 records of Banns for Kent - parishes of Birling, Brenchley, Ryarsh, East Sutton, Borden and Lower Halstow.

The PERiodical Source Index (PERSI) has also been updated. Further details are available at http://blog.findmypast.co.uk/fridays/.

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Northern Ireland's PRONI archive uploads Your Family Tree lecture series to YouTube

The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) has added recordings of its recent lecture series entitled Your Family Tree to its dedicated YouTube channel. Details of the talks, with links to each on YouTube, are located at www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/proni-on-youtube/your_family_tree_lecture_series.htm.

The talks were as follows:

Part 1 - Getting Started by Janet Hancock
Part 2 - Using Street Directories by Des McCabe
Part 3 - Using Church Records by Valerie Adams
Part 4 - Tracing World War One Ancestors by Ian Montgomery
Part 5 - Using Education Records by Valerie Adams
Part 6 - Using Workhouse Records by Janet Hancock
Part 7 - Using Valuation Records by William MacAfee
Part 8 - Using Landed Estate Records by Stephen Scarth
Part 9 - Using Court, Prison and Coroners Records by Wesley Geddis
Part 10 - Using the General Register Office by Emma Elliott

The YouTube channel itself is accessible at https://www.youtube.com/user/PRONIonline

(With thanks to Claire Santry)

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Bandon Hill Cemetery records in London added to Deceased Online

From Deceased Online (www.deceasedonline.com):

Deceased Online has added all of the burial records for Bandon Hill Cemetery, Wallington, in the London Borough of Sutton. These records cover 1900 to 2012 and include notable people like the famous composer and musician Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, once called the "African Mahler".

The cemetery is jointly run by the London Boroughs of Sutton and Croydon.

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

British Newspaper Archive approaches 11 million pages

The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) is fast approaching eleven million pages online - it being currently at 10,986,071 as I write - from some 414 hosted newspaper titles from across Britain and Ireland.

Don't forget that my guide book British and Irish Newspapers is available from Unlock the Past, both as a printed book or ebook. For details on how to obtain a copy from the UK, Australia or Canada, please see my books page at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

UPDATE 14 JUN: Now passed 11 million!

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

The Road to Bletchley Park WW1 exhibition - podcast

Bletchley Park has released a new podcast providing a peek into its new exhibition The Road to Bletchley Park, looking at code breaking in the First World War, and the role of the Government Code and Cypher School.

There's also a feature on May Hereford from Ottawa in Canada as she tries to trace more about her mother, Anne Hereford, who worked in the Naval Section at Bletchley Partk, and who passed away when May was only ten.

The podcast is available to hear at www.bletchleypark.org.uk/podcast/904854/The_Road_to_Bletchley_Park.html

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

New Lancashire Family History and Heraldry Society newsletter

The Lancashire Family History and Heraldry Society (www.lfhhs.org) has been in touch to ask if I could give a plug to their new newsletter - more than happy to!

The first newsletter is packed with information for the region, and includes a report on the society's recent conference and AGM, a forthcoming society lunch for its Ribble Valley branch in September, a Heraldic Study Day in October, and further news from branches in Chorley, Bury, Fylde, Lancaster and Morecambe, and more.

To read the newsletter, please visit http://us9.campaign-archive2.com/?u=22b2824acdb8e83c465f3238c&id=70e743c629&e=

(With thanks to Rowan Bridgwood)

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Heading back to Ontario in September

I'm delighted to say that I will be once again returning to Ontario in September for two fantastic genealogy conference events, and having now spent much of today sorting the flights and accommodation out, here's a quick heads up on what I will be getting up to...

For starters, on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th September, I will be speaking at a conference run by the Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society (http://torontofamilyhistory.org). The main event itself will be on Saturday 19th, where an all day workshop will be held, provisionally entitled Irish Genealogy: Focus on Ulster, and I'll be in good company at that with several speakers, including the excellent Dr. William Roulston from the Ulster Historical Foundation (www.ancestryireland.com). Prior to this, however, on Friday 18th, I will also be giving a talk with my Scottish hat on, between 3pm and 5pm. Registration for these events will be opening next month (July), so do keep an eye out on the society's website for further details!

No sooner will I be finished in Toronto than I will be jumping straight onto an evening flight to Ottawa, to get me to the 21st Annual British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO) Family History Conference, where on Sunday 20th I will be giving three Scottish based talks. Details for this conference are already online at http://bifhsgo.ca/aem.php?eid=1, and the three talks I will be giving are as follows:

9.00-10.15 Using Scottish Land Records
10.45-12.00 Scottish Inheritance Records
15.15-16.30 Scottish Marriage: Instantly Buckled for Life


The BIFHSGO conference is in fact a packed three day affair, I'm simply gatecrashing the last day! Please do consult the website for the full brilliant programme that has been lined up, with speakers including Maureen Taylor, Thomas MacEntee, Christine Woodcock, Janet Few, Sher Leetooze, Shirley-Ann Pyefinch, Gloria Tubman, Gail Dever, and Dena Palamedes.

I've spoken to both societies before, and can assure you it's going to be packed with genealogy, it's going to be informative, by Scottish and Irish standards it is going to be warm, and above all, it is going to be fun - I look forward to hopefully seeing a few of you there!

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Latest PRONI forum news from Northern Ireland

I was unfortunately unable to attend last Friday's stakeholders forum at PRONI in Belfast (www.proni.gov.uk), but the team have very kindly sent a copy of the minutes through, and there's a few nuggets that may be of interest.

In terms of the 19th century National Schools grant aid application records (1832-1889) that are currently being digitised, the team are currently working on records for County Down, with County Antrim and one other county soon to be completed also. These will be added to the archive's electronic catalogue when the next version of that goes live. Here's the description from the PRONI catalogue, with the collection held under ED/1: 

In September 1831, the Commissioners of National Education were established to administer a fund of 30,000 per annum placed at the disposal of the Lord Lieutenant for the education of the poor in Ireland. They were empowered to make grants to local schools on condition that part of the required sum was raised locally and in addition they supervised the work of the schools, supplied textbooks and trained teachers. This class of records which bears the PRONI reference number ED/1, consists of 33 volumes of applications made to the Commissioners for grants for building schools, payment of teachers, provision of textbooks, equipment etc. The applications were made on printed questionnaire forms (occasionally accompanied by correspondence), which were filed and bound together in date order and arranged county by county. They cover the period 1832-1889. ED/1/1 to ED1/28, are available on microfilm and bear the reference number MIC/548, Reels 1 to 52. The National Archives in Dublin hold a few unbound applications from Counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh and Meath, as well as a volume of Rejected Applications from Ulster schools for the period 1868-72.

PRONI is currently looking to repeal some rules and regulations in terms of preservation and issue, and to implement a Code of Conduct at the facility, which visitors will need to sign when registering. In addition they are also revising their fees. This will all hopefully go out to a public consultation later this year in September, with a view to any changes being implemented by March/April of next year. A new copyright form is to be issued when you receive a production in the reading room, which needs to be signed upon collection.

In terms of work on collections held, some 91% of the Northern Irish version of the National Identity Register from 1939 has now been indexed, which will greatly assist the archive in processing applications (at the moment this is via Freedom of Information requests, free of charge). The archive is also processing some new acquisitions from the Ulster Orchestra, and is currently cataloguing some 17th century Reformed Presbyterian Church records, records from Killinchy Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church, the Kevin Boyle Papers (D3296) and the major collection of Londonderry papers. An interesting question asked was whether PRONI takes in family trees when it deals with new accessions - the answer interestingly enough is no, because PRONI cannot verify the information supplied.

(With thanks to PRONI)

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Forthcoming death records talk in Romney Marsh

News of a forthcoming talk in Romney Marsh:

Family History Talk by Celia Heritage
Saturday 11 July 3 pm - 4.30 pm
St George's Church, Ivychurch, Romney Marsh TN29 0AL
Entrance free. No booking required
Retiring collection

Raffle and light refreshments Genealogist and author Celia Heritage will be giving a talk in order to raise funds for new visitor facilities (including a toilet and heating) at St George's, Ivychurch. The church is not only a centre of religious worship but also a prime attraction for those interested in the history of Romney Marsh. At present visitor facilities are non-existent and it is hoped that new facilities will not only increase the number of visitors to the church and make their visit more enjoyable, but open up the possibilities for using the church for external events.

The subject of her talk will be Tracing Your Ancestors Through Death Records. Light refreshments and a raffle will be available afterwards and Celia will also be selling copies of the new edition of her book on death records.

A percentage of the book sales profits, as well as the retiring collection, will go towards the fund for the new facilities.

(With thanks to Celia)

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

British Army Muster Books and Pay Lists, 1812-1817 on Ancestry

Ancestry has released another useful British army collection on its site. The collection is the British Army Muster Books and Pay Lists, 1812-1817 located at http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=60546

Sourced from the WO12 records held at the National Archives in England, the records comprise "selected muster books and pay lists of the Cavalry, Foot Guards and regular infantry regiments of the line. Also included are special regiments or corps, colonial troops, various foreign legions and troops, garrison battalions, veteran battalions and depots".

The records may contain the following details:

• name
• start date
• end date
• regiment
• where stationed
• rank
• pay

The Guardian newspaper has a tie in article at http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/jun/05/muster-rolls-pay-lists-offer-different-take-battle-of-waterloo

Note that Ancestry also some exceptionally useful British Army records covering the same period on its worldwide subscription, namely the Canada, British Regimental Registers of Service, 1756-1900 collection of depot registers, searchable at http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=3253. Despite the title, the records are most certainly British - to give an example of how useful they are, read my blog post at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/ancestrys-canadian-british-regimental.html.

PS: Ancestry's UK records collections are free to access from today until Sunday - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/free-access-to-ancestry-records-5-7june.html

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Kent and Cambridgeshire parish records added to FindmyPast

The following English parish register transcriptions have been added to FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk):

Transcripts of 42,000 Kent baptisms added for the parishes of Birling, Halling, Kemsing, Lower Birling, Ryarsh and Snodland, Paddlesworth, Newchurch, Lower Halstow, Brenchley and Ebony.

Transcripts of 30,000 Kent burials added for the parishes of Birling, Halling, Kemsing, Lower Birling, Ryarsh, Snodland, Stowting, Otterden, Newchurch, Ebony and Brenchley.

Transcripts of 6,000 baptisms and 2000 burials added for parish of Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire,

Further details here.

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Twile genealogy based timeline website launches

From new website Twile (www.twile.com):

New Website Lets Family Historians Share What They Find
Twile aims to make Genealogy more engaging for the whole family

Sheffield, UK, June 1, 2015 - Twile (www.twile.com) allows family historians to create rich, visual timelines of their family history, made up of milestones and photos from their ancestors’ lives. Genealogy services, like MyHeritage and Ancestry, focus primarily on providing access to historical records. Twile, on the other hand, helps users get a visualization of the information and easily share it with their family.

“We’ve found there is a family historian in pretty much every family, who gathers as much information as they can about their heritage,” said Twile co-founder, Paul Brooks. “Unfortunately, most of their family will never see any of it, either because it isn’t shared or because it’s hidden away in notes and scanned documents that are difficult for most people to digest.”

Through online surveys and conversations with genealogists, Twile found that most family historians keep their research behind website logins, on their home computer or in physical boxes. They typically share their findings verbally and rarely give access to online or offline files.

Paul said, “There is a real danger that all of the family history that’s been uncovered will be lost, unless it’s shared and someone else continues the work. We’re aiming to give genealogists a place to privately share their family history - a way that will make the younger generations want to explore the history and contribute to it.”

The website is completely free to use, allowing users to build or import their family tree and create a timeline by uploading photos or adding milestones - such as birth, marriage and death - for anyone on the tree. Twile Plus is a premium subscription service and is available for £19.99 per year, giving access to a wider library of milestone types.

About Twile
Twile, based in Sheffield and Manchester UK, was started in 2013 by Paul Brooks and Kelly Marsden. Both with young families, they were looking for a way to give their children a record of their early years and a knowledge of their ancestors. While the website is aimed primarily at family historians, it’s also designed to encourage the rest of the family to add their own, more recent content.

Twile launched as part of the DotForge Accelerator in Sheffield UK and has since been backed by Creative England (who bring capital through the Government’s Regional Growth Fund) and a number of UK angel investors, including Lee Strafford, one of the original co-founders of Plusnet, which was sold to BT Group in 2007.

COMMENT: The site also has a dedciated blog at https://twile.com/blog

(With thanks to Kelly Marsden)

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Free access to Ancestry records 5-7June

From Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk), news of three days free access to UK and Irish records: 

Go on a family journey this weekend
We’re opening up our site from 5‑7 June to give you free access to our entire UK collection. Search more than 1 billion UK records, from as early as the Tudors through to the Industrial Revolution. It’s three days only – so mark your calendars and get ready to explore your family story.

*Access to the records in the featured collections will be free from 5 June at 00:01 until 7 June, 2015 at 23:59 GMT. After the free access period ends, you will only be able to view the records in the featured collections using an Ancestry.co.uk paid membership. To see a full list of the records in the featured collections, please click here.

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.