Who Do You Think You Are? returns June 6th on BBC1

The 15th series of Who Do You Think You Are? returns to BBC1 in England and Northern Ireland at 9pm on June 6th 2018. The first episode will feature actress Michelle Keegan. Here's the synopsis:

Michelle Keegan
Who Do You Think You Are?, Series 15 Episode 1 of 8

Our Girl actress Michelle Keegan uncovers some exceptional women on her family tree. On her mother's side Michelle discovers that her Gibraltarian great-grandmother Leonor had to up sticks when all women and children and the elderly were evacuated from harm's way in Gibraltar to the apparent safety of London during the Second World War, a month before the start of the Blitz.

Further back, Michelle discovers her great-great-grandmother Elizabeth Kirwan living in poverty in Manchester at the start of the 20th century. Michelle unearths a special connection to suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst and her great-great-grandmother's commitment to the cause that put her name on the electoral roll - voting for the very first time in 1918.

Participant - Michelle Keegan
Series Producer - Sarah Feltes
Director - Claire Lewis
Executive Producer - Colette Flight
Production Company - Wall to Wall Media

(Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b625tn)

NB: There's a note on the page stating 'except Scotland, Scotland HD, Wales, Wales HD'. I've managed to find their relevant tx times in these countries, as follows:
 
BBC1 Wales will show it later on Wed June 6th at 11.05pm  
BBC1 Scotland will show it on Thurs June 7th at 9pm

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Virtual Genealogical Society call for proposals

From the Virtual Genealogical Society (www.VirtualGenSoc.com):

Call for Proposals
Deadline for Submission - Friday, August 31, 2018 at 11:59pm Eastern

Notification of Acceptance - before Friday, September 14, 2018 at 11:59pm Eastern (i.e. Eastern Standard Time USA/Canada)
The Virtual Genealogical Society invites engaging and dynamic speakers to submit diverse proposals in all areas of genealogy for our 2019 monthly programs that are broadcast live via GoToWebinar.

Presenters are paid $100 for providing a 50-minute webinar followed by a 10 - minute question-and-answer period, and an accompanying handout. Recorded webinars and handouts are stored behind the VGS member wall for 6 months following the live broadcast.

Presenters may submit a proposal for up to 4 webinars that are relevant to a worldwide audience in a single PDF via email to info@virtualgensoc.com with the following information:
1. Broadcast day preference
(Sunday at 1pm Eastern, Tuesday at 8pm Eastern, or Saturday at 11am Eastern)
2. Webinar title
3. Webinar description
4. Webinar outline
5. Audience level (beginning, intermediate or advanced genealogists)
6. Presenter biography
7. List of presentations given during the last 12 months. List must include presentation date, title, description and audience (society meeting, conference, webinar, etc.)

CHECKLIST:
□ Proposal sent before Friday, August 31, 2018 at 11:59pm Eastern
□ Proposal sent as single PDF emailed to info@virtualgensoc.com
□ No more than 4 webinars included in proposal
□ Webinars are applicable to worldwide audience
□ All requested information (see numbers 1-7 above) included in proposal

Questions about VGS or this Call for Proposals can be sent via email to info@virtualgensoc.com

(With thanks to Christine Woodcock)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Latest FindmyPast additions

Latest releases from FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk):

1939 Register
Over 64,000 additional 'open' records have been added to the 1939 Register. Since the Register was launched, Findmypast has matched more than four million 'closed records' to multiple data sources to correctly confirm the date and location of death for individuals recorded.

Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Case Files Of Chinese Immigrants, 1900-1923 Image Browse
Browse through more than 60,000 images of case files of Chinese immigrants arriving in Philadelphia. These images comprise the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) publication M1144: Case Files of Chinese Immigrants, 1895-1920, from District No. 4 (Philadelphia) of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Records will reveal a combination of your ancestor's name, age, birth place, occupation, ship name and arrival date.

Ireland, British Army Officers 1914-1918
Discover your military ancestor in this index of over 1,500 records obtained through the Our Heroes website. Our Heroes provides photographs and biographical notes of the officers of Irish regiments as well as Irish officers of British regiments who were killed in action or who were mentioned for distinguished conduct between August 1914 and July 1916.

South Lancashire Regiment Prisoners Of War 1914-1918
Discover your South Lancashire Regiment ancestor in this index of over 2,800 prisoners of war from 1914 to 1918. This collection has been obtained through the Warrington Museum & Art Gallery. Additional information about these records can be found on the source's website.

Worcestershire probate index 1600-1858
Over 11,000 additional records have been added to the Worcestershire probate index. There are four types of records in this index: grants of administration, administrations with will annexed, limited (where the entire estate of the deceased is not covered), and wills. The Bishop's Court had jurisdiction over all the probate in the diocese, which covered part of Warwickshire as well as Worcestershire, until 1858.

Further details and links at https://blog.findmypast.co.uk/findmypast-friday-2571907680.html

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Unlock the Past conference in Seattle with Blaine Bettinger and Maurice Gleeson

From Unlock the Past (www.unlockthepast.com.au):

Announcing Unlock the Past in Seattle with Blaine Bettinger and Maurice Gleeson

Adelaide, South Australia, 24 May 2018 – Unlock the Past Cruises announces Unlock the Past in Seattle a full day two stream “land conference” in Seattle, a companion event to our 14th Unlock the Past cruise to Alaska. It is open to all– whether on the cruise or not.

Date & time: Thursday 6 September 2018, 9am-5pm
Venue: Seattle Public Library, 1000 4th Ave, Seattle, WA
Cost: AU$57 (approx US$45, £33, CA$59, NZ$62)

The conference programme will feature 10 presentations in two streams – a DNA stream and an Irish/general stream. There will be an exhibition with supporting/sponsoring partners, plus prizes totaling over AU$1000.

The presenters

• BLAINE BETTINGER (USA) – Blaine is a professional genealogist specialising in DNA evidence. He is the author of the long-running blog The Genetic Genealogist and the books The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy.
• DR MAURICE GLEESON (UK) – Maurice was voted Genetic Genealogist of the Year 2015 (SurnameDNA Journal) and Rockstar Genealogist, Ireland 2016 (Anglo-Celtic Connections). He runs a variety of Y-DNA Surname projects and organises the DNA Lectures at Genetic Genealogy Ireland.
• CYNDI INGLE (USA) – Cyndi is the creator and owner of the award-winning web site Cyndi’s List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet www.cyndislist.com, a categorised index to more than 333,000 online resources. In its first three years, Cyndi’s List was voted the best genealogy site.
• WAYNE SHEPHEARD (Canada) – A retired geologist, Wayne now spends most of his time on
family history research. This has resulted in the pioneering publication Surviving Mother Nature’s tests: The effects climate change and other natural phenomena have had on the lives of our ancestors.

For details and bookings go to www.utpinseattle.com.

The cruise – the 14th Unlock the Past cruise to Alaska departs from Seattle the day after this land
conference. It will offer 40 topics by 18 presenters in three streams during the 7-day cruise to Alaska. There are still places. Why not join us and 150 other cruisers in our group. www.unlockthepastcruises.com/alaska.

About Unlock the Past
Australian based Unlock the Past was established in 2009. It is the event and publishing division of Gould Genealogy & History which has served family and local historians since 1976. It is a collaborative venture involving an international team of expert speakers, writers, organisations and commercial partners to promote history and genealogy through innovative major events and a new publishing brand. It also maintains general and events directories online.

Since 2010 Unlock the Past has run over 130 events, including expos, roadshows, regional seminars, history and genealogy cruises around the world – even Australia’s first ever battlefield tour. They’ve published over 100 guide books and handy guides for researchers, all of them offered in print and ebook editions.

COMMENT: This is going to be a great conference, so sign up quick - plenty to look forward to on the DNA front, Maueice certainly knows his stuff on Ireland, Cyndi is just a hoot and always good fun, and Wayne's talk is the most intriguing topic I've heard in a while. Recommended!

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

FamilySearch adds Devon Bishop's Transcripts indexes

FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org) has added 446,584 indexed records to its existing collection, England, Devon Bishop's Transcripts, 1558-1887. The collection previously existed as a browsable only collection of 93,511 images, with the records originally sourced from Devon Record Office, Exeter, England.

To search the collection, visit https://www.familysearch.org/collection/2515875.

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Family Tree Live - call for papers

From Family Tree magazine (https://www.family-tree.co.uk):

Call for papers

Family Tree Live, being held at Alexandra Palace on 26 and 27 April 2019, will offer family history enthusiasts of all levels the opportunity to attend talks presented by an inspiring and knowledgeable range of experts in their subject.

The lecture programme will cover a full range of family history topics, aimed at different levels of experience, and the Family Tree Live lecture programme organisers invite summaries for the delivery of 30-minute talks. 10 minutes will be allowed for questions at the end of each talk.

Please can you present your submission by supplying the details requested below.

Submissions should be sent to helen.t@family-tree.co.uk and editorial@family-tree.co.uk on or before Friday 17 August 2018.

(With thanks to Helen Tovey)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

History of Women Religious Britain and Ireland conference 2018

The 2018 annual conference for History of Women Religious Britain and Ireland (https://historyofwomenreligious.org/) takes place at the National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway at the Moore Institute on Thursday 7 June and Friday 8 June 2018. The conference will explore the theme of Space, Place and the History of Women Religious across a broad chronological timeframe, from medieval to modern

The full conference programme is available at https://historyofwomenreligious.org/conf_programme/, whilst travel information and a registrationlink can be found at https://historyofwomenreligious.org/annual-conference/registration-and-information-2/. Tickets for the event are directly available at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/history-of-women-religious-of-britain-and-ireland-conference-tickets-44845532194 - priced at €25 (student/unwaged) – €30 (waged). 

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Ancestry adds Victoria, Australia, Birth Index, 1837-1917

Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) has added the following collection for Australia:

Victoria, Australia, Birth Index, 1837-1917
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=61648
Source: Victoria, Australia, Birth Index, 1837-1917. The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

About Victoria, Australia, Birth Index, 1837-1917

This collection contains a birth index for the Australian state of Victoria.

These birth records typically contain the following information:

Name of the child
Father's name
Mother's maiden name
Registration year
Registration number
URL link to the certificate

The following additional information may be found on the original document. Original documents may be ordered from the Victoria Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages by following the purchase link on the record page .

Sex
Date and place of birth
Full names of parents
Occupations of parents
Place of birth and age of parents
Marriage of parents (date and place)
Previous children of relationship (meaning older siblings)
Informant name and address
Witness details (earlier records only)
Registration officer name and signature
Registration date

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

British India directories 1792-1948 added to FindmyPast

The following collections have been added to FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk):

British in India, Directories 1792-1948 Browse
Browse through 75 assorted almanacs that offer a comprehensive view of life in British India. They contain lists of medical staff, veterinary staff, police, civil servants, and engineers working in India, as well as lists of debtors, charity members, and freemasons. You can also discover practical information for living in India, such as gardening calendars and advice for posting parcels and letters.

UK deaths 2007-2016
Search over 2.5 million transcripts to discover relatives who died in the United Kingdom. The collection covers England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, and Jersey and list the individual's name, date of death, and location of death.

1939 Register Map Search
You can now search the 1939 Register by address using our new map search feature. Simply enter the name of the street or location you wish to search to see a list of results for all the households in that area.

Queensland, Trustee files 1889-1929
Explore transcripts of trustee files created under the provisions of wills. This collection comprises trustee files created under the provisions of wills. The original records contain details on a range of topics, such as land ownership, rental properties, fund disbursement, relatives, school fees, and wage lists. The majority of the files included have a 75-year restricted access period.

United States Obituary Notices
Over 2.6 million additional records have been added to our collection of United States Obituary Notices. The entire collection now contains over 8.7 million records.

Further details and links at https://blog.findmypast.co.uk/findmypast-friday-2569709248.html

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

GDPR casualties on the DNA front

From FamilyTreeDNA (www.familytreedna.com):

Dear Valued Ysearch & Mitosearch Members,

On May 24th, 2018, our free, public genetic-genealogy databases, ysearch.org and mitosearch.org, will no longer be accessible as a result of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) going into effect on May 25th.

As the founders of the direct-to-consumer genetic genealogy industry, we did not make this decision lightly. We believe it is necessary given the resources it would take to make both sites GDPR compliant. The current environment regarding DNA privacy as well as recent events in the news, particularly DNA databases being utilized to solve cold cases, were also considerations, but the rigorous requirements of GDPR would have prompted this action irrespective of current events.

User privacy policies across all of the major consumer genetic-genealogy service providers have become a topic of national conversation, and it is our goal to ensure that our privacy policies continue to meet or exceed industry norms.

We encourage you to continue your journey of discovery with us on FamilyTreeDNA, and we thank you for your participation in “citizen science” over the years.

Sincerely,
FamilyTreeDNA

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Recent additions to the British Newspaper Archive

The following has been added to the British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) over the last 30 days:

Penrith Observer
25564 pages
1860-1878, 1880-1895, 1897-1900, 1902, 1908, 1938-1958

Lakes Chronicle and Reporter
10636 pages
1876-1881, 1883-1895, 1898-1910

The Referee
1248 pages
1878-1880

Newcastle Journal
37634 pages
1958-1959, 1961-1967

Music Hall and Theatre Review
11332 pages
1889, 1891-1894, 1897-1899, 1904-1907

English Lakes Visitor
11962 pages
1877-1888, 1890-1892, 1894-1895, 1897-1908, 1910

Tralee Chronicle
3972 pages
1871-1880

Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser
8822 pages
1833-1850, 1852-1855

Cheltenham Examiner
31444 pages
1839-1913

Warrington Guardian
832 pages
1888

Cheltenham Journal and Gloucestershire Fashionable Weekly Gazette
10244 pages
1825, 1827-1868

Luton Reporter
19826 pages
1874-1924

Oxfordshire Telegraph
6796 pages
1860-1871, 1873, 1875-1894

Winsford & Middlewich Guardian
832 pages
1888

Cirencester Times and Cotswold Advertiser
4906 pages
1856-1868, 1870-1871

Stroud News and Gloucestershire Advertiser
18500 pages
1867-1880, 1883-1910

Bridgwater Mercury
424 pages
1876

Wigan Observer and District Advertiser
826 pages
1878

Sligo Champion
5638 pages
1871-1896

Hereford Journal
482 pages
1910

Macclesfield Courier and Herald, Congleton Gazette, Stockport Express, and Cheshire General Advertiser
478 pages
1911

Ballyshannon Herald
4100 pages
1832, 1834, 1837-1840, 1842-1850, 1864-1865, 1871-1873

County Advertiser & Herald for Staffordshire and Worcestershire
19900 pages
1856-1907

Warder and Dublin Weekly Mail
7088 pages
1845-1855, 1873-1877, 1890

Bournemouth Graphic
22168 pages
1902-1920, 1931-1937

Banner of Ulster
9450 pages
1842, 1847, 1851-1852, 1857-1869

Weekly Freeman's Journal
7016 pages
1864-1880

Worthing Gazette
36590 pages
1889-1897, 1899-1958

Eastern Morning News
6066 pages
1889, 1897, 1899

West Sussex Gazette
35668 pages
1853-1891, 1897, 1910, 1912-1958

West Sussex County Times
414 pages
1893

Leamington, Warwick, Kenilworth & District Daily Circular
1732 pages
1896, 1904

Eastern Daily Press
2486 pages
1897

Shields Daily News
3286 pages
1950

Good Morning
3688 pages
1943-1945

Crawley and District Observer
8120 pages
1939-1953

Christchurch Times
14570 pages
1858-1860, 1866, 1878-1911

Forres Elgin and Nairn Gazette, Northern Review and Advertiser
12674 pages
1844-1911

South Wales Daily Post
1240 pages
1898

Leicester Journal
14842 pages
1882-1914, 1916-1920

Glasgow Evening Citizen
1254 pages
1880

Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette
3480 pages
1929

Lloyd's List
4360 pages
1901

Clifton Society
128 pages , updated 25 days ago
1890

Bournemouth Guardian
15528 pages
1883-1891, 1897-1910, 1912-1921

Horsham, Petworth, Midhurst and Steyning Express
7596 pages
1863-1868, 1870-1871, 1873-1896, 1899-1902

Southern Times and Dorset County Herald
25626 pages
1852-1866, 1872-1886, 1890-1896, 1898-1899, 1902-1910

Crewe Guardian
14114 pages
1872-1873, 1877, 1880, 1882, 1885-1886, 1888-1891, 1896, 1899, 1902-1903, 1905-1906, 1910

Votes for Women
2082 pages
1907-1909, 1916

Vote
200 pages
1909

Irish Citizen
1676 pages
1912-1919

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

New look Forces War Records website

From Forces War Records (www.forces-war-records.co.uk):

Forces War Records are pleased to announce the launch of their new look website.

Forces War Records, the website to visit for anyone researching their family’s military history or searching for ancestors through military data are excited to announce that it’s new and refreshed website is now live.

With a fresh new design and feel, the new look website gives users the opportunity to navigate through Forces War Records extensive database of military records, documents, products and services with ease. Delivering a fully responsive experience, the new website gives users a seamless transition from desktop to mobile browsing and improved searchability. Also, there’s a whole host of smaller but impactful changes, all to make your experience of the Forces War Records site that much better for you. Visitors are able to explore the new look site by visiting https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/ Come take a look for yourself. We hope you like the changes, and if you have any feedback, please let us know via our Customer Services, Facebook or Twitter.

About Forces War Records.

Forces War Records (www.forces-war-records.co.uk) is the website to visit for those researching their family’s military history. Specialising only in military history, the genealogy site contains over 10+ million records of individuals who have served from medieval times - right through to the present day. This fascinating site also has a crack team of professional researchers and military experts on hand to personally uncover extra layers of history about long gone forebears. Its mission is to hold the most in-depth, accurate and helpful military records available.

Initial searches are free, but for a subscription costing, at most, £8.95 a month, users have complete, unrestricted access to Forces War Records’ data. Every time a search is made all files are cross-

referenced automatically and every relevant article will appear where a particular ancestor is referenced, maybe even a photo from our historic library archive. Search results can include such information as an individual’s rank, nationality, service number, campaign medals, regiment, battalion, and promotion dates and more. (Please be aware that due to the way we collate and cross-reference our databases, some records will contain more information than that listed)

With the impending World War One Centenary in 2018 marking the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, Forces War Records is sure to be the first port of call for many researching the conflict and their family history.

(With thanks to Neil White)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Launch of The Great Irish Famine Online

The Irish Tánaiste, Simon Coveney TD, has formally launched The Great Irish Famine Online project as part of this year's National Famine Commemoration.

According to the website of University College Cork, the project, located at www.irishfamine.ie/irish-famine-map, "allows users access to interactive maps which facilitates research into the details of how the famine affected people in local areas, down to civil parish and town level. It will enable users to view online the information for any location across the island. People can analyse detailed information charting changes in the social, political and economic landscape of pre and post famine Ireland."

The project is a collaboration between staff at UCC’s Geography Department and the Irish Government's Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. From the website:

The Great Famine was one of the most tragic events in Irish history. The deaths of over 1 million people and the emigration of a further million had a profound and devastating effect on Irish society.

The mapping of the famine at parish level provides us with new ways of seeing the Famine, by revealing the complex local and regional dimensions, which raises questions about the social conditions which prevailed in different localities and the diverse responses in terms of relief. Behind the maps are the stories of individuals and communities and how they fared during this traumatic period.

Direct access to the various pages and maps is available at https://dahg.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=8de2b863f4454cbf93387dacb5cb8412

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

FindmyPast adds Norfolk records for browsing

FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has added the following collections to browse for Norfolk, England:

Norfolk Parish Registers Browse
Browse through original parish registers spanning more than 300 years of Norfolk history. Delve through more than 13,000 pages of baptism, marriage, banns and burial registers covering Church of England across the region.

Norfolk Parish Chest Records 1300-1990 Browse
Explore more than 227,000 parish chest records from Norfolk in a collection spanning six centuries. These records will enable you to browse through account books, apprenticeship registers, vital event records, poor rate books, and much more.

Norfolk Land Tax Assessments 1665-1837 Browse
Browse through over 60,000 assorted tax assessment records for the county of Norfolk. The collection spans the years 1665 to 1837.

The Norfolk Record Office records included in this collection are classified into the following event type categories:

Assessment for ongoing war
Assessment lists for royal aids
Assessment lists for royal aids and window tax assessments
Land & window tax assessments
Land tax assessments
Poll & land tax assessments
Poll tax assessment
Window tax assessments

Norfolk Borough Records 1317-1981 Browse
Browse through more than 58,000 Norfolk borough records from 1317 to 1981. There are 44 different types of record included this collection covering apprentices, freeman, courts, churches, petitions, sessions, poor rates and more.

Norfolk Archdeacon's Transcripts 1600-1812 Image Browse
Explore over 78,000 Archdeacon's transcripts to uncover vital details related to your ancestor's baptism, marriage, and burial.

Further details and relevant links are available at https://blog.findmypast.co.uk/findmypast-friday-may-11th-2567642212.html

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Ancestry adds Cheshire based Church of England records

Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) has added new colelcxtion of interest to those with family from Cheshire:

Cheshire, England, Extracted Church of England Parish Records, 1564-1837
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=61550
Source: "Electronic databases created from various publications of parish records."

About Cheshire, England, Extracted Church of England Parish Records, 1564-1837

This collection comprises historical parish registers from Cheshire, England. The records in this collection range from 1564 to 1837. Parish records--primarily baptisms, marriages, and burials--provide the best source ofvital record information in the centuries before civil registration. All of the data was indexed as it was originally presented in various published registers and books. For this reason, you may find interesting phonetic spellings.

Context

The individual files in this database may not include all dates and records for each parish/church. Use caution in assuming that any database is a complete set of records--even for the parishes and time period listed. Due to the legibility of the original sources, there may be gaps in the records, including partial sentences, cut-off words, and other omissions.

Due to the nature of the records and because the records were originally compiled by a third party, it is difficult to absolutely verify the completeness and validity of the data. The information in this collection is as correct as it was when Ancestry.com received it, and has merely been reproduced in an electronic format.

What historical background should I know to use this data?

A large number of parish records date from the 16th century, when a series of mandates required clergy to compile records of baptisms, marriages, and burials within the parish, and to send an annual copy to the Bishop. Essentially, there are two sets of records: the parish copy and the copy the clergyman sent to the Bishop each year, known as Bishops Transcripts. Many records were destroyed, lost, or simply not kept during the Civil War (1642-60). Of the surviving records, many have since been transcribed and collected by genealogical societies. The records are a valuable resource for finding vital information of people of the time. The content of the records may vary between the two sets.

Cheshire: - Marriage Bonds of Archdeaconry of Cheshire, 1700-06/07 Cheshire: - Marriage Bonds of Archdeaconry of Cheshire, 1707-11 Cheshire: - Marriage Bonds of Archdeaconry of Cheshire, 1711-15 Cheshire: - Marriage Bonds of Archdeaconry of Cheshire, 1715-19 Cheshire: - Marriage Licences granted within the Archdeaconry of Cheshire, 1691-1700

Marriages at Alderley, 1629 to 1837
Marriages at Bosley, 1729 to 1750
Marriages at Capesthorne, 1722 to 1747
Marriages at Chelford, 1674 to 1752
Marriages at Marton, 1563 to 1769
Marriages at Poynton-cum-Worth, 1723 to 1753
Marriages at Siddington, 1722 to 1783
Marriages at Pott Shrigley, 1685 to 1751

Cheshire: Bruera - Parish Register (Christenings, Marriages, Burials & Inhabitants), 1662-1812 Cheshire: Chester - Marriage Licenses Granted within the Archdeaconry of Chester in the Diocese of Chester, 1639-1644
Cheshire: Chester Cathedral - Parish Register (Christenings, Marriages, Burials & Inhabitants), 1687-1812 Cheshire: Overchurch - Register of Upton in Overchurch (Christenings, Marriages & Burials), 1600-1812 Cheshire: Prestbury - Parish Registers (Christenings, Marriages & Burials), 1560-1636

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

DNA wars - 23andMe sues Ancestry

There's an interesting development in the US state of California, with DNA company 23andMe.inc lodging a lawsuit against Ancestry.com for alleged false advertising and patent infringement.

American blogger Dick Eastman has the story at https://blog.eogn.com/2018/05/12/23andme-sues-ancestry-com-over-with-a-patent-suit-concerning-dna-kits/, with an additional more detailed commentary from GenomeWeb at https://www.genomeweb.com/business-news/23andme-sues-ancestry-patent-infringement-misleading-marketing#.Wvnc45ch2Uk.

Certainly one to watch...

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

The Queen of Argyll

Just for the hell of it - enjoy!

(Also available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a77xyGF7Ufo&feature=share)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

English and Welsh 1939 Register now on Ancestry

The 1939 National Identity Register for England and Wales is now available on Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk):

1939 England and Wales Register
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=61596
Source: 1939 Register (Series RG101), The National Archives, Kew, London, England.

About 1939 England and Wales Register

Historical Context

Initially taken due to the onset of war with the purpose of producing National Identity Cards, the register later came to be multi-functional, first as an aid in the use of ration books and later helping officials record the movement of the civilian population over the following decades. The 1939 Register is an extremely important genealogical resource, not only for the rich detail and information recorded for each person and household, but also in helping to bridge a thirty-year gap in census data. The census taken in 1931 was destroyed during the Second World War and no census was carried out in 1941 due to the ongoing conflict. The register, as held by The National Archives, contains data only for England and Wales and does not include records from households in Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Organisation of the Registers

Enumerators collected the data on 29th September 1939. Volumes were organised by place (District or County - see codes below) and then by Enumeration District, represented by a four or five letter code followed by two numbers. These codes were largely based on the 1931 census enumeration units.

Letter Codes for Boroughs and Districts:

RD - Rural District
UD - Urban District
MB - Municipal Borough
CB - County Borough
Met B - Metropolitan Borough

What can I find in these records?

You may be able to find the following information (where available):

Name
Gender
Address
Date of Birth
Marital Status
Occupation
Whether Visitor, Officer, Visitor, Servant, Patient or Inmate
Inferred family members
Other members of the household

Sometimes, you may see extra information on the right-hand side of the image, such as whether an individual had volunteered as an air raid warden. Some records include names crossed out with another name written in an annotation above or at the side, signifying the tracking of the population over time with the addition of women's married names and other name changes over the years.

Redactions

Images have been redacted to protect the privacy of those still alive and we will be annually adding records for those with birth dates over 100 years or if a record of the death has been reported to The National Archives. Images will also be updated to reflect the opening of the record. All indexes have been created from redacted images as provided by The National Archives and as such, some indexes may not include all information as originally recorded, where it is obscured from view.


Chris


For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Introduction to One-Name Studies course starts soon

I've been asked to give the following short Pharos course a plug:

The next Introduction to One-Name Studies course at Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd starts on 15 May 2018. The course is taught online and welcomes students across the globe.

Here are the Lesson Headings:

• About One-Name Studies
• Surnames and their History
• Core Records you will need and Information gathering
• Analysing and making sense of your data
• Practical aspects of running your own One-Name Study

Those who sign up for the course and are not already members of the members Guild of One-Name Studies will get FREE Guild Membership for the remainder of the financial year.

Each lesson includes exercises and activities; a minimum of 1 one-hour chat session per week.

Tutor: Julie Goucher
Course Length: 5 weeks
Start Date: 15 May 2018
Cost: £49.99

To book your place on the course, please visit the Pharos Website (https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=901)

(With thanks to Julie Goucher)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

MyHeritage webinar with Gilad Japhet

From MyHeritage (www.myheritage.com):

MyHeritage's CEO has appeared in a webinar detailing how he originally caught the genealogy “bug” and the journey of how he started MyHeritage and recruited the team. Filled with personal anecdotes, he includes key milestones and learnings along the way including the intriguing story of a 70-year-old mystery that he considers the highlight of his genealogy experiences.

He also explains the background of the Legacy acquisition and highlights new things coming up for Legacy Family Tree, its webinar series and MyHeritage.

Gilad discloses some scoops – including new features that MyHeritage is working on, that will be released later this year.

The webinar can be viewed at https://familytreewebinars.com/download.php?webinar_id=791

(With thanks to Daniel Horowitz)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Tim Ellis departs from National Records of Scotland

After five years at the helm, Tim Ellis has departed from the National Records of Scotland (www.nrscotland.gov.uk), in order to take up a new job with the Scottish Government.  Anne Slater, NRS Director of Operations and Customer Services, has been appointed as the new Acting Chief Executive whilst the search for a successor is put in place.

For more on the story visit https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/news/2018/acting-chief-executive-appointed - and best of luck to both Tim and Anne in their new positions.

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Latest records additions to FindmyPast

New on FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) this week:

England & Wales, Roman Catholic Records
Our unique Catholic Heritage Archive grows again this week with the release of more Roman Catholic records from England and Wales, dating as far back as 1575. Specifically, the collection includes 7 historical Catholic Record Society publications and a list of Roman Catholics from the County of York in 1604.

Staffordshire Registers & Records
This new record collection can help you discover details about the most important events in the lives of your Staffs ancestors. Currently, volumes of parish registers from 23 different county parishes are available to search and browse through.

Lancashire Registers & Records
A variety of historical publications from the Red Rose County are now available to search at Findmypast. Included in the 32-title collection are parish registers, court rolls, local histories and more.

Shropshire Registers & Records
Delve into 58 historical publications from Shropshire to discover more details about your ancestors' lives. Some of the records date as far back as the 14th century.

Queensland, Justices Of The Peace 1857-1957
We've bolstered our Queensland record collection with this list of judicial officers, created by the state's Supreme Court.

Queensland, Register Of Land Sold 1842-1859
Another new collection from Australia's Sunshine State comes in the form of land records from the mid 1800s.

Further details at https://blog.findmypast.co.uk/findmypast-friday-2565583385.html

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Writing Family History Course starts in June

From genealogist Gill Blanchard, a forthcoming creative writing course for family historians:

Writing Family History Course
Tutor: Gill Blanchard
Author and Professional Family Historian
MA. Biography and Creative Non Fiction (UEA)

Module One: 10 Weeks
Start: 16 June 2018

This is a practical writing course spread over a ten week period that guides participants through the process of bringing their ancestors to life. The aim is on producing an entertaining family history that other people want to read. The lessons will focus on enabling students to choose the most suitable format for them, decide what to include and how, and find and add relevant context. The tutor will provide personalised and in-depth feedback on students writing throughout the course.

Students will be encouraged to move beyond a basic ‘John begat William and Jane begat Mary’ chronicle; learn how to integrate relevant social and local history materials and to deal with repetitions, missing pieces and anomalies in their writing.

The course lasts for ten weeks with two weeks between each of the five sets of course materials to allow time for reading, writing, critiquing and feedback. The lessons include writing exercises, focussed guidance, useful tips, writing examples, links to useful resources and background reading. There will be regular live online discussions with the tutor and other students. A dedicated learning hub can be used at any time throughout the course to share work, ask questions and post news.

This course is aimed at those who have completed a body of research into their family history and are ready to start writing.

Week One: Starting Out

When to stop researching.
Format and what to include.
Planning.
Introduction to the Writing Craft.
Introduction to Adding Context.
Writing exercises and feedback.

Week Two: Expanding a Family History Biography

Structuring a family history continued.
Dealing with repetition and anomalies.
Adding background context.
Writing exercises and feedback.

Week Three: Bringing your Family History to Life – Building Background Material

Social and local history context continued.
Creating authenticity.

Week Four: Developing a Family History Further

Focussed work using local histories, biographies, autobiographies, letters, memoirs and oral histories to build context.
Writing exercises and feedback.

Week Five: Introduction to Publishing, Layout and Production and Review

Editing and layout.
Printing and publishing.
Reviewing progress.
Writing exercises and feedback.

To sign up visit
www.writingyourfamilyhistory.co.uk/product=writing-family-history-module-one/?product=writing-family-history-module-one

(With thanks to Gill)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Scottish course - still room for a little 'un!

My next Pharos course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, kicks off for 5 weeks on Monday 7th May 2018 - but we still have room for a little 'un!

For more on the course, see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-course.html

Hopefully see you there!

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Family Tree Live genealogy event announced for April 2019

From Family Tree magazine (https://www.family-tree.co.uk/):

SAVE THE DATE
Family Tree Live is coming!

Taking place on 26th & 27th April 2019 at London’s Alexandra Palace, you can expect two jam-packed days of family history fun for ALL!

The team from Family Tree Live would love you to join them for a brand new UK family history show – two days of lectures, workshops, displays and stands – suitable for all levels of family history experience.

Family Tree Live is brought to you by Family Tree in partnership with the Federation of Family History Societies and will provide visitors with a vast range of learning opportunities under one roof. From traditional lectures, to hands-on workshops, a DNA hub, advice stations, family-friendly activities and more.

Steve Manning, education officer at the Federation of Family History Societies: ‘The Federation is delighted to be supporting Family Tree Live. A national event like this provides visitors with the opportunity to find out about their ancestors wherever they came from, with local knowledge and expertise provided by our family history societies.’

Helen Tovey, editor of Family Tree magazine: ‘There’s nothing like the buzz you get from going to a family history show and our aim is that visitors to Family Tree Live will leave brimming with inspiration, information and ideas about doing their family history. We can’t wait for April 2019!’

To receive the latest show information please sign up to the e-newsletter at www.family-tree.co.uk

To enquire about exhibition space and sponsorship opportunities at Family Tree Live, please contact Sarah Hopton on email: sarah.hopton@warnersgroup.co.uk

If you have any other queries, please email lauren.beharrell@warnersgroup.co.uk

(With thanks to Helen Tovey)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Ancestry adds marriages and deaths for Victoria, Australia

Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) has added two new collections for Victoria, Australia:

Victoria, Australia, Marriage Index, 1837-1950
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=61649
Source: The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

About Victoria, Australia, Marriage Index, 1837-1950

This collection contains a marriage index for the Australian state of Victoria.

These marriage records typically contain the following information:

Name of the bride
Name of the groom
Registration year
Registration number
URL link to the certificate

The following additional information may be found on the original document. Original documents may be ordered from the Victoria Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages by following the purchase link on the record page.

Date and place of marriage
Marriage rites
Bridegroom/Party 1 Usual occupation and residence
Bridegroom/Party 1 Conjugal status
Bridegroom/Party 1 Birthplace and date
Bridegroom/Party 1 Given name(s) and surnames of parents
Bride/Party 2 Usual occupation and residence
Bride/Party 2 Conjugal status
Bride/Party 2 Birthplace and date
Bride/Party 2 Given name(s) and surnames of parents
Signatures of parties
Full names and signatures of witnesses
Celebrant name and signature


Victoria, Australia, Death Index, 1836-1988
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=61650
Source: The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

About Victoria, Australia, Death Index, 1836-1988

This collection contains a death index for the Australian state of Victoria.

These death records typically contain the following information:

Name of the deceased
Father's name
Mother's maiden name
Spouse's name
Registration year
Registration number
URL link to the certificate

The following additional information may be found on the original documents. Original documents may be ordered from the Victoria Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages by following the purchase link on the record page .

Date and place of death
Sex and age
Place of birth
Period of residency in Australia
Place of residence
Usual occupation (rank or profession in earlier records)
Marital status at death
Place of marriage
Age when married
Full name of spouse
Children's names and ages
Full names and occupations of parents
Cause of death and duration of last illness
Name of certifying medical practitioner or coroner
Date and place of disposal (burial, cremation etc)
Funeral Director
Name and religion of minister
Informant's name and address
Informant's relationship to deceased
Registration officer name and signature
Registration date

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre to open in 2019

Scotland is to get its first Jewish Heritage Centre, thanks to a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £296,900.

The centre, a joint initiative between the Scottish Jewish Archives Centre (http://www.sjac.org.uk) and the Garnethill Synagogue Preservation Trust (GSPT), is to be based at Garnethill Synagogue in Glasgow, and will cost about £500,000. Work on the new Centre is to start this month, with the launch and opening scheduled for summer 2019.

For more on the story, visit the SJAC's website at http://www.sjac.org.uk/national-lottery-funding-approved-for-jewish-heritage-centre-at-garnethill-synagogue/.

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

TheGenealogist releases Warwickshire Parish Records

From TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk):

TheGenealogist releases over a million Parish Records

TheGenealogist has added to its Parish Records collections with a second batch of Warwickshire registers in an ongoing project with the Warwickshire County Record Office. These newly transcribed records are linked to high quality images of the original parish register pages.

* Over 1,270,000 individuals added to the Parish Records for Warwickshire
* High quality transcripts with original images of the registers
* Additional information such as Witnesses, Father’s Name and Profession have been transcribed where given
* Released in association with Warwickshire County Record Office
* This brings our total for Warwickshire Parish Records to over two million
* Fully searchable parish records with images enable researchers to find ancestors’ baptisms, marriages and burials

These new records are available as part of the Diamond Subscription at TheGenealogist.

Read TheGenealogist’s article that reveals how a Warwickshire marriage was key to the career of an 18th century tragic actress: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2018/warwickshire-parish-records-reveal-the-marriage-of-an-18th-century-tragedienne-800/

(With thanks to Nick Thorne)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Virtual Genealogical Society launches online

News of a new society:

ANNOUNCING THE VIRTUAL GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

The Virtual Genealogical Society is a global organization serving family history enthusiasts of all levels, geared towards those:

● whose circumstances make it difficult to attend local genealogical society meetings
● who prefer online presentations, special interest groups (SIGs), conferences, and socializing
● with an interest in connecting, networking, and mentoring with global genealogists

The Virtual Genealogical Society began with the recognition that many family history enthusiasts are merging technology and globalization in their genealogical pursuits. We aim to provide a forum for genealogists to connect, network, and mentor with genealogists around the world through monthly meetings online, webinars, social networking, annual conferences, and in-person meet-ups at conferences, institutes and events around the world.

Membership is just $20 per year and provides:

● 24/7 access to Members-Only section of website
● Recorded monthly webinars by nationally-known speakers
● Webinar handouts
● Live chat with featured speakers in members-only Facebook group
● Fillable PDF forms for family history research
● Digitized monthly newsletter
● Eligibility for prizes offered during monthly webinars
● Access to Special Interest Group (SIG) discussions and handout
● Discount on annual virtual conference registration cost
● Eligibility for prizes during annual virtual conference
● Discounts on genealogy software, databases, publications and products
● Members-only Facebook group for networking, mentoring, and socializing

The Virtual Genealogical Society encourages all members to continue joining the genealogical societies in their local area and/or in the area where their ancestors lived. These societies can provide additional benefits that include:

● Access to their local database of records and indexes
● Mentorship from society members with expertise in local records and repositories
● Field trips to area repositories

The Virtual Genealogical Society will be hosting a three-day virtual conference from November 1-3, 2019. Confirmed presenters are listed on our website: http://virtualgensoc.com/

For more information, contact us at info@virtualgensoc.com or visit http://virtualgensoc.com/.

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.