From Deceased Online (www.deceasedonline.com)
New maps identify section of cemetery for each grave
Last week, www.deceasedonline.com launched a new dataset for West Ham Cemetery managed by the London Borough of Newham Council. We apologise that unfortunately the cemetery maps advertised did not go live at that time but we're pleased to advise that they are now available.
Three grave location maps of the cemetery are provided: an overview of the whole cemetery with the section containing the grave identified, and two further levels of enlargement zooming in to the section.
COMMENT: The site has also announced today that next week it will be launching burial records for the first city in North West England. I have the press release which is embargoed until the release date, but well worth keeping an eye out for.
(With thanks to Deceased Online)
Chris
Friday, 3 February 2012
Visit Scotland ancestry guide
Visit Scotland has produced a new ancestry guide at http://surprise.visitscotland.com/pdf/Ancestry%20Guide.pdf. It's pretty to look at, but very basic, with only ten repositories listed.
(With thanks to @ScotlandsPeople)
Chris
(With thanks to @ScotlandsPeople)
Chris
Law Society to examine historic legal documents
From the Law Society (www.lawsociety.org.uk):
Legal documents in Law Society archives uncover historical secrets
Historical legal documents, some dating back to the 17th Century, are being examined by experts at the Law Society in a nationwide project.
The documents, kept in storage by the Law Society until now, are passed on from solicitors firms that no longer operate or exist. It is not always possible to repatriate these documents and they cannot be destroyed for legal reasons.
Approximately 27,000 boxes are being examined by archiving experts for historical importance. Contents range from property deeds and wills, which are hand written on vellum and stamped with the wax seal of Charles II, to personal diaries of society ladies from the early 19th Century.
These were originally stored in the solicitor’s offices but were never claimed by the clients.
This is a joint project with the Law Society and the SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority).
As well as finding historical gems, the archivists also hope to repatriate some of the contents with any remaining legal owners- such as descendents of the original owners.
The Law Society and the SRA are now working with the Records Preservation Section of the British Records Association in order to sort out the documents of interest and loan them to public archives.
Law Society chief executive Desmond Hudson said this is a fascinating project, which offers a great insight into Britain's legal history.
"We know the Law Society archivists and the volunteers from the British Records Association have a mammoth task on their hands. Everything from jewellery to wills are stored in the archives and we hope, and assume, many documents of great public interest and historical relevance."
“We are keen to hand over these documents to public archives to make sure that they are preserved and available to whoever needs them.”
Any documents will be deposited with the appropriate regional archives on the basis that we would be able to retrieve them should the owner come forward and ask for them.
(With thanks to Rebecca Kiernan at the Law Society)
Chris
Legal documents in Law Society archives uncover historical secrets
Historical legal documents, some dating back to the 17th Century, are being examined by experts at the Law Society in a nationwide project.
The documents, kept in storage by the Law Society until now, are passed on from solicitors firms that no longer operate or exist. It is not always possible to repatriate these documents and they cannot be destroyed for legal reasons.
Approximately 27,000 boxes are being examined by archiving experts for historical importance. Contents range from property deeds and wills, which are hand written on vellum and stamped with the wax seal of Charles II, to personal diaries of society ladies from the early 19th Century.
These were originally stored in the solicitor’s offices but were never claimed by the clients.
This is a joint project with the Law Society and the SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority).
As well as finding historical gems, the archivists also hope to repatriate some of the contents with any remaining legal owners- such as descendents of the original owners.
The Law Society and the SRA are now working with the Records Preservation Section of the British Records Association in order to sort out the documents of interest and loan them to public archives.
Law Society chief executive Desmond Hudson said this is a fascinating project, which offers a great insight into Britain's legal history.
"We know the Law Society archivists and the volunteers from the British Records Association have a mammoth task on their hands. Everything from jewellery to wills are stored in the archives and we hope, and assume, many documents of great public interest and historical relevance."
“We are keen to hand over these documents to public archives to make sure that they are preserved and available to whoever needs them.”
Any documents will be deposited with the appropriate regional archives on the basis that we would be able to retrieve them should the owner come forward and ask for them.
(With thanks to Rebecca Kiernan at the Law Society)
Chris
Surrey History Centre - introductory video
Thanks to Rosemary Morgan (@rosemarymorgan)for flagging up a new introductory video to Surrey History Centre (www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk) which provides a guide to the facility. You can view the video at www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/shc_video.
Chris
Chris
Brightsolid goes for the US market
Brightsolid (www.brightsolid.com) has confirmed the news I reported last Saturday (see http://britishgenes.blogspot.com/2012/01/brightsolids-new-baby-censusrecords.html) that it is to launch a new website in the United States called CensusRecords.com (www.censusrecords.com). The full announcement is at www.brightsolid.com/home/latest-news/recent-news/brightsolid-enters-us-genealogy-market.html.
Several tweeters at the Utah based Rootstech (www.rootstech.org) conference, including Audrey Collins (@AudreyCollins23) and Nick Barratt (@familyhistorysh), have also confirmed that at yesterday's event the company announced it would be launching a drive into the US version of FindmyPast, using the old British domain name of www.findmypast.com. The company plans to release a searchable index of the US 1940 Federal Census soon, a project it is working on in collaboration with FamilySearch and Archives.com.
(With thanks to all for the updates)
Chris
Several tweeters at the Utah based Rootstech (www.rootstech.org) conference, including Audrey Collins (@AudreyCollins23) and Nick Barratt (@familyhistorysh), have also confirmed that at yesterday's event the company announced it would be launching a drive into the US version of FindmyPast, using the old British domain name of www.findmypast.com. The company plans to release a searchable index of the US 1940 Federal Census soon, a project it is working on in collaboration with FamilySearch and Archives.com.
(With thanks to all for the updates)
Chris
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Glasgow Genealogy Centre - update
I reported a few days ago that the Glasgow Genealogy Centre (www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/BirthDeathMarriage_Citizenship/GenealogyCentre/) now has access to the ScotlandsPeople Centre's computer system, as opposed to the old DIGROS system. I'm just back from the Mitchell Library and have spent the day using it, so a quick report.
The first thing to note is that the records available on the system are the same as those available in Edinburgh - statutory BMD records from 1855, divorce records from 1984, civil partnership records from 2005, testaments, heraldic records, Church of Scotland OPRs from 1553-1854 and the censuses from 1841-1911. The centre's computer monitors are widescreen, so the display is slightly different to Edinburgh, with images stretched out a bit more horizontally, but all perfectly legible.
There are two key differences though. The ScotlandsPeople Centre computer system in Edinburgh allows access to the internet, in the way that Glasgow's does not. Edinburgh also has a more fully fledged version of the website carrying details of additional materials available at its centre - monumental inscriptions, books in the library, useful websites etc - which is absent in Glasgow. Much of this is available on the publicly available version of the website at www.scotlandspeoplehub.gov.uk - but as I said, you can't get internet access from the Glasgow terminals!
The Glasgow Genealogy Centre is based on the third floor of the Mitchell, but you can just about pick up WiFi access from the floor above (albeit not with the strongest of signals) - I was able to use my laptop to access some additional materials that came in handy during my research trawl. You do need to have a Mitchell Library readers card though to access the WiFi connection. Alternatively, there are a series of terminals adjacent to the Glasgow Genealogy Centre area (within the same room - it's partitioned in half, two different council departments offering genealogy resources, love it!), where you can access many family history websites.
Just to add, the system has only just been installed, and although I had absolutely no problems with my terminal, a couple of other people did, and it was interesting to watch a few people play musical chairs throughout the day each time a terminal failed in some way! I suspect these are only teething problems which should be hammered out soon.
Is there anything I don't like about the set up? Just one - if your screen goes idle for a few minutes, for example if you consult your laptop to check on something, you have to log back into the system, and if you previously had a record open, you have to go looking for it again. A minor grumble for something that caught me out a couple of times!
The ScotlandsPeople Centre in Edinburgh is absolutely brilliant, but if your roots are firmly in the west of Scotland, you will almost certainly be better off doing your research in Glasgow. Glasgow City Archives is just one floor down, and has many nonconformist registers, poor relief records, trade incorporation records, directories and much more relevant to the west of Scotland. The third floor also has many OPR and census microfilms for most key towns and cities in the country also, as well as English and Welsh fiche indexes to BMDs from 1837 etc.
Although not officially labelled as such, and essentially run by different parties, we now have two superb ScotlandsPeople centres in the country. Glasgow and Edinburgh are sorted, but Scotland is a mighty big country - hopefully other centres will gain access soon also, and truly make the ScotlandsPeople system available to all of Scotland's people...
PS: Just to add, as well as bringing you lots of lovely free news, with my other hat on I work as a family historian - details on my services are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk...!
Chris
The first thing to note is that the records available on the system are the same as those available in Edinburgh - statutory BMD records from 1855, divorce records from 1984, civil partnership records from 2005, testaments, heraldic records, Church of Scotland OPRs from 1553-1854 and the censuses from 1841-1911. The centre's computer monitors are widescreen, so the display is slightly different to Edinburgh, with images stretched out a bit more horizontally, but all perfectly legible.
There are two key differences though. The ScotlandsPeople Centre computer system in Edinburgh allows access to the internet, in the way that Glasgow's does not. Edinburgh also has a more fully fledged version of the website carrying details of additional materials available at its centre - monumental inscriptions, books in the library, useful websites etc - which is absent in Glasgow. Much of this is available on the publicly available version of the website at www.scotlandspeoplehub.gov.uk - but as I said, you can't get internet access from the Glasgow terminals!The Glasgow Genealogy Centre is based on the third floor of the Mitchell, but you can just about pick up WiFi access from the floor above (albeit not with the strongest of signals) - I was able to use my laptop to access some additional materials that came in handy during my research trawl. You do need to have a Mitchell Library readers card though to access the WiFi connection. Alternatively, there are a series of terminals adjacent to the Glasgow Genealogy Centre area (within the same room - it's partitioned in half, two different council departments offering genealogy resources, love it!), where you can access many family history websites.
Just to add, the system has only just been installed, and although I had absolutely no problems with my terminal, a couple of other people did, and it was interesting to watch a few people play musical chairs throughout the day each time a terminal failed in some way! I suspect these are only teething problems which should be hammered out soon.
Is there anything I don't like about the set up? Just one - if your screen goes idle for a few minutes, for example if you consult your laptop to check on something, you have to log back into the system, and if you previously had a record open, you have to go looking for it again. A minor grumble for something that caught me out a couple of times!
The ScotlandsPeople Centre in Edinburgh is absolutely brilliant, but if your roots are firmly in the west of Scotland, you will almost certainly be better off doing your research in Glasgow. Glasgow City Archives is just one floor down, and has many nonconformist registers, poor relief records, trade incorporation records, directories and much more relevant to the west of Scotland. The third floor also has many OPR and census microfilms for most key towns and cities in the country also, as well as English and Welsh fiche indexes to BMDs from 1837 etc.
Although not officially labelled as such, and essentially run by different parties, we now have two superb ScotlandsPeople centres in the country. Glasgow and Edinburgh are sorted, but Scotland is a mighty big country - hopefully other centres will gain access soon also, and truly make the ScotlandsPeople system available to all of Scotland's people...
PS: Just to add, as well as bringing you lots of lovely free news, with my other hat on I work as a family historian - details on my services are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk...!
Chris
1911 census discount extension
From 1911census.co.uk, an extension to their discount offer:
Until 1 March, view a 1911 census original image for 10 credits (previously 30) and a transcript for 5 credits (previously 10). This is the perfect time to gather the crucial information the 1911 census holds to enhance your family history research.
(With thanks to 1911census.co.uk)
Chris
Until 1 March, view a 1911 census original image for 10 credits (previously 30) and a transcript for 5 credits (previously 10). This is the perfect time to gather the crucial information the 1911 census holds to enhance your family history research.
(With thanks to 1911census.co.uk)
Chris
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Wirral Archives Service - Saturday closures
Thanks to Beryl Evans of the Federation of Family History Societies (www.ffhs.org.uk) for passing on the following note from William Meredith of Wirral Archive Services (www.wirral.gov.uk/my-services/leisure-and-culture/wirral-archives-service).
Wirral Archives Service is altering its opening hours - from the beginning of March we will no longer be open on Saturdays. This change has been made to increase the number of staff available to the service during the week. The last Saturday we will be open will therefore be 25 February 2012.
Chris
Wirral Archives Service is altering its opening hours - from the beginning of March we will no longer be open on Saturdays. This change has been made to increase the number of staff available to the service during the week. The last Saturday we will be open will therefore be 25 February 2012.
Chris
FTDNA accepts 23andMe data
Family Tree DNA (www.familytreedna.com) is now accepting results from rival DNA site 23andMe - for more details see the Your Genetic Genealogist blog post at www.yourgeneticgenealogist.com/2012/01/family-tree-dna-now-accepting-23andme.html.
(With thanks to @debbiekennett and @CeCeLMoore on Twitter)
Chris
(With thanks to @debbiekennett and @CeCeLMoore on Twitter)
Chris
Thames Watermen records online
FindmyPast's latest release at www.findmypast.co.uk:
FINDMYPAST.CO.UK PUBLISHES THAMES WATERMEN AND LIGHTERMEN RECORDS ONLINE
Today leading UK family history website findmypast.co.uk has published online for the very first time just under 100,000 records of Thames watermen and lightermen, spanning the years 1688 to 1949.
Watermen were highly skilled boatmen who carried passengers up and down and across the Thames in row boats, steam boats, sailing boats and vessels. Lightermen worked on cargo boats rather than passenger vessels.
The collection comprises the following records:
The Thames is the only river in the United Kingdom that Parliament regulates for the training and apprenticeship of young men to the trade of watermen and lightermen. Originally boys were bound to a master (or mistress, who was normally the widow of a freeman) for one year. During the 19th century, however, the apprenticeship period was altered so the boy served between five and seven years, completing his apprenticeship at the age of 21.
Amy Sell of findmypast.co.uk said: "We often get asked about researching Thames watermen ancestors, so it's very exciting that these records are now available for anyone to search online for the first time. There's a rumour that one of my own ancestors won the Doggett Coat & Badge race, so I can't wait to take a look. And if you find one waterman or lighterman in your family tree, it's likely that you'll find more, as this tended to be an occupation that ran in families."
The 99,140 new records can be searched from the Education & work area at findmypast.co.uk. They form part of the Thames-side and Medway collection, which also contains parish baptism, marriage and burial records for the region.
(With thanks to Debra Chatfield at FindmyPast)
Chris
FINDMYPAST.CO.UK PUBLISHES THAMES WATERMEN AND LIGHTERMEN RECORDS ONLINE
Today leading UK family history website findmypast.co.uk has published online for the very first time just under 100,000 records of Thames watermen and lightermen, spanning the years 1688 to 1949.
Watermen were highly skilled boatmen who carried passengers up and down and across the Thames in row boats, steam boats, sailing boats and vessels. Lightermen worked on cargo boats rather than passenger vessels.
The collection comprises the following records:
- names of competitors and those eligible to compete in the Doggett Coat & Badge Hanover prize race 1715-2010 - including details of where they were from, the date of the race and their position in the race. This is the oldest annual sporting event in the world and first took place on 1 August 1715 between London Bridge and Chelsea. The records give the name of every known competitor, including those who were unsuccessful in the drawing of lots at Watermen's Hall or the trials held at Putney. Corporation of Trinity House licences issued to ex-mariners to ply their trade as Thames Watermen between the dates 1829 and 1864 , giving the date and their age when the licence was issued;
- Company of Watermen & Lightermen of River Thames Binding records 1692-1949 (apprenticeship records);
- a register of contract licences for over aged boys 1865-1926;
- binding dates and birth proof affidavits 1898-1949;
- reassignments 1698-1908: a list of apprentices who were reassigned from one master to another, with information about both the masters and the apprentices.
The Thames is the only river in the United Kingdom that Parliament regulates for the training and apprenticeship of young men to the trade of watermen and lightermen. Originally boys were bound to a master (or mistress, who was normally the widow of a freeman) for one year. During the 19th century, however, the apprenticeship period was altered so the boy served between five and seven years, completing his apprenticeship at the age of 21.
Amy Sell of findmypast.co.uk said: "We often get asked about researching Thames watermen ancestors, so it's very exciting that these records are now available for anyone to search online for the first time. There's a rumour that one of my own ancestors won the Doggett Coat & Badge race, so I can't wait to take a look. And if you find one waterman or lighterman in your family tree, it's likely that you'll find more, as this tended to be an occupation that ran in families."
The 99,140 new records can be searched from the Education & work area at findmypast.co.uk. They form part of the Thames-side and Medway collection, which also contains parish baptism, marriage and burial records for the region.
(With thanks to Debra Chatfield at FindmyPast)
Chris
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