The latest newsletter on the Victoria County Histories is now available at www.victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk/publications-projects/newsletters - it includes news of a forthcoming conference from the Institute of Historical research entitled The Great War At Home, scheduled for July 2nd - 4th 2014, and various new developments with the VCH itself, including a new published volume for Staffordshire.
Also of note "Those volumes of the Victoria County History which are already online (on British History Online) are now available for searching on Connected Histories (www.connectedhistories.org)." Not sure if this is a new development or not, but worth flagging up anyway!
(With thanks to @VCH_London)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Friday, 5 July 2013
Paisley Abbey 850th anniversary conference
Paisley Abbey celebrates 850 years this year, and a conference on its history is to be held September 7th 2013 as part of the commemoration. Full details are available at http://rlhf.info/activities/conferences/.
(With thanks to Alison Spring)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
(With thanks to Alison Spring)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
July CWGC newsletter out
The July newsletter from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (www.cwgc.org) is out and contains info on the WW1 centenary commemorations and the restoration of the Helles memorial at Gallipoli. Full details at www.cwgc.org/media/120715/newsletters-wizontheweb-co-uk_1_.pdf.
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Electric Scotland latest
The latest Electric Scotland newsletter is out, and amongst the new additions is a book entitled Sketches of Tranent in the Olden Times. Full details at www.electricscotland.org/showthread.php/4023-Newsletter-5th-July-2013
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Bomber Command Ruhr Offensive records online
From Forces War Records (www.forces-war-records.co.uk):
Forces War Records Make ‘Bomber Command Ruhr Offensive’ Available as Fully Searchable Database
The ‘Bomber Command Ruhr Offensive, March –July 1943’ has just been made available as a fully searchable database by leading military genealogy website Forces War Records.
During World War II in 1943, RAF Bomber Command began a five-month strategic campaign of night bombing against the Ruhr – the industrial heartland of Nazi Germany.
The Bomber Command aircrew members who were responsible for this vital task of attacking Germany’s airbases, troops, shipping, communications and industries had an average age of 22. Some were no older than 18, yet they faced some of the most terrifying fighting conditions of WWII.
With the heaviest casualty rate of any British unit in the conflict almost half of those serving with Bomber Command died - many killed by night fighters and anti-aircraft fire in raids over occupied Europe.
This interesting data set recently transcribed by Forces War Records, contains the details of those who flew, were shot down, evaded capture, or lost their lives during the incredibly dangerous Bomber Command missions.
Did any of your relatives serve in Bomber Command? You can now search the Bomber Command Ruhr Offensive war records by name, rank, aircraft, squadron, date range of mission, serial number and fate of aircraft.
Forces War Records are constantly evolving and adding lots of new records and features to the military genealogy website, which could mean brand new insight for you.
Another useful thing we've recently added to the site is the option to import your existing family tree at the click of a button with your GEDCOM genealogy software files. GEDCOM files contain genealogical information about individuals that can be linked together, imported and exported. Use this new family tree feature and take advantage of the company’s extensive record collection – let Forces War Records help you fill in the missing pieces to your genealogy research.
You can also interact with Forces War Records online - we have a daily blog and social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ where you can keep up to date with all the latest military genealogy news and war features. Engage with us and comment on the hot topics we cover and message us with your own stories - we love to hear about your personal military genealogy discoveries.
NB: Full sources description for the material is available at http://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/Collections/Info/60/Bomber-Command-Ruhr-Offensive-March-%E2%80%93July-1943
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Forces War Records Make ‘Bomber Command Ruhr Offensive’ Available as Fully Searchable Database
The ‘Bomber Command Ruhr Offensive, March –July 1943’ has just been made available as a fully searchable database by leading military genealogy website Forces War Records.
During World War II in 1943, RAF Bomber Command began a five-month strategic campaign of night bombing against the Ruhr – the industrial heartland of Nazi Germany.
The Bomber Command aircrew members who were responsible for this vital task of attacking Germany’s airbases, troops, shipping, communications and industries had an average age of 22. Some were no older than 18, yet they faced some of the most terrifying fighting conditions of WWII.
With the heaviest casualty rate of any British unit in the conflict almost half of those serving with Bomber Command died - many killed by night fighters and anti-aircraft fire in raids over occupied Europe.
This interesting data set recently transcribed by Forces War Records, contains the details of those who flew, were shot down, evaded capture, or lost their lives during the incredibly dangerous Bomber Command missions.
Did any of your relatives serve in Bomber Command? You can now search the Bomber Command Ruhr Offensive war records by name, rank, aircraft, squadron, date range of mission, serial number and fate of aircraft.
Forces War Records are constantly evolving and adding lots of new records and features to the military genealogy website, which could mean brand new insight for you.
Another useful thing we've recently added to the site is the option to import your existing family tree at the click of a button with your GEDCOM genealogy software files. GEDCOM files contain genealogical information about individuals that can be linked together, imported and exported. Use this new family tree feature and take advantage of the company’s extensive record collection – let Forces War Records help you fill in the missing pieces to your genealogy research.
You can also interact with Forces War Records online - we have a daily blog and social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ where you can keep up to date with all the latest military genealogy news and war features. Engage with us and comment on the hot topics we cover and message us with your own stories - we love to hear about your personal military genealogy discoveries.
NB: Full sources description for the material is available at http://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/Collections/Info/60/Bomber-Command-Ruhr-Offensive-March-%E2%80%93July-1943
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Thursday, 4 July 2013
Remember Old Cardiff Facebook page
The Wales Online website has an interesting feature about a photographic nostalgia project on Cardiff - read Martin Wells interview with Evelyn Clarke, from the Remember Old Cardiff Facebook project, at www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/remember-old-cardiff-nostalgia-pictures-4871168
The project itself is accessible at www.facebook.com/RememberOldCardiff.
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
The project itself is accessible at www.facebook.com/RememberOldCardiff.
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
National Archives of Ireland - readers tickets instructions
The National Archives of Ireland has updated its directions for those wishing to obtain a reader's ticket to visit the institution - the new advice is accessible at www.nationalarchives.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Reader-Tickets.pdf
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Forthcoming talks at the National Library of Ireland
Forthcoming talks at the National Library of Ireland (www.nli.ie):
Ireland's Quakers and their records
Tuesday 9 July at 1pm
Christopher Moriarty is Curator at the Dublin Quaker Library. If you have Friends anywhere in your family tree, then this is the talk for you...
Is there a Doctor in your house?
Thursday 11 July at 1pm
Harriet Wheelock is Archivist of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, and will be talking about family history records at the RCPI on Kildare Street.
The Valuation Office
Tuesday 16 July at 1pm
Genealogist Maeve Mullin on resources available to family history researchers at the Valuation Office.
Crowdsourcing your Family Tree
Tuesday 23 July at 1pm
Genealogist Claire Bradley is active in the online genealogical community. Claire will talk about how social media can help you trace your ancestry.
Ireland's History carved in stone
Thursday 25 July at 1pm
Mervyn Colville is Deputy CEO of Glasnevin Cemetery Museum which looks after the stories of over 1.5 million people.
Further details available via the latest NLI newsletter at http://nli.circulator.com/Content.aspx?ID=43702&q=2UJ891v8QOL68+R+cgI4xhpuAKqr0WB1GHfkX03nANjl5sY94PCXTPawepDeDuwgBufrVjpsWT/t/O+CgW8VMw==&s=1WAcRFXll3Rnfks1VdwNxw==
(With thanks to the NLI)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Ireland's Quakers and their records
Tuesday 9 July at 1pm
Christopher Moriarty is Curator at the Dublin Quaker Library. If you have Friends anywhere in your family tree, then this is the talk for you...
Is there a Doctor in your house?
Thursday 11 July at 1pm
Harriet Wheelock is Archivist of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, and will be talking about family history records at the RCPI on Kildare Street.
The Valuation Office
Tuesday 16 July at 1pm
Genealogist Maeve Mullin on resources available to family history researchers at the Valuation Office.
Crowdsourcing your Family Tree
Tuesday 23 July at 1pm
Genealogist Claire Bradley is active in the online genealogical community. Claire will talk about how social media can help you trace your ancestry.
Ireland's History carved in stone
Thursday 25 July at 1pm
Mervyn Colville is Deputy CEO of Glasnevin Cemetery Museum which looks after the stories of over 1.5 million people.
Further details available via the latest NLI newsletter at http://nli.circulator.com/Content.aspx?ID=43702&q=2UJ891v8QOL68+R+cgI4xhpuAKqr0WB1GHfkX03nANjl5sY94PCXTPawepDeDuwgBufrVjpsWT/t/O+CgW8VMw==&s=1WAcRFXll3Rnfks1VdwNxw==
(With thanks to the NLI)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
More titles added to Welsh Newspapers Online
The National Library of Wales recently has added six new titles to its free to access Welsh Newspapers Online website at http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/home.
The new titles are:
(With thanks to Elin Williams)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
The new titles are:
- Cambrian News 1860 -1910
- Cambrian 1804-1910
- Cardiff Times 1858 - 1910
- Monmouthshire Merlin 1829 - 1884
- South Wales Daily Post 1893 -1900
- Weekly Mail 1879-1910
(With thanks to Elin Williams)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
TheGenealogist adds railway workers database
From TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk):
Did your ancestor work on Britain’s historic Railways?
It used to be every young boy’s dream to be a steam engine driver and many joined the Railways to achieve their dream or be a part of this exciting, fast developing industry.
Railway mania swept Britain in the 1800s as this new form of transport was developed. The latest records now available on TheGenealogist encompass nearly 1.5 million railway workers, with exact details on their job role and their date of birth. From station master to train guard, they’re all listed in the Railway records.
It’s the first time you can search all the railway workers in one online resource, allowing family historians to find their ancestors in what became one of Britain’s biggest growth industries of the 1800s.
Covering all levels of employment on the railways
The new records encompass all levels of railway worker from train driver, guard, signaller, office staff to labourers, literally anyone who worked on the railways in England and Wales.
The records are all fully searchable using the ‘SmartSearch’ features on TheGenealogist making it easy to find the records of your ancestors. It’s now possible to search by employer, by job title, by date of birth and by county to track down your railway ancestor. The keyword filtering option is particularly useful for narrowing down you search to specific job titles.
Head of Online Content at TheGenealogist, Mark Bayley comments: “The new railway records are a unique way to trace your ancestors from their occupation. Finding your ancestor here gives you a snapshot into how they lived and worked. If they were a highly respected engine driver or made a career in a support role, they were all part of an incredible time of change and development in Britain.”
COMMENT: I've just carried out a test search using the name John Smith (always works!), and in the first result returned I find a John Smith, who was a 25 year old 'labourer on railway', born 1816 and located at Snelson, Macclesfield, Cheshire. Useful as this may be, I can't see any information whatsoever on the return, the site, or within the press release, as to the actual source for this information, which is equally crucial for genealogists. I've emailed to ask for this, and will hopefully update accordingly. From what I can gather, this collection applies only to England and Wales.
(With thanks to David Osborne)
UPDATE: I've received the following on the source matter...
"The new Railway Workers Collection contains records from a number of different sources and various record sets, including TNA Cornish Railway Worker records, railway magazines, pension records, occupational and staff records and is part of a growing major collection on TheGenealogist which will expand extensively over the coming months. The new railway records will be available through our 'master search' by the weekend. It's currently available through our Occupational Records section."
I'm not a hundred per cent sure that that qualifies well enough for most genealogists I know looking to cite material in a client report! I have sent another message asking for further clarification - which archives are the records sourced from (is it TNA?), what accession numbers for the individual collections in question, what years for coverage, etc?
UPDATE 6/7/2013: Thanks to Nigel Bayley, managing director of The Genealogist, who has informed me that this is an early release from a collection that will become much bigger in the next few weeks and months, and that the source information will be made available in due course for the records contained within.
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Did your ancestor work on Britain’s historic Railways?
It used to be every young boy’s dream to be a steam engine driver and many joined the Railways to achieve their dream or be a part of this exciting, fast developing industry.
Railway mania swept Britain in the 1800s as this new form of transport was developed. The latest records now available on TheGenealogist encompass nearly 1.5 million railway workers, with exact details on their job role and their date of birth. From station master to train guard, they’re all listed in the Railway records.
It’s the first time you can search all the railway workers in one online resource, allowing family historians to find their ancestors in what became one of Britain’s biggest growth industries of the 1800s.
Covering all levels of employment on the railways
The new records encompass all levels of railway worker from train driver, guard, signaller, office staff to labourers, literally anyone who worked on the railways in England and Wales.
The records are all fully searchable using the ‘SmartSearch’ features on TheGenealogist making it easy to find the records of your ancestors. It’s now possible to search by employer, by job title, by date of birth and by county to track down your railway ancestor. The keyword filtering option is particularly useful for narrowing down you search to specific job titles.
Head of Online Content at TheGenealogist, Mark Bayley comments: “The new railway records are a unique way to trace your ancestors from their occupation. Finding your ancestor here gives you a snapshot into how they lived and worked. If they were a highly respected engine driver or made a career in a support role, they were all part of an incredible time of change and development in Britain.”
COMMENT: I've just carried out a test search using the name John Smith (always works!), and in the first result returned I find a John Smith, who was a 25 year old 'labourer on railway', born 1816 and located at Snelson, Macclesfield, Cheshire. Useful as this may be, I can't see any information whatsoever on the return, the site, or within the press release, as to the actual source for this information, which is equally crucial for genealogists. I've emailed to ask for this, and will hopefully update accordingly. From what I can gather, this collection applies only to England and Wales.
(With thanks to David Osborne)
UPDATE: I've received the following on the source matter...
"The new Railway Workers Collection contains records from a number of different sources and various record sets, including TNA Cornish Railway Worker records, railway magazines, pension records, occupational and staff records and is part of a growing major collection on TheGenealogist which will expand extensively over the coming months. The new railway records will be available through our 'master search' by the weekend. It's currently available through our Occupational Records section."
I'm not a hundred per cent sure that that qualifies well enough for most genealogists I know looking to cite material in a client report! I have sent another message asking for further clarification - which archives are the records sourced from (is it TNA?), what accession numbers for the individual collections in question, what years for coverage, etc?
UPDATE 6/7/2013: Thanks to Nigel Bayley, managing director of The Genealogist, who has informed me that this is an early release from a collection that will become much bigger in the next few weeks and months, and that the source information will be made available in due course for the records contained within.
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
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