Parish records are pretty much essential when it comes to family history research. I actually got involved in research when I was 13. My father had the idea of taking me to the Gloucester City Library, which housed Bishop’s Transcripts (BTs). Now, BTs are not parish records, just copies of them, but similar nonetheless. I… Continue reading Parish Registers – What They Are
Occupations
I sometimes wonder at the different occupations listed in the various censuses. Not, I hasten to add, because my ancestors and their relatives had very unusual occupations. Far from it. The vast majority had the designation of agricultural labourer (commonly abbreviated to Ag. Lab) or domestic servant. That doesn’t leave much to the imagination, although… Continue reading Occupations
Turn Genealogy into Family History
The difference between genealogy and family history is subtle. Many people tend to use these terms interchangeably. I know I do, and in most situations that is not a problem. Even so, they are different. Genealogy is the study of your family lineage and is usually very precise. It documents birth, marriage, and death records.… Continue reading Turn Genealogy into Family History
Maps
I know I tend to talk about research and documents more than I do about other things, like memories. So how about something that will help with both? Maps should be an important part of your genealogy toolkit. In fact, they are irreplaceable, especially if you live far from the locations you are researching. They… Continue reading Maps
1939 Register
I love documents, so having a whole new set of documents to explore is exciting. What I am referring to is the fact that the 1939 Register of England & Wales is available online, and has been since February 2016. So, what makes it so exciting? Well, for one thing, nobody was expecting it to… Continue reading 1939 Register
Family History is About Real People
Family history is about people. Or, at least, it should be. But not just any people. These are your forebears. These are your relatives. You share their DNA. They are real flesh and blood people. OK, that last one isn’t completely correct if they’ve died, but they were still people who walked and talked and… Continue reading Family History is About Real People
Source Interpretation
When you find a source, you need to put your best effort into interpreting it. I know that sounds obvious, but we often miss simple information, or don’t look at it in the right way. I had a situation very recently when, out of the blue, I had an email asking me how sure I… Continue reading Source Interpretation
Family History and Computers
I seem to spend most of my spare time doing family history research. Either that or preparing lessons to teach others how to do their own research. No, I’m not a professional researcher, but it still seems appropriate for me to concentrate my writing efforts on how to help others. My comments about computers may be… Continue reading Family History and Computers
Stories and Memories for Family History
Here is a perfect example of why we ought to write down our stories and record memories and connect them to our ancestors, and how not to do it. A little while ago I was researching one woman who appeared in all of the available censuses for England & Wales. That’s from 1841 right through… Continue reading Stories and Memories for Family History
Preserving Pictures for Family History
Family History is about real people, and it helps to bring those people to life if you can include pictures and stories as you gather information. I have had false starts in this area over the years but I would like to think that I am finally getting a handle on this. I have had… Continue reading Preserving Pictures for Family History
Family History research in England 