Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2021 i Family Tree UK

NEWS New global Irish genealogy prize announced A new award that celebrates outstanding, long-term contributions to the development of Irish genealogy worldwide has been announced by the Irish Genealogical Research Society In 2020, the new Wallace Clare Award is being presented to four recipients, all of whom have made a significant impact on aspects of the study of the genealogy of the people and diaspora of Ireland. Reflecting the global spread of Irishness, two of the recipients are from the USA and one is from Argentina. The fourth person is honoured posthumously for a major one-name study that involved records from many countries. The four inaugural recipients are: • Marie E. Daly, from Massachusetts • Christina Hunt, from Pennsylvania • Guillermo MacLoughlin, from Buenos Aires • the late William D.…

ALL ABOUT FAMILY HISTORY Six centuries of Greater London burials to explore at FindMyPast A new record release from FindMyPast covers 2 million Greater London burials between the years 1399 and 1992 The Greater London Burial Index comprises a collection of the Middlesex Burials & Memorial Inscriptions, South London Burials Index 1545-1905, City of London Burials 1754-1855 and Middlesex Burials 1538-1992. The records, which were provided by The National Archives and created by the College of Arms, include details found in the original parish register such as name, age, occupation, religious denomination and burial place. Explore the collection at FindMyPast’s website https://familytr.ee/greaterlondon…

NEWS Dig into the lives of your horticultural ancestors The RHS Lindley Library has produced a new guide to help family history researchers find out more about gardeners in their family tree © RHS Lindley Collections © RHS Lindley Collections The Library, in Westminster, London, is described as the ‘finest horticultural library in the world’ and supports thousands of researchers every year. Like all UK libraries, it has been subject to closures during the Covid-19 pandemic and so this online guide offers anyone with gardening ancestors the chance to explore what life would have been like in this profession over the years, from their own home. The 1851 Census contains details of around 88,000 paid gardeners and numbers grew to a peak of just under 300,000 in 1931. You can…

EVERYBODY'S DOING IT! MAKING HISTORY MEMORABLE Investigating Public History From jolly days out at living museums and studying records in the nation's archives, to enjoying docudramas on the television or curling up with an historical biography with a fictitious spin, we all participate in 'Public History'. But what exactly is it, and what impact does it have on our research into the past? Susie Douglas considers ‘Public History’ is an American import – both the term and ‘discipline’ had gained significant traction before hitting our own shores some twenty-five years ago. Now, syllabuses for postgraduate degrees in the United Kingdom promise a ‘unique qualification for those wishing to pursue a career in public history, working in the heritage sector, in broadcasting or in film, in museums or in journalism’. In terms…

DIGGING DEEPER TRACING BRANCHES Twiglets Diarist Gill Shaw charts the rollercoaster ride of researching her family history I’ve a funny feeling that Mary, the last in line of my great-grandfather Mark John Leah’s nine siblings, may run rings around me. She’s at that difficult age. Recorded as six years old on the 1881 Census, she’ll be 16 by the time the next one comes around and the world’s her oyster – literally, if she ends up emigrating across the pond or down under like her closest-in-age brothers Harry and Ernest. To be honest, I’m surprised I’ve not bumped into her already. She’d have been just 11 or 12 when her parents Martin and Mary died, so I half expected one of her siblings might have taken her in, and there she’d…

Books & co WINTER READS! A selection of the latest family history reads with Helen Tovey & Rachel Bellerby Terrific tomes for your Christmas wish list… I Shall Not Be Away Long by Andrew Tatham Fans of Andrew Tatham’s first book, A Group Photograph, will be sure to enjoy his second too. I Shall Not Be Away Long reflects his trademark passion for a history project and his evoactive artistic eye. At the centre of the content of the book is a collection of 341 letters between Lt Col Charles Bartlett and his wife, Margaret, a West End actress, sent during the First World War. With beautifully clear photography (so that you feel as though you’re looking at the originals), accompanied by transcriptions (for ease of reading, to help you keep…

The Family Tree SUBS CLUB EXCLUSIVE JOIN THE FAMILY TREE FAMILY! Welcome to the Family Tree Subscriber Club. Members not only save money and get every issue delivered to their door, but can also get free access to our online library of video tutorials! Not a member? Find out how to subscribe on page 38 FAMILY TREE ACADEMY VIDEOS! FREE HOW TO VIEW YOUR FREE VIDEOS To get free access to the videos, simply follow our step-by-step guide. • STEP 1 Log in to your online account on our website here: https://familytr.ee/subscriberlogin (If you don’t have an account, you can register your details to set one up) • STEP 2 Visit the Family Tree Video Library here: www.family-tree.co.uk/videos • STEP 3: Select the video you wish to watch and enjoy!…

ALL ABOUT FAMILY HISTORY NEWS Rachel Bellerby reports on the latest genealogy news. Got a story to share? Email editorial@family-tree.co.uk Dear Tom… a fond farewell We are very sorry to be sharing the news that on Monday 26th October 2020, Tom Wood passed away. Readers of Family Tree will remember fondly his three decades of educating, entertaining and inspiring fellow family historians, particularly through his Genealogical Miscellany column, ‘Dear Tom’. Tom Wood’s family history endeavours went beyond the magazine, however. He was also a founder member of Lincolnshire Family History Society in 1990 and was its first, award-winning, magazine editor, also editing the Family History Federation (formerly Federation of Family History Societies) magazine. He was also a member of the Society of Genealogists and Guild of One-Name Studies, being a…

New look for Isle of Wight FHS website The Isle of Wight Family History Society has recently upgraded its website with a new look, with the help of island web design studio, Brightbulb Design. The new site, which has been designed to work on all devices offers an improved search and display of family history data, enhanced display and indexes of member journals from 1985 onwards, and a more automated membership system. A legacy website will remain in parallel use whilst the society converts the remaining databases to the new format over the next few months. Additional databases will also be introduced which are the result of transcription projects by a team of volunteers, who have been transcribing local records, remotely, and at the County Record Office. New members are…

UP YOUR GENEALOGY GAME! BECOME A BETTER FAMILY HISTORY SLEUTH Importance of having a good research strategy Improve your family history search skills with the Family Tree Academy. This issue, David Annal demonstrates why it is so important to have a good strategy for your family history, and how you can go about setting one up for your own research With the new year, the Family Tree Academy is also taking on a new look too. Many of you have enjoyed experimenting with the documents and challenges that Family Tree Academy tutor David Annal has set over the past few years, and, as we begin 2021, the Family Tree Academy will be there to help you grow your genealogy skills. The aim will continue to be to help teach more about…

SUBSCRIPTION OFFER Give the gift of GENEALOGY this Christmas Or treat yourself, you deserve it, with these special subscription offers Offer 1 FREE BOOK Oxford Dictionary of English surnames book Pay just £10.99 a quarter and receive this book for FREE Offer 2 Pay just £3.99 a month with this rolling subscription and save big on the cover price! Offer 3 Receive 6 issues for just £19.99 – No commitment, one-off payment. Perfect as a gift! Subscribe today! 3 EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE: Complete the enclosed form and send back us via freepost Claim online: familytr.ee/subscribenow with code FTRE/Jan21 Or call our team on: 01778 392008…

CAN YOU BEAT ‘THE CHIDDICKS’ CHALLENGE’? DISCOVER THE HISTORY ON YOUR DOORSTEP The Stories of Our Streets We hope you have been enjoying the #StoryOfOurStreet project, which has hopefully inspired you with lots of ideas, to help you research your own street, or the street of one of your ancestors. In August, Paul Chiddicks set you a challenge, ‘The Chiddicks Challenge’, to discover – could you beat his family’s record of living on one street for over 83 years? Well, as ever, our readers never let us down when it comes to challenges. To say you beat my record is an understatement – you smashed it completely! From shops, houses and even public houses, it seems that some of our ancestors never ventured far and many properties stayed in the same…

DISCOVER RESEARCH SOLUTIONS YOUR FAMILY MYSTERIES SOLVED Your questions answered With our experts Jayne Shrimpton, David Frost, Emma Jolly and Simon Wills My ancestor & the banana margarine business Q My ancestor Arthur Edward Spackman bought the patent and floated the British Banana Margarine Company Ltd in 1910. Can you help me with further information please? Mr Spackman A This is one of the more unusual questions we have received. You later provided copies of an advert in The Grocer of 7 May 1910 in which the advertisers sought to raise £20,000 by the issue of 20,000 6% Cumulative and Participating Preference shares at £1 payable in instalments. The three directors, of whom A E Spackman (described as a merchant) was one, and their friends had underwritten 5,000 preference shares, or…

KEY FAMILY HISTORY RESOURCES WILLS BEFORE 1858 WHERE THERE’S A WILL… Where there’s a will, there’s a way to find out more about your ancestors. A will often contains unique information, and Simon Wills looks at how to locate these precious sources of family history It’s important to realise two things when hunting for a will. Firstly, your overall chance of finding a will for most ancestors is small. The majority of our forebears did not make a will, and some wills that were written have not survived. Secondly, the process of locating a will can be complex as there are many potential sources and a range of factors influence where to look. This article is merely a brief introduction. Probate explained In England and Wales, the word probate is often used…

THOUGHTS ON… A VERY GOOD YEAR* (GENEALOGICALLY SPEAKING) REASONS TO CELEBRATE Amidst the tumultuous nature of 2020, Diane Linsday has managed to enjoy a rather good year of genealogy – in fact maybe even her best year yet! It’s been a funny old year. Dour and dreich* in many ways, but genealogically speaking, it’s probably been my best year yet, with brick walls tumbling, missing links discovered and dainty little finishing touches of the kind that bring joy to all family historians added to our joint Lindsay/Veasey family tree. I’ve discovered a new 2x greatgranddad and a lost 2x great-grandma and a photograph of my husband’s great aunt Lizzie McKinstry. She emigrated from Kilwinning in Ayreshire to Pennsylvania in 1903, and it neatly confirms a family tale that when my mum-in-law…

New appointment at Commonwealth War Graves Commission The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has appointed Claire Horton CBE, formerly chief executive of the Battersea animal rescue charity, as its new director general Claire Horton becomes responsible for leading CWGC as it moves into its second century of operations, helping the commission to continue to meet its core maintenance and conservation commitments, and helping to welcome and educate the next generation about its important work. CWGC cares for the war graves and memorials that commemorate the 1.7 million Commonwealth World War dead. It operates at over 23,000 locations, in more than 150 countries and territories around the world. Reflecting on her appointment, Claire said: ‘I’m deeply honoured to be joining CWGC at such an important time in its history. With key priorities…

WORTH £ 21! YOUR FREE RECORDS At Family Tree we’ve teamed up with UK family history website TheGenealogist.co.uk to offer you selected free sources from its extensive online collections. Read on to learn about the records you can search today for free… Shropshire Quarter Sessions Rolls 1801-1820 Explore these vital records of crime and punishment. Might you find an ancestor arrested, tried and punished, or evidence of a dispute? These valuable records will help you delve deeper into an understanding of your ancestors’ lives and the communities in which they lived. London 1871 Census Free access to the London census transcript for 1871, allowing you to see where in the county your ancestors lived, who lived with them, their occupation, date of birth and who their neighbours were. How to…

UNLOCK THE STORY OF YOUR GENES ENLISTING DNA ON YOUR FAMILY HISTORY QUEST Your DNA WORKSHOP Welcome to the DNA Workshop! In every issue DNA adviser Karen Evans will be sharing the latest DNA news, unpacking a reader case study, and giving you step-by-step tips for you to use in your DNA research at home. It’s time to unlock the story of your genes… DNA NEWS LIVINGDNA FAMILY NETWORKS Living DNA have been rolling out some new features over the last month or so. Beginning with their existing customers there will be new portal features such as enhanced regions to more accurately represent your ancestry and maps with opacity levels to show the strength of your ancestry in each region. Look out also for their simple click opt-in button within your…

ANCESTRAL RESEARCH A FAMILY HISTORY MYSTERY Edward Swidenbank: From countryside to coalfields David Swidenbank tells the story of his Edward Swidenbank, who left his rural childhood home in the north of England to start a new life in newlyindustralised South Wales. Despite Edward’s success as a businessman, the final records relating to his life led David into a mystery he is still unravelling My ancestor, Edward Swidenbank (1824-82), started his working life aged 15 when around the year 1839, he left the family home in Grayrigg Westmorland, the second oldest son of Anthony and Mary Swidenbank. Edward’s father Anthony was born in 1797 at Grayrigg, He was the son of John Swidenbank born 1771. Anthony married Mary Philipson in 1822 and they had 11 children. Anthony followed the family trade as…

Do these certificates belong with you? BIRTH CERTIFICATES: 1853. WELLS SOMERSET. SARAH LOCK. 1906. BRENTFORD. MDDX. FRANCIS JOHN GUTHRIE SMITH. MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES: 1858 TEWKESBURY. WILLIAM FARRANCE/SARAH JANE HOCHKINS 1865 LLANBEBLIG CARNARVON WALES. OWEN THOMAS/JANE FARANCE 1903 PADDOINGTON LONDON. ARTHUR HECTOR HECTOR/CATHERINE AMELIA WHITMORE 1921 AYLESBURY. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. ALFRED AUSTIN MONTAGUE/AUDREY VICTORIA HALSE 1941. HATFIELD. HERTFORDSHIRE. FRANCIS VICTOR CROSS/BEATRICE NEWELL DEATH CERTIFICATE: 1925. GLOUCESTER SOUTH. EDITH COLE. To obtain any of these certificates, please email helen.t@family-tree.co.uk with details to confirm your family connection (eg such as parents’ names/address/age/etc). She will then forward your details on to Wendy Morgan, owner of the certificates.…

BITE-SIZE FAMILY HISTORY 60-MINUTE RESEARCH The LUNCH HOUR GENEALOGIST Being busy doesn’t mean you have to neglect your favourite hobby, you can still learn in your lunch break! It’s time to tuck into Rachel Bellerby’s genealogy treats Know-how in under 100 word! Onomastics The study of names, including first names, middle names, surnames and even nicknames. Various societies around the world have onomastics at their heart, particularly one-name study groups that concentrate on where a surname most commonly occurs, when it was first recorded and its geographical distribution over time. Project idea! Photo journaling The photo journaling trend might be new but it actually lends itself well to family history. You can bring together old photos and memorabilia to showcase your ancestor’s life, or take it a step further and create…

SHARING YOUR VIEWS HAVE YOUR SAY Your LETTERS Memories, mysteries, and a 1,000 word family history successfully accomplished Beating pandemic restrictions While it might be tempting to go to ground during the pandemic, Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society (NNWFHS) has been trying to reach new members while keeping current members involved and helped with their research. This is how we are accomplishing this. The society’s Facebook page is popular. One committee member has embarked on a series of walks recorded on her mobile phone which are featured on the site. What gems she comes across! A discussion forum was introduced for members via the society’s website: there are discussions on all manner of family history topics…and more! In addition to the traditional quarterly magazine, the society has introduced a…