David Olusaga's New Series Starts Tuesday 26 May on BBC 2 at 21:00

This time the series goes much further back in history to an 18th Century house in Bristol.  Bristol has always been a multicultural/multi ethnic city and these stories have been some of the most interesting so far.

Episode 1 includes

• A parish register entry for the baptism of a 3 month old child, Martha, who had been abondoned on the steps of our house in 1728, no indication of who the father was, but what hapened next to Martha?
• A newspaper clipping headed RAN AWAY.  Thomas, probably a black servant ran away from 10 Guinea Street in 1759

For those on Facebook watch FindMyPast Facebook Live on Thursday 28th at 4.00pm when David Olusaga is a guest

A blog of my interview with Tamesdie Local Media.  There is a link to the audio near the bottom of the page where they gave me the opportunity to advertise our Family History Society

https://www.questmedianetwork.co.uk/news/ve-day/love-is-in-the-air-a-ve-day-romance/

e sure to check out Find my Past Friday today as they are marking the 75th anniversary of VE Day with an exciting release of rare wartime photos and a bumper collection of World War 2 records.

75 years on from Victory in Europe Day, two major wartime record collections have joined the site. Here is the link to the details on what's new this week.

A huge photo collection the first 10,000 issued today covering mostly the period of the Second World War.  Lovely clear images taken from Daily Mirror and Manchester Evening News eventually will cover all their images from 1904 - 2020

Also another major relase of WW2 Military records

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/wartime-photos-records?fbclid=IwAR1lwePovUdIGKBFw811gX436_kePGEH5IAMxQj-B-x4mvNHavwhavt4CX4

 

My name is Rav Dehele and I'm researcher with BBC. We are currently working on some programming in commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of VE Day. 

 

As a part of this programming we are currently working on making a short film that involves family members of veterans sending in a short video message to say thank you, and to say how proud they are of their family members' contribution and sacrifice during the Second World War. 

 

I was wondering if you would be able to share the official BBC flyer (see attached) with your members, or on your social media channels? We would love to try and as many video messages as possible.

 

The flyer directs people to an email address. Once they have sent an email to that address, they will receive instructions on what we would like to them film, how they need to film it - and will also provide a link for them to upload their videos.

 

Whether their family member was a solider, a Wren, an engineer, a pilot etc. - we think this short film would be the perfect way to honour and preserve their legacy. 

 

If you need any more information please do let me know - I am reachable by phone/email at any time.

Alternatively, if you have any direct contacts of those who served during the war - even in munitions factories etc - we would absolutely love to get in touch :)

 

Kind Regards,

 

Rav Dehele

Researcher - BBC VE Day 75

mob: 07931 475 028

Free access to digital records

Free Scottish Family History Virtual Conference - 1 May 2020

 

The Scottish Indexes Conference will start at 7 am (BST) on Friday 1 May 2020 and finish after 10 pm (BST). The virtual event will be live-streamed to the Scottish Indexes Facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/groups/scottishindexes) and will be available on Zoom. The interactive programme will feature the presentations “DNA Testing for Family History” by Michelle Leonard, “Tracing the Irish in Scotland” by Chris Paton, “Sources in Scotland for Tracing Scottish Emigrants” by Kirsty Wilkinson, among others. George MacKenzie, former Keeper of the Records of Scotland, will deliver an intriguing presentation, “...bread & cheese & kisses is not enough…”. There will be opportunities to ask the expert panellists questions throughout the day.

Speaking about the last conference, professional genealogist Cinda Baxter said, “A huge and hearty thanks again to Emma and Graham for providing the virtual conference. What a labor of love (and terrific gift) during these crazy times.”

Attendee Lyn Fogarty said, “Thanks to your guest speakers. Informative, funny and interesting.”

To register simply join the Scottish Indexes group on Facebook (www.facebook.com/groups/scottishindexes), or to register on Zoom follow the directions on www.scottishindexes.com.

About www.scottishindexes.com

www.scottishindexes.com is run by husband and wife team Graham and Emma Maxwell, both experienced Scottish genealogists. As well as helping clients with their family history, Graham and Emma also index historical Scottish records and make them available for free on their website. 

ENDS

We are attaching an image for your use. If you would like to know more about this event, please email Emma Maxwell - 

Description

Online talk

What's On-Line is a series of free, pre-recorded online talks delivered by our experts, here at The National Archives.

Description

Using examples of records and case studies relating to both immigrants and emigrants held in our collection, this talk will explain how to search for and interpret records such as passenger lists, passports, registration and naturalisation records.

This talk will be delivered by Roger Kershaw, Migration Records Specialist at The National Archives.

Date And Time

Findmypast announce Easter offer

20% discount on all 12 month subscriptions

·         Limited time offer available until April 15^th

·         Open to anyone without an active 12 month sub

·         Findmypast invite new and existing users to join their online community  

Leading family history website, Findmypast, are offering a 20% discount on all 12-month subscriptions in their Easter 2020 sale.

This limited time offer is open to all new and existing customers as well as all active 1, 3 or 6 month subscribers who wish to upgrade, from now until midnight (BST) April 15^th.

Simply visit findmypast.co.uk/subscribe?&promocode=EASTER20UKPR and enter the offer code EEASTER20UK to claim 20% of any of the following subscription options;

·         Starter - All the crucial records for starting a family tree and tracing your roots back five generations. The Starter package also enables you to benefit from the research of other members by matching common ancestors to the names stored in your family tree

·         Plus – Billions of family records that will enable you to take your research further and tell a more detailed story. Search for your ancestors across all birth, marriage, death, census, work, education, military, travel and social history records

·         Pro – Explore everything Findmypast has to offer. Pro covers access to all 13 billion UK, Irish and world records as well as Findmypast’s exclusive newspaper archive spanning more three centuries of British and world history.

Online family history research is the perfect stay-at-home activity and building a family tree on Findmypast is the first step towards exploring your family’s story in vivid detail.

Findmypast’s unrivalled collections to continue to grow by an average of 4 million names a day and cover a wide range of resources, many of which can’t be found anywhere else online.

Findmypast to help isolated users stay connected

With most of us now remaining at home and limiting contact with loved ones, Findmypast is inviting anyone with an interest in family history to join their online community.

Findmypast has been working hard to ensure their online community can provide support to all those who need it and a way of staying connected to others through their popular Facebook page.

To keep members busy and encourage discussion, Findmypast will be running a programme of interactive activities including “Ask Me Anything” sessions with in-house experts, masterclasses on a variety of topics, live discussions, fun research activities and more.

Simply follow Findmypast on Facebook to keep up to date with the latest online events and activaties, chat to other community members, share knowledge, and stay connected.

We are all hoping that the present sitiaution will abate as soon as possible.  In the meantime, we wish everyone continuing good health and good progress with their family history research, and we look forward to resuming our normal activities as soon as it is safe to do so

Alan Bennett

Chairman

Sadly due to coronavirus we are having to close our Research Centre at Mobberley from Monday 23rd March until Further Notice.  Most of our volunteers are 70+ and will have to self isolate and similarly our visitors.

We are very sorry about this, but do hope it wont be too long bofore were are able to open again.  Meanwhile you can use our online Forum to ask questions and hopefully will still be able to get help this way or to help other members.

Saturday 6th June 10.00-4.00

I am pleased to advise details of the relaunch of the London Branch.

Cumbria FHS and Lancashire Family History and Heraldry Society have been operating a London Branch over a number of years and normally offer six meetings a year on a Saturday afternoon. This Branch helps to provide some additional benefit for some London based or near London based members. Interest from the members of this Branch has been falling so it was decided to  relaunch the London Branch with some additional support from the North West and also inviting Members of other North West FH Societies to join them. Members of the NWGFHS’s gave a positive response and there is some commitment for financial support. Members of FHSC therefore are invited to attend these meetings, giving the opportunity to share your NW Family history research.

The first meeting under the new management committee will take place on Saturday 7th March 2020 at Saint Stephens Church, Gloucester Road, and Southwell Gardens, London SW7 4RL commencing at 2.00pm.

The speaker will be Ian Waller FSG FGRA and his subject will be "What Happened to Lucy?"

Before 1927 and legal adoption what happened to the unwanted child? Even after 1927 children were exploited, although supposedly cared for by institutions and well caring organisations. This talk looks at the plight of adoptees, foundlings, orphans and the Empire children (Child Migrants), essentially through the 19th & 20th centuries.

This is a new venue, St Stephens is easy to find on the junction of Gloucester Road and Southwell Gardens, South Kensington SW7 4RL There is a collection plate for admission, a free drink to lubricate the frank and friendly exchange of information and tips and hear relevant talks by guest speakers or our group members. There is another meeting planned for Saturday 2 May 2020.

Can anyone planning to attend please email to indicate numbers of those intending to come along.

Details can be found on the LFHHS website http://www.lfhhs.org.uk on the London branch page and it is planned to link to the NWG website www.nwgfhs.org.uk

I have put details on the LFHHS website http://www.lfhhs.org.uk on the London branch page and will be trying to add a late note to our February journal.

A PERFECT TIME TO JOIN US - NOW

All paid subscriptions to the Family History Society of Cheshire run from 1 July to the 30 June the following year.

However, if you join between 1 April and 30 June you will be granted membership until 30 June of the following year. This provides up to 15 months membership for the cost of 12 months.

NEWS - For 2020 ONLY  this offer has been extended so that anyone JOINING (not applicable to renewals) between 1 January and 30 June will be granted membership until 30 June 2021

Click on Membership where you can decide upon a membership plan which entitles you to be notified when our latest Ancestor goes online Normally £13 per annum, or if you would prefer to receive printed copies £18.  This means that if you join now your membership will cost £1 per month or less.  Your membership also entitles you to access surnames our members are researching and around twenty five other digital magazines from Societies across the world.  We are constantly adding to our recources online.

FOR MORE INFORMATION  read the instructions in the blue columns at the bottom of our website.  You can join directly on-line, but there is also a printable application form if you prefer to apply by post.

Lancashire Archives Calendar for 2020

Some fascinating talks and events lined up for 2020 pdf click to download leaflet (1.06 MB) (12 pages)

Derbyshire U3A conferences at Buxton

Angela and I attended their Conference in September and thoroughly enjoyed it. They have a fabulous line up of speakers including Dr Nick Barratt and Debbie Kennett.

They are hosting a half day conference on Friday 20^th March where the topics will consist of what was life was like farming in Tudor times and Commonwealth War Graves records.

Their Full day conference in September Saturday 19^th where topics will include One place Names – Janet Few., Putting your ancestors in place. Debbie Kennett on the Joy of Surnames and Dr Nick Barratt on House Histories. One more speaker yet to book.

Full details in the pdf flyer and booking form click here (739 KB)

Tameside Archaeology Day at St John’s Saturday 29^th  February2020

Looks like an exciting line up of lectures including the full graveyard project at St John’s, Mike Nevelle talking about the Priory at Cheetham’s Park, the Archaeological finds at Mesolithic sites at Iron Tongue Hill, Carrbook and Grange farm in Hattersley. Full details in the flyer attached plus booking form £10 for the day  pdf Click here to download a flyer and booking form (505 KB)

Friday 31st January  at West Kirby entrance fee £5 see poster above

CHESTER FAMILY HISTORY GROUP CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

The Chester Group of the Family History Society of Cheshire celebrated its 50th anniversary last week. The group was formed in 1969 and held its first meetings at Stanley Palace. During that year the group joined with another family history group in Sale to form the Family History Society of Cheshire which was one of the earliest county family history societies in the country. The Society has grown from an initial membership of about 80 to a current membership of over 1,500. There are now thirteen local branches spread across the historical county of Cheshire, a county-wide Computer Group which meets in Hartford, two family history libraries and research centres, one at Mobberley and one at Crewe, and an award winning magazine and website.

At last week's meeting to celebrate the anniversary, Chester Group Leader David Guyton welcomed members and a number of special guests including two whose membership dated back to the formation of the Society in 1969, two former Chester Group Leaders, and representatives from the Family History Society of Cheshire including the recently re-elected Chairman, Alan Bennett, who also happened to be Chairman when the Chester Group celebrated its 40th anniversary. David Guyton gave a short talk highlighting some interesting and amusing items discovered during the course of family history research and showing some photographs of Chester fifty years ago. It was striking just how much the shopping scene has changed and how dated the City of Chester buses and private cars of the period now looked. Following the talk, Alan Bennett cut a ceremonial cake specially decorated with Chester's coat of arms and members and visitors took part in a family history quiz and enjoyed some festive food and refreshments. 

The Chester Group holds meetings on the last Thursday of the month at All Saints Church in Hoole, Chester. Most meetings feature a speaker on an aspect of family history or local history. As well as a talk, there is a family history help desk and the opportunity to discuss family history topics with other members. Many members have particular areas of knowledge on family history or experience with using computers and the internet for family history. There is also a raffle and tea, coffee and biscuits are served at the end of the meeting. New members and visitors are always welcome.

The Group also runs two family history help desks. The help desk at the Chester History and Heritage Centre previously at St Michael's Church in Bridge Street, Chester, is now at the Grosvenor Museum in Grosvenor Street, Chester CH1 2DD. Opening times are 10.30 am to 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm to 4.00 pm on Tuesdays and Fridays.  There is also a help desk at the Library at Storyhouse from 10 am to 12 noon on Tuesdays. Whether you are a newcomer to family history or are looking for some local knowledge or have run up against a brickwall or would like some help on a computing or internet aspect of family history, just ask. There is always somebody who would be pleased to help.

For more information check the Family History Society of Cheshire website at www.fhsc.org.uk or contact the Chester Group at  .

This year for our GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY we held our AGM at the Lion Salt works at Northwich. It proved a very good format and an excellent venue.  We had two excellent talks, one by David Thomas our Northwich Group leader all about the Anderton Boatlift where he had worked for several years.  A Marveloous feat of engineering and a feature of the landscape fascinating to watch it in action.  Our second talk was by Peter Solan all about the history and extrraction of salt in Cheshire; how it was laid down and created in the first place and the vast millions of tons lying underneath Cheshire. I was particularly interested in his study of the linguistics of the word SALT prefixed SAL this side of Europe and over the Alps prefixed HAL.

The museum has an intersting shop with many books and crystals for sale.  Somee of us ate lunch atthe Salt barge Pub across the road. and after the afternoon talk wa a complimentary cream tea.

The business of our AGM was failry short and brief, with a report from our retiring Chairman, Victoria.  All the very best for you travels. our webmaster, Alan Bennett, was voted in as our new Chairman.  He has done the job before so knows what is expected.  He will continue as our Webmaster and will see us through a period of change for Family History Societies.

We also presented Ian Hartas with a lifelong membership for all his years of work creating and  implementing the UKBMD project now covering eleven geographical areas of the UK.  Thank you Ian.