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Welcome

Travel with us as we explore further back in time, with our tips and websites to help you master the challenges and discover the rewards of finding ancestors before 1837

You said …

In recent months we’ve run several surveys to help us find out: what it is you love about genealogy, which websites and resources you use to trace your ancestors’ lives, and the best ways that we can help you to learn about your family history. Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill in our surveys. Here are just a few of the results from the surveys which we hope you find interesting…

Finding your earlier ancestors

Chris Paton describes the approaches needed for researching ancestors from earlier generations

Is this the real Sweeney Todd?

Explore the serious, sublime and the ridiculous facets of family history in this genealogical miscellany. This issue, has Tom Wood stumbled upon the real inspiration for the Demon Barber of Fleet Street?

Trace your pre-Victorian ancestors online

If you’ve researched your ancestors back to the beginning of the Victorian era, don’t give up – there’s much more to discover further into the past, and it need not cost you the earth. Ruth A Symes reveals what you can achieve cheaply or for free online to take your family tree back to the early 19th century and beyond

Mapping my DNA journey

DNA testing for family historians is now widely available but the results are not always that easy to interpret. Emma Jolly takes us on her genetic adventure, explaining on route the pros and cons of her discoveries

Time for a diff erent approach?

There comes a time while researching our families and ancestors when we feel we have exhausted all the usual research routes, even using sources recommended by experienced researchers. At this point, where should we turn for answers? Jean Stirk recommends some new tacks to try, to give your family history research that much needed boost…

ANCESTORS IN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS

Adèle Emm steps back into the classroom to investigate a type of school introduced by the Victorians that was designed to keep abandoned and desperate children off the streets – and provide them with education and training for adult life

A beginner’s guide to joining a family history society

Both new and experienced researchers can benefit from joining a family history society, says Rachel Bellerby, with friendship, specialist knowledge, unique resources and regular meetings just some of the reasons to consider becoming part of the society scene

The Fifth Avenue Connection

Sue Hassett knows all about the pleasures of unexpected findings when tracing ancestors’ lives, but this time she was totally unprepared for what lay ahead down the research path

My ancestor was in the RAF

The history of the RAF has always seemed rather dashing, from the adventures of Biggles to the derring-do of the Dam Buster raid. With the centenary of the RAF soon upon us, it’s the perfect time to target your research on your RAF ancestors and family connections. Geoff Simpson outlines some useful sources and approaches to help you get started

The Family Tree SUBS CLUB

Welcome to the Family Tree Subscriber Club page, where subscribers to the magazine can benefit from a range of different offers and competitions every issue! To be sure not to miss out, take out a subscription today – see page 50 for our latest fabulous offer

The disgrace of Thomas Shelley

Unearthing disreputable ancestors and upsetting stories is fairly typical family history fodder, but Wendy Percival’s discoveries in the British newspaper archives revealed an unexpectedly shocking turn of events in the lives of her 3x great-grandparents

Researching First World War officers

Keith Gregson explores the extensive First World War officers’ records held by The National Archives, which can give surprising insight into the men’s personal lives, including the suffering of loved ones left behind

Weights, measures & money

With the introduction of decimal currency we said goodbye to farthings and thrupenny bits, florins and shillings – coins that our ancestors had used for centuries. Similarly measurements changed from imperial to metric too. Like June Terrington you may still have a fondness for the ‘old ways’, yet whether you need to refresh your knowledge, or are young enough to need to learn the imperial systems from scratch, here are a few handy leads to follow

Books

GIBRALTAR: THE GREATEST SEIGE IN BRITISH HISTORY by

Suffolk’s big stride forward

Wills can be a wonderful resource for your family tree research, but if they’re pre-1858, and are held in a county record office, they can sometimes be difficult to get hold of – however, Helen Barrell has found a research gem to help those with Suffolk ancestry

Walking history

Simon Wills learns about a unique community project to commemorate the lives of all those recorded on a village’s First World War memorial

Spotlight on… Polperro Family History Society

Jeremy Rowett Johns introduces the Polperro Family History Society, whose unusual beginning has led to a treasure trove of genealogical information for those tracing ancestors in south-east Cornwall

Twiglets

Diarist Gill Shaw charts the rollercoaster ride of researching her family history

Coming next in Family Tree

The Family Tree Academy is your opportunity to really

Changing lives

While exploring new avenues of research to add depth and colour to his family tree, Paul Chiddicks made two discoveries that transformed how he saw his beloved grandad and his outlook on life

ADVICE…

With our experts Jayne Shrimpton, Emma Jolly, Tim Lovering, Shauna Hicks, David Annal, Mary Evans and Geoff Simpson

DIARY DATES

Find or post diary dates at www.family-tree.co.uk/Events for FREE or email them to editorial@family-tree.co.uk

MAILBOX

Insights to the FamilySearch microfilm and digitisation plans, a trip down memory lane to museums of yesteryear, and an Elizabethan project of majestic proportions …

The First World War’s Dame Vera?

Keith Gregson looks at the wartime career of singer Hetty King

A tale of two books

Nothing beats browsing through an old tome to travel back in time. Diane Lindsay revels in the pages of the past

IN BRIEF

Karen Clare reports on the latest genealogy news. Send

American Ogles back at UK ancestral home

Forty- five American descendants of the Ogle family

Free new website traces British convicts

A vast, new, free online resource is enabling researchers

Records from 1820 muster list

The Convict Database is a free new resource accessible

House museum draws curtains for £18m revamp

Grandad’s WW1 memoirs made into play

A family historian who made his grandfather’s Great

Last stop for railway museum

The Electric Railway Museum in Coventry has closed

Round-up of new database releases

• Findmypast.co.uk has grown its Warwickshire parish

OUR BABY COVER STAR!

Love the ancestor baby photo on the cover this issue?

Coins mark Queen’s Platinum Wedding

New sets of coins have been struck to celebrate the

YOUR FREE RECORDS

At Family Tree we’ve teamed up with UK family history