Your brainteaser challenge What do you know about surnames?

Welcome

Expert choices! Discover the rarer family history sources that the professional genealogists most enjoy using – and see how they can enrich your own research too

IN BRIEF

A drawing thought to have been scratched by a young

Pankhurst campaign wins Centenary Cities grant

Karen Clare reports on the latest genealogy news. If

Campaign launched for early release of 1926 Irish census

Alobby group representing Irish family history associations

New heritage website makes a splash

Historic Pools of Britain has launched a website at

Manuscripts now online

Manuscripts from the University of Cambridge’s Parker

Banners reveal story of ancestors’ battle to vote

Historic banners have gone on display at the People’s

YOUR FREE RECORDS

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

Discover the answers to last issue’s challenges How did you do?

Read on to find out the answers to last issue’s Family Tree Academy challenges. Our Academy tutor David Annal explains all

Join The Family Tree Academy & become a skilled family historian

Running all through 2018, the Academy learning experience will help you discover more about the records, resources and research skills you need to become the best genealogist you can be. We have case studies for you to pit your wits against, documents for you to decipher, old handwriting for you to tackle, and more…

Your document challenge Studying quarter sessions records

Quarter sessions records are so called as they occurred

Your transcription challenge What does this burial register say?

Your transcription challenge What does this burial

Your case study challenge Was young Thomas discreetly ‘adopted’…?

Your case study challenge Was young Thomas discreetly

Preserving your home archive

While we can scour the internet and archives round the country for clues about our families, the heirlooms and artefacts that we might be fortunate enough to inherit are unique and irreplaceable – so we really need to treasure them! Mike Bedford’s helpful advice will help you do just this…

Pew palaver

Explore the serious, sublime and the ridiculous facets of family history in this genealogical miscellany. This issue, Tom Wood reads up on some fascinating family tales gleaned from historical newspapers…

The bright side of a brick wall

When it comes to the commonplace family history ‘brick wall’, Karen Evans likes to focus on the positive aspects. She’s found that butting against a rock-solid genealogy problem forces you to think out of the box, explore new methods and make fresh discoveries… even if they weren’t the ones intended! Now you can try her tips yourself and see your own skills as a family historian grow…

Diaspora: Descendant tracing in the digital age

Discovering distant living cousins can be a fruitful way of finding new routes to your family’s past. Seasoned researcher Donald W Davis explains why and how it can benefit your family tree

Techy tips for family historians

Make the most of digital devices, websites, apps and gadgets, with genealogical web guru Paul Carter

A beginner’s guide to Scottish inheritance

In the first of a two-part series, genealogist Chris Paton takes an indepth look at the records documenting inheritance in Scotland…

Unusual must-search websites & archives

We asked a group of expert family historians to share their favourite little-known must-search archive sources and websites. Explore their inspired tips to reinvigorate your own genealogy research in 2018

Could your ancestor vote?

Use the table to work out when your ancestors became able to vote

The wrong way to research a family tree

Pam Fry (née Boulton) began her quest in the summer of 1975, when she entered the local museum to while away some time on a day off from work

A history of chocolate

Chocolate has been part of our culture for centuries and has a rich and blended history, much like the complex flavours in the best chocolate products. Amanda Randall gives us a taste of this delicious international treat, enjoyed in England since 1657

SUBSCLUB EXCLUSIVE OFFERS!

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 64 for our latest fabulous offer

Celebrating women in family history

There’s something very special about the female branches of our family trees. Yes they might be more challenging to trace at times, but the effort is always rewarding. This year, as we celebrate the centenary of women getting the vote (or beginning to get the vote!), we’re going to be returning to the theme of celebrating the women in family history and the many and treasured roles they play. Helen Tovey gives a glimpse into the value of the ‘distaff side’

Coming next in FamilyTree

Follow our step-by-step guide to make the most of your

Spotlight on… The Heraldry Society

Learning about heraldry has many facets: the historical, the art form and – of course – the genealogical. John Tunesi introduces The Heraldry Society, an educational charity which encourages the study of coats of arms for a range of uses – ranging from family to corporate

Know Your Place

When Peter Insole’s team launched Know Your Place in 2011, they couldn’t have realised how popular and successful it was to become. Simon Wills explores this innovative venture

The lunch hour genealogist

Being busy doesn’t mean you have to neglect your favourite hobby, you can still learn in your lunch break! Squeeze just 60 minutes of family history into your daily routine and you’ll soon start to see your tree blossom. So settle down with your lunch and tuck into Rachel Bellerby’s genealogy treats

Twiglets

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

Books

Family history reads with Karen Clare

YOUR Q&A ADVICE…

With our experts David Annal, Emma Jolly, Jayne Shrimpton, Mary Evans, Shauna Hicks and David Frost

PreFab Museum UK

Over the coming year Julie Goucher will be spotlighting a website each month that is either unusual, overlooked or simply fascinating. It is an ideal way to expand and bring to life your family history

MAILBOX

With useful tips, precious memories and much, much more, your letters are a fascinating read…

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

Delving into my DNA…

A tempting online offer saw Diane Lindsay buy a genetic genealogy test, but spicy lentil soup almost put paid to her plans to delve deeper into her past