If you have ideas for subjects or research skills that you would like to see covered on the Family Tree Academy pages, please email helen.t@family-tree. co.uk and we would be very interested to hear from you.
The Family Tree Study Club
Come and discuss research solutions & ideas!
ESSENTIAL SEARCH SKILLS TO MASTER
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 the search skills and source know-how needed to step up your family history research.
We are kicking off the Family Tree Academy 2021 with this issue’s topic, which is ‘the importance of having a good research strategy’. David Annal will demonstrate this with a useful case study, and there are also challenges, check lists, tips for you to use and try out yourself at home.
Reader case study
Sorting out a ‘can of worms’!
QI am writing to you in the hope that you may be able to shed some light onto a ‘can of worms’!
I am helping a friend to research one WILSON SALKELD. He was born around 1805-1808. He variously gives his birthplace as Alson, Wigton, Hexham etc! I can find his marriage to a MARY COOPER on 6 October 1829 in All Saints Church, Newcastle upon Tyne.
However, the person I’m doing research for had a grandfather ANDREW SALKELD born 3 January 1843 in Prestwick. On the certificate the surname is given as SAVELL but the family have confirmed that it was SALKELD and the documents were checked at Somerset House (in the BMD register indexes). Also on the birth certificate for Andrew his mother is stated as MARY SAVELL/SALKELD formerly ALLEN!
I don’t normally refer to online family trees as they are sometimes misleading. However in this case I did and certainly wished I hadn’t!
Throughout it does seem as though Wilson Salkeld is the same person, however I found four sets of parents:
1. Levi Salkeld & Nancy Ann Walton
2. Thomas Salkeld & Jane Miller
3. Thomas Salkeld & Jane Moses
4. Wilson Salkeld & unknown mother
I have also four different spouses:
1. mostly Mary Cooper but also