Your letters

So many stories from a century ago...

some of the political figures enumerated with Frank

Accredited Genealogists Ireland elects its tenth president

Rachel Bellerby reports on the latest genealogy news. Got a story to share? Email editorial@family-tree.co.uk

‘Vast’ Roman trading settlement uncovered by archaeologists in Northamptonshire

Archaeologists working for HS2 Ltd have uncovered one of the most significant archaeological sites on the project to date near a small village in south Northamptonshire

3 million New Zealand electoral roll records added to FamilySearch

Find your 19th- and 20th-century New Zealand ancestors in a huge new electoral roll records release at FamilySearch

RootsTech 2022: first keynote speakers announced

The first keynote speakers for the free online family history event RootsTech 2022 have been announced

Expert help for family history newbies

MyHeritage have announced the launch of a new, expert-led online course: Introduction to Genealogy

Volunteers wanted for transcription project

Members of the public are being asked to help transcribe notebooks by early 19th-century scientist Sir Humphry Davy, as part of a project to shed light on his unpublished work

A new way to organise your digital photos

MyHeritage has announced the launch of List View, their new feature that aims to make it easier for users to organise their historical photos

Explore 1921 criminal records

FindMyPast’s new Police Gazette release intriguingly includes adverts for wanted criminals across the UK around the time the 1921 Census was taken, meaning these men and women were likely listed on that year’s census, perhaps under a different name

Pinpoint ancestors’ homes from the 1911 census on historic maps

Travel back in time and locate an ancestor’s address from the 1911 England and Wales census using contemporary and georeferenced maps on TheGenealogist.co.uk ’s Map Explorer™

72,000 London landowner and occupier records added to TheGenealogist

TheGenealogist has released more than 72,000 land owner and occupier records for Camden and the surrounding areas of London

Call for Coronation memories

Do you remember the queen’s coronation in 1953? As we prepare to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee with a long weekend of celebrations in June, we’re asking for your memories and photos for a special feature

Researching Your Irish Family History

Irish family history research has a justified reputation for being difficult, with many assuming that all our records were lost in the Dublin Public Record Office fire of 1922. While it is true that much was lost in the fire, there is still plenty which survives. Church records, civil registers, census returns, and land records can all help you in your Irish research. Here David Ryan will explore some of these important records and show how they can be used in tracing your Irish ancestors

LAUNDRESSES & WASHERWOMEN A SHORT HISTORY

Just how did our ancestors keep their clothes clean, particularly in the days before hot running water? Adèle Emm rolls up her sleeves to immerse herself in the steamy history of laundry

SETTLERS IN CANADA

Would you like to learn how to trace British ancestors in Canada? Read on for Dr Simon Wills’ research guide and key resources

THE 1921 CENSUS A USER’S GUIDE

The 1921 Census is free to search, so well worth giving a go. Read on for hints to help you begin, with Helen Tovey

WHERE WILL YOUR READING TAKE YOU?

Dating By Design 1840-1915:

TAKE YOUR SEARCH OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

The Family Tree Academy is here to help you grow your genealogy skills. The aim is to help teach more about the search skills and source know-how needed to step up your family history research. In this issue, Family Tree Academy tutor David Annal discusses less-well-known sources and invites you search beyond the BMDs and censuses…

The House of Wessex

Steve Roberts takes us on a light-hearted jaunt back to the world of Wessex and the era of the forging of the nation of ‘England’

TIMELINE

829 Egbert, King of Wessex, recognised as Bretwalda

THE HOUSE OF WESSEX

Family tree showing key members of the royal

Becoming a family history blogger

Jane Hough was one of three winners of Family Tree’s competition in summer 2019. She chose to use her prize – website development and a year’s hosting from genealogist & web developer Paul Carter – to set up a family history blog in 2020. Now, with over a year’s blogging under her belt, we caught up with Jane to hear about her experience

Researching my father’s childhood under the Nazis

Helene Munsen shares her research journey into her father’s service as a boy soldier with the Nazis in World War Two, explaining how she negotiated the difficult truths she uncovered in find out where her father was stationed and the work he carried out

YOUR DNA WORKSHOP

Welcome to the DNA Workshop! In every issue DNA adviser Karen Evans will be unpacking a reader case study, helping you learn how to use your DNA research at home. It’s time to unlock the story of your genes…

TASK OF THE MONTH

LABELS FOR MATCHES ON MYHERITAGE

READERS’ LETTERS

Many thanks to Christene Hoffert for e-mailing about

HOW HAVE YOU GOT ON WITH THE 1921 Census?

It ’s still early days, as, by the time we go to print with the March issue of Family Tree, the 1921 Census will have been available for just a few weeks. Here we share some early reader responses to their 1921 Census investigations. The new record collection has provided an interesting learning curve as we all get to grips with the material, and the discoveries have given new food for thought about our families a century ago

Spotlight on... Burntwood Family History Group

The Burntwood Family History Group, in Staffordshire, was founded in 1986 by a group of local enthusiasts, many of whom have remained involved to this day. Chairman Keith Stanley introduces the group activities

TWIGLETS POND-HOPPING

Gill Shaw is tracking down her Riboldis across the pond

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Middle name provides vital clue Q Research has

Keen to uncover album clues

Q Please can Jayne Shrimpton help me to

Seeking a ‘vanished’ ancestor

Q Can you help find a distant ancestor

DIARY DATES

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An unwanted ancestor

Diane Lindsay takes on more than she bargained for when an unwanted ancestor makes his way onto her online tree... and refuses to uncouple himself