Behind The scenes at Secret Lives

Welcome

Your family history is waiting to be discovered – and we can help you find it!

NEWS

Karen Clare reports on The latest genealogy news. If

Spotlight on… North West Kent Family History Society

This year sees The North West Kent Family History Society celebrate its 40th anniversary with a healthy 1,300 members on board. Michael Weeks explains The benefits of membership for anyone with Kent ancestors

Discover The story hidden in your genes

‘You’ve got your faTher’s eyes’, ‘Goodness you remind

Twiglets

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

HUSH HUSH NUDGE NUDGE WINK WINK

Adèle Emm knew her dad Sydney was a member of The shadowy Home Office Intelligence Unit in World War II, but she had to don her detective hat to find out more in The archives

The FAMILY TREE SUBS CLUB

Welcome to The Family Tree Subscriber Club. When you’ve joined Family Tree not only do you save money on your favourite family history read, you can also enter The ‘Subs Club’ competitions – only available to subscribers to Family Tree

Books

Karen Clare reviews a brooding historical novel examining The nature of civilisation, power and innocence in The 19th century, based on The author’s connection to The experiences of a real-life family of Crusoes

DIARY DATES

Find or post diary dates at www.family-tree.co.uk/Events

Your LETTERS

Memories of transatlantic 1950s travel and readers’ recommended websites and gadgets

Coming next in Family Tree

OCTOBER ISSUE ON SALE 28 AUGUST

MY MAGICAL ANCESTORS

Diane Lindsay reflects on The wonderful spell that family history has cast over her life as she marks a special milestone

DEAR TOM

Explore The serious, sublime and The ridiculous facets of family history in this genealogical miscellany. This issue, Tom Wood discovers amazing tales of twins, certificates and descendants

One Place Study Directory

Through 2018, each issue Julie Goucher is spotlighting an unusual website to help you take your research in a new direction

LOOKING FOR Dutch ancestors

Britain has close ties to The NeTherlands going back centuries and There are rich genealogy pickings if you want to start tracing your Dutch family. John Boeren provides an expert guide

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. It’s time to tuck into Rachel Bellerby’s genealogy treats

Your questions answered

With our panel of experts Jayne Shrimpton, Tim Lovering and Celia Heritage

Tracing workhouse lives

The workhouse casts a long shadow over The family histories of our Victorian ancestors, and only those in The direst need would wish to enter its forbidding doors. Read on to uncover The records that will help you piece togeTher The tale of your family in perhaps its bleakest hour, with researcher Gill Blanchard

Making a ‘Home Sweet Home’

Home decor and handicrafts are popular hobbies today, and are something that our ancestors very much enjoyed too, picking up Their needles to furnish Their houses. Jayne Shrimpton takes a stitch back in time

Discover court records

Family historian Chris Paton provides an introduction to historic court records, and how to find Them…

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 documents & sources challenge Tax documents

This month we’re focusing on records of taxation and, in particular, two taxes collected two centuries apart. Below is a 17th century Hearth Tax return; turn The page to study The Death Duty register. Have a look at The images and see if you can answer The questions

Your transcription challenge

Have a go at transcribing The handwriting on this page from The trial register of The Old Bailey Central Criminal Court

Your case study challenge

Reader Judy Venables would like help solving her oldest

Interpreting ethnicity

After testing with two DNA companies, Geoff Wicks set off on a genetic journey to explore his ethnicity

Search smarter online

As a professional researcher Emma Jolly needs to get great results – quickly. Here she shares her tips, tricks and search aids to help you get The most from your family history online

How To restore your old photos digitally

Learn how to restore your family archive of old photographs with Mike Bedford’s expert advice

Why your ancestor is not in The census

Is your ancestor missing from The census records? Simon Wills examines The reasons, which can help you to plan a revised research strategy to track down your elusive kin

Techy tips for family historians

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

Taken a DNA test? Now what?

DNA tests are becoming ever more popular but The results can seem bewildering can’t They? Help is at hand, however, with family historian Karen Evans’s practical advice for making sense of your DNA test results for your family history research