Ancestry

So, just why did they sometimes ‘lie’?

I n family history it’s absolutely great when

Papal dispensations marriage database

A new online database now allows researchers to trace Medieval marriages under taken with papal dispension in a single database

MI5: Official Secrets – exhibition & talks

Investigate the hidden world of MI5 via a

‘Reframing roots’: can family history hold the key to a happier life?

Long-time professional genealogist Celia Heritage has developed a pioneering therapy to help people understand their roots and their psychological impact on their lives today 

Rare Second World War trade directories go online

Entry for Winston Churchill in the Post Office

New Cork records

New additions to RootsIreland.ie bring the baptism collection

Free online treasure trove of Scottish history

With 1.2 million images from Scottish archives, 335,000 records of Scottish places, 55,200 designated historic sites in Scotland, and 2,000 historic culturally significant objects included, the new project funded by Historic Environment Scotland has an impressive beta launch 

DNA news

DNA Advisor Karen Evans reports on news from the genealogy scene

RootsTech round-up: coming soon

There were sure to be lots of interesting

Beatrix Potter dollshouse restored & on display

Given to her by her fiance, and subsequently

New FamilyTreeDNA Mitotree

On 25 Februar y 2025, FamilyTreeDNA launched the (beta) Mitotree. Announced just five years ago, the Million Mito Project aimed to capture the mitochondrial DNA of a million testers to generate a sizeable database, from which a new, more detailed, mitochondrial tree, showing the ‘ family tree of womankind’ could be created

Dear Paul

This month Paul Chiddicks examines the oddities that can sometimes be found in the census returns, and asks whether sometimes transcribers haven’t ‘taken leave of their census’ …

Transcription Corner

This month’s selection features examples of some of

ILLEGITIMACY ON THE RECORD: stigma, concealment & the law

This month, Family Tree Academy tutor David Annal examines the social stigma that has historically been associated with illegitimacy, and reveals how parents went about concealing it in official documents

RMS LUSITANIA & THE GOETZ MEDAL the search for truth

Lisa Edwards tells us how a medal in the possession of her father prompted her to find out more about the tragedy of the Lusitania and the questions that still remain unanswered 110 years on

HIDDEN Treasure

Researching her mum’s dad’s side of the family, Gill Shaw has a lucky break – and uncovers more of her great-aunt Lily Tonge’s tragic tale, too

How to guide: PERFECT PICTURES FOR YOUR FAMILY HISTORY

Genealogist and writer Wayne Shepheard gives us a handy step-by-step guide to enhancing old photographs, and creating impressive visuals, to accompany genealogy articles, blog posts, presentations, and – of course – to illustrate your family history book!

MOTHER’S SECRET: The Tale of Abandoned Twins & a New Life

Of all her genealogy endeavours, it is taking time to get to the nub of the stories of those who’ve lived before us, that Julie Johnson find most precious about historical research – even when the stories may be tough to research, and tough to read

MAKING A START WITH AUTOSOMAL DNA TESTING

Are you thinking of taking a DNA test to assist you in your family history research? This month Karen Evans introduces us to the autosomal DNA test and the myriad tools that can help you to analyse and organise your matches

THE GENETIC GENEALOGY OF THE Irish Terry lineages

Retired city engineer and keen genealogist Kevin Terry leads us on a fascinating DNA journey in his quest to discover the origins of the Terry surname in Ireland

SPOTLIGHT ON ... THE GODDARD ASSOCIATION OF EUROPE

This month we celebrate a surname society that can trace its history back to a meeting in a London pub in the 17th century

Photo corner

Costume historian and photo dating expert Jayne Shrimpton shares advice to help you date your unidentified pictures and so put names to the faces of the past

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

With our experts David Annal & Mary Evans

Your letters

This month we have an Original puzzle for you, and a range of Ancestry-related discoveries, from A .I. frustrations to a Pirate Queen!

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Contact the Family Tree team

Matthew Hill Publisher Helen Tovey Editor

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EDITORIAL Editor - Helen Tovey helen.t@family-tree.co.uk

The big question about the Big Coat

Diane Lindsay takes a trip down memory lane, reveling in reveries of fashions from bygone photos, including the prevalence of the post-WW2 rise of the Big Coat ... and its apparent absence in earlier decades. So mysterious ...

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