Just the job!

Welcome

From farming to factory work, discovering what your ancestors did all day has got to be the most interesting trail of family history clues for you to follow…

FAMILY HISTORY NEWS

Karen Clare reports on the latest genealogy news. Send us your stories by emailing them to editorial@family-tree.co.uk or post to our Facebook page at facebook.com/familytreemaguk

Discover the history in heraldry A beg inner’s guide

Steeped in the glamour of the age of chivalry, coats of arms served a practical purpose for our ancestors on the battle field, identifying friend from foe. Today, as family historians, we can put them to good use too, to discover the clues about the past that are encapsulated in these historic emblems. Genealogist Chris Paton explains the origins and value of coats of arms in your research…

The great influenza pandemic of 1918

As though years of world war weren’t enough, the closing months of the conflict saw a devastating infection sweep the globe. With almost quarter of a million deaths in Britain alone, and millions of deaths worldwide, the great influenza pandemic had a dramatic effect on many of our ancestors and their families. Keith Gregson reports

Family Tree Academy

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

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

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

How to get away with murder! Literally…

Adèle Emm investigates a piece of legislation that came into play in Anglo-Saxon times, and led to the acquittal of many a seemingly guilty wife in the centuries to follow. It wasn’t until 2014 that marital coercion finally was swept away as a defence

Twiglets

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

Why Secret Lives?

Family history is full of mysteries, but what was it that made the Secret Lives show organisers decide to look at the ‘shady’ side of the folk on our family trees, or to travel down the less well-known research trails?

Discover Evidentree

Evidentree is a new, free site, created to help you get in touch with genealogists researching the same names and places as you. Helen Barrell spoke to Greg Scowen, Evidentree’s creator, to find out more

Spotlight on… Norfolk Family History Society

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Norfolk Family History Society, one of the UK’s oldest family history societies, with a worldwide membership. Roger Morgan tells us about its valuable role

Exploring your ancestors’ occupational records

Learning about our ancestors’ jobs and careers can help us understand their lives, and perhaps even clear up some mysteries, explains Paul F Cockburn. Read on and start digging deeper into your family history

In their own words

lt can be difficult to understand our ancestors’ lives sometimes if the words we find in old records are no longer familiar. Simon Wills looks at examples, and suggests some resources that may help you overcome the problem

Family Tree Subscriber Club

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 58 for our latest fabulous offer

In search of Dad

Julie Bedwell was never allowed to ask her Dad anything about his past. Following his sudden death in 1969 he took all his secrets with him to the grave. Yet Julie’s determination to piece together the fregments of her family story set her on a research quest that lasted for decades…

Celebrating 20 years of Free UK Genealogy

Happy 20th birthday FreeBMD – collectively, with sister sites FreeCen and FreeReg, known as Free UK Genealogy. Let’s celebrate these two decades of free online family history records – and the efforts of the people who have made this dream a reality. Helen Tovey takes a look

Techy tips for family historians

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

Books

REFERENCING FOR GENEALOGISTS: SOURCES & CITATION by Ian G MacDonald

Peterloo, politics & parish clues

One of the remarkable things about doing family history is discovering connections to famous events from history. Ruth Maguire had just such a stroke of luck when she discovered a family connection to the political massacre of Peterloo, nearly two centuries ago…

A royal wonder

During 2018, Julie Goucher is spotlighting a website that is unusual, overlooked or simply fascinating. This issue she explores the fascinating online resources of the Chapel of St George in Windsor, the venue for two royal weddings this year…

ADVICE…

With our experts Jayne Shrimpton, Mary Evans, Celia Heritage, Steven Smyrl, Tim Lovering, Janet Smith and Emma Jolly

DIARY DATES

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

MAILBOX

Celebrating the history of women, tracking down extremely

Regal chit-chat

Family history never ceases to amaze Diane Lindsay; there are ancestors who annoy her, some she likes, and a few whose life story makes you want to give them a hug and a kiss…