Findmypast.com has just uploaded more of the 1871 English and Welsh census:
"Six new counties have now been added to the 1871 census of England and Wales on findmypast.com - these are Cardiganshire, Cumberland, Monmouthshire, Northumberland, Warwickshire and Westmorland. There are now 40 complete counties online at findmypast.com, equating to 93% of the population surveyed in this census. The remaining 14 counties will be added in early March as part of findmypast.com's mission to offer a full set of England and Wales censuses online by the end of 2008."
Chris
Friday, 29 February 2008
Thursday, 28 February 2008
Expansion of the National Register of Archives online presence
The National Archies at Kew has announced that the online presence of the National Register of Archives is to expand. From the news release:
"The National Register of Archives contains details of the holdings of archives across the UK and beyond - a treasure trove of historical information. The scope and the sheer numbers involved in this invaluable research tool are remarkable. Overall, the register can provide information about the historical records of some 50,000 individuals, 9,000 families, 32,000 businesses and 100,000 other organisations.
Thanks to projects like Access to Archives, many of these catalogues are available online. However, many catalogues are still only available as paper lists. By digitising 250,000 pages of paper lists, The National Archives aims to ensure the catalogues of participating archives are made easier to search and more accessible for existing and new researchers alike. It will also continue the work of Access to Archives in making catalogues available online."
The National Register of Archives can be consulted online at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/default.asp .
Chris
"The National Register of Archives contains details of the holdings of archives across the UK and beyond - a treasure trove of historical information. The scope and the sheer numbers involved in this invaluable research tool are remarkable. Overall, the register can provide information about the historical records of some 50,000 individuals, 9,000 families, 32,000 businesses and 100,000 other organisations.
Thanks to projects like Access to Archives, many of these catalogues are available online. However, many catalogues are still only available as paper lists. By digitising 250,000 pages of paper lists, The National Archives aims to ensure the catalogues of participating archives are made easier to search and more accessible for existing and new researchers alike. It will also continue the work of Access to Archives in making catalogues available online."
The National Register of Archives can be consulted online at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/default.asp .
Chris
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920
Ancestry are having a busy week this week! The pension records for WW1 soldiers have been online for some time, and not content with having uploaded the first batch of images from the medal index card collection for soldiers who served in the First World War earlier this week, Ancestry has now put the first batch of the surviving WW1 soldiers service records online, known as the "burnt records", due to damage caused to them in an air raid in WW2. These images come from the National Archives WO363 collection.
From the Ancestry site comes the following description of what can be found:
Approximately 5 million men served in the British Army in World War One (WWI). This database contains the surviving service records of non-commissioned officers and other ranks who served in WWI and did not re-enlist in the Army prior to World War II. With the second release, this database now contains records for surnames beginning A-H. Full surname range coverage will be realised with future releases. Names falling outside of this range that are presently included in the database come from records that were misfiled according to surname sequence.
These records contain a variety of forms, including:
Attestation forms - the form completed by the individual on enlistment
Medical history forms
Casualty forms
Disability statements
Regimental conduct sheets
Awards
Proceedings on Discharge
Cover for Discharge Documents
Index Cards
Information available in these records includes:
Name of soldier
Age
Birthplace
Occupation
Marital status
Regimental number
Date of attestation
Physical description
On the first search I made in this collection this evening, I discovered a 22 page service record for my wife's great uncle, who had enlisted with the Connaught Rangers. We knew he had died in 1914, but we now know that he had in fact joined the army in 1902, served at least six years in India, and was disciplined on at least eight occasions! Most definitely worth a look at http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ .
Chris
UPDATE:
It looks like Ancestry may have been exaggerating again in their online source information for the collection, as the records that are online seem to mainly be from A-C just now, rather than A-H. But at least the ball has started rolling...
From the Ancestry site comes the following description of what can be found:
Approximately 5 million men served in the British Army in World War One (WWI). This database contains the surviving service records of non-commissioned officers and other ranks who served in WWI and did not re-enlist in the Army prior to World War II. With the second release, this database now contains records for surnames beginning A-H. Full surname range coverage will be realised with future releases. Names falling outside of this range that are presently included in the database come from records that were misfiled according to surname sequence.
These records contain a variety of forms, including:
Attestation forms - the form completed by the individual on enlistment
Medical history forms
Casualty forms
Disability statements
Regimental conduct sheets
Awards
Proceedings on Discharge
Cover for Discharge Documents
Index Cards
Information available in these records includes:
Name of soldier
Age
Birthplace
Occupation
Marital status
Regimental number
Date of attestation
Physical description
On the first search I made in this collection this evening, I discovered a 22 page service record for my wife's great uncle, who had enlisted with the Connaught Rangers. We knew he had died in 1914, but we now know that he had in fact joined the army in 1902, served at least six years in India, and was disciplined on at least eight occasions! Most definitely worth a look at http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ .
Chris
UPDATE:
It looks like Ancestry may have been exaggerating again in their online source information for the collection, as the records that are online seem to mainly be from A-C just now, rather than A-H. But at least the ball has started rolling...
Got a link to Culloden?
The National Trust for Scotland is running a competition to try and trace youngsters (under 18) who may have had ancestors who fought at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.
From their website -
"We are keen to trace some young people (under 18 years old) whose ancestors fought at the Battle of Culloden. Entrants should produce a family tree showing their family's involvement in the Battle - either on the Government or Jacobite side - or both. This can be hand written, presented in say a word document or provided as a print out from one of the genealogy website programmes or templates."
Winners will be asked to help the NTS open the new visitor centre at Culloden on 16 April 2008. The closing date for the competition is Wednesday 19 March 2008.
For more information, visit http://www.nts.org.uk/Culloden/PPF/Legacy/
Chris
From their website -
"We are keen to trace some young people (under 18 years old) whose ancestors fought at the Battle of Culloden. Entrants should produce a family tree showing their family's involvement in the Battle - either on the Government or Jacobite side - or both. This can be hand written, presented in say a word document or provided as a print out from one of the genealogy website programmes or templates."
Winners will be asked to help the NTS open the new visitor centre at Culloden on 16 April 2008. The closing date for the competition is Wednesday 19 March 2008.
For more information, visit http://www.nts.org.uk/Culloden/PPF/Legacy/
Chris
Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People online archive set to launch
Soon to launch is a new online archive for the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People newspapers, with editions dating back to 1903.
The site is currently in its final testing phase, but keep an eye out for it's official launch in the very near future - the URL is http://www.mirrorarchive.co.uk/Archives/portal/enter.jsp
Chris
The site is currently in its final testing phase, but keep an eye out for it's official launch in the very near future - the URL is http://www.mirrorarchive.co.uk/Archives/portal/enter.jsp
Chris
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
Saughton Prison records at the NAS
Recently discovered records at Edinburgh's Saughton Prison can now be consulted at the National Archives of Scotland's West Register House. The prison opened in 1916, and amongst the records are prison registers from 1922 naming details of prisoners, which also include details of some escape attempts.
Chris
Chris
Ancestry launches World War One Medal Cards archive
Ancestry has just announced that it has uploaded 14 million World War One Medal Index card records onto its site, for soldiers (British and colonial) who served in the army from 1914 to 1922. The cards, held by the Western Front Assoiciation, were previously accessible at the National Archives website (Kew), but were in black and white, with only the front scanned. Now they are in colour, and both sides have been digitised.
"A testament to the bravery of 5.5 million soldiers and including many famous names such Academy Award winning actor Noel Coward, father of the last Viceroy of India Lord Mountbatten, and Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackelton, as well as that of the last surviving ‘Tommy’, Harry Patch, these records form the most comprehensive WW1 British and Colonial military collection still intact. In all, the collection contains the records for more than 14 million commendations."
For more information, read the full press release at http://ancestry.co.uk.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=68
Chris
UPDATE:
Ancestry have omitted one tiny piece of useful information from their press release folks! From the Western Front Association website, it is clear that this is in fact a phased release:
"The W.F.A. and Ancestry.com are please to announce that the Great War Medal Index Cards are now available online... Over the coming months we will be providing full access to the Medal Index Cards on the WFA website, along with access to the complete and full archive. At the present time there is a limited access to the cards via the Ancestry website."
So if you can't find your relative yet, it is probably because the card has not been uploaded yet.
"A testament to the bravery of 5.5 million soldiers and including many famous names such Academy Award winning actor Noel Coward, father of the last Viceroy of India Lord Mountbatten, and Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackelton, as well as that of the last surviving ‘Tommy’, Harry Patch, these records form the most comprehensive WW1 British and Colonial military collection still intact. In all, the collection contains the records for more than 14 million commendations."
For more information, read the full press release at http://ancestry.co.uk.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=68
Chris
UPDATE:
Ancestry have omitted one tiny piece of useful information from their press release folks! From the Western Front Association website, it is clear that this is in fact a phased release:
"The W.F.A. and Ancestry.com are please to announce that the Great War Medal Index Cards are now available online... Over the coming months we will be providing full access to the Medal Index Cards on the WFA website, along with access to the complete and full archive. At the present time there is a limited access to the cards via the Ancestry website."
So if you can't find your relative yet, it is probably because the card has not been uploaded yet.
Monday, 18 February 2008
Tay Valley FHS talks series in Dundee
Tay Valley FHS are giving a series of free talks at Waterstones, 35 Commercial Street, Dundee:
Tuesday 26th February - The Mariners of Dundee
Thursday 13th March - Who do you think you are?
Thursday 20th March - AC Lamb, his book and his life
All talks start at 6 pm, are free of charge, and open to members and non-members alike.
Chris
Tuesday 26th February - The Mariners of Dundee
Thursday 13th March - Who do you think you are?
Thursday 20th March - AC Lamb, his book and his life
All talks start at 6 pm, are free of charge, and open to members and non-members alike.
Chris
Saturday, 16 February 2008
World's oldest woman
At 120 years old, Mrs Abash in Northern Israel has 410 descendants - 10 children, 120 grandchildren, 250 great-grandchildren, and 30 great-great-grandchildren.
That's a lot of birthdays to have to buy presents for...
See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7247679.stm
Chris
That's a lot of birthdays to have to buy presents for...
See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7247679.stm
Chris
Friday, 15 February 2008
English National Burial Index updated on Find My Past
About a million new National Burial Index entries for Somersetshire, Dorset and Essex have just been added to the Find My Past website.
For more information, visit www.findmypast.com.
Chris
For more information, visit www.findmypast.com.
Chris
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