Genealogy News - 27th July

Ancestry are once again offering free access to the 1911 Census of England & Wales. You've got until the 14th October to indulge yourself - but you will have to register with the website (free).

Miss the first episode of WDYTYA? Check it out here (info about the episode + link to the show itself). Your Family Tree magazine have a related (free) download.

Over 400,000 new Royal Navy and Merchant Seamen records have popped up at TheGenealogist (thanks to @SueWilkesauthor on Twitter). Indeed, this news is included in the latest S&N Genealogy Supplies e-newsletter.

You may wish to browse the July e-newsletter from ScotlandsPeople.

Three good spots by blogger Chris Paton:

• New Oxford and Middlesex material on Ancestry;
• Irish school records;
• Belfast material.

Thanks to @DebbieKennett on Twitter for flagging this interesting article entitled 'Selling Roots'.

The DeceasedOnline blog has a neat piece on the rituals and rigmarole surrounding death. Also, DeceasedOnline's latest news bulletin can be found here.

Leeds researchers will want to check this out.

Could you be related to Oliver Cromwell?

Cemetery records news for Limerick and Clare. More Irish stuff - this time for Cavan - to be found here. And the source of all this info (Claire Santry) also brings us a little update re. the Irish GRO Research Room.

Get confused about the Royal family tree? Check out this helpful graphic (thanks to @My_History on Twitter). And here's another royal-related article from the 'Abroad in the Yard' blog.

Barnardo's Archive to be binned? Read all about it here (thanks to @archives4london on Twitter).

Some interesting history links from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

Famous family trees: Sean Bean.

Weekend stuff from the BBC:

• History Headlines;
• Latest Podcast;
• Upcoming history TV & radio.

Forthcoming events:

• Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th August - PRONI's Family & Local History Fair;
• Saturday 3rd August - 'Celebration of Family History' event at Chorley;
• Saturday 3rd August - Forfar Book Fair;
• Sunday 4th August - Ballater Book Fair;
• Sunday 4th August - Exeter Book Fair;
• SoG events for August;
• National Library of Scotland events;
• Some random Northern Irish events, etc.;
• Some advance notice re. the GOONS 'Art of One-Name Studies' seminar in Amersham on Saturday 10th August (deadline 4th);
• Some advance notice re. the Louth Genealogy Seminar on 14th September (thanks Claire);
• Upcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• The BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

And don't forget to keep calling in at the BI-Gen Twitter feed, which is updated most days.

More Genealogy News!

Oops! Despite yesterday's assertion that I'd be posting to this blog once a week, I find myself writing to you almost immediately thereafter. The reason? I forgot something! Here are your genealogical events for the coming week...

• Thursday 25th to Saturday 27th July - Skye Antiquarian Book Festival;
• 25th-28th July - East Kerry Roots Festival;
• Friday 26th & Saturday 27th July - Ilkley Book Fair;
• Saturday 27th July - Bucks FHS Open Day, Aylesbury;
• Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th July - Stourhead (Wilts) Book Fair;
• Upcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

Why not come along to...

The National Family History Fair

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE

Saturday 7th September 2013

Genealogy News - 20th July

Welcome to the first of my once-per-week Saturday news posts from the world of genealogy. Yeah, I know, it looks like I'm getting a bit lazy in this balmy summer weather ... and there's a bit of truth in that, too, with several personal commitments looming up in the coming months which are gonna leave less time to do stuff like this. Fear not, though, as there will be no let-up in the amount of news I bring you - it's just that you can now read it all in one go every weekend!

Off we go then...

Where better to begin than with the ever-excellent mid-July issue of the Lost Cousins Newsletter.

British Telecom records have gone online - and they're free. See the report here.

I see that The National Archives & FindMyPast are getting together to digitise WWI RAF & RFC Service Records - around 360,000 entries in all. Chris Paton has the full text of the announcement here.

Dublin's GRO Research Room is set to move in August - a decision considered a strange one by most of us. Full story here.

Wondering why the British Newspaper Archive website hasn't had much to report on lately? John D Reid has spotted the problem.

New issue of Your Family Tree.

Check out the Manchester Catholic Register Index.

Welsh researchers may wish to have a quick glance at this piece of news.

Chris Paton reports on a little development at FindMyPast and recent UK Electoral Registers. The very same blog also carries an interesting snippet re. Scottish Window Tax records.

The latest TNA Podcasts offer a variety of historical listening.

Those of you who are deeply interested in the archives sector in England may wish to read this report from TNA.

What did you all make of the new BBC comedy show, 'Family Tree'? Most commentators seem to be reserving judgement or have responded rather coolly to the first episode, but I loved it! Have a look for yourself here.

As for TV-related news, well, don't forget about WDYTYA? starting next week.

And as for the BBC HistoryExtra website...

• History Headlines;
• Latest Podcast;
• History TV/radio;
• Latest 'BBC History Magazine'.

Remember that despite the slight let-up in the frequency of my posts, you can still find daily genealogy news updates at the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Here's a strange one from the Far East...

Chinese Children Must Visit Parents

Genealogy News - 16th July

*** Please note that from this week I will be experimenting with a SINGLE blog post per week, which will appear every SATURDAY. The summer months are usually a little quiet, and I have a number of upcoming personal events to attend to (a holiday and a minor operation, to name but two), so the move makes sense. The next post will therefore be Saturday 20th July.***

First up are a few new bits and bobs from TheGenealogist (Lancs, Suffolk, Worcs, Jewish & Railway stuff).

GenealogyInTime has a neat summary of recent worldwide genealogical developments.

You may find these short articles handy ... Scottish Marriages and Illegitimate Births.

Latest update to the Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives is provided by Claire Santry. Claire also brings us some important Irish cemetery news.

Here's a useful article: Tips for Googling Your Family Tree.

The regular round-up of history links from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

History crossword.

Forthcoming events:

• Saturday 20th July - Howsham Mill (nr York) Family Histories Day;
• Saturday 20th July - Guildhall Library Open Day, London;
• Sunday 21st July - Family History Day, Eastbourne;
• Sunday 21st July - Woodbridge Book Fair;
• 25th-28th July - East Kerry Roots Festival;
• Irish events + here (thanks Claire);
• More Irish events can be found listed in the latest Eneclann e-newsletter;
• National Library of Scotland events;
• Upcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way). There is also a Postcard, Cigarette and & Stamp Fair at Durham County Hall on 20th July (10am-3pm) - contact Gareth Burgess on 01368 860365;
• The BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

More news, etc., at the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Why not come along to...

The National Family History Fair

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE

Saturday 7th September 2013

Thanks to @YourFamTreemag on Twitter for...

6 Generations in One Photo

Genealogy News - 12th July

The latest record release from FindMyPast concerns the Royal Naval Division Service Records, 1914-20. FMP have also collected some rather tenuous genealogical links for the forthcoming royal baby.

Northern Irish researchers will want to check out this forthcoming event at PRONI.

And here's another useful-looking Irish event - this time in Dublin on 21st August.

August issue of Family Tree magazine is now out.

There's been a glut of recent e-newsletters...

First up is the latest effort from S&N Genealogy Supplies (lots of stuff of note).

Then there's the latest e-newsletter from Parish Chest.

Another bulletin from Ireland Reaching Out.

The latest issue of Irish Lives Remembered.

And here's the July e-newsletter from TNA.

A new issue of Century Ireland is also up for grabs.

Free downloads from Your Family Tree Magazine (Derbyshire researchers take note).

More on that recent Wakefield record release by DeceasedOnline. Oh, and more here.

Dudley developments.

Some interesting developments re. GRO Ireland.

And yet more Irish news with the Kerry Genealogy Roadshow.

TNA's annual report and accounts can be found here.

The usual Friday stuff from the BBC:

• History Headlines;
• Podcast;
• History TV/radio.

More news available at the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Genealogy News - 9th July

There's an appalling lack of family history news to be had at the moment - seems like everyone's been cheering on Andy Murray these past few days. Can we get back to the serious business of genealogy now, please? Anyway, there's virtually nothing to report on, so I'll not keep you long....

Probably the best thing to come to light in the last few days is the old RootsTech lectures popping up online. Not sure how long they've been there, but thanks to @Infolass on Twitter for pointing them out.

The latest offer from Pen & Sword Books includes a special family history deal.

Think you may be interested in Chichester Consistory Wills, 1482-1800? Then check out the latest update from Origins.net (and go to bottom left of page).

Claire Santry brings us a little bit of Roscommon news. And there's also a report of a discount available at RootsIreland.

And from Scotland Chris Paton gives air to an interesting new project from ScotlandsPlaces.

Here's your weekly round-up of history links from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

Even the 'forthcoming events' listing is struggling...

• Saturday 13th July - Family History Fair, Weston-super-Mare;
• Sunday 14th July - Rosemoor Book Fair (Devon);
• Sunday 14th July - Southwell Book Fair (Notts);
• Irish events (thanks Claire);
• National Library of Scotland events;
• Upcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• The BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

More news, etc., at the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Thanks to @MyHeritage on Twitter for...

Hidden Mothers in Photographs

Genealogy News - 5th July

DeceasedOnline have some important news for West Yorkshire researchers.

Essential reading by way of the July issue of the Institute of Heraldic & Genealogical Studies newsletter.

Ancestry's 'updates page' has seen a fair bit of activity of late, including a couple of items of UK interest.

The more serious researchers out there may wish to peruse TNA's announcement on the subject of 'Open Government Licence.' TNA are also flying the flag for independent booksellers this week - a worthy cause indeed for us history nuts.

Whilst with TNA, I should also remind folk of the wealth of entertainment available at their podcast website - see here.

Sussex researchers may wish to investigate mention of their little corner of the world in the latest FamilySearch update.

New records for railway workers from England's south-west.

Nice article on the the work of the CWGC (thanks to @YourFamTreemag on Twitter).

Here's a new genealogy blog that you may wish to add to your reading list - from Debrett Ancestry Research (thanks to Dr Susan Morris for the tip-off).

And the usual Friday stuff from the Beeb...

• 'History Headlines' (should be updated sometime today);
• Latest podcast;
• Upcoming history TV & radio.

More at the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Genealogy News - 2nd July

FindMyPast have released 2 million new Hertfordshire records.

The best regular genealogy e-mag on the market is, of course ... the Lost Cousins Newsletter!

The latest Essex Record Office e-bulletin.

Here's the July e-newsletter from the CWGC.

More muddying of the water for future genealogists, possibly? (thanks to @DebbieKennett on Twitter).

More 'sale' books from TNA.

Latest news/talks from Gresham College, London.

Old handwriting a problem - try this?

Here's a short piece on the destruction of the Irish PRO in 1922.

More Irish news from Claire Santry with the latest Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives update.

And you'll want to check out the weekly round-up of history links from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

Forthcoming events:

• Saturday 6th July - Reading Family History Centre Open Day;
• Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th July - Eneclann Genealogy Roadshow, Trim;
• Sunday 7th July - Arkholme Book Fair;
• Sunday 7th July - Sidmouth Book Fair;
• Family history lunchtime talks at the NLI;
• Here's the calendar of events at the National Museum of Ireland;
• More Irish events (thanks Claire);
• A number of events for this coming weekend were listed on this blog last week, but it may now be too late to book;
• Upcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• The BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

And remember my mention last week of the National Family History Fair at Newcastle on 7th September? Well, I have put my name down for a stall - so I hope to see you there!

More stuff at the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Some fun from a 2012 post at the 'Abroad in the Yard' blog...

Surprising Ancestral Origins

Genealogy News - 28th June

FindMyPast have added 1.2 million records to their Wales Collection. More comment here.

More price reductions from FamilyTreeDNA - as outlined here by blogger Debbie Kennett (BTW, don't worry about the prices in US dollars, as you can still order from the UK).

For Scottish researchers: the latest issue of Broadsheet.

Here's an interesting option from Forces War Records.

I see English Heritage is to become a charity (thanks to @SueWilkesauthor on Twitter).

Here's a great story about an accidental find in the rafters of an old building.

As for the rest of the week's news, well, I'm going to be a bit lazy and divert you elsewhere! Seriously, though, it provides me with an excellent opportunity to give a little plug to two other excellent sources of British & Irish genealogy news...

Claire Santry's Irish Genealogy News blog is, of course, essential reading for Irish researchers, and there has been a mini rush of news from this corner of the world. Rather than me steal all her stories, why not have a browse for yourself - there are items on PRONI, Co.Clare, Irish newspapers, as well as a reminder about free access to the Irish BMD records this weekend.

Similarly, you are probably familiar with Chris Paton's British GENES blog. Chris specialises in Scottish and Northern Irish matters, but actually covers all things UK & Irish on his blog - and there has been plenty to take in this week, too. So, again, why not have a wander through his recent posts, which include the latest 'Ireland's Genealogical Gazette', Ancestry's search features, and alternative comment on many of the stories also covered by Claire Santry's blog - and there is much more besides.

And then there are the usual Friday bits and pieces from the BBC:

• Latest 'History Headlines';
• Latest Podcasts;
• Upcoming history TV & radio.

More news, etc., can be found at the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Genealogy News - 25th June

Potentially explosive news for us genealogists from the legal corridors of the EU (thanks to @YourFamTreemag on Twitter).

From the keyboard of Chris Paton: a useful report on the PRONI User Forum Meeting (note the very last item - a major fair and a conference!). Thanks for that, Chris. And thanks, too, for this useful and informal guide to visiting PRONI.

Fancy meeting the top dog at The National Archives next month? Click here for more info.

TNA's online bookshop is to be re-vamped - see here.

Those of you who follow the adventures of the Scottish Genealogy Network will wish to take in this blog post.

A little update from the British Newspaper Archive.

Here's the latest (and very impressive) newsletter from the Institute of Heraldic & Genealogical Studies.

I see that PAF (Personal Ancestral File), the family tree programme launched by FamilySearch in 1984, is to be discontinued.

If you think you might be interested in Derry's Great Parchment Book, then check out this blog post.

The latest Eneclann newsletter can be found here. As you can see, the first story indicates that the Genealogy Advisory Service at the NLI is set to continue.

The National Library of Wales has put out an appeal entitled 'Calling all clubs & societies'.

Those of us who are fans of the Europeana website/blog may wish to sign the petition to keep the organisation alive.

And here's your weekly round-up of entertaining history links from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

Forthcoming events:

• Saturday 29th June - Yorkshire Family History Fair, York (this is a big one!);
• Friday 28th & Saturday 29th June - Family History Event at Sutton Coldfield;
• Sunday 30th June - Heart of England Book Fair, Solihull;
• Upcoming SoG events (change the month setting on the page for future stuff);
• Irish events (thanks Claire);
• National Library of Ireland (JFK) stuff for July;
• Yet more Irish stuff!;
• National Library of Scotland events;
• Upcoming events at Linen Hall Library, Belfast;
• Advance notice of the JGSGB Society Family History Fair at Elstree on 7th July;
• Advance notice of the Surrey Parish Records Launch Event at Woking on 6th July;
• Advance notice of the Annual Lecture Day at Pudsey on 6th July (hopefully not too late to book);
• Advance notice of the Community Archives & Heritage Group Conference at London on 10th July (hopefully not too late to book);
• Upcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• The BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

And I hope you don't mind an advance 'plug' for a major event in September which is right on my doorstep:

The National Family History Fair 

at Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

More news and articles at the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Genealogy News - 21st June

Want some free online genealogy reading? You can have all you want here (thanks to @SueWilkesauthor on Twitter for the tip-off).

The same source (Dick Eastman) also provides interesting food for thought here.

Oh, I see the latest Lost Cousins newsletter is out, too. Another great read!

For those of you keeping up with the shenanigans surrounding the release of the 1926 Irish Census, see here.

A good spot by Chris Paton re. free access to Irish BMD indexes from FindMyPast.com (we're all assuming that the other FMP formats will fall into line in due course - co.uk, ie, au).

Chris also nicely summarises developments at Origins.net - including lots of things to come.

A newspaper update from FindMyPast.

Latest issue of Your Family Tree Magazine.

Here's a decent-looking offer from WDYTYA? Magazine.

A selection of Irish events over the coming weeks and months.

Latest offers from Pen & Sword Books. And some special offers from TNA.

The usual Friday stuff from the BBC:

• The week's 'History Headlines' will soon appear here;
• Latest Podcasts;
• Latest issue of BBC History Magazine;
• Upcoming history TV & radio.

And don't forget the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Thanks to @HistoryforGirls on Twitter...

The Life and Age of Woman

(then click on image to enlarge)

Genealogy News - 18th June

As the popular family history TV series Long Lost Family returns to our screens here in the UK, look out, too, for the forthcoming Secrets from the Workhouse which begins next week - preview here.

The latest repository to suffer at the hands of the Europe-wide recession is the Irish Architectural Archive.

Latest from FindMyPast: London Volunteer Soldiers, 1859-1955.

Check out the latest from TheGenealogist.

For those with an interest in President Obama's Irish ancestry, then check this out.

Get to grips with GenealogyInTime's worldwide genealogy news.

Here's the latest e-bulletin for Family Historian users.

Fancy a free Family History guide from GenesReunited?

A couple of items via Chris Paton's blog:

• No WDYTYA? event for Glasgow in 2014;
• Some observations re. Ancestry's London Gazette coverage.

Here's an online exhibition from PRONI relating to Co.Fermanagh.

Claire Santry brings us another IGP Archives update from Ireland.

The usual history links round-up from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

And, of course, here are your forthcoming events for the next few days:

• Saturday 22nd June - Montgomeryshire Genealogical Society Open Morning, Churchstoke (for exact details ring them);
• Saturday 22nd June - Edinburgh Book Fair;
• Sunday 23rd June - Cheltenham Book Fair;
• Events at the National Library of Scotland;
• Upcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way). There is also a Postcard & Stamp Fair at St Andrew Blackadder Church Hall, High Street, North Berwick, on Saturday 22nd June (10.30-4) - contact Gareth Burgess on 01368 860365.
• The BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

And don't forget the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

 

Genealogy News - 14th June

At last we have a surge of genealogy news!

Most of you will, I'm sure, be interested to know about the line-up for the next series of WDYTYA?

Big news from FindMyPast for Lincolnshire researchers.

It seems that MyHeritage have started producing e-newsletters - well, this is the first one I've received from them!

World's oldest person dies (thanks to @MyHeritage on Twitter).

Sussex researchers - get a sneak peek of your new record office.

There's a little bit more info on the recent wills/probate release at GenesReunited to be found here.

Quite a bit of recent activity at Ancestry - check out their 'updates page' for the low-down.

Here's a major forthcoming event for those interested in Ulster.

More Irish stuff from Ireland Reaching Out.

The latest issue of S&N's Genealogy 'E-mail News' can be found here (inc. TheGenealogist's latest releases).

Here's what looks like DeceasedOnline's final announcement re. Brompton Cemetery in London (related blog post here).

An event I omitted from Tuesday's listing: Lincolnshire Archives Family History Day (15th) (thanks to @GenealogyGent on Twitter).

And it'll be a big weekend in Co.Carlow, Ireland!

Here's a review of a handy-looking book.

The July issue of 'Family Tree' magazine is now available.

The latest FamilySearch news release includes some Irish stuff.

And yet more Irish news re. everyday procedures at the National Library of Ireland.

From TNA's blog: part 2 of their series of posts on the Bevin Boys.

US blogger, Dick Eastman, flags an interesting new development for (literally) recording our everyday lives.

Another new online source which may be of interest: The Spectator magazine archive.

A history crossword.

The usual bits and bobs from the BBC:

• The week's 'History Headlines';
• Upcoming history TV & radio.

More news items at the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Thanks to @VictorianLondon and @SocialhistoryPS on Twitter for...

Killed by a Coffin!

Genealogy News - 11th June

Once more I'm struggling for news. Has everyone gone on holiday? Never mind, here's what I've got...

The latest news from The Parish Chest.

Platinum members at GenesReunited have an additional database to browse: the Bank of England Wills Extracts 1717-1845.

FindMyPast looks at the family tree of Clare Balding.

Audrey Collins has penned an informative piece on Armed Forces Birth, Marriage & Death Records.

A fabulous early map of London (thanks to @CharlotteFrost1 on Twitter).

Interesting info is provided by Chris Paton on the subject of the 1926 Census for Northern Ireland (and related issues). Here's Claire Santry's take on the news.

Thanks to @DebbieKennett on Twitter for flagging this article on 'What happened when I had my genome sequenced.'

Here's the weekly collection of entertaining history links from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

Forthcoming events...

• Saturday 15th June - Wiltshire FHS Southern Family History Day, Wilton;
• Friday 14th & Saturday 15th June - London Book Fair;
• Sunday 16th June - Duxford Military Book Fair;
• Sunday 16th June - Totnes Book Fair;
• Irish events (and see here for an Irish event in N.E. England) - thanks Claire!;
• Upcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• The BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

And don't forget the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Genealogy News - 7th June

FindMyPast have added 2.5 million more Irish Petty Session Court records to their collection.

The damage caused by the fire at the National Library of Wales is summarised here.

There's more on Ancestry's recent Engineers' records release at their blog, here.

Quite a bit of reading is up for grabs...

June issue of Irish Lives Remembered.

The latest Essex Record Office e-Bulletin.

The June e-newsletter from TNA.

The latest Pharos Bulletin.

Lovers of London's cemeteries may wish to read this.

Thanks to blogger Claire Santry for these upcoming Irish events (also here).

Special offers from BooksIreland can be found here.

The usual Friday stuff from the BBC:

• The week's 'History Headlines';
• Latest Podcast;
• Upcoming history TV & radio.

And remember to visit the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Genealogy News - 4th June

It's the end of an era for Sussex researchers as the Maltings shuts its doors.

Another Lost Cousins newsletter has popped up - excellent reading as ever.

Here's the latest Eneclann newsletter.

Then there's the June newsletter from the CWGC.

Oh, and there's one more newsletter: the FFHS E-Zine (bit late with this one - sorry).

There's been a little flurry of action at Ancestry's updates page (those with engineer ancestors may be especially interested).

A couple of Irish news items:

• Belfast photos on Flickr;
• IGPA update.

And from Scotland ... the new National Records of Scotland website (via Chris Paton's blog).

The latest TNA Podcast is especially relevant to genealogists.

The latest round-up of history links from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

As for forthcoming events:

• Saturday 8th June - Gwent FHS Open Day/Fair, Newport;
• Saturday 8th June - Beverley Book Fair;
• Saturday 8th June - Scottish Borders Book Fair, Melrose;
• Forthcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• June events at the National Library of Ireland;
• Upcoming events at the National Library of Scotland;
• Advance notice of the Catholic FHS Conference in October;
• The BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

Don't forget the BI-Gen Twitter feed, too, of course ... though it's been a bit quiet lately due to a lack of genealogy news!

From the Abroad in the Yard blog...

DNA and Family Resemblance

And finally, a century ago today...

Emily Wilding Davison

Genealogy News - 31st May

Recent releases by Ancestry include great news for Surrey researchers - see their 'updates page' and follow the links.

Live near London and fancy a free lecture or three? Then check out the June listing for the excellent Gresham College. The talks are free and open to all (and most of the old ones are online at their website, too)

Scots may wish to take a look at this major forthcoming conference in October which is being organised by the Scottish Genealogy Society ... who have also released a few new publications.

Are you into community archives &/or heritage? Then you should check this newsletter out.

A couple of new podcasts have popped up at TNA's dedicated website.

Those of us with Bevin Boy ancestors may be interested in this.

An interesting story about a bid to identify Belfast soldiers.

Lots of Irish news, as usual, is available at Claire Santry's 'Irish Genealogy News' blog - so much of late, in fact, that I'm simply going to ask you to click through to her website and have a browse for yourself. In short, there's news on NLI's 'Summer of Genealogy', Derry's Great Parchment Book, an Irish Famine Conference, and lots, lots more.

A couple of items for Scottish researchers via blogger Chris Paton:

• Scottish Online Catalogue Project;
• Scottish Catholic records.

Check out a list of 10 free parish register websites.

Many genealogists may wish to follow blogger John D Reid's advice and take an online course.

The usual Friday stuff from the BBC...

• The week's 'History Headlines' will soon pop up here (where you can also peruse previous instalments);
• Latest Podcast;
• Upcoming history TV & radio.

More to be found at the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Questionable advice...

How Not to Woo a Man

Genealogy News - 28th May

The Spring Bank Holiday seems to have temporarily choked the flow of genealogy news. Oh well, let's see what we can dig out...

Some reading to begin with, and the latest Lost Cousins Newsletter + the Bank Holiday edition from S&N Genealogy Supplies.

Big news for Scottish researchers: the launch of the 1895 Valuation Rolls at ScotlandsPeople.

More Scottish news via Chris Paton: Scottish Monumental Inscriptions update.

And yet more for the Scots: don't forget to keep tabs on Electric Scotland's newsletters.

You may wish to catch up with recent developments at TheGenealogist.

Here's the regular history links collection from the Two Nerdy History Girls.

And that's about it. Well, apart from the usual forthcoming events listing...

• Saturday 1st June - South Ayrshire History & Family History Fair, Troon;
• Saturday 1st June - Sheffield & District Family History Fair, Sheffield;
• Saturday 1st June - Shropshire FHS Open Day & Fair, Shrewsbury;
• Advance warning of a GOONS seminar for budding One-Namers;
• Irish events (thanks Claire);
• PRONI event for those 'in the industry';
• Events at the National Library of Scotland;
• Upcoming SoG events;
• Forthcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• The BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

And remember that there are other oddments to be found via the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Genealogy News - 24th May

Once again, we begin with blogger of all things Irish, Claire Santry, and her report on the terrific news about the island's Civil Registration Indexes. Chris Paton's take on the news is here. Claire also fills us in on more available Church of Ireland records.

Not long before I published this post news broke of the release of over 450,000 new parish records from FindMyPast. The new datasets cover several parts of England, so do at least have a quick look just in case your area of interest is included.

I've been sent a link to a handy 'Interactive People Finder' which genealogists may find useful.

Here's an interesting project from Northumberland, and more specifically Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.

Thanks to @NLIreland on Twitter (among others) for pointing out this great resource for Irish history.

A little news item re. Wales and its libraries can be perused here.

Think you may have an interest in Brompton Cemetery, London? Try this.

Yorkshire researchers may wish to take a look at Chris Paton's post on the subject of Bradford's planned new library.

Latest issue of Irish Roots Magazine.

Interesting theory: our ancestors were smarter than us (thanks to @FamilySearch on Twitter).

Blogger Christine Woodcock has flagged another couple of useful general websites - the first recommendation (for Scots) can be found here and the second (for the whole of the world!) is here.

A tale of conservation from the NLI.

There's a half price offer on historical maps from Ordnance Survey.

The usual Friday stuff from the BBC HistoryExtra website:

• The week's 'History Headlines';
• Latest Podcast;
• June issue of the BBC History Magazine;
• Upcoming history TV & radio.

And don't forget the BI-Gen Twitter feed!

Genealogy News - 21st May

As is prone to happen from time to time, we have a distinct lull in genealogy-related news at the moment. But here goes anyway...

We'll begin with blogger Claire Santry and her further observations re. the release of the 1926 Irish Census.

The latest GOONS Newsflash is now available.

Here's news of a DNA project for Caithness and Sutherland (thanks to @DebbieKennett on Twitter).

And here are details of an Oxfordshire DNA project (related posts here and here).

There's also an interesting DNA Native Indians-in-Iceland tale here.

Chris Paton informs us of the latest news on the 'Family Tree' TV comedy show, currently airing in the US and due 'over here' in July.

Now available: the latest Offaly History newsletter.

Christine Woodcock points to a couple of avenues for those of us with Scottish rural ancestors.

As for Northern Ireland (and its GRO records), take a look at this post from Chris Paton. And here's some new material for County Down.

Forthcoming events (not a great deal happening!):

• Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th May (10am-4pm) - Channel Islands FHS Exhibition, St.Helier Town Hall, Jersey;
• Events, etc., at the National Library of Scotland (+ other NLS stuff);
• Scottish Genealogy Society's 'Programme of Classes';
• Irish events (thanks Claire);
• Upcoming Postcard Fairs (please check with organisers before travelling a long way);
• The BBC's 'Things To Do' page.

And don't forget about the BI-Gen Twitter feed.

Way too complicated...

Einstein & Genealogy