Family Tree

How to make the most of your genealogy time!

It’s the ‘Holy Grail’, isn’t it – having

Photo-dating puzzle: the answer

(Turn to page 69, to Photo Corner, for

Contact the Family Tree team

Matthew Hill Publisher Helen Tovey Editor Rachel Bellerby

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Family Tree events this spring

DNA Discoveries 13-27 March A brand new

A spring challenge for Chris Paton

FT regular Chris Paton takes on a new challenge next month, as he embarks on a sponsored Kiltwalk event

Discovering DNA in landmark anniversary year

In the 25th anniversary year of the decoding of the first human chromosome, Family Tree is holding a special DNA Discoveries online event

Halton, Runcorn and Widnes records now available on Deceased Online

Records for three cemeteries in the Borough of Halton are now available to view on at Deceased Online

Create a biography of your ancestor in just a few clicks

MyHeritage has announced the release of AI Biographer, offering users the chance to create a biography for an ancestor using the power of artificial intelligence

New appointments at Society of Genealogists

The Society of Genealogists has recently elected a new chair and vice chair to its board of trustees

Find your postal ancestors for free

A new tool from the ‘Addressing Health’ project allows users to access fascinating details about the working lives of Victorian and Edwardian postal ancestors

FindMyPast names new managing director

Sarah Bush, previously chief product officer at FindMyPast, has been named as the genealogy company’s new managing director, as part of closer integration with its parent company, DC Thomson

Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies is 1!

The past 12 months have been a whirlwind of activity and the Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies (SIGS) team have been working hard to be able to unveil a range of exciting new initiatives for the genealogy and family history community. Clare Hennessy shares the news.

RESEARCH LOGS:

What, Why and How?

BILL EVERLEY’S WAR

Mike Everley recounts the World War II service of his father Bill Everley, who, as a member of the RAF, was posted to various British stations , before being despatched to India

SEPARATING FACT FROM FICTION: FINDING A LOST SOLDIER OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR

Stuart Valentine shows us that it is possible to separate family tales from actual, documented evidence – if you are prepared to question what you think you already know…

KEEN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DNA?

An essential part of today’s family history kit,

Dear Paul

This month, Paul Chiddicks shines a spotlight on wills and associated documents, demonstrating the fascinating detail we can uncover when exploring the final wishes of our ancestors

EDUCATING A NATION

Gaynor Haliday explores how the passing of the Elementary Education Act in 1870 sparked major disagreements but ended with compromise

Books & co

Family history books with Helen Tovey & Rachel Bellerby

RESEARCHING 19TH-CENTURY MERCHANT SEAMEN

In this month’s Family Tree Academy tutorial, Dave Annal explains how to find out more about an ancestor who was a member of the Merchant Navy. The 19th-centur y records relating to this profession may seem daunting, but with a little know-how, you can extract fascinating information

Preserving your family history photos after scanning

Learn tips and tactics to help preserve your precious family history photos for the future with Ann Larkham.

THE TICHBORNE CASE

On the trail of Catherine Mary Riboldi’s adoptive French family, Gill Shaw finds a connection to one of the most notorious court cases of the 19th century

ORIGINAL WILLS & THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE’S CONSULTATION

What does the law say about public access to original wills? Richard Holt discusses legislation surrounding the Ministr y of Justice’s consultation, ‘Storage and retention of original will documents’, which was published on 15th December 2023

SPOTLIGHT ON... THE FAMILY HISTORY FEDERATION

This year sees the Family History Federation celebrate its 50th anniversary. We take a look at the valuable role of this key family history organisation over the past five decades and its plans over the year to come. Be sure to put your hands together for the family history societies who have reached milestone dates too!

Photo corner

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

TRACING FEMALE ANCESTORS WITH ANCESTRY

With billions of records to search, Ancestry offers the opportunity for you to investigate the records in any number of ways to suit your research needs. This time, we’re going to take a look at the collections that shed light specifically on the female ancestors in your family tree

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

With our experts Dr Sophie Kay & Dr Simon Wills

Researching a WW2 era Merchant Navy ancestor

QI share here a photo of my maternal

DIARY DATES

DISCOVER LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO ENJOY FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, PLUS ON-SITE EVENTS

Your letters

Heirlooms, treasures, memories and stories, preserved and shared

Tying up the loose ends

Diane Lindsay is not one just to shove a family history mystery back into its box. She likes to get to the facts and pin them down – to learn about and respect the lives of those gone before us

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