After much hype and anticipation, the 1921 census is finally here. The last census to be published for a few decades (listen to Episode 32 to find out why), this snapshot into the post-WW1 life of our ancestors will be sure to add to your research and help build a picture of your heritage. Available initially on a pay-per-record basis, I take a first look at the records of my ancestors, and share my thoughts of the hotly anticipated world of the census, the website/searching experience, the value for money, and the information you can glean. With there being a cost for these records, it’s impo ..read more

Well, this is timely, isn’t it? Just a day after I recorded this episode, the National Archives announce the date of release of the 1921 census. That’s why I’m publishing it today! This genealogical mine of information will be released on 6th January 2022, and will be available on Find My Past. When I recorded this episode, we didn’t know the date of release, other than it being “Early 2022”, but now we have something to look forward to after the excitement of Christmas has died down. In this episode I look at some ways in which we, as genealogists, can prepare for the release of the 1921 cens ..read more

Welcome back to the latest installment of the Amateur Family History Podcast – and the second part of my chat with Margaret Roberts of the Cheshire Family History Society. Last time, we talked about what Family History Societies do, how to get involved, and how they can help you to break down your genealogical brick walls. In this month’s episode, we pick up where we left off, but bounce around a few more genealogical topics, that – hopefully – will make you think of new and different ways to approach your research. I also share some hints and tips from listeners on how they have managed to ma ..read more

Pretty much every area has one. And they are a mine of information. But, do you know about all the information they hold, the records they maintain, the huge amount of local knowledge that their members have? Not to mention the social aspect of interacting with like-minded, friendly people? Today, I’m joined by the highly knowledgeable Margaret Roberts of the Family History Society of Cheshire, for a natter about the benefits of Family History Societies. We discuss how they may be able to help you break down those brick walls, and solve genealogical challenges that have eluded you for years. W ..read more

Welcome to the second part of my discussion with military historian and genealogist, Chris Baker, where we continue our stroll though some of the records and sources that can help you research your ancestors in the Great War. Part one of this chat is still very much available wherever you found this and, between them, both episodes cover a variety of practical topics. This time, we calk about researching deaths in the Great War, touch on pension records, specialist military resources like Fold3, records from the GRO and what the upcoming 1921 census might bring. Thanks again to Chris for takin ..read more

This month, we don our army gear and dig in to the trenches, as we explore how you can trace your ancestors’ lives (and, sadly all too often, deaths) in World War One. I’m joined by the incomparable Chris Baker, a military historian and professional genealogist, who has helped countless people trace their forebears’ lives in the Great War. In this episode, Chris shares his expertise in this fascinating area of genealogy, by discussing the various records, sources and resources that tell the tales of more than a hundred years ago. We’ll talk about what’s available, where it is, how you can find ..read more

This is the long-awaited (well, a month!) follow-up to my episode about workhouses and the role they play in your family history quest. Join me for the second part of my discussion with Peter Higginbotham – the man behind www.workhouses.org.uk – the definitive guide to workhouses… from their very inception, through the 1800s, and into the 20th century. Hear how they can be researched, what records are available and how you can uncover details about your ancestors’ times in these fascinating institutions. I also look at how researching the workhouse opened up a whole host of opportunities for a ..read more

I didn’t have to look very far in my family history quest to come across the world of the workhouse – and, from speaking to many fellow genealogists, neither – it seems – have many people! The stereotypical image of a foreboding building with Oliver Twist overtones may well be the first thing that comes to mind when you stumble across an ancestor in a workhouse – but, how accurate is that preconception? In this episode (concluding next month), I’m joined by renowned workhouse expert, and the man behind www.workhouses.org.uk, Peter Higginbotham. Peter’s knowledge has led to his website becoming ..read more

Following on from last time, this episode looks at your stories of mining disasters, how you researched them, and how other research can become an interesting spin-off. We look at the sources and techniques that a number of listeners have used to investigate mining accidents, and then move on to other industrial incidents and ways in which jobs contributed to the lives and deaths of our ancestors. There are a number of timely reminders of how techniques from previous episodes can be useful when delving deeper into ‘big’ events in your genealogy – and some recommendations of how to spot the sto ..read more

You don’t have to look far for your ancestors to have been involved in industry. Those who lived in towns and cities in the 1800s and a large part of the 1900s would more than likely have been surrounded by factories, foundries, heavy industry and manufacturing. This way of life would have been the norm for those in urban environments, and the noisy, intense and often dangerous workplaces would have touched most families’ lives. So, it stands to reason that, in days before rigid health and safety procedures, these hazardous places often contributed to injuries, long-lasting medical conditions ..read more