Ancestry Reference Desk

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Ancestry Reference Desk

I’ve just come across the blog for the Ancestry Library Edition, a post by the Ancestry Insider pointed me in that direction as the PDF’s from some of the RootsTech  presentations are online there. Whilst you don’t have an audio of the talk, the PDF’s are interesting and it is easy to fill in the gaps. Not as good as being there, but better than nothing!

Anne Gillespie Mitchell is the author of the blog and she is obviously an experienced genealogist and know Ancestry’s website well. The posts sometimes have a short video attached  which is always good, others have screen shots. The posts I have read have all been interesting and helpful. Another good blog to add to my RSS feed.

Thank you to the Ancestry Insider!

http://ancestry-reference-desk.com/

http://ancestryinsider.blogspot.co.nz/

RootsTech & WDYTYA? Live Videos Online

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RootsTech & WDYTYA? Live Videos OnlineIf like me you weren’t at RootsTech 2013 all is not lost, there is the official website with the Keynote and a small number of other presentations plus there is YouTube. The official bloggers at the conference were given access to what sounds like a pretty professional studio to record interviews with presenters, other bloggers and attendees.

DearMyrtle (Pat Richley-Erickson), Lisa Louise Cooke and Jill Ball have a great selection of interviews, it would have been good to see some English bloggers recording interviews, but as yet I haven’t found any. However the videos that are on YouTube are interesting and informative.

I wasn’t able to attend Who Do You Think You Are Live either so a quick search turned up a variety of videos on YouTube for that event also. Hopefully video interviews at conferences and also presentations will become more popular and I look forward to seeing what next years conferences bring.

To access videos simply go to YouTube and enter Rootstech or Who Do You Think You Are Live in the search box and then choose whichever video appeals to you. Enjoy RootsTech & WDYTYA? Live Videos Online

http://rootstech.org/

http://www.youtube.com

 

UK WW1 Army Records

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UK WW1 Army Records

The scans of the first batch of WW1 army records are now available for browsing at your nearest LDS Family History Centre or at the Family History library in Salt Lake City. These records are also available at The National Archives in London where the originals are kept, as well they are indexed and available through Ancestry.co.uk.

The records date from the outbreak of WW1 in 1914 through to 1920. They comprise two sets of documents WO 363 which are the enlistment papers which were damaged in WW2 and are generally referred to as the “Burnt Documents” and WO 364 which are Pension Claims made by soldiers who suffered some disability due to service in WW1. It is worth bearing in mind that the Pension Claims include claims made by soldiers which weren’t accepted by the War Office, so if you have heard that your ancestor didn’t get a war pension this doesn’t mean he might not appear in this record set.

The Family Search website has a good wiki on WW1 Army Records available online at https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/United_Kingdom,_World_War_I_Service_Records_(FamilySearch_Historical_Records)

The National Archives, London also has an online guide at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/britisharmysoldierafter1913.htm

https://familysearch.org/

www.ancestry.co.uk

Manor Park Cemetery Records now complete

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Manor Park Cemetery Records now completeDeceasedOnline has announced the completion of the Manor Park Cemetery & Crematorium records. The records span the time period 25th March 1875 to January 2010. Manor Park is unusual in the fact that it has been owned and run by the same family since it establishment in 1875. This cemetery is well cared for and is still in  operation, making it easy for those whose ancestors are buried there.

Annie Chapman one of Jack the Ripper’s victims is buried here along with Winston Churchill’s nanny showing that the cemetery was open for all regardless of social standing.

DeceasedOnline are currently digitising 2.6 million burial and cremation records to add to their database, from 16 burial and cremation authorities around the UK. 1.7 million further records have been digitised from another 18 authorities and are due to be added this year. Plus they are in serious talks with a further 94 authorities about bringing nearly 12 million more records to the website. So lots to look forward to !

http://www.deceasedonline.co.uk/

East Kent parish records now fully searchable

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East Kent parish records now fully searchable

FindMyPast has had the parish registers for those churches within the Canterbury and Maidstone Archdeaconries’ online for some time, but as browse only. So the announcement that they are now fully indexed will be good news for those with Kent ancestry. The records date back to the start of parish registers in 1538 and span up to the 19th century. The original records for Canterbury are held at the newly re-opened Canterbury Cathedral Archives, whilst the Maidstone registers are held at the History & Library Centre at Maidstone.

http://www.findmypast.co.uk

http://www.kent.gov.uk/leisure_and_culture/kent_history/kent_history__library_centre.aspx

http://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/conservation/archives/