Discover Your Ancestors

Issue 010

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Welcome once again to Discover Your Ancestors Periodical. It’s a busy time for the genealogy world with the Who Do You Think You Are? Live show coming up at London’s Olympia from 20-22 February. We’ll be there with our own stand, of course, so do drop by and say hello.

We’ll be launching Issue 3 of our annual print edition – 164 pages packed full of exclusive new content. In it you will ﬁnd more than 30 fascinating features on everything from bigamy to WW1 maps, crammed full of social history articles and practical research advice. Get in there quick with our special subscriber offer (see below) and save money!

If you’re at the show – which is the biggest history-related event in the world! – do visit our supporters at TheGenealogist there too –they will have a lecture theatre twice the size of last year with a crammed schedule of expert talks. You will also ﬁnd Discover Your Ancestors and special subscription offers at their stand.

Back to this issue of the Periodical for now, though: inside we have the usual eclectic mix, including an interesting social history piece by Nell Darby on the many different types of ‘working from home’ that went on long before the present day. Jenny Jones continues our series on marriage with a look at Fleet weddings, which we’ll follow up next time with irregular Borders marriages in Scotland. Plus we’ve got wills, ﬁrst-hand memories of WW2 veterans, guidance on apprenticeship records, and more! Andrew Chapman, Editor

Articles

Home of industry

Throughout Georgian and Victorian times, men and women have worked from home to bring in an income, in a variety of ways. In 18th century England, various regions had their own specialised industries. In Bedfordshire and its neighbouring counties, straw plaiting was a common job up to the beginning of the 20th century, and could be done from home. In other areas - from Lancashire and Yorkshire to Northamptonshire and Somerset - there was a dependence on yarn and wool.

Secret Liaisons

The term 'Fleet marriages’ (named after London’s Fleet prison) has become synonymous with irregular or clandestine marriages, those taking place away the home parish of the spouses, without banns or licence, or outside of the normal hours. While they breached canon law, these marriages were still considered legally valid until 1754 for couples from all ranks of society

A Wealth of Wills

With the amount of documents and records available when researching your family history, it is easy to overlook family documents that may contain valuable information. One of those key documents often forgotten about is the will record of an ancestor. With will records available to access from 1384 at TheGenealogist, there’s a large selection to view.

Place in Focus: Sheffield

The settlements that grew and merged to form Sheﬃeld date from the second half of the ﬁrst millennium, and are of Anglo-Saxon and Danish origin. In Anglo-Saxon times, the Sheﬃeld area straddled the border between the kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria. After the Norman conquest, Sheﬃeld Castle was built to protect the local settlements, and a small town developed that is the nucleus of the modern city.

Are we recording family war stories?

February 1-8 sees the 14th National Storytelling Week. With both the centenary of World War One and the 75th anniversary of World War Two starting later this year, it’s a good time to think of our families’ amazing wartime stories – but are we overlooking them as a nation?

February 2014 books

In May 1940, the armies of the Second World War were tearing through Central Europe and France had just fallen under German control. The British government made the decision to evacuate 200,000 children around the globe, leaving them alone and completely disconnected from their heartbroken parents.

Break the Brick Walls: Apprenticeship Records

Apprenticeship records are valuable tools for family historians, often filling in the bare bones of research.

Additional Information

Other Formats

You can buy a printed version of the annual Discover Your Ancestors bookazine directly from the publishers, please see www.discoveryourancestors.co.uk and click on ‘Order print copies’ at the bottom.

Editorial Office

Discover Your Ancestors Publishing,

PO BOX 163,

Shaftesbury,

SP7 7BA

E: editor@discoveryourancestors.co.uk

W: www.discoveryourancestors.co.uk

Discover Your Ancestors – The Family History Show

The Family History Show, York!

Saturday 22nd June 2024
10:00 –16:00 (GMT)

Put your research questions to an expert, watch a talk, speak to a local society, archive or genealogical supplier.

Free talks all day, held in a large lecture hall.
Free Experts on hand to help with your queries.
Many family history societies, archives and companies will be attending from all over the country.

Special Offer! Buy tickets for £8.00 (£12.00 on the day)

Buy your tickets early and get two for the price of one!

Find Out More Purchase Tickets

Future Events

Unable to make the next show? We also have shows planned for the following locations:

Discover Your Ancestors Periodical is published by Discover Your Ancestors Publishing, UK. All rights in the material belong to Discover Your Ancestors Publishing and may not be reproduced, whether in whole or in part, without their prior written consent. The publisher makes every effort to ensure the magazine's contents are correct. All articles are copyright© of Discover Your Ancestors Publishing and unauthorised reproduction is forbidden. Please refer to full Terms and Conditions at www.discoveryourancestors.co.uk. The editors and publishers of this publication give no warranties, guarantees or assurances and make no representations regarding any goods or services advertised.