Genealogy Chat

GENUKI has some info on schools and churches etc. The most obvious means of eliminating multiple choices is to find out when a place was built and has it changed uses over the years. A building may be a Sunday school in 1860 but what was it ten years previously when your rellie was a child? The same with churches - several times I've despaired of finding the right one only to check the dates each church was built and been left with only one possible. Only then can you hazard a guess as to where your rellie's records might be.

Local record offices/libraries often have school log books. I looked at the details of my grans school, and it told me who had had measles and when, and had a 'punishment book' - so I could see who was the naughtiest. Some schools have kept their log books, but will usually show them to you if you ask. maggie

I just typed the names I was interested in into a search engine (Google is best) to see what came up. I found all sorts - quotes from an early 19thc newspaper showing what prizes they won in the local gardening competition, trade directory listings, other people who were researching the same names, etc. Give it a try and see what comes up. Wills are also useful. Go to the website www.documentsonline.nationalarchives.gov.uk. You can search for wills under the "family history" heading and if you find one you fancy can download it for £3.50. I found a really interesting one from 1846 which led me to finding the family vault!!!

Wow Rose isn't that amazing, actually I have some old newspapers in my loft, regarding various family events - you just reminded me! Thanks G xxx

I bought an old pine chest in Bath for storing my blankets in and it had a really old news paper laquered inside the lid. This was a source of all sorts of info. on business adverts. My own Gt Gt grandfather's business was among the ads. Rose

nudge

The censuses will tell you occupations. Old trade directories might then give you an idea of where they would have worked (www.historicaldirectories.org) As well as the personal details you are looking for have you tried finding maps for the right period? Some old maps, including original Ordnance survey maps have been reprinted, and there's an old maps website. I have copies of relevant maps, along with photos of buildings my ancestors would have known (again the web has several sites with old photos - using Google may find some for the area you want) filed with my certificates etc. Its interesting to trace routes they would have taken to work, and to spot where they lived in relation to their future wives/husbands. I found 2 of my gt grandparents in adjoining roads, located a school which they almost certainly both attended. The icing on the cake will be if I can find admissions registers for that school at the county records office. Good hunting Judith

Thanks Brenda (my mentor) - once again providing lots of leads - Thanks Lyla - I have looked there and there are some entertaining stories - just not sure if any relate to my people G xxx

The most gossipy sorts of records in which you are likely to find relatives are: Wills Poor law records Newspapers Monumental inscriptions Marriage licences Some will be on the net, some in record offices, some in local studies libraries and not all will be indexed. Wills seem to thin off in the 1800s unless you were rich, becoming more important again after 1900. Newspapers only take off in the late 1800s and marriage licences don't seem to be indexed after about 1830, for obvious reasons. What survives varies from area to area and even from parish to parish. Good luck Brenda

Hi Guys........ Ok so I have now the bare bones so to speak of some of my families' history - who begot who etc. (I am in the process of validating these) but now I would like to know some interesting tit bits. You know like what schools they attended what they did for a living, any bits of gossip - generally just getting to know them better....... Where on earth or cyberspace do I begin to research these areas? Any ideas? .........................G xxx