United Kingdom

  • Images of the United Kingdom

    Jan 4

    Just like the United States National Archives has a wonderful collection of online images spanning many decades, so does the National Archives of the U.K.  If a researcher has any family ancestors originally from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland this image library of the National Archives of the U. K. is well worth viewing. The imag...

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  • Pandemics and Your Ancestors – Part I

    Dec 12

    When an epidemic of an infectious disease kills thousands of humans across vast regions it is referred to as a ‘pandemic’.  It is far less common in the world in the 21st century, however throughout history in every location in the world our ancestors could find themselves in the midst of a pandemic. By understanding some of these regional and...

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  • Old U. K. Directories and What They Offer

    Oct 10

    Many family researchers find English ancestors in their lineage. Some immigrates were coming to America in the 1600s and others in the 1900s. My own father, his immediate and extended family came from Manchester, England arriving at different periods between 1893 and 1914. By tracing these family branches, using the U.K. censuses and vital records ...

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  • A Blend of History and Genealogy on Television

    Oct 9

    The television show “Who Do You Think You Are?” originated in the United Kingdom about nine years ago and is hugely popular each season there. They also love their historical programs.  So the history channel in Britain, called ‘Yesterday’ is joining forces with web site findmypast.co.uk to bring to the British viewing public a mixture of ...

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  • A Lesson from 9/11—Share and Help Where You Can

    Sep 11

    The following is an extra long blog for this 10th anniversary of Sept. 11th, but relates how genealogy can help heal even the deepest wounds. Above is a photo of Ralph Kershaw. Disbelief, just utter and total disbelief, was our reaction at what we were watching on the television that fateful September 11th morning.  The national news was repor...

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  • Unseen Views of Crime and Poverty in London – 1680-1820

    Aug 30

    It is amazing some of the documents that have survived over the centuries. England does have a long tradition of keeping records for all types of events, from the grand to the common and ordinary. Since many people have some English background in their ancestry, there is an extremely interesting online site that should be investigated, even if you ...

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  • The Northern Irish Ancestor

    Jul 31

    There are two Irish regions, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland which is part of the  United Kingdom. Over the decades many Irish families, especially those from the northern region of the emerald isle, have resettled in England, Scotland or Wales.  So to help locate some additional vital records on any ancestors from the Northern Irela...

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  • English Ancestors in Workhouses

    May 10

    The Poor Law Union of Great Britain referred to special laws enacted about the 1530s for England and Wales to care for the citizens too poor to care of themselves. This system of assistance remained in England and Wales until 1948. Prior to 19th century the aid for the poor was provided by each parish in the form of local workhouses. There were som...

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  • Learning about Welsh Ancestors

    Apr 28

    Anyone who has ancestors from the United Kingdom just may have an ancestor from Wales. This country is part of the United Kingdom and on the island of Great Britain. Bordering Wales is England, the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. With a present population of approximately three million, its ethnic make-up is Celtic with its own distinctive cultur...

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  • Looking at the 1911 UK Census

    Jan 24

    It was a Sunday evening on April 2, 1911 that the official census was done throughout England, Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands within the United Kingdom. Normally the records are not released for 100 years. The UK National Archives choose to release the 1911 censuses early, by 2009. Now having the information as of April 1911 on some 36 ...

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