Bank Holiday
2024-08-26
Bank Holiday
Summer Bank Holiday

North Staffs Branch - Research / Help evening
2024-09-02 19:30 - 21:30 (Europe/London) | St. John’s Centre, St. John’s Centre, 122 Newcastle Rd. Trent Vale, Stoke on Trent, ST4 6QD, United Kingdom
Research / Help evening

Birmingham: Peplow Memorial Lecture
2024-09-07 14:00 - 16:00 | Birmingham & Midland Institute – Kingsley Norris Room, 9 Margaret Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B3 3BS, United Kingdom
The Noble Descendants of Bess of Hardwick
Speaker: Howard Connell
Given that Hardwick and Chatsworth are both in the Midlands (albeit East rather than West) my topic is “The Noble Descendants of Bess of Hardwick”. The lecture will seek to trace the ways in which this remarkable woman, who became the second wealthiest in England, contributed to the bloodlines of so many English hereditary peers.

Howard Connell is a barrister living and working in the Isle of Man. His 40 year career in public service included 20 years as a lawyer in the UK Civil Service, and 12 in the Attorney General’s Chambers in the Isle of Man. He is also an Anglican Lay Reader and the Diocesan Chancellor for the Diocese of Sodor and Man. Heraldry became a passion of his at about the age of 8 and he has served on the Council of the Heraldry Society and the Court of Trustees of the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies and lectured on the topic to both the English and Scottish Heraldry Societies and at the International Congress in Saint Andrews.

William Augustus Peplow
Gus as he was known was a successful business man from the Black Country and descended from a long line of clockmakers. He had a keen interest in Heraldry, which he helped develop in the society, also making authoritative surveys of the hatchments of Worcestershire. He later became President of the Worcester Archaeological Society and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. After his demise in 1983 this annual lecture was set up in his memory.

Kenilworth: 'Matters of Life & Death: Letters from the men at the front in the 2nd Anglo-Boer War' (LIVE)
2024-09-11 19:30 - 21:00 | Kenilworth, Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End,, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1QJ, United Kingdom
Speaker: Brian Stote
Brian’s great great grandmother sent food parcels and gifts to men from the Yorkshire town of Otley who were stationed in South Africa during the Boer War conflict of 1899-1902. Some of them sent letters to her, which were collected into a scrapbook, relating their experiences during battles, troop movements and daily life, and these have been distilled into a talk to give a picture of a sometimes forgotten war from those who were actually there.

This is a LIVE meeting at The Kenilworth Centre

Family History Surgery & Help Desk
2024-09-14 10:00 - 16:00 | Birmingham & Midland Institute – Kingsley Norris Room, 9 Margaret Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B3 3BS, United Kingdom
Heritage Week – Family History Surgery & Help Desk
In the BMI, 9, Margaret Street in Birmingham city centre.
Midland Ancestors can help you grow your family tree. Join us for the Family History Surgery & Help Desk at the Midland Ancestors Family History Centre. This exciting event is the perfect opportunity for you to explore your family’s roots and uncover fascinating stories from the past.
Our knowledgeable team of genealogists will be available to provide assistance, answer questions, and help you navigate through our numerous resources and databases. Whether you’re just starting out or need help overcoming a brickwall, our experts are here to support you.

During the event, you’ll have the chance to learn valuable tips and tricks, discover new research methods, and connect with fellow enthusiasts. With access to all our records and documents, you’ll be able to piece together your family’s story and gain a deeper understanding of your heritage.
Don’t miss this opportunity to delve into your past and unlock the secrets of your family history. Join us at this Family History Surgery & Help Desk and embark on a journey of discovery! Grow your family tree using the Midland Ancestors Family History Centre.
Available to view copies of parish registers of burials, marriages and baptisms, wills, monumental inscriptions, street and trade directories, censuses and maps. Holdings number almost 10,000 items with an estimated 8.5 million data entries.

The Centre houses the group Reference Library and also has computers from which you can access the internet and all digital resources we hold. We are also a FamilySearch Affiliate Library allowing access to an estimated 400 million + images of original records that you can’t see on your home computer.
Taking place in the BMI, 9 Margaret Street in Birmingham city centre.
Over the day there will be three sessions each of 2 hours – Free Entry
Choose your time slot and get Tickets thru Eventbrite here –
10:00 am session – Click FH Surgery 10 o’clock Session
12:00 noon Session – Click FH Surgery 12 o’clock Session
2:00 pm Session – Click FH Surgery 2 o’clock Session
Please do not book for more than one session, they are not a series. You can always return on some later date
To these events, there is also a follow up Family History Class more details of which can be seen here – FH Class

Stourbridge Group - 'The extraordinary life of Captain Adam'
2024-09-17 19:30 - 21:00 | Stourbridge, St. Peter's Church Hall, Pedmore, West Midlands, DY9 0SW, United Kingdom
‘The extraordinary life of Captain Adam’
(A Story from Lye & Wollescote Cemetery)
Captain William Adam
Captain William Adam (1819-1893) was born in London on the 11th March 1919 and died in Stourbridge on the 26th December 1893. He. served in the 72nd and 48th Regiments of Foot. He was living at Wollescote House when he died, but previously had lived at Church House, Ashford Bowdler, near Ludlow. After retiring from the army he had become a gentleman farmer in Ireland. He was married at least twice. His mother was a Russian from St Petersburg. This is his fascinating story.

A talk by Jean Weston.

Doors open at 7pm

Wolverhampton: West Midlands Police Museum History and Archives
2024-09-25 19:30 - 21:00 | Wolverhampton, The Terry Harding Room, Perton Civic Centre, Church Road, Perton,, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, WV6 7PD, United Kingdom
Tonight our presentation is given by Corrine Brazier who you may have seen on Jay Blades History of the Black Country when she shared information about criminals in Birmingham.
This evening Corrine is going to tell us about the history of the museum and its archives, and about how Wolverhampton features within these records. Join us to learn about the records held and how to access them.

Doors open at 7.15 p.m. for a 7.30 p.m. meeting start

Birmingham: Family History Class
2024-09-28 09:30 - 16:00 | Birmingham & Midland Institute – Kingsley Norris Room, 9 Margaret Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B3 3BS, United Kingdom
Family History Class
Follow up to the Family History Surgery & Help Desk of the 14th Sept.
Learn or refresh your skills on how to research your family history. This one day event is suitable for both beginners and those who have some experience of research.
To celebrate National Heritage Week, Midland Ancestors will be offering a full day’s tuition with experienced researchers on where to begin and how to record your research. Inputs on essential subjects will include –

births, marriages and deaths using civil registration (after 1837)
census returns 1841-1921 and the 1939 Register
parish records
Military Records
newspapers
genealogy software

Participants will be shown the vast data we hold to assist with their research journey. Printed handouts will be available on the day.
The £10 fee can be redeemed against the cost of joining the society on the day.

For the Family History Surgery & Help Desk event to which this is a follow up, details can be seen here

London: Members Day: “The Ancestor I would most like to meet”
2024-10-05 10:15 - 12:00 | Wesley’s Chapel and Leysian Mission, 49 City Road, London, EC1Y 1AU, United Kingdom
Members Day: “The Ancestor I would most like to meet”
This is an opportunity for members to pick out an ancestor that for whatever reason they would like to meet. Was it a notable person, someone who was a rogue or even someone who went missing? All of our ancestors will have a story or two to tell that we would never discover.
Meetings will be held at Wesley’s Chapel and Leysian Mission, 49 City Road, London, EC1Y 1AU.
Non-members are very welcome.
Underground stations: Old Street (due to building works at Old Street, please use subway 3) (Northern Line City Branch)
Moorgate (Northern, Circle and Metropolitan Lines).
Buses: 21, 43, 55, 76, 141, 205, 214, 243, 271
Railway Stations: Old Street, Moorgate, Liverpool Street, City ThamesLink, Farringdon

Birmingham: Apprenticeship Indentures and Assignments and three Overseers Accounts
2024-10-05 14:00 - 16:00 | Birmingham & Midland Institute – Kingsley Norris Room, 9 Margaret Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B3 3BS, United Kingdom
Apprenticeship Indentures and Assignments and three Overseers Account
Speaker: Rhonda Niven
In this presentation we will hear about the conservation of Apprenticeship Indentures and Assignments and Overseers Account Books of Bromsgrove St Johns. This project was carried out in 2022 by Rhonda Niven, Book and Paper Conservator at the Hive in Worcester as a result of funding provided by the Kemp Legacy fund from Midland Ancestors allowing access to documents that had previously been too fragile for Researchers to handle.
As Conservator, Rhonda is responsible for the preservation and conservation of a wide range of mainly paper-based material. Originally from New Zealand, she graduated from West Dean College, Chichester, with a Graduate Diploma in Conservation/Restoration of Books and Library Materials. Prior to joining the Hive team Rhonda was employed to conserve the records of Broadmoor Hospital which are held by the Berkshire Record Office.

North Staffs Branch - Research / Help evening
2024-10-07 19:30 - 21:30 | St. John’s Centre, St. John’s Centre, 122 Newcastle Rd. Trent Vale, Stoke on Trent, ST4 6QD, United Kingdom
Research/help evening

Kenilworth: 'From Lubenham to Sandy: Riches to Rags [well not quite!]' (LIVE)
2024-10-09 19:30 - 21:00 | Kenilworth, Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End,, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1QJ, United Kingdom
Speaker: John Frearson
The story of four generations of a Leicestershire Family. Great-grandfather Ashton raised cattle in Leicestershire for the London market. He had 14 children – and three brothers married three sisters. This is the story of the struggles of one branch of the family that moved to Bedfordshire in the judgemental late 19th and early 20th centuries. [Family history research based on the discovery of a house full of archival material – and extensive further research.]
www.johnphfrearson.co.uk

This is a LIVE meeting to be held at The Kenilworth Centre

Stourbridge Group - 'The Real 'Allo 'Allo'
2024-10-15 19:30 - 21:00 | Stourbridge, St. Peter's Church Hall, Pedmore, West Midlands, DY9 0SW, United Kingdom
‘The Real ‘Allo ‘Allo’
A talk by John Pittwood
The Talk – The Real ‘Allo ‘Allo’

This is a fascinating talk about the father of John, also called John. John had volunteered for the RAF and had became a Lancaster bomber navigator with 207 Squadron. On the 3rd/4th May 1944, John and the rest of his crew took off from RAF Spilsby. This was his seventh mission. They were to bomb a French military base at Mailly-le-Camp (south-east of Paris). The military camp had been taken over by the German army after the fall of France in 1940 and was being used as a panzer training camp. The target was part of the softening up process before D-Day. After bombing the target John’s aircraft was shot down by a German night fighter(s).The captain ordered the crew to bail out. John successfully bailed out and this talk tells his remarkable story how he successfully evaded captured and escaped via Spain.

Typical German Nightfighter – Heinkel HE 219
The Speaker
John is a retired Electrical Engineer. One of his interests is photography and he is a volunteer photographer for the National Trust. John is also a Community Presenter for the RNLI, a role he has filled for 40 years. John will donate his fee to the RNLI.

Wolverhampton: Clive of India
2024-10-30 19:30 - 21:00 | Wolverhampton, The Terry Harding Room, Perton Civic Centre, Church Road, Perton,, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, WV6 7PD, United Kingdom
Robert Clive was born near Market Drayton in 1725 and has been widely credited for laying the foundation of the British East India Company (EIC).
Clive’s actions on behalf of the EIC have made him one of Britain’s most controversial colonial figures. His achievements included checking French imperialist ambitions on the Coromandel Coast and establishing EIC control over Bengal, thereby furthering the establishment of the British Raj, though he worked only as an agent of the East India Company, not of the British government.
Our presenter, Max Keen, is a lively and animated speaker who is sure to provide an entertaining evening whilst dressed in a costume of the period.
Doors open at 7.15 pm for a meeting start time of 7.30 pm

Birmingham: The Mourning Brooch
2024-11-02 14:00 - 16:00 | Birmingham & Midland Institute – Kingsley Norris Room, 9 Margaret Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B3 3BS, United Kingdom
The Mourning Brooch
Speaker: Jean Renwick
Jean Renwick’s talk reveals years of research behind her family saga, The Mourning Brooch, based upon the lives of real Yorkshire people who lived in the second half of the 19th and first half of the 20th century. After inheriting a mourning brooch, Jean was intrigued to know who was Elizabeth Addy commemorated in the brooch, and what happened to the two little girls she left behind. The novels reveal how the sisters’ lives took them in very different directions.
Using newspaper archives, Jean discovered scandals, adding drama to the tale, and research in England and the USA revealed much about the personalities of the characters. And the story moves to London, Liverpool, Philadelphia – even Constantinople – all based on fact. Finally, she will explain how she handles the gaps in knowledge and will report on progress in writing the last part of the saga.
Do you have a piece of mourning jewellery? Bring it to the meeting and share what you know of its history.
Jean Renwick was brought up in the West Midlands and went to school in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton. After retirement, she achieved a Masters in History of Art at the University of Warwick and then embarked upon a second career as a novelist.

North Staffs Branch - Talk
2024-11-04 19:30 - 21:30 | St. John’s Centre, St. John’s Centre, 122 Newcastle Rd. Trent Vale, Stoke on Trent, ST4 6QD, United Kingdom
Talk “Etruria Bone Mill” Speaker Bernard Lovatt

Kenilworth: Researching Irish Ancestry (LIVE)
2024-11-13 19:30 - 21:00 | Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End, Kenilworth, Cv8 1QJ, Abbey End, Kenilworth, CV8 1QJ, United Kingdom
Speaker: Paul Wilkins
Paul is the founder of The Family Tree Tracers,Dorector of Family History Detectives and delivers family history courses at WCRO as well as giving talks and teaching genealogy, and writing for WDYTYA? Magazine

Stourbridge Group - Social Evening with refreshments
2024-11-19 19:30 - 21:00 | Stourbridge, St. Peter's Church Hall, Pedmore, West Midlands, DY9 0SW, United Kingdom
Social Evening with refreshments
This the final event of the year for Midland Ancestors members only.

Wolverhampton: 12 Days of Christmas again!
2024-11-27 19:30 - 21:00 | Wolverhampton, The Terry Harding Room, Perton Civic Centre, Church Road, Perton,, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, WV6 7PD, United Kingdom
This is the last meeting of 2024 for the Wolverhampton group so will have a Christmas theme with seasonal nibbles (bring your own soft drink – it will not be checked!)
At the moment the current plan is that Penny will provide a presentation of websites that you may wish to explore over the festive season all designed to help you explore new records from the comfort of your own home. For Wolverhampton regulars this is not a repeat of either of the last two years but will include completely new websites that are useful for family history research. Please check back nearer the time in case there is a change to this plan.
We will also be revealing the Wolverhampton group programme for 2025
Doors open at 7.15 p.m. for a 7.30 p.m. meeting start

North Staffs Branch - Social / help evening
2024-12-02 19:30 - 21:30 | St. John’s Centre, St. John’s Centre, 122 Newcastle Rd. Trent Vale, Stoke on Trent, ST4 6QD, United Kingdom
Social / help evening with mincepies and tea or coffee

Birmingham: The Rise and Fall of the World's Mightiest Glassmakers
2024-12-07 14:00 - 16:00 | Birmingham & Midland Institute – Kingsley Norris Room, 9 Margaret Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B3 3BS, United Kingdom
The Rise and Fall of the World’s Mightiest Glassmakers
Speaker: Henry Chance
Chance Brothers & Co Ltd was at one time the greatest glassmaker in the world, and one of Smethwick’s foremost employers, providing the glass for the Crystal Palace, the Palace of Westminster and more than half the lighthouse lenses worldwide. It was particularly known for the way its workers were cared for, and for the philanthropy of the firm and the directors.
Henry Chance is descended from both brothers who founded the famous Smethwick firm, and is the grandson of Sir Hugh Chance the last family chairman.

Kenilworth: Christmas Social (LIVE)
2024-12-11 19:30 - 21:00 | Kenilworth, Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End,, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1QJ, United Kingdom
Further details to be confirmed

Bank Holiday
2024-12-25
Bank Holiday
Christmas Day

Bank Holiday
2024-12-26
Bank Holiday
Boxing Day

Bank Holiday
2025-01-01
Bank Holiday
New Year’s Day

Kenilworth: Travels with my (Great Great) Aunt
2025-01-08 19:30 - 20:30 | Online Event Using Zoom
Via ZOOM
Speaker – Helen Baggott

London: “By the sweat of their brows”
2025-01-11 11:00 - 16:30 | London Family History Centre, 64-68 Princes Gate, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2PA, United Kingdom
“By the sweat of their brows”
A talk by Sharon Hintze.
Sharon will be talking about industrial workers and their like in our area of interest in past times.
Meetings will be held at the LDS Hyde Park Family Search Centre, 64-68 Princes Gate, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2PA. Doors open 10.30; talks start 11.00.
We will have the research facility largely to ourselves for the day of our meetings so will not be restricted on time. We will be able to take coffee and tea into our meetings as well as sandwiches.
If you download and install a Chrome extension on your laptop (which uses the building Wi-Fi), you can search records, use commercial websites for free and download images directly to your laptop after our meeting. In effect, with the Chrome extension, your laptop has the same premium access as the PCs in the FamilySearch Centre. This access only works, of course, if you are within the building on Exhibition Road since it is dependent on the building Wi-Fi address. Ask a member of staff about this if you are interested.
Underground stations: South Kensington (District and Circle Lines).
Buses: 14, 49, 70, 74, 345, 360, 414, 430, C1

Birmingham: Weeping Angels
2025-01-11 14:00 - 16:00 | Birmingham & Midland Institute – Kingsley Norris Room, 9 Margaret Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B3 3BS, United Kingdom
Weeping Angels – interpreting the symbolism of the Victorian cemetery
Speaker – David Moore
Symbols are a language that can help us understand our past. As the saying goes, “a picture paints a thousand words”: but which words? Understanding our past determines actively, our ability to understand the present. David will take a journey back in time to look at the Victorian symbolism to be found in cemeteries and try to understand what messages the living were being left, to tell the story of their dead loved ones.

Stourbridge Group - AGM and "Women in the Glass Industry"
2025-01-25 14:00 - 16:30 | Stourbridge, St. Peter's Church Hall, Pedmore, West Midlands, DY9 0SW, United Kingdom
Talk – “Women in the Glass Industry”
Stourbridge Glass Museum is custodian of many thousands of pieces of glassware reflecting the skills and artistry of glassblowers, designers, and decorators from the Stourbridge area for over 400years. It reflects the industrial efforts from such world-renowned makers as Richardson’s, Stuart Crystal, Royal Brierley Crystal and Webb Corbett’s. Yet how many pieces in the collection have been produced solely by women?
Within those hot working factory conditions, it was said that the only limitation to the glass-blower’s art is ‘the strength in his arm’ and the hot shops were considered at be an all-male environment, women were not allowed. Archive sources and ladies who worked in the glass industry have helped me uncover a fascinating account of this ‘glass ceiling’. From the 1860’s to the present day. This is a revealing account of changing attitudes and the struggles between Unions, Management and workers to allow women to do ‘men’s work’.
Edith Shutt, Acid-dipping at Stuart Crystal, Red House Glass Cone
Speaker: Dr. Kate Round
Kate is an outreach presenter and tour guide for Dudley Museum Service.
Dr Kate Round
In the glass industry, her interests include the historical development of the industry in the Stourbridge district, how the geology and geography impacted on the wealth and sociology of the area, driven by the rivalries of our Glass Dynasties.In her my previous life,Kate was a research chemist and lecturer, so understand the chemistry of glass having worked on the synthesis of ‘zeolites’ (silica based materials) with my work published in International Journals.

Wolverhampton: Guidance from The Wise Woman!
2025-01-29 19:15 - 21:00 | Wolverhampton, The Terry Harding Room, Perton Civic Centre, Church Road, Perton,, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, WV6 7PD, United Kingdom
Join us for a talk on the naughtier side of Tudor and Medieval life, looking at sexual attitudes and beliefs, by the Wise Woman in full costume. Funny but graphic – not suitable for those of a sensitive disposition!
Our presenter, Pam Manning, a former nurse and midwife, tells us about the historical research she carried out for part of her further qualifications using the Bawdy Court records.

Doors open at 7.15 p.m. for a meeting start time of 7.30 p.m.
