Mid Summer here and for once the weather is glorious (sorry if it is the middle of winter wherever you are). Now is a good time to tell you about what’s coming up in the next month.
SOCIETY TALKS
London: Sat 2 Jul, @ 10.30am – 12.30pm: Karen Evans on using DNA research in your family Tree. Meeting held at Wesley’s Chapel and Leysian Mission, 49 City Road, London EC1Y 1AU
Birmingham: Weds. 6Jul, @ 2pm – 4pm: Karen Evans on Where does my family come from? Unlocking the secrets of DNA testing. This will be a Zoom Hybrid Meeting taking place in the BMI Margaret Street, Birmingham B3 3BS and virtually.
Kenilworth Wed 13 July @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm – Summer Social Members’ Evening. Meeting held at the |Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End Car Park, Kenilworth CV8 1QJ
Stourbridge: Tue 19 July @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm (Meet at St. Peter’s Church Centre)
Visit to St Mary’s Church, Kingswinford for a guided tour by Margaret Penn. St Mary’s Church Kingswinford has been in existence since 12th Century and probably longer. Cost £4 (advance booking essential)
Wolverhampton: Wed 27 July @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Coroners’ Inquest Records Talk by genealogist Liz Palmer Meeting held at Perton Civic Centre, Church Road, Perton WV6 7PD
North Staffs: Mon, 4 July @ 7.30pm – 9.30pm – Research Evening. Meeting held at St John’s Centre, Newcastle Road, Stoke on Trent ST4 6QD
Bromsgrove: Are now on their summer break. They reconvene on 13 September, 7.45pm at the Methodist Centre as usual. Speaker is Sandra Taylor, ‘Flowers in the Field’, about nursing in the First World War.
Full details of most of these events can be seen on the Society website, in the yellow programme booklet or by visiting individual Group’s websites.
Since the pandemic, as one would expect, attendance at our Groups has greatly reduced, to such an extent that some groups are contemplating closing. We are hoping that by ‘getting back to normal’ members will once again attend in person, not only to hear some particularly good speakers and, of course, ‘the chat’, so if you live on your own, to be able to leave the house once a month Is good for your mental wellbeing.
As you may be aware, the Birmingham Group has split its meetings to Wednesday afternoon and a Saturday afternoon. A suggestion had been made that we should drop the Wednesday meeting and only hold Saturday meetings. Before we do anything, we need to know what the attendees (you) would like us to do, so can you please let me have your views. Nothing will be done before the end of the year at least.
The Family History Centre is now back to opening five days a week, but as we are now coming to the holiday season, if you intend visiting the library, it might be a good idea to check just to make sure the library is open.
Other Forthcoming Events
The Genealogy Show is holding an online Summer event on 1-3 July from 12 noon. There are different areas available, Main stage talks, on demand talks, reading room, speakers, corner. Full information is available on their website including how to purchase tickets. https://thegenealogyshow.uk/
-oOo-
The Society of Australian Genealogists are starting a seven week online course on 2 July on Intermediate Research methods presented by Danielle Leutrec.
They have another online course which may be of interest on Tues 12 July 8.00pm-9.00pm AEST Tracing Welsh Family History – The Basics (ST) presented by Eilir Ann Daniels
-oOo-
The Friends of Key Hill Cemetery and Warstone Lane Cemetery are holding Catacombs Tours. This is a rare opportunity to view the interior of both Warstone Lane Cemetery catacombs and Key Hill Cemetery catacombs on Sat 23 July at the Jewellery Quarter Festival.
No human remains or coffins will be visible. The first tour is at 12 noon viewing the interior of Warstone Lane catacombs, then walking to neighbouring Key Hill catacombs. The same tour is repeated at 2pm. Pre-booking essential. £6.00 plus booking fee. Places are limited.
Please reserve each ticket in the attendee’s name and bring each eticket to the sales and information stall 20 minutes before the tour begins.
Also note whilst there is no charge for those who hold a current subscription to the Friends for Guided Tours of the cemeteries this does not apply to the catacomb tours.
Reserve you place – for catacomb tours https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-rare-opportunity-to-view-the-interiors-of-the-birmingham-catacombs-in-war-tickets-370410246017?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Ensure you wear suitable footwear. There will also be an information and Sales stall.
-oOo-
The Guild of One-Name Studies is holding its next seminar on Saturday 30th July 2022 at Swindon Village Community Hall, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 9QP
Entitled ‘The Invisible Roots’ – finding the women in your family history
This seminar, consisting of 5 presentations during the day, and will explore legal changes, the impact of raising children, and women’s work inside and outside the home. It will discuss how women are recorded in a one name study and hear some members’ stories of a significant and maybe unconventional woman in their family.
One of the Speakers is Janet Few the President of the Federation of Family History Societies
Full details of the programme and booking information are available at https://one-name.org/seminar-events/
-o0o-
NOT FORGETTING – of course! Our very own LOCAL AND FAMILY HISTORY FAIR
Sunday 25 September 10am to 4pm at: The Theatre, Midland Arts Centre, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH
Download the flyer from our website and pass it around – www.birminghamhistoryfair.uk
-oOo-
Marriage mining in the West Midlands
Member Keith Percy has asked me to update you on the article above which was first published in the March edition of the Midland Ancestor in 2011 with a follow up article in the Midland Ancestor Dec 2021 (Back issues are available via the Members only area on the website. Both articles are well worth reading:
Peter Loach has extended his Tables of GRO page ranges of marriages by which a marriage falling within a particular GRO page range for a particular quarter of a year can be reconciled with a particular Anglican church and a few “Authorised Persons” non-conformist churches or chapels.
They now cover Solihull Registration District churches 1837-1912. All the “Loach Tables” can be downloaded from Keith Percy’s website https://www.whitehousefhc.org: go to “Articles” and “MARRIAGE MINING W MIDS 220528”. Peter has sent printed copies to Birmingham Archives and Warwick Record Office.
On Keith’s website are other articles which members may find of interest, such as Marriage mining in Yorkshire and Nottingham.
He also mentions the Diana Grant apprentice index, published online by the Staffordshire Record Office (SRO), and gives the forename and surname of an apprentice, his age and parish, but only the surname of the master. See https://www.staffsnameindexes.org.uk/
NB There are a lot of Cotterills (+var) listed, but none from my husband’s family unfortunately! Lots of other indexes available on the SRO website.
FindmyPast
Findmypast, has announced it will be offering free webinars to support new members, offering helpful tips and advice, as well as addressing specific queries.
The sessions will cover:
• Getting started with building your tree and important tips for success
• Getting the most out of Findmypast’s core record sets
• Delving deeper into sub-categories and record-specific searches
• Uncovering rich stories through connected platforms, such as The British Newspaper Archive
• Understanding the varied range of tools and records available through your Findmypast subscription option
• https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_R2vUKyiSQryV-j3eZJFeqw
-oOo-
The lost Children exhibition – July 14th to end of October 2022 at The Back to Backs at Hurst St, Birmingham B5 4TE No disability access – steep stairs (National Trust property, needs booking).
2022 marks the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Children’s Emigration Homes in Highgate, founded by John Middlemore. Between the years 1873 and 1954 they emigrated over 5000 deprived children chiefly to Canada but also to Australia aiming to give them the opportunity of a better life. For many years the children went to farming families in the remote backwoods of Canada and then later to Fairbridge Farm Schools in both Canada and Australia.
An article about the Kingsley Fairbridge Farm School, Vancouver was written by Kay Whalley is in the December 2019 edition of the Midland Ancestor.
-oOo-
On Keith’s website he also mentions the Margaret Higgins Database of Catholics In England And Their Friends 1607–1840.
See Keith’s article in Midland Ancestor Dec 2017
Produced by The Catholic Family History Society, this is a collection of records relating to approximately 274,500 individuals and transcribed from England’s ‘Returns of Papists’ and a good many other sources. Available through Genfair. https://genfair.co.uk/product/the-margaret-higgins-database-of-catholics-in-england-and-their-friends-1607-1840
-oOo-
On the Family History Federation website you can listen to various podcasts to help with your research. The present one is on getting the best out of newspapers. There are many other articles under the Resources tab. https://www.familyhistoryfederation.com/
-oOo-
Member Steve Burrows tells me he has produced a book of Brummie (and Black Country) sayings and slang called “Ta-ra-a-bit our Kid” which he hopes may interest members. It is available on Amazon but if there was enough interest he could supply the online shop. He says: “It has proved very popular with Brummies (of which I am one – 4 generations at least)”.
Finally (I am getting to the end I promise!)
I’ve had a request for old magazines – The old family tree magazines, WDYTYA magazines. If you have any that you would like to get rid of (don’t send them to me!) contact Paul Wilkins on paulwilkinsbarmouth@gmail.co.
Jackie
