Who Do You Think You Are?

Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine not only explores the stories behind the popular BBC genealogy TV series, but also helps you uncover your own roots. Each issue is packed with practical advice to help you track down family history archives and get the most out of online resources, alongside features on what life was like in the past and the historic events that affected our ancestors.

Welcome

CONTRIBUTORS

SARAH'S TOP TIP

A DELIGHTFUL DISCOVERY

Letters

Who do you think you are

PICK OF THE MONTH • Improve your research skills with this event from East Surrey Family History Society

What's On

History centre project awarded grant worth £4.86 m

WDYTYA? Magazine celebrates Transcription Tuesday successes • Rosemary Collins reports on data releases and genealogy news

NEWS IN BRIEF

CAN YOU HELP?

Findmypast adds artillery records

2,500

PAINFUL TRUTHS • Alan Crosby considers how bastardy examinations provide insight into the challenges our female ancestors faced

IRISH RESEARCH • Dublin-based genealogist Nicola Morris shares her essential advice for uncovering your Irish roots

AGES AND NAMES • It's important to be flexible with details when searching for your ancestor in the records

10 FREE RECORD COLLECTIONS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM • A wide range of records are freely available online to help you uncover the lives of your relations who came from the Emerald Isle. Here Nicola recommends 10 important collections and explains the information that they contain

RESOURCES • Don't miss these key sites

ON YOUR ANCESTORS’ TRAIL • Chloe O'Shea explains the benefits of visiting the parish where your forebears once lived, and how to make the most of your trip

5 WAYS TO PREPARE FOR A FAMILY HISTORY TRIP

RESOURCES Take your research further

‘MY FAMILY HOSTED TENNYSON, CHURCHILL AND EINSTEIN’ • Helen Murray has researched her ancestors’ grand clifftop home in Norfolk, a haven for artists, politicians and authors. Her relations also provided a sanctuary for history's most famous physicist.

RESOURCES • These resources helped Helen research her family's property

ILLEGITIMACY • Katherine Cobb reveals how to access and use online records that will help you to identify the father of any relations born out of wedlock

WILKIE COLLINS 1824-1889 • How the Victorian novelist highlighted the plight of illegitimate children

BASTARDY EXAMINATION, 1792 • This record is held by Dorset History Centre in Dorchester. It has been digitised and can be found within the collection ‘Dorset, England, Bastardy Records, 1725-1853’ on Ancestry (ancestry.co.uk)

EXPERT PICKS • Katherine recommends these three digital resources for tracing paternity

RESOURCES • Take your research further

TEXTILES AND COTTON WORKERS • Jonathan Scott surveys sites for researching the history of Britain's cotton industry

EXPERT'S CHOICe • Alison Toplis is a dress and textile historian (twitter.com/everyday_dress)

GO FURTHER • These websites are also well worth visiting

FEMALE SERVANTS Records • Michelle Higgs reveals a fascinating record set for tracing young women who worked as servants in London

MABYS REPORT, 1906 • This page from the MABYS report for the year ending 31 March 1906 contains details of girls from Kensington and Chelsea District School, Banstead. It is held by the London Metropolitan Archives and available digitally on Ancestry (ancestry.co.uk)

RESOURCES • Take your research further

Q & A Our team of expets offers tips and inspiration EDITED NY CLAIRE VAUGHA • Our team of experts offers tips . and inspiration

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