WDYTYA?LIVE 2014 new dates- 20th February to 22nd February 2014. Over a million Kent records on line. Marden History Archives and Mid-Kent Marriage Index 1754-1911. Chartist

WDYTYA?LIVE 2014  has announced that there has been a change to the dates for next year's show. The new Dates will be from Thursday 20th February to Saturday 22nd February 2014.

It is hoped that the change to a Thursday instead of a Friday and making the last day Saturday instead of Sunday will make the show more accessible to visitors. Research  has clearly identified that visitors would prefer a weekday to a Sunday and this, coupled to better public transport during the week, means that we can expect a significant increase in footfall.

Findmypast now has over a million Kent records on line.

 

The records on Findmypast (subscription payable) include those from North West Kent FHS, Kent FHS and those from the Canterbury Archives.

 

Along with with the Medway Archives which has Parish registers of the Rochester Archdeaconry area, extending from Dartford and Gravesend in the west to Rainham in the east and focusing on the Medway Towns (Which is available free to all at City Arc ) this means that a large part of the parish registers for Kent are now available to search.

 

The Canterbury Parish registers and those on the Medway Archives site City Arc are copies of the original parish registers. Many of the others are indexes and transcriptions provided by Family History Societies. Copies of many of the original parish register for North West Kent are available to purchase at NWKFHS Publications

 

If you look round there are also other indexes for Kent parish registers on the Web that are free, such as the Marden History Archives and the Mid-Kent Marriage Index 1754-1911 which has transcriptions of the marriage records of seven registration districts in the mid Kent area: East Ashford, West Ashford, Cranbrook, Elham, Hollingbourne, Romney Marsh and Tenterden. Also included are marriages at Maidstone (All Saints).

 

Chartist. William Lovett, from The London Working Men’s Association and five ‘working men’ plus six members of Parliament published the People’s Charter in 1838 seeking the vote for all men. In 1842 a petition of some three million signatures was presented to the government, which was rejected. In the early 1840s, economic depression and dissatisfaction lead to strikes and several Chartist leaders being arrested.  Chartist activity culminated in 1848 when a mass meeting on Kennington Common was organised.

 

There is a good chance that one of your ancestors signed the petition and or belonged to the Chartists.

 

The website ‘Chartists Ancestors’ has a list of some 5,000 subscribers from all over the Country to the Chartists Movement

NWKFHS E-Newsletter for May 2013. Dictionary of Occupations.

NWKFHS E-Newsletter for May 2013- An electronic publication available on-line to anyone interested in Family History can be read/downloaded at Newsletter. You can also download/read previous Newsletters at the same place.

NWKFHS has a new publication for Sale, Dictionary of Occupations Published by Family & Community Historical Research Society.

This CD ROM was originally published by the Open University (OU) as part of their courses 'Studying family and community history: nineteenth and twentieth centuries'.  It was first published by the UK Ministry of Labour in 1927, has been available in only a few specialist libraries.

This CD-ROM reproduces all of it. It defines 29,106 terms, covering 16,837 different occupations of people who worked in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Many of these occupations, and the terms used to describe them, are today generally unknown.

FACHRS (Family and Community Historical Research Society) have given our Society permission to distribute the CD ROM. The disks are available from the Society at Branch meetings or by post. Cost by post £10.00 plus postage and packing of £1 for the UK and £2 overseas. Details can be found at NWKFHS publications

Operates with Windows XP and Windows 7 operation systems using Adobe reader 11 and Adobe Acrobat 7.0 software.

North West Kent FHS talks for May 2013. Kent Family History Fair Sunday 19 May 2013. The National Library of Wales will no longer claim ownership of copyright in digital copies of items in its care.

North West Kent FHS talks for May 2013.

Bromley Branch: main hall, Bromley Methodist Church, College Road, Bromley BR1 3NS. The hall opens at 9.45am.

Saturday 18 May 2013 Jerry Toop The National Archives - further resources identified.

Dartford Branch: Dartford Technology College, Heath Lane, Dartford DA1 2LY. Open from 9.45am

Saturday 4^th May 2013 Gerald Toop Using the National Archives (website) for family history research.

Sevenoaks Branch: Sevenoaks Community Centre, Otford Road, Sevenoaks, TN14 5DN. Doors open at 7.15pm.

Thursday 9 2013 May Mari Alderman Protestant Nonconformity.

Visitors are welcome, a donation is appreciated. All the Branches have a bookstall and all the helpful advice that you might need. More details can be found at  NWKFHS Meetings   Please check the website for any changes before travelling to any meeting.

Newsletters for Dartford and Sevenoaks Branches can be found at  Branch Newsletters a Society Newsletter can be found at  Society Newsletters they are all pdf and can be read and or downloaded.

NWKFHS will also be at the Kent Family History Fair Market Hall, Barker Road, Lock Meadow, Maidstone, Kent. ME16 8RG on Sunday 19 May 2013 from 10.00am - 5.00pm.

If you are at the Fair please call by our Stand for a chat and to see how we can help with your Family History research.  Fairs and Events 

Other News:

The National Library of Wales will no longer claim ownership of copyright in digital copies of items in its care.

The Library will be implementing a policy that will mean the public can use thousands of images on its website without any restriction. Though many images will still be subject to third party rights that need to be cleared before use, the Library will not impose additional copyright restrictions unless it owns the copyright in the original work. High resolution versions of the images will still be available under licence. National Library of Wales where you can also access Wills and Newspapers Free. 

The North West Kent Family History Society's 35th AGM and Family History Day - 27th April 2013. NWKFHS Free E-Newsletter for April 2013. NWKFHS Indexes/Transcripts on findmypast

The North West Kent Family History Society's 35th AGM and Family History Day is fast approaching. Saturday 27th April 2013 9.30am - 4.45pm at Dartford Science and Technology College, Heath Lane, Dartford, Kent, DA1 2LY.

At 10.15am there is a talk by Ian Waller entitled: All The B’s. Ian is professional genealogist and archive researcher he is a member and Vice-chairman of AGRA (The Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives). He is also the Author of "My Ancestor was an Agricultural Labourer" and "My Ancestor was a Mormon" and has written many articles for the popular family history press.

At 2.30pm there is a Talk by Tim Cox entitled: Soldier, Soldier, will you marry me? Tim is a retired solicitor, who has a wide range of interests, for example social history, military history, travel, and the visual arts.

In addition the following will be present: CabSearch which will cover all your stationery needs from acid free pockets in various sizes, binders and other storage material plus lots more. Alfred King with second hand books and ephemera.  Jean & Derek Garrod with their old postcard collection. The Society Bookstall and Publications will also be available.

Visitors are welcome to hear the talks and browse the stalls, a donation  is appreciated. Visitors are asked to please let the Society know they would like to attend at   NWKFHS FH Day For more details see NWKFKS

The AGM from 12 noon to 1pm is open to Members of the Society only. This year there is a motion being put forward by the Society Committee. The Society has received notification from its Bank that it will in future regard any payment of more than 600 cheques in a year by the Society as a high volume usage and levy a charge.  Full details of the motion can be seen at NWKFHS AGM

NWKFHS E-Newsletter for April 2013 is now available to download at Newsletter. It is free to anyone who wishes to look at it. On the same page you can find Branch Newsletters, also free to read.

NWKFHS also has some of its Indexes/Transcripts available on findmypast:

You can find the following Indexes/Transcripts on findmypast: 

Greenwich Baptisms 1813-1856; Marriages 1791-1842; Burials 1748-1793. Darenth Marriages 1686-1848; Baptisms 1685-1856; Burials 1686-1869. Bromley (Kent) Marriages 1686-1848. Charlton Burials 1686-1869. Northfleet, Dartford, Gravesend Burials 1788-1983. Crayford Baptisms 1813-1856

NWKFHS has many other publications available, including copies of original Parish Registers. You can see what is available at NWKFHS Publications

.You can also order many of our publications and Membership subscriptions from Parish Chest where you can pay by Credit Card. You can also order by telephone if you wish.

The South Eastern Gazette (1852-1912), formerly the Maidstone Gazette now available on-line. Frozen London London Metropolitan Atrchives Free Exhibition. 21 January to 25 April 2013.

The South Eastern Gazette (1852-1912), formerly the Maidstone Gazette now available on-line.

The South Eastern Gazette, previously called the Maidstone Gazette was a major regional title for the south-east of England. All the edition are now available on-line and if you live in the UK they are free to search. You will need to register, but once you have done this you can search all the editions from 1852-1912 for Free. Kent Online 

Digitisation of the First World War and Second World War years editions is being worked on.

It seems free access is available Free if you live in the UK. Normal subscription charges apply if you live outside the UK.


Frozen London,  London Metropolitan Archives Free Exhibition.  21 January to 25 April 2013.

Considering the present weather being experienced in the UK it is interesting to see how our ancestors were affected by the weather. This exhibition explores the impact some of the most severe winters ever recorded in London  between 1683–1895. It looks at the different Frost Fairs that took place on the River Thames and its many sites and attractions. It explores some of problems caused to life in the capital. LMA Information

NWKFHS Meetings for April 2013. Crossness Open Day-Local History Fair. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Back again after a short hiatus.

NWKFHS Meetings for April 2013.

The 3 Branches, Bromley, Dartford and Sevenoaks hold monthly meetings (in the case of Sevenoaks there are only 9 monthly meetings). There is a talk at each meetings, plus a Society Bookstall and people to help and advise about your research. It is a good  opportunity to meet and talk to fellow family historians. Visitors are welcome so why not come to one of the meetings and see what the Society can offer and hear a talk by an expert in their field.

The next meetings to take place in April are:

Bromley Branch: Meetings are held on the third Saturday morning of the month, in the main hall, Bromley Methodist Church, College Road, Bromley BR1 3NS.  The hall opens at 9.45am, the meeting starts at 10.30am.

20 April 2013 Louise Taylor Adoption & fostering - 1850 to 1930

Dartford Branch: Dartford Technology College.  Located on the north side of Heath Lane.  There is plenty of parking available. The meetings room is the New Auditorium.  Doors open from 9.45am with the meeting proper starting at 10.30am.

6 April 2013 Dr Ann Kneif Women Wartime Workers in the Munitions Industry & Branch Annual Meeting

Sevenoaks Branch: Sevenoaks Community Centre, Otford Road (at junction with Crampton Rd.), Sevenoaks, at 7.15pm.

11 April 2013 Alan Payne What's on the Cards - the History of Playing Cards & Annual Meeting 

Please check with the NWKFHS website before travelling to any meeting to make sure there are no alterations.

Crossness Open Day-Local History Day. Crossness Engines Trust, The Old Works, Crossness Sewage Treatment Works, Belvedere Road, Abbey Wood, London SE2 9AQ.

NWKFHS will be at the open day from 10.30am - 4.00pm. We hope you will stop by our stand to have a chat and see what we have on offer to help you with your Family History research. See NWKFHS Events and Crossness Open Day

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission wishes to make contact with the any family members of the following casualties of WWI as part of the work they are carrying out
on a number of the War Graves in the UK:

C. CASSIDY Private d.15/2/1919 Royal Defence Corps Camus Cemetery

Stephen Cyril DIMES Sapper d.12/4/1918 Royal Engineers Shobrooke (St Swithin) Churchyard

Thomas FINDLAY Private d.29/11/1915 The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment Liverpool Ford Cemetery

If you are a relative of any of these casualties please contact the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at CWGC

North West Kent Family History Society at WDYTYA Fair 2013. The NWKFHS 35th Annual General Meeting and Family History Day 27 April 2013.

North West Kent Family History Society at WDYTYA Fair 2013.

 

The NWKFHS stand was very busy during the 3 days of the Fair. Visitors seeking help, information and purchasing various publications kept the Society Volunteers busy.





NWKFHS at WDYTYA 2013 Fair.



There was a lot of interest in publications for Woolwich/Arsenal, Deptford, Shipbourne, Chevening, Sundrige and  Speldhurst. There was also a lot of interest in WWI publications, which perhaps should be no surprise considering that we are in the run up to the 100th anniversary of the start of the 'War To End All Wars'. 

 

For some more photographs and details see NWKFHS  The various Publications that the Society has for sale can be seen at  Publications

 

The NWKFHS 35th Annual General Meeting and Family History Day will be held on Saturday 27 April 2013 9.30am : 5.00pm at Dartford Science & Technology College Heath Lane DA1 2LY

Speakers: Ian Waller All the B’s …… A light-hearted look at the effects the Bs had on
society and the many records of bastards, bigamists and even baronets in our ancestry!

 

Tim Cox, speaks on Soldier, Soldier, will you marry me?: Soldiers’ wives 1660-1900.

More Details can be found on the NWKFHS FH Day and in the Society Newsletter March 2013.