The Federation of Family History Societies (FFHS) has anounced a new project of Key WWI records MH 47 record series: First World War Military Service Tribunals. 

 

The National Archives, the Friends of The National Archives and the Federation of Family History Societies have started on a joint project to digitise and transcribe these records. Funding is being provided jointly by the Friends of The National Archives and the FFHS.

 

The files consists of minutes and papers from the Central Military Service Tribunal and Middlesex Appeal Tribunal as well as some papers of the Veterinary Tribunal and a printed set of minutes from the Central Medical War Committee. Some 10,000 surviving records of men who wished for a variety of reasons to be exempted from Military Service during WWI. 

 

They also concern men who were troubled about taking part in the War by conscience and religious convictions.  They were often unfairly vilified as cowards but equally there were outstanding displays of courage and personal sacrifice by conscientious objectors working under fire as medical orderlies and stretcher bearers.

 

Further details and some examples of the records can found at National Archives   a research guide on Conscientious objectors and exemptions from military service can be found at NA Research Guide

 

Find My Past the TV show is to return to TV.

 

A further 10 new episodes start on Tuesdays at 9pm, 30 October 2012 on the Yesterday channel: Freeview channel 19, Sky 537, Virgin Media 203. Chris Hollins of BBC Breakfast, Watchdog presents the show.

 

Further details can be found at FmyP TV Show

 

 

 

North West Kent Family History Society's new e-Newsletter.

 

The Society has launched a new Society e-Newsletter which is available to download from the NWKFHS website. The Newsletter will be published on a regular basis and it is intended to provide more news and information on a regular basis. .

 

It is available to all, members and non members. Eventually it is hoped you will be able to subscribe to the news letter so you can have it delivered direct to your e-mail. 

 

The e-Newsletter is being edited by The Society's Journal Editor and if there is anything that would be of interest to readers that you would like to be considered to be included in future editions please contact the Editor by e-mail at NWKFHS Editor  

 

The Society is also in the process of looking at further resources being available on the website.  

 

A mental health history including asylum and community care periods from 1377 to the 1940's. A Middlesex University Resource.

 

If your ancestors or members of their families worked or were patients in an asylum or under community care during this period this site offers a lot of information. The site can be found at History Timeline

 

The site includes  The asylums index  which lists and gives details of asylums (paupers in 1844) In England and Wales and much more.

 

Ancestry.com is being sold:

It is being reported that Ancestry.com is to be sold to a European private equity firm called Permira. Both Ancestry and Permira have stated that investment in new records will continue to help expand the site.

Local History Societies have been in existence for many years and they form an important role in whether they are covering a village or an area of a now larger conurbation.

 

Kent has many such Local History Societies, many working away and producing a vast resource that is also of interest to Family Historians. As Family Historians have increasingly looked to details of their families, how and where they lived what factors in their lives developed their character or why they may have left a village or town and Local Historians are producing more details about records of the inhabitants of their area it is clear that there is a great overlap of interest.

 

If you have ancestors and family from Kent it is worthwhile checking out a Local History Society to see what information that they have. Some Village LHS have carried out 'Village' projects effectively producing records not only of the history of the Village but the inhabitants as well.  

 

Some well known examples are the Farninham and Eynsford LHS the Marden History Group which has information free on its website as well as further information that can be obtained for a comparatively small amount of money. Many such as the Plaxtol Local History Society the  Wrotham LHS  the Margate LHS The Brenchley and Matfield FHS also have early photographs of the Area.

 

Nearly all LHS produce publications about their area which can be purchased for a reasonable amount. Joining a LHS can provide many benefits such as access to more records or histories and to be able to attend talks about the village.

 

Some have limited presence on the web, but are well worth investigating. A list of Kent Local History Society with contact details and much more can be found at localhistoryonline

 

North West Kent Family History Society's Free Family History afternoon on 10th November 2012 at Dartford, Kent is fast approaching. It is open to all who are in the early days or would like some advice on how to further their research. Some one to one sessions are also available, if booked in advance  on a first come basis. There will be experienced family historians on hand to help.

 

It is entirely free, as part of the Society’s aims and objectives in promoting the study of family history. Both members of the Society and non-members are welcome to attend. You will have the opportunity to discover what records can help you and how to access them.

 

Pre booking is essential. More details and how to book can be found at NWKFHS Free FH Afternoon.

 

 

Kent Ancestors who may have gone to British Columbia, Canada in the 1840's and 1850's or later. BC Archives, Vital Events Records. Vancouver Island GenWeb Project. Automated Geneaolgy: Free Canadian Censuses. Library and Archives Canada. North West Kent Family History Society Meetings for November 2012

Kent Ancestors who may have gone to British Columbia, Canada in the 1840's and 1850's or later.

James Conner toured England between 1847 - 1853 using a stage coach to advertise the benefits of going to North America.  He visited many small towns so there was a lot of information available to people who were looking to better their lives. 

In BC  Hudsons Bay  established a fort, at Victoria in 1843. Steam Ships were being built and becoming more common and they needed coal.  coal was also needed for the Company blacksmiths' forges. Discovery of coal at the north end of Vancouver's Island led to Fort Rupert being built in 1849. However,  Fort Rupert was not successful and this failure was responsible for the development of  Nanaimo.

During this time many people came to Vancouver Island from all over the British Isles, including Kent. British Columbia has available many resources to search for records of your Kent Ancestors or family who may have gone to BC during this period and the good news is that much of it is free. 

BC Archives, Vital Events Records (Births, Marriages and Deaths). Family Search Canadian Records.

At BC Archives you can search and obtain the details of marriage and death registrations date from 1872, birth registrations from 1854 (pre-1872 births registered after 1872). Colonial Marriages from 1859 to 1872 and baptisms from 1836-1888. They can also be searched on the Family Search site at FS Canada. For some you can even obtain copies of the original certificates for free. You can also access many of the Canadian Censuses from 1851 free.

Vancouver Island GenWeb Project - Links To The Past. 

This site is essential if members of your ancestral family were or may have gone to this part of the world. There are four indexes of some forty-five thousand summarised transcripts of articles in newspapers published on Vancouver Island between 1858 and 1932. The period between 1858 and 1910 have been digitised which you can access from the results. 

Vancouver Island GenWeb  To Search the newspapers BMD before 1872 Vancouver Island Pre 1872 BMD or to search all (you can search by name as well) see Historical Victoria Newspapers 

Unlike the UK you can also access most of the Canadian censuses: Indexes/Transcripts for free, including images of some of the censuses. Nor do you need to subscribe to Commercial sites.

Automated Genealogy  has several projects to index Canadian censuses. Library and Archives Canada has digitised their microfilms of the original census forms for several of the Canadian censuses and Automated Genealogy has organised volunteers to produce indexes to the people enumerated in these censuses. There is a link to the LAC image of the original census page at the top of each transcribed census page.

The 1911 census is complete and the 1901 about 70% complete. There are many other projects linked to this site.

The Library and Archives site also enables you to search many of the censuses by name or you can carry out an ancestor search at LAC Ancestor Search

There are many Family History Societies in Canada who have a wealth of knowledge and publications that can help you in your search for your family who went to Canada. Archives Canada's Directory of Selected Genealogical Resources is a good place to start.

North West Kent Family History Society Meetings for November 2012. Visitors are welcome, a donation is appreciated.

Bromley Branch: The main hall, Bromley Methodist Church, College Road, Bromley BR1 3NS. There is free parking at the church, access is from College Rd. and from North St. The hall opens at 9.45am, the meeting proper is due to start at 10.30am.

Saturday 17 November 2012. Chris Jupp The Queen's Own West Kent Regiment in WW1

Dartford Branch: Dartford Science & Technology College, Heath Lane, Dartford, DA1 2LY. There is plenty of parking at the new site. The meetings room is the New Auditorium. This should be open from 9.45am with the meeting proper starting at 10.30am.

Saturday 3 November 2012. Christopher Bull An armchair walk of Swanscombe

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

Thursday 8 November 2012. Mrs Sheila Boyd Georgian Times

Branches have help desk for assistance with research and publications etc for sale. Please check the Society website or this blog before you travel for any last minute changes.

North West Kent Family History Society Free Family History Session: Saturday 10th November 2012 at Dartford Science & Technology College, Heath Lane, Dartford DA1 2LY. The Future of our Heritage - Plymouth- Plymouth Guildhall on Monday 29th October 2012. Freed back asked for The New National Archives Discovery Catalogue. THE GENIE GAZETTE 1996-2005: Irelands Genealogical Gazette-Free to download and read.

North West Kent Family History Society Free Family History Session: Saturday 10th November 2012 at Dartford Science & Technology College, Heath Lane, Dartford DA1 2LY. 1.30pm – 4pm

North West Kent Family History Society is holding another Free Session where those in the early days of their research or have started their research and are looking for help and advice and the opportunity to discover what records can help and how to access them.

After a successful Session in August the Society will be holding its last one of the year at Dartford Science & Technology College. It is open to Members and Non Members and is  entirely free as part of the Society’s aims and objectives to promote the study of Family History.
There will also be a limited number of one-to-one sessions (booked on a first come, first served basis) to help you get started.

Pre Booking is essential. To book or for more information please e-mail Free Family History Afternoon or see the link under Latest News on the  NWKFHS Society Website

Around the Country and other Countries:

The Future of our Heritage - Plymouth- Plymouth Guildhall on Monday 29^th October 2012.

A Consortium Conference support for the Plymouth and West Devon Record Office. Free to attend but pre booking is essential. See Devon FHS News

Freed back asked for The New National Archives Discovery Catalogue which is still under construction and replaces the old searches such as Your Archives and Person Search facilities.  The National Archives are asking for feedback to improve the Catalogue. See Discovery Catalogue

THE GENIE GAZETTE 1996-2011: Irelands Genealogical Gazette-Free to download and read.

If you had Irish ancestors or family you might be interested in the Genealogical Society of Ireland's newsletters, The Genie Gazette from 1996-2005 that are now free to download and read.  The Gene Gazette  there is also an index of the newsletters. For Newletters from 2006-2011 Gene Gazettee 2006-11