The Royal Free hospital is transferring its archive collections to London Metropolitan Archives. Manchester City Library reopens in Spring 2014. Certificate of Honour that was awarded to Frederick Joseph Mason 1914-15.

From the FFHS comes the following announcement The Royal Free Hospital is transferring its archive collections to London Metropolitan Archives. The reading room at the Royal Free Archive Centre will close on 13 September. The collections are due to become available at the LMA in early 2014. During the move, we will continue to answer as many remote enquiries as possible, subject to staff and document availability.

Further afield the Manchester City Library, following major refurbishment and extension, Manchester City Library reopens in Spring 2014. Current temporary arrangements will change on 15 September, when the Manchester Room at City Library, at Elliot House, Deansgate and the Greater Manchester County Record Office will both close. From then until Manchester Central Library re-opens there will be restricted access to their holdings. You can find more details at this link. Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society will remain open during this period.

NWKFHS will be recognising  the Anniversary of the start of WWI in various ways throughout 2014.  During the build up to August 2014 the Society will also publish on this blog items that may be of interest to those researching ancestors during the 1914-18 war. This time it is a Certificate of Honour that was awarded to Fred Mason (Frederick Joseph Mason) by the Norfolk Education Committee for regularity of attendance during the year 1914-15 at his school at Trowse, Norfolk.

 

Fred Mason was the youngest son of Charles and Alice, nee Farrow, Mason of Trowse, Norfolk, Charles was a Carter at the Coleman Mustard Works at Trowse.

The 1911 census gives the following information:

Trowse, Norwich:

Charles Mason, Head, born abt 1858 53 Male Married,   Carter At Mustard Works. Born Stoke Upon Trent, Staffordshire.

Alice Mason, Wife, born abt 1868 43 Female, Married   15 years Born Howe, Norfolk.
Herbert Farrow, Stepson, born abt 1892 19 Male, Single   Mustard Worker. Born: Alpington, Norfolk.
Sidney Mason, Son, born abt 1896 15 Male, Single,   Painter Lawrence & Teotts Born Trowse, Norfolk.
Alfred Mason, Son, born abt 1898 13 Male, School, Born Trowse, Norfolk.
Edith Mason, Daughter, born abt 1901 10 Female, School, Born Trowse, Norfolk.
Frederick Mason, Son, born abt 1902 8 Male, School. Born  Trowse, Norfolk.
Florence Mason, Daughter, born abt 1907 4 Female, School. Born Trowse, Norfolk.

 

The 1901 census shows that there were other children born to Charles Mason from a previous marriage.

 

James Mason Son 20 born abt 1881 Male Honingham Norfolk.

William Mason Son 16 born abt 1885 Male Easton Norfolk.

Millicent Mason Daughter 13 born abt 1888 Female Trowse Norfolk.

Sarah Mason Daughter 11 born abt 1890 Female Trowse Norfolk.

 

The Head Teacher who signed the Certificate was Arthur Tuck who in 1911 lived at West Wymer, Norwich with his wife Mary and two children, Hilda and Arthur C Tuck who was also a Clerk at the Coleman Mustard Works, Trowse.

 

NWKFHS Research Service. Handwriting (Palaeography) 1500 - 1800. Free National Archives online tutorial. NCOs of the 3/18 London Regiment (London Irish Rifles)

Looking for ancestors or family in North West Kent? The Society offers to members and non-members a genealogical Research Service. Society volunteers are available to carry out research for members and non-members at a cost of £5.00 per hour. This service uses parish registers and other sources at the Society Library covering the north west Kent area. We cannot guarantee a result but we will do our best to answer your enquiry.

 

Full details can be found at NWKFHS Research You can now pay by Credit and Debit cards online at Genfair or Parish Chest. Just fill in the Research Request form downloadable from   NWKFHS Research return it by e-mail or post and only  pay an order for this service when requested to do so by an official of North West Kent FHS.

 

If you live outside the UK you can also join the Society or renew your membership by Credit Card at both Genfair or Parish Chest.

 

Handwriting (Palaeography) 1500 - 1800. Free National Archives online tutorial.

 

One of the problems many of us encounter when researching our family history is with old documents, wills, parish registers etc. The handwriting can be very difficult if not almost impossible to make out.

 

The National Archives has a practical online tutorial to help you read the handwriting in documents written in English between 1500 - 1800. It provides an  introduction to the basics of palaeography and offers a variety of documents, each with a transcript, on which you can practise your palaeographical skills. NA Tutorial

 

 

NWKFHS will be recognising  the Anniversary in various ways throughout 2014.  During the build up to August 2014 the Society will also publish on this blog items that may be of interest to those researching ancestors during the 1914-18 war.

 

NCOs of the 3/18 London Regiment (London Irish Rifles) from the Illustrated War News 6 October 1915. 

 

 

Back Row, left to right:

L-Cpl Reynolds, L-Cpl Smith, L-Cpl Spencer, L-Cpl Callendar, Sgt Purtell, Sgt Tynan, Sgt McKinley, Cpl Davies, Cpl Primmer, Cpl Coxon, Cpl Rust, Cpl Aygton, Cpl Hobbs, Cpl Stone, Cpl Page, L-Cpl Marsh, L-Cpl Penn, L-Cpl Chalmers, L-Cpl Holness, L-Cpl Burge, L-Cpl Barrett, L-Cpl White.

 3^rd Row, left to right:

L-Cpl Fox, L-Cpl Percy, L-Cpl Sheen, L-Cpl Gardiner, Sgt Smith, Sgt Shubrook, Sqt Hammond, Sgt Evans, Sgt Johnson, Sgt Finglestone, Sgt Collins, Sgt Jenner, Sgt Morgan, Sgt-Instr Brocks, Sgt Farnfield, CQMS Coppinger, Sgt-Bugler Camps, L-Cpl Patrick, L_Cpl Taune, L-Cpl Menness.

2^nd Row, left to right:

CQMS Massey, CSM Wood, Bandmaster J. Appleford, Major R.R. Kimmitt (Comdg Officer), Regt SM A.E. Holmes, Major R Curtis, Lieut and Adju. C.S. Hardy, CSM Pike, CQMS Riordan.

Front Row, left to right:

L-Cpl Patrick, L-Cpl Allsop, L-Cpl Hall, L-Cpl Lacey, L-Cpl Gatling, L-Cpl Dennis, L-Cpl O’Hillary, L-Cpl Qickenden, L-Cpl Clarke, L-Cpl Nethercoat, L-Cpl Stanger, L-Cpl Swales, L-Cpl Johnson, L-Cpl Gathergood, L-Cpl Phillips.

NWKFHS Dartford Branch Talk 7 September 2013 - change of speaker. The 1921 Canadian census is now online. Queensland, Australia BMDs are now online. Officers of the 3/18 London Regiment (London Irish Rifles)

 

NWKFHS Dartford Branch Talk 7 September 2013 - change of speaker.

 

The speaker from the London Fire Brigade Museum  who was going to speak on the history of the London Fire Brigade cannot now make the meeting.  John Neal has agreed to speak at short notice on St Pancras & King's Cross - A history of the stations and the surrounding area.

 

The 1921 Canadian census is now online, though you will need an account with Ancestry.com to access it. You can search free if you set up a free account (though you will have to cancel it before any fees start to be payable. Details can be found at Canada's 1921 Census

 

Queensland Australia BMDs are now online and are free to search, fee payable if you order a certificate. They cover the period Births 1829-1914, Deaths 1829-1983 and Marriages 1829-1938. The index can be searched free, and will give you more information than those for England and Wales. For Instance Births will give you the full name of the father and the full name, including the Maiden name of the mother. The marriage index gives you the full names of  the Bride and Groom. Queensland historical index  

 

WWI Centenary. The Centenary of the start of WWI is now less than a year away.

 

NWKFHS will be recognising  the Anniversary in various ways throughout 2014.  During the build up to August 2014 the Society will also publish on this blog items that may be of interest to those researching ancestors during the 1914-18 war.

 

Officers of the 3/18 London Regiment (London Irish Rifles) from the Illustrated War News 6 October 1915. 

 

 The Officers Back row from left to right:

2nd Lt. H.A. Staples, 2nd Lt. H.B. Rowe, Lt. W.R. Staham, Lt. W.S. Carruthers, Lt. S.B. Mitchell, 2nd Lt. R.E.A. Mallet,   Lt. W.V. Thomas,  Lt. A.T. Tweddle, Lt. S.B. Skevington, LT. P.A.C. Maginn, Lt. F.H. Crawford, 2nd Lt. C.E. Norris, 2nd Lt. A Totton, 2nd Lt. S.E. Charlton.

Middle row:

Lt. and Qr-Mr. C.H.P. Higgins, Lt. J.K. Brownlees (RAMC), Capt. M. Barry O'Brien, Major R.W. Curtis, Major R.W. Curtis, Major R.R. Kimmitt, Lt. and Adjut.E. Hardy,    Capt. J.C. Harrison, Capt. E.N. Wanklyn, Capt. the Rev. R.M. Currwen (Chaplain).

Front Row:

2nd Lt. R.F.V. Mayle, 2nd Lt. R.V. Tivy, 2nd Lt. P.F. Keane, 2nd Lt. G.F. Lewis, 2nd Lt. G. O'Shiner, 2nd Lt. R.W. Moneypenny, 2nd Lt. S. Macbeth, 2nd Lt. J.P.H. Butcher, 2nd Lt. F. Clement.



 

 

 

 

 

 

Talbot House Offer Reward for their Lost “Robin”. NWKFHS is holding a drop in session at Bexley Local Studies,14 September 10am - 12 noon & 1.00pm - 4.00pm.

Talbot House Offer Reward for their Lost “Robin” In December 1915 two British army chaplains – the Reverends Phillip “Tubby” Clayton and Neville Talbot – opened a soldiers' rest and recreation centre, named Talbot House, in Poperinge, Belgium. On 15 December 1921, at the now-demolished Grosvenor House in Park Lane, London, a “Round Robin”, was signed by all those present, who wished the text on the document to be read aloud once again on the centenary of the opening of Talbot House (also known as Toc H). The original document , was last seen at the Toc H archives in London but now appears lost.

Have you seen it? If you can help Please contact Talbot House For more details about Talbot House website

NWKFHS is holding a drop in session at Bexley Local Studies, Townley Road Library, Bexleyheath, DA6 7HJ Saturday 14 September 10am - 12 noon & 1.00pm - 4.00pm.

If you are in the area why not come along to see what the Society has on offer, if you are stuck with your research why not see if we can help.

Medway Archives and Local Studies are planning a Annual Open Day for Wednesday 4th December, 2013. More details will be available in the near future.