Dartford Branch, 25th Anniversary and Auction. Biographical Database of Australia has been launched.

Dartford Branch of the North West Kent Family History Society celebrated its 25th Anniversary on 5th October, 2013.

Over 100 members came along to join in the celebrations, take part in the Auction arranged by the Branch and the Society Library and hear David Cufley give a talk on 'Kevin Bacon Family History Laboratory' a talk with a difference that got everyone involved.

The auction was a first for the Society and raised over £250. Many thanks to all who helped arrange and took part in the day, including Lynn who made a lovely 25th Anniversary Cake to mark the event.

Auction held at Dartford Branch

All the items were donated by Society members, just over 20 lots were auctioned. 

Biographical Database of Australia has been launched.

The not-for-profit database is the result of many years of work by volunteer genealogists, historians and contractors. The first release contains over 500,000 entries and can be searched for free. A present it contains convict, muster, census, baptism, marriage and burial manuscript records and has plans to grow.  A subscription of $25 AUD is needed to access the details.

For more information see Biographical Database of Australia

North West Kent Family History Society Auction - Saturday 5th October, 2013 at Dartford Technology College, Heath Lane, Dartford DA1 2LY. Change of speaker at Dartford Branch Meeting for 1st February 2014

North West Kent Family History Society Auction - Saturday 5th October, 2013 (meeting starts at 10.00 am and finishes 2.30 pm) at Dartford Technology College, Heath Lane, Dartford DA1 2LY. The auction will take place on the same day as the Dartford Branch 25th Anniversary. 

All items are‘family or local history’ related and have been donated to North West Kent Family History Society. You can attend the Meeting on the day to bid on any item or Bid via the Society website. All proceeds go to the Society.

Details of all lots will be displayed on the Society’s website during September. If you wish to place a bid on any item please email Auction Bid  with the amount you are prepared to bid up to plus your name, membership number and telephone number. Successful bidders will be contacted after the auction by email so arrangements can be made to collect their item from the Society Library or one of the branches. The Society will not be contacting unsuccessful bidders. The Society will not be delivering or sending the item to the successful bidder.

Full terms plus a Catalogue  can be downloaded at NWKFHS Catalogue  The Catalogue gives full details of all 22 Lots.

Lots include:   

Indenture dated 1688 the year the Stuart King James II was deposed in the so called ‘Glorious Revolution’


Names mentioned in the document are Joyce SOULLEMONT of Eltham, Elizabeth SOULLEMONT also of Eltham, Thomas HILLIARD of St Leonards Shoreditch (carpenter) Solomom SOULLEMONT (Gent, deceased), Edward WILSON St Olaves, Southwark and Stephen RYDER of St Leonards Shoreditch (Gent).

Original antique engraved print of the ancient church of St Nicholas Chislehurst dating from around 1830. The picture was engraved by Henry Adlard (1799-1893) for ‘England’s Topographer’ published between 1828 and 1831.

Change of speaker at Dartford Branch Meeting for 1st February 2014. Andy Robertshaw of the Army Logistics Museum re WW1 - Finding the fallen and their Family History will now give this talk at the Society AGM in April 2014. In his place is John Meakins who will talk about the Kent Fire Brigade