Qualified Genealogist, Researcher & Business Mentor
It’s been a while since I posted so here is an update on the past 6 months – time flies when you’re researching! Since April this year I have been busy with the mountain of reading in preparation for my PhD studies. My research focusses on the women of the temperance movement, which was introduced… Continue reading
This week I have been visiting Glasgow and it was nice to be back again, back to study and to meet fellow PhD students. Building connections and staying on top of the latest advancements are key to keeping my skillset up to date and relevant. The University of Strathclyde is The Place of Useful Learning… Continue reading
Click the link to subscribe to the news and blogs, includes free downloads A New Year and time to set those goals for the year ahead. Download my mountain of goals template, or create a list of goals and aims for the year. Break it down into manageable chunks – mountain of goals can be… Continue reading
Glasgow trip & graduation Where has the time gone?! Over the past 3 years I have been busy completing my master’s degree and a couple of weeks ago, I visited Glasgow for graduation and caught up with my fellow students and tutors. It’s been a lot of hard work but rewarding to see the end… Continue reading
It seems like everybody’s talking about AI, so what is it all about? Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a wide-ranging branch of computer science concerned with building smart machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. In a nutshell, its like asking Google or Alexa, but getting a lot more in-depth explanation and analysis… Continue reading
Over the last few months, I may have been quiet on social media and not posted many blogs, but I do have a good reason. I’ve been busy writing away and happy to report that I have submitted my Masters dissertation! Phew! My research has taken me full circle from scoping the project in Preston… Continue reading
The 6th May is approaching, and the bunting is up! The Coronation of King Charles III will be another unique moment in our history, and however you are celebrating with friends or family, it will be watched on TV by millions across the world. Past Coronations The last Coronation was of our late Queen Elizabeth… Continue reading
Mary HOWITT was a 19th century author, a mother and a Quaker. Brought up in a Staffordshire market town with her sister Anna, she started writing stories and poems from a young age. Mary was born in Gloucestershire in 1799 to parents Samuel BOTHAM and her mother Anne. Her father Samuel was a land surveyor… Continue reading
As part of my women’s studies series on Extraordinary Women, this blog is about Lady Henry Somerset, and her work with the Temperance Movement fits nicely with the New Year and a Dry January theme. Happy New Year everyone. Born Isabella Caroline SOMERS-COCKS on 21 September 1851. Her father, Charles SOMERS-COCKS known as Earl SOMERS,… Continue reading
2022 is almost at an end and the New Year will soon be here. After being ill for most of the Christmas period, I am slowly getting back to work and catching up on university work. December has been such a busy month, I have been meeting myself coming back! Over the last 12 months… Continue reading
The Staffordshire Record Office is currently closed whilst building works commence on the new Staffordshire History Centre. This includes the William Salt Library and archives. Updates will be posted on social media and on the Staffordshire History Centre website, link is here Link to updates: Staffordshire History Centre website and their Twitter feed. There is… Continue reading
It has been a busy time of late, with deadlines all met and end of year project submission. Now all completed, I can review what I’ve learnt and achieved over the past 12 months: Completed year 2 diploma year of MSc in Genealogical, Palaeographical and Heraldic Studies with the University of Strathclyde, where we covered:… Continue reading
I recently purchased a small, pocket sized Temperance Daily Text book from a charity shop. It is a dual-purpose book, incorporating pages to add birthdays. The inscription in the front pages includes details of the recipient of the book from her sister and within further writings, birthdays are recorded for the parents. I decided to… Continue reading
Just in time for World Book Night on 23 April, my recommendation is Thee & Me: A Beginner’s Guide to Early Quaker Records by Lisa Parry Arnold, as I will most probably be busy researching! I like this book as a learning tool for the history and principles of Quakerism but also learning about the… Continue reading
A new feature just released at AncestryDNA is their ethnicity inheritance tool which displays how much ethnicity has been inherited from each parent. It is a huge development in the world of DNA testing and reporting of ethnicity estimates. The visual element really helps to understand which part of the World we originate from and… Continue reading
Have you ever wondered about a local building, an old pub or even your own house and who lived there years ago? The history of a house can be fascinating. Depending on the age of the building and sometimes location, the amount of history within those walls is really interesting. And, there are lots of… Continue reading
Postcard image curtesy of https://www.flickr.com/photos/hwmobs/45315446355/in/photostream/
With the help from the 1921 census, I have been able to establish the whereabouts of my great grandfather, William. Unlocking the past with the 1921 census can help confirm what is known, or thought to be known and identify further clues. The 1921 census was taken on 19 June having been postponed from an… Continue reading
Yes, it’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for, and the wait is now over! The 1921 Census of England & Wales has been released by Findmypast and we’re all buzzing about it! Although it is not being offered as yet for free. On Findmypast it is £2.50 for a transcription and £3.50 to view… Continue reading
11 November, at the 11th hour, we pause and remember those who gave their lives during conflicts. The cenotaph, meaning ‘empty tomb’, provides a focal point to pay respect to the men and women who gave their lives and to lay wreaths on behalf of families, organisations and armed forces. London’s cenotaph was originally made… Continue reading
Up and out early this morning at at the County Library for 9am! Almost had the place to myself. Although the section on local studies wasn’t large, there was sufficient information for my initial research. But, good to see a full section on genealogy!
When reading Latin and trying to decipher a word, it can be common for the whole word to be abbreviated, either in part or in full. Some abbreviations, such as the letter P is used and can be represented as: The top 2 in the image above, are abbreviated to mean Pre. The 3rd in… Continue reading
1. Choose a testing company Here in the UK there are various testing companies that offer a DNA testing service. Each has its different reporting styles and tools. The 5 main testing companies are: MyHeritageDNA AncestryDNA Living DNA 23andMe FamilyTreeDNA There are of course, pro’s and limitations associated with each testing company. Ancestry and 23andMe… Continue reading
Its now the end of term, so time to review and reflect on my course so far. Where has the time gone? It does seem to have flown by. Perhaps it is a combination of lockdowns and in an attempt to keep busy, I’ve ploughed through 6 Assessments and 12 assignment. I’ve read lots, attended… Continue reading
Today, 10th June, is International Heraldry Day. A perfect opportunity to practice the art of blazoning – the description of the coat of arms. This coat of arms is for the Prince Edward Islands. Arms: Argent on an island Vert, to the sinister an oak tree fructed, to the deter thereof three oak saplings sprouting… Continue reading
The art of heraldry has always been fascinating. I’ve bought books and taken photo’s of shields and coats of arms for many years. But only recently, through my MSc course at the University of Strathclyde, I have been studying the description of the arms, called blazoning. Heraldry with its blazoning, is like learning another language.… Continue reading
Fascinating buildings: Leek, Staffordshire library building including stone tableau and words of wisdom. The Nicholson Museum and Art Gallery, library and wonderful building with links to William Morris. “A good Booke is the pretious life-blood of a master-spirit, im-balm’d and treasur’d up on purpose to a Life beyond life” Milton. Walked past on Sunday 9… Continue reading
The Singing Ringing Tree is a large and unique musical structure, sat high upon a hillside on Crown Point, overlooking Burnley in Lancashire. The structure is in the shape of a misshapen tree, bending into the wind. Its style is a panopticon (designed to look through rather than into), and is powered by the wind… Continue reading
This may explain why a family tree can be so tricky to display all ancestors. I start with what I know, then work backwards and sideways up to the first 4 generations, anything after that is a bonus!
A great resource tool if you are looking for a listed building is the Historic England website, search for the National Heritage List for England and enter a place name. #localhistory #joannegenealogy https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/