Articles by Findmypast

The number and frequency of sailings from the British Isles to the USA at the end of the 19th century and in the years running up to World War 1 show how lucrative the transatlantic passenger trade must have been in the era before air travel. This period of history was during a time of relatively easy immigration into the United States, with the exception of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, there were no quotas or restrictions imposed. Reasons for emigrating:

With service dating back to 1650, the Coldstream Guards is the oldest continuously serving regiment in the British Army and can trace its history back to the English Civil War. The regiment has earned 117 battle honours and reading through these is rather like looking at a who’s who (or perhaps, “where’s where”) of British battles. Coldstream Guards battle honours: The full list of Coldstream Guard Battle of Honours is as follows: 17th to 19th centuries: Tangier 1680Namur 1695Gibraltar 1704-1705OudenardeMalplaquetDettingen

As bombs rained overhead, mothers sheltered with their children, holding them tight and praying for an end to the war. Life went on, as daily destruction became the new normal. Amidst the devastation of the Second World War, the Home Guard were tasked with keeping the population safe.  From patrolling the coastline to guarding factories and guarding unexploded bombs, the Home Guard’s many tasks were varied and often dangerous. While men fought overseas, thousands of men and women stepped up

This uplifting family story was shared by Findmypast Community member Patricia Barry Coleman. Her father, Thomas Barry was in London on Victory in Europe Day, 8 May 1945. Known today as VE Day, Victory in Europe Day celebrates the anniversary of Germany's unconditional surrender. It marked the defeat of Adolf Hitler's army by the Allied powers and the official end of World War 2 on the Eastern Front. In a historic speech, US President Truman announced that 'the forces of Germany have surrendered

Millions of working-class people moved into Britain’s booming industrial cities during the 19th century. With this influx, slum areas expanded rapidly, becoming tense, overcrowded melting pots where different social, religious, ethnic and political groups were forced to fight for their place in a new community.These tensions gave rise to notorious gangs who realised that a life of crime was much easier, more profitable and had higher chances of success with the help of like-minded people. In Birmingham, one of

Can you name all eight of your great-grandparents? Do you know what they did for a living? How about where they lived? Recent research has revealed that over five million of us know nothing about our great-grandparents. Although most people know a lot about their grandparents, just 10% of Brits know basic details about their great-grandparents, such as their names, birthplaces, and occupations. News of this generational knowledge gap is worrying - it reminds us of the importance of researching and preserving

Our handy address search, available across all British censuses from 1841 to 1921, is the perfect tool for discovering previous occupants of your home and for discovering their stories. It helps you to find out who was living at any particular address at the time each census was taken. Findmypast is the only family history website with this useful tool. What's more, our exclusive 1939 Register map search will reveal the property listing history of England and Wales at the outbreak of the

In the wake of the devastation of the Second World War, men and women from across the British Empire immigrated to England, invited by the British Empire with the promise of fair work and a better life.  21 June, 1948. The 1,027 immigrants who travelled to Britain from the Caribbean aboard the HMT Windrush disembarked in Tilbury, Essex. Unsure of the future that awaits them in this foreign land, they take the first step into the unknown.  They’d been invited by the British

Perhaps you're looking for ancestors who you know travelled to Canada but have found no trace of since? If so, there is a collection of family records that may well make your family history exploration on Findmypast a lot easier - Canadian censuses.Canadian census records are a rich resource for family history. Our collection dates from 1851 to 1931 and is similar to our UK census records. But what can they tell you? The Canadian Census: The Lower Canada Census is the

Else Churchill is no stranger to a parish record, having researched her own family back to the 1670s and worked extensively with 17th-century records. However, even someone with over 30 years' experience in family history can get stumped while researching that far back."Though I'd like to tell you that you can all trace your ancestors back to the beginnings of parish registers in 1538, I'm sure most of you have found that there are problems along the way," Else said.Unfortunately,