Articles by Findmypast

It's the question asked so often you can almost hear the genealogists all over the world crying out in unison: "But how do I know if I have the right person?" Well, today you're in luck. The Society of Genealogist's Else Churchill explains the Genealogical Proof Standard, the cure to every family history researcher's frustration. "Considering what constitutes proof in a genealogical context can be a challenge. Certainly you don't want to delude yourself or anyone else that something is

Welcome to the fifth in our series of blogs about how to understand and interpret your old family photos. In this series, Jayne Shrimpton, internationally recognised dress historian, portrait specialist, photo detective and regular contributor to Family Tree, Your Family History and Family History Monthly magazines, dates and analyses different types of photographs and helps you to add context to your old family pictures.Having learned in the previous blog how photograph compositions and studio settings changed over the years,

Delving into your family's past is one of the most fulfilling things you'll ever do and getting started has never been easier. If you're new to the fascinating world of genealogy research, follow these four simple steps and you'll be well on your way to a flourishing family tree in no time. 1. What do you think you know? Write it down: First things first. Write down everything you already know about your family, with a question mark next to any

If you're just getting started with your family history, it can be tricky to know where to look first. As one of the most recent publicly available record collections covering all of England and Wales, the 1939 Register is an obvious jumping-off point.Watch our video masterclass to find out why and how to make the most of this wartime Domesday Book.Throughout the masterclass, which was recorded live, viewers put their questions to our team of in-house experts. A select

The fascinating British in India collection, released in partnership with the British Library, offers an unrivalled opportunity to explore family history on the subcontinent. It consists of a fully-indexed archive of more than five million records. Covering 200 years of rich and colourful history, the collection records both eras of British Rule in India; the East India Company Rule 1757–1858 and the Raj 1858- 1947 when India was ruled under the British crown. The records cast light on the careers and family lives of

A workhouse was an institution where our ancestors went when they needed accommodation, food or employment. The equivalent to the modern-day benefits system, those in need were taken in as inmates and recorded with a workhouse number. Generally, life was tough in the workhouses. Long hours of arduous work, strict rules and poor food and sanitation made for the bleakest of living conditions. By 1776, the number of workhouses in England and Wales had reached over 1800.Go far enough back and

Isn't it exciting to discover a famous name in the far-off depths of your family tree? But when you brag about this to your friends, what do you call this famous ancestor? The key question here, is: what do kinship terms actually mean?Thomas Edison is the great-uncle of my great-great-grandfather's third cousin!Confusing, right? But you'll be relieved to hear that it doesn't have to be. How do kinship labels work?: Terms that indicate distant relatives, like 'third cousin

Service, salt, and sweat. Danger and dedication. Here, we take a look at the fascinating history of the Royal Navy's epic - and brutal - participation in the First World War.The Royal Navy, proudly known as the Senior Service, traces its lineage to the 16th century and is deeply rooted in national identity. It protected colonies, guarded coastlines and kept trade routes open. For generations, families sent their sons to sea with pride.As we follow the Navy's history during the

Edith Cavell was a British nurse who served during World War 1. Not only did she save the lives of both Allied and German soldiers, but she also helped many British soldiers escape to safety. With the help of Norwich Cathedral and Nick Miller of edithcavell.org.uk, Edith’s courageous story is remembered alongside tales of WW1 trenches. Early life: Edith Louisa Cavell was born in 1865 in Swardeston, near Norwich. Her father Frederick was the local vicar. As a girl, she enjoyed drawing

Ronnie and Reggie Kray are two of the most infamous criminals in British history. And if ever there were proof to support the theory that habit and personality can be passed down genetically, the Krays were a near-perfect example. The Kray family had moved to the East End of London from Tower Hill in the 1800s, and once settled, each generation tended to gain notoriety in its own right, fostering associations with disorder, organised crime, body-snatching, and murder.They were