Discover workhouse records, school logs and so much more
3-4 minute read
By Daisy Goddard | December 22, 2023
From London to Lincolnshire, there are almost 20,000 fascinating new records for you to explore this Christmas.
In our last record update of 2023, we've added over 18,500 English records. These fascinating additions include monumental inscriptions from Yorkshire, Lincolnshire workhouse guardians' minutes, and 18th-century school records from the UK's first free school for deaf children.
We've also added two new titles to our newspaper collection, taking us past yet another exciting landmark.
Read on for a full rundown of all that's been added this festive Findmypast Friday.
Yorkshire Monumental Inscriptions
We've added 8,273 transcriptions to our existing collection of monumental inscriptions from Yorkshire. Spanning from 1807 right up to 2022, these latest additions are from parishes across the county. To see the parishes included, check our updated list.
There are now over 318,000 records in this set. Each is a transcription of the details on a gravestone in Yorkshire. In the records, you can expect to learn names, ages, birth years, death years, inscription details, and descriptions of each grave site, as well as the memorials' locations.
If you've got roots in Yorkshire, you may be able to uncover a moving tribute to your ancestor. You'll find deeply emotional and personal inscriptions - take the record of Harry Aaron, for example. Harry died in 1938, aged 67. He is buried at Illingworth Moor Methodist Chapel in Halifax.
His gravestone reads 'Treasured memories of him we loved best'. From his record, we learn that he is buried with Sarah Ann Williamson (perhaps his wife), who died on 22 April 1940, aged 58. Their joint inscription reads 'Peace, perfect peace'.
Lincolnshire, Workhouse Guardians' Minutes
This week's second update brings a brand-new record set, comprising 9,354 workhouse guardian records from Lincolnshire. These additions span 1837 to 1901 and document poor law relief applications as recorded by the guardians who administered each case.
Lincolnshire's Sleaford Union Workhouse in the 19th century.
Though the information included varies slightly, each record typically contains a full name, residence, date of birth, status, and event date. There are transcriptions and images available, so consult the original record to glean all the details. Within the documents attached to each record, you may be able to see the rates that were paid, as well as more biographical details and notes about the case.
London, Asylum for the Deaf & Dumb Pupils 1792-1859
Last but not least, we've got yet another brand-new set. Containing 899 records, this collection is from the London Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb - the first free public institution in England to offer education to deaf children from poor families.
These transcriptions span almost 70 years, from 1792 to 1859. They offer a valuable insight into the lives of the school's pupils and will be of particular interest to those of us who may have deaf ancestors.
A map of the school (formerly called Deaf and Dumb Asylum) on Old Kent Road, c.1875.
The information recorded changed significantly over time. For some pupils, only very brief detail is included. Nevertheless, you may be able to discover a name, year of attendance, parental details, and residence, as well as other family facts (including whether other relatives were also deaf).
Peruse Pictures and more...
This week, we added 127,786 new pages to our newspaper collection, taking our total page count past the impressive 73 million landmark. With two new titles - the Blyth News Post Leader and Pictures - there are more stories to explore than ever.
A precursor to the movie fan magazine Picturegoer, Pictures was first published in October 1911. It described itself as 'an illustrated weekly magazine of fiction for lovers of moving pictures'. It ran stories about upcoming features, articles about the most popular stars of the day, and images of cinema stills.
Pictures. View this title in full.
Here's a full rundown of all that's been added this week.
New titles:
- Blyth News Post Leader, 1987-1988, 1991-1992
- Pictures, 1911
Updated titles:
- Atherstone News and Herald, 1991
- Ballymena Weekly Telegraph, 1895, 1903, 1905, 1917-1920, 1930, 1960-1970, 1985-1989, 1991-1992
- Deal, Walmer & Sandwich Mercury, 1986
- Gloucestershire Echo, 1995-1996, 1998-1999
- Kent Messenger, 1941
- Kentish Express, 1976
- Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser, 1873-1875, 1878-1886, 1909
- Maidstone Telegraph, 1939, 1941-1945
- Pateley Bridge & Nidderdale Herald, 1987-1989
- South Eastern Gazette, 1977
Last week, we added new parish records for Kent and over 187,000 1939 register entries. Discover the full release here.
Have you made a surprising family history discovery? Whatever you've uncovered about your past, we'd love to hear about it. You can now get in touch and tell us using this handy form.
