Did you know that two-thirds of Britons haven’t researched an ancestor who served in the World Wars? We did the maths, and this means that a staggering 1.18 million wartime stories stand to be lost to future generations. Family history provides a way to discover and preserve the experiences of our ancestors who lived through World War 1 and World War 2. Commemorating our ancestors’ bravery shouldn’t be confined to Remembrance Day. Here at Findmypast, we’re on a mission to ensure that no…
Last year, we took a member of our community on an epic journey to trace the footsteps of her 2x great-grandmother Janet. We traced Janet’s life – from her birth in 1830 up to her life as a ship captain in Liverpool by the 1860s – and uncovered a tale of tragedy and perseverance. Watch Finding Janet.We’re back with yet another moving real-life tale. Growing up, Laura Collins knew that her great-grandfather Eli had lost an arm during the First World War.…
Perhaps it’s a sibling enthralled by tales of battlefield strategy, or a friend already immersed in the labyrinthine alleys of family history. Whatever the case, this Christmas, you can give more than a gift: you can give a key to the past.With Findmypast’s treasure trove of records, your gift can spark journeys that thread through generations. Who knows what secrets, surprises, or long-lost relatives are waiting to be discovered?To help you in your hunt for the perfect Christmas…
Family history starts with those closest to you. Where better to get information about your shared heritage than straight from the horse's mouth? Just think, if your grandparents remember details about their great-grandparents, you've already gone back four generations. Show your family tree to your nearest and dearest to see if they can fill in any gaps.Maybe your loved one is interested in starting their own family history journey. More than just a hobby, it provides a valuable way…
Birth, marriage and death records (BMDs) are one of the first kind of family records you'll discover when you start looking into your past. BMDs provide an incredible resource for tracing important events in your family's history. But what are they, exactly? And how can they help you trace your family tree? A brief history of birth, marriage and death records: The story of British birth, marriage and death records starts way back in 1538. The Church of England split with…