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From trailblazing women's history to unexpected ancestry discoveries, understand the past, one family story at a time.
What do you do when you just can't seem to get past a family history hurdle? First off, don't worry, you're not alone. It happens to all of us. Overcoming the issue may take some clever thinking but more often than not, you'll get there.To help, we've compiled some of the most common genealogy problems and ways to solve them. With a little determination and ingenuity, your family discoveries should be back on track in no time. 1. Re-examine everything:…
Life in 1940s Britain was tough. Families were torn apart by World War 2, many for the second time in as many generations. Not to mention the Blitz, food rationing, evacuation and general wartime anxiety. It all adds up to a very bleak period in the country's history.Yet, even amid such adversity, ‘keep calm and carry on’ was the order of the day. The war effort on the Home Front was stronger than ever and rural communities opened their doors…
The year is 1848, and in the rural west of Ireland, two parents face a heart-wrenching decision as a result of the Gorta Mór - The Great Hunger. Watch their five children starve? Or uproot their home, and make an arduous journey to unknown lands? They had already suffered three years of devastation due to the catastrophic Great Famine, which would kill a quarter of the Irish population between 1845 and 1852. Faced with starvation and financial ruin, the family makes the difficult decision…
So you're ready to get started on your family tree? Are you sure you've gathered together all the information you need? A little bit of preparation can make all the difference in the early stages of family research. We've put together a useful checklist to make sure you cover all the bases. 1. Start with what you already know: It's all about family. Building on the information you know yourself with details remembered by your family can give you a great…
The family history of powerful political figures is always interesting to delve into and they don't come more powerful than the President of the United States.Some American presidents' family trees are widely-documented, like Barack Obama's Irish roots. Others, you may be less familiar with. Here, we've provided quickfire summaries of all 46 US presidents' family histories. Some of them may have genes you weren't expecting. George Washington: John Adams: Thomas Jefferson: James Madison: James Monroe: John Quincy Adams: Andrew Jackson:…
One of the most revered warriors in popular history, Robert The Bruce was King of Scotland from 1306 to 1329. During his reign, he successfully led Scotland to independence from England and took part in William Wallace’s rebellion against Edward I.In recent times, ancestry DNA testing has helped to make it easier for Robert the Bruce’s descendants to trace their family connections back to him via a unique genetic marker held by his great-grandson, Robert III of Scotland. How amazing would…
Romance, scandal, tragedy... the history of the royal family has seen it all. How well do you know each of King Charles III's ancestors and descendants? We’ve built the royal family tree to give you all the facts you need on the monarchy, including who’s related to who and the stories that they'll be remembered for. Our interactive example shows you all the nifty features available on Findmypast's family tree builder. It's perfect for having a tinker before you start…
Census records are some of the most important resources for British family history. They help you track how your family changed over time and reveal information about your ancestors that you won’t find anywhere else. Historical censuses are held by The National Archives and are also available as online records at Findmypast.Using our censuses, you can trace the history of towns and counties across the United Kingdom. From Northumberland and Lancashire in the north to southern counties like Kent,…
Who Do You Think You Are? UK, the BAFTA-winning show that sees famous faces delving into their family history returned for its 16th season in July 2019. The first five episodes aired every Monday at 9pm on BBC One, while the final three installments moved to Wednesday nights in the same slot.Here, you'll find episode reviews, our favourite moments and tips on how you too can make discoveries about your past, just like the stars.The celebrity line-up for…
Church or parish records are some of the best resources you can use to take your family tree back further. In many cases, you'll be able to go as far back as the 1500s, when King Henry VIII was on the throne. These records were taken by church officials in every corner of Britain and cover the most important milestones in your family's history.With parish records, you can unearth details of your ancestors' baptisms, marriages and burials. They also…