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From trailblazing women's history to unexpected ancestry discoveries, understand the past, one family story at a time.
When the First World War was declared in August 1914, Liverpool answered the call like few other cities in Britain. Crowds filled the square outside St George’s Hall, banners flapped in the late-summer wind, and Lord Derby’s voice carried across the steps: “Come along, boys — enlist together, train together, fight together.” Within days, the idea of the Liverpool Pals had caught fire. By the end of the month, so many men had come forward that even the newspapers struggled to keep…
Although family history is deeply personal to each of us, it's also a valued form of historical research. Together, we're illuminating the forgotten stories of the past, connecting with our ancestors and the world in which they lived.We're passionate about supporting research in all of its forms, which is why we've partnered with the Women's Prize Trust to sponsor the new prize for female writers of non-fiction. You can read more about this exciting partnership here. Of course, non-fiction…
Exploring the movement of your ancestors can be a particularly rewarding aspect of family history. They may have been original settlers to the New World, or war brides making a home with a soldier. No matter where they went or when, you’ll want to understand the history, law, and process they went through. The motivation for this learning may be best summarised by an author featured in this list, Valerie Knowles, who states in the introduction to Strangers at Our…
The census is an incredible resource. It not only gives us those biographical details that help us trace our ancestors every ten years, but it gives a snapshot of the entire country. As any keen genealogist knows, it is like peeking into the windows – and the portholes – of every home and ship in the country. Back in 2018, Findmypast began the landmark project to digitise the 1921 Census of England and Wales in partnership with the National Archives. This began my keen
We've found some amazing things in the 1921 Census of England and Wales, there's no doubt about it. Unlike previous censuses, for the first time, the 1921 Census included a question on each individual's employer and place of work. This means that we can glean interesting occupational insights from the census returns. Learn more about the occupation codes used in the 1921 Census. From miners and transport workers to academics and writers, there is a massive array of jobs documented in this valuable…
Picture boots on cobbles, voices carrying down terraced streets, the scrape of a chair pulled up to the kitchen table as another man came in with the latest news. Word travelled fast in mining communities. By 1921, life was already on edge. The First World War had ended, but the relief never quite arrived. Work was uncertain. Prices were high. Across England and Wales, more than two million people were out of work.For families tied to the coal industry, things…
The 1921 Census of England & Wales is incredibly significant material for historians, family historians and genealogists. However, it's even more than that. The 1921 Census offers researchers around the world an opportunity to explore the movement, activities and occupations of English-speaking communities worldwide.One of the best ways to use the 1921 Census to make new discoveries is by comparing it to existing materials that have been accessible for years, such as the US 1920 Census and the 1921 and 1931 Censuses of Canada. Thanks to…
Our journey to preserve and digitise the 1921 Census of England and Wales started when Findmypast won the competitive tender published by The National Archives in 2018. We were thrilled to be chosen to complete the challenging but exciting task of bringing the 1921 Census online for the first time. The Census is an amazing window into the past, giving us a snapshot of 38 million lives in England and Wales on one night in the summer of 1921. Now, with our Premium subscription, you…
Our ancestors often endured a tumultuous and harrowing journey to their new lives. First, the decision process to leave their known world behind. Many had to travel to a major European port to gain passage. The purchase of the tickets and transportation of their belongings, even when meagre. The crossing itself, thousands of miles by sea. Finally, they would arrive in this New World and step off the boat for the first time into the chaos of a major port…
Ellis Island. Neighbour to the Statue of Liberty. The place where millions of immigrants entered the United States for the first time. The mental picture that many of us form when we think about our family arriving in the New World. But Ellis Island was only one of many important ports at which immigrants arrived. Understanding the history of immigration to North America is just as important as finding your ancestor’s passenger list or naturalisation record...and will help you…