2^nd January

No Meeting

6^th February

Looking at Adoption (Ralph Bromley)

Ralph Brambley introduced us to the sensitive topic of Adoption over the centuries by examining Society’s attitudes and responses: The role of the wider family, the attitude to the “underserving” poor and illegitimacy.

We learnt about Hogarth’s 18th century Foundling Hospital in London, the conditions in the 19th century Workhouse, official secrecy around the Child Migration Schemes and abuse within the Irish Religious institutions, purposely making it almost impossible or the Children themselves to trace their parents, let alone family historians.

Ralph described his own journey, searching for blood relatives over decades and the repeated brick walls and obstacles he had to overcome before he was reunited with siblings, which reminds us that Family History is always Work in Progress.

5^th March

Photographs – dating photos and photoshop (Mike Morris)

2^nd April

Parish Records including Ireland

7^th May

Censuses (Jackie)

4^th June

Using web sites.  Findmypast, Ancestry (Suggestions for other sites used by members)

2^nd July

Looking at Religious sites (Suggestions for sites used by members)

6^th August

Breaking Brick walls (Jackie) (Group input)

3^rd September

DNA using results

1^st October

Success and failures (Group input)

5^th November

Female line

3^rd December

Review and programme planning (Group input)

3rd January

No Meeting

7th February

Family Histories (Group input)

Report: Stephanie Higgs explained how she had helped a researcher to produce an article on work by her Silversmith uncle. Iain Alexander described how he had traced the marriage of his 3 x gt grandparents in Leicestershire, and how their five orphaned  children were provided for when the wider family agreed to become their guardians, leading to a discussion on Poor Law certificates. James Dudley described the steps he took to unravel his forebears from Army records, discovering how the thrice married wife came to marry his forebear.

7th March

Maps, House Records, Looking at Deeds

4th April

Free Sites and the advantage of site sharing  Jackie Cotterill

2nd May

Topic - Writing up Your Family History - Speaker Michael Sharp

Guest speaker Michael Sharp, a genealogist and author addressed the topic. He started by suggesting ways to select different approaches to match target audience, how to apply consistent criteria to the task (balancing evidence, facts and commentary) and how to get started.  He outlined the type of content and language that can be used. He also brought along a range of books he has written (or collaborated with) to illustrate his points. After the enlightening presentation, he fielded questions from the floor on copyright issues as part of the wider discussion.

Jackie Cotterell reminded us of forthcoming Family History event at the NEC in September. 

6th June

Skeletons in the cupboard / Disproving stories

4th July

Criminal Records

After the opening notices, Beryl Buckley’s presentation provided a reminder of the origins of our legal systems, how crime was viewed in different eras and the types of punishment  meted out. With contributions from the group, we discussed the way this impacted on our own forebears and their families, and the sources available to family historians. With their consent, the group’s proceedings were captured on video by Ralph Bramley, to provide a digital contribution to the Wyre Forest U3A video to be shown this autumn.

1st August

Brick walls

5th September

DNA update (Group input)

3rd October

Looking at lives and trades in different periods (group input)

7th November

Success and failures in research (Group input)

5th December

Review and programme planning

January

No Meeting at the Gainsbough Hotel

2nd February

  Getting the most from the National Archives - Speaker Phil Lamb

2nd March

Family Histories -  Caroline, Vincent, Jackie, Steph,

6th April

WDYTYA 6-8 April NEC    details to be arranged.  No meeting at the Gainsborough Hotel

4th May

 Wills and Probate - Jackie Coterill

1st June

Up dating Data sources – what’s new and useful

6th July

Enclosures, Deforestation, and Industrial Revolution

Speaker Richard Churchley

3rd August

Immigration   Linda, Brian, Caroline, Vincent

7th September

DNA

5th October

2nd November

Weavers Cottages  - Caroline

7th December

Review and Programme planning

Thur 7th January

Subject: Family Histories

Thur 4th February 

Subject: Brickwalls and sharing Resources

Thur 3rd March

Subject: Newspapers and Publications

Thur 7th April

Subject:  Shops and Inns

Thur 5th May

Subjects: Book and Resource Sharing

Thur 2nd June

Subject: Apprentices, Freemen and Guilds

Thur 7th July

Subject: Immigration - Irish

Thur 4th August

Subject: Criminal Records and Prisons

Thur 1st September

 Subject: Rates Books

Thur 6st October

Thur 3rd November

Thur 1st December

Review and programme planning

January

No Meeting

Thur 5th Feb 

Subject: Repairing photos

Thur 5th Mar

Subject: Researching Trades - Silversmiths in the Jewellery Quarter

Thur 2nd April

subject  Recording Information

Thur 7th May

Breaking Brick Walls - problem solving

Thur 4th June

Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry -

Speaker Jackie Cotterill

Thur 2nd July

1911 census

Thur 6th Aug

Searching Parish Registers and Wills

Thur 3rd Sept

Searching Censuses 

Thur 1st Oct

Workhouses and Institutions

Thur 5th Nov

Breaking Brickwalls and problem solving

Thur 3rd Dec

Review and programme planning

Thur 5th Jun

Subject: Military History - Dennis Plant

1910 - 1920 Project

Subject: 1910 - 1920 Project

Subject: Breaking Brick Walls

Subject: Display of Project.  Book swap.

Subject: Scanning photos to be repaired

Subject: Reaserch up date and problem solving