Genealogy
Genealogy at the moment are meeting on Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/590393226?pwd=RnhETTY4NVNHT1BXL0g1bHBtSGFCQT09
ID 590393226
Password 103179
One of the original groups. It meets at 10am on the first Thursday of the month in the Devonshire Suite, at the Gainsborough House Hotel, Bewdley Hill, Kidderminster DY11 6BS See Map
Instruction, help and encouragement is given to members to find sources of information to create their family tree.
Access to free Wi-Fi is available so bring your Laptop or iPad, if possible. Help can be given to people with no computer knowledge or computer.
If you would like to find out more, please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Who knows what you may find out?
To get you started I have produced some helpful notes:
- Where to begin
- Organising research
- Using a computer
- Using Internet sites
- County Libraries and National Records
- Census Information
- BDM
- Parrish Records
- Wills and Probate
- Military records
- Relationships
- Photographs
- Haie Hunters
- Insititutions
- Brick Walls
To see whom members are researching please click here.
Genealogy Programme - 2020
2nd January |
No Meeting |
6th 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. |
5th March |
Photographs – dating photos and photoshop (Mike Morris) |
2nd April |
Parish Records including Ireland |
7th May |
Censuses (Jackie) |
4th June |
Using web sites. Findmypast, Ancestry (Suggestions for other sites used by members) |
2nd July |
Looking at Religious sites (Suggestions for sites used by members) |
6th August |
Breaking Brick walls (Jackie) (Group input) |
3rd September |
DNA using results |
1st October |
Success and failures (Group input) |
5th November |
Female line |
3rd December |
Review and programme planning (Group input) |
Genealogy Programme - 2019
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 |
Genealogy Programme - 2018
2nd Jan | No Meeting | |
11th Jan | Beginners Meeting (Contact Beryl for information) | |
1st Feb | Censuses and The 1939 Register | Report |
1st March | Cancelled due to Weather | |
5th April | Military Records and planning presentation for November | Report |
3rd May | Family Histories and Family Myths | Report |
7th June | Speaker to be confirmed | |
5th July | Breaking Brick walls with Jackie Cotterill | |
2nd August | Alternative sources of information, Will, Wig Powder tax, School records, Trade directories, Hearth Tax | |
6th Sept | Illegitimacy, adoption, Foundling Hospital and apprenticeships | Report |
4th Oct | DNA | Report |
1st Nov | Review of World War 1 Project experience |
Genealogy Programme - 2017
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 |
Breaking Brick Walls. |
2nd November |
Weavers Cottages - Caroline |
7th December |
Review and Programme planning |
Genealogy Programme - 2016
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 |
Problem Solving - Jackie Cotterill |
Thur 3rd November |
Visit to BMSGH No meeting at Gainsborough Hotel |
Thur 1st December |
Review and programme planning |
Genealogy Programme - 2015
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 |
Genealogy Programme - 2014
Thur 5th Jun |
Subject: Military History - Dennis Plant 1910 - 1920 Project |
Thur 3rd Jul |
Subject: 1910 - 1920 Project |
Thur 4th Sep: |
Subject: Breaking Brick Walls |
Thur 2nd Oct: |
Subject: Display of Project. Book swap. |
Thur 6th Nov: |
Subject: Scanning photos to be repaired |
Thur 4th Dec: |
Subject: Reaserch up date and problem solving |