How to find out about That Place

On September 7, 2023September 25, 2023 By HelenFinchIn Local History1 Comment

Obviously I am going to say come to the free 10 day event “All About THAT PLACE!” Sept – Oct 2023. Over 100 free 10 minute talks on all aspects from all around the world. Ok, I know you saw the links in the last two blog posts!

Meanwhile, where do you start to find out about UK places your ancestors lived? Or where you are going on holiday for that matter! Just make sure there is only one place with that name – or make sure you have the right one.

A general internet search can be a great place to start, certainly worth a try.
Genuki is my ‘go to’ website next. Lots of information about sources etc and sometimes even a local contact such as an online Parish clerk (send questions once you have done your best research). FamilySearchWiki too.
Maps – look at lots of maps and get a feel for the area and changes over time (More about maps next week).
https://www.familysearch.org/mapp/ is brilliant when working out boundaries, the names of nearby Parishes and the Hundred or Wapentake etc. Could enumeration in Sampford Courtenay, birth in Sticklepath, registration in Okehampton and records under Devon all be the same person? Look under all the tabs – Info, Jurisdictions and Options.

https://www.familysearch.org/mapp accessed 5 Sept 2023 Search for ‘Sticklepath’

I also recommend looking for the local Family History and Local History or Heritage groups. Consider both County and more local groups. Some are listed by the British Association for Local History, others by the Family History Federation. Both BALH and local societies often have events, zoom meetings, and offer local contacts to help with questions. Many are very low cost and good value. Some examples tomorrow – watch this space!

Your challenge for today? Use some of the links above to look at That Place you are interested in. Just #OnePlace! F or Part 2 of how to find out about your place click here

#AllAboutThatPlace – A Unique Challenge Event

On September 6, 2023September 2, 2023 By HelenFinchIn Local HistoryLeave a comment

Some of you may have spotted this is a ‘challenge’ event. We are hoping listeners will not only sit back and enjoy the 100 or so short talks, but that they will be inspired.

There will even be a ‘workbook’ for the event, for you to make notes, encouraging you to think how this applies to you and your potential research. There are lots of tips on how you might record and share your knowledge and findings too. You will get more out of this mega event if you allow it to spark memories (and capture them!) as well as considering potential for your own research and how to share your findings. It is a call to action!

Today we have more resources for research at our fingertips than ever before. Opportunities for disseminating our findings in interesting and exciting ways have mushroomed. Blogs, online audio or video clips, sharing recordings or giving live talks across the world, as well as much more accessible purposely designed software and options for visual aids.

The boundaries between factual family and local and family histories and literature have also softened. Many genealogists try to ‘bring their ancestor to life’ with exploration of what it was like walking in their shoes. We can also search for memorabilia related to our place, not only locally but online. What can you find to enrich and deepen your understanding of life at that time and enhance your narrative? There are also a number of groups who share their research and findings together online, to encourage and help each other such as The Curious Descendants Club (£) and FewForgottenWomen project of which I am a small part (join research days for free, just requires time to research and write up your allotted woman).

This #OnePlace event will open your eyes.

So here are some gentle challenges for you to consider (inspired by the event Facebook group).

Spark a conversation with friends and family members – Which of their ancestors would they most like to meet and why? Be ready to share some examples of your own!
Write a paragraph about an aspect of your own history – nothing fancy, just bullet points would do.
Join your local Family History Society and/or Local History Society. At least find out who they are and explore their websites.

IF you haven’t already signed up for updates and information click here

Meanwhile I have taken up the challenge to re-start my blog, and will be adding posts throughout the #AllAboutThatPlace event.

Celebrate a Tenth Anniversary in Style!

On September 4, 2023September 2, 2023 By HelenFinchIn Local HistoryLeave a comment

Celebration of 25 years of marriage with silver and 50 years of marriage with gold symbolises prosperity, and of course to an extent luck with both parties still living. Commercialisation means more and more anniversaries are celebrated (Father’s Day, even Black Friday) and each year has its own ‘traditions’. Ten years of marriage is apparently tin, or diamond if you ask a jeweller!

The Society for One-Place Studies is celebrating ten years since it started. With members all around the world and widespread studies too, a party is not ideal. Perhaps diamond cut tin badges? However, the committee (of which I confess I am a member) thought long and hard, and invites members to celebrate with any items to do with 10. Number 10 on a street or ten exciting stories and so forth. Blogs, journal articles, and of course the annual conference (free to members). Try using #OnePlaceStudies especially on #OnePlaceWednesdays to find some of them.

Even more exciting we have joined forces with several other organisations to celebrate for ten days with ten or more ten minute talks each day on relevant topics.

More information is coming very soon! #SticklepathOne Place Study has roped in Auntie Kate to tell some Tales of Sticklepath School. Plus a second talk about Creating Auntie Kate (she will not be attending that one in person).