All About Ancestors

09/06/2026

My article is the lead feature in this month's 'Who Do You Think You Are?' magazine, and it's a topic that comes up constantly in research: finding deaths in the records.

Not just death certificates. The full range: burial registers, probate, newspapers, memorial inscriptions, workhouse and hospital records, and more. Deaths are one of those areas where people often stop at the obvious sources and miss a lot of what's actually available.

If you've ever hit a wall trying to confirm when or where an ancestor died, or you're not sure which records to try beyond the GRO index, this issue is worth picking up.

Available in supermarkets and newsagents now, or subscribe online.
https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/subscribe/

08/06/2026

Did you know that 12 dogs sailed on the Titanic, and some survived the disaster? I've just published a new blog post covering all the animals of the Titanic, including the ones who survived and the ones who didn't.

The post also covers the remarkable animals who sailed on other ships across the centuries, from a dog found on the Mary Rose to a Great Dane officially enlisted in the Royal Navy.

Animals talk link 👉 https://allaboutancestors.com/dogs-who-survived-the-titanic/

This is one of a range of talks I offer for family history societies, U3A groups, conferences and events, covering the Titanic and other historical subjects so do get in touch if you're in need of an engaging speaker for your event.

Of the 12 dogs that sailed on the Titanic, only three survived. Discover the true stories of the dogs who survived the Titanic and the ones who didn't.

04/06/2026

I've been using wills a lot more in my research lately, having done a specialist course on tracking down the more elusive ones. They really can reveal so much about a person's life, their relationships, their priorities, even their personality. Names, places, occupations, family tensions, unexpected bequests; it's all there if you know where to look.

I'll be writing more about this in a forthcoming article for Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, so watch this space. But in the meantime, here's one testator who took things to extremes: 50 pages of closely packed text. That'll take some transcribing! 😅

Thought I'd share as wills are such an underused resource and well worth exploring if you haven't already.

31/05/2026

Been working back in the 1680s this week, with the parish baptism registers for Rotherfield in Sussex on FamilySearch.There's something special about handling records from this period; you're looking at entries written almost 350 years ago, and I took time to pause for a moment to imagine what their world looked like, what they worried about, what mattered to them.

Thought I would share as it's a nice reminder that the earlier registers can still yield results if you're patient with them. And if you've got Sussex ancestors, the Rotherfield registers are well worth a look.

27/05/2026

Been working with baptism records in the era of 18th century Scotland recently and honestly, the naming traditions can be a real headache 😅

If you're not familiar with the Scottish naming pattern, it broadly went like this: first son named after the paternal grandfather, second son after the maternal grandfather, third son after the father, and the same pattern for daughters with grandmothers and mother. Lovely in theory, a nightmare in practice. Because families were large and siblings tended to stay in the same parish, you quickly end up with a whole cluster of cousins all called James Johnston or Mary Campbell, all born within a few years of each other, all baptised in the same kirk 🤯

Throw in the fact that not everyone followed the pattern strictly (and that infant mortality meant names were sometimes reused within the same family), and you've got a recipe for some very tangled research. The trick is to work outwards from what you can prove and use witnesses, neighbours, and land records to tell your James apart from his three cousins of the same name. Thought I'd share in case anyone else is tearing their hair out over this 😊

24/05/2026

Been doing some research recently that took me to Chiswick House in west London 🏛️ I lived in Chiswick for years but somehow never visited, so I finally took the opportunity to have a proper look around. What a beautiful building; it's a real gem of Palladian architecture and well worth the trip if you're in the area. The gardens surrounding it are gorgeous too, and completely free to enter, which is a lovely bonus 🌳. Thought I'd share in case anyone fancies a day out that combines a bit of history with lovely gardens. 😊

21/05/2026

Been to Bristol and Gloucestershire recently on a research trip and ended up just as entertained by the place names as the records.

Catbrain made me stop and double-check I’d read it properly. Mangotsfield sounds like something you have to read very carefully. But my absolute favourite has to be Pucklechurch - there is something so wonderfully eccentric about this village name.

Which place names are your favourites? Do share below. 👇

17/05/2026

Had a brilliant research trip to Birmingham recently 🏙️ What a surprising city! I love the contrast between old and new, and the Library of Birmingham lit up at night is stunning ✨ Spent time in both the Heritage Research Area and the Wolfson Centre for Archival Research, which between them hold a great range of local studies, archives and original documents for family historians. If you haven't visited, it's well worth the trip; just remember you'll need to book an appointment and bring ID for the Wolfson Centre. Thought I'd share in case it's helpful for anyone planning a research visit 📚

14/05/2026

Sometimes, where you research is just as inspiring as what you find! 🏛️✨

I was just thinking about some of my favourite places to research family history, and the Boston Public Library always comes close to the top of my list. Just look at that reading room - absolutely glorious! There is something about those green lamps and the soaring ceiling that makes you feel like you’re part of history yourself.

Even as a UK-based researcher, I find it's a 'bucket list' spot for anyone tracing New England roots or just looking for a bit of scholarly magic. 📖

10/05/2026

Did you know that long before it was the bustling passenger port we know today, Southampton was a spa town and the place to be in the 18th-century? 🎩✨

I’ve been deep in the archives this week researching 1700s Southampton. It’s been so interesting to step back into an era when the town held a "...high reputation as a Watering place of Elegant and Fashionable resort."⛲

It’s a side of the city’s history that often gets forgotten, but it’s a vital part of the story for families living there at the time.

Does your family tree have roots in Georgian Southampton? I'd love to hear what you've discovered! 👇