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Using AI to Transcribe Old Wills
Using AI tools can help genealogists with their research and make the most painstaking and meticulous of tasks more efficient. Consider, for example, transcribing an eighteenth century last will and testament containing archaic spelling and phrasing, and the legal terminology of the time. Not an easy process, especially when the…
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Wills and Probate Explained
Wills are legal documents that outline a person’s wishes for the distribution of their assets following their death. Their contents can provide information that help to piece together a family tree and reveal more about the life of an individual. Understanding the key elements of wills, and the process of…
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Understanding the Dates of Documents
Measuring time is not necessarily a straight forward process. The historical use of different calendars and the use of various ways of recording dates leads to a complexity of systems. Understanding these systems is essential though for interpreting the dates found on historical documents. Calendars Calendars need to align with…
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The History of Given Names
Throughout history, parents in Britain have named their children according to traditions, conventions and customs, based on family ties, social status, and religious influences. From following generational naming patterns to choosing middle names to reflect lineage or social standing, these naming conventions reveal much about the values and traditions that…
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Double-barrelled Surnames
In Britain, double-barrelled surnames have a long history in naming traditions, possibly indicating social status, heritage, or the merging of family lines. The formation of these surnames by combining two surnames with a hyphen, may suggest a union of noble or influential families, the inheritance of property, or the desire…
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1939 England and Wales Register
On 29th September 1939, following the outbreak of the second world war, the population of England and Wales was surveyed. The information collected was used to issue identity cards and ration books, and to co-ordinate the direction of labour and conscription into the armed forces. To this day, it remains…
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Understanding the Julian Calendar
Aligning the calendar with the Earth’s orbit around the sun is important, but not easy. The calendar needs to synchronise with the Earth’s orbit to ensure the seasons fall at the same time every year. To do this, the calendar year matches the time it takes the Earth to complete…
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Leap Years and Leap Days
Leap years help to keep our calendar aligned with the Earth’s orbit around the sun and aligned with the seasons. This article explains their purpose and why they only occur every four years. The seasons occur as the Earth orbits the sun and the calendar tracks its progress in doing…
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Understanding the Gregorian Calendar
The Gregorian Calendar better aligns with the timing of the Earth’s orbit around the sun, known as the solar calendar. It improves the Julian Calendar and is more accurate in keeping in line with the solar calendar and the seasons. Over time, the Julian Calendar had over compensated in trying…
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Current Lines of Enquiry
Below is a list of the areas of family history that are currently being explored in an attempt to discover more about the people and their situations. Please do feel free to if you have information that you think may be of interest. Elderfield Family It would appear that the…
