Who Do You Think You Are?

Finding out about a new series of Who Do You Think You Are? always sends our office into a flurry of excitement and activity. We had to make some last-minute changes to our issue this month, but I’m sure that you will enjoy our interview with the series producer Victoria Bell who gave up some precious time to talk to us about her role, and what to expect from this new line-up of celebrities (page 20). Our main feature this month looks at some of the fascinating documents that can be found in the parish chest (page 14). Before we had the local-government structures of today, it was the parish that managed such vital matters as collecting rates and looking after the poor. Some of these records are now finding their…

JUDITH BATCHELOR Judith is a tutor with the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies, and blogs at genealogyjude.com. On page 14 she explains how to use the records held in the parish chest. STUART A RAYMOND Both a local historian and family historian, Stuart has written many books including Tracing Your Roman Catholic Ancestors and shares his expertise in Catholic records on page 31. RUTH MACDONALD Ruth is the archivist and deputy director at the Salvation Army International Heritage Centre, and tells the fascinating story of the organisation’s early years on page 54.…

A few years ago I inherited a visitors' book from an elderly relative. It covers 1896-1913 and originally came from a guesthouse in the Suffolk town of Felixstowe, run by two of my grandmother’s elderly 'spinster aunts', Kate and Maggie Simson. My grandmother, Alice Roberts, worked there as a maid before she married. The book is fascinating, comprising over 100 comments from a few of the holidaymakers who visited Felixstowe in the late Victorian and Edwardian period. There are some lovely comments about the “Misses Simson and Miss Roberts” – in particular regarding the good food! One guest even pressed a flower between two of the pages, which is still in there after over a century. I could make out most of the names despite the spidery handwriting, so I made…

Email wdytyaeditorial@ourmedia.co.uk Write to WDYTYA? Magazine, Eagle House, Bristol BS1 4ST WIN an AncestryDNA test kit from ancestry.co.uk WORTH £79 The writer of our star letter wins an AncestryDNA test worth £79 – so drop us a line and share your thoughts with us. TIPS FOR DNA TESTING Over 20 years ago I started researching my family tree, only to discover the brick walls of illegitimacy. On my Edwards side my great grandfather had no father listed, and for my 3× great grandfather I had neither mother or father because I am yet to discover a baptism and no father was on his marriage certificate. In desperation I turned to a DNA test with Ancestry (ancestry.co.uk/dna), but the matches did not seem to help my research as they generally came back to people I already knew…

Email wdytyaeditorial@ourmedia.co.uk to feature your event here for free IN PERSON WORKERS' PLAYTIME Until 9 September a John Rylands Research Institute and Library, Manchester t 0161 306 0555 w library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands/visit/events/ workers-playtime This exhibition explores the culture and communities created by factory workers in 19thcentury Lancashire to create a better, fuller life for themselves and their children. Free. PIRATES: EXPLORE BENEATH THE SURFACE Until December 2024 a National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth t 01326 313388 w nmmc.co.uk/2023/01/pirates Discover the truth behind the myth of 18th-century piracy. Entry to the exhibition is included with a museum ticket (£16.90). WHO WAS THE REAL GENTLEMAN JACK? 1 June a Leeds Central Library t 0113 378 5005 w tinyurl.com/ticketsource-leeds-jack Historian Jill Liddington discusses her book As Good As a Marriage, about pioneering 19th-century landowner Anne Lister and her relationship with her partner, Ann Walker. Suggested donation £3. TILEHURST IN WORLD WAR TWO 8 June a Reading Central…

Find out more about DNA and house history THE FAMILY HISTORY SHOW 24 June a York Racecourse w thefamilyhistoryshow.com/york The Family History Show will hold its annual fair at York Racecourse on 24 June. The programme of talks by experts includes ‘Breaking Down Brick Walls’ by Mark Bayley, ‘Genealogy Hints and Tips’ by Keith Gregson, ‘House History – Research the History of the Houses Where Your Ancestors Lived’ by Nick Barratt, and ‘The Genetic Detective – Tips and Tricks to Solving Unknown DNA Matches’ by Donna Rutherford. There will also be an exhibition hall with stalls from family history organisations and companies, and the chance to discuss your brick walls with experts in free one-onone consultation sessions. Tickets are £8 in advance (two for £10), or £10 each on the door.…