Anglers Rest Blog has moved!

Please update your bookmarks! – www.anglersrest.net

The blog as it stands will remain here, but with comments OFF. You can contact me HERE

December 2015

1939 Register

Well, having waited over a year for +Findmypast to complete the task of digitising the 1939 Register Sunday night was the last sleep before the 1939 Register went live. Instead of getting up early, I went to bed late,very late!

I was keen to look for my Grandparents, it was just two months before they married and I found them, more or less where I expected them to be. 

The National Archives (TNA)-R39-1901-1901K-005
Image courtesy of FindMyPast

My Grandmother with her sister Elsie and brother in law and my Grandfather with his parents at Manor Farm Onslow Village Guildford. Living next door was his older sister Rose and her husband and two children and in another farm cottage was another brother with his wife and children. 

There has been much controversy about costings. I received a voucher code as a world subscription holder. The voucher gave me a 25% discount. I have not used it though as I had a substantial amount of FMP credits which I had acquired some years ago.

For the benefit of readers outside of the UK. The wonderful thing about the 1939 Register is that it is the closest thing we can get to a Census that is available to view after the 1911 Census.

The 1921 Census is not available to be viewed as yet and won't be until 1st Jan 2022 unless there is a decision to release the material early. The 1931 Census was destroyed by enemy bombing during the Second World War and there was 1941 Census. The 1951 Census won't be available to view until 1st January 2052 by which time I will be an elderly lady! So this is a GREAT piece of social history that plugs the gap of around about 30 years.

Not everyone can be viewed. The black lines in the image above show that an individual has been redacted. The Register itself was updated until the late 1980's I believe having been the forerunner for ration books, identity cards and National Health information. Where an individual died after 1991 then the information can be opened to view upon receipt of a copy of the death certificate.

There are some inconsistencies, my Grandmother who died in 1995 should have been redacted and I was nicely surprised to see her entry viewable and the record had been updated to show her married name.

Overall, I am please with the information. Yes, it is a great shame that the dataset is not within the subscription package, but it is what it is. I have some more exploring to do on the site as want to track down my Grandmother's brothers and one of my Grandfather's. I also want to find my husband's father and paternal grandfather, who are not with his grandmother. Not to mention extract what information I can for my One-Name studies for the surnames of Worship & Orlando, plus for my two UK based One-Place studies.

The originals are held at the National Archives and can be viewed free of charge.

In Deep with the Book of Me - August Prompt 2015

Today is month  8 of what is going to be a 12 month project. On the 1st of the month, at around 12.30 am UK time I will release the prompt for that month's In Deep with the Book of Me, Written by You.

If you are new here, welcome! The details, background flyer and Face Book link to the Book of Me can be found HERE and the prompt list for In Deep with the Book of Me can be found HERE

Happy Memories!

Many of us have happy memories. We recall them from time to time when we are day dreaming, sharing a memory with others or perhaps we trigger a memory by something else completely.

What are your top five happy memories?

In Deep with the Book of Me - July Prompt 2015

Today is month 7 of what is going to be a 12 month project. On the 1st of the month, at around 12.30 am UK time I will release the prompt for that month's In Deep with the Book of Me, Written by You.

If you are new here, welcome! The details, background flyer and Face Book link to the Book of Me can be found HERE and the prompt list for In Deep with the Book of Me can be found HERE

Bucket Lists!

 It is very twenty first century to create a bucket list. A friend of mine some time ago did 40 things in honour of her 40th birthday and having spoken to her recently she was debating about her 50 things list!

Image from Wikipedia.
Film Poster published 2008

• Do you have a bucket list?
• Have you created a bucket list with a particular purpose?
• What sorts of things are on your list?
• And have you achieved any
• Have you added to the list
• What does the list mean to you?

European Ancestors at Teignmouth Library

I am donating the proceeds from the talk to the Friends of Teignmouth Library.

You can see the website that accompanies the book HERE

In Deep with the Book of Me - June Prompt 2015

Today is month 6 of what is going to be a 12 month project. On the 1st of the month, at around 12.30 am UK time I will release the prompt for that month's In Deep with the Book of Me, Written by You.

If you are new here, welcome! The details, background flyer and Face Book link to the Book of Me can be found HERE and the prompt list for In Deep with the Book of Me can be found HERE

The theme for June is about flags!

Used under Free License from Dreamtime.com

• Do you identify yourself with a particular flag?
• Is it different to the Country where you live?
• Is it different to the Country of your birth? 
• Perhaps make or design a genealogical flag
• Using the flags that mean something to you create your own flag! 

The Orlando One-Name Study at Geneabloggers!

I was interviewed about the Orlando One-Name Study by fellow +Guild of One-Name Studies member +Tessa Keough for the "May I Introduce you to....." series.

You can read the post over at Geneabloggers

Going In-Depth - May Issue

The May issue is OUT and the Across the Pond column continues with the featured look at occupations, especially those carried out in the City of London.

The April issue looks at the Worshipful Company of Butcher's and can be found on pages 27 - 30 of  the magazine.

To subscribe to the magazine please visit The In-Depth Genealogist website.

In Deep with the Book of Me - May Prompt 2015

Today is the month 5 of what is going to be a 12 month project. On the 1st of the month, at around 12.30 am UK time I will release the prompt for that month's In Deep with the Book of Me, Written by You.

If you are new here, welcome! The details, background flyer and Face Book link to the Book of Me can be found HERE and the prompt list for In Deep with the Book of Me can be found HERE

Prompt 5 - May 2015 - Dream Trip

This prompt was inspired by a blog post written in September 2014 by Jennifer Shoer who blogs at The Scrappy Genealogist. I wasn't the only one inspired because +Tessa Keough & the team at the Legacy Virtual Users Group Community at Google + hosted a hangout in October 2014 and you can see that recording here.

You are going to plan your dream trip. Where do you want to go and why?
Genealogical connections, revisit because of happy memories, or perhaps you just feel a connection to somewhere else? What do you want to do when you get there?

The trip can be as long or as short as you would like it to be. Forget about the constraints that you might feel and be aware of. This is an opportunity to dream and perhaps sow the seed for a future adventure.

Going In-Depth - April Issue

The April issue is OUT and the Across the Pond column continues with the featured look at occupations, especially those carried out in the City of London.

The March issue looks at the Worshipful Company of Grocers and can be found on pages 7 - 10 of  the magazine.

To subscribe to the magazine please visit The In-Depth Genealogist website.

A-Z Challenge - Book of Me C is for....Collaboration and Collateral

By coincidence I am back from the Guild of One-Name Studies conference. The theme was Collaboration. Cooperation. Communication. Which sums up nicely researching in the twenty first century. There were various presentations throughout the three day event and I presented on blogging using blogger which is rather fitting!

You can view the various sessions at the Guild's YouTube Channel

The Book of Me theme for C gave three ideas - Collaboration and Collateral and Cards. So today I can going to briefly tackle two of the three!

We all can research in isolation, but we will achieve so much more if we collaborate with others and share our hypothesis, ideas and findings. How can you collaborate in the modern genealogical world?

• Facebook
• Blogs
• Evernote
• Dropbox

These are just a few examples of how material can be shared with others. Each of us will find our own way of researching and collaborating. There is no right or wrong way, just simply your way and whatever works for us as individuals.

I have always researched my collateral lines, and my personal belief is to ignore those lines can be foolish! Collateral lines can give us a sense of depth to our own direct lines of family history and only when investigating those collateral lines can we find evidence and information on our own ancestry. Leave no stone unturned is probably a good motto!

You can see who else is participating in the A - Z Challenge by visiting the participants lists at www.a-to-zchallenge.com.

Book of Me
Copyrighted Julie Goucher

More details can be found about the Book of Me and the A - Z prompts HERE

A-Z Challenge - Book of Me - B is for Birthday Book

Back in the Spring of 1990 I was visiting an elderly relative, who was the first Cousin of my Grandfather. Their Grandmother was Caroline Ellis (1844 - 1935) of Puttenham, who was my Great Great Grandmother

The cousin's daughter had married the Grandson of a chap called Job Ellis from Elstead and found it somewhat amusing that perhaps the Ellis connection was stronger than we first thought.

Over a tea and chat I was presented with a birthday book and it is this book that is transcribed here, written in the order the details appear in the book.

Owner identified as Adelaide Underwood May 14th, 1776

Harriett Street 1852 Jan 15th

Marjorie Ellis Jan 27th 1910

Frederick Street 1857 Feb 2nd

Herbert Ellis Feb 23rd

Frederick Street 1882 April 1st

Emma Street 1854 May 3rd

Annie Underwood 1854 June 6th

John Street 1859 Oct 5th

Adelaide Ellen Underwood 1853 Nov 7th

Annie Street 1886 Dec 3rd

Of course hindsight is a wonderful thing and I have often wished that I had photographed the birthday book. I can't even recall what it looked like now, which is rather disappointing.

Book of Me
Copyrighted Julie Goucher

More details can be found about the Book of Me and the A - Z prompts HERE

You can see who else is participating in the A - Z Challenge by visiting the participants lists at www.a-to-zchallenge.com

A-Z Challenge - Book of Me - A is for Analysis

As a family historian it is vital to analysis the information we discover. It is not enough to look at the information once, and that process should be a consistent theme as we research. Just because we read something does not mean what we have read is correct, nor does it mean the same thing out of context.

Our research is a journey to the past. That journey begins with a single step and each journey we take becomes easier as we become more familiar with the names, places and people we are researching and as we understand the context we are researching in.

My Great Uncle died in the mid 1960's and is buried at the municipal cemetery at Guildford. When my Cousins started researching they had problem locating this entry in the General Registration Office (GRO) indexes. For some reason a full copy of his birth certificate was not in the family. All my Uncle's siblings were located and yet he was not, and his birth dated back to 1906 - his siblings were born between 1900 and 1917.

Taken by Julie Goucher, May 2007

When my Great Aunt died she was interned with her husband and the headstone changed. Family records showed that Uncle was given the year of birth of 1907 which was incorrect. It had been calculated from his age at death, but was a year out based and proved using biology. Uncle was born in Dec and my Grandfather, the next sibling was born in March - gestation is as we know nine months and I had the birth certificate and numerous other documentation which confirmed he was born in March 1908, so Uncle was born in December 1906 and not 1907 as the headstone indicated.

A further search was done in the neighbouring registration districts to Guildford, and eventually Uncle's entry was discovered in Hambledon registration district in Dec quarter 1906. So why was there are difference between him and other siblings? The address was the same. The reality is that no one knows the answer, My Great Grandmother died in the early 1970's, so she outlived her son be several years.

The reality at this point was this. Births usually happened at home. In this instance Wanborough Surrey. All my Grandfather's siblings were baptised in Wanborough and the registration district for all except one was Guildford. I looked again at the date that the registration of my Uncle took place. It was early December, and according to the Monthly record report from the Meteorological Office, December 1906 it was cold, windy and there had been instances of snow and sleet.

My Great Grandmother, who had already buried two of her six children born between 1900 - 1906 would have wanted to protect her children as best she could. Therefore it is likely that decision to record the birth in Hamledon registration district was logistical - Godalming was nearer than Guildford. Perhaps they had secured a lift on the back of a cart.

But what if the birth had not happened at home? Perhaps the birth occurred whilst visiting another household, and the birth recorded in the nearest registration district with the baptism in the family parish. Whilst that did not happen in this instance, it is absolutely possible which means that any time a place of birth is required, the individual could quite unwittingly records the place of birth incorrectly based upon what they believe to be true and let's face it would the individual would not recall their birth, just what they are informed by their parents and read on the official documentation.

We should be analysing the discoveries we make, even using non genealogical sources to assist us.

Book of Me
Copyrighted Julie Goucher

More details can be found about the Book of Me and the A - Z prompts HERE

You can see who else is participating in the A - Z Challenge by visiting the participants lists at www.a-to-zchallenge.com

In Deep with the Book of Me - April Prompt 2015

Tomorrow is the start of month 4 of what is going to be a 12 month project. On the 1st of the month, at around 12.30 am UK time I release the prompt for that month's In Deep with the Book of Me, Written by You.

If you are new here, welcome! The details, background flyer and Face Book link to the Book of Me can be found HERE and the prompt list for In Deep with the Book of Me can be found HERE

Traditionally in April bloggers take to blogging their way daily across the month using the alphabet as their blogging feature, with each day representing a letter of the alphabet. The only day there is not a post is Sunday. 1st April is A, 2nd April is B and so forth.

So, over the course of the April we are going to be blogging DAILY - as always you can ignore the prompt, take a different spin on the prompt, share (or not). The choice is completely yours.

There are TWO sets of prompts
1. A - Z Genealogical is aimed at those with a genealogical slant
2. A- Z Book of Me Medley  aimed at those who are perhaps knew to the Book of Me series.

You can mix and match the prompts or if you are brave you can answer both set!

Here are a few links that might assist you as we blog every day.



The presentation

The Prompts list

For details about the Book of Me program

The A-Z Challenge site

Guild of One-Name Studies Conference - Sunday Sessions & Close

10.00-11.00  - Tennyson 1&2 Tools & Techniques: Using Wordpress for Blogs & Websites - Alec Tritton

11.00-12.00  - Tennyson 1&2 Tools & Techniques: Managing your DNA Project, and Interpreting Results - Maurice Gleeson

12.00-13.00  - Tennyson 1&2 Tools & Techniques: Communication from the Hereafter - the Members' Websites Project – Jim Benedict and Mike Spathaky

14.00-15.00  - Tennyson 1&2 Tools & Techniques: Using Blogger for Blogs - Julie Goucher

15.30-16.30  - Tennyson Suite Keynote Speaker - Mark Bayley, S & N Genealogy Breaking Down Brick Walls in your Family History Research

16.30-16.45 Close of Conference - Guild President

Guild of One-Name Studies - www.one-name.org

Guild of One-Name Studies Conference - Saturday Afternoon Sessions

14.00-15.00  - Tennyson 1 & 2 Tools & Techniques: Webinars - What is Available and How Do I Participate? - Tessa Keough

15.30-16.30  - Tennyson 1 & 2 Tools & Techniques: How to Set Up Facebook Groups, and Research Using Facebook - Alan Moorhouse

16.30-17.30  - Tennyson 1 & 2 Tools & Techniques: The Give and Take of Collaboration - Bob Cumberbatch

The Guild of One-Name Studies - www.one-name.org

Guild of One-Name Studies Conference - Saturday AGM & Morning Sessions

09.00-10.30  - Tennyson Suite Welcome and Opening of the Conference by the Guild President, followed by the Annual General Meeting

10.30-11.30 Morning Coffee

11.00-12.00  - Tennyson Suite Keynote Speaker - Laurence Harris Collaboration, Cooperation and Communication

12.00-13.00  - Tennyson Suite Panel Session: What Software Do I Use? How Does it Support Collaboration, Cooperation and Communication?

Panel Members - Bob Cumberbatch, Paul Howes, Jim Benedict and Tessa Keough



The Guild of One-Name Studies www.one-name.org

A-Z April Blogging Challenge & The Book of Me

I have taken part in the A-Z Blogging challenge for the last four years or so and this year will be no exception. What is new is that I have linked the A - Z Challenge with the Book of Me.

Below is the presentation with the prompt hints along with the various links and more information.

The April Prompts list

For details about the Book of Me program

The A-Z Challenge site

RootsMOOC

Earlier this week I stumbled across a genealogy MOOC opportunity. The course starts officially on Monday 30th March, but is available for people to sign up and get familiar with the set up.The cost for the course is nothing, other than your investment of time.

The course is divided into four modules

• Orientation Module -- Begins March 23
• Module 1: Getting Started -- Begins March 30 
• Module 2: US Census -- Begins April 20
• Module 3: State & Local Resources -- Begins May 4
• Module 4: Online Sources & Strategies -- Begins May 18

Below is the introductory video

Something that is really useful is that you can join the course and submit your surname and location interests with any contact being made through the Canvas portal. It is certainly a great idea and I listed my interest in my two One-Name (Surname research) studies for the names of Orlando and Worship.

To sign up and take part visit - https://learn.canvas.net/courses/369

Web Wednesday - Willard Suitcases

Sometime ago I came across today's Web Wednesday topic and thought it was simply fascinating. Not just in terms of the actual project, but also the historical context and details behind it.

The project is called Willard Suitcases and the blog is capturing the very essence of the 400 suitcases belonging to former residents of a New York psychiatric hospital. The cases were put into storage when the patients were admitted, many contained belongings packed without the realisation of what it means to be institutionalised. The luggage dates from between 1910 and 1960 and in the cases of many of the patients they never left. Quite simply tragic.

Willard Psychiatric Hospital circa 1880 - courtesy of The New York Times

Once the hospital was closed the luggage was salvaged and acquired by New York State Museum. The blog host, Jon Crispin was given the wonderful opportunity to photograph the luggage.

You can read more details about the project at
http://www.willardsuitcases.com/about. Jon's introductory post can be found HERE. You can also read Jon's blog and see the posts about the suitcases at http://joncrispinposts.com/

The tragedy in all of this is that many people were confined in institutions across the globe  for conditions that were not diagnosed or treated. Conditions such as epilepsy for example. Conditions such as dementia was not acknowledged. In other instances wives were confined for perhaps having what we know now to be post natal depression, or perhaps confined so they could be replaced with a newer model!

Websites such at this one exists to honour those who lived in such tragic times. It is important that we learn from the material and data they left behind.

Further information

• Suitcase Exhibition - http://suitcaseexhibit.org/
• UK Newspaper - The Daily Mail 10th June 2013 - Article
• The Inmates of Willard 1870 - 1900
• US Newspaper - The New York Times 28th November 2014 - Article
• Willard Cemetery Memorial Project

Links accessed and found to be live 23rd March 2015