When tracing a family tree, the temptation is to use the more well-known sources; those which are available on-line via the major data providers. In this presentation, the author of the classic handbook "Family Historian’s Enquire Within" introduces a variety of less well-known sources, that can be used to enhance and extend a pedigree or provide valuable context for the lives the family. The original records, databases and online records discussed will range from Absent Voters’ Lists and Asylum Records, through Farm Surveys and Hearth Tax Records, to Valuation Office Records and ideas for inspiring young people to take an interest in genealogy. The aim is to make the audience aware of sources covering the seventeenth to twentieth centuries and point to ways to find out more. There should be something new for everyone.

An overview of the life and lifestyle of Welsh agricultural labourers in the 19th century, including habitations, diet, wages, migration and agitation for change.

”Breaking down brick walls in your family history research” looks at how to resolve stumbling blocks in your family history research using new and unique search strategies to find those missing relatives. Techniques covered include searching for a family using just the individuals' forenames, keyword search tools (using criteria other than a name to search on) and other advanced search techniques. The talk also covers unique data sets such as Tithe records, Occupational Records, Non-Conformist records, Will images, Parish Records, Military Records, Directories, Newspapers and more. This talk is suitable for all levels, for those with an interest in online research Sponsored by TheGenealogist.

Have you noticed that the given names of our eighteenth and nineteenth century British ancestors were drawn from a surprisingly small pool? But how small a pool? How common were our ancestors’ given names? John for example was carried by one in every five English males. The four most popular male names were carried by one in every two males. And the top thirteen male names were carried by 87% of the male population indicating that all of the other male names in use at the time were together borne by only 13% of the population. That being the case, the usual popularity lists found on the internet – those that record the top 10, 20, 50 names – are unhelpful unless they provide frequency statistics. This seminar focuses on given name popularities, changes in popularity, and the reasons for such changes. It also covers spelling variants, abbreviations and diminutives. For example, if you don’t know that Polly was a diminutive of Mary or that Nellie was a diminutive of Ellen and Eleanor and Helen, you may struggle to find your ancestors’ entries. Our ancestors’ names provide the gateway into tracing our family history. Learning more about their names may prove useful in determining their ancestry or finding other family connections.

This talk briefly describes church and nonconformism and the major challenges for a genealogist in locating baptisms, marriages and burials in Wales.

This lecture will focus on the real-life account of how genealogist and writer, Nathan Dylan Goodwin worked to try and uncover the truth about his grandmother’s wartime romance; a romance which led to the birth of an illegitimate child, who was then adopted soon after her birth. Nathan will discuss each step of the complex process and methodology behind his research to identify that child’s biological father, sifting through official documents and revealing long-hidden family secrets. He will explain the range of genealogical methodology approaches, archives and services exploited, including DNA-testing, which assisted and ultimately confirmed this three-year search's discoveries.

Some of the most important records we find were created during the time of the Little Ice Age (1300 to 1850 AD). Because the 14th to 19th centuries encompass the time frame that most coincides with genealogical research, it is important to understand the physical conditions under which people lived in order to assemble the most complete histories of families. The Little Ice Age was a cool climatic time period, a time in history when, from a physical or environmental standpoint, in comparison to the warm periods that preceded and followed: • temperatures around the globe were substantially cooler • weather was mostly unstable • food production was especially challenging • living conditions overall were difficult and harsh. All these factors had enormous impact on the lives and livelihoods of people and contributed to famine, spread of disease, injury to being and habitat, untimely deaths, social unrest and, in many cases, migration. The presentation offers information and perspective important in studies related to the living conditions families faced during the inhospitable era of the Little Ice Age.

This introduction in Dutch genealogy shows how to search for people in the Netherlands, what records to use (civil registration, censuses and church books) and where online to look for them.

Finding a birthplace is essential for doing German research! This presentation aims to show you how to use local information together with online maps and gazetteers to help you locate the place of origin of your German families. Once this is known the next step is to the relevant repository for the actual records and this presentation provides some suggestions as to how to take this step. The presentation shows some of the structure and contents of German civil and church records.

Manorial records are a rich source of information about individuals and communities in England from the 12th to the 19th centuries, yet they are seriously underused by family historians. This talk gives an overview of the manorial system, the types of records available, and where to find them.

Mark demonstrates the map record collections and tools that are available for researching your British roots. The talk features Tithes, The 1910 Land Survey, Surname Maps and an innovative tool to view these maps in relation to modern-day maps - MapExplorer.. Sponsored by TheGenealogist

The use of maps and gazetteers is essential in your family history. A good map will tell you a lot about your ancestor’s home village and its surrounds. This presentation shows you how to access a variety of maps, many of which can be downloaded to your computer. These will help you understand more of your ancestor’s life and times. Use of Meyers Gaz website is also explained. This website gives access to a comprehensive gazetteer that was published a few years before World War 1 when the German Empire was at its greatest extent and it has links to scans of historic maps of the area.

Have you got your ancestors back to the start of parish registers? You may still be able to go further back, by looking at records related to death, land and the law. Learn what records are available online for researching back into the medieval period.

This talk follows the history of the East India Company, the records they created, where these are found and how to access them using examples found during the speaker’s own research.

Discover the wealth of resources at ScotlandsPeople to get you started on your Scottish research and a host of other websites you can use to build a great story of your family in Scotland. Make it personal – not just a collection of names and dates.

Findmypast is one of the UK’s largest family history websites and has the fastest growing collection of Scottish records online. With many more on the way, join resident genealogist Myko Clelland as we explore some of the key collections and expert techniques to get you further, faster. Skill level - all levels Sponsored by Findmypast.

‘The law is a ass, Sir!’ (Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist). This presentation begins by discussing the big picture question of the British criminal justice system, including the contemporary attitudes to criminals and the policy of transporting them abroad. It then covers the types of records that deal with the crimes and punishments of British criminals.

The Victorian era is one of huge change in British society. Mass migration, the creation of new record types, and new technologies, all transformed our ancestors lives. This presentation will explore the records created during this period and how to get the best out of these on our genealogy journey. Skill level - all levels. Sponsored by Findmypast.

This presentation discovers sources and methods that will prove helpful for genealogical research in Poland today. It deals with aspects of Polish history, different forms of Polish family names and Polish church records in a specific part of Poland which historically was called Prussian Poland. This is roughly the area of Wielkopolska (Greater Poland) today, around the cities of Poznan and Gnieszno.

For decades we’ve heard the statement – you can’t research your Irish ancestors – all the records were destroyed. This throw-away-line is still around today and is still incorrect. Many presumptions are made about Irish records but when we look at them in detail there are so many available on the Internet either free or through subscriptions. Ironically people still talk about records that were destroyed in 1922 when they were never available in the first place. It’s time to have another look at just what is and isn’t available for Irish family history research.

Imogen will be discussing the practicalities of land granting in the early years of an Australian colony. She will explain how people got land and the differences between grants made to convict and free settlers. This talk will share tips about finding and using historic maps, and equip you to interpret maps that add to your own research. Sponsored by the University of Tasmania.

A plethora of information and data is available for you at the Queensland Family History Society’s website. Step through and glimpse the world from it’s website!. Sponsored by Queensland Family History Society.

From the 300-page Addresses to Sir George Grey, to the Pioneer Women's Honour Roll, the Old Colonists Association Register to the C. Little & Sons Funeral Director cards, Auckland Libraries continues to digitise all manner of items for Aucklanders to enjoy. Join family history librarian Seonaid Lewis on a tour of these treasures and learn about the stories behind them, the information held in them, and how you can access them on Kura Heritage Collections Online. Sponsored by Auckland Libraries.

This presentation examines the value of wills and probate records for family history research. Documents found in probate files include original last will with testator’s signature, a death certificate, inventory of estate, affidavits, and correspondence. Personal examples are given, and all Australian states and territories are covered as well as New Zealand.

Find fascinating stories about your ancestors in the documents created by national, state/territory and local governments within Australia. All aspects of life are documented, from education to death, from their military service or occupations to their success or failure in business, detailing where and how they lived. All these provide the material for you to record a richer family history.

They went after an Empire – and they got it. But could the Japanese hold onto their massive victories? Would they and could they invade Australia? What was the key to pushing them back? Island-hop with MacArthur and Nimitz, and close in on the Home Islands in this comprehensive look at the action, with a former intelligence analyst who has seen modern combat.

Military records have a huge amount of genealogical information – dates of birth, marriage and death, familial relationships – and corroborating information – occupations, places of residence. This presentation, however, focusses on the family history information that can be extracted. This is the information you need to add depth to biographies or biographical sections of your family history writing.

In this presentation Professor Hamish Maxwell-Stewart from the University of New England will take you on a tour of British and Australian records that can be used to piece together the lives of transported convicts.

What was it like to fly in combat in World War II? In a word – dangerous. But more lives were lost to mishap and adventure than to the guns of the enemy. It was the biggest war in our planet’s history, and in many ways it was an air war, from the bombers dropping their deadly ordnance to the fighters that kept them safe. This presentation explains much of the reality – and debunks much of the myth.

This presentation will include where to find passenger lists - but what about those ancestors/relatives who do not appear on a passenger list; how do you find out when they arrived in New Zealand? We will discuss some of the records available which may help ascertain approximately when and where your ancestor/relative arrived so that you can at least estimate the arrival. Some of the methods used to find arrivals in New Zealand may also apply to other countries too. Sponsored by Auckland Libraries

The raid by 188 aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy on 19 February 1942 struck a hammerblow against Australia. But it was only one of 208 enemy aircraft missions against the country; many amassing bombers by the score to raid our northern coasts. Over the years numerous myths have sprung up: the government tried to keep the raids secret; thousands more died than were accounted for; the military ignored crucial warnings – and more. Find out the real story.

In this presentation Professor Hamish Maxwell-Stewart from the University of New England will share some tips for deciphering descriptions of tattoos and making sense of scar patterns and height measurements.

In this presentation Professor Hamish Maxwell-Stewart from the University of New England talks about the importance of digitising records in order to place lives in context. In the process he explores such issues as the long term health consequences of being locked in a solitary cell.

People from all around the world left their homes in search of a better life. Apart from those who came direct, many arrived In New Zealand having tried out Canada, the US, South Africa or Australia first. Let’s take a tour through New Zealand’s resources online available to help you find that lost Kiwi connection. Sponsored by Auckland Libraries

Why does the Navy employ poets? How do you find out what went on in grand-dad’s battalion – and what is a battalion anyway? Why don’t Service Records tell you much of a story, and where do you go next? Learn the secrets to researching your military friend’s and family’s past, and learn some background on Teddy Sheean VC – our latest Victoria Cross, and only the 101st in our history.

Sewerage is not something we instantly associate with our ancestors, nor is it a resource that many people have high on their list for checking. For those who have looked at sewerage plans, you will start to understand the value of this resource. But when you dig even deeper into sewerage records [pun intended!] you will start to understand why this is a magnificent resource. These records don’t discriminate between large mansions and small workers’ cottages – they are all encompassing – you just have to dig them out!

Have you been frustrated or stuck in your family history research? Been searching and researching for a very long time? Do you feel that you haven’t solved everything or that you still don't have the answers? These are common feelings of being frustrated, annoyed and stuck. By the end of this session, I will have given you some hidden pieces of the puzzle, to expand and grow your family history research. My hope that you feel less frustrated and annoyed, and instead feel inspired and equipped to try new ways and techniques to solve the puzzle.

The loss of the cruiser Sydney was the greatest maritime defeat the Royal Australian Navy has ever suffered. But it was only part of a huge naval war that raged around Australia’s coasts in World War II. Mine-layers; submarines, and surface vessels all cost thousands of lives in the war. Hear and read of the battles that menaced our country.

It is often thought that government gazettes contain only boring information and nothing of relevance to a researcher unless their family happened to work for the government. That is far from the truth! Check out these records and learn lots you won’t find elsewhere.

An overview of the online Diploma of Family History at the University of Tasmania – covering the course structure, what you’ll learn, and how we teach online. Sponsored by the University of Tasmania.

Approximately 3600 protesters were transported to Australia because of their participation in riots, union or national movements. Forced into an inhuman system of coerced labour, many more convicts engaged in acts of defiance after their arrival. Modern data visualisations bring new understanding.

As family historians we search for records and evidence of people and their lives. So often the house is overlooked as a family history resource, when in fact, houses are significant and valuable historical records. Houses document family and local history and even the history and development of a nation. In this presentation you will learn to understand the language of your house and how to uncover stories about a house and the people who have lived in it. Researching a house can take you on unexpected twists and turns as you examine family records, photographs, newspapers articles, official records to uncover layers of family and social history through the tangible material evidence that is a house.

Every family historian needs to understand about calendars and their history. Without this knowledge you can’t understand why someone who died on 27 December 1724 could be buried on 3 January 1724, why the 10th September 1752 didn’t exist and what “1 July 25 Henry VIII” means. This talk will cover the Julian Calendar, the Gregorian Calendar, Regnal dates, dating by Saints’ days and Quaker dates.

This presentation looks at how various apps and tools for phones and tablets can be used for genealogy. Commercial and free subscription sites to record and share family trees online, genealogy software, photo scanning, organising research notes, uploading cemetery information and more will be demonstrated. It is recommended that you trial free versions to see which apps and tools suit your research needs.

A common mistake in genealogy is to concentrate on direct ancestors and ignore their siblings. This excludes one of the most useful resources for family historians, the descendants of your ancestor's siblings, your cousins. This talk explains how they can enrich your family history and break down your brick walls.

A look at what is available at home and at Family History Centre/Affiliate Library. Millions of names and records to extend and verify your research – or take you further. From countries around the world digitized images and indexes are available. Help is available and easily accessible for most countries. Original records covering many topics that can be researched by name, place and time. Sponsored by Family History Connections.

In this presentation I am going to show you how you can use Google Earth and its amazing tools to create visual stories about the places where your ancestors lived and in particular the journeys they made. Google Earth has the tools that allow you to create a visual story that shows the places your ancestors visited. You can add to add to your story the research items you have in your collection such as photos, records, maps and information to make a Tour and then a Move - a visual story that will make you feel connected to an ancestor’s journey. We live in an exciting technological time where we have the wonderful tools that Google Earth has provided that we can make use of for family history purposes in order to better understand our ancestors’ lives.

How can we as family historians locate someone who seems to be almost ‘invisible’? The problem isn’t that there are few records available, but rather how thoroughly we investigate and analyse the sources we do find. This presentation outlines ways we can look “outside the box” when searching for the women in our families.

Doug Elms, VICGUM President, will review the types of records and information which can be obtained during family history research. He has also included an introduction to using a genealogy program – Family Tree Maker. As one of the main reasons for using a computer program is to generate family stories his presentation illustrates how to: commence a tree, add data to the tree and also to produce charts, reports and books. Sponsored by VicGUM.

MyHeritage is a genealogy platform established in 2003. With millions of records available to search and download, some unique to this site. The Library Edition allows access to search names, families and records of various events. With partnerships with many well-known sources of information and research this is definitely a valuable tool for researchers. Sponsored by Family History Connections.

Learn more about the key technologies that make finding family members on MyHeritage quick and simple. Take an in-depth look at Smart Matches™, Record Matches, DNA Matches, and Instant Discoveries™, and receive helpful tips to leverage these technologies in your genealogy research.

Following an introduction as to how he came to be writing genealogical crime mystery books, Nathan will explore the actual process of writing. Using books from his genealogical crime mystery series as a basis for case studies, Nathan will talk about the progression from development of the initial idea, explore the real genealogical research methodology involved, through to the writing of the novel. Nathan will also discuss the issues and problems of combining the use of such authentic genealogical methodology and research methods with fiction-writing.

Not all our ancestors were paragons of virtue. Some behaved in a manner that we now find unacceptable or abhorrent. Are we embarrassed by those family members? What aspects of the lives of our ancestors might make us feel uncomfortable? Does it matter when the ancestor lived; is there a point at which some actions become exciting or interesting, rather than alarming? Have genealogists’ reactions to certain conditions and behaviours changed over time? Are we tempted, like genealogists of the past, to remove them, or their mis-demeanours, from the record? This presentation is a thought-provoking and hard-hitting look at our reactions to ancestors who might have been a source for embarrassment. Some sources for discovering those ancestors will also be mentioned

This talk introduces the basics of photo restoration using the program Photoshop Elements. Learn how to repair scratches and tears, and how to bring out details in older photos, using some simple techniques. Managing your photo collection will also be discussed along with how to add metadata and watermarks to your photos for use on websites and social media.

Taking the wrong research path or running into brick walls sometimes results from not using enough evidence or sidestepping research with shortcuts. Allan will demonstrate some pitfalls when only relying on one document. He will illustrate the differences in document details and offer solutions to provide evidence with more than one source.

Dr Nick Barratt dusts down his crystal ball and casts his eye to the near future, using current trends that are shaping the way we research and write genealogy to predict some of the changes we might reasonably expect to take place. This talk will also look at some of the post-pandemic opportunities that are emerging in the UK where we might collaborate with other groups to help support and rebuild communities that have been disrupted – genealogy as a force for global good.

Are you just starting your research or perhaps you need a refresher or some new ideas? This talk looks at basic fundamentals and the different tools and technology we can use for researching our family history. From the basics of organisation and charts to technology, apps and DNA, I discuss what I keep in my toolbox along with other options for you to start building your personal toolbox for research.

Do you get sick of seeing family trees with incorrect assumptions? Tired of having to explain your reasoning over and over? Can’t remember where you found that piece of information? Too much conflicting information? You need use to the Standard. The Genealogical Proof Standard. GPS. Find your way.

Humans are visual beings, particularly those not interested in family history. Part of this talk will be on how to capture your family history to entice them. The other will be ways of visualising your data, your research thoughts and research problems to help you the researcher.