Possible drawbacks when using the 1841 and 1851 census returns

Although from 1801-1831 census data was collected every ten years from residents in the United Kingdom, it was of the statistical kind and it was not until 1841 that a more modern census was introduced where some personal information was asked for. According to the Enumeration Abstract, England and Wales was divided into Enumeration Districts,Continue reading “Possible drawbacks when using the 1841 and 1851 census returns”

Fascinating Families

The beauty of genealogical research is not just adding names to a tree but considering the social history of the people being added and formulating a picture of what life might have been like for them. Before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948 whereby “Everyone is entitled to all the rightsContinue reading “Fascinating Families”

What difficulties may be encountered when using online indexes and how might they be overcome?

It is not until an ancestor cannot be found in the online indexes of the census records that it starts to raise questions as to why this might be the case. According to Dave Annal in a podcast recorded for the National Archives in 2008, “if your ancestors were living in England and Wales atContinue reading “What difficulties may be encountered when using online indexes and how might they be overcome?”

A passion for the sea

With the passing of HRH Prince Philip, a witty character who loved his naval career, it seemed fitting to write about three generations of Haigh ancestors who also shared a passion for the sea. My 2nd great grandfather, Samuel Haigh was born c.1848 in Wakefield, Yorkshire and although records reflect he had various jobs suchContinue reading “A passion for the sea”

Artistic, romanticised view of women in fishing

‘Do not romanticise poverty…There is no joy in dirt and squalor. Nor in having to slave from dawn to dusk merely to survive. Take a close look at the fishwives who are your age. They are bowed in body, their eyes hard from fighting to survive and they look so old.’[1] This brief excerpt fromContinue reading “Artistic, romanticised view of women in fishing”

Pitfalls of copying the research of others

In the year 2000 a a social networking website for finding old friends was launched named Friends Reunited. In 2002 the company launched a sister site, Genes Reunited which became the most popular website in the UK with which to start a family tree, thus it was in 2003 that I started my own genealogicalContinue reading “Pitfalls of copying the research of others”