Do you have ancestors in England or Wales? The former Roman province of Britannia much later became the former British Empire, with its colonizers around the globe. And while every region in England has kept specific cultural traditions, the Welsh have maintained their identity and indeed their language to this day. 

Learn about resources to help you find your forbears! You can find An extremely brief history of England and a very long list of English and Welsh genealogy resources (some of which are new to me) and a lot more in the Geneanet Blog at: https://en.geneanet.org/genealogyblog/post/2023/04/resources-for-english-and-welsh-genealogy.

Depression is an all-too-common mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. In the United States alone it’s estimated that one in five people will be diagnosed with some form of depression in their lifetime.

23andMe’s new Depression Report is powered by data from people who have consented to participate in 23andMe research. The report uses machine learning techniques to estimate an individual’s likelihood of being diagnosed with depression.

The estimate is made using a statistical model that includes thousands of genetic markers and information on an individual’s ethnicity and birth sex. You can learn more about the science and methodology behind our new report in this white paper.

Note that 23andMe’s genetic health report on depression can provide users with helpful information on their estimated genetic likelihood of being diagnosed with the condition, but it is not a substitute for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

What is depression?

Depression, itself, is not just about feeling sad or down. Those feelings are experienced by everyone. Depression is a more persistent and sometimes chronic condition that manifests itself in people differently.

There are several factors that contribute to whether someone develops depression. Genetics can play a role but so do other factors. Some of those other factors include trauma, or other life events, as well as environmental factors and/or chemical imbalances in the brain. Studies have shown that stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, and substance use can also contribute significantly to depression. In addition, other factors like discrimination due to race, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, also play a role in depression, as does social isolation. 

Symptoms for depression often include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and or worthlessness. These feelings might also be accompanied by a lack of interest in activities that one previously enjoyed, or a lack of energy, or difficulty sleeping or concentrating. Some people with depression may also experience unexplained changes in appetite, aches and pains or issues with their digestive system. And in some cases, people with depression can have thoughts of harming themselves or suicide.

With the right resources and support, individuals dealing with depression can manage their symptoms and lead fulfilling lives.

Genetic factors

While it is but one of many factors that contribute to a person’s likelihood of developing depression, genetics can help explain how and why some people develop depression.

Depression is known to run in families, and it is also highly genetically correlated with anxiety. 

You can read more in an article in the 23andMe blog at: https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-new-depression-report.

NOTE: This article is not about any of the "normal" topics of this newsletter: genealogy, history, current affairs, DNA, and related topics. However, it is a subject that I feel all computer users should be familiar with, especially those in the United Kingdom:

Encrypted chat apps sign open letter warning of ‘unprecedented threat to safety and security’ of UK citizens.

The rival chat apps WhatsApp and Signal have joined forces in a rare show of unity to protest against the online safety bill, which they say could undermine the UK’s privacy and safety.

In an open letter signed by the heads of both organisations as well as five other encrypted chat apps, the executives say the bill could be used to in effect outlaw end-to-end encryption, which prevents anyone but the intended recipient of a message from seeing its contents.

“The bill provides no explicit protection for encryption,” they say, “and if implemented as written, could empower Ofcom to try to force the proactive scanning of private messages on end-to-end encrypted communication services, nullifying the purpose of end-to-end encryption as a result and compromising the privacy of all users.

“In short, the bill poses an unprecedented threat to the privacy, safety and security of every UK citizen and the people with whom they communicate around the world, while emboldening hostile governments who may seek to draft copycat laws.”

Last month, WhatsApp’s chief, Will Cathcart, said the app would leave the UK rather than submit to a requirement to weaken encryption.

You can read more in an article by Alex Hern published in The Guardian web site at: https://tinyurl.com/mrxamt4x.

The following announcement was written by the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies:

Hundreds of genealogists from the U.S, Great Britain and all over the world are expected to descend on London, England, this summer for the 43rd Annual IAJGS (International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies) International Conference on Jewish Genealogy, Sunday, July 30 – Thursday, August 3, 2023. The conference hotel is a stone’s throw from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.

This is the first time since 2019 that the conference will be held in person and the first time since 2001 that professional and amateur genealogists will have gathered in London. 

Registration is now open.  Early registration extends to May 15.  Details are available on the Conference website at  www.iajgs2023.org.

The conference will feature more than 100 speakers, with more than 200 sessions covering virtually every aspect of Jewish genealogy. 

 Programs at the Conference will be geared from first-timers to conference veterans, and will include lectures, lunches, computer labs, and networking through Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and Birds of a Feather (BOFs) sessions.  An Exhibitor Hall and Resource Room will include genealogy experts, mentors, and archivists for a one-stop research experience at the conference site.

Conference track themes are: Commonwealth Track, Jewish Communities Worldwide and the Shoah, Migration, Methodology, Technology/Computer Labs, DNA, and Storytelling. Presentations will be 45 minutes, with 15 minutes for Q & A.  In addition, non-traditional presentations will include Computer Labs, Panels and Short Sessions.

“We are excited to be able to have an in-person conference once again and host it in an international city,” said Chuck Weinstein, lead Conference chair. 

The Conference is hosted by IAJGS, an umbrella organization of nearly 90 Jewish genealogical organizations worldwide.  The Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain (www.jgsgb.org.uk) is the local co-host.  Leigh Dworkin, chairman president of the Great British Society, is the Conference local co-chair.  “We are excited to be hosting this year’s Conference in London for the first time since 2001. As an international city with a vibrant Jewish history and population, London offers genealogists a wide array of resources such as archives, museums, libraries, synagogues, and cemeteries relevant to furthering visitors’ family history research.”

The IAJGS coordinates and organizes activities such as its annual International Conference on Jewish Genealogy and provides a unified voice as the spokesperson on behalf of its members.

The IAJGS’s vision is of a worldwide network of Jewish genealogical research organizations and partners working together as one coherent, effective and respected community, enabling people to succeed in researching Jewish ancestry and heritage. Find the IAJGS at: www.iajgs.org and like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/iajgsjewishgenealogy.

The JGSGB aims to promote and encourage the study of and research into Jewish Genealogy and is the only Jewish Genealogical Society in the United Kingdom.  Find us at www.jgsgb.org.uk, on Twitter at @JewishGreat, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/JGSGB.

The following is a press release written by Association of Professional Genealogists:

Do you know a young genealogist with a bright future? Encourage them to apply for the APG Young Professional Scholarship! The scholarship is awarded to students or young professionals between the ages of 18 and 35 who have a significant interest in genealogy and a strong interest in developing a professional career in the field. 

Applications for the 2023 Scholarship are due by 1 June 2023. For eligibility, judging criteria, and a link to the application, visit https://www.apgen.org/cpages/awards-young-professional-scholarship.

The scholarship winner will receive a complimentary registration for the APG Professional Management Conference (PMC) and reimbursement of up to $500 for hotel and travel expenses when attending the PMC in person. The 2023 APG PMC will be held 19-21 October 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and virtually on Whova. 

The following is a press release written by the Fellows of the American Society of Genealogists:

The Fellows of the American Society of Genealogists are pleased to announce the 2023 winners of the ASG Continuing Genealogical Research Grants.

Shahidah Ahmad of Watertown, Mass., to collect, digitize, and index information about African Americans buried in Holly Hill and Cottageville, South Carolina, by interviewing residents over age 65 and using local knowledge to identify individuals and family buried in those towns, map communities, and create photographic, scanned and digital images linked with Excel master list to fill the void of less documented rural towns as an example for South Carolinian family historians. Shahidah is an Independent Genealogy Researcher and former Treasurer and Presenter of the African American Genealogical and Historical Society – New England.

Richard de Boer of Harlingen, The Netherlands, to prepare an English language overview of preserved genealogical sources (microdata) in six Western Balkans countries: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania, addressing the problem of language barriers and difficulty in retrieving and accessing sources. Among sources to be used are church registers and censuses, war victim lists, Ottoman tax registers and land cadastres, with the goal of publishing an overview of records by country, region, and ethnoreligious community. Richard is a professional journalist from The Netherlands, and administrator of the website www.exyugenealogy.net (“Sources for post- Yugoslav Family History”).

Stephanie Mills Trice of Silver Spring, Maryland, to lead a group of volunteers in identifying families buried at Mount Zion Baptist Church, the oldest African American graveyard in Macon, South Carolina, that dates to 1879, when field stones and periwinkle marked the graves, and for which there is no known record of interments. They will be using interviews with living story tellers, funeral programs, obituaries, photographs and digital documents, which are to be stored locally in Warren County. Stephanie is a Volunteer Oral Historian and Collaborative Partner in the Facing East 158 Voice Project of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Jamie Wasilchenko of Newaygo, Michigan, to gather records on the population of the village of Horodylovychi in Galacia of the Austro-Hungarian Empire that was destroyed in 1939, with many of its residents, including Ukranians, Poles and Jews, forcibly removed to Soviet territory. She will be using records of the Greek Catholic church she located in the Polish State Archives that were believed to have been lost. Records of baptisms, marriages, and burials for 1873 to 1937 (about 300 pages) will be indexed and made available through the Polish Genealogical Society and placed in repositories in Ukraine and Poland, both online and offline. Jamie is a Professional Genealogist, www.ShiftingSandsGenealogy.com.

The ASG Continuing Genealogical Research Grant program was established in 2022 by the American Society of Genealogists. A decision about grants for 2024 will be made at the Fellow’s Annual Meeting in October 2023. Interested parties may obtain information from Alicia Crane Williams, FASG, Chair, Grants Committee, acwcrane@aol.com. Or write to her at 4 White Trellis, Plymouth, MA 02360-7790.

The MyHeritage Blog has an article that will be of interest to many Brazilian citizens: Obtaining Portuguese Citizenship for Brazilians. According to the article:

"Portugal has been a member country of the EU since 1986. As such, a Portuguese passport would allow its owner to travel anywhere within the European Union, crossing borders easily and experiencing much of what Europe has to offer.

"There has been much discussion in recent years about the possibility of Portuguese citizenship for those with Sephardic-Jewish heritage. If that is your background, check out this Knowledge Base article about researching your Jewish Ancestors on MyHeritage. 

"However, if your ancestors were not Sephardic Jews and instead you have Portuguese parents or grandparents, becoming a dual citizen with Portugal may still be within your reach!"

The full article is available at: https://blog.myheritage.com/2023/04/obtaining-portuguese-citizenship-for-brazilians/

The following is a press release written by the folks at FamilySearch:

RootsTech is proud to celebrate DNA Day on April 25, 2023, with 8 free online classes led by DNA experts covering a wide variety of topics. DNA Day began in 2003 as an annual celebration of the discovery of DNA's double helix structure and the important role that genetics play in our lives.

DNA can open many opportunities for personal discovery and new family connections. RootsTech DNA Day will offer a range of classes and educational opportunities for individuals interested in learning more about the role of DNA in family history and genealogy research. Highlights of the event include keynote speakers, interactive workshops, and DNA testing booths.

"We are excited to celebrate DNA Day and the important role that genetics play in our lives," said Jen Allen, RootsTech event director. "This year's online event will offer attendees a unique opportunity to learn from experts in the field and explore the latest advances in DNA technology."

Keynote speakers for RootsTech DNA Day include renowned genetic genealogist Diahan Southard, founder of Your DNA Guide and renowned author and educator. She will share her expertise and insights into the field of DNA testing and its applications for genealogy research.

Nonprofit DNAngels will present successful stories profiling some of their case work in helping individuals connect with biological family members through DNA.

RootsTech DNA Day will be live on Facebook, YouTube, and RootsTech.org and will be archived after April 25 for reference throughout the year.

For more information about RootsTech DNA Day and to RSVP for each class, please visit the RootsTech Facebook page, Upcoming Events.

How to Watch DNA Day 2025 Live Content (April 25, 2023. All times are mountain daylight time.)

YouTube RootsTech DNA Day Playlist

RootsTech Facebook (See Upcoming Events calendar)

Native Bound Unbound is a multiyear project headed by former New Mexico state historian Estevan Rael-Gálvez to establish a centralized, online repository cataloging the lives of enslaved Indigenous people across the Western Hemisphere. Through March and April, Native Bound Unbound has teamed up with StoryCorps — a New York-based nonprofit centered on preserving American stories — to record conversations between descendants of enslaved Indigenous people for preservation.

The goal is for the conversations to be archived within the U.S. Library of Congress’ American Folklife Center and for them to be accessible through Native Bound Unbound’s digital archive once it is up and running.

Native Bound Unbound is a “hemispheric” endeavor, with researchers and volunteers in several U.S. states and different countries, and is likely a lifetime project, or at least one which will span multiple decades.

You can read more in an article by Nathan Lederman published in the santafenewmexican.com web site at: https://tinyurl.com/24vwm362

The Native Bound Unbound also maintains a Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086096661423.

The following is a press release issued by the National Archives of Australia:

National Archives of Australia and Ancestry.com have collaborated to digitise 95,000 First World War records, preserving them for the future.

The project digitised series MT1486/1, which consists of records for individuals who applied to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), and were either rejected, discharged while still in training, or went on to serve within Australia only. 

Rebecca Britt, National Archives Director of Digitisation Services said the partnership allowed for a sharing of knowledge and resources to ensure records were digitised to a world-class standard.

‘We welcomed Ancestry.com staff to our East Burwood, Victoria repository to support the project, and alongside National Archives staff, the Ancestry.com team digitised the records. This meant that the records never left the repository, ensuring security and best practice for the project.’

Jason Reeve, Head of Content and Community at Ancestry.com said the project has helped ensure this important collection is accessible for future generations.

‘Ancestry is honoured to partner with National Archives of Australia to digitise this significant collection. By ensuring that these important stories are accessible and digitally preserved for generations to come, we can contribute to the commemoration and safeguarding of this crucial chapter of Australia’s military history,’ he said.

National Archives Senior Curator Anne-Marie Condé explained the importance of these records being available digitally.

‘These records help to throw light on a significant cohort of people who attempted to enlist but were rejected. This part of the First World War story has so often been overlooked,’ she said. 

‘The most common reason for rejection was on medical grounds, but there were all kinds of reasons a person could be rejected, and together they offer compelling insights into the beliefs and world-views of the day.’ 

Series MT1486/1 is a high-use series and it now joins more than 376,000 First Australian Imperial Force service records which have already been fully digitised. 

All records are accessible to the public via RecordSearch and through the Ancestry.com family history platform. 

View the series on RecordSearch.