Aintree Racecourse to host a new event on 3rd May 2025

TheFamilyHistoryShow.com is thrilled to announce the expansion of its popular genealogy event series to Liverpool. The new show will take place at the iconic Aintree Racecourse on 3rd May 2025, providing family history enthusiasts in the North West with a unique opportunity to explore their roots.

This addition to the show calendar complements the well-established events in London and the Midlands, further cementing The Family History Show's position as the UK's leading genealogy event organiser.

Key highlights of the Liverpool show will include:

• Expert speakers covering a wide range of genealogy topics

• Exhibitors showcasing the latest in family history research tools and services

• One-on-one consultations with experienced genealogists

• Networking opportunities for both novice and experienced researchers

"We're excited to bring The Family History Show to Liverpool," said Paul Bayley of TheFamilyHistoryShow.com. "The North West has a rich history and a passionate community of family researchers. This new event will provide them with fantastic access to talks, experts, and networking opportunities."

The Liverpool show joins The Family History Shows 2025 lineup of events:

• Online - 8th February 2025

• Midlands - 15th March 2025

• Liverpool - 3rd May 2025

• London - 4th October 2025

Early bird tickets for the Liverpool show are available now from TheFamilyHistoryShow.com/Liverpool.

Exhibitor spaces are limited and expected to sell quickly, so make sure you take advantage of the early bird prices for exhibitors and book your space here: TheFamilyHistoryShow.com.

For more information about The Family History Show or to book tickets, please visit TheFamilyHistoryShow.com or contact Paul at bookings@TheFamilyHistoryShow.com.

About The Family History Show
The Family History Show is the UK's leading genealogy event organiser, dedicated to helping people discover their family history. With shows in London, the Midlands, and now Liverpool, we bring together experts, exhibitors, and enthusiasts to share knowledge, resources, and passion for genealogy.

The following announcement was written by the Board for Certification of Genealogists:

FREE BCG-SPONSORED WEBINAR

“Dear Me: Writing Research Reports to Yourself”
by Yvette Hoitink, MLitt, CG, QG
Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 2:00 p.m. (EST)

Research reports are not just for professionals, but are a great tool for anyone who wants to answer their research questions. Write a research report to yourself to organize your thoughts, analyze the evidence, document your findings, and solve your puzzles. Using an example from the Netherlands, this presentation demonstrates how you can organize a research report to spot more clues in records, discover and resolve discrepancies, and build reliable conclusions.

Yvette Hoitink, MLitt, CG, QG is a professional genealogist, writer, and lecturer from the Netherlands who specializes in researching Dutch ancestors. Her Dutch Genealogy website has helped thousands of people find their ancestors. Yvette does research for clients with ancestors from the Netherlands or its former colonies, including New Netherland. She has a master’s degree in Family and Local History from the University of Dundee in Scotland and holds the Certified Genealogist® and Qualified Genealogist TM credentials. Her articles in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly won excellence awards. Yvette lectures about research in the Netherlands, methodology, technology, and related topics.

BCG’s next free monthly webinar in conjunction with Legacy Family Tree Webinars is “Dear Me: Writing Research Reports to Yourself” by Yvette Hoitink, MLitt, CG, QG. This webinar airs Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. EST.  

When you register before November 19 with our partner Legacy Family Tree Webinars (http://legacy.familytreewebinars.com/?aid=9017) you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Anyone with schedule conflicts may access the webinar at no charge for one week after the broadcast on the Legacy Family Tree Webinars website.

“BCG promotes continuing education as essential for competent family history research,” said President David Ouimette, CG, CGL. “We appreciate this opportunity to provide webinars focused on standards that help genealogists and family historians build their knowledge and skills and hone their craft.”

Following the free period for this webinar, BCG receives a small commission if you view this or any BCG webinar by clicking our affiliate link: http://legacy.familytreewebinars.com/?aid=2619.

To see the full list of BCG-sponsored webinars for 2024, visit the BCG blog SpringBoard at https://bcgcertification.org/bcg-2024-free-webinars.  For additional resources for genealogical education, please visit the BCG Learning Center (https://bcgcertification.org/learning).

The words Certified Genealogist and its acronym, CG, are a registered certification mark, and the designations Certified Genealogical Lecturer and its acronym, CGL, are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®, used under license by board certificants after periodic evaluation.

Ah, the good old days: Super-8 movies, playing music on an audio tape, TV channels with a single digit, rotary dial televisions with no remote control ("Hey Junior, will you change it to channel 5?"), 8-track cartridges, or vinyl records. How about Betamax tapes?

I was a bit surprised when I recently talked with my daughter and mentioned I would call her. I made a rotary motion with my forefinger, as if I was dialing an old-fashioned rotary dial phone. You know: the kind of phones we all had before touchtone phones became available. My daughter had no idea what I was doing.

Boy, did I feel old!

You can find a list of 100 such things that your children or grandchildren will never know about your life. I found this to be an interesting article. Strangely, it was nostalgic. You can find it athttps://tombranan.typepad.com/files/100thingkidswontknow.pdf.

Remember the "good old days" of booting your computer from a floppy disk? Or when Spam was just a meat product?

MyHeritage DNA  is now on sale for a great price at https://www.myheritage.com/dna/. What could be a more meaningful gift than the opportunity to discover more about who you are and where you belong? With the most international user base and the most comprehensive set of advanced genetic genealogy tools, MyHeritage DNA is the best DNA test for exploring global roots. It reveals your origins across 2,114 geographic regions and finds new relatives from across the globe — all with a simple swab of the cheek.

As part of American Ancestors’ 10 Million Names initiative, the Daughters of the American Revolution’s (DAR) Patriots of Color Database is now accessible on 10 Million Names by American Ancestors (10millionnames.org). Offering the Daughters of the American Revolution: Patriots of Color, 1712 – 1888 database, in addition to the other free genealogy resources already represented on the 10 Million Names website, is an important step toward providing a full, transparent and free repository of information about the estimated 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America (specifically, the territory that would become the United States) before 1865. The goal of the 10 Million Names initiative is to recover their names and as much contextual detail as possible.

The DAR Patriots of Color Database was originally released in 2021 on the DAR’s Genealogical Research System (GRS) website and is filled with more than 6,500 names of individuals of African, Native American, Iberian, Latin American descent, or of multiracial ancestry who served in or supported the American Revolution. The names and sources tied to the names can assist researchers in their quest to uncover important facts about heritage or more general information about the Revolutionary War. The information from the DAR Patriots of Color Database was derived from decades of research that culminated in a 2008 DAR publication, Forgotten Patriots: African American and American Indian Patriots in the Revolutionary War. The information has since been expanded and updated in the online database.

Including the information from the DAR Patriots of Color Database in 10 Million Names is important to make the names and life details of these individuals more accessible to a wider audience and easier to cross reference with other names listed in the 10 Million Names initiative. The DAR Patriots of Color Database will also remain in full on the DAR website, where its purpose is more geared toward helping individuals identify Revolutionary War service for their ancestors and providing important reference materials on those individuals. Researchers should note that expanded resources on the individuals in the database can be found on the DAR website and DAR will be updating names and details on its website more frequently than information will be updated on the counterpart database on 10 Million Names.

“We are honored to contribute our Patriots of Color Database to the historic 10 Million Names project,” said Pamela Wright, DAR President General. “Tracing lineages and celebrating all Patriots who contributed to the founding of our country are key connecting points for DAR members across the world. We are delighted to help others do the same. Collaborating with 10 Million Names in this way, as well as continuing to research and update the DAR Patriots of Color Database, are important aspects of our DAR E Pluribus Unum Educational Initiative.”

The DAR E Pluribus Unum (EPU) Educational Initiative, launched in 2020, aims to increase awareness of often underrepresented Revolutionary War Patriots. The goals of the initiative include expanding research, covering additional names, and providing more historical, educational, and genealogical resources about people of color during the Colonial period.

“Thousands of people of African and Native descent fought in the American Revolution, though the stories of these soldiers and their families are not widely known,” said Cynthia Evans, Research Director for 10 Million Names. “The names, dates, and other information in the DAR Patriots of Color Database is invaluable because these facts illuminate our real history and counter the long-held misperception of an entirely white fighting force on both sides.”

Information in the Daughters of the American Revolution: Patriots of Color, 1712 – 1888 database may be searched by first/last name, date (of birth, death, military, marriage), spouse/parent information, enslaver information, occupation, and/or military service details. Those with documented Revolutionary War service of African, African American, Native American, Iberian (Spanish or Portuguese), Azorean, Latin American, and/or of multiracial ancestry (or perceived ancestry from the documents of the time) are categorized as Patriots of Color for inclusion in the database. 

“Being able to share these names, sources, and stories with a wider audience is extremely important to our mission of ensuring that all Patriots, regardless of race or gender, are remembered for their noble actions during the American Revolution,” said DAR President General Wright. “And we encourage all women who can trace their ancestry back to these brave Patriots to become members of the DAR!”

The Daughters of the American Revolution and American Ancestors are excited to collaborate on this important project and continue to provide and build on more free resources in the 10 Million Names project for researchers, historians and anyone interested in learning more.

Find additional useful resources at:

DAR Patriots of Color Database: www.dar.org/POCdatabase

DAR Forgotten Patriots Project and Research Guide: www.dar.org/ForgottenPatriots 

E Pluribus Unum Educational Initiative and resources: www.dar.org/EPU 

Specialty Research through DAR: www.dar.org/SpecialtyResearch

10 Million Names: 10millionnames.org

10 Million Names Media Kit: 10millionnames.org/get-access

A man is in custody in connection with a cold case murder in western Wisconsin that has gone unsolved for 50 years.

On Thursday, the Dunn County Sheriff's Office announced that genetic genealogy had identified Jon Miller, an 84-year-old Minnesota man, as a "viable suspect" in the 1974 death of Mary K. Schlais.

Officials say Schlais, 25, was killed in the township of Spring Brook in Dunn County on Feb. 15, 1974.Investigation revealed Schlais was hitchhiking from Minneapolis to Chicago for an art show.

Over the course of the next several decades there were many tips, leads, and interviews conducted related to this homicide by multiple law enforcement agencies. There were also several items of evidence examined and re-examined over the years as technological advances in DNA were developed. Still, no viable suspects were identified.

It wasn't until recently, when Dunn County investigators began working with a New Jersey college and their team of genetic genealogists, that Miller was identified as a suspect.

Authorities say when Miller was confronted with the evidence, he "confirmed his involvement with Mary's homicide in 1974."

Miller is in custody in Minnesota and awaiting extradition back to Wisconsin. Online court records show he is facing a first-degree murder charge and is being held on a $1 million bond.

David Rojas was found guilty of a 35-year-old murder case Thursday evening.

Rojas was linked to the murder by forensic genetic genealogy. It's the first murder case tried in Dallas County based on that technology.

He faces an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Decades after Mary Hague Kelly's murder in Oak Cliff, advances in DNA forensics helped identify her suspected killer.

Rojas was arrested in 2022 after Dallas County's Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences matched DNA from the crime scene with user-submitted genealogy databases, like ancestry.com or 23 and me.

Former Dallas County Chief Medical Examiner Jeffrey Barnard helped match the DNA.

"The cause of death was — I had no question about," he said. "But in terms of who did it. So once our DNA got to where you actually can do database and [Combined DNA Index System] database, I went back through the logbooks trying to find cases that maybe we could solve and we solved a bunch."

Barnard testified in the trial this week.

Kelly was 78 and had been strangled and raped in her home.

If convicted of capital murder, 55-year-old Rojas would get an automatic life sentence. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty.

His family had lived next door to Kelly when she was killed in 1989.

The following was written by TheGenealogist:

Search over half a million names

Ahead of Remembrance Sunday, TheGenealogist is proud to announce the release of a collection of military records spanning over half a million names. This collection provides invaluable insights into the service and sacrifices of members of the British Armed Forces and colonial forces throughout history.

Active Service Section 3rd VB The Black Watch 24th Jan 1900 from The Muster-Roll of

Angus, South African War, 1899-1902

"This collection offers a glimpse into the service and sacrifices of our military and naval personnel throughout history," said Mark Bayley of TheGenealogist. "As we approach Remembrance Sunday, we are honoured to provide researchers and historians access to these invaluable resources, which contain the names of over half a million individuals who served their countries with courage and distinction."

The newly released records include:

• Naval and Military Despatches Vol. IV-VI (1915 - 1916)
  

• The British Roll of Honour 1837-1887

• Return of The Names of The Officers in The Army 1811-1816

• Surrey Musters, Part I-III 1544-1684

• The Army List for 1881

• The Army List for September 1933

• The East-India Register and Directory, 1811

• The East-India Register and Army List, 1842

• The Last Post, Roll of Officers (Naval, Military or Colonial) who fell in South Africa 1899-1902 (also includes War Correspondents and Nurses who lost their lives)

• The Muster-Roll of Angus, South African War, 1899-1902 (with 700 portraits)

• A List of the Flag Officers and Other Commissioned Officers of His Majesty's Fleet, 1826

• List of Officers of the Navy of the United States and of the Marine Corps, 1775-1900

• Naval Worthies of Queen Elizabeth's Reign 1562-1643

• Navy - Pensions, Compensations, and Allowances

• The Royal Navy List for 1901

• The Navy List for 1902

• The Navy List for April 1915

• The Navy List for April 1932

• The Navy List for July 1915

• The Navy List for January 1929

• Arbroath & District Roll of Honour 1939-1945

The release of these records coincides with Remembrance Sunday, a solemn occasion when we pay tribute to the members of the armed forces who have died in the line of duty. TheGenealogist's comprehensive military records collection allows individuals to delve into their family histories and honour the legacy of their ancestors who served.

One of the many interesting characters in these new records is Norman Douglas Holbrook, a remarkable submariner with extraordinary courage, skill, and determination - read his story here:https://thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2024/how-a-wwi-submarine-raid-birthed-a-hero-and-a-town-half-a-world-away-7864/

Explore the parish records and start your genealogical journey today with TheGenealogist. To celebrate this release, for a limited time you can claim a Diamond Subscription for the price of a Gold subscription at just £98.95 along with a FREE online magazine - a saving of over £64. You can claim this offer here: https://thegenealogist.co.uk/MGBMIL1124

This offer expires 14th February 2025.

About TheGenealogist

TheGenealogist is an award-winning online family history website, who put a wealth of information at the fingertips of family historians. Their approach is to bring hard to use physical records to life online with easy to use interfaces such as their Tithe and newly released Lloyd George Domesday collections. 

TheGenealogist’s innovative SmartSearch technology links records together to help you find your ancestors more easily. TheGenealogist is one of the leading providers of online family history records. Along with the standard Birth, Marriage, Death and Census records, they also have significant collections of Parish and Nonconformist records, PCC Will Records, Irish Records, Military records, Occupations, Newspaper record collections amongst many others.

TheGenealogist uses the latest technology to help you bring your family history to life. Use TheGenealogist to find your ancestors today!

David Rencher, FamilySearch Chief Genealogy Officer, receives the Italian Heraldic Genealogical Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 36th International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences (ICGHS) in Boston, Masschusetts. L-R: Manuel Pardo de Vera Y Díaz, Giorgio Cuneo, and David Rencher.

FamilySearch International’s Chief Genealogical Officer, David Rencher, received the Italian Heraldic Genealogical Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 36^th International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences (ICGHS). The award ceremony was held at the international congress’s annual conference on September 27, 2024, in Boston, Massachusetts—marking the first time the ICGHS was held in the United States—and recognized Rencher’s life-long work and influence in advancing the field of genealogy.

The Italian Heraldic Genealogical Institute’s award is the highest distinction offered by the ICGHS and is presented to institutions or individuals recognized for their extraordinary, valuable, and selfless work in favor of the Documentary Sciences of History. The award was presented by Dr. Pier Felice degli Uberti, president of the Istituto Araldico Genealogico Italiano (Italian Heraldic Genealogical Institute).

The distinguishing award was a complete surprise to Rencher. “I am humbled and honored. I was not expecting this,” remarked Rencher. “I appreciate all the great work the (ICGHS) society does and the window it gives us into a field (Heraldry) with which many genealogists are unfamiliar. And they always produce the highest quality content.”

The theme of the ICGHS 2024 event was “Origins, Journeys, Destinations.” Content focused on how heritage and identity (cultural identities) are often shaped by the journeys people make—from overseas migrations and movement of ethnic groups across Europe, to the formation of modern metropolises today. Two overlapping areas of focus were heraldry and genealogy—heraldry being the study of the design, ranks, and meanings of coats of arms, and associated genealogies of families entitled to them.

“Genealogy can benefit from and add to the family groups that heraldic symbols represent. Heraldry was very much a part of European history, and even earlier in other areas of the world. Symbols showed rank and honor,” Rencher explained.

Rencher is part of the ICGHS’s genealogy subcommittee and arranged genealogical education sessions for its conference. “Heraldry exists in many forms: It can be the designs on shields and other attire worn by knights, flags, royal emblems, family crests, the tartans of Scottish clans, and so forth.”

Rencher pointed out that people don’t think much about heraldry in the United States but said it does still have a presence here. For example, nearly all cities, towns, and states have some sort of heraldic shield or coat of arms to symbolize their identity. “Collegiate coats of arms are very much embedded in the Ivy League universities such as Yale and Harvard—but other universities also have some sort of similar symbol,” he added.

FamilySearch has an interest in Heraldry and its ties to helping individuals understand early family connections originating in the medieval period. The FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, has a medieval collection and the FamilySearch Wiki to assist people with this kind of research.

A library book that was 51 years overdue is finally back in its rightful place in the Worcester Public Library, all thanks to the keen eyes of a Boston resident.

Worcester Public Library's only copy of "The Early Work of Aubrey Beardsley" was discovered somewhere in Boston and brought to the Cambridge Public Library, who realized the book wasn't theirs, and contacted the library in Worcester.

Alex London, the genealogy and local history librarian with the Worcester Public Library, got the call.

"I was contacted by a librarian at the Cambridge Public Library," he said. "Someone had come into the library with the book and they were able to save it from essentially being thrown away."

"The book was borrowed in 1973, with a return date of May 22, 1973," London said, adding it's the longest overdue book he's seen returned during his employment with the library.

Most outstanding library books are lost in attics and basements, London said, and often found when someone is moving, someone dies or during a deep clean.

Published in 1899, the book was added to the library's collection that same year.

"It's a rarity that someone found this," he said. "but not only that they found it, but that it is in such good condition."

The book had been overdue for so long, it missed the modern digitization of the library, effectively removing the title from the library's catalog altogether.

The library in Worcester no longer charges overdue fines for books but will still send out reminders to those who do not return items.

"The WPL's mission is to make services and information available to everyone, and they believe that charging overdue fines goes against that mission," the library states on its website.