February's meeting was about "Breaking down Brick Walls" and I think we proved that in many cases two heads are better than one – even if we didn't exactly solve any of the problems but suggestions were made for future research. If you couldn't get to the meeting or still have any spots where you are having problems why not write it as a query on our Research Forum and see if anyone can help you.
Findmypast has published two webinars about Breaking Down Brick Walls which you may find useful. They took place last July and August and were presented by the very knowledgeable Else Churchill from the Society of Genealogists. Here they have included some of the questions asked at the time
Family History Society Journals
Many of us value the chance to view the journals from other societies. With several Societies now stopping the exchange of Journals due to increased cost of printing and postage we have requested that if any of our members have Journals from other Societies and are prepared to share them that we continue with the practice of having them available to borrow at the meetings. Please consider letting us have copies when you have finished with them – we think that the majority of our local members are researching families from elsewhere so would appreciate this.
In our November edition of Buckets & Spades I wrote about a Weston Olympian, Paulo RADMILOVIC and in the last few days I have received an invitation to the unveiling of a blue plaque in his memory to be erected in the Imperial Hotel in Weston. I’m delighted that he is to be honoured in this way.
This week I was excited to hear from two members of the Birmingham and Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry that its latest journal contained an article which mentioned Rebecca Esther Barnard HASE from Weston-super-Mare. It included quotes from letters sent from Australia to this country by Enoch TOY who had met Esther (she was known by her second name) on the voyage to Australia in 1881, when they were both travelling as assisted passengers, and married her immediately on arrival! I was already aware of Rebecca’s history but I have since contacted the author of this article and she has promised to send me copies of more letters actually written by Esther herself.
This just proves how valuable other Society's Journals can be. I am so grateful that this article was pointed out to me and I have since discovered a few more gems about Esther's life in Australia from the free Australian newspaper site online, TROVE. It seems that the marriage wasn’t always a bed of roses!
Newsletters
- I have often recommended that you look at the Lost Cousins Newsletter and the latest one is no exception if you want to keep up to date with the latest in Family History News. You can sign up to have it regularly so you don't miss anything!
- Another Newsletter worth looking at is to be found on our own web site under ALHA Newsletter. If you look at the forthcoming events you might spot a familiar name taking part in their Local History Day in April!
Local History Production - WW1
I have received notification of a production due to take place at the Blakehay in Wadham Street for one day only. It is a theatre show called 'Gas Girls' which tells the story of the women who made Mustard Gas in Bristol during WW1.
This production was researched and created by local residents to the site of the old factory and is based on true stories collected from the family of the workers at the factory.It sold out at all venues when it first performed in 2014 and it is back on tour this year due to exceptional demand.
It will be showing at Blakehay Theatre, Weston on the 3 June 2017
Tickets £4 from www.acta-bristol.com or 0117 9532448
Know Your Place
- Throughout February the touring exhibition of Know Your Place was in Weston-super-Mare Library. If you were not able to see it you can still see some of it online and North Somerset is promised to become active during 2017.
- While you are waiting for North Somerset - Take a look at Bristol to get used to what this project has to offer. Once I had identified where my gg grandfather lived in Broadweir, Bristol, I was able to find that a drawing by Samuel Loxton of the actual house had been added.
- Try choosing a location and then changing the maps to see how an area had changed over the years.
Help Sessions at the Libraries
Saturdays at the Library continue to be interesting and popular and it is pleasing to see some of those people also attending the Society meeting or the U3A Family History Group to learn a little more about the background to researching their family history. We are reviewing the situation at Portishead Library where we are just once a month at the moment to see whether the number attending might warrant an additional visit each month. If any of you live near to Portishead we’d love to see you there on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 2.00 – 4.00. The Worle Library visits will move with the library when it moves .
Next Society Meeting
- At our next meeting, on March 28th (the 4th Tuesday) John Crockford-Hawley will be speaking about his family research
- In April we will be looking at the use of the internet for family history – bring along your mobile devises, there is wi-fi available, and hopefully we can answer all your questions.
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