News & Information

In January, due to the snow, we had to cancel one of our help sessions but to coincide with National Libraries Day of Saturday Feb 9th we will be running an additional session - so that will be three opportunities during February for you to visit Weston-super-Mare Library between 2.00pm and 3.30pm on Saturdays to attempt to break down those brick walls or to get help interpreting what you have already discovered. 

The visit to Kew will go ahead on Feb 19th but there are still places available.  Don't miss this opportunity to visit the National Archives.  The coach will pick up in Weston and Clevedon with more details under forthcoming events. During the afternoon on Feb 19th from 2.00pm - 3.00pm there is a free event at the National Archives - more details here

A missing war memorial first inspired a quest to discover club members who fell in the Great War. 85 names have now been identified. Some remarkable stories paint a miniature portrait of the whole war - every service, arm, theatre and front - through their experiences. Stephen Cooper tells of the research that led to his book.

The Society's January talk by our own member Dave Milner turned out to be extremely interesting with his personal experiences of being contacted by an "Heir Hunter" and how his family dealt with the estate of his intestate cousin.  We are all much better informed now and hopefully all our members now realise the need to write a will.

While dealing with what is now termed "end of life" matters - someone mentioned the Deceased Online site to me at the last meeting - you might also find it useful - initial searching is free.  It is good for London records and is worth looking at for recent deaths.

It has been encouraging to see an increased useage of the Research Forum. However it does look as if it is being used more by new members than by those who have been researching for some time - does that mean you have all the answers?  In which case you might have some suggestions which could help newer members! It is open to everyone to answer the queries. With regard to the Research Forum - it would make it a little easier to read if surnames were entered in upper case type - that makes the surname more obvious to casual readers. We do want to make your membership worthwhile so please avail yourself of this facility.

We have a full list of speakers for 2013 and at the end of February we will welcome Clive Burlton.  Weston Mercury reviewed his book From Trenches to Trams which you can read here .  I found the book to be absorbing and so fully researched that I'm sure you will find the talk stimulating.

Looking forward to March and our AGM.  I will be standing down as Chair - I have served the society as Secretary and Chair for a great many years - at least 15 - and our constitution wisely does not allow for continuous service. At the end of our financial year we will also need a new Treasurer as Shirley will be giving up at Christmas - this means that there is time between the AGM and the end of the year for someone to work alongside Shirley in order that the changeover is seamless. With the increase in our membership it really should not be impossible to fill both positions and if you would like to volunteer to fulfill either of the roles or could recommend someone else please feel free to have a chat with any of the committee or contact the Secretary, Brian Airey.

A Happy New Year to all our members and to those of you who are just browsing the site - I wonder how many of you have made New Year Resolutions?  Mine for this year is to properly record the sources from which I have found  information about my family. Yes, I know I should have been doing this for years but in the excitement of each new discovery I'm afraid I often rush on to the next step without stopping to make a note of exactly where I found it, whether it is from a primary source, or from someone else's transcription or from a printed record etc. This has resulted in much duplication of effort over the years trying to rediscover some vital scrap of knowledge.  But I'm sure none of you are in the same boat..... What are your new year family history resolutions?

We are very lucky these days in the increasing number of images of original documents which are available online and the visit to the National Archives at Kew in February will enable us to see others.  It's not too late to book a seat on the coach - just let Brian Airey know if you want to come.

Once the New Year celebrations are completed and the Christmas decorations taken down there will probably be more time for research - if you come across a problem in your family tree you might like to consider explaining it as a Research query on the Research Forum.  Within our membership are people who are very knowledgeable and are able to answer your questions which don't have to be related to Weston-super-Mare and district so why not try to breakdown your brickwalls in this way?  The Research Forum has been a little quiet lately but that's probably due to the holiday season and we have all been catching up with the living members of our families! A cousin told me over Christmas that she has found documents and photographs concening our grandparents which I may find interesting.....I'll be visiting her very soon!

The Help Sessions at Weston-super-Mare Library start again on Saturday 5th January - so you could aways bring along your problem there as well - between 2.00pm and 3.30pm.  The North Somerset Archivist will also be at the Library on Thursday Jan 10th. There is more information about the North Somerset Archivist here and if you would like material brought from Taunton you will need to contact the Somerset Heritage Centre before noon on Wednesday January 9th on 01823 278 805.

I'm looking forward to Dave Milner's talk to the Society on Tuesday 29th January - details on the Forthcoming events and at that meeting the full list of speakers for 2013 will be available.  Wishing you all a very happy and rewarding 2013.

Apologies for the lack of a November Update - how many noticed that there wasn't one? - Congratulations if you did!  A big thank you to all those who brought items to the November meeting to discuss their contribution to your family history.  I was particularly intrigued by the Book of Handy Hints with the weird and wonderful cures for everyday ailments - it certainly emphasised how times have changed. 

That meeting also saw the publication of the latest edition of Buckets & Spades, which is always interesting - Paul does a really great job in editing it for us but would welcome new contributions.  New members might like to catch up on some of the older articles which can be found on this site under "Journal Articles" on the Main Menu.

December began with our attendance at the Charity Fair at the Winter gardens in Weston on Dec 1st where Graham Payne and Bill Caple offered help and advice.  They traced some elusive ancestors and raised interest in our Society from others.  On the same afternoon, the Free Advice Session took place in the Library, where our volunteers cheerfully spent time sorting out problems - these can be extremely interesting - we never know whether we will be delving into local Parish Records, Street Directories, Tythe Maps, local newspapers or unravelling Italian or French ancestors. You don't have to be a member to come along with a question. There is always a mixture of local families and those who were from elsewhere - we do have internet access to help us look wider afield. We will be there again on December 15th and start the new year on January 5th.

The date has been fixed for a visit to the National Archives at Kew on Feb 19th - more details and a booking form in Buckets & Spades or more information from our secretary, Brian Airey.  Why not take advantage of this visit to download (just for the printing costs) some of the online documents (which include those from Ancestry and Findmypast) which are available at Kew.  The addition of the British Newspaper Archive to Findmypast should be of interest to many.  Of course, everything we read in the newspapers must be accurate - I was delighted to find out that in March 1859 my gg grandfather, Thomas LONG, received a public apology from a neighbour, Alfred BUSH who had falsely accused him of keeping a brothel! 

Christmas will probably bring some family reunions and the chance to ask others those questions before it is too late - use your camera, phone, i-pad or whatever to record the family get-to-gether, and make a note of what you are told.   Am I the only one who feels that a camera should also be used at funerals but am reluctant to do so? - why is this? 

We do not have a monthly meeting in December but in January one of own members, Dave Milner will be talking about his experiences tracking down the beneficiaries for a will - heir hunters in action.  Have a great Christmas and a successful and Happy New Year.

October has started with the reopening of the Weston Library in its new premises in the Town Hall in Weston and our Help Sessions have resumed on the 1st and 3rd Saturday afternoons of each month.  There are some changes in the procedures for these sessions and if you are a member of the Library it will help if you have your Library ticket available when you come but as before if you are new to the area or live elsewhere you will be asked for some other means of identification.

You do not have to be a member to come on a Saturday - just an interest in Family History - as we have computer access to censuses etc. your family does not have to originate in Weston-super-Mare - all are welcome.

The Weston and Worle News has been added to the local newspapers which are accessible on film in the library.  The earliest Weston newspapers are from the 1840/50s so if you do have an interest in Weston and district from that time they are well worth a visit.  There are also some newly available tithe maps of the area and the files of printed information which had previously been held at Weston Museum are now in the Library.  If you are in the area please visit the new library to see for yourself what is available for people researching their families in North Somerset. More details here.

While I'm talking about books etc. in libraries - have you tried the Internet Archive which is a digital library of free books, movies & music?  If you limit your search to "Text" there is an amazing number of old books (out of copyright) which have been digitalised - such as some printed transcriptions of parish registers and old guide books to areas which can be useful in filling in the backgroud to your research.  As an example try searching just for "Parish Registers" or just enter the name of the place in which you are interested.

October 13th is the last Saturday opening of the Cemetery Chapel for this year - the open afternoons organised by the Friends of Weston Cemetery will start again in the Spring.

We are still looking for new volunteers to assist with checking the parish transcriptions which are now a major part of this web site - please contact Graham Payne if you would like more details.

Looking forward to November, the last visit to Weston Library for 2012 of the North Somerset Archivist is on Thursday, November 1st - so if you wish to consult original documents which are held at the Somerset Heritage Centre do plan ahead and put in your order by contacting Jane de Gruchy - see Somerset Heritage Centre or our Forthcoming Events for more details.

It is often said that more people become interested in family history in September when the summer is officially over.  If you think this summer has been wet - take a look at this film which is part of the BBC archives. Click here and then  under Aerial Journeys and you will find “Beside the Seaside” which may bring back memories to some of you.  It’s a 50 minute film but if you look at about 20 minutes 26 seconds you can see Weston-super-Mare in 1969.

September brings us Open Doors weekend with a chance to go into buildings not normally open– see this site for places to visit in Somerset but don’t forget that the Milton Rd Cemetery Chapel will also be open in Saturday, Sept 8^th. Look here for places in the Bristol area 

We will have a stand at the Open Day of the Bristol & Avon FHS at Thornbury on September 15^th and would love to meet anyone who has, or has had, family in Weston-super-Mare and District.  We will be running our Help Desks and will try to give advice and information from our resources to anyone who asks.  

If you have found family who lived in this area of Somerset you will be familiar with the increasing number of transcriptions which are available to you on this site.  Take a look under Research Aids & Transcripts in the Main Menu for a full list.  Note that we also provide the transcriptions in CD or booklet form for those who prefer that format or who do not wish to become members to access the transcriptions.

We need people who will help with the checking of transcripts.  Please contact Graham Payne if you would like to know more about this and what it involves. 

We would also welcome additional helpers in the new Library when it opens in October.  If we have enough volunteers it may be possible to offer the free help sessions more often.  Please contact me if you would like to offer assistance or to discuss what you would need to do.

As you watch the latest “Who do you think you are?” programmes on the BBC it is interesting to realise that everyone has their own story to tell and it has never been a better time to start this absorbing activity.  If you have a query please try a message on our Research Forum – this will reach most of our members and reading other people’s problems often gives you a route to try yourself.  Or if you prefer a personal approach use the “Contact Us” facility on the home page and use the category “Research Enquiries”

Our meeting in September will look at getting the most from our photographs with some useful tips for preservation and enhancement.  Looking forward to October – we have been told that the Library should be opening on Oct 1^st with our first help session on Oct 6^th.

 It’s August 1^st and GB have won their first Gold medal in the 2012 Olympics.  There has been much talk about the adrenaline rush felt by the successful competitors – I’m sure we all have felt similar excitement when we eventually find a link to a long lost ancestor.  The joy of family history is that we don’t have to wait 4 years before we can experience it again! 

However, when watching them on TV the great athletes make winning a medal appear easy and well within their capabilities and we forget the years of perseverance and dedication which it takes.  The same applies to programmes dramatising family history research – the reality of research requires more effort than is sometimes portrayed but the results are really worth it.

We held a successful Open Day on July 14^th and it was good to meet some of our members who do not normally attend meetings.  Thank you to all of you who helped on the day and supported us.  The Help Desks were kept busy and we were able to break down a few brick walls. 

In the July Update I mentioned the arrangements which are in place to cover the move of the Library.  We held our last Help Session in the Library on July 21^st and we will start again in the Town Hall in October.  The North Somerset Archivist has now publicised her next visits to Weston – they will be on Thursdays, the 1st November 2012, 10th January and 7th March 2013 all in the new premises.  This is a tremendous help to anyone who is researching Somerset ancestors because documents can be brought to Weston for you to consult them.  Just contact the North Somerset Archivist for more details and to discuss which documents are available to help you.

Although we have no meetings in August perhaps this is an ideal time to review your research and identify the areas on which you need to work.  A query on our Research Forum might trigger off some ideas from other members of where to look next.  It doesn’t necessarily have to relate to Weston-super-Mare and district because we are very aware that our membership has a vast range of interests.   Have you entered the surnames you are researching or looked to see if anyone else is researching the same surname?

The web site is continually updating and new material is appearing.  Some of the articles which have previously appeared in Buckets & Spades can be found under “Journal Articles” in the main Menu - if you have recently joined these may be new to you.  Also, check the number of transcriptions which are now available to members.  What else would you like to see featured on the web site which would be a help to you?

We wish all members a happy holiday in August but please remember that we can be contacted through this page if you have any queries about your research.