We ended January with a timely reminder from our speaker, Peter Lamb, at the monthly meeting that Family History can be intriguing and also frustrating. Whilst researching his own family history Peter discovered a very interesting man who he thought was his mother’s uncle with connections to many famous people of his time which brought alive the political history of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, culminating with his death on the Titanic. Unfortunately he later discovered that his connection with this man wasn’t as close as he had originally thought but that didn’t negate the importance of his findings. However, he really did have a lion tamer in his family!!
“February Fill Dyke” goes the old saying meaning that we in Britain are in for yet more of the wet stuff. The dykes or ditches are often called rhynes in this part of the world and are an integral part of the drainage systems for low-lying areas. What other old weather sayings do you know which would have been important to our ancestors as they went about their daily business? The Met Office has produced this site which does explain some of them.
February also brings us St Valentine’s Day – with its origins clouded in history – Several web sites give some idea of how and why the traditions started this one seems less fanciful than some of the others.
This picture is of what is described as possibly the first printed Valentine’s Day Card in the UK.
The delicate card has been pierced to produce a lace effect in the corners and is decorated with cupids, doves and flowers which were probably hand coloured after printing. It was published on 12th January 1797 by John Fairburn of 146, Minories, London. It includes a verse printed around the edge:
"Since on this ever Happy day,
All Nature's full of Love and Play
Yet harmless still if my design,
'Tis but to be your Valentine."
It was sent from a Catherine MOSSDAY to a Mr Brown of Dover Place, Kent Road, London but as yet I haven’t found any trace of her!
Do any of our members have any examples of Valentine Cards sent to their ancestors?
This year is Leap Year so on February 29th it is traditionally the day on which women can propose marriage which does seem a little out of kilter with equality these days but good luck to any of our members who are planning this!
Society News
- Our Society has joined the Avon Local History and Archaeology Group. We firmly believe that you cannot fully research families without studying the local history of the area in which they lived and vice versa and by joining this group you will be able to hear about the work being done by its member societies. A copy of its newsletter will be made available on our website for members only.
- Hopefully if you are able to go to TNA at Kew with the Society on March 10th you will be thinking of what you hope to find while you are there and using the Discovery Catalogue to identify what is available at this time. It’s not too late to contact Brian Airey if you would like to join the visit. If you are going to consult the 1939 Register while you are there you may well find this podcast of use to you in understanding the background to the Register. It lasts about an hour but is well worth the time even without the pictures! – it is of course also useful if you cannot make the visit to Kew and will be using Findmypast to get the information.
- We are hoping to increasing the number of Help Sessions we offer in North Somerset Libraries whilst retaining the weekly sessions in Weston-super-Mare. Monthly sessions may take place at Worle, Portishead and the Healthy Living Centre in Lonsdale Avenue - Watch this space for details of dates and times. If you live near any of these libraries and would like to offer your services please contact Maureen Harvey or any other committee member.
Research News
Canadian Records
Familysearch
- Alaska - Familysearch has added records from Alaska - They are birth, marriage, death and divorce records 1816 to 1959. Free to search.
- Just a reminder that the LDS Family History Centre in Weston-super-Mare is open for you to consult some records which are only available in their own computers. Phone for an appointment.
General Hints and Tips
- When communicating with other family historians on web pages or in emails it is helpful to write the SURNAME in upper case. It really helps those who are trying to help if the SURNAME stands out from the page.
- When asking for help please give a little background information such as names and approximate birth dates (not your whole research! - but relevant to your query and enough that the helper has something to work with)
- This web page from the Oxford Family History Society gives some background to some common queries. Some of it refers to that society but most is generally applicable.
Buckets & Spades​
February will bring a welcome new edition and we are very grateful to Paul for all the hard work he puts in our behalf but he is looking out for a successor and would love to hear from anyone who is interested in taking over from him.
February Meeting
We welcome back Lynda Hotchkiss to give a talk about use of differing resources. With her experience as a genealogist her talks are interesting and relevant to anyone researching their family.
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