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Useful books - please add

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Kentishmaid

Kentishmaid Report 12 Aug 2021 18:16

The Floating Brothel was one of the first books that got me thinking about how some of our ancestors arrived in Australia.
I have now come across Thicker Than Water: History, Secrets and Guilt: A Memoir which tells of Angus McMillan who left the Scottish Highlands for Australia, where he is now associated with the massacre of Indigenous Australians.

Elizabethofseasons

Elizabethofseasons Report 10 Sep 2018 20:58

Dear All

Hello

I have found these two books very useful:

If you are interested in putting your ancestors in the social context, this book is invaluable:

"TRACING YOUR ANCESTORS' LIVES"

- A GUIDE FOR FAMILY HISTORIANS

BY BARBARA J STARMANS

The contents include:

1. What is social History?

2. People, Family and Society

3. Domestic Affairs

4. Birth, Life and Death

5. Work, wages and Economy

6. Community, Religion and Government

This books goes beyond dates, names and places and helps to understand
the life of your ancestor.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"TRACING YOUR ANCESTORS"

A GUIDE FOR FAMILY HISTORIANS

BY SMON FOWLER


This book is crammed with knowledge and tips about the census, details on BMD certificates, military, etc

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hope this helps a bit.

Take gentle care
Best wishes
Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Elizabethofseasons

Elizabethofseasons Report 4 Mar 2018 19:55

Hello All

"THE FAMILY HISTORY WEB DIRECTORY"
By

Jonathan Scott

Published, 2015

This book contains up to date information on most of the reliable websites
for family and local history research.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The contents include:


1. First Steps, including; GRO Indexes, Census, Parish Registers, etc


2. Digging Deeper, including; Burial Records, Probate and Wills, Crime and Punishment, Poor Law and Workhouses, Migration, Non-conformist Records, Photographs and Films, Sports and Pastimes, etc


3. Military Conflict, including, Army, Navy, Royal Air Force, Wars and War Graves, etc.


4. Occupations, including, Miners, Police, Railways, Agricultural Labourers, Teachers, Lawyers, East India Company, etc.


5. Miscellaneous, Resources by Region, House History, Medieval Ancestors, etc.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Take gentle care
Best wishes
Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Elizabethofseasons

Elizabethofseasons Report 2 Mar 2018 23:48

Dear All

Hello


TRACING YOUR ANCESTORS LIVES
- A guide for Family Historians

By Barbara J Starmans

Published, 2017.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quoted from the back of the book:

"This book is not only a comprehensive study of social history but instead an exploration of the various aspects of social history of interest to the family researcher". (Approximate)

Divided into chapters:

1. Introduction - What is Social History?


2. People, Family and History


3. Domestic affairs, like environment, fashion, food, house-keeping, etc


4. Birth, Life and Death, including medicine, disease, epidemics, etc


5. Work, Wages and Economy, including occupations, social welfare, etc


6. Community, Religion and Government, including markets and fairs, education, literacy, church, crime, punishment, war and unrest.


This book provides an insight into our ancestors and their lives,
giving us a gentle reminder that there is more to research
than dates and places.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Take gentle care
Best wishes
Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Elizabethofseasons

Elizabethofseasons Report 25 Feb 2018 12:51

Dear All

Hello

This website for books about local history is highly recommended:

www.countrysidebooks.co.uk

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is a section for "THE VILLAGES IN COLOUR SERIES"

For example, there is one "Hampshire Villages".

It lists in A-z format, all villages and their history, industries and types of employment, relevant history and a description of the area now.

Many of these books can be found in local charity shops,
so please take a look if you want to.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Take gentle care
Best wishes
Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Elizabethofseasons

Elizabethofseasons Report 3 Feb 2018 20:59

Dear All

Hello

"THE SUFFRAGETTES IN PICTURES"

By

Diane Atkinson

ISBN 978 0 7524 5796 3

Highly recommended.

Best wishes
Elizabeth, EOS
xx



margaret

margaret Report 29 Mar 2016 11:58

I have shelves of books on Genealogy - or Family History, years ago a friend gave me Lawrence Stones " The Family, Sex & Marriage in England 1500-1800 " Its the best book in my collection, I never tire of it.
Recently I splurged and bought a second hand, hard back copy, which contains much more than my old paper back.
For any one interested in the social background and times, I think this book is a must.
On the whole genealogy books tend to be the author's account of his family own search, which is different in each location. But Stones books are more general.
Worth a look, enjoy :-)

Lucy

Lucy Report 28 Mar 2016 14:04

Christian, Peter The Genealogist's Internet (Genealogist's Guide)

Karen in the desert

Karen in the desert Report 11 Mar 2015 11:17


THE DADDY OF ALL MYSTERIES by Jess Welsby....

....true story of the search for her father, 'Jess' had been told he was dead, but after discovering some family secrets, a name in a letter, and a 'gut feeling' her search began.

Some of you may already know of this story, since 'Jess', in her search for the mystery man, asked for help and advice on a genealogy website forum (not GR).
Her request took off at great speed, acquiring an enormous following - it was truly amazing to see the help she got from amateur teamwork (many of whom are ex-GR members whose names you would know) ;-) (too bad GR won't get the glory, but that's another story).

I can thoroughly recommend this book...it's a MUST read! So read it, read it, read it, you'll love it :-)


Just google the title and you'll find plenty of links about it :-D

Joy

Joy Report 12 Dec 2014 19:46

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=707472.0
Testimonies of Labourers During the Corn Laws

The book is called
The Hungry Forties : Life Under the Bread Tax : Descriptive Letters and other Testimonies from Contemporary Witnesses

jackiecheshire

jackiecheshire Report 30 Aug 2014 18:38

Hi just ordered some books on here from amazon carnt wait to read them Tracing your family history by kathy chater 2008 and readers digest local history detective. Thanks for comments regards jackie

Karen in the desert

Karen in the desert Report 25 Apr 2014 22:52


For anyone with Baltic immigrant ancestors, this is my latest acquisition and very interesting it is too...
'Changing Identities - Latvians, Lithuanians and Estonians in Great Britain' by Emily Gilbert.
Chapters cover Brief History before 1946, The Homeland, Displacement, Labour schemes in Britain, Settling In 1950's.

------

For anyone tracing army folk...
'Tracing Your Army Ancestors - a guide for family historians' by Simon Fowler
An extremely helpful book explaining what you should be looking for, what records and sources are available, and what they're all about.
Whether you are looking to trace an individual or do some research on a particular campaign, this book is likely to show you the way.

Karen in the desert

Karen in the desert Report 21 Feb 2014 08:50


I can add a couple more...

Tracing your Scottish Ancestors - Scottish Records Office, Cecil Sinclair. Explains what to look for, what you can find in each section, and how to find it.


Understanding Documents for Genealogy & Local History - Bruce Durie.
This book has a section on Latin grammar whch is helpful if you have got back so far that you need some knowledge! Also a Glossary of Latin place names, a Glossary of Gaelic words, and a Glossary of Latin & Scots legal terms. I felt that overal the book leans towards Scottish Genealogy, although the title doesn't indicate so, and that's not to say England & Wales aren't included.
Chapters include Inscriptions & Gravestones, Heraldry, OPR's, Entails, Wills & Testaments, Sasines, Retours, Kirk Sessions, Manorial Docs, Deeds & Land.


The Lithuanians in Scotland - John Millar/Jonas Stepsis.
For anyone with Lithuanians who immigrated to Scotland this little book is a must!

Elizabethofseasons

Elizabethofseasons Report 30 Nov 2013 00:33

Dear Joyous and All

Hello

Hope you are okay.

These two books are excellent if you want to discover more about the occupations your ancestors did.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"A DICTIONARY OF OLD TRADES, TITLES AND OCCUPATIONS"

By Colin Waters

ISBN 1 85306 601 X

The author explains the functions of nearly 4,000 job titles.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


"THE BOOK OF FORGOTTEN CRAFTS"
- KEEPING THE TRADITIONS ALIVE

By Paul Felix


ISBN-13 978 0 7153 3831 5

Published by David and Charles

www.rubooks.co.uk


This books explores the work of the traditional craftsman.

There are sections on decorative, woodland, building, textile
and recreation crafts.


For as long as there is an interest in traditions, then the expertise
and skills of our ancestors will be appreciated.


An absolute gem of a book to read.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hope this helps

Very best wishes
Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Joy

Joy Report 28 Nov 2013 20:38

For David.

Renes

Renes Report 13 Jun 2013 23:44

Nudging. .......

Renes

Renes Report 13 Jun 2013 23:44

Nudging. .......

Joy

Joy Report 29 Apr 2013 15:15

Thank you, Elizabeth; maps are books to me :)

Elizabethofseasons

Elizabethofseasons Report 2 Feb 2013 19:40

Dear Joy

Hello

Hope you are okay.


This is not technically a book recommendation but for OS maps:


www.alangodfreymaps.co.uk

Many date back to 1867 and onwards and map out most of the country.

The company add new maps for different areas and years all the time.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The maps can be purchased from

Alan Godfrey Maps

Prospect Business Park,
Leadgate,
Consett,
Co Durham,
DH8 7PW,
England

Phone: 01207 583388

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think the maps cost £2-50 each and there is a postage of about £1-50.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Research comes to life when you can see where your ancestors lived and worked and what industries/transport systems were developing.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hope this helps

Take gentle care all
Best wishes
Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Karen in the desert

Karen in the desert Report 29 Jan 2013 18:19


And for anyone who is interested in the Workhouse, the history of, the life, the people etc, this book is great
WORKHOUSE by SImon Fowler
I managed to get it 2nd hand from Amazon :-)