Practical Family History

October 2010

Use TheGenealogist.co.uk - Part 4 Featured Review

Mary Evans explains how to research your forebears using parish records in the final part of her step-by-step series on getting the best out of TheGenealogist.co.uk. READ FULL REVIEW...

August 2010

Use TheGenealogist.co.uk - Part 3 Featured Review

Mary Evans explains how to find wills - a valuable source for family historians - in the third part of her step-by-step series on getting the best out of TheGenealogist.co.uk. READ FULL REVIEW...

June 2010

Use TheGenealogist.co.uk - Part 2 Featured Review

In the second instalment of her step-by-step series on how to get the best out of online provider TheGenealogist.co.uk, Mary Evans looks at searching the website's census data online. READ FULL REVIEW...

Spring 2010

Use TheGenealogist.co.uk - Part 1 Featured Review

In a new step-by-step series, Mary Evans explains how to get the best out of online records provider TheGenealogist.co.uk, starting with its databases of births, marriages and deaths 1600-2005. READ FULL REVIEW...

November 2008

London University War Service

The London University Roll of War Service 1914-1919 is a record of all the officers, former officers and cadets who served or died in the Great War associated with the University of London Officers' Training Corps. READ FULL REVIEW...

September 2008

Who's Who Yorkshire 1912

The main body of the book focuses on the principal residents of Yorkshire in 1912, giving short biographies alphabetically arranged, with details of their parents, marriage, families, education, hobbies, careers, country seat and other interesting snippets. There are several well-known people mentioned. READ FULL REVIEW...

August 2008

First World War Croydon

Originally published in 1920, Croydon and the Great War 1914-1919 is a remarkable compilation of the work of the citizens of Croydon during the First World War. It records details of many of the 25,000 Croydon men who went to war and those who supported them at home, including semi-military personnel and hospital staff, and civilians who raised money, sent supplies and ran the essential services. READ FULL REVIEW...

Summer 2008

British Roll of Honour 1914-1916

This British Roll of Honour 1914-1916 CD features officers from the services who lost their lives in the early part of the Great War. READ FULL REVIEW...

June 2008

Haslemere and Hindhead, the Hill Country of the Surrey Borderland

This CD comprises a reproduction of Haslemere and Hindhead, The Hill Country of the Surrey Borderland, one of a series of official local council guides (not directories) called The Homeland Handbooks, begun in 1896 to provide information about local areas in Great Britain. This one dates from about 1918. READ FULL REVIEW...

May 2008

UK Maps Collection

This two CD set comprises over 100 high resolution maps, many in colour, covering parts of the British Isles, including some of the Channel Islands. The earliest maps date from the 1600s through to 1947, although the majority are from the 19th and early 20th centuries. READ FULL REVIEW...

April 2008

Indexes of Bristol Wills

One index covers over 200 years of wills held at the Bristol Probate Registry, 1572-1792. The second index is of some very early wills contained in the Great Orphan Books of Bristol: these are the wills of those who left their young children as orphans in the care of the Bristol City authorities. READ FULL REVIEW...

March 2008

Parigh Registers of Wing, Buckinghamshire

This CD-ROM, Wing, Buckinghamshire Parish Registers 1546-1812, contains transcriptions, originally published in 1914, of seven parish register books (volumes), containing baptisms, weddings and burials at Wing. READ FULL REVIEW...

February 2008

Who's Who in the Theatre 1922

This impressive volume, originally published in 1922 and now digitally reproduced on CD-ROM, is an excellent research aid for all areas of theatrical life. It contains concise biographies of hundreds of actors, actresses, vocalists, dramatic authors, composers, lyricists, managers and critics, from Britain, American and the Continent. READ FULL REVIEW...

January 2008

Huguenot refugees in Southampton

This reproduction on CD-ROM of the Huguenot Society Register of Southampton: Births 1567-1779; Marriages 1567-1753; Burials 1567-1722 comprises a full transcription of the church registers of L'Eglise Wallonne de [the Walloon church of] Southampton (Volume 4). It was originally published in 1890, but retains the original French. READ FULL REVIEW...

December 2007

Residents of Reading

For a snapshot of the area around Reading and Caversham between World War I (WWI) and World War II (WWII), this CD-ROM of Kelly's Reading, Caversham & Neighbourhood Directory is very useful. It has the usual details of public buildings such as places of worship, hospitals, museums, courts, clubs, railway stations, post offices and educational establishments, including Reading University. It also lists magistrates, police and various public officials. READ FULL REVIEW...

November 2007

Something about a sailor in 1915

The 1915 Navy List gives details of officers on the active list, alphabetically and by seniority, including instructors, medical officers, chaplains, engineers and so forth. It also lists officers and men who had been killed in action up to the time of publication. READ FULL REVIEW...

October 2007

Tracing your Military Ancestors

Military Records come in a variety of forms - from those that contain names and details of those in the armed forces, to illustrated accounts of battles written at the time. S&N Genealogy Supplies offers a fantastic range of records on CD-ROM - here's a taster of the vital sources available to order at prices that won't break the bank. READ FULL REVIEW...

Lancashire Forebears?

Although The Lancashire 1841 Census Index is intended to be used with S&N's 1841 Lancashire Census Image set, you may search and find basic details from the index alone. It covers the entire Lancashire area. A simple search screen allows you to search by surname with either forename or age. READ FULL REVIEW...

September 2007

Boer War Army List

The fully searchable CD of The Army List 1900 was published in January 1900 during the Boer War and contain a lot of detail with particulars of ranks of officers who served in the many regiments and departments of the Army, at home and abroad. READ FULL REVIEW...

Epsom College Registers

The Epsom College Registers 1855-1924 contains brief biographies of pupils in chronological order of entry to the school, giving names, dates of birth, which house they were in (the house system began in 1883), dates of entering and leaving the college and their known achievements on leaving. READ FULL REVIEW...

The War Illustrated - Article Sept '07

This issue of The War Illustrated (Volume 1, number 20, 2 January 1915) contains an article written by the well known naval expert, Fred T Jane, which takes a critical look at the public's attitude to the perceived lack of action by the British Navy in the early months of war. READ FULL REVIEW...

Kelly's Directory of Dorsetshire 1923 - Article Sept '07

Kelly's Directory of Dorsetshire 1923 contains valuable listings for parishes, private residents, trades and professions. A large colour map of the county is included, allowing you to refer to places mentioned in the directory. It also has a black and white reproduction of a county map dating from 1610 for comparison. READ FULL REVIEW...

Kith and Kin Pro 2 - Article Sept '07

Kith and Kin Pro 2 is a software package with an interactive pedigree style view, which allows you to drag members of a tree around the screen. This layout can then be printed out as a chart. READ FULL REVIEW...

July 2007

Oxford University Historical Register 1220 - 1900

This CD-ROM comprises a bookmarked, fully searchable and printable reproduction of the Oxford University Historical Register 1220-1900. Particulars are given of colleges, affiliated colleges, non-collegiate students, colonial and Indian universities, halls, private halls, and institutions such as the Bodleian Library and the Radcliffe Observatory. READ FULL REVIEW...

Kelly's Directory of Oxfordshire 1891 - Article July '07

Kelly's directories are an invaluable source when it comes to searching for your ancestors. They often include residential and commercial listings giving the names and addresses of each entry. READ FULL REVIEW...

Shareware: Brother's Keeper 6 - Article July '07

Brother's Keeper is a Windows genealogy shareware program that allows you to record and organise your family history data and create various reports and charts with pictures. It lets you import and export GEDCOM files (file format for sharing family history information). READ FULL REVIEW...

The War Illustrated: 'Standing-to' along the West - Article July '07

This issue of The War Illustrated (Volume 8, number 183, 16 February 1918) features an article written at a time when the Allies were 'standing-to' on the Western Front, anticipating a large-scale attack by the Germans. READ FULL REVIEW...

May 2007

Cassey's Shropshire History, Gazetteer and Directory 1875

This useful guide to Shropshire, published in 1875, lists gentleman's residences, county magistrates and commercial subscribers to the directory - all providing useful background information. READ FULL REVIEW...

If there had been a Channel Tunnel (The War Illustrated) - Article May '07

'If there had been a Channel Tunnel!' is an interesting article, looking at how the course of the war may have been changed had the Channel Tunnel been built in the 1900s. How would the war have changed course if the Germans has taken control of the Channel Tunnel? READ FULL ARTICLE...

'GenBox' Software - Article May '07

GenBox is a comprehensive, flexible package that has many charting options and is ideal for both new and experienced family historians looking for a good all-round product. READ FULL ARTICLE...

Kelly's Directory of Hampshire 1899

Kelly's Directory of Hampshire 1899 contains valuable information on each town, village and parish within Hampshire, including details on individual people in the country, with their addresses and occupations. READ FULL ARTICLE...

March 2007

Shipping at Sea and at Ports Abroad 1861

This compendium of nine discs contains details and information on ships at sea, in ports abroad and at home, including Hospital Ships from the 1861 census. READ FULL REVIEW...

Practical Family History - March '07 Articles

Kelly's Directory of Wiltshire, TreeDraw 3 Software, and The War Illustrated: AN unauthorised visit to the front. READ FULL ARTICLE...

February 2007

Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk 1858 Post Office Directory

This covers the towns, villages and parishes of these three counties comprehensively. A short description of each place is followed by an alphabetical list of private residents and businesses. READ FULL REVIEW...

Kelly's Directory of Norfolk - Article Feb '07

An article on Kelly's Directory of Norfolk, from the Kelly's Directory of Cambridge, Norfolk & Suffolk 1937 CD. READ FULL ARTICLE...

Romance of Rail Power in the War - Article Feb '07

An article on volume 4 of The War Illustrated. The ability to move troops, equipment and supplies easily during wartime is crucial and can drastically affect the outcome of a conflict. READ FULL ARTICLE...

Kith and Kin Pro - Article Feb '07

An article about the genealogy software, Kith and Kin Pro. This is a software package with an interactive pedigree style view that allows you to drag members of a tree around the screen. READ FULL ARTICLE...

January 2007

Kelly's Directory of Northumberland 1894

Covering over a hundred towns, parishes and villages within Northumberland, this is a great source of information. It is a section from Kelly's Directory of Durham, Northumberland, Westmorland & Cumberland 1894. READ FULL REVIEW...

'The Manless Homes of England'

This article in Volume 3 of The War Illustrated acknowledges the void left in England after numerous men went to fight in WWI. READ FULL REVIEW...

The Capital's Traders - London Directory 1916

Look for an ancestor in business or browse the shops and trades in the London DIrectory 1916. Suburban and some provincial entries are also included in this important research aid. READ FULL REVIEW...

November 2006

London in 1881

The London 1881 Census set of 41 CDs contains images of the original census sheets, not transcripts, of the London area. Each CD has its own area and alphabetical street index. READ FULL REVIEW...

October 2006

Official List of Registered Teachers 1917

Images of the original list of teachers working in the UK and overseas, who were registered between 1914 and 1916. Arranged alphabetically, searchable by keyword, and bookmarked. READ FULL REVIEW...

September 2006

Find the plot

If your ancestor owned more than an acre of land in Ireland in 1876 you might find them on the searchable CD Owners of Land for Ireland . READ FULL REVIEW...

April 2006

Superior online service

S&N is the largest UK based publisher and retailer of family history material and their rapidly growing online service - TheGenealogist.co.uk - is now amongst the top four sites providing British data online. READ FULL REVIEW...

January 2006

RootsMagic 3 UK edition

Another rock-solid program from the same author who created Family Origins (absorbed by Family Tree Maker). READ FULL REVIEW...

S&N Genealogy Supplies

Various census transcripts have recently been made available online on S&N’s ‘The Genealogist’ website READ FULL REVIEW...

December 2005

RootsMagic 3 UK edition, Tried and tested

Betty Cheesman reviews the family history package RootsMagic version 3 UK Edition READ FULL REVIEW...

November 2005

BMD records on the internet

...www.bmdindex.co.uk offers the complete range of GRO civil registration BMD records 1837-2003. READ FULL REVIEW...

September 2005

The Essential Guide to Researching your Family History, On DVD

The Essential Guide to Researching your Family History, DVD case

Julian Richards from Meet the Ancestors, recently shown on television, introduces you to the fascinating world of genealogy in this DVD, which comes with two accompanying CD-ROMS. READ FULL REVIEW...

December 2004

RootsMagic UK Platinum Edition

Roots Magic packshot

RootsMagic...has been written by Bruce Buzbee for UK researchers. The platinum edition of RootsMagic 2 includes a printed manual, online subscription to www.bmdindex.co.uk, and over £90-worth of genealogy resources on seven CDs... READ FULL REVIEW...

November 2004

Eton School Register 1791–1909

Eton School Register

The Eton Register was originally compiled by the Old Etonian Association and Stapylton's School Lists, and the facsimiles of four volumes are now available on this CD... READ FULL REVIEW...

October 2004

Persons of Quality

packshot

People who went from Great Britain to the American plantations: 1600–1700... READ FULL REVIEW...

Second World War, Army Navy, RAF and Indian Services Staff Deaths

Packshot

...shows the name, rank, service number or rating, along with the unit or branch and year of death, with reference to the original document where available, for servicemen and women who died overseas during the second World War... MORE

September 2004

National Roll of the Great War Vol 1

The National Roll of the Great War

The National Roll of the Great War series has 14 volumes, covering about 100,000 people altogether... MORE