The first in a series of promo-videos by speakers at the four-part BIFHSGO conference — 28 September–2 October 2022.
Newspapers.com monthly update
Here is the complete list of 132 additions and updates in the past month for England, Scotland and Wales in the newspapers.com collection. Many are for the 1990s and require a Publishers Extra premium subscription. Added titles are bolded.
| Title | Location | Pages | Years |
| Grimsby Evening Telegraph | Grimsby, Humberside, England | 133,622 | 1939–1999 |
| The Chronicle | Nantwich, Cheshire, England | 18,315 | 1994–1999 |
| Birmingham Evening Mail | Birmingham, West Midlands, England | 262,995 | 1967–1999 |
| Evening Post | Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England | 252,618 | 1939–1999 |
| Kent and Sussex Courier | Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England | 111,036 | 1873–1993 |
| Tunbridge Wells Courier | Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England | 5,525 | 1993–1995 |
| Surrey Mirror | Reigate, Surrey, England | 16,500 | 1986–1995 |
| The Guardian | London, Greater London, England | 1,100,158 | 1821–2022 |
| Billingham Herald and Post | Billingham, Cleveland, England | 4,779 | 1994–1995 |
| The Independent | London, Greater London, England | 1,025,342 | 1986–2022 |
| Evening Standard | London, Greater London, England | 2,363,823 | 1897–2022 |
| Northants Herald and Post | Northampton, Northamptonshire, England | 19,140 | 1990–1993 |
| The People | London, London, England | 51,766 | 1986–1998 |
| Stanmore Observer | Harrow, London, England | 32,586 | 1987–1993 |
| Rugeley Mercury | Rugeley, Staffordshire, England | 20,338 | 1889–1994 |
| The Long Eaton Advertiser and Ilkeston and Erewash Weekly News | Long Eaton, Derbyshire, England | 21,010 | 1882–1954 |
| The Southport Visiter | Southport, Merseyside, England | 49,923 | 1865–1993 |
| Evening Despatch | Birmingham, West Midlands, England | 115,040 | 1907–1955 |
| Birmingham Evening Despatch | Birmingham, West Midlands, England | 10,180 | 1902–1907 |
| Lichfield and Rugeley Chase Post | Lichfield, Staffordshire, England | 3,140 | 1990–1991 |
| The Post | Lichfield, Staffordshire, England | 4,760 | 1991–1992 |
| Evening Post | Bristol, Avon, England | 4,034 | 1993–1999 |
| Sleaford Target | Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England | 8,035 | 1991–1993 |
| Birmingham Evening Mail and Despatch | Birmingham, West Midlands, England | 41,847 | 1960–1967 |
| Cambridge Evening News | Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England | 195,828 | 1888–1999 |
| The Staines Informer | Staines, Surrey, England | 36,764 | 1986–1994 |
| Peterborough Herald and Post | Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England | 11,859 | 1989–1992 |
| Peterborough Standard | Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England | 52,812 | 1931–1989 |
| Solihull Times | Solihull, West Midlands, England | 36,921 | 1992–1999 |
| Thanet Times | Margate, Kent, England | 26,352 | 1975–1993 |
| Hertfordshire Mercury | Hertford, Hertfordshire, England | 15,193 | 1991–1993 |
| The Uxbridge Informer | Hillingdon, London, England | 25,296 | 1986–1995 |
| Sutton Coldfield Observer | Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England | 12,622 | 1991–1995 |
| Stafford Post | Stafford, Staffordshire, England | 9,412 | 1989–1993 |
| Solihull News | Solihull, West Midlands, England | 54,576 | 1987–1999 |
| Ripley Express | Ripley, Derbyshire, England | 11,592 | 1989–1993 |
| The Ealing and Southall Informer | Ealing, London, England | 2,718 | 1991–1993 |
| Huddersfield Daily Examiner | Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England | 170,911 | 1871–1999 |
| Wembley and Kingsbury Leader | Brent, London, England | 8,172 | 1988–1993 |
| News: Chatham, Rochester, Gillingham | Chatham, Kent, England | 12,382 | 1990–1993 |
| Leatherhead Advertiser | Leatherhead, Surrey, England | 14,755 | 1986–1993 |
| Oadby and Wigston Mail | Oadby, Leicestershire, England | 23,353 | 1988–1999 |
| Maghull Star | Maghull, Merseyside, England | 4,723 | 1991–1993 |
| Surrey-Hants Star | Aldershot, Hampshire, England | 14,883 | 1986–1993 |
| Formby Times | Formby, Merseyside, England | 32,063 | 1967–1995 |
| The Birmingham Mail | Birmingham, West Midlands, England | 89,066 | 1939–1963 |
| Burton Mail | Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England | 174,634 | 1912–1999 |
| Sevenoaks Chronicle | Sevenoaks, Kent, England | 22,697 | 1986–1993 |
| Folkestone Herald | Folkestone, Kent, England | 31,544 | 1986–1995 |
| Rossendale Free Press | Rawtenstall, Lancashire, England | 21,316 | 1889–1995 |
| Horley Mirror: Incorporating Horley Advertiser and County Post | Horley, Surrey, England | 19,029 | 1986–1994 |
| Faversham Times | Faversham, Kent, England | 16,348 | 1989–1995 |
| Cheshunt and Waltham Mercury | Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England | 76,458 | 1986–1999 |
| The Ruislip and Northwood Informer | Hillingdon, London, England | 937 | 1995 |
| The Harrow and Northwood Informer | Harrow, London, England | 11,535 | 1986–1993 |
| Haltemprice and East Yorkshire Advertiser | Haltemprice, Humberside, England | 1,201 | 1995 |
| Haltemprice Advertiser | Haltemprice, Humberside, England | 1,517 | 1993–1995 |
| Sunday Mercury | Birmingham, West Midlands, England | 158,700 | 1932–1999 |
| Isle of Thanet Gazette | Margate, Kent, England | 14,659 | 1987–1994 |
| Burntwood Chase Post | Cannock, Staffordshire, England | 19,711 | 1989–1994 |
| Burntwood Post | Cannock, Staffordshire, England | 1,644 | 1994 |
| Staffordshire Newsletter | Stafford, Staffordshire, England | 22,725 | 1993–1999 |
| Gainsborough Target | Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England | 6,904 | 1991–1993 |
| The Sunday People | London, London, England | 12,224 | 1998–1999 |
| Birmingham Metronews | Birmingham, West Midlands, England | 1,0 | 1993 |
| Metro News | Birmingham, West Midlands, England | 8,369 | 1991–1993 |
| Harlow Star | Harlow, Essex, England | 16,938 | 1988–1993 |
| Stockport Times | Stockport, Greater Manchester, England | 7,128 | 1989–1993 |
| Dorking Advertiser | Dorking, Surrey, England | 19,243 | 1986–1993 |
| Plymouth Extra | Plymouth, Devon, England | 13,595 | 1987–1993 |
| Wokingham Times | Wokingham, Berkshire, England | 52,564 | 1931–1999 |
| Liverpool Mercury, etc. | Liverpool, Merseyside, England | 119,803 | 1811–1900 |
| The Birmingham Post | Birmingham, West Midlands, England | 223,123 | 1964–1999 |
| Erdington News | Birmingham, West Midlands, England | 4,414 | 1911–1950 |
| Macclesfield Express | Macclesfield, Cheshire, England | 6,976 | 1997–1999 |
| The Herts and Essex Observer | Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, England | 126,671 | 1862–1999 |
| Accrington Observer | Accrington, Lancashire, England | 18,539 | 1887–1995 |
| Heartland Evening News: the Voice of Nuneaton, Hinckley, Bedworth and Atherstone | Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England | 53,107 | 1992–1999 |
| Surrey Herald | Chertsey, Surrey, England | 29,097 | 1986–1993 |
| Surrey Herald | Chertsey, Surrey, England | 24,826 | 1986–1993 |
| Crosby Herald | Crosby, Merseyside, England | 20,190 | 1986–1993 |
| St. Neots Town Crier | St. Neots, Cambridgeshire, England | 14,677 | 1990–1999 |
| Holderness Advertiser | Hull, Humberside, England | 1,328 | 1993 |
| The Ormskirk Advertiser, etc. | Ormskirk, Lancashire, England | 30,209 | 1855–1992 |
| Caterham Mirror | Caterham, Surrey, England | 19,487 | 1950–1993 |
| The Sutton Coldfield News | Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England | 29,257 | 1900–1993 |
| East Cleveland and North Yorks Herald and Post | Redcar, Cleveland, England | 10,878 | 1989–1993 |
| Cheltenham News | Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England | 8,654 | 1986–1993 |
| Surrey Times and County Express | Guildford, Surrey, England | 12,905 | 1893–1918 |
| The Birmingham Weekly Post | Birmingham, West Midlands, England | 6,238 | 1877–1954 |
| Stockport Express Advertiser | Stockport, Greater Manchester, England | 20,865 | 1989–1993 |
| The Tamworth Herald, etc. | Tamworth, Staffordshire, England | 95,603 | 1870–1999 |
| Atherstone Herald | Atherstone, Warwickshire, England | 64,649 | 1886–1999 |
| The Coleshill Chronicle, etc. | Coleshill, Warwickshire, England | 45,632 | 1874–1999 |
| Chronicle | Crewe, Cheshire, England | 16,968 | 1994–1999 |
| East Grinstead Observer | East Grinstead, West Sussex, England | 24,555 | 1892–1993 |
| Uttoxeter Newsletter | Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, England | 23,310 | 1987–1993 |
| Beverley Advertiser | Beverley, Humberside, England | 3,424 | 1992–1993 |
| The Richmond and Twickenham Informer | Richmond upon Thames, London, England | 31,307 | 1986–1999 |
| Winsford Chronicle | Winsford, Cheshire, England | 53,711 | 1964–1999 |
| The Middlewich Chronicle | Middlewich, Cheshire, England | 833 | 1988–1999 |
| Hertfordshire Mercury | Hertford, Hertfordshire, England | 105,700 | 1868–1999 |
| Bedworth Echo | Bedworth, Warwickshire, England | 30,217 | 1979–1999 |
| Skelmersdale Advertiser | Skelmersdale, Lancashire, England | 1,184 | 1987–1991 |
| Hinckley Times | Hinckley, Leicestershire, England | 63,175 | 1984–1999 |
| Walton and Weybridge Informer | Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England | 30,702 | 1986–1993 |
| Chronicle | Chester, Cheshire, England | 32,538 | 1993–1999 |
| Whitstable Times | Whitstable, Kent, England | 39,855 | 1960–1993 |
| Huntingdon Town Crier | Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England | 25,399 | 1993–1999 |
| Ellesmere Port Pioneer | Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, England | 31,601 | 1950–1999 |
| Ealing and Acton Gazette | Ealing, London, England | 34,584 | 1989–1999 |
| Loughborough Echo | Loughborough, Leicestershire, England | 59,890 | 1912–1999 |
| Long Eaton Advertiser | Long Eaton, Derbyshire, England | 37,608 | 1971–1999 |
| The Derby Express | Derby, Derbyshire, England | 39,506 | 1986–1999 |
| Loughborough Mail | Loughborough, Leicestershire, England | 20,562 | 1987–1999 |
| Gloucester News | Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England | 11,101 | 1986–1993 |
| Runcorn Weekly News | Runcorn, Cheshire, England | 67,911 | 1963–1999 |
| Ashbourne News Telegraph | Ashbourne, Derbyshire, England | 33,378 | 1903–1999 |
| Hinckley Herald | Hinckley, Leicestershire, England | 764 | 1993 |
| Ruislip and Northwood Gazette | Hillingdon, London, England | 23,737 | 1986–1993 |
| Hinckley Herald and Post | Hinckley, Leicestershire, England | 1,152 | 1992–1993 |
| Southall Gazette | Ealing, London, England | 58,876 | 1974–1999 |
| Bucks Examiner | Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England | 109,494 | 1906–1999 |
| Paisley Daily Express | Paisley, Strathclyde, Scotland | 82,317 | 1877–1999 |
| Dumfries and Galloway Standard | Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland | 17,605 | 1987–1994 |
| The Strathearn Herald | Crieff, Tayside, Scotland | 39,189 | 1860–1994 |
| Stirling Observer | Stirling, Central Region, Scotland | 11,681 | 1986–1994 |
| Daily Record | Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland | 262,322 | 1901–1999 |
| Irvine Herald and Kilwinning Chronicle | Irvine, Strathclyde, Scotland | 40,187 | 1986–1995 |
| Llanelli Star | Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales | 10,461 | 1986–1994 |
| Rhondda Leader | Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales | 5,721 | 1987–1995 |
| The North Wales Weekly News | Colwyn Bay, Clwyd, Wales | 94,138 | 1905–1993 |
Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine: August 2022
Here are the articles featured on the magazine front cover.
PARISH REGISTERS Jonathan Scott presents our six-page region-by-region guide to the essential websites for digitised parish registers, including the best free resources.
DANCE HALLS
Caroline Roberts visits the dance halls where many of our relations tripped the light fantastic on a night out.
RESEARCH ADVICE
Peter Higginbotham reveals how to make the most of the surviving records if, like Who Do You Think You Are? star Anna Maxwell Martin, you have a relative who was raised in a children’s.home or orphanage.
BEST WEBSITES
We round up the best sites for historic maps that wil provide key information about your ancestor’s home.
TECH TIPS
Nick Peers explains how to use a huge online archive to research your forebear’s service in the First World War.
RECORD MASTERCLASS
Simon Wills shares expert advice for following a naval ancestor’s career with Royal Navy ships’ musters.
EUREKA MOMENT
Danny Parrott explains how he followed his ltalian great great grandfather’s trail to the Vatican Apostolic Archive
FAMILY HERO
“My great uncle Angus Bruton Wilson served in Churchill’s secret army,” says Anna Wilson.
AROUND BRITAIN
Our complete guide to genealogical records online and in the archives for researching roots in West Sussex.
Ancestry adds UK, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Service Records, 1903-1922
You’re fortunate if someone in your family tree is amongst the 59,221 name indexed in this collection. You get to see an image of the original one-page service file sourced from ADM 337 at The (UK) National Archives linked to the index.
These volunteers were clerks, bakers, labourers … not seafarers by trade, but they wanted to serve their country in the navy in the event of war.
MyHeritage has the same records, and a few more, 59,784.
Findmypast includes these in a more extensive British Royal Naval Reserve 1899-1930 collection which includes those in ADM 240 as well as ADM 337 for a total 81,544 records.
The records are handwritten and include abbreviations for which there is no guide, even that at TNA.
Ancestry updates Lancashire, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1935
Back in February, this collection had 3,146,854 entries. Now there are 5,022,103. There’s no indication of the years or places added.
As with most large indexes on Ancestry from printed material, the index was created using text recognition software.
As a word of warning, such registers are often promoted as a way to fill in between decennial censuses. But be aware that the registers appear to have been compiled in advance. I find a great grandfather registered to vote in a place he’s known to have left the previous year.
Findmypast’s collection England & Wales, Electoral Registers 1910-1932 includes over 20 million entries for Lancashire with better supplemental material than Ancestry.
MyHeritage does not include UK electoral records.
This week’s online genealogy events
Choose from free online events in the next five days. All times are ET except as noted. Those in red are Canadian, bolded if local to Ottawa or recommended. Assume registration in advance is required; check so you’re not disappointed.
Tuesday 2 August, 2:30 pm: Genealogy Starts with a Question:
Beginning Family History Research, by Allison DePrey Singleton for Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center.
https://acpl.libnet.info/event/6971986
Tuesday 2 August, 7:30 pm: Admiral Bayfield, by David Yates for Huron Branch OGS.
https://huron.ogs.on.ca/events/huron-branch-david-yates-admiral-bayfield/
Wednesday 3 August, 7:30 pm: The Toronto Circus Riot: A True Tale of Sex, Violence, Corruption and Clowns, by Adam Bunch as the Toronto History Lecture, from Toronto Branch OGS.
https://torontofamilyhistory.org/the-toronto-history-lecture-for-2022/
Thursday 4 August, 6:30 pm: Y Chromosome (Y-DNA) Testing Basics, by Sara Allen for Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center.
https://acpl.libnet.info/event/6989238
Thursday 5 August, 7:30 pm: Upper Canada Land Petitions, More Than Just Land Acquisition, by Debra Honor for OGS/Ontario Ancestors.
https://ogs.on.ca/zoom-meetings/debra-honor-upper-canada-land-petitions-more-than-just-land-acquisition/
Public Library Mini-Survey
I’d really appreciate it if you’d take a quick survey, just six questions on your public library usage. It would help me in responding to a survey by the Ottawa Public Library. Thank you.
Military Monday: on this day
On this date, 1 August 1942, 80 years ago, for Canadian servicemen, the focus of war action was in the air.
35 men serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force lost their lives on the day. Of those 13 were aged 20 years, including the majority of those whose age is not recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. That they lived they would be centenarians this year. The oldest was 29.
Six have no known grave and are commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial. The others are buried in Belgium (7), Germany (12), Netherlands (10).
BLOOMER, GEORGE TAYLOR
LLOYD, CLARENCE FRANKLIN
McLEAN, DAVID GERALD
GIBSON, RODNEY DAVID
MARTIN, ALISTAIR BRUCE
ARMSTRONG, THOMAS JAMES
CLARKE, WILFRED VICTOR
McILVEEN, ARCHIBALD EDWARD
EGAN, EDWARD BYRON
JONES, EDWARD JAMES
HUNKING, ELWIN THOMAS
IRISH, JACK WILLIAM
HANNABY, JOHN
DONAHUE, WALTER VERNARD
VAUTOUR, ALBENI CAMILLE
SZUMLINSKI, CHARLES LEONARD
ANDERSON, EDWARD ALLISON
FORD, GEORGE EDWARD
LAXDAL, HUGH LAWRENCE
CAMPBELL, JAMES BERTRAM
HARVIE, LLOYD GORDON
PENNEY, WILLIAM FRANCIS
KURTZ, DENNIS HAIG
SIMONSON, VERNON LEROY
TREADWELL, WILLIAM HENRY
MURPHY, THOMAS FRANCIS
ROBERTSON, EUGENE GARLAND
WOOF, REGINALD
PRIME, PETER
STEWART, ROBERT REGINALD
HOLMES, WILLIAM EDWARD WALL
WILLOUGHBY, EDWIN BERTRAM
KAUFMAN, WILLIAM JOHN
FROST, WILLIAM DAVID
TAIT, JOHN
Three other Canadian servicemen died on that day.
McKISHNIE, FRANKLIN MURRAY
GREY, HARRY
GALBRAITH, CHARLES MACKINVEN
Ancestry adds Worcestershire Parish Records
A total of over 5.5 million Church of England Bishop’s Transcripts records now appear on Ancestry, sourced from Diocese of Worcester holdings at the Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service.
| Title | Records |
| Worcestershire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1600-1812 | 3,264,925 |
| Worcestershire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1812-1918 | 1,727,188 |
| Worcestershire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1935 | 120,628 |
| Worcestershire, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1918 | 432,453 |
Bishop’s transcripts are one-step removed from the parish records. It’s good practice to check both, where available, for consistancy and additional information. For availablity check the FamilySearch Wiki and/or GenUKI Worcestershire , or, of course, the Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service
British Newspaper Archive July Additions
The British Newspaper Archive now has a total of 54,783,049 pages online (53,950,371 last month).
This month 104 papers had pages added (89 in the previous month). There were 16 (15) new titles. Dates range from 1741 to 1999.
The 20 newspapers with more than 10,000 pages added are:
| TITLE | DATE RANGE |
| Holloway Press | 1872-1962 |
| Hampstead News | 1882-1961 |
| Birmingham Weekly Mercury | 1924-1926, 1928-1945, 1947-1948, 1951-1955, 1957-1958, 1961-1962, 1964-1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976-1979, 1983-1985, 1993-1999 |
| Herts and Essex Observer | 1987, 1998-1999 |
| Harrow Observer | 1996, 1998 |
| Ottawa Free Press | 1903, 1905, 1907-1908, 1910, 1912, 1914, 1916 |
| Bucks Advertiser & Aylesbury News | 1836-1837, 1839-1840, 1843-1852, 1856, 1863-1868, 1870-1871, 1873, 1875-1889, 1891-1895, 1898-1910, 1913-1919, 1922, 1925-1926, 1928, 1930, 1933, 1935, 1937, 1940, 1947-1953 |
| Kentish Express | 1855-1871, 1893-1895, 1898-1973 |
| Woodford Times | 1870-1881, 1896, 1899-1915 |
| West Kent Argus and Borough of Lewisham News | 1894-1931 |
| Aris’s Birmingham Gazette | 1741-1823 |
| Kent Messenger & Gravesend Telegraph | 1913, 1919-1930, 1948, 1950, 1966-1967, 1969 |
| Shields Daily Gazette | 1898, 1905, 1907-1909, 1912-1915, 1917-1918, 1920-1945, 1953-1955 |
| Sports Argus | 1980, 1983, 1985-1986, 1989, 1992, 1995-1996 |
| Lewisham Borough News | 1892-1962 |
| Barbados Agricultural Reporter | 1896-1922 |
| Black & White | 1891-1905 |
| Bromley Journal and West Kent Herald | 1869-1885, 1887-1912 |
| Bromley Chronicle | 1891-1896, 1898-1921 |
| Bromley and West Kent Telegraph | 1868-1872, 1886-1896, 1898-1913 |
Anniversary of the death of Edward Cohen
On this, the anniversary of the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) and the death of my Grand Uncle I’m reposting his story, as told via the MyHeritage DeepStory facility with my words, by my Grandfather.
Ancestry adds York Parish Records
A total of over 3.6 million Church of England parish register records have appeared on Ancestry. They are for the City and the local Yorkshire area, approximately 200 parishes.
| Title | Records |
| York, Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages, 1754-1936 | 621,551 |
| York, Yorkshire, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1995 | 251,658 |
| York, Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1920 | 1,105,422 |
| York, Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 | 1,629,646 |
Sourced from the Borthwick Institute for Archives – the University of York, there are indexes with names, dates and places, and links to the original register image.
Findmypast has a collection of other records for York, including for nonconformists.

