TRACING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY COURSE

SYLLABUS

Please note that this is a framework syllabus, and may be subject to alteration. We will endeavour to incorporate and address students' specific interests wherever possible.

Week One

  • Introduction
  • Family History v. Family Tree
  • Footprint
  • Common pitfalls in research
  • Thinking and Lateral Thinking
  • Honesty
  • Incredulity
  • Patience, persistence, perseverance
  • Back to 1911
  • BMD Certificates 1837-2010
  • Censuses (1841-1911)
  • Parish Registers/The IGI
  • Scotland's People
  • Wills
  • Newspapers
  • Professions

    Week Two

  • Computers in Genealogy
  • Web Resources
  • Family Tree Software
  • Genealogy groups and message boards, forums
  • Away from the computer - searching original documents

    Practical (online) Session

    Week Three

  • Wills
  • Immigration - naturalization records
  • Apprenticeships
  • Workhouse Records
  • Criminals
  • Migration - shipping lists
  • Adoption, Stillbirths. Orphanages
  • Tracing your family overseas

    Practical (online) Session

    Week Four

  • Military Records
  • WW1 medal cards
  • CWGC
  • WW1 Burnt Records
  • Local newspapers for obituaries
  • Boer War
  • Chelsea Discharge Documents
  • Pay Roll and Muster Books
  • Post 1919
  • Gallantry awards - citations - London Gazette
  • Seamen
  • Royal Navy, RNVR, Merchant Navy
  • RAF

    Practical online session

    Week Five

  • The brick wall
  • The cryptic family tree
  • Origins of Surnames
  • Heraldry
  • Issues arising from students' research
  • The genealogist's nightmare