Historical Directories of England & Wales  here

message from Find My Past

An important announcement from Findmypast
Dear Angie,
We always want our members to be the first to hear our marvellous news, and today I’m delighted to let you know that on Monday 2nd November 2015, the 1939 Register will be made available online for the very first time, only on Findmypast.
Simply put, it’s the most comprehensive survey ever recorded of the civil population of England and Wales. With the lives of 41 million people captured in one day in September 1939, it’s a fascinating snapshot of a nation on the eve of war.
The 1939 Register contains the names, addresses and occupations of everyone in England and Wales at the time, and was used as the basis for rationing, identity cards and, in post-war Britain, the NHS.

You’ll be able to discover unique insights into where your family was and what they were doing when the register was taken at the outbreak of World War II, and we cannot wait to make this monumental collection available to

Back to school 1938

Some very good images here

National School Register

Found today on Find My Past

National School Admission Registers & Log-books 1870-1914 Transcription

I was looking for William Cotchin FAUNCH - not sure if this was him under W FAUNCH.

Amazing video

Wandsworth & Battersea in war.here.

Henry Gerald Seymour BUTLER

My dad was born 18 August 1904 in Croydon. 

That's him on the left, his brother Ted is on the right.

He went to Bristol Grammar School in 1919 for a short time.

He travelled to Jamaica in 1927, '28 & '30

In 1934 he was the manager of a shoe shop, having served his time in his fathers shop in Bath.

He married my mother Cecily Maud Beck on 2nd June 1934.

When the 2nd world war began he enlisted in the Royal Artillery, and served in India as a Regimental Sergeant Major.

On leaving the army he became a 'butler' to a number of high class people.

When we came out to Australia in 1969 he went back to the shoe trade.

He died on the 27th January 1992.
For more on the history of the Butler Family click here.

Writing a Family History

After our Ancestry group on Wednesday we will be chatting about writing family history. 

A very informal look at the way you can proceed! Later in the year we will be having visiting writers but for now it is just me. You can read some of my BECK, BUTLER & ROSE history by clicking on the surnames. 

The Family Search site has some good tips here.

See you there, Angie

Help with Irish Records

Very interesting for those of you who are seeking Irish records.

It is on Find my Past click here.

Writing you family story

If you have gathered facts about your family and now want to weave a story about one or more of them. I will be on hand to help for an hour (after the Ancestry session on Wednesday) 22nd July 4pm on at the Library. In the meantime there are some places on line for you to look 

The Armchair Genealogist.

Family Cherished

Ancestry at the Library

2pm - 4pm Wednesday 22nd April Family History with Angie