Newsletter – 6th December 2024
Save £50 at Findmypast.co.uk ENDS THURSDAY
Support LostCousins and get a bonus
Records of lifeboatmen online FREE
Was your relative a British Army Schoolmistress?
Are there any surviving members of the British Expeditionary Force?
More prizes in this year’s competition
How to find out whether you’ve already entered
Biological father was a Facebook friend
The LostCousins newsletter is usually published 2 or 3 times a month. To access the previous issue (dated 25th November) click here; to find earlier articles use the customised Google search between this paragraph and the next (it searches ALL of the newsletters since February 2009, so you don't need to keep copies):
To go to the main LostCousins website click the logo at the top of this newsletter. If you're not already a member, do join - it's FREE, and you'll get an email to alert you whenever there's a new edition of this newsletter available!
Save £50 at Findmypast.co.uk ENDS THURSDAY
15 years ago you could have paid £159.99 for a subscription that included all of Findmypast’s records including the latest census (it was 1911 in those days). But the Findmypast of 15 years ago was a mere shadow of what it is now – there were NO parish registers, NO poor law records, NO historic electoral registers, NO school records, NO newspapers, NO army service records, and virtually NO records from outside the UK. How on earth did we manage?
Back in 2009 a 1st Class stamp would have cost just 39p – now it would set you back £1.65 – so by that yardstick £149.99 for a Findmypast subscription which includes absolutely EVERYTHING on their site seems like quite a bargain. The only problem is, from midnight (London time) on Thursday the price goes back up to £199.99 – which is still a pretty good deal, all things considered, but it’s £50 more than you’d pay today.
The offer is open to both new Findmypast subscribers and former subscribers. Existing subscribers can’t take advantage of this offer – but hopefully you benefited from a special offer when you bought your first subscription. Upgrading? I'm not sure if it will work, but follow the instructions below in case it does (if we receive commission you will be rewarded on a pro rata basis).
Something else that hasn’t kept pace with inflation is the cost of a LostCousins subscription – it is still the same price as it was 20 years ago, £10 a year for those who want to support the LostCousins project and can afford to do so, free for those who can’t. This has only been possible because of the commission income we receive from big companies like Findmypast, so thank you for reading the next article carefully before taking up the Findmypast offer….. the link to use is at the end of that article.
Support LostCousins and get a bonus
Although
the Findmypast offer is exclusive to readers of this newsletter, you’ll only be
supporting LostCousins if you use the appropriate link at the end of this
article – but please don’t stop reading as the next bit is really
important!
Please
do what you can to ensure that your purchase is going to be tracked as coming
from LostCousins – if you have installed any browser extensions with names that
include the words 'ad' and/or 'block' this is a danger sign! Beware: if you
allow your children or grandchildren to ‘help’ you with your computer they may
have installed something you don’t know about.
Don’t
use your office computer or any device connected to a business network. Don’t
use a VPN. Avoid using Firefox unless you are an expert (and don't use
Safari or Brave!). I suggest you load up
this newsletter in Chrome or Microsoft Edge before clicking the appropriate
link below and making your purchase. All major browsers are free, so it makes
sense to have a choice (especially since many problems can be solved by using a
different browser).
I
also recommend you use a computer rather than a smartphone or tablet, but
whatever device and browser you choose, please stick to it, as clicking my link
on one device and then making your purchase on another definitely
won't work.
In
Chrome you'll find the 'Do not track' switch by going to Settings, then Privacy
and security, then either Cookies and other site data or Third party cookies
depending on the version of Chrome – the default setting
is OFF, as shown BELOW, and this is exactly what you want:
The
switch should be to the LEFT and appear grey. If the switch is to the right
(and blue) then please move it to the left.
In
Edge you'll find a similar switch in Settings under Privacy, search and
services and it works in the same way. If it is set to the right, move it
to the left. I also recommend turning off Tracking Prevention, at least temporarily.
Once
you are satisfied that your purchase is going to be tracked, click the link and
make your purchase, noting the EXACT time of the transaction (to the minute!).
Provided
that we receive commission on your purchase of a new 12 month
Findmypast Everything subscription under the offer above you’ll receive a free 12 month
LostCousins subscription worth up to £12.50 (if you already have a subscription
it will be extended). To claim your bonus forward the
email receipt you receive from Findmypast, ensuring that the time and date of
your purchase is shown. Alternatively send me an email stating the precise time
and date of your purchase (to the minute), and the amount paid. As usual, my
email address was in the email you received telling you about this newsletter.
IF
IN DOUBT PLEASE CHECK WITH ME BEFORE MAKING YOUR PURCHASE - AFTERWARDS
WILL BE TOO LATE!
FINDMYPAST.CO.UK - SAVE £50 ON A 12 MONTH EVERYTHING SUBSCRIPTION
Records of lifeboatmen online FREE
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the charity responsible for 238 lifeboat stations around the coasts of the UK and Ireland. There are currently 448 lifeboats and hovercraft manned by more than 5700 volunteers; RNLI crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives since 1824 when the RNLI was founded.
To mark the 200th anniversary of this venerable body Ancestry have digitized over 58,000 for the period 1824-1989 and are making them available free online (although you will need to log-in).
UK and Ireland, The Royal National Lifeboat Institution Records, 1824-1989
Was your relative a British Army Schoolmistress?
Depending where you look, the adage that “an army marches on its stomach” has been attributed to either Napoleon Bonaparte or Frederick the Great, though it seems the first time this quotation appears in English was in the early 20th century (according to the Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable). In a different context John Milton wrote “They also serve, who only stand and wait”, a line that was much later adapted as a motto for the Navy Wives Clubs of America (“They also serve, who stay and wait”).
But whoever said it, it’s a reminder of the importance of the supporting roles filled not only by women, who were at one time not allowed to fight, but also by those men who were not young enough or fit enough to bear arms, or whose talents were better used in supporting roles – such as doctors and nurses. On the Imperial War Museum Lives of the First World War website you’ll find information about female schoolteachers who taught the children of soldiers in British Army garrison schools for the Royal Army Educational Corps and its predecessors – these Great War records are linked in many cases to Medal Index Cards on The National Archives website.
LostCousins member Trevor and I have something in common – we’re both married to very clever ladies. But whilst my wife’s studying days are over (I hope!), Elizabeth – Trevor’s wife – is in the process of writing a PhD thesis on the history and lives of British Army schoolmistresses, and she would be very interested in hearing from anyone who has one in their tree (please write to me in the first instance).
Are there any other surviving members of the British Expeditionary Force?
I was particularly interested to receive Trevor’s email because his father Hugh Bruce Powell – now aged 106 and living in retirement in New Zealand – may well be the last surviving member of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF).
Created on 2nd September 1939 – the day after Germany invaded Poland, and the day before Britain and France declared war on Germany – the BEF grew to nearly 400,000 fighting men, and to nearly half a million personnel in total. Troops began heading for France on 4th September, assembling on the border between France and Belgium. On 10th May 1940 Germany invaded Belgium and the Netherlands, forcing the BEF to retreat towards Dunkirk, from which most of them were miraculously saved by a fleet of small ships. Fortuitously, as it turned, Trevor’s father had already been invalided back to England earlier in May and once he had recovered spent the rest of the war in North Africa and Italy (where my father also served).
When I wrote not long ago about the late John Tinniswood, then the oldest living man in the UK at 112, I pointed out that although he missed the 1911 Census by a year and a few months, he was recorded on the 1939 Register. However Hugh Powell won’t be on the 1939 Register because not only was he in the army, he was probably in France when the register was compiled on 29th September 1939. He was however on the 1921 Census, a you can see:
© Crown Copyright Images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives. Used by kind permission of Findmypast
If you know of any of any other members of the British Expeditionary Force who are still alive, do please let me know. There is a list of men of 107 years or more who are still alive and living in the UK, and I’ve been able to find most of them on the 1939 Register, but there are two who didn’t show up and one who was born in Scotland, so is unlikely to have been recorded on the England & Wales register – and there may also be some survivors who are younger than 107, and others who, like Hugh, have emigrated..
Note: Trevor tells me that his father has just renewed his driving licence – he could well be the oldest driver in New Zealand.
More prizes in this year’s competition
In the last issue I announced the first tranche of prizes for this year’s competition, but I also promised there would be more – and there are!
STAR PRIZE – 12 MONTH UK SUBSCRIPTION TO WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? MAGAZINE
The TV programme Who Do You Think You Are? began when LostCousins was just a few months old, and for a long time it was required viewing in our household. Nowadays I don’t see it nearly as often, but I do read Who Do You Think You Are? magazine every single month – as I have done since the very first issue!
SPECIAL
PRIZE – CAMBRIDGESHIRE BAPTISM, MARRIAGE, AND BURIAL INDEXES
Donated by Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire Family History Society, these indexes are likely to prove invaluable to anyone who has ancestors from Cambridgeshire. At some point the registers will be going online at Ancestry – possibly in 2025 or 2026 – but whenever it is, these downloads will allow you to “hit the ground running”.
EXCLUSIVE ZOOM PRESENTATIONS
SIAN
LLOYD – GARDENING HOUR
As most of you will know my wife writes occasional gardening article for this newsletter. Last year she fielded questions from members round the world, but this year she’s going for a rather different format which she’s yet to reveal to me.
Suffice it to say that every time I look out of the window I’m reminded of her love of flowers and trees. The date of the session hasn’t been fixed because we’ve agreed to let other presenters have first pick of the available dates.
Here’s a reminder of some of the other prizes that you can win in this year’s competition. Please note that the date has now been fixed for Simon Fowler’s talk about The National Archives.
TOP PRIZE – 12 MONTH EVERYTHING SUBSCRIPTION TO FINDMYPAST WORTH £199.99
With an Everything subscription the world is your oyster – you can log into any of Findmypast’s sites worldwide and access ANY of the billions of records and historical newspaper articles in their collection. Though Findmypast are best-known for their British records, thanks to their close relationships with The National Archives and the British Library, they have massive collections of Irish and Australian records, and unique access to Catholic records.
You might think, I don’t have any Irish, Australian, or Catholic ancestors – well, that’s what I used to think. But thanks to Findmypast’s Catholic baptism records (and some clues from my DNA matches at other sites) I was able to break down one of my oldest ‘brick walls’, proving that my great-great grandmother was of Irish Catholic stock, even though she married in the parish church and all of her children were baptised in the Church of England. In the process I also discovered an Australian branch that I’d previously known nothing about.
STAR PRIZE – 12 MONTH DIAMOND SUBSCRIPTION TO THE GENEALOGIST WORTH £139.95
If you’re looking for records that the other big sites have missed, mistranscribed, or ignored, The Genealogist is a great choice: they have the most complete collection of tithe records and tithe maps that you’ll find anywhere online, and many of the tithe maps are in colour, which makes them easier to interpret. Map Explorer now includes all of the England & Wales censuses from 1841-1911, as well as the 1939 Register, tithe maps, and the 1910 Land Valuation – which is exclusive to The Genealogist (the coverage is fast-expanding, but is currently focused mainly on London and the Home Counties).
Looking for someone with an unusual occupation who is proving elusive in the censuses? The keyword search at The Genealogist is one that I’ve used time and time again.
EXCLUSIVE ZOOM PRESENTATIONS
PROFESSOR
REBECCA PROBERT - BIGAMY
A great supporter of LostCousins, and the closest thing to a superstar in the academic world, Professor Probert first came to my notice when she published Marriage Law for Genealogists – a book that should be on the bookshelves of every serious family historian (you can read my review here). Her next book will be on the subject of bigamy, so I’m delighted that she has agreed to give a sneak preview to LostCousins members.
There will be two presentations at different times so that nobody need be prevented from attending in person on account of their time zone: the first will be on Saturday 15th February 2025 at 10am (London time), and the second will be at 5pm the following week (Saturday 22nd February). Please put these dates in your diary in case you’re lucky enough to be invited to one or the other.
SIMON
FOWLER – VISITING THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
The National Archives, love it or loath it: at some stage in your family history research you are probably going to have to use it. Whether it is their online resources or by paying a visit. All this can be very daunting even for the expert, but in this presentation Simon Fowler will demystify the Archives. Whether you are confused by the catalogue or puzzled about parking this session will be for you. And based on his experience of being a researcher for over forty years and having worked there on and off for nearly thirty, he will provide tips and shortcuts that even the staff don’t know about!
Simon Fowler is one of Britain’s most experienced family history teachers, writers and researchers. Until recently he made his living from professional research, mainly on military topics and the records of central government. He has also written for Family Tree magazine and Who Do You Think You Are? magazine and has authored two dozen books, mainly genealogical help guides. Simon also runs courses for Pharos Tutors and is a regular lecturer at the Society of Genealogists.
Simon will be speaking at 9am on Thursday 13th February and I can already confirm that this talk will be recorded.
DJ
WISEMAN – NOVELIST
For years I’ve been hoping to interview the author DJ Wiseman, whose genealogical mystery novels are not just great stories, but great pieces of writing. At last I’ve managed to persuade him to talk to LostCousins members about his writing and his interest in family history – I’m looking forward to it just as much as you are!
The date has yet to be arranged, so watch this space!
TALKS ON DNA
I will be giving two exclusive talks on the subject of genetic genealogy: one will be for those who have yet to test, and will look at what you can and can’t find out using DNA. The second talk will be for those who have already tested, and will focus on how to make the best use of your DNA results. The dates will be announced once other speakers have made their choices.
.
PRIZES DONATED BY AUTHORS
This year there’s something for everyone:
GSI Superstition Mountains (donated by Nathan Dylan Goodwin) provides a chance for you to solve three murders using the latest techniques in investigative genetic genealogy. You’ll be able to work through the case at your own speed with expert video guidance from Diahan Southard, a DNA guru with 20 years experience, and Nathan Dylan Goodwin, author of the Venator series of genetic genealogy mysteries (as well as the incredibly popular Morton Farrier series of genealogy mystery novels). You can find out more about this intriguing opportunity here.
The latest book in the Venator Cold Case series is out now – please use these links if you’d like to find out more:
Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com Amazon.ca Amazon.com.au
The
Mourning Brooch is
a trilogy of historical novels by the author Jean Renwick, inspired by a
mourning brooch inherited from her godmother. The first book in the series was
recently the subject of discussion by the Society of Genealogists Book Club,
and it has received high praise from reviewers since its release in 2021. The
author has kindly agreed to donate a signed copy of Book One to the
lucky prize-winner.
Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com Amazon.ca Amazon.com.au
Blood-Tied was the first book
in the Esme Quentin series of genealogy mysteries from Wendy Percival and if,
like me, you have problems with your sight (or simply want to give your eyes a
rest) you’ll be glad to know that it is now available as an audio book. Many years
ago I used to buy audio books on cassette, but I gather it’s a little more
sophisticated these days. Wendy has generously donated two certificates, each
of which entitles the holder to a free audiobook version from Audiobooks.com
If you’ve yet to discover the Esme Quentin series, they’re also available as paperbacks and as Kindle books: please follow the relevant link below:
Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com Amazon.ca Amazon.com.au
There will be more prizes announced in the near future – yet another reason to make absolutely sure that you are on the mailing list by logging into your account now and again.
This year we’re once again using the My Prizes page at the LostCousins site to allow you to tell me which prizes you’d most like to win – it’s active now, but it will be updated as extra prizes are added and dates of presentations are fixed.
As usual you give each prize that interests you a rating, which can be anything from 1 (not very interested) to 10 (very interested indeed). There’s no need to do anything for prizes that don’t interest you in the slightest, but don’t make the mistake someone did last year of giving their most coveted prize just one point!
Should there be a Zoom presentation which interests you, but is at a inconvenient time, or on a day when you know that you have other commitments, please note that most of the Zoom presentations will be recorded, and if the speaker gives permission a link to the recording will be circulated to all those who were invited, whether or not they were unable to attend. Links are usually sent out a few days afterwards, to allow for the recording to be reviewed and edited if necessary.
If you are invited to a Zoom presentation you will have the opportunity to submit a (short) question in advance using the Comments field. This often enables the presenter to adapt their presentation to cover the point raised.
How to find out whether you’ve already entered
There are two new lines on your My Summary page at the LostCousins site – one gives the date you last logged-in, the other tells you how many of the relatives you’ve entered on your My Ancestors page count as entries in this year’s competition (and it’s shown in red so you can’t miss it). For example, here’s a snippet from my own My Summary page:
Sadly I’ve not had much time for my own family tree this year, hence the small number of entries since 31st January when last year’s competition ended and this year’s began. Hopefully I’ll be able to add more over the next couple of months, though I’m the one person who doesn’t have a chance of winning any prizes (on the positive side, as the host, I get to attend ALL of the presentations).
Note: the number shown doesn’t include the extra (bonus) entry you get when you add a relative from one of the 1881 Censuses, but don’t worry – they’ll be taken into account when the prizes are awarded in the days after the competition closes.
If you’re wondering why it’s necessary to show the date you last logged-in, given that you have to be logged-in to see it, that’s because some members never log-out, so don’t need to log-in. One member I corresponded with recently had been continuously logged-in for about 8 years, so it appeared as if she hadn’t visited the site in all that time, though on closer inspection I could see that she had added numerous entries to her My Ancestors page. Why is the last log-in date important? When the mailing list is created for each newsletter the computer takes into account how long it is since each member logged-in – this is something that has to be done to avoid sending spam emails, ie emails that the recipient considers to be spam (I obviously never send emails that I consider to be spam!).
Tip: if the date you last logged in (according to your My Summary page) is more than a year ago, please log-out and log-in again to bring it up to date. If you have two LostCousins accounts (eg because you are also researching on behalf of your partner, or another family member) the chances are that you log-in quite frequently in order to switch between accounts.
The last line in the screencap in the previous article shows that my Match Potential is just over 16. This means that, with average luck, I should have made 16 connections with other members who have entered the same relatives from one of the censuses that we use at LostCousins. In fact I’ve made more connections than that, but perhaps I’m luckier than average.
The good news is that you currently only need a Match Potential of 1 or more to receive an invite to join the LostCousins Forum, which is a completely separate website where family historians who are taking part in the LostCousins project can exchange information on a wide range of genealogy-related topics. For example, if you run into problems on a genealogy-related website it’s the ideal place to find out whether others are experiencing similar difficulties – and to find a solution.
There are also discussions on topics raised in the newsletter, and areas for different countries and different counties – so it’s a great place to find out what resources others find useful (most of them are free). And unlike Facebook groups, where the discussions tend to be short-lived and transient, you can easily find forum messages that we posted 10 years ago. In other words, it’s a growing resource rather than a chat room.
Biological father was a Facebook friend
A woman who was searching for her biological parents found out that her father was a friend on Facebook. It’s not what you think – see this BBC article for the full story.
I expect many of you will have seen the ‘click bait’ articles which claim that it would be cheaper to fly to Europe to post your Christmas cards now that postage prices have risen so much in the UK. Ridiculous, of course – nobody sends their Christmas cards by First Class post!
As it happens I have a surplus of 1st Class stamps after exchanging my old (now invalid) stamps under the Royal Mail Stamp Swap Out scheme (which is still in operation), but I don’t have to send letters and cards by First Class post in order to make use of them – I can use them toward the cost of sending packages and overseas letters. For example, it costs £2.80 to send a Christmas card anywhere in the world by Air Mail, and a 1st Class stamp would contribute £1.65 towards the cost. If you happen to have a 1st Class Large Letter stamp that’s worth £2.60 these days – it doesn’t matter how much you paid for it originally. Similarly, it costs £3.75 to send a small parcel up to 2kg by 2nd Class post, and I can use two of my surplus 1st Class stamps to cover the first £3.30
Last but not least, if you’ve been tempted by the offer of 6 issues of Who Do You Think You Are? magazine for a measly £9.99 (UK only), but haven’t acted, don’t delay – due to rising costs this offer ends, probably for ever, this month. I don’t know how much the increase will be, but it will certainly be pounds rather than pence – so time to make a decision, perhaps? Follow this link to take up the offer before it’s too late!
The Findmypast offer link has been updated - apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Peter Calver
Founder, LostCousins
© Copyright 2024 Peter Calver
Please do NOT copy or republish any part of this newsletter without permission - which is only granted in the most exceptional circumstances. However, you MAY link to this newsletter or any article in it without asking for permission - though why not invite other family historians to join LostCousins instead, since standard membership (which includes the newsletter), is FREE?
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