Newsletter – 5th
June 2022
Ancestry DNA discounted for Father’s Day ENDS SOON
Free access to newspapers at Findmypast ENDS MONDAY 10AM
Remembering other Royal Jubilees
Nobody to carry on your research?
The LostCousins
newsletter is usually published 2 or 3 times a month. To access the previous issue
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When
the last newsletter was published, in the early hours of 31st May, I
was getting ready for a cataract operation that morning – hence the warning that
it might be a while before you heard from me again.
As
operations go it’s relatively minor (providing everything goes right, which it
did in the end), but I had to be prepared for the possibility that after the
operation it would take my eyes a while to settle down, or that prolonged
spells in front of the computer would lead to tiredness. I’d been provided with
two sets of slightly different advice, one set from the hospital, and the other
from the consultant who carried out the surgery – and the online guide provided
by the NHS differed again, suggesting that some of the after-effects could last
for 4 to 6 weeks. (One thing they all agreed on was that I shouldn’t wear eye
make-up, but frankly that isn’t something I’ve ever considered!)
Thanks
to everyone who sent their good wishes, and those who were able to tell me
about their own positive experiences of cataract surgery – it was both heart-warming
and reassuring. Whilst there are many things that I’m NOT allowed to do at the
moment (bending over, heavy lifting etc), I made a point of spending the few
days prior to the op mowing the lawn and weeding, so that things wouldn’t get
too bad during my enforced absence. And the good news is that I’m allowed to work
on my computer, so I’ve managed to deal with most of the emails in my inbox.
Prior
to the procedure I wasn’t expecting that I’d need to publish another newsletter
before the middle of June, and I couldn’t be certain that I’d be physically capable
of doing it, which is why I warned on Tuesday that you might not hear from me
for a while. And in truth I’d have been quite happy to take a break – there are
always things that need doing. But when I discovered that Ancestry were having DNA
sales in the countries where most of you live I decided that I’d put together
this short newsletter, rather than run the risk that some of you might miss
out.
Ancestry DNA discounted for Father’s Day ENDS SOON
I’m
sure I don’t need to remind you that, having taken just about every DNA test there
is (including Whole Genome Sequencing), I’ve concluded that there’s only one
test that I can wholeheartedly recommend, the Ancestry DNA test. Not because it’s
cheaper, or more advanced – but because you’ll get far better results.
Ancestry
not only have the largest database of people who have already tested, they integrate
their enormous collection of family trees with DNA matches far more successfully
than any other site. For us, the users, it means that it’s much easier to turn
the mass of data into meaningful information – information that can help us knock
down our ‘brick walls’ and validate our records-based research.
It’s
true that there are some tools other sites offer that you won’t find at
Ancestry, but that’s not a bad thing – using those tools effectively requires
an understanding of genetics and statistics that few of us will ever possess.
It’s like the difference between having to fix up your own car before you can
drive somewhere, compared with getting into a chauffeur-driven limousine. Sure,
you might know how many horses there are under the bonnet, but you’ll get to
your destination far quicker, with far less effort, and with fewer wrong
turnings.
My
DNA
Masterclass explains how to make DNA work for you, rather than the other
way round – in line with the LostCousins philosophy of achieving more whilst
expending less time, less money, and less effort.
Currently
you can save money on Ancestry DNA tests in the UK, Canada, and Australia/New
Zealand. Please follow the link for your local site:
Ancestry.co.uk
– SAVE £20 PER TEST
Ancestry.com.au
– SAVE $40 PER TEST ENDS 8TH JUNE
Ancestry.ca
– SAVE $50 PER TEST ENDS 10TH JUNE
Tip:
if the link appears not to work first time, log-out from Ancestry then click it
again; you can usually save money on shipping when you buy multiple kits –
remember, you don’t need to say who you’re buying them for.
Free access to newspapers at Findmypast ENDS MONDAY
10AM
Just
a reminder that the free access offer mentioned in the last newsletter ends at 10am
(London time) on Monday. You’ll need to log-in at Findmypast (or register if
you haven’t done so previously) but you won’t have to provide credit card or
bank details. Please use the relevant link below so that they know you’ve come
from LostCousins:
Remembering other Royal Jubilees
Many of the inhabitants
of the UK are attending street parties today, though because my wife is an avid
follow of the weather forecast we and our neighbours got together on Friday
(which in retrospect seems to have been a good decision – it’s been raining much
of the day here in Stansted, and the sun hasn’t dared show its face).
But
going back a little over two centuries, the loyal subjects of King George III
in the Oxfordshire village of Nuneham Courtenay chose to celebrate his Golden
Jubilee by naming the children christened during the Jubilee year after the
King and Queen – and giving each the first name ‘Jubilee’. You can see a few of
them in this section from the parish register (courtesy Oxfordshire Family
History Society and Oxfordshire History Centre; used by permission of Ancestry).
I
wonder how many of the ten children continued to use the name Jubilee? Certainly
four of them were still using it when they married (also in Nuneham Courtenay)
in the 1830s and 40s, and at least two were still using it when they died (another
died as an infant).
There
were others around the country who were given the first name Jubilee in 1809-10,
but it was much more commonly given as a middle name – which is probably just
as well, since you can imagine the confusion there must have been in Nuneham
Courtenay, with so many children of around the same age with the same name.
Inevitably
there were similar tributes when Queen Victoria celebrated her Golden and Diamond
Jubilees (there were, of course, no Silver Jubilee celebrations because Prince
Albert died during the 25th year of Victoria’s reign). Just one person
in each year was named ‘Royal Jubilee’ – I thought you might like to see the GRO
birth entry for one of them:
Sadly
Royal Jubilee Hunt died the following year (Royal Jubilee Stearn, born in 1897,
was equally unfortunate). It’s quite unusual to stumble across a hospital birth
in the 19th century – I wonder if it was a difficult confinement?
I
can’t remember how I celebrated the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilees, but I’m
sure I raised a glass or two. I certainly did in 1977 when pubs were allowed to
stay open until midnight (though it took me ages to find one that hadn’t closed
at the usual time).
For
more about previous Royal Jubilees see this BBC article.
I
doubt there’s anyone who’s unaware of the Queen’s love of corgis, but this BBC article has some interesting
facts I hadn’t come across before, as well as a partial family tree for HRH’s
corgis and dorgis.
Talking
of dogs, it’s almost exactly 6 years since I wrote
about ‘Greyfriars Bobby’ – a unique tale, or so I thought until I discovered Hachiko.
We
talk about family trees because they have roots and branches –
but which are the roots, and which are the branches?
It’s
pretty obvious that the roots are where we come from – our ancestral
lines. I don’t think anyone would disagree with that. But there does seem
to be disagreement amongst family historians about what a branch is.
If
I refer to my branches I’m talking about the parts of my tree that aren’t
in a direct line between me and my ancestors – in other words, they branch off
from my direct line (like a branch line on a railway). Some family historians, especially
in the US, refer to these as collateral lines – which is fine with me,
though I prefer the term branch because it’s part of the tree metaphor.
However it can be confusing because some people talk about branches when
they clearly mean roots.
When
we research our roots we’re almost always working backwards in time;
when we research our collateral lines – or branches – we’re usually working
forwards, tracking the descendants of our direct ancestors’ siblings. (The few exceptions
are when we’re trying to prove or disprove an hypothesis, whether it’s based on
a DNA match, a family story, or a leap of faith.)
I’m
not suggesting that you must change the way you use the word branch, but
please bear in mind that when I talk about branches I’m referring to collateral
lines – and this applies whether I’m talking about my own tree or yours. I
often write about branches – not because they’re necessarily of interest
in themselves (although they often are) – but because they lead to our cousins.
ALL of our living cousins are descended from the branches of our tree, which
is why entering relatives from the branches is the best way to connect
with our ‘lost cousins’.
Note:
if you’d like to share the terminology you prefer please do so on the LostCousins
Forum – please don’t write to me direct (I always read the forum postings). Most
people reading this article have either qualified for membership of the forum,
or could do so in a matter of minutes – if you log into your LostCousins
account and go to the My Summary page you’ll find out which category you are
in.
Nobody to carry on your research?
Wouldn’t
it be wonderful if we all had a son, daughter, or grandchild who was itching to
take over our research? Sadly life’s not that like that, not least because
family history is one of those things that most people only have time for later
in life – I was in my 50s when I began my research and might not have started even
then had it not been for the release of the 1901 Census at a time when I was ‘economically
inactive’. (I know some people reading this are from the younger generations
but you’re in the minority.)
However
you needn’t despair – because in most families there is somebody who can be relied
upon, someone who would be prepared to preserve our research until such time as
they or another family member gets bitten by the family history bug. It doesn’t
matter if our research is ‘on ice’ for 10 or 20 years – it’s far better than it
being on the bonfire!
In
summary, choose someone you can trust – whether they’re interested in family
history is less important.
Until 12.30pm (London time) on Friday 10th June you can access the 1921 Census for half-price
- please use the link on your My Summary page, or else click the link below:
Peter Calver
Founder, LostCousins
© Copyright 2022 Peter Calver
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