Newsletter – 14th November 2025
Big savings at Findmypast SAVE UP TO 40%
What makes Findmypast different – and why does it matter?
The ‘alternative pension’ for WW1 widows
Scrapped WW1 medal returned to family
In search of the unknown soldier
Veterans trial digital ID card
Don’t forget the pay-per-view option
Gardeners Corner: Not just for Christmas!
The LostCousins newsletter is usually published 2 or 3 times a month. To access the previous issue (dated 7th 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):
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Big savings at Findmypast SAVE UP TO 40%
There’s good news for family historians: not only have Findmypast.co.uk cut the price of their Everything subscription, they’re marking the event with an extra discount for new subscribers. This means a new lower price of £169.99, down by 15%, but with an introductory price of £118.99 (an extra 30% saving) for new subscribers while the offer lasts.
If
you’re an existing subscriber you might think this is no big deal – your
subscription renewed at £169.99 because of the 15% Loyalty Discount. But you’ll
still get 15% off the new price, which – by my calculations means a renewal
price of just £144.49 (roughly what you would have paid back in 2010, when
there were half as many records on the site and the British Newspaper Archive
was little more than a pipe-dream). I now understand that this is not correct,
renewing subscribers will still pay £169.99
Because of fluctuating exchange rates the pricing is different at Findmypast’s sites around the world. For example, in Australia the Everything subscription remains at $369.99, but the introductory offer for new subscribers offers a 40% saving, bringing the cost down to $221.99
Whichever site you plan to subscribe through, please use the relevant link below so that there’s a chance that LostCousins can benefit from your purchase:
Please note that if you are an existing subscriber, or your subscription expired very recently, you won’t see the new prices if you are logged into your Findmypast account – simply log-out and click the link again. But please bear in mind that the introductory discount is intended to attract new subscribers - you probably got a discount in your first year too.
What makes Findmypast different – and why does it matter?
One of the biggest mistakes that any family historian can make is to assume that all of the major genealogy websites have the same records, and that the same search techniques work equally well at every site.
Even highly-experienced researchers – as most LostCousins members are – often fail to appreciate that they can get better results by adapting their search technique. For example, when you’re filling out a Search form, do you enter as much information as possible, or as little as necessary? The first technique can work well at FamilySearch and Ancestry, where it often produces lots of results (though most of them won’t be relevant) – but at Findmypast you’ll generally get much better results if you enter less information (it also saves time!).
One of the things I like most about Findmypast is the way that they handle forename variants. You don’t need to tick the ‘include name variants’ box to allow for middle names and initials: for example, a search for ‘Marie’ will find ‘Marie-Claire’, ‘Marie Ann’ and ‘Marie J’. Similarly, a search for ‘Mary’ will find ‘Mary Ann’ (though not ‘Maryann’ or ‘Marianne’). When you do tick the ‘include name variants’ box you’ll get every result that might feasibly fit, including records where only initials are shown, or where the order of the forenames is reversed.
I also like being able to re-order the Search results by clicking the heading at the top of any column. I find this particularly useful when I’m looking for baptisms as I can sort them by date, by location, or by the forename of the father or mother.
But it’s not just about how you fill out the Search form and sort the results – there’s also the question of what records you’re searching, and how the records are organised. Ancestry typically organise records according to their source – so if parish registers for a single county are split between two or more record offices you might have to carry out multiple searches to find the records you’re looking for (assuming you realise what has happened).
By contrast, Findmypast bring together all the records they have for a particular county, so you don’t necessarily need to know which record office holds the registers. Sometimes there might be three or four results for the same baptism, all from different sources: this might seem like unnecessary duplication, but it greatly reduces the chance that you’ll miss an entry because it has been wrongly transcribed.
Similarly you can search marriages for a county without having to worry whether they took place before or after 1754, when new registers were introduced. To carry out the same search at Ancestry is much more complicated – especially since marriages between 1754 and 1812 won’t all be in the same record set (and what works for one parish might not work for another parish in the same county).
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that Findmypast have a large collection of transcribed parish records thanks to their excellent relationships with family history societies. You don’t need me to tell you that volunteers from family history societies are by far the best transcribers, thanks to their local knowledge and their diligence – this means that even if the parish register images are at Ancestry, you might well find the entry you’re looking for more easily by starting at Findmypast.
The ‘alternative pension’ for WW1 widows
The tale of William Bateman Redwood, who survived WW1 but died in 1920 of the ailments he had contracted during his service is interesting in itself (see, for example, the description of the demobilisation process), but it also provides as an example of how widows sought to apply for the ‘alternative pension’.
The family story was that William Redwood died 3 days too late for his widow to qualify for a War Widow’s pension, and that in the end she got nothing. However she DID qualify for the War Widow’s pension, though she was turned down for the enhanced alternative pension, which could be claimed if the deceased serviceman’s earnings before the war exceeded the amount of the ordinary pension.
For more information about WW1 pensions see this guide on the website of the Western Front Association.
Scrapped WW1 medal returned to family
In a week when we’ve been remembering the fallen of the two World Wars, it was heartening to read this story about a WW1 medal that had been lost for over half a century being returned to the soldier’s 98 year-old son.
How are you ensuring that your mementos don’t end up on the scrap heap, and that your family history research doesn’t end up in the shredder? Although LostCousins has always provided members with an opportunity to specify who they wish to inherit their research only a minority of members have taken advantage of this feature. If you’re one of the silent majority, please log-in now, go to your My Details page, and enter the email address of your intended beneficiary.
In search of the unknown soldier
It is estimated that the remains of as many as 100,000 soldiers lie undiscovered below the battlefields of France. In 1995 the remains of a British soldier were uncovered by workmen digging a trench, but before local officials arrived the items found with the remains had disappeared. One man has spent 30 years attempting to identify the unknown soldier, and believes he was one of the ten members of the 14th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment who were killed in November 1916 during the Battle of the Ancre on the Somme – the final British offensive of that bloody battle.
DNA would almost certainly provide the answer – but, because the remains were buried without a DNA sample being taken, this isn’t an option. Instead it is hoped that there might be clues from the soldier’s possessions – if only they can be recovered.
To the best of my knowledge none of my direct ancestors died on the battlefield, but nevertheless most of them were buried in unmarked graves. You only need to compare the number of headstones in a typical parish churchyard with the number of burials recorded in the register to get a sense of how few people could afford a permanent marker.
Earlier this year I linked these three posts on the Essex Record Office blog which provide a useful tutorial for anyone whose ancestors moved from one parish to another, and fell on hard times:
- An introduction to settlement papers
- Bastardy in early modern north-Essex
- The secrets of settlement papers
The latest post, entitled A study in settlement, includes more examples of general interest but also provides some good news for those of us whose ancestors came from Essex: over 2000 of the settlement papers have been indexed by name, part of an ongoing project to make the records more easily accessible. Looking through the indexed records for Coggeshall I noticed several surnames which appear in my tree – and whilst they might turn out not be relatives of mine, I plan to take a look at the settlement papers on my next visit to Chelmsford.
On the whole my ancestors are more likely to be mentioned in Poor Law records than wills….. when I think about the trials and tribulations they faced, I’m so proud that I’m able to honour their memory by researching them. None of them were rich or famous – the only distinguishing feature they have is that all lived long enough to become a parent.
Veterans trial digital ID card
According to this BBC article about 300,000 former members of Britain’s forces are now able to download a digital version of their veteran card. Although it is not a formal trial of the compulsory digital ID which the government has pledged to introduce by 2029, it will help to demonstrate how the technology will work.
One of the perceived benefits of ID cards is to prevent people who are not entitled to work in the UK from entering into paid employment. The present situation, in which migrants who are applying for asylum are not allowed to work, but instead are supported by the state until their application is determined, provides an interesting contrast to the situation in earlier centuries when the focus was on migrants who were unable to support themselves and their families (see the previous article).
Don’t forget the pay-per-view option
I hate pay-per-view – I’ve always found that it constrains my research because the decision to view a record has to take into account the cost of doing so. Sometimes there are tricks and tips you can use to get a little more information out of a website without paying, but it then becomes a question of time vs money vs diligent research – it’s an awful position to be in.
These day most websites offer subscriptions which include virtually unlimited access to records – and if you can afford a subscription, or can get free access through your local public library, a nearby records office, family history society, or FamilySearch Centre then the only constraint is time.
However, some websites are pay-per-view only, notably government websites like the General Register Office, the Probate service, and ScotlandsPeople – but what researchers often forget is that subscription websites like Ancestry and Findmypast also offer a pay-per-view service. For example, if you want to view a household return from the England & Wales 1921 Census at Findmypast the charge is £2.50 for the transcription, or £3.50 for the set of images. That’s expensive if you want to view lots of households from that census, but if you don’t have a current subscription and can’t get free access through a library or other source, you might well consider it worth paying if this single record is key to your research.
By the way, I deliberately picked an expensive example – most records are much cheaper. For example, to view a household from the England & Wales 1841 Census at Findmypast costs just 50p for a transcript, or £1 for the image. A parish baptism costs £1 for the transcript, or £1.50 for the image; the price for a parish marriage entry is the same, which makes it quite a bargain compared to the cost of buying a marriage certificate from the General Register Office (£12.50).
Tip: there is no need to pay for transcriptions of the England & Wales censuses from 1841-1911 as they are available free at the FamilySearch website (the information is provided by Findmypast). All of the censuses we use at LostCousins are available free online if you know where to look.
Have you seen the short ITV Wales documentary about the Craig-y-nos sanatorium? You won’t find it on the ITVX website, but fortunately there is a direct link from the Craig-y-nos blog:
https://www.itv.com/walesprogrammes/articles/children-of-craig-y-nos
Remember, you can download a free PDF copy of The Children of Craig-y-nos when you follow this link. We all have ancestors who succumbed to TB in one of its many forms – the treatment provided at the sanatorium might seem primitive by today’s standards, but at least they got looked after, unlike sufferers in earlier centuries who were left to wither away at home (and potentially spread the disease to other family members).
Last month I recommended the diary of Chris Dell telling of his time in Black Notley Hospital (Black Notley Blues) in the late 1950s; Chris Dell subsequently helped another former patient, Allen Jones, set down his memories. Allen spent a total of three and a half years in the Black Notley during the 1940s. You can download a free PDF of When I was a lad: memoirs of a TB patient if you follow this link.
One of the things that most surprised me when reading what patients had written about their time in sanatoria was the fact that smoking was allowed. Perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised – as late as 1960 only one-third of doctors in the US believed that the link between smoking and cancer had been established (see this 2012 paper, which is free to access). And even I can remember when patients in British hospitals were allowed to smoke in the dayroom at the end of the ward, though I couldn’t tell you when this stopped. By contrast, these days patients, staff, and visitors to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge are informed no smoking is allowed anywhere on the site, even in the open air. I imagine many other hospitals have a similar policy.
Several members wrote to tell me of patients who got away with smoking in bed by the simple expedient of closing the curtains around the bed, and opening the window behind; in some cases nurses collaborated with the patients, providing ashtrays. The most recent example was from 1980, by which time the health implications of smoking were common knowledge.
Another member wrote to tell me that the real-life surgeon who inspired the character of Sir Lancelot Spratt in Doctor in the House (played in the film by James Robertson Justice), used to smoke cigars in the operating theatre while his students were operating on the patient. Whilst I couldn’t find any confirmation of this, I discovered a fascinating article from an unlikely source (Urology News), which explains that the character in Richard Gordon’s book was based on one surgeon, whilst the character in the film was based on another. I‘m not going to risk defaming either of them by guessing which one used to smoke cigars in the operating theatre!
It’s a long while since I’ve watched any of the films in the Doctor series, but the medical film that sticks in my mind is The National Health – released in 1973, and based on the play by Peter Nichols. I haven’t seen it since the 1970s, so I’ve ordered the DVD from Amazon. If it’s as good as I remember I’ll review it in a later newsletter.
I’ve been fortunate to receive an advance copy of the new Morton Farrier book from the pen of Nathan Dylan Goodwin. The 11th novel in the Forensic Genealogist series is also one of the longest – which is good news for me, because once I start reading a Morton Farrier story I don’t want to stop!
I was interested to discover that the The Hop-Picker Murders was partially-inspired by an article in this newsletter – well, you know what they say about truth being stranger than fiction. I wonder how many of you will identify the article?
Tip: there’s a search box near the top of each newsletter which searches ALL of the issues since February 2009, when the newsletter went online.
But like all of the books in the Forensic Genealogist series there’s more than one thread to the story – and I won’t be giving much away when I tell you that our hero gets his nose broken by a stranger before he has even begun his main investigation. I didn’t see that coming – and nor did poor Morton.
This is the first novel in the series to be set after the introduction by the General Register Office of their Online View service, which gives instant access to historic births and deaths
The Hop-Picker Murders will be out before Christmas in Kindle format and as a hardback: there will be a paperback edition, but I suspect it won’t be out until next year, and there will also be an audiobook version available from February 2026, or thereabouts. You can get updates on all the release dates if you sign up for Nathan Dylan Goodwin’s newsletter.
In the meantime, you might want to double-check that you’ve read all the previous books in the series – although you can dip into the series at any point, you’ll get more out of the novels if you read them in sequence. You can see a list of all the titles if you follow the appropriate link below:
Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com Amazon.ca Amazon.com.au
Gardeners Corner: Not just for Christmas!
On average, a Christmas tree grows one foot per year; most are cut down and already dying when they are sold. Many of us also buy potted plants to brighten the home and improve the air quality over the festive season. With care, many plants bought during the festive season can be enjoyed for several years; you can grow them bigger, save money and reduce plant miles.
A potted Christmas tree can be kept growing from year to year; repot annually into a slightly larger strong, lightweight pot with good drainage, using a shrub compost mixed and mulched well with bark chip (I use plastic blacksmiths tubs). Mindful of their growth rate, planting one in the garden could create a nasty headache because they are thirsty, shallow rooted, the shed needles turn the soil acidic, and they can dominate a garden and block out the light very quickly. Plant only if you have a large garden, and well away from the house, boundaries, garden structures and pipework; the rule of thumb is to check the mature height of the tree and ensure that it is planted at least that distance from your house and garden buildings. Otherwise, a 2-3’ blue spruce or Nordmann will make a beautiful and very interesting tree in a container for a few years and can still be decorated for Christmas even if kept outdoors. Keep your potted tree well-watered and provide partial shade from strong summer sun. And whether cut or potted, try to minimise the time that your Christmas tree must live indoors; place it in a cool position away from fires and radiators, and remember that watering the base will reduce needle shed.
Christmas plants are raised by nurseries to be at their best and in bloom for Christmas. If you end up discarding “failed” Christmas houseplants by January, it is usually for one of three reasons – too much dry heat (central heating and open fires), too much or too little water (more likely the former), or too cold if left on a chilly windowsill or in a draught. Christmas Cacti (schlumbergera) and Kalanchoe (usually blossfeldiana, aka Flaming Katy) are succulents which are often used to brighten the Christmas home. However, a Christmas cactus has tropical origins and needs indirect sunlight to avoid leaf scorch; kalanchoe originates from more arid conditions and expects plenty of bright sunlight. Both are low maintenance and only need watering when the top inch of compost feels dry; water thoroughly, then drain the pot on a saucer of grit or pebbles to provide humidity around the leaves. These plants have two growing seasons; after winter flowering, slightly reduce the water, temperature and light for two months to induce dormancy. During the next growth phase in spring and summer, increase the water and light, and feed monthly with cactus food. Induce dormancy again in September and October to encourage the second season of flowering in time for Christmas. Kalanchoe prefers a brighter place to grow and needs a darker resting place during dormancy. Once the fragile buds begin to form, place your plants where you want to see them flower (disturbance might cause bud drop). Both can be re-potted into fresh compost during a dormant phase, and they are easy to propagate from healthy leaves.
The Christmas cyclamen (cyclamen Persicum) commonly sold in December for indoor display is not frost hardy, so in cooler climates it can only be maintained as a houseplant. After flowering, allow the corm to gradually die back, keeping it cool, shaded and minimally moist. By Autumn the corm should emerge from dormancy by sprouting new leaves; replant in fresh compost and increase light, watering and feed towards full bloom in December. Plant the corms of cyclamen coum in the Autumn for an outdoor display in winter and early spring.
Poinsettias are indigenous to Mexico and Central America; they are members of the euphorbia or spurge family, so can be mildly toxic and irritating to the skin. In warm climates they can grow into sizeable shrubs or small trees. The flowers are insignificant; the top layer of leaves can turn bright red (or white, plum and other colours depending on the variety) when the plant is exposed to bright light alternated with darkness. Caring for a poinsettia and timing a forced dormancy may differ depending on where in the world you are. In the UK during the winter, water the pot only when the top inch of compost is dry; then drain well onto a dish of pebbles so that the leaves benefit from the increased humidity. Aim for a constant 19-21C with no cold draughts, and keep away from cold windows. By April move into stronger light, lightly prune, feed and repot if necessary. Poinsettia can tolerate summer sun outdoors once acclimatised, but do not let the leaves burn in hot direct sunlight and keep an eye on watering and humidity. Pinching the tips of new growth will encourage bushiness. Bring indoors in early October; for the next 8 weeks provide 6-8 hours of bright light each day, then keep it covered for the remaining hours (a large box works well). By December the plant should be at its brightest, festive best again.
Amaryllis bulbs are
commonly packaged (with compost and pot) for gifting and growing indoors over
the winter. Technically, these are South American Hippeastrum – large,
fast-growing bulbs with long, strappy leaves and enormous lily-like flower
heads in exotic colour combinations. The top 2/3rds of the bulb should sit
above the soil level; water regularly once it begins to push out leaves. The
thick flower stalks can reach 3-4 feet in height; use a heavy pot and strong
stake to prevent toppling over, rotate the plant to avoid lopsided growth, and
consider siting on the floor or low down (I have been known to tie the stalks
to lamp stands and even chair legs!). It is also possible to buy shorter
stemmed varieties which are more convenient for table-top display. The blooms
open in succession, with each lasting for 1-2 weeks. After flowering, cut down
the stalks and focus on replenishing the bulb’s energy by a) moderate feeding
and watering and b) ensuring that the leaves get plenty of sunlight. The pot
can be placed outdoors in light shade over the summer. Induce dormancy during
September by reducing sunlight, water and feed until the leaves die and the
compost completely dries out. Keep dry and dark for 8-10 weeks (this is when
the commercial growers box them up for sale). After this period, the bulb can
be replanted in fresh compost and placed in a bright position with around 18C
heat, where it will grow and bloom beautifully for another year.
Perhaps try experimenting with just one type of plant at a time. After two years of practice, I have kept my Christmas Cactus growing well and have propagated eight more. At the time of writing, all are in bud and on track for Christmas (in time for gifting one or two). However, I always plant Hippeastrum after Christmas because the handsome blooms bring a lot of joy when the festive season is long gone, and Springtime is still out of reach.
Amazon - large blacksmith planter with handles (lightweight but robust)
Gardening Express - Christmas trees, other Christmas items, and Special Offers
Gardening Express - Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) bulbs
Crocus - generous discounts on Spring bulbs, winter flowering shrubs, and more
November is a great time to plant tulip bulbs – especially when they’re 60% off!
Happy gardening,
Siân
Remember that from Monday 17th November the cost of a post-1858 will from England & Wales goes up from £1.50 to £16 – so get your orders in NOW at the official website. Searching for wills can be a little tricky, since you’re asked to enter the year of death even though for most of the period the calendars (indexes) are organised by year of probate, which might or might not be the same – I often start by searching the calendars from 1858-1995 at Ancestry, or the 1858-2019 collection at Findmypast. For additional advice see the discussions on the LostCousins Forum. Even if you don’t plan to order the will, finding an entry in the probate calendar is a great way to find out your relative’s precise date of death, as well as their last residence.
As I write there are still 17 Kindle books in the Tracing Your Ancestors…. series on offer at Amazon.co.uk – use this link to see what’s available when you read this (don't forget to check the second page of search results).
Finally, a reminder that Ancestry DNA tests are currently half-price or thereabouts – if you decide to place an order please use the relevant link below, and then there will be a chance that LostCousins can benefit from your purchase:
UK & IRL: Save up to 50% on AncestryDNA®. Terms Apply.
AUS & NZ: Save up to $65* on Ancestry®! Terms Apply.
Canada: Save now! Up to $75* off AncestryDNA®. Terms Apply.
Of course, there’s a chance that prices will be even lower on Black Friday – though it’s pretty certain that if you delay your purchase until then you won’t get the results until New Year. The last test I submitted for a family member was turned around in 3 weeks, but when there’s an offer on the turnaround time is likely to be closer to the 6-7 weeks that Ancestry usually quote.
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Peter Calver
Founder, LostCousins
© Copyright 2025 Peter Calver
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