Uckfield

Well known family historian Celia Heritage will be talking about newspaper archives and how to make the best use of them

Celia Heritage, a professional genealogist will be giving us a talk on the origins of local newspapers and how to access them before using examples to illustrate the wealth of wonderful information they can give to family historians.

An informative but light hearted talk.

This month we have a members evening and we will be looking at Census Records.   Bob Cairns will present an introduction to records up to 1911 and Hilary Smith will talk about the 1921 Census and the 1939 Register.   As usual, members are invited to share their own experiences during the evening.

Along with Birth, Death and Marriage certificates, the Censuses form a cornerstone of modern family history research i.e. post 1840/

This evening will allow members to consider further over-coming brick walls and other problems.    Margaret Bird will start the evening with a scene setting presentation.

Members will share their experiences of looking for ancestors who were born abroad or emigrated.   There will be short presentations including India and the USA.

Ian Everest will pay a welcome return visit this time looking at the richness of cemeteries for family historians.   He will use his detailed knowledge of Newhaven Cemetery to give examples.

This month we will be looking at 'Writing Your Family Story' and Margaret Bird and Jenny Scott will give presentations about their experiences and open up a discussion amongst members.   This is a most important task for all family historians to ensure that our own research is shared and not lost.  Both Margaret and Jenny are experienced family historians and stalwarts of our group and will be well worth listening to.

3 or 4 members will share stories related to an ancestor or event or describe a family heirloom which tells a family story.   Presentations are 10/15 minutes by powerpoint or chalk and talk and always lead to wider audience participation.

Members will make a few short presentations about the most common occupations of their ancestors which will include domestic service and agricultural and related jobs.   Further discussion from the meeting is bound to follow.

This month there is a change in programme as Chris Whittick who was going to give us a talk, is unable to be with us but will speak to us in January.

We are very lucky as another member, Barney Barnes-Moss has agreed to talk to us instead.   As a Mormon, who has recently been to Utah, her subject will be 'Searching For Your Family With Familysearch'.   Familysearch is the world's largest free data-base and, with her involvement with it over many years, Barney will give us the background and history of the data collecting and an insider's view of getting the best from the information available.

This is a presentation not to be missed.