Issue 31 Cover

Discover Your Ancestors

Issue 031

Issue 31 Cover

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Welcome once more to Discover Your Ancestors Periodical, packed as usual with fascinating social history and useful family history research advice.

Family history is of course all about personal stories – not just the dry names and dates, but the interesting details of people’s lives, their occupations, and their relationships. In this issue we see examples of all of these aspects, from Daniel Hewitt’s clockmaking forebears and Anthony Boulton’s memoir of his grandfather in WW1, to the sentimental nuances of relationships often encoded in the jewellery our forebears gave to one another.

We’d love to hear your family stories, too – do drop me a line via [email protected] if you have a case study to share or an interesting family story. We’re now starting to plan a series of books and next year’s print magazine, too, so watch this space for more details soon!

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this issue and the variety of subjects covered inside.

Andrew Chapman, Editor.

Articles

The best of times

The best of times

From the beginning of the 18th century, Clerkenwell became a great centre of industrial activity but gained prominence for the clock and watchmaking industry. One of the foremost clockmakers was J Smith & Sons of St John’s Square, Clerkenwell. Established in 1780, the company manufactured all kinds of clocks and its turret clock had gained international recognition.

November 2015 News

November 2015 News

TheGenealogist.co.uk has just released five million Emigration BT27 records as part of its growing immigration and emigration record set. Uniquely, TheGenealogist allows you to track transmigration of people across countries routing through British ports on their way to America. TheGenealogist is also the only website with the facility to discover families travelling together on the same voyage using its SmartSearch technology.

The quartermaster’s tale

The quartermaster’s tale

The Great War cast its shadow over my grandfather’s life even before it began, because in August 1914 he went on a cook’s tour of the Rhineland. It might be thought that this was not the best time to visit Germany, but the holiday had been booked months beforehand when the European situation had appeared quite stable. Everywhere the British party travelled they became increasingly alarmed at the sight of large-scale movements of German troops, which their German guide tried to reassuringly describe as “just manoeuvres”. However, it was quite evident that Germany was mobilising for war, and the tourists were relieved when they left for home a day or two before the outbreak of hostilities, otherwise they would have faced spending the war in a civilian internment camp in Germany.

From Longleat to the Tower of London

From Longleat to the Tower of London

Many of us have grown up knowing at least something about Longleat, even if we have never visited the place. Perhaps it is the Lions and the safari park that we are most aware of. Or it could be the colourful present Marquess of Bath that we most associate with the house? Recent television exposure of the country house, the family and the estate may have brought the interesting house and its estate back into our mind. Longleat House itself is an English stately home that is a leading and early example of the Elizabethan ‘prodigy house’. Built by Sir John Thynne, after the original priory on the site caught fire in 1567. Longleat had been purchased in 1541 for £53 on behalf of Sir John who had become the steward of the once powerful Edmund Seymour, the 1st Duke of Somerset and a member of parliament.

Decoding Victorian jewellery

Decoding Victorian jewellery

Do you have some of your ancestors’ jewellery tucked away in a drawer or jewellery box? Or perhaps you have photographs of your ancestors wearing brooches, bracelets and pendants. While you might consider them just pretty pieces of adornment, for the Victorians, the symbols, stones and images used in jewellery all had specific meanings. Mourning jewellery, love tokens and sentimental jewellery contained coded messages that were understood by both giver and receiver.

Woven into history

Woven into history

Tracing your family tree shares a lot in common with carpet making – you need to weave together lots of threads before you find one that pulls everything into a recognisable pattern. It can often be easier when your family roots are concentrated in one place and better still if the local museum or record office has a good library of archival sources. For people tracing their family tree in Kidderminster, this is exactly what is on offer at the town’s newest visitor attraction, the Museum of Carpet, which opened in 2012.

A fair hearing?

A fair hearing?

The Court of Chancery in England and Wales originated after the Norman Conquest of 1066, in the King’s Council. It split from this in the 1300s and developed into an administrative and later judicial body upholding equity in application of common law (that is, its role was to find fair solutions to cases where there was no obvious common law resolution). It was formally led by the Lord Chancellor. In 1873 and 1875 the Supreme Court of Judicature Acts dissolved the Chancery; from 1873 it became the Chancery Division of the Supreme Court of Judicature. The Court of Chancery had a far greater remit than the common law courts, whose decisions it had the jurisdiction to overrule, and was also far more flexible.

history in the details: boots

history in the details: boots

A boot covers the whole foot, ankle and part or all of the calf, some styles extending over the knee. As functional footwear, boots protect the foot and leg from the wet, mud, extreme cold, certain hazardous conditions and give extra ankle support, but they may also be stylish fashion items.

The British Empire explored through art

The British Empire explored through art

How did Britain’s Empire influence the creation and collection of art over the past 400 years? And how did artists themselves reinforce, resist and reflect the Empire in their work? This autumn Tate Britain will present a unique exhibition about Imperial visual culture that will show art from across the British Isles, North America, the Caribbean, the Pacific, Asia and Africa.

Place in focus - Somerset

Place in focus - Somerset

The first known use of the name Somerset (a name derived from Somerton, briefly the county town in medieval times) dates from the 7th century, making the county (along with Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset) one of the oldest still existing units of local government in the world. The caves of the Mendip Hills were settled during the Palaeolithic period, and contain extensive archaeological sites such as those at Cheddar Gorge. Bones from Gough’s Cave have been dated to 12000 BC, and modern descendents have been identified by DNA, still living in the area. By the early eighth century King Ine of Wessex had pushed the boundaries of the West Saxon kingdom far enough west to include Somerset. After the Norman Conquest, fortifications such as Dunster Castle were used for control and defence. Somerset contains HM Prison Shepton Mallet, England’s oldest prison still in use, dating to 1610.

November 2015 books

November 2015 books

"The first known use of the name Somerset (a name derived from Somerton, briefly the county town in medieval times) dates from the 7th century, making the county (along with Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset) one of the oldest still existing units of local government in the world. The caves of the Mendip Hills were settled during the Palaeolithic period, and contain extensive archaeological sites such as those at Cheddar Gorge. Bones from Gough’s Cave have been dated to 12000 BC, and modern descendents have been identified by DNA, still living in the area. By the early eighth century King Ine of Wessex had pushed the boundaries of the West Saxon kingdom far enough west to include Somerset. After the Norman Conquest, fortifications such as Dunster Castle were used for control and defence. Somerset contains HM Prison Shepton Mallet, England’s oldest prison still in use, dating to 1610. "

Additional Information

Other Formats

You can buy a printed version of the annual Discover Your Ancestors bookazine directly from the publishers, please see www.discoveryourancestors.co.uk and click on ‘Order print copies’ at the bottom.

Editorial Office

Discover Your Ancestors Publishing,

PO BOX 163,

Shaftesbury,

SP7 7BA

E: [email protected]

W: www.discoveryourancestors.co.uk

Discover Your Ancestors – The Family History Show

The Family History Show, York!

Saturday 22nd June 2024
10:00 –16:00 (GMT)

Put your research questions to an expert, watch a talk, speak to a local society, archive or genealogical supplier.

Free talks all day, held in a large lecture hall.
Free Experts on hand to help with your queries.
Many family history societies, archives and companies will be attending from all over the country.

Special Offer! Buy tickets for £8.00 (£12.00 on the day)

Buy your tickets early and get two for the price of one!

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Future Events

Unable to make the next show? We also have shows planned for the following locations:

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Discover Your Ancestors Periodical is published by Discover Your Ancestors Publishing, UK. All rights in the material belong to Discover Your Ancestors Publishing and may not be reproduced, whether in whole or in part, without their prior written consent. The publisher makes every effort to ensure the magazine's contents are correct. All articles are copyright© of Discover Your Ancestors Publishing and unauthorised reproduction is forbidden. Please refer to full Terms and Conditions at www.discoveryourancestors.co.uk. The editors and publishers of this publication give no warranties, guarantees or assurances and make no representations regarding any goods or services advertised.