Family First: Tracing Relationships in the Past

Ruth A Symes • £19.99
Pen & Sword

Husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents – these are the relationships that structure the family tree and fascinate the family historian. But how much do we really know about how our ancestors lived out these multiple roles? Buffeted this way and that by economic developments, legal changes, medical advances, two world wars, the rise of the Welfare State, women’s emancipation and many other factors, relationships between members of our family in the past were subtly different to those of today and continually transforming. This book is both a social history of the period 1800-1950 and a practical guide on how to set about tracing and better understanding the relationships between members of your own family. What factors might have influenced the size of your ancestor’s family, but also why were its children named as they were? How long could people expect to live, but also what records can tell you more about the circumstances of your ancestors’ last years? These and many more issues are discussed.

From Ice Floes to Battlefields

Ann Strathie • £18.99
The History Press

February 1912: Harry Pennell and his Terra Nova shipmates brave storms and ice to bring supplies to Antarctica. They hope to celebrate Captain Scott’s conquest of the South Pole, but are forced by ice to return north before Scott’s party returns. In New Zealand a reporter tells them that Roald Amundsen reached the Pole first. Returning to Antarctica in early 1913, they learn that Scott’s party reached the Pole but died on the ice shelf. Back in Britain memorial services, medal ceremonies, weddings and resumed careers are abruptly interrupted by World War One. Fit and able men, Scott’s ‘Antarctics’ trade one adventure for another. By 1919 Scott’s ‘Antarctics’ have fought at Antwerp, the Western Front, Gallipoli, in the Channel, at Jutland and in Arctic Russia. They serve on horseback, in trenches, on battleships and hospital ships, in armoured cars and flimsy aircraft; their brothers-in-arms include a prime minister’s son and poet Rupert Brooke. As in Antarctica, life is challenging and dangerous. As on the ice, not all survive.

The America Ground

Nathan Dylan Goodwin • £7.99

This is the third book in the Morton Farrier genealogical crime mystery series, although it can be enjoyed as a standalone story.

Morton Farrier, the esteemed English forensic genealogist, had cleared a space in his busy schedule to track down his own elusive father finally. But he is then presented with a case that challenges his research skills in his quest to find the killer of a woman murdered more than 180 years ago.

Thoughts of his own family history are quickly and violently pushed to one side as Morton rushes to complete his investigation before other sinister elements succeed in derailing the case.

My Family History

£9.99
thefamilyhistorypartnership.com

‘My Family History’ is an efficient and attractive method of recording and displaying the result of family history research and a handy ‘aide memoire’ to carry around when researching. The product is in two main parts; a ten generation record book and a loose-leaf, two-sided ten generation pedigree chart, plus a system for recording re-marriages and new partnerships. This publication therefore allows the recording of 256 marriages, 512 ancestors plus offspring, stretching back to the early 1700s and beyond. All individuals are allocated unique reference numbers to mate entries in the record book with those on the pedigree charts. The ‘My Family History Ten Generation Pedigree Chart’ is also available separately