Battle of Britain diaries to be tweeted in real time

The diaries of pilots who flew in the Battle of Britain are to be transmitted in real time via Twitter to mark the 70th anniversary of the campaign.

The Imperial War Museum in Duxford, Cambs., will transmit Twitter entries from heroes who defended Britain against Nazi bombers. More>>

For Royal Air Force records and Military records visit our Military collection online at Familyrelatives.com

Familyrelatives.com release 5 million Parish records online

Go back nearly 500 years and research your family ancestors

Familyrelatives.com is pleased to announce the release of 5 million Parish records online. The database is a collection of historical parish and probate registers from many Counties of England and Wales dating from the early 1500s to the middle to late 19th Century.

Parish registers which are still kept today have been in existence ever since Henry VIII’s Chief Minister Thomas Cromwell, the 1st Earl of Essex ordered that each parish priest should keep a book to record the date of each wedding, baptism and burial, together with the names of those baptized, married or buried.

New Search Technology
The records are available for viewing online and using new search technology, it allows leading genealogy website Familyrelatives.com to provide 5 million parish records which document baptisms, marriages and burials dating from 1538 to be searched more easily.

The Parish Registers are the Church’s official records of local baptisms, marriages and burials. The Registers date from Tudor times when a law of Henry VIII ordered all clergy to record this information in a register in church.
Centralised Civil Registration was introduced in 1837 to provide one location covering all the parishes in the area, however the parish church registers provide the original source data to this day.

How Parish records can help you?
If you have reached a dead end and want to search further back than 1837 then the Parish registers are ideal as they cover more than 300 years of family history and events. References are made to the causes of death including the plague in 1563 and the Plague of London in 1665. Valuable information for your research may include the names of parents, dates, occupation, parish or place name.

Thanks to these registers, history comes alive when you discover records relating to William Shakespeare and his children in The Registers of Stratford-on-Avon (Warwickshire) for Baptisms 1558-1652

William Shakespeare Baptised 26 April 1564 Gulielmus filius Johannes Shakspere

And his children
Susanna Baptised 26 May, 1583 Susanna daughter to William Shakspere
Hamnet and Judith Baptised 2 February, 1585 Hamnet & Judeth son and daughter to William Shakspere.
(Naturally Latin was in use at the time)

Robert Walpole, the first Prime Minister of England is mentioned in the London Marriage Licences as the guardian who consented to his sister Mary Walpole’s marriage in May 1684.

Ancestors who lived in the same Parish for more than a few generations, provide a wealth of continuous information. Unfortunately some of the actual Parish records have been lost or destroyed, while some have been copied and stored in County Record Offices. Now researchers have the thrilling prospect of quick, powerful results, and the possibility of finding an original register entry that recorded an event in their ancestors’ lives.

Familyrelatives.com now gives easy access to important local records, from churches in Cheshire to burials in Berkshire. Family historians can research their ancestors’ records as contemporaries of famous individuals during the times of Shakespeare, Oliver Cromwell or Captain Cook.

Due to the age of the Parish registers they have been scanned and the images of the original printed pages have been made word searchable using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) which is the recognition of printed or written text characters by a computer to enable the data to be made available on your PC.
See How to search these Documents includes New Search features

The collection is only a part of more than 650 million historic records available online to all members and visitors by way of an annual subscription of just £30.00 or US$50.00 at www.familyrelatives.com

The learn more about these new records and how they can help you with your research please click here

From Tea to the Titanic....Victorian Scottish Trade Directories provide a fascinating insight into Scottish heritage....

Familyrelatives.com is proud to announce the addition of over a quarter of a million Victorian Scottish Trade Directory records online.

Familyrelatives.com continues to add to its collection of Trade directories by releasing Trade and individual records dedicated to Scotland.

Slater’s Royal National Commercial Directory is an impressive record of all aspects of life in Scotland in 1889. Apart from Topographical and Postal Information it contains lists of professionals, landowners, Gentry, farmers, factors, London and Provincial Bankers and a fascinating array of advertisements at the time accompanies the text.

The Slater’s Directories form a unique collection of 35 Scottish Counties with invaluable occupational and commercial information for 1889 at the peak of Victoria’s reign. The directories with over a quarter of a million entries contain all the major professions, trades and occupations including taverns and public houses as well as the nobility, gentry and clergy. Even the addresses are identified.

The Slater’s Royal National Commercial Directory of Scotland in its day was more than equal to today’s Telephone directory and Yellow pages combined. Interestingly - following the invention of the telephone the abbreviations state that “TN with the figures following denote the number in the List of the National Telephone Company Limited”, established only a few years earlier in 1881.

Towns and parishes are detailed for each area and the introduction contains key information including the number of inhabitants (taken from the 1871 census) with a geographical and topographical description and the local history. A description of the main trades, produce, manufacturers and industries of the area or town are also covered.

Trade was often at the centre of every community - not only were there many shops but the produce, available minerals, manufacturing, transport and shipping all contributed to the growing Victorian economy. Many of the buildings that remain today reflect the social history and economic growth of Scotland. Educational establishments as well as teachers and local government officials, public buildings and offices are listed and formed part of these communities.

Sir Thomas Lipton of Lipton Tea
The Directory lists well known names like; Sir Thomas Lipton of Lipton Tea who was described as a "ham and provision merchant", with addresses of his stores across Scotland and England with his residential address as Johnston Villa, Cambuslang, Glasgow, Lanarkshire. It also lists Alexander Graham Bell's best friend and neighbour John Herdman, a corn merchant and miller where Bell at the age of 12 invented a small de-husking machine that was put into operation at the mill.

Sir William Arrol & Co - built the Forth Bridge & Tower Bridge
Sir William Arrol & Co. which was a leading Scottish civil engineering business based in Glasgow, built many bridges in its 113 year history in Great Britain but best known for the Forth Bridge and Tower Bridge in London and others abroad. Arrol was contracted to build one of the largest gantries for the construction of three new super liners, one of which was the Titanic. The company is listed as one of the many iron works and commercial businesses in the directory.

Scottish Records - The first of many to be added
"We are pleased to announce the release of these Scottish records online which complement the existing Trade and Occupational Directories collection. This is the first of the Scottish records to be placed online and is part of a programme to add more Scottish records in the future", commented a spokesman for the family history website.
The collection is searchable by surname and forename or the business name for each of the 35 counties. The Trade directories provide an invaluable resource for family history researchers wanting to know more about the area where their ancestors lived and the various trades and businesses where they worked.

The collection is only a small part of over 650 million historic records available online to all members and visitors by way of an annual subscription of only £30.00 or US$50.00 at www.familyrelatives.com

Victorian Medical Registers - including Doctors, Dentists and Midwives go online at Familyrelatives.com

From Cholera to Antiseptic to the inventor of a drug that has saved over 200 million lives....

Familyrelatives.com is proud to announce the addition of 1,000,000 New Medical Records spanning over 90 years.

Familyrelatives.com today launched over one million records of Doctors, Dentist and Midwives spanning over 90 years from 1853 to 1943. The records provide a fascinating insight and invaluable resource to anyone researching the background of any family member who was a doctor, a dentist or midwife

A dedicated team at Familyrelatives.com spent several months painstakingly scanning and indexing original medical registers allowing them to be searched on different criteria including surname, forename and date to provide one of the most comprehensive and accurate databases available.

The records pre-date the foundation in 1858 of the General Medical Council, set up in a back room of what is now the University of Worcester to protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the community. Prior to 1858 anyone could call themselves a medical practitioner with some of the treatments worse than the disease and devices resembling ancient instruments of torture but it gave an insight into Victorian imagination and ingenuity. The years 1853 to 1943 saw remarkable developments in the field of medicine and notable medical practitioners:

John Snow (1813-1858) - Discovered Cholera
John Snow (1813-1858) - was voted in 2003 as the greatest Physician of all time some, 145 years after his death, for his evidence based investigation and tracing of Cholera in Soho in 1854. He was the first person to dispel the myth that Cholera was caused by miasma or poor air. He traced the source to a public hand water pump in Soho. Those who drunk from it were infected by bacteria although remarkably all those that worked in the nearby brewery (where water was heated and subject to a separate water source) were not affected.

Joseph Lister (1838-1912) Discovered Carbolic Acid (Antiseptic)
In 1865 Joseph Lister (1838-1912) discovered that by using carbolic acid as an antiseptic during surgery and by ensuring hygienic conditions in theatre and around patients greatly improved chances of survival.

Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) - His discovery saved 200 million people
Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) is arguably responsible for saving in excess of 200 million lives having in 1928 discovered the antibiotic-penicillin, which although accidental has been hailed by many as possibly the greatest advance in medicine. He was Knighted in 1944 and won the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1945.

He was also recognized by being awarded the Honorary gold medal from the Royal College of Surgeons, received a fellowship from the University of London, a fellowship from Toronto, Philadelphia, and many other institutions including from Harvard, USA and from Spain. He is buried in St Pauls Cathedral, London.
Sir Ronald Ross (1857-1932) - Identified mosquitoes as the cause of malaria

Another Nobel Prize winner Sir Ronald Ross (1857-1932) identified the mosquito as the cause of malaria during his service in India and distinguished himself in tropical medicine and the prevention of malaria in Indian, Africa , Egypt , Cyprus and Mauritius

The collection is part of over 650 million historic records available online to all members and visitors by way of an annual subscription of only £30.00 or US$50.00 at http://www.familyrelatives.com

1 Million New Military Records added to Familyrelatives.com

1 Million New Military Records added to Familyrelatives.com

From Wellington to General Gordon of Khartoum

From Waterloo to the Charge of the Light Brigade to the Great War
Familyrelatives.com is proud to announce the addition of 1,000,000 New Military Records spanning over 100 years.
This autumn marks the 201st anniversary of the beginning of the Peninsular War and to commemorate, the event Familyrelatives.com has added over 1 million army records covering a broad range from 1808 through to De Ruvigny's biographical record of World War I soldiers.

The Peninsular Medal Roll 1808-1814
In 1808 Napoleon deposed the Spanish monarch and replaced him with his brother Joseph Bonaparte. Recognising the increased threat that Napoleon posed to Great Britain - British Forces under the command of Sir Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington, landed in Portugal to check Napoleon's progress. After 5 years of prolonged and bitter campaigning Napoleon's forces were routed at the Battle of Vitoria, on June 21, 1813 and the liberation of Spain was complete.

The Peninsular Medal Roll is one of most valuable and unique records covering the conflict and sets out invaluable information about some of those who fought in the Iberian Peninsular. The following information is given in the database; Forename, Surname, Rank, Number of Clasps, Particulars of Clasps, Remarks, Regiment.

De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-1918

We continue to add to our First and Second World War collection and are excited to have added De Ruvigny's Roll of honour (2 volumes). The Roll of Honour includes the Biographies of over 25,000 men although we have currently uploaded 12,500 men who lost their lives in the Great War. The detail varies however, the example below gives a good indication of what kind of information can be found.


AKEHURST, ALEXANDER JAMES,
Private, No 1539, 5th Battn. Royal Sussex Regt., s/ of Alfred Akehurst, of Walters Farm Cottage, Ticehurst, Sussex, Farm Labourer, by his wife, Sussanah, dau. of George Cheesman; b. Etchingham, co. Sussex, 22 June, 1896; educ. Frimwell School ; was a farm labourer on Walters Farm ; joined the Sussex Territorials, 29 Aug, 1912 ; mobilised, 5 Aug. 1914 on the outbreak of war ; went with battn. To Dover and then to the Tower, where he volunteered for Imperial service ; left England for the Front, 18 Feb, 1915, and was killed in action at the Battle of Careney, 9 May, 1915,; unm. He was buried about about half a mile from St Vaast.

Furthermore a quick check of the World War I Army Deaths database details Alexander Akehurst - allowing you to order a certificate of his death.

But don't stop there - a further search on the database Soldiers Who Died in the Great War shows the following

Charge of the Light Brigade
Lieutenant General James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, KCB (16 October 1797 - 28 March 1868) commanded the charge of the Light Brigade of the British Army during the Crimean War. A colourful individual who by order of King William was dismissed from the 15th Hussars early in 1834, only to be prosecuted for a duel with one of his former officers in 1841.

Perhaps his most infamous exploit was during the Crimean War on October 25 1854. He led the Charge of the Light Brigade at the battle of Balaclava in which almost half of his men were killed.. Although ascribed to a misunderstood order it was a heroic event that left its mark in history. On a more mundane note Cardigan's name is better known for the knitted waistcoat he wore in campaigns and to this day it carries his name.

Search the Harts Army List for the Earl of Cardigan and many others.

The collection is part of over 650 million historic records available online to all members and visitors by way of an annual subscription of only £30.00 or US$50.00 at http://www.familyrelatives.com/index.php

Trafalgar Union Jack up for Sale

The only surviving union jack from the Battle of Trafalgar could fetch £15,000 at auction after it was found in a drawer, auctioneers say.

The flag was flown from one of Nelson's warships, HMS Spartiate, in the naval battle off the Spanish coast in 1805.

It was presented by the 540-strong crew to Fife-born Lieutenant James Clephan after the conflict, a high honour bestowed upon an officer by his men.

Search Commissioned Sea Offices of the Royal Navy 1660-1815 on Familyrelatives.com where the entry for James Clepham can be found

The flag is being sold by one of his descendants living in Australia.
Clephan, who later went on to command his own ship, was one of the few men to have risen through the ranks and was greatly admired by his crew.

The flag, measuring 7ft 4in x 11ft 7in, is made of 31 panels sewn together by the crew on board the ship.

It bears a number of "battle scars" - holes caused by shot and shell splinter damage sustained during the conflict.

The union jack will go under the hammer later this month after being put up for sale by one of Clephan's descendants. Read more>>

Back to School - Introducing historic School Registers on Familyrelatives.com

New and exclusive to Familyrelatives.com - The most recent additions to our ever expanding collection are the School registers to over 120,000 pupils and masters dating back to 1500.

The list is comprised of major schools which are among the oldest of independent educational establishments in the United Kingdom, such as Sherborne School which was founded in 710 and re-founded in 1550 by Edward VI. The young King, a keen reformer, took an interest in establishing a system of grammar schools through endowments providing free education for the talented poor. The charitable concept of education for scholars of limited means gradually changed over the centuries to that of education for gentlemen entering the military, church and professions.

The term Public Schools is often confusing especially where Americans consider Public Schools to be government or state sponsored education available to all. The distinction is that the British Public School system was available to anyone who could afford it and was independent of the State.

It became a part of the structure to instill service to the Crown and Empire and provide future rulers for the nation and administrators for the Empire. Although with many detractors, the excellent all-round education provided by the British Public School system is envied by other countries and has been successfully exported across the world.

Many of the schools now available online are famous for their traditions and rich history as well as the famous pupils they turned out most notably the war time leader Winston Churchill, the first Prime Minister of modern day India - Jawaharlal Nehru and the great explorer of the Antarctic Sir Ernest Shackleton with a host of former and current British Peers and members of Parliament, as well as future Monarchs and members of foreign royal families. There are Victoria Cross holders, famous individuals and many leaders in the arts, sciences and business.

Many Public School pupils decided to study at the universities that existed in the early 1800s but in the 1900s many former alumni were called to Military service and distinguished themselves.

The registers are fully searchable and provide a useful resource. They are exceptionally well detailed and usually give the surname, father’s name, address, birth date, date of death. School and University education, School sports teams, qualifications or profession, Military service and achievements.

A spokesman for Familyrelatives.com added “We are pleased to be releasing this dataset as the School Registers provide a useful source of quality detail to family historians in their research. This is a growing dataset and more School and Alumni registers will be added to the records online”.

The collection is part of over 650 million historic records available online to all members and visitors by way of an annual subscription of only £30.00 or US$50.00 at www.familyrelatives.com

Familyrelatives.com has recently added the following records;

School Registers Collection
The Great Landowners of Great Britain and Ireland 1883
Burkes Landed Gentry of Great Britain
London Marriage Licences 1521-1869
Directory of Directors 1897 - 1946