tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8998681154443503082012-01-22T08:40:57.613ZJane Hewitt is an experienced and friendly Family Tree Researcher available to research your family tree. Traces ancestors in the UK, US and other countries. This is the official Family Tree Researcher blog, where Jane Hewitt posts news and updates about family tree research, genealogy and local history.Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.comBlogger781100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-42244084651393414822012-01-22T08:40:00.003Z2012-01-22T08:40:57.621Z

Thanks this week to Neil K for getting in touch regarding an old occupation called Bower of Cows. It has been added to the Dictionary of Old Occupations. If you have any evidence to share about this occupation in 19th century Scotland it would be great if you would get in touch with me.

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-46603519517885281922012-01-15T09:48:00.001Z2012-01-15T09:48:15.987Z

I was contacted this week by a family member requesting details about her relatives from the Oldfield family who were killed during the air raids on Coventry during the WW2 Blitz years. I researched details of these five family members (Edward, George, Harriet, Louisa and Mabel Oldfield) free of charge, and also added it to the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre, which I have built up over several

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-54621606892412701762012-01-02T08:15:00.001Z2012-01-02T08:15:44.621Z

2012 is here and I will be resuming research work tomorrow. The other day I was contacted by a chap who works freelance for the BBC's Who Do You Think You Are magazine. He asked me to write a few words for a feature he is working on, which I was happy to do. He said my website gets a mention in the article – what a lovely way to start the New Year!

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-23711316801987305232011-12-10T07:46:00.001Z2011-12-10T07:50:16.305Z

Two more website updates this week. Many thanks to Andy for providing useful info about his family member Alfred Kershaw who worked at a Jewellers in Spon End and was killed during the Blitz. Also, I would like to thank Megan for sharing her memories of war-torn Coventry. Follow the link to read her story. On a different note, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the latest issue of the Coventry Family

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-30898883302650955462011-12-03T15:03:00.001Z2011-12-03T15:04:04.656Z

Have you considered purchasing one of my family tree gift certificates as a splendid Christmas gift for a loved one? These can be cashed in after Christmas Day to commence research into the family history of the lucky recipient. Contact me for details. Between now and Christmas I am working hard completing existing research projects for Christmas presents, so if you wish to place an order now I

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-77049557096744461402011-11-27T15:47:00.001Z2011-11-27T15:47:17.917Z

You may have heard me on BBC local radio earlier this week. I was on Bob Brolly’s show discussing the importance of learning about history and whether it should be taught in schools with the same prominence and English and Maths. I had a nice time, Bob is friendly, cheery sort of chap though I am not sure he was convinced to change his opinion! Thanks for having me on the show Bob, it was a

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-13427231625151453082011-11-20T07:35:00.001Z2011-11-20T07:35:01.916Z

Have been very busy researching family tree projects for everyone over the last couple of months. In the run up to Christmas I am focussed on making sure that all the family tree gifts are ready, and 2011 certainly has been a busy year! To make this happen less time has been available for updates to the various resources on my website, in case you are wondering why my updates have been slower

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-81940720937337472402011-10-25T09:16:00.004+01:002011-10-25T09:17:00.851+01:00

Whilst trawling through census records this week I came across an old occupation called Bullion Pearler. Seems to be a misspelling of Bullion Purler, referring to the sort of decorative trim we see today at the bottom of sofas. An unusual specialist occupation which I have added to my Dictionary. The new 2012 version of Family Tree Maker is out. This year’s update builds upon the enhancements

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-29874622652837680032011-10-16T14:35:00.003+01:002011-10-16T14:35:45.645+01:00

The annual Blitz Remembrance Service is fast approaching. It will take place at 3pm on Sunday 13th November at London Road Cemetery, Coventry. I would like to thank Coventry Bereavement Services for letting us know the details. The busy season is upon me once again, and I am now working on family tree projects as Christmas gifts for loved ones. We did, however, find time this week to update the

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-63538831617513946032011-10-09T10:41:00.002+01:002011-10-09T10:41:51.911+01:00

Looks like a new 2012 version of the excellent Family Tree Maker will be available on or around October 14th. Early information indicates there may be three versions: Deluxe, Platinum and World editions. More info about these soon.

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-76164022690306592382011-09-25T07:44:00.000+01:002011-09-25T07:44:02.625+01:00

Hope you are enjoying series 8 of Who Do You Think You Are? This week we have UK daytime TV celebrity Richard Madeley finding out about the part his great grandfather played in fighting between New England colonists and Native Americans in Rhode Island. I should like to thank Peter who got in touch last week with a correction in the data about his half sister Gretna Edwina Elliot on my Coventry

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-61100670093812332972011-09-11T12:34:00.002+01:002011-09-11T12:34:37.923+01:00

Thanks this week to Sally M, who got in touch regarding details about her Great Uncle in a page on First World War burials in the Coventry At War section of my site. It is great when people share more accurate family history info than provided by public records. I am more than happy to update data, or include related anecdotes or photos that family members wish to share. The Dictionary Of Old

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-74454356222478097882011-09-04T09:12:00.000+01:002011-09-04T09:12:04.215+01:00

Ingrid B sent me some information about the old occupation of Pitcher, and Spike M emailed with info about the old occupation of Tisserand. Having checked these out both have been added to the free online Dictionary of Old Occupations. Many thanks to both of you for getting in touch. Ingrid was initially prompted to get in touch after hearing the term Pitcher on a TV show, where it was used to

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-47683992515929891952011-08-31T09:40:00.003+01:002011-08-31T09:50:55.752+01:00

The Coventry Family History Society website has had a facelift. I am biased of course (I helped a bit) but I think the new look and feel are great! Check it out here: http://www.covfhs.org/. We currently have a small backlog of old occupations to process. Am aiming to review these shortly (i.e. in the next week or two) and confirm their accuracy before adding them to the site. Thanks to everyone

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-80259494086776813782011-08-21T07:11:00.001+01:002011-08-21T07:25:02.677+01:00

In response to a query from Liz I am for looking evidence regarding the old occupation of Plod Weaver, possibly spelt as Plodweaver. My current thinking is that this is a textile industry occupation (obviously), but the query is whether 'plod' refers to a person operating a loom via their feet, or whether it is a spelling variation on ‘plaid’, describing the fabric. This occupational title may

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-72796970383437260512011-08-14T12:05:00.002+01:002011-08-14T12:08:23.756+01:00

Phew! Having returned from a summer holiday I am now back at work and busily researching a variety of family trees. Of specific interest this week I have been going through late 19th century workhouse records for one particular family. Even though a couple of registers were missing I was able to fill in the missing information by looking at the Indoor Relief books. I would like to thank Ingrid B

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-52372191375892634182011-07-17T10:57:00.000+01:002011-07-17T10:57:02.737+01:00

It has been a while since I last updated the website because I have been very busy researching family trees for people. I notice an increasing number of Wikipedia entries are citing my website as references within their encyclopaedia articles; these are very welcome as it is nice to be helping people in this way. I made a little time this weekend to add two occupational definitions to the site.

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-39264425586257307242011-06-26T09:56:00.000+01:002011-06-26T09:56:33.756+01:00

Found a lovely review of my Family Researcher website this week. Head on over to Illiana Ancestors to see what Joan Griffis has to say about some of my free family tree and blitz research resources. Thanks for your kind words Joan. And I know what you mean about the spellchecker – mine just could not cope either! Went to the Coventry Archives this week. As I have said previously, it is great to

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-89536694964979844662011-06-20T18:38:00.000+01:002011-06-20T18:38:06.775+01:00

Many thanks to the Questionable Content Team at Lulu.com for their quick response. I was delighted to find that Lulu’s service was helpful and swift in regards to the issue of the counterfeit version of the Dictionary of Old Occupations which my husband quickly spotted and reported. I suppose I should see it as flattery that people rip off my work from time to time and pass it off as their own,

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-9560880130561744252011-06-19T10:06:00.002+01:002011-08-19T16:16:55.091+01:00

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-25169908985346365302011-06-12T10:13:00.000+01:002011-06-12T10:13:31.208+01:00

Good news! The Coventry Archives, aka the Coventry History Centre re-opened on June 9th after having been closed for repairs since before last Christmas. Opening hours for the Archives are 10:30 to 3:30 Tuesday to Saturday. This week I have been working on a variety of photo family trees for people. It is interesting to see what the ancestors you are researching actually look like. Compared to a

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-44787826384200055812011-06-05T12:23:00.000+01:002011-06-05T12:23:38.629+01:00

I have been focussing on researching more details about victims of the Coventry Blitz recently, and publishing the findings on my family tree website this week. If you have the surnames Gaskine, Gibbons, Gillespie or Golder in family trees you are researching then these may be of help.

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-81798925747073567832011-05-29T17:05:00.001+01:002011-05-30T07:02:26.661+01:00

Family tree research has certainly been keeping me busy this week! I found time to add details about members of the Copeland, Cotton and Coulter families to the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre. I was also able to add another photo of a Blitz victim – Alan Hiscocks – kindly supplied by Trevor Harkin I had some good news this week; Barnes and Noble are now selling my Dictionary of Old Occupations

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-1244523347369254302011-05-15T10:50:00.000+01:002011-05-15T10:50:14.478+01:00

Author and historian Trevor Harking kindly donated some photographs of victims of the Coventry Blitz who went to Bablake School. If you are researching Farren, Fraser or Worrod family trees then these may be relevant to you. Trevor has a new book out about the April 1941 air raids on Coventry. I have always been impressed with Trevor's work, and would encourage anyone interested in WW2 or local

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-2103630279468619792011-05-08T08:25:00.000+01:002011-05-08T08:25:38.285+01:00

This week sees some promising news about the possible restoration of Coventry Old Grammar School, a magnificent building and part of Coventry’s heritage which is currently suffering from years of neglect. The Church of England has announced the setting up of a trust fund for this purpose. You can read more about this historical building in my Disappearing Coventry section. I stopped by the

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-38940346935240422932011-05-01T10:04:00.000+01:002011-05-01T10:04:48.428+01:00

I would like to give a big thank you to everyone for the supportive comments and nice feedback about our new ebook, the Dictionary of Old Occupations. The kindle version has been most popular so far, but that may change now that Smashwords, who provide the eBook in all other digital formats, have reviewed / quality assessed the book and accepted it into their premium catalogue. This means that it

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-14680943447061267032011-04-17T10:11:00.000+01:002011-04-17T10:11:15.089+01:00

Some great news this week. My Dictionary of Old Occupations is now available to purchase for your ebook reader! Don’t worry, you can still access the full dictionary online free of charge, only from www.familyresearcher.co.uk. However, for those of you who want to be able to download the dictionary onto your ebook reader to access offline you can now do so legally and cheaply. You can buy a low

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-38931661474674414152011-04-12T09:59:00.000+01:002011-04-12T09:59:28.888+01:00

Been busy working on my Dictionary of Old Occupations this week. Am delighted to announce that I have added in occupational definitions for trades etc. beginning with M and J. That means that the whole alphabet is covered, finally. A huge amount of time and effort has gone into making this free resource, hope you find it useful! I would like to recognise and thank my husband Paul for all his

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-63994411894570067112011-04-03T10:04:00.002+01:002011-04-03T10:04:51.153+01:00

I have some good news about the Coventry History Centre. It looks as though, after a lot of waiting, repairs may be about to commence! The good staff at the Herbert told us that building repair work is due to start any day this week. While there is no definitive timescale, the building work is anticipated to take 3-4 weeks. After that is complete the furniture and equipment will need to be

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-19551368281355928292011-03-27T11:26:00.000+01:002011-03-27T11:26:38.174+01:00

Today is Census Day, so we all have to fill out huge census forms. Some people have valid concerns about the intrusiveness of some questions this time around. As a genealogy enthusiast I hope you can see the value in recording all this personal information which will benefit our descendents when they are researching their own ancestral roots. The 1911 Scottish Census will be made available to us

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-30184630131599111442011-03-13T09:25:00.000Z2011-03-13T09:25:22.555Z

Have just completed one of my Silver Family Tree packages for a particularly interesting family with a member in the British army serving in India in the late 1860s (a little after the mutiny), and I was able to unravel the mystery of their family legend linking ancestors to a major player in the old cotton trade. I would like to thank the person who sent me information about blitz victim W T

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-80146061975934276622011-02-27T10:50:00.000Z2011-02-27T10:50:23.223Z

My professional family tree research work has certainly been keeping me busy, but I have made time in the evenings over the last week or so to work on the Dictionary of Old Occupations. Years ago, when I started typing up my notes on old occupation definitions, there were lots more jobs beginning with the letter C than other letters. I recall starting on these, getting as far as publishing three

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-91566107746875445962011-02-20T09:41:00.000Z2011-02-20T09:41:36.263Z

The last few weeks have been busy ones where family tree research work has been concerned. In my spare time I have made several updates to the website: The Dictionary of Old Occupations has proven popular with fellow family tree researchers. I would like to acknowledge the various people who have been in touch regarding old definitions for occupations such as Hind, Vestry Messenger,

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-85972891996268237392011-01-30T11:17:00.000Z2011-01-30T11:17:55.706Z

If you are waiting for the archives at Coventry to reopen so you can research local history then I am afraid I have bad news. Despite the Council website presently estimating that the History Centre will reopen around now ("late January") the Herbert website says that the History Centre is closed until further notice, which seems a bit vague. I have been along to the premises to find out more.

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-66230111058946751522011-01-23T13:43:00.000Z2011-01-23T13:43:49.386Z

This week I have added another 112 old job definitions to the Dictionary of Old Occs. Having spotted too late someone on an online genealogy forum seeking an explanation what a Higgler was, and finding that the answer was in my to-do list, I decided to focus on transcribing my notes about jobs beginning with the letter H and make them available FOC on my familyresearcher website. So if you

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-13563230564331537952011-01-16T14:27:00.000Z2011-01-16T14:27:59.276Z

My family tree website has been updated this week. I have added new information about members of the McKnight, Pointer and White families who were killed in the Coventry Blitz. You can find them in the alphabetical lists in the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre. I have also added a new definition to the Dictionary of Old Occupations for a Watch Case Joint Finisher.

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-47565535646296629562011-01-09T07:19:00.000Z2011-01-09T07:19:37.216Z

As pleasant as it was to take a week off over the holiday period, I am thoroughly enjoying getting stuck back into family tree projects. The December post was particularly slow this year, but did not stop me completing all family tree Christmas presents and sending out the presentation packs to arrive on time (despite the postal service having an interesting definition of ‘next day delivery’!)

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-13963119541028183272010-12-05T11:50:00.002Z2010-12-05T11:50:41.255Z

Thanks to Anita for the beautiful plant which arrived yesterday, it was very kind of you. Hope your family enjoys the presentation packs. Thanks also to Michael Watson for the photograph and extra Blitz information on the Ager family. This has been added to the site. Finally, some sad news this week. The cold weather has caused a water pipe to burst at Coventry Archives. Fortunately the records

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-55082834774068432942010-11-28T11:29:00.000Z2010-11-28T11:29:39.740Z

Christmas is approaching, and I have been busy researching family history for those of you who ordered a family tree project as a Christmas gift for loved ones. Work is progressing on schedule, and some family projects have already been completed and shipped. We attended the Blitz memorial service at Coventry Cathedral on November 14th, exactly 70 years after that dreadful night. The service

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-47843193237677333772010-11-13T16:11:00.003Z2010-11-13T16:11:46.185Z

If you are up early tomorrow morning, you can catch me speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live. The Weekend Breakfast show will be interviewing me about the Coventry Blitz and will be on air at 06:20 am. So, early night then! Aside from local history, I am working hard producing Family Tree Christmas presents, which are all on schedule.

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-4754593637225882272010-10-31T14:11:00.000Z2010-10-31T14:11:28.687Z

I have spent my evenings this week revamping the index page for the Dictionary of Old Occupations. It is now much easier to find the job you are looking for because the Index now shows all jobs currently listed and each title is a working hyperlink to the relevant page and job definition. With over a thousand hyperlinks on the page this was no small task. I still have several pages of notes to

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-52303162808610265372010-10-24T14:25:00.002+01:002010-10-24T14:25:50.874+01:00

Conscious that it has been some time since I added any more historical job definitions to the Dictionary of Old Occupations, I have today published a large update. Over 200 descriptions of old trades and occupations have been added, all beginning with the letter P. That makes definitions for 21 letters of the alphabet complete, with 5 to go. Hope you are finding the dictionary a useful resource

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-77337639295925080892010-10-17T14:12:00.000+01:002010-10-17T14:12:43.444+01:00

The new and improved 2011 versions of Family Tree Maker Platinum and Family Tree Maker Deluxe have just been released. Both contain a useful selection of new features and handy enhancements to existing facilities. Definitely worth checking out. If you are still using an aging verion of Family Tree Maker then the new features may well make you want to upgrade. Christmas is starting to appear on

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-62735488223489052342010-09-26T12:27:00.001+01:002010-09-26T12:27:55.490+01:00

Recently I visited the archives to check the apprentice records for a Watch Making family and a family of Saddle Collar & Harness Makers. Checking these records showed that the first Watch Jeweller was apprenticed by his father, a Carpenter and the Saddler, by his widowed mother. This enabled me to trace this family back to their original home in Stretton on Dunsmore, Warwickshire. I have also

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-69210115704423542492010-09-12T16:11:00.001+01:002010-09-12T16:11:01.772+01:00

Earlier this week BBC local radio interviewed me at London Road Cemetery again. This time I was able to attend in person, where we discussed the neglected state of the Blitz memorial. We hope that something will be done to clean up the green stonework back to white and replace the missing tree. It would be nice if the surrounding bushes were pruned back so that visitors can sit on the bench again

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-67294531548630071502010-09-05T16:15:00.000+01:002010-09-05T16:15:14.407+01:00

Some additional blitz details have been added to the site this week, this time for the Currie and Reeves families, including a photograph kindly supplied by Jean Hodes. I would also like to thank Anita for the lovely flowers she sent me as a ‘thank you’ for a family tree research project I did for her. The flowers have been brightening up my home since they arrived, and are much appreciated. I

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-69590912162065525832010-08-30T11:33:00.000+01:002010-08-30T11:33:56.386+01:00

There seems to be a debate going on in Coventry at the moment as to whether the air raid siren should be sounded to mark the 70th anniversary of the Coventry Blitz. Needless to say, I am in favour of honouring the memory of this important part of Coventry’s past. Genealogy is keeping me very busy at the moment, but I have found time to transcribe a very interesting text about the Coventry Blitz

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-42955745406864091022010-08-12T10:38:00.000+01:002010-08-12T10:38:51.434+01:00

Well, having returned from a short summer holiday I am back at the helm. A stack of assorted birth, marriage and death certificates have arrived over the last week, enabling various family tree projects to continue now. Although busy processing the new certificates, I have found time to update the Coventry Blitz pages with details for several families including the Holt, Miles, Neale, Neville,

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-1639012855398412332010-07-18T15:07:00.002+01:002010-07-18T15:07:14.359+01:00

I have updated the Coventry At War section of my website with extra details and other amendments. Many thanks to Susie, senior journalist from the BBC who got in touch regarding the Royal Engineers, 9th Bomb Disposal Company. After checking burial records and the Midland Daily Telegraph from October 1941 I have updated the relevant pages on my site for Ernest Arthur Stote. Recent research

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-84003754112447847362010-06-27T09:25:00.002+01:002010-06-27T09:25:35.797+01:00

I had the pleasure of attending an award ceremony at St. Mary's Guildhall, Coventry where one of my family received an award for fiction writing in a competition organised by Coventy Council and the local newspaper. Whilst there I was able to take some photographs of the plaque by the doorway commemorating the local firemen who gave their lives during the Coventry blitz. I intend to add these

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-11137963887554702842010-06-06T11:46:00.000+01:002010-06-06T11:46:02.705+01:00

I would like to thank Mrs Hope for sending me her family story about the Coventry Blitz. It is published under the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre pages, along with a wonderful wartime photo of the Auxilliary Fire Service. Mrs Hope also supplied additional info and a photo of another Blitz victim, Violet Hickling nee Ludlam. These too have been added to the Resource Centre. I have made time this

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-26850996786862957192010-05-30T15:51:00.000+01:002010-05-30T15:51:08.141+01:00

I have created a new web page for poems about the Coventry Blitz. Starting this off is a poem written by John J. Rattigan when he returned to Coventry in November 1940 whilst on leave from the army. Whilst searching through the Parish Registers for St Michaels (Coventry’s old Cathedral) I found the following, which illustrates the fascinating snippets of history to be found in Parish records:

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-8985996879549855522010-05-16T16:38:00.000+01:002010-05-16T16:38:48.562+01:00

I am delighted that Maurice Rattigan has provided me with a thoroughly researched and informative document full of Coventry Blitz facts and figures. Maurice compiled this information many years ago and has kindly given me permission to reproduce it online. Follow the link to read his work, it is very informative. There are also some sketches and a plan of bomb sites which Maurice drew as a

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-56190374623462171312010-05-03T10:05:00.000+01:002010-05-03T10:05:14.305+01:00

A new page about free family tree research info is available on my main website. Hope it helps you researching your own family tree. Jane Hewitt 3 May 2010

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-31032075255100823012010-04-25T12:46:00.001+01:002010-04-25T12:49:55.918+01:00

I have made several updates to my website this week. My online Family Tree Shop has had a bit of a facelift, and is well worth a look if you are seeking family tree books and software, local Coventry information or military history books and DVDs including the Blitz. At the archives this week I was able to find evidence from an 1836 copy of the Coventry Herald and Observer newspaper showing

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-13720929998629014572010-04-20T07:46:00.000+01:002010-04-20T07:46:05.554+01:00

For a great list of free census resources, follow the link!

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-49930352906763186582010-04-18T14:45:00.000+01:002010-04-18T14:45:21.853+01:00

This week’s family tree news is brought to you by the letters Q and L. Just kidding! I have found time this week to add four more pages of definitions to the Dictionary of Old Occupations, so check out the occupations lists Q and L if you want to know exactly what that old occupation listed on your ancestor’s census record means. Also this week I was able to provide details from local records

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-58184223322248882022010-04-10T12:52:00.000+01:002010-04-10T12:52:33.116+01:00

Amongst the interesting projects I have on the go at the moment, I have been helping an ex-Coventry resident discover the details of how his old school friend died in World War 2. Turned out the chap was an Ex-Daimler employee who was killed in action in 1945. I was able to track down the grave reference details; he was buried in the Netherlands. I have been spending a lot of time at the

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-68943994587697793602010-03-21T12:34:00.000Z2010-03-21T12:34:29.243Z

My family tree presentation packs have been especially popular recently. I am becoming a familiar face at the post office, having just posted another ten packs. Looks like I will need to visit the stationers again, to stock up on supplies! I recently visited the archives to search the Parish Registers for St Lawrence Foleshill and for Haseley village. I found out some useful information about

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-78321585374883278512010-03-07T15:48:00.000Z2010-03-07T15:48:59.088Z

I have been putting together several copies of one of my completed Gold Presentation Packages. Acting as go between I introduced an adopted child to their birth family (a delicate process but can be very rewarding). I visited the archives and looked at the Parish registers for Foleshill, Stretton on Dunsmore and Leek Wooton. I also checked copies of the Midland Daily Telegraph for obituaries and

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-43471275712248351162010-02-21T15:20:00.002Z2010-02-21T15:20:42.397Z

More snow... this winter reminds me of the 1970s! It has not been affecting my work though; I have been able to get to the archives despite Coventry’s roads falling apart with frost damage and potholes. I have been quietly working away on some more job definitions for the dictionary of old occupations, mostly working on the letter G for the moment. Hope to have these ready to publish in the

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-6790808385524967692010-02-07T16:23:00.000Z2010-02-07T16:23:07.594Z

This week I have been researching a number of families with Scottish roots. I was also contacted by a member of the Goons (Guild of one-name studies) about a World War One soldier from Coventry. I was able to recommend a search of the Coventry Graphic at the local archives, which I can help with. This wonderful paper gives information about many Coventry citizens who served in the armed forces

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-58040586701694738712010-01-31T15:42:00.000Z2010-01-31T15:42:41.151Z

This week I have been busy researching several family trees. Highlights for me include a family with a strong Naval background going back to the mid 19th century, various railway and colliery workers, and a Lord Mayor. Thanks to Mr I Elliott, who got in touch this week with further information regarding one of his family members who died in the Coventry Blitz. I have updated the listing on the

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-41807916467571269622010-01-17T15:34:00.002Z2010-01-17T15:34:58.646Z

Among the family history I have been researching this week, I have been tracing the ancestors of a couple who were both officers in the Salvation Army in the early 20th century. So far I have traced one side back to 1806, and the other 1847. There is scope to investigate further back, into the 1700’s. I have also been looking into families with very interesting first names recently, such as

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-49431950561484234572010-01-10T11:14:00.002Z2010-01-10T11:14:47.585Z

Just a short note this week - I have begun work on the next update to the Dictionary of Old Occupations. Should have another 100 or so extra definitions to add to the dictionary soon. The bad weather has not affected ongoing family tree research, I am soldiering on as normal, even though trips to the archives have been fun due to the snow and ice!

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-44682399505546860342010-01-03T14:41:00.000Z2010-01-03T14:41:12.495Z

2010 is upon us already! After a welcome holiday, family tree research carries on apace into the New Year. This week I have added additional information to the Coventry Blitz Resource Center for the following family surnames: Roper, Feltham, Fear, Fielding, Florence, Franks, and Fraser. Special thanks this week to Carol Weale for sending me a photo and details of her uncle, Bill Roper, who was

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-27999503716031940812009-12-20T12:56:00.001Z2009-12-20T18:37:29.850Z

Christmas is almost upon us already, doesn't it come around quickly? The final Christmas family tree presentation packs full of research findings are all on schedule to arrive in time for Christmas, so there will be some delighted people out there opening their presents on Christmas Day. Always a pleasure to make customers happy. I have squeezed in some time to add additional Blitz Victim

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-25439460824261396902009-12-13T15:36:00.000Z2009-12-13T15:36:10.773Z

Delighted to have published a new web page about the rebuilding of Coventry Cathedral following the devastation of the Blitz. The black and white photographs are taken from my family archive. Dating back to the 1950s, they depict the construction of Coventry Cathedral as it rose phoenix-like from the ashes of destruction as a symbol of peace reconciliation. If you own any old photographs of the

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-29088548012714063202009-12-06T16:09:00.000Z2009-12-06T16:09:43.965Z

Family Tree News - 6 December 2009 Just a quick news update this week - research is going ahead full steam as Christmas approaches! I have found time this week only for making a few minor tweaks and updates to the website. However, browsing through my collection of family history photos, I found a set of amazing old photos taken throughout the 1950s. They show Coventry as it was being rebuilt

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-2963129955657097902009-11-29T16:46:00.000Z2009-11-29T16:46:54.618Z

I have caught up with the backlog of Blitz victim updates for the website. If you are looking for info on Blitz victims in these families: Clarke, Edmond, Edwards, Egginton, Kenney, Logan, Moffitt, Needle, Perrot or Yates families then the data is now available on the Cov Blitz Resource Centre. This week I spent some time researching a fascinating family descended from a Native American who

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-82209537293107210372009-11-22T16:09:00.002Z2009-11-22T16:09:53.437Z

Family Tree News - 22 November 2009 Website updates have been slower than usual this week due to extra requests for family tree research for Christmas gifts. I have found time to add more details to the Blitz pages regarding the Bedford, Bradley and Dodd families. I still have three more pages of additional notes to type up and publish, I shall endeavour to do so asap. Family Tree News - 15

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-28262242372144031822009-11-08T15:22:00.000Z2009-11-08T15:22:34.159Z

A big 'thank you' to eagle-eyed author / historian Trevor Harkin who spotted two names on the Unlisted Blitz Victims list which are listed right at the end on the Memorial, out of alphabetical order and under 'unidentifed'. I have updated the web site to match the memorial. Thanks also to Mr Kite for sending me updated information for his family Blitz story. This week I also added / updated data

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-27960797322966326752009-11-01T15:45:00.000Z2009-11-01T15:45:19.089Z

Found some time this week to add approx 50 more jobs to the dictionary of old occupations. I am maybe a quarter of the way through the job definitions now, if that. Told you it is a big job! Additionally, I have been researching through passenger lists from the 1920s to the 1940s for soldier's families returning from India to England via Southampton. It was interesting to have tracked down the

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-59126677178958147482009-10-27T15:15:00.000Z2009-10-27T15:15:28.622Z

Family Tree Research FAQ In response to the many questions I am asked (and am happy to answer), I have written a FAQ about family tree research. For those unfamiliar with the term, FAQ stands for 'Frequently Asked Questions'. I hope the FAQ will be of assistance to people wanting to research their family tree. I have included some helpful links, such as free census searches and old occupation

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-47819354229374506432009-10-18T16:26:00.001+01:002009-10-18T16:26:18.213+01:00

The highlight of this week's research had to be helping someone who had been stuck searching for a marriage record for three years. By searching through various London Parish registers I was able to track down the elusive information, much to everyone's delight. I also received a Will, and a large parcel of military records and information, including a War Diary. Fascinating stuff!

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-4509170334948554102009-10-11T15:35:00.000+01:002009-10-11T15:35:50.823+01:00

Whilst looking through records at the archives this week, searching for evidence of an ancestor for a family now living in Australia, I came across a 19th century broadsheet 'Sentences of the Prisoners' detailing local records of convicted prisonees being hanged for such crimes as breaking into a house to steal a shirt, jacket and waistcoat. Crime and Punishment was certainly more severe back

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-86309160744740559782009-10-04T16:42:00.002+01:002009-10-04T16:42:50.898+01:00

As promised, I have published a new page about the tragic death of William Wombwell, who was killed by an elephant in Coventry in 1849. This page includes, following a productive trip to the archives, a lengthy transcript from a historical newspaper article, recording the official inquest. I have made several minor website improvements this week, such as checking for errors and adding some info

Family Tree Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12979049511659665725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899868115444350308.post-89789017762864947082009-10-04T09:07:00.011+01:002009-10-04T09:13:39.825+01:00

Family Tree News - 27 September 2009 Am pleased to say that the effects of the recent postal strikes have not affected me too badly. Some minor delays in certificates arriving, but nothing to hold up my family tree work. The exception however has been in receiving certificates from Ireland, which have been noticably slow recently. In the course of my work, I came upon an old Scottish census

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