Welcome to the third post in our series of blogs exploring the family trees of the famous. Experienced family historian, Roy Stockdill, takes us on a journey through time as he investigates the family history of the famous, both living and dead. This time, Roy takes a look at Brenda Blethyn’s family tree. The bril...Read More

Could you help English Heritage with their current project? We’ve just received the following message from an English Heritage researcher who’d like to speak to anyone with ancestors who worked in the straw plaiting or hatting industry: ‘Are you, were you, or do you know, a master hat–maker? If yes, we tip o...Read More

We have updated our Boer War collection with almost 10,000 new records. The major inclusions in this update are:

• The complete Queen's South Africa medal roll for the Coldstream Guards, Irish Guards, 1st battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers and Rundles Scouts
• The Wepener clasp rolls for Royal Scots,...Read More

We've just published approximately 113,000 new Chester wills and probate records on findmypast.co.uk for the period 1492-1911. The records include all surviving original wills of Cheshire residents proved at the Chester diocesan consistory court 1492-1857 and registered copies made at Chester Probate Registry 1858-1...Read More

Our photo expert, Jayne Shrimpton, analyses your family photos. Doreen Tyrrell sent us her photo and asked: 'I wondered if you could possibly date the attached photo. I am hoping it is around 1890 to confirm who I think it is, but it could possibly 1902-ish?' [caption id="attachment_12448" ali...Read More

Our photo expert, Jayne Shrimpton, analyses your family photos. Margaret Noble sent us her photo and asked: 'I would be grateful if you could give me an approximate date for this photograph. I think the lady is my great-great grandmother, who was a Roman Catholic. Any other information that you c...Read More

Our resident expert Stephen Rigden, pictured below, answers your queries. From Adrian Shepard: 'I wonder if you can help me with a question regarding finding the date of death of my great-great-great-grandfather? My great-great-great-grandfather was Benjamin Shepard from Lymington (born in 178...Read More

We're very pleased to announce the winner of our March newsletter competition. We asked you 'In which year did Margaret Westminster get married in St Clement Danes?' Congratulations go to Tracy Suthers from Lancashire who correctly answered '1745'. Tracy wins a copy of 'Family Matters: A History of Genealogy’ by M...Read More

Search 12,000 new burial records for Handsworth Cemetery, Birmingham on findmypast.co.uk This latest addition to our Handsworth Cemetery records collection brings the total amount of records to 74,623. The records span the period 1909 to 2010 and will be a real help to anyone with Birmingham ancestors. Read More

Did you know that six traditional sailor superstitions were ignored on the Titanic’s maiden voyage to New York? Take a look at the evidence we’ve uncovered in our collection of Titanic records. Prepare yourself, some of the superstitions may ...Read More