Wills Consultation Paper

Posted on January 9, 2024 by Julie Goucher

Image courtesy of Unsplash.

On 15 December 2023, the UK government published a consultation paper on the ‘Storage and retention of original will documents’. The paper can be accessed online here. The  government also issued a press release and published a posts on social media.

Genealogists, Local Historians, One-Namers (and others working on Surname studies), One-Placers (and those working on location based projects) and other historians, are, according to those I have engaged with, outraged; as am I. 

Digitisation of wills and other documents is of course very welcome for those of us wishing to access material in this digital world. In my opinion, the Government seems to take the view, that destruction is acceptable after the period of 25 years, and that digitisation is preservation. I believe this consultation paper is focused on saving money and is incredibly short sighted.

Digitisation is NOT preservation. These documents are a valuable resource and we must ensure the UK government hears our outcry and engages appropriately. The National Archives is the appropriate place to receive these documents

I urge everyone to undertake this CALL FOR ACTION:

  • Download and read the Consultation paper which can be found HERE
  • Reading Dave Annal’s significant post which can be read HERE
  • Sign Richard Holt’s petition which can be read and signed HERE
  • Submit your response to the consultation questions.

The consultation closes at

I have written my personal response to the consultation. The Guild of One-Name Studies will be formally submitting their response as soon as it is agreed by the Trustees.

Posted in Genealogy, Local History, Miscellaneous | Leave a comment

Web Wednesday (1)

Posted on January 3, 2024 by Julie Goucher

Created by Julie Goucher, 2023

Our first web-Wednesday site is:

Tudor Revels

The site is part of the People Project 1485-1603 which sought to document the lives of forgotten individuals during the Tudor period in Southampton.

The website hoped to document at least 5,000 entries by the end of 2013. Currently there is just under 20,500 entries. The site was created with the assistance of funding of the Heritage fund. There is in addition to the database, a section around events, an about section, links, a glossary and bibliography. There is also a walking trail that can be explored.

The database can be searched by name, dates, nationality, occupation and parish. I did several quick searches:

  1. Surname of BUTCHER – this search also produced results with the occupation of butcher. I was able to extract about forty two references with individuals using the Butcher surname. There is the possibility that one individual may appear twice in the database, and the additional issue that during this period surnames were not definitively used, or consistent. Each individual does bear source material and this can be extracted in more detail by viewing the bibliography.
  2. Surname of ORLANDO – this produced nil results.
  3. Nationality of Italian – this about 100 results of which the majority were seafarers or merchants.
  4. Search of Guildford this produced two results, the first of which was an individual whose origins were from the Surrey town of Guildford.

There is one irritation, which is that once you have searched, found the results and then selected to look at one of those results, when you conclude your viewing and want to go back to the results, you need to search again.

There is relatively little material in this format relating to the Tudor period, and therefore this is certainly a welcomed addition. In terms of adding the individuals to my Butcher One-Name Study, I will do so with the source identified as the Tudor Revels and the source citation that has been given.

 

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Introducing Web Wednesday

Posted on January 2, 2024 by Julie Goucher

Created by Julie Goucher, 2023

Our ancestors and forebears did not live in isolation of the social, economic, and political stability or instability of their global communities.

Whether you are researching your own ancestry, conducting a specific study or piece of research relating to One-Place Studies, One-Name Studies or focusing on a related topic, we encounter a great many websites and other online mediums that deserve sharing wider.

Over the last fifteen years or so, as I begin a new notebook, an early page is one with the heading of Books and URLs. As I finish each page, a new one is established on the next available page, therefore these pages are at random points throughout the notebook. This is where I note websites and books that I want to explore or read to see if they offer any material relevant to my genealogical research, or if the book is a delightful opportunity of escapism.

On each Wednesday throughout 2024, starting tomorrow, I will be sharing a post about one of these websites or resources. In their own way, they may be a delightful read, a creative website or resource for research.

Posted in Stationery, Filofax, Journals & Notebooks, Web Wednesday | Leave a comment

Happy New Year 2024

Posted on January 1, 2024 by Julie Goucher

Image from Julie Goucher Guildford & District collection

Purchased for my Guildford & District Collection, this was sent from Frederick Wait whilst he was serving from the Front in 1916.

So, Who was Fred?…..

A search of the Marriages for a B Turner in Guildford 1916+ to a Fred revealed one such entry. The marriage of Bertha A Turner to Frederick W Wait in the September Quarter of 1917 at Guildford. (Ref 2a, 201).

Working backwards to the 1911 Census. Did that reveal more of Bertha? The index revealed one entry for a Bertha E Turner. I took a chance and looked at the data. It didn’t pay off, and revealed a Bertha Elizabeth Turner residing at 144 Walnut Tree Close Guildford, not far from the childhood home of my Grandmother who grew up at number 114, though my Grandmother wasn’t born until December 1912 – Isn’t research curious?.

Anyway, A quick look through the First World War records didn’t prove obviously helpful, neither did the Commonwealth War Graves website.  So I still didn’t know who Fred was. A quick search of the 1911 Census for him and I was surprised. It revealed one entry; just one.

Frederick William Wait, Single and aged 20 years born 1891 Guildford. On overseas military duty and recorded as in the 7th Dragoon Guards and stationed at Hislop Barracks, Trimulgherry, Duccan, India. Not what I had expected, but I do know that regiments based in India, and elsewhere across the Empire were sent to fight in France, for King and country.

Now, I have not looked more into Frederick Wait since I originally wrote the majority of the text in 2011. There is still more to explore about Fred and his life after the postcard was sent to Bertha Turner.

I don’t descend from Fred and/or Bertha, but would like to find out more about the couple and perhaps return the postcard to the family. If you descend from the couple please drop me a note.

Posted in Ephemera, Postcards & Stamps, Guildford & District ~ A Pictorial Archive | Leave a comment

Notebooks of 2023

Posted on December 31, 2023 by Julie Goucher

Copyright – Julie Goucher, 2023

It is New Years Eve and I usually find some time to run though my notebooks of the year and check for any outstanding notes that need attention. What is unusual for the notebooks of 2023, is that I concluded 2022 and notebook simultaneously, thus I went into 2023 in a brand and spanking new notebook.

So, running from left to right:

  • Rifle Paper Company notebook – 1 Jan – 15 March 
  • Paper Chase notebook – 15 March – 3 April
  • unnamed brand  – 4 April – 15 May
  • Moleskine 16 May – 12 June (see note 1)
  • Moleskine – 12 June – 13 July (see note 1)
  • unnamed brand – 13 July – 10 August (see note 3 & 5)
  • Papergang notebook – 4 August – 26 August (see notes 2 & 3 )
  • Moleskine – 26 August – 25 September (see note 1)
  • Orla Kiely notebook – 26 September – 14 November (see note 4)
  • Gifted Stationary Company – 14 November – 14 December (see note 2)
  • Leuchtturm1917 – 14 December – into 2024

There are several points worthy of mentioning:

  1. The Moleskine books are all slightly shorter books with a mix of plain paper on the left side and lined on the right side. These I have had for a while.
  2. The Papergang notebook and the Gifted Stationary Company books were A6 size, which is not my usual preferred size. 
  3. There is notebook overlap – this was caused by starting notes specific to a particular topic and I wanted them all in one book.
  4. The Orla Kiely notebook is lined and the same size as the usual Moleskine, 21 x 13 cms
  5. We were away and I suspected that I might finish the current notebook, so I packed one from my supply, just as well as I did indeed need it!

Across all the notebooks there are page tabs. These are to remind me of something, or contain notes that might need to be removed for something specifically, perhaps an article. presentation or a future course. I also flag my To Do pages this way, then I can make sure I have covered everything or move it to the current notebook.

Julie Goucher, 2023

As I said, I ended 2022 at the same time as a notebook, and thought that was worthy of a little details and a picture.

The notebook was a lovely Katie Leamon book, a whopper with 300 pages with lovely smooth cream paper in A5 size and a blue and white cover, shown here.

Santa’s helper gave me another in the series for Christmas 2022 which is next up, shown here. There were also another two from Santa’s helper, and I will use these during the year also. 

Posted in Stationery, Filofax, Journals & Notebooks | Leave a comment

Researching in Europe – Why History Matters

Posted on December 28, 2023 by Julie Goucher

At the end of each Pharos course students are invited to leave feedback. I review the feedback and try to take on board the comments made. One student felt that there was a lot of attention to history of Europe and it was not going to assist researching their ancestors. The feedback is anonymous, but I do want to respond to the comment and explain why European history matters.

Modern Europe includes more than 50 countries. There are no European empires, all countries are their own sovereign nation, but there are allegiances. The empires, and how they historically coped with war affected the landscape of Europe and by default affected the wider elements of the countries involved.

Here is one such example:

Alsace-Lorraine is a French region; comprising of just over 5,000 acres. The territory includes the French departments of Haut-Rhin, Bas-Rhin and Moselle, numbered respectively as 68, 67 and 57. Historically, the region was part of Germanys Holy Roman Empire, where it was a German territory under several sovereignties until the conclusion of the Thirty Year War (1618-1648) .

  • Under the Peace of Westphilia (1648) Alsace-Lorraine pasted from Germany to France.
  • Following the French-German war of 1871, the territory passed from France to Germany.

    Postcard is in Julie Goucher’s collection. Shows the map of France before the Alsace-Lorraine region was ceded to France following WWI (postcard predate 1914).

  • Under the Treaty of Versailles (1919), following the First World War, Alsace-Lorraine passed from Germany to France.
  • In 1940, during the Second World War, and the fall of the France, the region passed back to Germany.
  • As the Second World War concluded in 1945, the region passed back to France.

In the space of about 300 years, Alsace-Lorraine has moved between France and Germany five time. In doing so, that has impacted on the records and history of the region, and therefore you need to perhaps not just consider French history, but German history too. Remember, our ancestors did not live in isolation of decisions made by governments, whether that impacted on the social, economical or political elements of their lives.

Indeed, in schools both French and German is taught. Alsatian which is a German dialect remains in common usage in the region.

  • You can download the Departments of France & Department Archives handout.
  • You can read the Understanding France series of posts here.
  • You can find out more about the Pharos course, Researching ancestors in Continental Europe here.
Posted in European Ancestors, France, Genealogy, Understanding France Series | Leave a comment

What’s in a Name? – Rediscovering the Field-names of the Rusland Valley and Fells

Posted on December 27, 2023 by Julie Goucher

A few weeks after the #AllAboutThatPlace event I came across the Map Histories Project, organised by Rusland Horizons. I enquired about the associated published book, Rediscovering the Field-names of the Rusland Valley and Fells and was advised it was out of print. A few weeks later, I was advised that a short print run was to be organised and did I want to order one? I did want to order one, and a few days before Christmas the book arrived.

The book is much bigger than I anticipated, both in physical size and page contents. The book measures 33cm x 28cm (approximate) and contains 80 pages. The book is in full colour and contains:

  • Map of the area
  • What’s in a name – this explains the clues and associations of the names of fields and why they exist, in actuality.
  • Cultural history of the Rusland landscape
  • Field Name Project – this is the explanation of the broader project. Why it was being undertaken, how the investigations took place, how the collecting data occurred, through
    • Maps
    • Estate maps and property records
    • Oral history regarding the fields
    • Recording the data
    • Interpretation of unfamiliar names
    • Presenting the findings and archiving it
  •  Maps and the field names
    • This section makes up the bulk of the book, pages 14-76. Each section focuses on the name of the location, a bit of the history and then the names of the fields, with background to the naming of the fields.
  • Resources & Source index
  • References
  • Contact information

You can read about the project HERE and read the newsletters HERE, including subscribe to future editions.

(I purchased my own copy of the book, and was not paid or requested to write this post.)

Posted in Genealogy, Local History, One-Place Studies | Leave a comment

Happy Christmas & Festive Season 2023

Posted on December 24, 2023 by Julie Goucher

Copyright – Julie Goucher, December 2023

Wishing everyone a lovely Christmas and festive season, however you choose to spend it. 

Posted in Advent Posts | Leave a comment

Workshop – Journaling Your Place – SOG Online Event

Posted on December 23, 2023 by Julie Goucher

Created by the SOG and used with permission.

Journaling Your Place is a two hour workshop scheduled for me to deliver at the Society of Genealogists (SOG) in August 2024.

Starting off with an extended version of the session delivered as part of the #AllAboutThatPlace event in late September 2023 and concluding with an extended Q & A session and discussion.

For more information and to book a place visit HERE.

To see what other talks I offer click HERE.

Posted in #AllAboutThatPlace Event, One-Place Studies, Presentations | Leave a comment

Talk – Beyond the Marriage Certificate – SOG Online Event

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Julie Goucher

Image created by the SOG, and used with permission

Beyond the Marriage Certificate is one of the talks scheduled for me to deliver at the Society of Genealogists (SOG) in February 2024.

For more information and to book a place visit HERE.

To see what other talks I offer click HERE.

Posted in Presentations | Leave a comment