General/Methodology
Books, Books, Glorious Books
Our family history can be enriched with information from a variety of books. Millions of books have been published but finding and accessing them can be difficult especially as many history genealogy books had small print runs. Many thousands of out of copyright genealogical/ historical books and articles have been digitised and are available online through a variety of providers, many at no cost. Once found the content can be used to enhance your research.
Audience: All levels
Delving into place: Local History Enhances Genealogical Research
Researching family history is more than just finding the hatch, match and dispatch dates! None of our ancestors existed in isolation as they lived, worked and played within networks in their communities. Changes in the local community had a direct impact on the lives of those within the community. Researching the local/social history of your ancestral areas can answer the why of ancestral actions. Employment or lack thereof, new industries/changing occupations, coming of the railway, natural disasters etc all will have an impact on your ancestral networks and direct impacts on your genealogical research.
Documents of Death
Genealogists search for a death certificate to rightly bring a life to a close. However, it is not the only record of death or the events pre and post death for which a genealogist should be searching.
Audience: All Levels
Findmypast: An essential tool for the UK researcher
If your family has origins in the British Isles, Findmypast is a resource you should be utilising! They excel in British records, with specific English county collections including from Devon, Kent, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. They have unique collections from the British India Office and British Army. Their Irish collection includes the usual as well as the Irish Petty Sessions, Irish Dog Licences and more. These records come from partnerships with archives and societies, providing authentic, extensive data. They also have an extensive UK newspaper collection (>2400 titles) accessible with the Pro subscription.
Government Inquiries: A Treasure Trove for Genealogists
As genealogists, our aim is to fill in the gaps, understand them by finding the context of their lives. We can find out more about their lives even if themselves are not specifically mentioned by looking at government enquiries. These may be into working conditions, why a school was needed to be built, reviewing a disaster, a scandal in the workhouse. Using examples from Australia and the UK see how government enquiries can be used in your genealogical research.
Audience: All levels
Mapping Your Ancestors
An important part of putting your ancestor in context is being able to visualise your ancestor in place. Whether this is a street address and their sweetheart is two blocks away, whether in a trench on the Western Front, a migration path across land or sea, the road, rail networks of the time or the topographical map showing the physical layout of the land they lived, all give information on their place. With the increased online access to world maps both current and historical there has never been a better time to add maps to your genealogy no matter where and when your ancestor lived.
Audience: All Levels
Newspapers: Bringing Your Family History to Life
Our families are more than names and dates. Not all families have inherited a range of ephemera or family stories so how to add the life to the names? Newspapers, which most are familiar with for dates of birth, marriage and burial, contain so much more that can help in family history. Newspapers are a snapshot in time of the community in which our ancestors lived. If you are lucky, they will be mentioned but even if they are not mentioned by name, there is so much else that can be used to give life to the dash between the dates.
Audience: All Levels
Understanding the Context: Social History
As family historians we are pretty good about determining the when and where, the dates and places but not the why. We need to “walk a mile in their shoes” to start to understand their actions. What laws were in place, how did they influence what occurred, what was the economic situation in the area, was the place urban or rural, what opportunities were there for education? All of these and more impact on your family’s decisions.
Audience: All Levels
Visualising Family History Data
Genealogists amass data, lots of it! Being able to visualise that data in different ways aids our research. Tables, graphs, maps, timelines are all aids to our research. There is also the visualisation that helps our families understand (hopefully even enjoy!) our research! Clothing, food, places, vehicles and items of context in time and place helps us and others visualise our research.
Audience: All Levels
Researching your Health History
As part of our genealogical research, we should research the medical history of our families. A minimum three generation medical history can help to discover hereditary health problems and causes of death. This helps evaluate potential future health risks for you and your family.
Audience: All Levels
Timelines as a Genealogical Tool
Timelines aid you keep track of events in your ancestor’s lives, find gaps in your research and determine intersecting events that affect their lives. They are particularly useful in analysing brick wall problems. Two James Quested’s in a parish both married to an Elizabeth, having children at the same time? Have an ancestor whose age changes in every record? What legislation was in effect? How did it change? No person exists in isolation. Timelines can also help you place family members in relationship to each other.
Audience: All Levels
Walking in Your Ancestor’s Footsteps
Being able to walk where our ancestors walked is a dream of many genealogists. They plan on doing that overseas trip to the “home place”. Travel from Australia is a long way and expensive. To get the most out of your trip it is best to plan well ahead. You do need to determine the aim of the trip. Is it a research trip or being where they lived trip or a combination? Are you on your own or with family? It is important if doing research not to waste time on research you could have done from home/ in Australia. Increasing digitisation has meant much can be done from home but there will always be archival sources that will only be accessible overseas, but which archive and when are they open? Have you investigated if the “home place” still exists or is now a parking lot or maybe is now a hotel/AirBnB. Come along to hear ideas on planning your genealogical trip.
Audience: All Levels
When Was It Taken? Dating Historical Photographs
Our old family photos can be a treasure trove for genealogy researchers, especially if you can establish the date (or at least a date range) of when the antique picture was taken. Unfortunately, many do not come neatly labelled with names, dates or the place taken. This is where we need to do some detective work to determine the story that each photo holds. The presentation will also cover some of the available AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools.
One hour presentation or two-hour workshop
As a two-hour workshop will go through the theory and then use that theory to interrogate the photos. There will also be an opportunity to date some photos from the participants.)
Audience: All Levels
Writing Women Back into Your Family History
Throughout history, women have often held a secondary status as their identity is intertwined with the men in her life. She is her father’s daughter, her husband’s wife, her children’s mother. Society with its laws and social mores often restricted women’s access to education, employment and roles in public affairs. This has meant that women were not equally represented in the general genealogical records we use. However, we can, with some work and research, give the women in our family lines back their voice and their place in history.
Audience: All Levels
England
Begotten by Fornication: The document trail in England
In England, particularly in the 17-19th centuries, having a child out of wedlock, that could become chargeable to the parish, resulted in a number of documents being produced. These documents all have value to the family historian, firstly in naming the reputed father as well as providing information about the mother, and potentially some information about the circumstances of conception.
Audience: All Levels
Directories, Gazetteers and More UK
These are underutilised resources by many genealogists who are often unaware of the genealogical treasures that can be found within their covers. There are many types of directories available for research.
Audience: All Levels
English Apprenticeship Records
A number of our ancestors were tradesman and served apprenticeships. Knowledge of the evolving regulations and resulting documentation through the ages in England enables be found.
Audience: Intermediate
English Parish Records: Hatch, Match and Dispatch
Parish records give the details of life within the parish. The baptism, marriage and burials registers are essential records for family historians although what is recorded has changed over time, based on changes in legislation. Knowing what information should be recorded at what time and where you can access the records.
Audience: All Levels
English Parish Records: More than Just Hatch, Match & Dispatch
Most people researching in England have used the baptismal, marriage and burial registers held within the parish church. However, these are not the only parish records of use to family historians. Each parish ran much of its own affairs and there are many records of interest including, settlement certificates, bastardy bonds, parish apprenticeships, vestry minutes and so much more.
Audience: Intermediate
The English Workhouse and its Records
The dreaded workhouse came into being in England due to the introduction of the New Poor Law and the establishment of Poor Law Unions in 1834. The workhouse was deliberately made to be as unpleasant as possible so that people didn’t think it was an easy option but instead a place of last resort.
Audience: All Levels
The Faversham Union Workhouse (Kent, England): the Walls can Speak
Established in 1836 the Faversham Poor Law Union comprised 25 parishes, total population (1831) 14,845. The new Union workhouse was built in 1836. Follow the lives of some inmates before their entry and within the workhouse, who got punished and why, staff and their duties and the businesses that supplied the workhouse.
Audience: All Levels
Genealogical Treasures in Quarter Session Records
Quarter sessions were courts held usually four times a year in England and Wales since 1388. They heard criminal cases but also granted licences for a variety of occupations including public-houses, heard Poor Law cases, settlement disputes, civil complaints and issues, granted Certificates of Dissenters’ meetinghouses and generally kept the peace in the county.
Audience: All Levels
London Gazette: A Cornucopia of Genealogical Items
The London Gazette is the official newspaper of the English Government. It contains much information about the working of government including regulatory and legal information, Government news, events/occasions and trade and business news. It also contains civil service appointments, naturalisations, Deed Polls (change of names), bankruptcies, honours and medals, civilian awards, and so much more.
Audience: All Levels
Lost in London
London can be a daunting place to research. Part of this is due to the massive population growth: 600, 000 in 1700 to nearly 6.9 million in 1900 which resulted in more than 100 parishes in the City, let alone everything in Greater London when 1889 the County of London was formed from parts of the ancient counties of Middlesex, Surrey and Kent. London was a constant attractant for the young, the desperate and the hopeful, as well as immigrants from across the world resulting in an intensity of population. There is no central index but there are many resources to aid in your London research including directories, newspapers, court records, insurance records and local history books.
Audience: All Levels
Making sense of the English Censuses and 1939 Register
Named censuses were taken each ten years from 1841 (1801-1831 were statistical only) to the latest available 1921. We also have the 1939 register which is a partial substitute for the destroyed by fire 1931 census. General information such as name, age, marital status occupation, birthplace, relationship to head of household, who is in the household census night is similar for all the censuses with some variations in the 1911 (fertility census) and 1921 (employer and orphan census). These details help to determine which is your “John Smith” and gives social insights into your ancestor’s lives.
Audience: All Levels
Nobblers, Cracksmen, Coiners and More: Researching Criminals in England
Apart from the convicts sent out of England to the colonies there were many convictions in England. Knowledge of the crimes, levels of court and how they worked and varied over time and the punishments help in researching not just your convict ancestor but also those who of your ancestors who served time or were executed in England.
Audience: All Levels
On the Right Track: Researching English Railway Ancestors
In 1850, 20 years after the first line there were 5000 miles of railways across Britain. The railways became a major industry (1870 250,000 railway employees). They ranged from the navvies who built the lines to the railway workers on the trains, the stations, and in the locomotive and carriage works. What records survive to help you find your railway family?
Audience: All Levels
Researching in Kent, England
Kent, known as the Garden of England, has a wealth of genealogical records but locating those records can take some investigation, with records divided between at least three archives. Then, some parishes that were formally in Kent were absorbed into Greater London, adding another four archives into the mix. Genealogical research can be done knowing when and where the records can be accessed.
Audience: All Levels
Researching UK Archives from Abroad
For many of us, our research is based in the UK, but we live in Australia so how do we successfully research our ancestors when we live so far away? The increase in digitisation has been a boon for our research but with such a small percentage of records digitised what else can we do? Once the initial research of births, marriages and deaths has been completed it is time to look at archival records. How to do this when we live so far away? We will cover types of records and what can be found where, how do we access the archives, has it been published, elsewhere, are there finding aids, how do we access the archives to allow us to further our research.
Audience: All Levels
They are Dead but Where are They Buried?
In Australia we are spoilt as our death certificates give the place of burial. In England no place of burial is given on the death certificate. This presentation will discuss ways of determining where a person may have been buried.
Audience: All Levels
Australia
Australian Census Substitutes
Sadly, in Australia while censuses were taken, once the statistical data was extracted, most were destroyed. Apart from some early musters, researchers have to use other resources to try and fill in the gaps. These include electoral rolls, directories, gazettes, council rates, land records, civil registration and more. While not a perfect substitute these resources do help us put people in time and place.
Audience: All Levels
Civil Registration in Australia
Civil(vital) registration began at different times in the Australian colonies and remains a state responsibility to the current day. The amount of information on the certificate varies among the states as does the cost and online availability.
Audience: All Levels
Directories, Gazetteers and more
These are underutilised resources by many genealogists who are often unaware of the genealogical treasures that can be found within their covers. There are many types of directories available for research.
Audience: All Levels
Friendly Societies in Australia
There is a long history of Friendly Societies in Australia. They served two main purposes: one as a social and often educational club but most importantly, in time of sickness or injury, the Society paid for medical attention to member’s families. In the event of death, the society provided an amount for funeral expenses and financial assistance to widows bereft by the loss of the wage earner. Prior to 1914 an estimated 25% of the Australian population were members and in some occupations around 90% men were members.
Audience: All Levels
Government Gazettes as a Genealogical Resource
The Gazettes were the weekly notices of Government activities meant for other government departments, and some were available to the public. They are an untapped genealogical resource. The general gazette lists government appointments, various licences, Justices of the Peace, changes to legislation, deceased estates, and so much more. Police Gazettes (only available to Police departments) list police officer movements, reports of crime often listing victims, reports on entry and exit from prison, Missing Friends notices while Education Gazettes list teacher movements, school information and more. Each colony had its own Gazettes and post Federation in 1901 the Commonwealth also produced a Government Gazette.
Audience: All Levels
Lost in Australia: Tracing Missing Ancestors
We all have those ancestors that just disappear from their families. Sometimes these are the “Black Sheep” who have deserted their wives, perhaps are not spoken of as they have gone to prison or the asylum. There can be a wide variety of reasons why someone disappears so how to find them?
Audience: All Levels
Trove: An Australian and Beyond Genealogical Resource
Australia (and the rest of the world), is very fortunate to have free access to Trove, a website of the National Library of Australia. Trove contains many digitised newspapers, some from all the Australian States and Territories up to 1954 (as of 1 Jan 2026 1955 content entering public domain and some are appearing now). While not every paper ever printed has been digitised there is a wide selection. But the Trove site is not just newspapers but also has Picture Australia, theses, maps, now the New South Wales and Commonwealth Government Gazettes. There are a number of ways to make your search more directed and ways to organise your research using the site.
Audience: All Levels
Researching in Australian Archives
There are many Australian archives for research. From local council, town, State, Commonwealth, religious, business, organisational and more. Jurisdictional responsibilities changed over time so it is important to know when and where your ancestor was to determine which archive might contain the documents you need.
Audience: All Levels
Where there is a Will there should be a Genealogist
Wills are a snapshot in time of the dynamics in a family. They can be very informative of personal beliefs, economic situations and the relationships within a family. Probate in Australia is done through state jurisdictions, and more information is becoming available online making it easier for genealogists to find that will.
Audience: All Levels
DNA
DNA as a Genealogical Tool
DNA testing is one of the newest tools available for genealogists. Is it all hype? Does it just do what the TV ads show or what questions can it answer for a genealogist? What tests are available? Who can take them? Who should I test and why? What company should I use and why? Is it safe? How do I know what the result means? How do I use it in my research? This presentation answers these questions and shows examples of how DNA testing has been of value in genealogical research.
Audience: DNA beginner/intermediate
Determining Unknown Parentage
Since the advent of autosomal testing in 2012, Genetic Genealogy, in conjunction with the usual genealogical records, has enabled many adoptee/unknown parentage cases to be solved. There is a process to follow using the tools available at Ancestry, MyHeritage and DNA Painter. It is a case of organised working, a lot of patience, “hurry up and wait times” and often targeted testing to gain the answer.
Audience: Intermediate to Advanced
Diving into Ancestry DNA
You have done an Ancestry DNA test. The results are in. Now what? Let’s dive into the Ancestry DNA website and the many Ancestry tools available to help you with your DNA results.
Audience: DNA beginner/intermediate
Finding the Missing
Investigative Genetic Genealogy is just one of the tools being used to identify unknown remains in Australia used by the Australian Federal Police, and the Australian Military. It is also being used in specific cases by some state police departments and other police departments internationally.
Audience: All Levels