I've said before that I was staggered when I first saw the baptism of the child of a slave in an English, rural parish's register. This article gives me valuable context for understanding the life of that person and her child - and that of other individuals who may have lived alongside my ancestors.

This was a really enjoyable listen, start to finish. Thanks, Marigold - I mean, Andrew! 😂

📢 NEW WILL OF THE MONTH POST 📢 We're delighted to share this very special post by Dylan Cox, a 3rd year History student at Exeter. 📜 Dylan has transcribed & researched the will of a London gentleman who made several bequests, including to Bridewell prison 🧵1/2 sites.exeter.ac.uk/materialcult...

No wonder I've been wandering through the London parishes in vain! I should have been looking in a seemingly completely unconnected place 243 miles away. 🥴 Now, where are the rest of you hiding?!

looking for more info on my 5th great grandfather Alexander ALLEN/ALLAN, he was a Foot Soldier in 1752 when son David was baptised at the Presbyterian/Unitarian Chapel, Boffin Lane, Chichester, Sussex, but do not know who David's mother is or anything about Alexander at all? any advice? #Genealogy

Does anyone know of a list of early modern and c18th English spellings of words? i.e. a list of alternative spellings, such as 'publick' for publick, 'Wyllyam' for William, and so on? Surely such a thing must have been compiled? #History #LinguisticHistory 🗃️

We are carrying in our DNA evidence of our ancestors' migrations. A picture is forming...🌍

Another incredible family history read from Clare. I've learned so much! And how wonderful that someone later offered an echo from his own memories. 😊

No sooner had I had the thought that researching my family history can be a dance between fantasy, fiction and fact, than I google a street name mentioned on a livery company website and see the road next to it is called Knightrider Street. 😂 #genealogy

Oh, now this is interesting. Taking a desultory leaf through a C of E parish register kept by the British Embassy in Paris, I see a posh name and google it. The websites I see suggest the lady concerned died unmarried. But I have her marriage recorded, right here. She looks to have married a... 1/2

It's the last week of #MagnaCarta1225 & you have this Wed, Thurs & Fri left to visit! Enjoy this final chance at a unique opportunity to explore the legacy of Magna Carta (1225) & the Charter of the Forest, marking 800 years since its reissue by Henry III – the version enshrined in English law.

I rang Findmypast to renew my subscription with this hefty discount and the service was just BRILLIANT! Literally could not be bettered: Prompt reply from an actual human, cheerful, clear speech, great discount, no extra life admin for me. VERY well done!!! 👏👏👏

Happy Mindfulness Day. 😊

Upcoming Heritage Open Days event! Join us next week for an introductory look at the architectural records of your Cathedral, exploring records from the Medieval to Modern era. ❉ 17 September | 2pm-3pm ❉ Exeter Cathedral Library & Archives ❉ Book your free place: bit.ly/ec-heritage

Thinking of you, Clare. 😊 @digupyourancestors.bsky.social

Remember the Our River Thames exhibition is now open until Friday 31st October. If you weren't able to visit during the first few months then now is your chance! Visit us during our normal opening hours to view it.

📢 Heritage Open Day event! Everyone is welcome at our FREE drop-in event to explore items from the collections relating to local architecture! 📆 Saturday 20 September 🕙 10:30am-1:00pm 🔗 www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-e... #HeritageOpenDays #HOD #HODs2025 #HeritageOpenDaysExeter #Exeter

After today there are just 6 more days left of #MagnaCarta1225! Visit us Wed-Fri until 19 Sep! This image is a toffee tin from Mackintosh & Sons. In the 1920s, Mackintosh and Sons devised a series of comic strips to promote their products. One series was devised by the illustrator George Morrow.

Among the many interesting sights at the Bishop's Palace in Well, Somerset, today: Costumes from TV series of Wolf Hall and Coronation artefacts.

We arrived at the Bishop's Palace and Gardens at Wells cathedral, at just the moment the swans were fed.

Many pupils will be back to school this week. If you have ever thought about researching the school that you went to, then take a look at the guides on our website: royalberkshirearchives.org.uk/berkshires-p... #EYAEducation

Occasionally you will come across some odd words when researching - here's the beginning of an article on strange occupations. Members can search past copies of Roots for mentions of family/place of interest. Beware you can easily get distracted by articles like this!

Need some YDNA tips? Most people do. YDNA testing can provide you with valuable insights into paternal lineages, but a lot of people aren’t sure how to get the most out of it. Here are 6 helpful strategies for YDNA testing. #genealogy

As a relative newbie to genealogy, I will need to be thinking, "Mind the gap." 😊

There are some amazing places to visit in Wales in the coming days. Having been down a genealogical rabbit hole in the Hawarden (Clwyd) area recently, I would love to visit, but can't, this time. Another county beckons.

It's World Letter Writing Day! We look after letters from many enthusiastic correspondents, incl. writers, poets, students, folklorists, nuns, journalists, historians, politicians, diplomats & environmentalists. Search our archives here! ➡️ lib-archives.ex.ac.uk #WorldLetterWritingDay #Archives

Self-care isn't selfish - you can't pour from an empty cup. Join us for #SelfCareSeptember and find ways to be kinder to yourself as well as others 🙏💕🌍 actionforhappiness.org/self-care-se...

Here's a lovely initiative. And two of my loved ones are there as part of it. 🥰 @actionhappiness.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAj-...

📸Outside the photographer’s studio📸no printing or writing 🤔 A day out captured forever🏖️ Do you recognise anyone? Are they your family? #OldPhotos #FamilyHistory

In 18th-century France, not having a surname wasn’t just odd, it was fined! After the 1794 Law of Surnames, thousands had to invent new names on the spot, often inspired by nature or revolution. What’s the story behind your surname? Share below! #SurnameStories #HistoryFacts

Let's just keep scrolling on past AI pseudo-historical concoctions. I appreciate you didn't need this reminder.

Here's Rob modelling the clapper gate at St Lawrence's church, Berkshire. It's been renovated, but the design remains. The horizontal struts have hammer ends which clatter satisfyingly as you press them down and step over them. I wonder how those in long or tight skirts would have managed?

Having a wonderful few days with house guests. 🥰🥰🥰

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Isn't this lovely? 😊

Hi all, anyone have or know of charity bank accounts that do not charge transaction fees? Thanks.

Thank you 2 x great aunt Caroline, for moving with your husband and young family to a US mid west town with a distinctive name, a small population and a Wikipedia page all of its own. 😊

The perfect gift for the woman who has everything. 🥰👍😁

I had a lovely time on my birthday trip to Hestercombe House and Garden today. The photographs were really lovely and seemed to show a positive relationship between staff and owners of the past. Here's Miss Elizabeth Mary Robinson with her 70th birthday cake & a fine bouquet. She was a lady's maid.

Today's first post for me on BlueSky. It's my birthday and I'm going to have a fabulous day! 😂😊🌈💚

There is still time to enter our Young People's Writing Competition! We are looking for Devon-based budding mystery writers aged between 8-18. There are great prizes and recognition to be won. @librariesunlimited.bsky.social @literatureworks.bsky.social #torreabbey www.iacf-uk.org/projects/you...

I've found a note from years ago: According to my mum, my great-grandfather had moved to Ancoats, Manchester during WWI to work in a munitions factory and later went home to Hampshire on medical advice. More info, BBC News article from 2015: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...

Rainy day, time for a rummage. I just came across this early draft of my first article for my local newspaper. It was just after Who Do You Think You Are? had started on BBC TV, giving me an opportunity to introduce myself as someone with local food in my hinterland. It's fun to revisit, but it's...

This event was SO good! The final talk was an absolute masterclass in how to share potentially triggering factual subject matter in a sensitive and light-hearted way. I enjoyed all three presentations immensely and learned a great deal about Devon and Cornwall's history.

I've arrived at Tavistock Town Hall for today's Devon Family History Society event.

What is that you wish to share with the world today, my beloved? 😁 #YorkshireDay

Kindness makes life better – for others and for us. This August, let’s fill the world with compassion, joy and hope. Join us and share #AltruisticAugust 💛🌍🙏 → actionforhappiness.org/altruistic-a...

This was me, being proactive with my BlueSky, yesterday! 🤣 Did anyone actually see it? A genuine question as sometimes it seems that I don't see other people's posts till a couple of days after they send them.

We have a question for you - and we'd like to *hear* your answers! We'll pick through them and include some in a special up-coming episode. www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/318468... #genealogy #FamilyHistory #ancestry #podcast

FABULOUS tour of Britannia Royal Naval College yesterday! Our guide was excellent, covering a variety of aspects of place, people & traditions. Highly recommended for anyone curious to see a military officer training college on a working day. I particularly enjoyed the mention of that Devon pirate.