New websites – ONS and OPS

On New Year's Day I launched two new websites for two of my projects. My One-Name Study: http://www.walnehistory.com My One-Place Study: http://www.badinghamhistory.com Both are in their infancy, particularly my OPS, but I have been busy writing blogs for both and plan to make regular updates about people I find in my research as well asContinue reading "New websites – ONS and OPS"

1911: How many?

While this might seem a simple question, the impact of surname variation and transcription error means that there's no simple answer! My study deals with a relatively small population, which means that I have been able to start compiling a master index of every individual born before 1911 with the surname Walne (or who used it laterContinue reading "1911: How many?"

150 years ago: Arrivals in Bath

On 3 January 1867, the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette announced the arrival of several men at the White Lion Hotel, among them Mr Walne. This may well have been Alfred Septimus Walne or one of his brothers. Certainly Alfred spent time there as he was enumerated at the hotel in the census of 1861, when he wasContinue reading "150 years ago: Arrivals in Bath"

New information in GRO Indexes – direct from GRO.gov.uk

Many readers will know by now that the good folk at the General Register Office (the home of the national collection of birth, marriage and death certificates and their associated indexes) have brought in new services. Until now, the indexes for birth and death available to search in a myriad of places on the web -Continue reading "New information in GRO Indexes – direct from GRO.gov.uk"

Unwritten History: Baby Loss Awareness Week

A brief post this to do my part to raise awareness of all those babies that never appeared on the birth indexes. I don't often post very personal items here, but today I make an exception. Before my son was born this year we lost three babies, all at around twelve weeks gestation. As manyContinue reading "Unwritten History: Baby Loss Awareness Week"

Norwich Mercury added to British Newspaper Archive site

As tweeted a few days ago, the Norwich Mercury has joined many years of the Norfolk Chronicle now searchable at http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk According to the site you can now view and search the following years: 1727; 1846-8; 1851-1896; 1899-1904.  The collection within these years appears to be fairly comprehensive (issued Wednesday and Saturday). 213 issues were addedContinue reading "Norwich Mercury added to British Newspaper Archive site"

Baby names 1904-2014

It's rather obvious that I might have been interested in baby names lately, but I thought some readers may be interested in the Office for National Statistics' compilations of the top 100 boys' and girls' names by decade 1904-1994: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/baby-names--england-and-wales/1904-1994/index.html The site also has more recent lists: http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/bulletins/babynamesenglandandwales/previousReleases  We chose traditional names for our sonContinue reading "Baby names 1904-2014"

Update – my confinement and maternity leave!

As those of you that follow me on twitter will know, a month ago we welcomed our baby son (and first born heir!). He and I are both doing well after an extremely short labour (phew, although it was a close call making it to a midwife in time) and surviving the first whirlwind weeks.Continue reading "Update – my confinement and maternity leave!"