Sarah Pettyfer and I discuss how manorial, court and other records can be used to trace your ancestors back well beyond the 19th century including the court baron, court leet, copyhold and freehold land, yeomen and husbandmen and where to find the records as not many of them have been digitised. 

There is a second interview on Spittleditch on Substack and transcripts for both interviews. 

Join me to find out more about researching your Northern Irish ancestors with Martin McDowell and Linda Kilby of the North of Ireland Family History Society. We discuss the resources available within the society and elsewhere (many more than you may think), events they run including an annual DNA summer school and a roadshow plus the services they offer for members and enquiries.

A transcript of this interview is available on Substack: Journeys into Genealogy on Substack plus a second interview with Martin about the North of Ireland DNA project and a resources sheet full of useful links. 

NARA, or to give it its full name "National Archives and Records Adminstration", is the primary source for federal records in the USA. Claire Kluskens explains how genealogists and family historians can make the best use of these records, where they are located and how to access them. Including what they do host (military records, 19th and 20th century censuses, immigration, naturalisation, land records and more) and what they don't (birth, marriage and death records) and some other sources including the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. With some staggering statistics about the numbers of records held and details of the free annual Genealogy Fairs. There is an interview transcript on Journeys into Genealogy on Substack together with a resources sheet.   

Join Matt Brown and I as we discuss London and Londonist, lots of maps, the River Fleet, hidden waterways and street names plus much more. The transcript is available on Substack together with a second short interview about the John Rocque map of 1746. journeysintogenealogy.substack.com

Geoff talks about the long history of Bermondsey, London from Bermondsey Abbey in medieval times, through tanneries, the start of canning, famous food factories such as Peak Frean's and the development of "Biscuit Town" and where to find local records. An interview transcript is available on Substack together with a short second interview on fame and infamy in Bermondsey. 

RootsTech 2025 is nearly here. Ariel McDonald-Smith of Family Search is sharing some of what's in store for us and how to make the most of the show which runs from 6-8 March 2025. The transcript (available on Substack) contains links to keynote speakers, famous relatives and how to sign up for the event itself.  

A short episode with the roundup of 2024 with what's ahead for 2025...

The Prize Papers is a treasure trove of documents captured by English naval ships and privateers in the 1700s. Anne Ramon talks about the project and some of the papers captured during the American War of Independence. From crew lists to poetry and the letters which never reached their intended destinations, it's a fascinating insight into 18th century life.

The image of Mrs John Deas is used with permission of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Museum Purchase. Mark and Loretta Roman and The Friends of Colonial Williamsburg Collections Fund.

Imagine not knowing your grandfather's history before he was 57. Ron Williams found himself in this situation and he has crossed the Atlantic from Canada to England to the US and back to Canada in search of answers. This has led him to write and self publish the book "The Lost 57".

Have you heard of GENUKI? It's an essential tool to help find out more about records for individual countries, counties and parishes within the UK and Ireland. Brian Randell was one of the co-founders and he explains about its history, structure and some of the wealth of records that can be found in this "union of libraries". Plus we also talk briefly about GENEVA the genealogy event diary.