Who Do You Think You Are?

Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine not only explores the stories behind the popular BBC genealogy TV series, but also helps you uncover your own roots. Each issue is packed with practical advice to help you track down family history archives and get the most out of online resources, alongside features on what life was like in the past and the historic events that affected our ancestors.

SARAH'S TOP TIP • Explore the online catalogues of local archives for gems relevant to your tree

Welcome

CONTRIBUTORS

Letters

Who Do You Think You Are?

What's On

The National Archives plans to use AI to transcribe records • Rosemary Collins reports on the latest data releases and genealogy news

NEWS IN BRIEF

TheGenealogist adds five million directory records

CAN YOU HELP?

British woman discovers link to 18th-century German merchant

MyHeritage releases new DNA tool

Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies creates free papal-dispensations database

The Essence Of Easter • Alan Crosby explains the role of Easter in our ancestors’ lives two centuries ago

KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY • Legal historian Rebecca Probert explains how the law surrounding marriage between cousins and other relations has changed over the years, thanks in part to Henry VIII

DARWIN'S DILEMMA • Charles Darwin overcame his doubts to marry his first cousin

THE SCOTTISH QUESTION • The legal system in Scotland had harsh punishment for what it considered incest

RESOURCES • Take your research further

WONDERFUL WHISKERS • Alun Withey traces the evolution of men's facial hair during the 19th century, and reveals what it can tell us about our ancestors

HOW TO BUILD A BEARD • Acquiring and maintaining an impressive beard was not always easy

SIX STYLES • The styles of beard you are most likely to see in Victorian photos

RESOURCES • Take your research further

‘MY ANCESTOR WAS ON THE CUTTY SARK'S HELL VOYAGE’ • When Cathy MacLeod discovered that her great great grandfather was carpenter on the Cutty Sark, she had no idea of the trials he faced on one of the iconic ship's voyages, she tells Claire Vaughan

RESOURCES • These are the main resources Cathy used in her research

ROYAL MILITARY POLICE • Phil Tomaselli tells the story of British Army police, nicknamed ‘Redcaps’ because of their headgear

ANTHONY BAGOT CORBETT • How one sergeant earned a Distinguished Conduct Medal

EXPERT PICKS • Phil recommends these online resources for researching your ancestor who served in the MP

MEDAL ROLL • The MFP and MMP First World War medal rolls are invaluable, giving details for men whose service records don't survive. They are held by The National Archives (nationalarchives.gov.uk), and available on Ancestry (ancestry.co.uk)

RESOURCES

AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE • Jonathan Scott shares online records of the war 250 years after the first shots were fired

EXPERT'S CHOICE • Samantha Wilcoxson's James Alexander Hamilton and Women of the American Revolution are available from Pen & Sword

GO FURTHER • Nine more websites that are well worth visiting

FEET OF FINES • Alan Crosby explains how you can find and use these valuable records of property ownership

FEET OF FINES, 1328 • These records were published in Feet of Fines For the County of York, From 1327 to 1347 1–20 Edward III edited by W Paley Baildon (Yorkshire Archaeological Society Record Series Vol. XLII, 1910). They have been digitised and are available from both TheGenealogist (thegenealogist.co.uk) and the Internet Archive (archive.org)

RESOURCES • Take your research further

Q&A...