News

New Historic Landowner Records Released 30 August 2024

We are excited to announce the release of historic landowner records. The new additions consist of Feet of Fines, Index of Sasines, and the Scotland Record Office Index to Register of Deeds, offering a wealth of information for those delving into their ancestry.

Family history research often requires scouring military records to uncover the career details of ancestors who had served in the British Army. A key resource for such research are the officially published Army Lists that provide comprehensive details about officers and warrant officers, including their ranks, regiments, and service appointments.

Feet of Fines: These documents provide insights into land transactions, usually involving the transfer of property rights, and were commonly used in English legal proceedings from the 13th century onwards. Contains detailed information about the parties involved in the transactions, property descriptions, and the dates of agreements.

Index of Sasines: Sasines are legal documents that confirm the possession of land and property, reflecting the transfer of ownership in Scotland from the 16th century onwards. This index allows users to quickly locate and access critical details surrounding property ownership.

Scotland Record Office Index to Register of Deeds: This comprehensive index opens the door to a vast array of legal documents relating to property and inheritance in Scotland.

Over 25,000 Individuals Added to Commemorate WWI 09 August 2024

To mark the 110th anniversary of the start of World War I, we are proud to announce the release of an extensive collection of military records featuring the global conflict. This significant release includes service records, rolls of honour, and books of remembrance from schools, places, and institutions, providing invaluable insights into the lives of those who served and sacrificed during the Great War.

The newly released records offer a look at over 25,000 individuals, giving details such as the service histories of soldiers, portraits, details of their schooling, and family connections, including poignant details of those killed or wounded in action.

Mark Bayley, Head of Content at TheGenealogist, commented: “This release not only preserves the memories of the men and women who feature in these records, it also provides a window into the past for future generations. This adds to our extensive WW1 collections, providing a valuable resource for anyone interested in the personal histories and sacrifices of those who experienced the Great War.”

These records not only commemorate the bravery and dedication of those who served but also provide a rich resource for researchers and family historians.

Over 3.5 million individuals added 26 July 2024

We are delighted to announce the release of a comprehensive collection of 1930-35 directories. This addition features over 3.5 million individuals, providing genealogy enthusiasts with an unparalleled opportunity to trace their ancestors and explore family histories during the first half of this transformative decade of the 1930s.

The newly available directories offer information on individuals, businesses, and localities, making it easier than ever to uncover the lives of your ancestors.

Rich Detail and Coverage: With over 3.5 million listings, these directories provide details about individuals' professions, addresses, and local businesses, offering a snapshot of life in the first half of the 1930s.

Geographical Diversity: The collection covers various regions, including Sussex, Warwickshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Dorsetshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Westmorland, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and many more, extending even to the Channel Islands, Malta and New Zealand.

Enhanced Research Capabilities: Researchers can delve into trade directories and phone books to uncover ancestors' occupations, residences, and social engagements, providing a holistic view of their lives.

The 1930s, also known as the Great Slump, was a period of economic and social upheaval. Understanding how your ancestors navigated these challenging times can provide profound insights into your family's resilience and adaptability.

New Obituaries from 1600s to 1800s 18 June 2024

We have just added over 20,000 obituary records from the Index Society, Musgrave’s Obituaries and the Society of Friends to our record collection, with obituaries dating back to the 1600s.

You can now access a set of intriguing records covering three important publications from the Stuart Era in the 17th Century to the Victorian Era in the 19th Century.

The entries give the dates not only of the individuals' deaths but also their birth dates or ages and often other useful observations such as occupation details and other family members. Obituaries often cite their sources as well, for example providing a newspaper page, edition, etc so you know where to look next for more information.

Free Military Records Released to Commemorate D-Day 05 June 2024

In time to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day on 6th June, we have added United States WWII Army Enlistment Records (1938-1946) to our Free Records Collection. In these records, we can find the names and particulars of American soldiers who joined up to serve their country and fight for freedom.

These records provide detailed information about enlistment dates, service branches, ranks, and more about US soldiers from this time.

While Operation Overlord, the code name for the Battle of Normandy, was an Allied operation consisting of British, Canadian and other Allied nations' troops, the Americans provided the bulk of the soldiers for the Liberation of Europe on 6 June 1945, and so this new record set will have many of the young men who fought in D-Day listed.

1.8 Million New Military Records Now Online 24 May 2024

We have just added 1.8 million individuals to our Military Collection with our latest release of Army Lists from 1837 to 1959.

Family history research often requires scouring military records to uncover the career details of ancestors who had served in the British Army. A key resource for such research are the officially published Army Lists that provide comprehensive details about officers and warrant officers, including their ranks, regiments, and service appointments.

Subscribers to TheGenealogist can now access an extensive collection of digitised Army Lists, which can significantly enhance their understanding of an ancestor's military career. These records detail officers by regiment, rank and seniority, offering a detailed snapshot of the officer corps at any given time.

Where were they in 1851? Mapping Your Ancestors’ in the Census 10 May 2024

For the first time, you can now pin down your ancestors in 1851!

The 1851 census now joins the ranks of other key censuses (1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911, and the 1939 Register) already integrated with our innovative Map Explorer™.

This latest release makes it easy to locate an ancestor geographically in the 1851 census. With a choice of historical and modern georeferenced maps, this welcome development makes it simple to explore the place where your ancestors lived and discover their surroundings.

Census records have always been a staple resource for family historians. With the particulars of the street or road name, researchers will often turn to a modern map to see if they can locate where their forebears lived. This, however, can be fraught with difficulties if the road name changed over the years or the area was redeveloped. Thus, TheGenealogist has been working through its census collection, linking the records to the detailed map collections on its Map Explorer™.

Now with just a click of a button researchers can pin their forebears’ residences down to a parish, street or building and trace the routes they would have taken to visit local shops, pubs, churches, workplaces, and parks.

These historical maps reveal the location of major roads and the nearest railway stations, shedding light on how our ancestors would have travelled to other parts of the country to work, visit relatives or their hometowns.