RootsTech London - Research Opportunities

RootsTech is coming to London October 24-26!!!  The learning opportunities are amazing with all the classes on offer.  But what about extending your time in London and visiting some of the amazing archives, repositories and museums?

I've researched in London many times over the years, and in particular at:

• The National Archives in Kew  http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

• The Society of Genealogists in Central London  http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

• London Metropolitan Archives  https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/london-metropolitan-archives/visitor-information/Pages/default.asp

• City of Westminster Archives Centre   https://www.westminster.gov.uk/archives

• British Library  https://www.bl.uk/#

• British Museum   https://www.britishmuseum.org/

• Imperial War Museum  https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits

Understanding the historical context of your ancestors lives adds much to your research.  Understanding what was happening at the time, can help explain some unusual surnames, family movements to new cities, etc.

The National Archives at Kew is well worth the visit, and it's a lovely day out of Central London. In particular I have researched Royal Marine records there, and was lucky enough to have found my GG Grandfather's Royal Marine attestation from 1837 - which gave me his birthplace (a village I hadn't researched), and a physical description.  It was amazing to be handed this piece of history to look through!  

So get yourself registered for RootsTech London in October, and let the research begin!

RootsTech London 3 day Pass Givewaway!!!!

I am so happy that RootsTech has given me, as a RootsTech London Ambassador, a free 3 day pass (149 Pound value) to giveaway to my followers!

I am excited that RootsTech is expanding to London, allowing others to experience this great event. Mark your calendars for October 24-26, 2019 at London's ExCel Convention Centre. The event will be hosted by Nick Barratt, author, historian and host of BBS's Who Do You Think You Are.

Why should you attend? The real question is why not? Here's just some of my reasons:

• 150 Informative Lectures from knowledgeable experts from around the world. Download the RootsTech app to your phone or table, and check out all the presentations!  I'm looking forward to Irish and British research classes
• Huge Exhibit Hall, discover all the cool genealogy offerings in the exhibit hall. Consult with experts from Family History Societies and Archives. Buy new software and meet your cousins!
• Outstanding Entertainment, everybody needs a break from the hard work of chasing ancestors, so sit back and enjoy Donny Osmond and other great entertainers!
• Learning from Others, you never know when you may find yourself seated next to someone with a shared research interest or even a cousin. Attending region specific classes can put you in touch with like minded researchers.

It's an outstanding event, and I encourage you to attend!

To enter the 3 day pass drawing, leave a comment on my blog with why you want to attend, and I'll select a winner by August 5th.  The pass does not include airfare or hotel.

A proliferation of JENKINS

Sometimes you have to go back and revisit your direct lines to see if you've missed anything.  I did just that earlier this year, and found a 4x Aunt, Elizabeth White, that I had never fleshed out.  I didn't have a marriage for her, and she disappeared from records.

With the help of DNA and Ancestry's new Thru Lines feature, everything pointed to this Elizabeth White marrying an Emanuel Jenkin in 1805 in Madron.  So I started adding the children and descendants....

Little did I realize this would be a HUGE project!  Emanuel and Elizabeth had 10 children, each who lived to adulthood.  They each went on to proliferate the Madron/Newlyn/Mousehole area with over 700+ descendants.

I was recently in Cornwall and went to the Paul Parish Church (this is the parish church for Mousehole), and found a few Jenkins in the large cemetery there.  The descendants were primarily fisherman, and were lucky to live in such a beautiful area.

Thankfully the name Emanuel carries down through the generations, as does Jenkin as a middle name. It has been an amazing experience to add SO many new ancestors, who are such close cousins.  Elizabeth White's brother Edward White (b 1773 in St Just in Penwith) is my GGG Grandfather.

LONDON calling......

LONDON calling…..

RootsTech is coming to London! After many successful years in Salt Lake City, the conference is expanding to London!  Mark your calendars for October 24-26!

My ancestry is English and Irish, I almost exclusively research in these two countries, so I couldn’t be more thrilled that RootsTech is expanding outside of the USA.  I have researched extensively in England and Ireland over the past 25+ years, and visited many of my ancestors villages and graves.  It is a thrill to walk in their footsteps and adds such context to your research.

RootsTech will offer learning and networking opportunities with genealogy experts, vendors, and colleagues (cousins!).  I’ve always found the classes, key note sessions, and vendor hall to be invaluable. There is always something new to learn, a new product or software to buy, and experts to consult.

I encourage you to expand your horizons, stretch your genealogy brain, and engage in learning new techniques in the quest for your ancestors.  The stories, photos and facts are important to document and share – RootsTech gives you the tools/techniques and ideas for doing so!

I will be running a contest for one lucky winner to receive a full pass to RootsTech.  Stay tuned…..