Family History Month in New Zealand

I am pleased to be giving a number of talks at events in New Zealand (via Zoom rather than in person) while they celebrate Family History Month this August.

What Did They Do? – Sources for Trades, Occupations and Professions

The first event was for the Auckland Libraries on Wednesday 3 August. The handout for the talk is linked below.

During the questions after the talk, the Know Your Place website was mentioned which links the Gloucestershire Tithe Maps with the Apportionments given in the handout. This website is useful beyond just the Tithe records – check it out if you have ancestors in the South West of England. Also mentioned in the talk was the webinar at Legacy Family Tree Webinars by Helen Smith on Gazetteers. If you have a subscription, you can access the webinar here. Brent also put a useful link for how to use the Way Back Machine into the chat.

Hidden in Plain Site

This talk helps you explore frequently overlooked free [web]sites that hold a wealth of useful information to support out family history research. I will be giving this talk twice: on Saturday 13 August at 9am (NZ time) via Zoom (for people attending the Auckland Family History Expo) and on Sunday 21 August at 10.30am (NZ time) via Zoom (for people attending the Christchurch Family History Expo). The handout for the talk is linked below.

Using DNA to Support Family History Research

This talk helps you to start to practically use your DNA results to help you with your family history. I cover the tools required to verify research you have already done, break down a brickwall or help find unknown parents or grandparents. I will be giving this talk on Saturday 13 August at 2pm (NZ time) via Zoom (for people attending the Auckland Family History Expo). The handout for the talk is linked below.

Hidden in the Small Print

This talk is all about finding the clues that are hidden within the records we already have access to. It is all about how to keep looking further than the high level facts that are obvious within the records. I will be giving this talk on Sunday 14 August at 9am (NZ time) via Zoom (for people attending the Auckland Family History Expo) and on Saturday 20 August at 10.30am (NZ time) via Zoom (for people attending the Christchurch Family History Expo). The handout for the talk is linked below.

Talking Family History

Talking Family History is a wonderful virtual family history community that is run by Fiona Brooker and Michelle Patient who both live in New Zealand. It brings together family historians from predominantly New Zealand and Australia but there are a few Brits who regularly attend. It is held fortnightly on a Friday evening (or morning for us Brits) and although there is a subscription fee it is worth it. Highlights include Michelle’s News section which keeps us up to date with all the latest developments; exploring families with Fiona which often leads to use collectively solving the origins for artifacts she has found; and our regular ‘homework’ to keep us moving our research forward. If you sign up before 12 August, you will get a chance to join the opening event at the Auckland Expo as part of our regular Zoom session. This group has been a wonderful way of keeping in touch throughout the pandemic and from the other side of the world.

Interview on Radio NZ

To help promote the Auckland and Christchurch Family History Expos, I was interviewed on Radio NZ which was broadcast on Sunday 7 August. I discussed the benefits of family history and DNA testing. A link to the recording is provided here.

Family History Down Under

If you head to Sydney in November, I hope to get the chance to meet lots of genealogy friends new and old at Family History Down Under. Tickets available for the in person conference as well as a live stream or access to the recordings. Let me know if you are heading there and I’ll say hi.