Some new resources have just been added online. First up, The National Archives Documents Online service has added details of continuous service engagement books between 1853 and 1873 at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/royal-navy-service.asp. Before 1853 ratings were paid off at the end of each voyage, but now the system changed. Initially boys and men over 18 who joined up had to serve ten years "continuous service" and existing ratings were encouraged to swap to the new system as well. These records are the first attempt by the Navy to introduce what in effect a single service record. Meanwhile, FindMyPast have added the last batch of outward bound passenger lists for the 1950s http://www.ancestorsonboard.com now they are complete between 1890 and 1960 and very useful they are too. There’s been a competition among colleagues here at Kew tracking famous people (or people who later found fame) in the lists from the 50s. The most obscure entry was for a one-year old Tony Blair who was taken to Australia by his parents in 1953. His family weren’t part of the mass emigration under the "Ten Pound Pom" scheme, but hundreds of thousands of people took advantage to start new lives Downunder. Lastly, Genes Reunited have added the indexes to the General Register Office (GRO) registers of mainly English-born service personnel who died in the two world wars http://www.genesreunited.com. These are the least used of all of the lists of the war dead, but will give you a man’s full name and service number and occasionally other information as well. You can also use the information to order a death certificate for the individual from GRO.
We’re now taking bookings for the Ancestors Afternoon on Thursday 19 June at The National Archives. This year’s theme is "problem solving". The speakers include David Annal providing a general introduction to resolving brick walls, and William Spencer looking at problems with the WW1 service records (both from The National Archives). Sharon Hintze, from the Hyde Park Family History Centre, will concentrate on resolving difficulties in tracing births, marriages and deaths. The Ancestors Lecture is to be given by Professor David Hey, one of Britain’s most eminent local historians (and good friend of Ancestors). He will look at solving problems relating to 16th and 17th century research.
Best of all tickets are free. To get yours ring 020-8392 5271 or email ancestors@nationalarchives.gov.uk. The last two such events were sell out events, I’d advise you to book now.
About four times a year The National Archives publishes "RecordKeeping" for "all those interested in archives and records". The journal is clearly aimed at archivists and record managers, but there are always one or two articles of wider interest. The Winter 2008 issue is now available and among the articles on electronic records management and assessments of local authority archive provisions there are pieces on the completion of the cataloguing the CO 323 (Colonial Office General) series of correspondence, which I worked on years ago when the world was young, and the Beale and Inman Archives at Westminster City Archives (Acc 2553-37). Beale and Inman were shirtmakers to the upper classes, with Winston Churchill and Neville Chamberlain among their clientele, and their papers include sales ledgers and name books containing references from other tailors and bootmakers. Clearly Beale and Inman wanted clients whom they knew would pay for the aristocracy were notoriously bad payers. RecordKeeping can be downloaded for free from http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/services/recordkeeping.htm or is on sale in the shop at The National Archives at Kew, price £2.
