| The
Museum of Lead Mining Educational Tour
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| The
Museum of Lead Mining Educational Tour
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Genealogy - The study or accounting of descent from ancestors
| Why trace your ancestors? | |
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People have many reasons why they set out to trace their family history, maybe family stories handed down through the generations, an old photograph, or perhaps an ancestral diary or family Bible, or just curiosity. But whatever your reasons, we all have one thing in common; an all-absorbing need to find when and how our ancestors lived. After all, it is our forebears who have handed down the physical and mental characteristics, which make you the way you look, think, talk, walk and act. Perhaps there is a history of twins in the family, or a talent for painting, needlework, maths or some other skill, which may have come down through the generations. Tracing your family history could help you discover from which family line these traits have arisen. |
| What Will You Find? | |
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It is essential to realise that most families have, over the years, had their “ups and downs.” Your forebears may have been anything from members of the professions to labourers or tradesmen. Some will have been hard-working members of the community, outgoing and cheerful; some maybe were reserved or shy, whilst others were sickly and irresponsible. Time and circumstances may have often changed the lifestyle of the family, the rich become poor and the poor become rich. You may find someone famous in your family or even someone not so famous! |
| Where to Start | |
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Genealogy
is perhaps the greatest puzzle of all to solve. Using our form as a
starting point, you can begin with yourself adding details of your
parents and grandparents and if you can, your great grandparents. Ask
older relatives for names and details and add them to your chart to
build up a picture of your family. This is only the start you can add
other branches of the family to broaden and deepen your Family Tree.
You can go many decades back in time and turn up some interesting people from your family history. Perhaps you will find a famous ancestor or even someone with a dubious past! Who knows what you will turn up. |
| Where Can I Find Out More? | |
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The Internet can be a useful place to research family
history and you can gather lots of information from graveyards. There
are Public Records Offices in most large cities where records of births,
marriages and deaths are held and for a small fee you can research your
family history there. Church or Parish records are also a useful source
of data.
Older relatives can be a great source of information too so ask them for an 'interview' they will be delighted to talk about their past and a small tape recorder would be useful here. Make a list of questions beforehand so that you get all of the information that you require. |
| The Census | |
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Census records are a useful source of information for the Family Detective. The Census is taken every 10 years and the information gathered is held securely for 100 years. The last Census was in April 2001 and was the first of the new millennium. It was also the first time that a Census required households to post back their returns. The first Census that recorded names was in 1841. The 1901 Census data is due for release in 2002. |
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