Unlock Your Family History

I’m addicted to family history research. I find that once I start on a thread I can't stop!! There is now so much online that I can while away several hours finding new and more in depth information. It's not just about names and dates but about understanding more about the lives of those that came before us. With more and more online, this journey has become more accessible and exciting than ever. Whether you’re a seasoned genealogist or just starting to explore your roots, online tools can help you unlock your family’s unique story.

Discovering the Power of Family Heritage Programs

Family heritage programs are designed to help us gather, organise, and understand our family history in a way that’s both meaningful and manageable. These programs often include features like family tree builders, record searches, and even DNA integration. It's best to pick one key site that you use to save yourself from duplicating everything on multiple sites and creating errors.

Census records might list your great-grandparents’ occupations, a military service record might give details of an act of bravery or a trial document might show you who was a trouble maker!

Many programs now include multimedia options, allowing you to add photos, scanned documents, and even audio recordings. I recently uploaded photo's to my tree and I find it much more rewarding to see a few generations of faces in the tree than just the names. It created a richer, more immersive family story. I’ve found that adding personal stories, which I write up in Word for each family, or adding old letters makes the history feel more real.

I have also started to look at mapping locations. Seeing where your family lived, migrated, or worked on a map adds a geographical dimension to your research. It’s fascinating to trace the paths that led to your current family location.

Many Battalion War diaries are now digitised

Practical Tips for Getting Started with Your Family Heritage Journey

Where to start so it doesn't feel daunting? Here’s a few tips to get you started:

• Start with What You Know: Gather information that you already have - like birth certificates, christening cards, old letters, and family photos.

• Talk to Relatives: Conversations with older family members can reveal stories and details not recorded anywhere else. I am amazed at how much new information can come from a revisited subject - so don't just ask once!

• Choose a Family History Program: Pick a program that fits your needs and start building your family tree. I personally use Ancestry as my main site but there are many more. A detailed article here is useful: https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/getting-started/choosing-the-best-genealogy-subscription-website

• Explore Local Archives: Don’t overlook local libraries, churches, and historical societies. We have contributed our own time at Sittingbourne Heritage Museum and have written numerous articles on the archives there. https://www.sittingbourne-museum.co.uk/

• Keep a Research Journal: Document your sources and findings to stay organised and avoid repeating searches.

• Be Patient and Curious: Sometimes, discoveries take time, but every piece of information adds to the bigger picture. Go back to 'brickwalls' and see what new information is now available - the digitised archives are growing every day!

  
  

Embracing the Stories That Connect Us

Build your own set of family stories and share them with interested family members. It might just trigger another thought. You'll have a set of stories that you can refer back to and share with younger members of the family (when they are interested). Try and imagine what life was really like in those circumstances, those jobs, those places and see if you can add a little flavour to the dates and places.

With the right tools and a bit of dedication, you can bring your ancestors’ stories to life and keep their memories alive for generations to come. Happy researching!