There are some issues relating to restricted access to a computer which your IT helpdesk probably can’t help you with…

Most of our ancestors have peaceful deaths but my 2xGt Grandfather, John Flynn's life came to an end in Granton Harbour. The records don't tell us whether he jumped, fell or was pushed, simply that his body was found in Granton Harbour on 13 August 1881, the cause of death, drowning. #MyFamily52Maps

Here's a link to a list of all the talks that I do, together with a list of all my current bookings. My fee will be going up next year but all existing bookings and any new bookings agreed by the end of 2026 will be at the current rate. @federationfhs.bsky.social lifelinesresearch.co.uk/talks/

Talks

I am an experienced speaker with a large repertoire of talks, covering a variety of family history-based topics. I have spoken at RootsTech, The Genealogy Show, Who Do You Think You Are Live? and o…

lifelinesresearch.co.uk

I had a bit of a eureka research moment earlier. I cracked a case thanks to the discovery of a settlement examination in one of those unindexed collections on Ancestry. They don’t make it easy but if you know what you’re doing there’s some good stuff there…

Some family photos are just crying out to be used as book covers. Now, I’ve just got to write the book…

A recent purchase which has just reached the top of the pile. Looking forward to reading this one..

I'm talking to the Northamptonshire FHS at 7.30 this evening (via Zoom). I'm giving them my increasingly inaccurately-titled talk, Bringing it up to date: Research in the 20th Century Are we really over a quarter of the way through the 21st Century already...?

My 2xGt Grandmother, Catherine Crinnell or Krennel came from the Isle of Man's most northerly parish, Kirk Bride. Or, as it appears on John Blaeu's map from his 'Atlas Maior' (1662/65), 'Kirk Bridge'. Never mind the cartographic accuracy, just revel in the beauty of the map... #MyFamily52Maps

This is my Great Auntie Jan, 100 today, on her wedding day in May 1944. L to R: Margaret Sinclair Annal (1904-1973) Robert Annal (1921-2006) Janet Annal (née Arnold) Joseph William Batters Arnold (1903-1982) Maria Jane Arnold (née Andrews) (1908-1967)

I recently became a grandad for the first time but I've been a great nephew since the day I was born - 65 and a half years ago! This is my Great Auntie Jan, celebrating her 100th birthday, with her nephew, James - a slip of a lad, at 81! Happy Birthday Jan!

Only the crumbliest, flakiest documents… 🎶 (A paean to ADM 35) @uknatarcsector.bsky.social

Working out exactly where our rural ancestors lived can be a bit of a challenge, but thanks to James Wood's 1867 Atlas & Gazetteer of the Isle of Man, I know exactly where my 2x Gt Grandfather, Charles Howland, grew up. His parents owned the farm at Leodest in the parish of Andreas. #MyFamily52Maps

I'm making the long trip* this evening to talk to the Friends of Bushey Museum about those infuriating ancestors of ours who felt that it was perfectly acceptable to lie when they completed their census forms and to lie to the church and civil registration authorities... * it's a 5 minute drive 😉

The illustrations that you find from time-to-time at the top of Merchant Navy crew lists are little works of art. And they serve no 'useful' function whatsoever - they're there just because they can be...

Entirely UN-connected... Jeez... 🤨

Dave Annal Lifelines Research@davelifelines.bsky.social · 2w ago

Sometimes it's SOOOO hard to resist! I was browsing through some mid-19th century newspapers when this map jumped out at me. It was entirely connected to what I was looking for but I couldn't help notice the words: 'Place where the body was found' I mean, what's a guy supposed to do... 😉

Sometimes it's SOOOO hard to resist! I was browsing through some mid-19th century newspapers when this map jumped out at me. It was entirely connected to what I was looking for but I couldn't help notice the words: 'Place where the body was found' I mean, what's a guy supposed to do... 😉

When I was born in 1961 I instantly became a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew and a great nephew. In 1966, I became a cousin. In 1982, I became a husband. In 1992, I became a father and later, an uncle. In 2025, I became a father-in-law. And a few days ago... ... I became a grandfather!

My 2xGt Grandfather, Charles Howland, was born on the Isle of Man in 1843. He was baptised at Andreas parish church on 28 April and lived on the island until sometime around 1871 when he moved to Scotland. The Howland family's Manx roots can be traced back to the 17th century. #MyFamily52Maps

Some lovely feedback from yesterday's talk at the Phyllis Court Club Family History Group. "Thank you again for another fascinating and superbly crafted presentation." Always a pleasure to speak there...

You're Welcome

ALT: You're Welcome

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I'm heading off to Henley-on-Thames this morning to speak to the Phyllis Court Club Family History Group. I'll be talking on one of my favourite topics; using works of fiction to help us understand our ancestors lives. I'm on stage at 11am. #FactFromFiction

If I’ve been a bit quiet on here this week it’s because I’ve been busy combining two of my greatest loves - history and grassroots football! My younger daughter and I have putting together an exhibition to cerebrate the 30th birthday of Garston Ladies FC. And this is what it looked like…

My 2xGt Grandmother, Mary Layton, was an active member of the Old Meeting House, the Independent chapel in Well Street, Buckingham, seen here on this Tithe Map. It's likely that this is where she met her future husband, my 2x Gt Grandfather, Thomas Port. They married there in 1847. #MyFamily52Maps

It’s not even 9 o’clock yet and my assistant is already flagging. Getting anything done today may prove quite challenging… #ProofOfCat

Well, I've definitely never come across this before. A grant of letters of administration to the widow of a man who died in Leicestershire in 1692, and at the foot of the page, next to the signatures of the clerk and bondsmen, is a list of the deceased's children along with their ages!

A nice piece on the subject here: manyheadedmonster.com/2014/10/13/t...

‘The Rabble that Cannot Read’? Ordinary People’s Literacy in Seventeenth-Century England

Mark Hailwood Those of us historians intent on exploring the world of ordinary women and men in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries conduct a lot of our research by looking at surviving example…

manyheadedmonster.com

Dave Annal Lifelines Research@davelifelines.bsky.social · last mo.

The more you work with early modern documents, the more you come to realise that literacy is not a binary issue. This 1687 will has a firm signature from John Argill, a more shaky one by John Tovey and a mark made by Elizabeth Pratt. Finally Elizabeth Orton's mark is the initial letter of her name.

The more you work with early modern documents, the more you come to realise that literacy is not a binary issue. This 1687 will has a firm signature from John Argill, a more shaky one by John Tovey and a mark made by Elizabeth Pratt. Finally Elizabeth Orton's mark is the initial letter of her name.

My 2xGt Grandmother, Mary Layton, was born in Buckingham in 1815. Her father died in 1835 and at the time of the 1841 census she was living with her mother and a number of siblings in a house in Bankers Row, on the east side of Nelson Street, backing on to the parish church. #MyFamily52Maps

I've been researching a family who came to face-to-face with extreme poverty in the early-to-mid 19th century. In two consecutive generations the early death of the main wage earner led to the family being forced into the workhouse. Two items that I came across were particularly moving... 1/

My 2xGt Grandfather Thomas Port died in Chaddesley Corbett in rural Worcestershire in January 1900 but he was buried in the family grave at Key Hill Cemetery in the centre of Birmingham. The stone is still there today but it's in a terrible state. One day I'll do something about it! #MyFamily52Maps

Self-employment and Bank Holidays make uncomfortable bedfellows. Discuss... #AmWorking

Jim Carrey Typing Frantically (Bruce Almighty)

ALT: Jim Carrey Typing Frantically (Bruce Almighty)

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