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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: MrsS2012 on Tuesday 02 June 20 10:16 BST (UK)

Title: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: MrsS2012 on Tuesday 02 June 20 10:16 BST (UK)
Does anyone belong to one?
As I now have much more time to dedicate to my research I've been thinking about joining a family history society. I thought it would be a good way to potentially meet people who are as enthusiastic as me and hopefully pick up more tips and advice. Of course there is plenty of that on here but it's also nice to actually go out and meet people and maybe get involved in some ancestry related projects.
I'm based in Essex and was looking at the Essex family history society but the only thing that confuses me is that it says it's for people who are tracing family members in the Essex area.. none of my family originate from Essex so would there be any benefit to me joining this group or am I better to look at groups based on where my family are from? (sorry if this seems like a dumb question :P)
I have contacted them but am yet to receive a reply.. I imagine it might take a while due to the current situation so I thought I'd just ask you folks on here!
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: Gibel on Tuesday 02 June 20 10:35 BST (UK)
I belong to a family history society where I live. The society covers a large area and has groups in different towns in the area. When I joined the society I didn’t live in the larger area but joined because my family lived in the area. When I moved here I was able to go the local town’s monthly meetings and discovered I was a rarity having family who came from the area!

Most of the people who attend our monthly meetings don’t have family in the area but come because of the shared interest. Why not look into if there are monthly meetings locally and when they are able to be held go along to them.

Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: nanny jan on Tuesday 02 June 20 10:38 BST (UK)
I belong to one (Dorset) but have no lines in the county;  "For people in Dorset or people with Dorset Ancestors".

Before the pandemic there were monthly meetings on a variety of topics (not all Dorset centred), a coach trip once or twice a year to TNA, a computer group and often courses or workshops at the headquarters.  We are fortunate in having an office where we can access a library, several computers with subs to Ancestry, FindMyPast etc. A journal is published four times a year with news, articles, book reviews etc.

Have a look at the Essex FHS website and see what they offer;  you can usually attend a meeting without being a member.
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: Craclyn on Tuesday 02 June 20 11:15 BST (UK)
I have been a member of several over the past few years. I am currently only a member of NDFHS (Northumberland and Durham). I find the benefits are few, but since the sub is not high I have chosen to continue it for a while in case I need something that only they have.
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: guest189040 on Tuesday 02 June 20 11:35 BST (UK)
My Mrs joined the Manchester society which has a base in the main Library and archive which happens to be in the City Centre.

The subs were very reasonable and access to the at hand archive and microfische really heelped.

What did not help was the location, and exhorbeftent parking fees, we could easily go through £50 going there, parking and having lunch and drinks just for a few hours research.

Thank goodness I can do all that for free at Lancashire Archives.
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: louisa maud on Tuesday 02 June 20 12:06 BST (UK)
Meeting like minded people is a bonus

Louisa Maud
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: guest189040 on Tuesday 02 June 20 12:31 BST (UK)
Meeting like minded people is a bonus

Louisa Maud

Very true.

For people of a certain age check out your local U3A organisation, ours cost £12 a year and gives us access to 70 different activities and ours includes Family HistoryGroup which meets once a month and we also have a Facebook Group.
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: MrsS2012 on Tuesday 02 June 20 13:31 BST (UK)
Ok great, I'll look into joining the Essex one then. I'd really like to get involved in some projects too, like transcribing, especially transcribing headstones.. not sure how to go about it but I thought a family history society would be the first logical step!
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: nanny jan on Tuesday 02 June 20 15:10 BST (UK)
I used to be on the headstone transcribing team for Dorset FHS.  A team would record one cemetery/churchyard working in pairs; one to read (or attempt to!) the headstone and the other to record the details and position.

Sometime later the records would be typed/checked and added to a database.

There was also a team transcribing parish registers held at the county archives......be warned....it can become addictive!  :)

Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: Maiden Stone on Tuesday 02 June 20 17:06 BST (UK)
I'm glad that you mentioned what you can give to a local FHS as well as potential benefit to yourself.  :)
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: MrsS2012 on Tuesday 02 June 20 18:54 BST (UK)
I used to be on the headstone transcribing team for Dorset FHS.  A team would record one cemetery/churchyard working in pairs; one to read (or attempt to!) the headstone and the other to record the details and position.

Sometime later the records would be typed/checked and added to a database.

There was also a team transcribing parish registers held at the county archives......be warned....it can become addictive!  :)
How did you get involved in this?!
Hoping to drag hubby round all the local cemeteries and get him to help me out.. So not his cup of tea but I'll talk him into it!!
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: nanny jan on Tuesday 02 June 20 19:06 BST (UK)
I was at the headquarters using a computer to research and one of the volunteers asked if I would like to join them.

Best to check that any cemetery or churchyard you were thinking of recording has not already been done; I'm sure offers of help will be welcomed with open arms!
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: MrsS2012 on Tuesday 02 June 20 20:36 BST (UK)
I've just signed up to UK Indexer. I'll explore it properly tomorrow but looks like it offers lots of transcribing projects.
There is also a section on headstone transcribing.. Looks like there is a churchyard very near us that hasn't been covered so I'll try and persuade hubby to head up there with me tomorrow and take some snaps.
He thinks I'm too morbid haha!
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: UK4753 on Tuesday 02 June 20 21:42 BST (UK)
This may be slightly off topic but Family Search is always looking for people to help with indexing their records.  There is a drop down labeled "Indexing" on the main screen to get started.  You can do as much or as little as you wish.

 :)
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: MrsS2012 on Wednesday 03 June 20 17:25 BST (UK)
This may be slightly off topic but Family Search is always looking for people to help with indexing their records.  There is a drop down labeled "Indexing" on the main screen to get started.  You can do as much or as little as you wish.

 :)

fantastic thank you!
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: Darnity on Saturday 06 June 20 15:01 BST (UK)
You also might like to look at the Family History Federation website:

https://www.familyhistoryfederation.com/


I belong to four UK family history societies and enjoy reading their journals.

Like most voluntary organisations FHS' are usually very glad of offers of help and I'm sure your local society would be very pleased to hear from you.
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: MrsS2012 on Saturday 06 June 20 15:17 BST (UK)
Thank you, I've done a few batches on uk indexer.. Mainly transcribing headstones. Doesn't seem to be a huge amount of work on there though.
Have now just signed to to family search too and have just done my first batch with them. Its good because it gets you used to reading the old handwriting!
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: aghadowey on Saturday 06 June 20 16:19 BST (UK)
If you've done a DNA test (or are thinking about it) your local family history might b a great place to get help and advice (both from speakers at meetings and other members).
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: MrsS2012 on Sunday 07 June 20 20:31 BST (UK)
If you've done a DNA test (or are thinking about it) your local family history might b a great place to get help and advice (both from speakers at meetings and other members).
I'll keep checking in with my local family history group. Obviously meeting etc are all on hold at the moment but once things get moving again I'll go along.
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: Maiden Stone on Sunday 07 June 20 22:55 BST (UK)
Some societies are on Facebook. One I belong to has a forum on which enquiries are posted - I get email notifications most days. Local knowledge is useful, some enquirers want to know where a place is.
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: MrsS2012 on Monday 08 June 20 13:18 BST (UK)
Some societies are on Facebook. One I belong to has a forum on which enquiries are posted - I get email notifications most days. Local knowledge is useful, some enquirers want to know where a place is.
Not on FB but thank you anyway for the suggestion. I've been in touch with the Society of Genealogists and they have sent me an application for offsite volunteering which I'll fill in today. Once lockdown ends they have on site volunteering opportunities too so that should be interesting ;D
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: Rowleyrosie on Thursday 11 June 20 16:32 BST (UK)
Local History Societies are worth checking out, too. I found that one society where some ancestors lived had transcribed and made available online on their website not only all the parish registers for the parish but also the censuses and the school registers and a vast range of personal memories by  older residents - enormously helpful and the latter really brought the place to life for me.
So now when I am looking at an unfamiliar area I always check to see whether there is an active local history society, they are usually keen to be helpful.
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: MrsS2012 on Thursday 11 June 20 17:06 BST (UK)
Local History Societies are worth checking out, too. I found that one society where some ancestors lived had transcribed and made available online on their website not only all the parish registers for the parish but also the censuses and the school registers and a vast range of personal memories by  older residents - enormously helpful and the latter really brought the place to life for me.
So now when I am looking at an unfamiliar area I always check to see whether there is an active local history society, they are usually keen to be helpful.
Sounds good. I've traced many of my ancestors on my grandmother's side back to Gloucestershire so we plan to make a trip down there once lockdown lifts and pay a visit to the local history society. I think it will be really interesting!
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: Rowleyrosie on Thursday 11 June 20 19:21 BST (UK)
Whereabouts in Gloucestershire? I live in Gloucestershire!
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: MrsS2012 on Friday 12 June 20 11:42 BST (UK)
Whereabouts in Gloucestershire? I live in Gloucestershire!
Badgeworth was the main one. Think there was Sherborne too?
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: Rowleyrosie on Friday 12 June 20 16:19 BST (UK)
Badgeworth is a smallish village on the outskirts  of Gloucester. It is very close to Shurdington but Sherbourne is in Dorset, I think. I have Hopkins and Young families in that area in the late 1700s/early 1800s, also in Churchdown and Gloucester itself.
There is an active Gloucestershire FHS which may be of interest to you though obviously most societies are not actually meeting at present because of the lockdown. It has some resources at the Gloucestershire Record Office in normal times! Happy hunting!
Title: Re: Benefits of joining a family history society.
Post by: MrsS2012 on Saturday 13 June 20 15:55 BST (UK)
It was Shurdington! Not Sherbourne!
I have ooked up the family history society in Gloucestershire and made a note of where they are. I'll definitely be making a trip there once lockdown lifts!