Lifestyles

[maduganme]

I have been doing research for a number of years now, I think I've gone as far back as I can tracing people. I only have names, addresses, age etc, but would like to know a little more than just statistics. I have read on here, and other sites,  peoples stories about their ancestors, their life stories etc and have always wondered how they got information like that?
I would like to be able to do that, to have a story if you like, of some of my ancestors.
Where would be the best place to start research wise, and could anyone suggest any websites that would be good for reading about local history. (Mining community Scotland)
Unfortunately I don't have any older family members that would have been able to give me any info as they have sadly passed away.

[aghadowey]

There's lots you can probably find online (not all correct, of course) so start with a search engine like Google and just keep changing the search terms using a combination of place names, occupations, etc. such as-
village + mining
village + gravestones
village + surname

Look for articles on mining in Scotland & that particular county.

Have a look at each census for the place your ancestors lived- population changes, occupations, size of families, etc.

The more searching you do the easier it will be to find items of interest.

[Erato]

Obituaries and marriage announcements often give some details.  Local histories, too.  Best of all are small town newspapers.  Don't forget Google 'Book Search' - even seemingly inconsequential people are often mentioned.

[Treetotal]

You could look in the newspapers on Find My Past searching by surname and area....there is much to learn from them....in particular the war years. Also try googling some family names....you will be surprised what comes up. Genuki is also invaluable for trade directories for your area of interest.
Carol

[maduganme]

Thanks aghadowey for your reply, was a bit lost as to where to start, I'll give your suggestions a go thanks. I don't know if this is a common thing? but I do have a favourite ancestor even although at the moment I only have statistics,  if I could just paint a picture of her life alone? I would like to be able to do that, but didn't know where to start. She was born in Ireland and came to Scotland, she married twice, had family to both husbands, but that's about as much as I know. Maybe I'm just looking for something out of the ordinary? rather than born/married/died. Thanks for your help.

[maduganme]

You could look in the newspapers on Find My Past searching by surname and area....there is much to learn from them....in particular the war years. Also try googling some family names....you will be surprised what comes up. Genuki is also invaluable for trade directories for your area of interest.
Carol

Obituaries and marriage announcements often give some details.  Local histories, too.  Best of all are small town newspapers.  Don't forget Google 'Book Search' - even seemingly inconsequential people are often mentioned.

That's good to know thank you, I will try all the suggestions. Thanks for your help.

[Treetotal]

Just to use an example...I never knew a thing about my Grandfather during WW1 as there was no service records for him on Ancestry so wasn't sure. I searched on Find My Past newspapers by surname and town for the years 1914-1918 and found an article reporting that my Great Grandma had received notification that one of her sons had been awarded the MM for bravery in the field...it also said that she had two other sons currently serving in France...one whom was my Grandfather and a third son was being held in Saltou prison camp in Germany. They all served with the same regiment. It can't have been easy having all four sons fighting for their country....they all came home too
Carol

[aghadowey]

Always good to have somewhere to start so start with that favourite ancestor...

Perhaps begin with a timeline of the facts that you have- born, married, children, died
Then look at what was happening in the village/area/county/country/world during that span.

"She was born in Ireland and came to Scotland"
Think about what was going on in Ireland when she was born, when she might have gone to England (did she come with parents, spouse, on her own), if there other people in the area born in Ireland...

Then research what her day-to-day life might have been like- house, domestic life, health, etc.

[hullnow]

I sometimes search for old maps of the areas my ancestors lived,it gives you an idea of the size and layout of their town or village and the local area.I`ve just been looking at an 1861 map of Kirriemuir where my ancestors worked and lived.