Benefits of joining a family history society.

[MrsS2012]

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.

[Maiden Stone]

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.

[MrsS2012]

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

[Rowleyrosie]

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.

[MrsS2012]

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!

[Rowleyrosie]

Whereabouts in Gloucestershire? I live in Gloucestershire!

[MrsS2012]

Whereabouts in Gloucestershire? I live in Gloucestershire!

Badgeworth was the main one. Think there was Sherborne too?

[Rowleyrosie]

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!

[MrsS2012]

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!