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Tracing Your Ancestors
Tracing Your Ancestors from 1066 to 1837
The trail that an ancestor leaves through the Victorian period and the twentieth century is relatively easy to follow the records are plentiful, accessible and commonly used. But how do you go back further, into the centuries before the central registration of births, marriages and deaths was introduced in 1837, before the first detailed census records of 1841? How can you trace a family line back through the early modern period and perhaps into the Middle Ages? Jonathan Oatess clearly written new handbook gives you all the background knowledge you need in order to go into this engrossing area of family history research.
241 pages
First published May 15, 2011
475 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Oates
59 books9 followersJonathan D. Oates is a historian and prolific author on the subject of the Jacobite campaigns from 1689-1746. His focus is on military matters, the British Army and its commanders, and especially the English dimension of the period. This is his seventh book on the topic and he has also written about thirty articles on aspects of Jacobitism, anti-Jacobitism, and the military campaigns. He has also edited three volumes of relevant material; the memoir of a loyalist Scottish officer, the letters of the Duke of Cumberland, as well as a memoir of an eighteenth century Leeds schoolmaster. There are a number of other similar books in the pipeline, including one on sieges of the 'Forty Five. The author studied History at Reading University in 1988-1991, obtaining a First Class degree with a thesis about the 'Fifteen, and then a doctorate from the same place in 2001, covering responses in north eastern England to the two major eighteenth century rebellions. He has been employed as Borough Archivist for the London Borough of Ealing since 1999. He has also had books published about criminal, local, and family history, especially in and around London.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 19, 2017
Tracing Your Ancestors From 1066 to 1837 – A Good Basic Introduction
With the ever-growing interest in genealogy and family history Tracing Your Ancestors from 1066 to 1837 is a wonderful addition to the ever-growing literature on the subject. With the various websites where one can build a family tree starting back from their selves back a few generations to around the mid-nineteenth century, then they start drawing a blank.
Unless you are a trained historian or genealogist the average person may not know what to do next and they will find this book an excellent resource to continue their search. This book has been written by Jonathan Oates who is currently the Ealing Borough Archivist and the local history librarian, who over his career will have guided many people in their search for more about their family.
What I like about this book is that is clearly written, very comprehensive and easy to use, something that you are able to dip in and out of, an important aid. This book opens up the field of research from the Norman invasion until just before the coronation of Queen Victoria. This really is a required handbook for those who are beginning their search as well as those more experienced.
He starts by explaining the administrative, religious structures as well as society from the medieval to modern period, which is important, so that you know where to start your searches. As well as other areas to use for record search, such as manorial records alongside that of the Parish registers. He also explains how property and taxation records also happen to open new avenues to search and gives you the required knowledge you need.
What people must remember that this book gives a general overview of where to look and why they may be useful for information. As it is so general, some may find the information basic for their search, but this book will certainly help those who are new to family history.
With the ever-growing interest in genealogy and family history Tracing Your Ancestors from 1066 to 1837 is a wonderful addition to the ever-growing literature on the subject. With the various websites where one can build a family tree starting back from their selves back a few generations to around the mid-nineteenth century, then they start drawing a blank.
Unless you are a trained historian or genealogist the average person may not know what to do next and they will find this book an excellent resource to continue their search. This book has been written by Jonathan Oates who is currently the Ealing Borough Archivist and the local history librarian, who over his career will have guided many people in their search for more about their family.
What I like about this book is that is clearly written, very comprehensive and easy to use, something that you are able to dip in and out of, an important aid. This book opens up the field of research from the Norman invasion until just before the coronation of Queen Victoria. This really is a required handbook for those who are beginning their search as well as those more experienced.
He starts by explaining the administrative, religious structures as well as society from the medieval to modern period, which is important, so that you know where to start your searches. As well as other areas to use for record search, such as manorial records alongside that of the Parish registers. He also explains how property and taxation records also happen to open new avenues to search and gives you the required knowledge you need.
What people must remember that this book gives a general overview of where to look and why they may be useful for information. As it is so general, some may find the information basic for their search, but this book will certainly help those who are new to family history.
September 24, 2019
"Tracing Your Ancestors from 1066 to 1837" - written by Jonathan Oates and published in 2012 by Pen & Sword Family History. This is a great review of early English records including their creation and ways to find them in present day. Oates covers the usual go-to items for genealogists - parish records, census and court records - and also highlights some more obscure possible sources for information on your ancestors. My fingers are itching to continue the pursuit of my own line from England!
September 8, 2020
A very good resource for anyone doing their family history. This would be especially great for anyone actually living in the U.K. and who could visit some of these places. Still I got some good pointers for future reference in the book. Would certainly recommend it, if you are just starting out in your ancestry search.
October 19, 2021
Purchased for my sister to read. It is good if you live in the UK, England preference. And many of our ancestors did. It will be useful to a small cadre of people i suspect. Serious genealogists already know most of this.
July 25, 2025
I found this book interesting in regards to researching UK ancestors. If I eventually find my immigrant ancestors I will find this book useful in researching UK. After 40 years of on-off research in the the States I am closer to that relative. Happy Hunting to all Family Historians.
December 4, 2017
A compilation of resources for those seeking ancestors in Great Britain. Small print and lengthy explanations will challenge your patience but stick to it and you will learn.
October 14, 2020
Glad I didn't buy this. It was just ok. Not really much that isn't common knowledge or of much help.
February 15, 2021
Non fiction. Used this book, eBook , for family history research. English .
June 28, 2021
This is not for beginners.
December 24, 2019
Heartbreaking and Horrifying
This is a chapter of history I hadn't known about before. We already know of the horrors perpetrated on allied POWs who fell into the clutches of Japan's Imperial Army. Sadly, that was only part of the picture.
After the global outbreak of World War II, Japan invaded China and Indonesia. Caught in the conflict were hundreds of families, mostly British and Dutch. These expatriates were living in Asia as teachers, missionaries and corporate contractors. Some had been there for decades; they were comfortable and secure in their adopted homelands. They assimilated only partially. Those with the most privilege raised their children with luxury; they were comfortably insulated from the growing hostilities in the region. Limited military resources were concentrated in Europe, so that by the time it became clear that these families were in danger, evacuation efforts were too little, too late. The families in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Malaya and Indonesia were now at the mercy of the Japanese invaders. They were segregated, confined, restricted and cut off from the rest of the world.
In the first year, many of the children enjoyed the experience. It was an adventure to run around the camps, excused from formal school, learning the finer points of pilfering forbidden food and hiding contraband.
Some locales were far less intimidating than others. Sometimes the guards were a bit more permissive, especially with the kids. But the adults realized quickly that food was in very short supply. The children's survival became top priority and adults took the brunt of the starvation and medical deprivation.
Even in the face of this situation stretching on for years, it might have been almost bearable, but in Indonesia especially, conditions became increasingly desperate as the guards, under direct orders from their high command, inflicted deliberate and unrelenting cruelty against the prisoners.
As the war intensified and the tide began to turn against Japan, they diverted the meager camp rations to their own troops, and in the worst locations, prisoners subsisted on half a cup of contaminated rice a day, and sometimes blades of grass. Sanitation became non-existent, leading to rampant tropical disease.
As surrender drew near, many of the prisoners fell victim to wholesale slaughter. Those who survived to be liberated never quite shook the experience. Back home, the British kids quickly learned to keep quiet about the ordeal and as a consequence, few outside of the families ever learned about it.
The British definition of compensation was beyond inadequate. Even when it was ultimately revised decades later, conditions were tacked on so that many individuals were shut out.
Finally, the Japanese government was never held to account. Because the fight against the Axis transitioned so rapidly into the fight against Communism, Japan's alliance was crucial.
The youngest children of the camps are now elderly. It is important that we hear their story.
This is a chapter of history I hadn't known about before. We already know of the horrors perpetrated on allied POWs who fell into the clutches of Japan's Imperial Army. Sadly, that was only part of the picture.
After the global outbreak of World War II, Japan invaded China and Indonesia. Caught in the conflict were hundreds of families, mostly British and Dutch. These expatriates were living in Asia as teachers, missionaries and corporate contractors. Some had been there for decades; they were comfortable and secure in their adopted homelands. They assimilated only partially. Those with the most privilege raised their children with luxury; they were comfortably insulated from the growing hostilities in the region. Limited military resources were concentrated in Europe, so that by the time it became clear that these families were in danger, evacuation efforts were too little, too late. The families in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Malaya and Indonesia were now at the mercy of the Japanese invaders. They were segregated, confined, restricted and cut off from the rest of the world.
In the first year, many of the children enjoyed the experience. It was an adventure to run around the camps, excused from formal school, learning the finer points of pilfering forbidden food and hiding contraband.
Some locales were far less intimidating than others. Sometimes the guards were a bit more permissive, especially with the kids. But the adults realized quickly that food was in very short supply. The children's survival became top priority and adults took the brunt of the starvation and medical deprivation.
Even in the face of this situation stretching on for years, it might have been almost bearable, but in Indonesia especially, conditions became increasingly desperate as the guards, under direct orders from their high command, inflicted deliberate and unrelenting cruelty against the prisoners.
As the war intensified and the tide began to turn against Japan, they diverted the meager camp rations to their own troops, and in the worst locations, prisoners subsisted on half a cup of contaminated rice a day, and sometimes blades of grass. Sanitation became non-existent, leading to rampant tropical disease.
As surrender drew near, many of the prisoners fell victim to wholesale slaughter. Those who survived to be liberated never quite shook the experience. Back home, the British kids quickly learned to keep quiet about the ordeal and as a consequence, few outside of the families ever learned about it.
The British definition of compensation was beyond inadequate. Even when it was ultimately revised decades later, conditions were tacked on so that many individuals were shut out.
Finally, the Japanese government was never held to account. Because the fight against the Axis transitioned so rapidly into the fight against Communism, Japan's alliance was crucial.
The youngest children of the camps are now elderly. It is important that we hear their story.
November 13, 2021
Interesting read, I already knew the camps were bad, the Japanese were cruel and sadistic and behaved terribly against POW's and civilians. But I didn't know that the civilian camps were much worse in the Netherlands East Indies than elsewhere in Asia and on par with the concentration camps in eastern Europe.
September 22, 2012
Hoping this will help me get further. Have found some information to the mid-1800's but stuck on how to get further. Very useful. Told me things I wouldn't have known.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews