News & Information

April the 1st and I'm sure you can think of several of your ancestors who played (perhaps unintentional?) jokes on you by slightly embroidering the truth when they filled in official documents!

Following the AGM - I'm happy to be continuing in the Chair for at least another year and look forward to a productive year. It was agreed would that we would call ourselves the Weston-super-Mare & District FHS to more accurately describe the area in which we have an interest. Take a look at the Index of Parish Registers which we have available to members to see just how wide that area is.

We will be in the Library in the Boulevard next Saturday (April 7th) as usual - you don't have to be a member to come in but don't forget that if you have a query with your research you can also ask it here on this web site under the Research Forum.  That way it is open to more people than just those who volunteer at the library. Even if you are not researching the same family reading the items often triggers off an idea of what you could be doing and suggests new avenues of research. It is encouraging that there is starting to be more use made of this facility.

The Society will be represented at the Gloucestershire Family History Open Day on Satuday 14th April at Weston Library again of the 21st April and our speaker on Tuesday 24th April will be Prof. Graham Davis who will be talking about the Langtons of Newton Park. 

If you couldn't get to Olympia in February for the Who do you think you are? Live show the Society of Genealogists  has made the handouts from the talks avaiable as a free download 

http://www.sog.org.uk/events/2012show-handouts.shtml

Finally. my tip for this month is to take another look at some of the web sites which you have already used because more and more information is coming online including digital images of original documents.  There is a real problem with family history research and that is  - it never finishes!

• This month we have our AGM on Tues 27th March, when we review our activities and look ahead.  Please come to the AGM if you can and give your views on how you see the Society progressing in the future. The meeting will be followed by an update on resources available - If you know of any new resources please bring details so that these can be shared.
• Before each meeting starts we have a Help Desk running to assist you to make the most of what is available online and after the AGM we will have several computers showing different web sites and how to use them.
• March 1st brings the monthly visit from Jane De Gruchi, the North Somerset Archivist, to the Weston Library.  If you haven't already done so, it's too late to order documents for March but why not think ahead to April and contact her, Tel: 01823 278805 or E-mail: archives@somerset.gov.uk  to explain your requirements.  If you are researching any person, place or event in Somerset take a look at http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ to consult the Somerset Heritage Centre's online catalogue and to discover if there is anything there which could help you.  You do not need to be a member to use this facility.
• The Local Studies Room in Weston Library has a wealth of information about people and places in North Somerset including local newspapers on film from about 1850, Street Directories from the 1890s, Electoral Rolls from 1838 and files on local personalities, buildings, events etc 
• If you have any family history queries why not take advantage of the Saturday Help Sessions at the Weston Library on March 3rd and March 17th between 2.00pm and 3.30pm?  You do not need to be a member, or to be researching Somerset ancestors to come along and ask for help from volunteer members of the Society who may be able to point you in the right direction.
• Weston Museum  http://www.weston-super-maretowncouncil.gov.uk/museum.aspx is the place to visit for a background to the social history of the area.  During March, the Museum is also hosting a Craft Fair on Saturday March 10th and an Antiques Valuation Day on Saturday March 24th    

• This month sees our society’s visit to the National Archives at Kew on Feb 21^st.  It is a good idea to spend some time planning your visit, and to be realistic in your expectations – take a look at their web site http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ to help you make the most of your visit. 

• If you are planning to visit other Archives, please check their web sites for revised opening hours because many changes are currently taking place. For example the Devon Record Office in Exeter will be closed for two weeks 6^th – 19^th February - see http://www.devon.gov.uk/record_office.htm 

• Don’t forget that the North Somerset Archivist visits Weston-super-Mare Library from the Somerset Heritage Centre on the 1^st Thursday of each month and will bring documents for you to examine.  Look at http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ to consult their online catalogue.  To order documents please contact Jane de Gruchy, North Somerset Archivist, Tel: 01823 278805 or E-mail: archives@somerset.gov.uk  to explain your requirements.

• Who do you think you are? Live is at Olympia 24-26 February and although we are not taking a stand there, a great deal of information can be gained by visiting any Family History orientated event and meeting with people with similar interests and/or expertise – for more details see http://www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.com/

• A personal reminder that the talk this month on February 28th is about "My Family and Jack the Ripper" - I don't promise to solve any mysteries but I hope that it may be an interesting caomparison between the lives of two parts of the same family.

I hope it's not too late to wish you all a happy and successful 2012.

Can I remind you that we will be at Weston Library running our usual Help Session this Saturday January 21st between 2.00 and 3.30pm. Anyone is welcome - you do not need to be members - and you do not need to be researching Somerset ancestors - we try to help wherever you family originated.

The Speaker at our next Society Meeting, on Tuesday 31st January will be Kath Merryweather and her topic is Irish Ancestry.  You can find out more about her on http://www.irishancestors4u.com/.  The cost of the meeting is £1.00 for members and £1.50 for visitors which includes refreshments.

The meeting is also the deadline for items for the next issue of Bucket and Spades, our Journal, and Paul Tracey would be pleased to accept any article (however short) concerned with your Family History Research or which you think would be of interest to our members.  If you are stuck on any part of your research why not explain your problem in a short item for the journal or use the Research Queries on this site to ask for help.

Looking ahead, we will be visiting The National Archives on Tuesday February 21st and Brian Airey still has a few seats on the coach available.  We will be picking up in Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon.  Just click on the "Visit to National Archives at Kew" on this page under Forthcoming Events for more details.

Mrs Alan Roland Tompson/ Anne Elizabeth (nee Hay) wife of Alan Tompson passed away earlier this year.

Anne was born in Wales during 1923  the family then moved to London where she was educated after which she joined the Air Ministry during WW2. In 1951 Anne joined the Control Commission in Germany returning to London and transfering  the Secretariat Entebbe Uganda where she met and married Alan in 1952.

In 1954 they immigrated to Canada, during which time for some 10 years Anne was with the BC Public Service.

The Weston Cemetery in Milton Road is now under the auspices of the Weston Town Council and the Chapel has been recently renovated.  See www.weston-super-maretowncouncil.gov.uk/cemetery.aspx for more details.

See our Publications for Sale for more information about this searchable CD which contains details of each grave and who is buried there.