Who Do You Think You Are?

Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine not only explores the stories behind the popular BBC genealogy TV series, but also helps you uncover your own roots. Each issue is packed with practical advice to help you track down family history archives and get the most out of online resources, alongside features on what life was like in the past and the historic events that affected our ancestors.

Welcome

SARAH'S TOP TIP • Search newspapers smarter with improved functionality on Findmypast

CONTRIBUTORS

Letters

EMOTIONAL DISCOVERIES AT PORTHCAWL MUSEUM

Who Do You Think You Are?

What's On • Email wdytyaeditorial@ourmedia.co.uk to feature your event here for free

GRO expands death-record access • Rosemary Collins reports on data releases and genealogy news

Archives Research Centre opens at Lancaster University

NEWS IN BRIEF

Scottish Women's Land Army records released

CAN YOU HELP?

Historian identifies star of album cover

Maryland records go online

Campaigners demand the restoration of Greenwich's archive service

THE DAWN OF HOPE • Alan Crosby remembers how much New Year meant to our farming forebears

50 WEBSITES TO WATCH • Jonathan Scott presents our exclusive preview of the online family history resources you can't afford to miss in 2024

REGIONAL ROUND-UP • Jonathan highlights dozen sites from local archives, community projects and family history societies

‘MY ANCESTORS WERE MPS WITH ROYAL CONNECTIONS’ • With a DNA test as her starting point, Lynsey Ford followed a trail that led from humble ‘ag labs’ back to the movers and shakers of the 15th and 16th centuries, she tells Claire Vaughan

RESOURCES • Lynsey researched her tree with the help of these resources

THE METROPOLITAN POLICE • Edward Smith of the Metropolitan Police Service shares his advice for researching ancestors in the Met

JOHN MICHAEL MULVANY 1850-1916 • The life of a Victorian police officer, as revealed in the records

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION CERTIFICATE

EXPERT PICKS

RESOURCES • Take your research further

ROMANY AND TRAVELLER COMMUNITIES • Jonathan Scott tracks down useful websites for ancestors who were Travellers

EXPERT'S CHOICE • Sharon Heppell edits the Romany and Traveller Family History Society's journal

GO FURTHER • Eight more sites that you can't afford to miss

TRADE UNION MEMBERS' REGISTERS • Paul Blake explains how to trace ancestors who joined workers' unions

REGISTER OF MEMBERS, 1916 • This document from the National Union of Railwaymen is held by the Modern Records Centre, and on Findmypast (findmypast.co.uk)

RESOURCES • Take your research further

Q & A • Our team of experts offers tips and inspiration EDITED BY CLAIRE VAUGHAN

Can you tell me when this glass-plate photograph was taken?

Did Arthur help recover the remains of the Unknown Warrior?

What regiment did this soldier belong to?

LOCAL INDUSTRY • Celebrating our ancestors' work in key trades

Find your ancestors in historic newspapers • Nick Peers shares his expert tips for searching Findmypast's extensive newspaper archives

Dancefloor delights • Felicity Day explores why our Georgian ancestors loved to dance

JAMES PAINE 1778-1855 • The band leader who pioneered the quadrille

RESOURCES • Take your research further

‘A VICTORIAN COURT CASE SOLVED MY MYSTERY’ • Tim Cook was perplexed when he couldn't find his forebear on the 1881 census. A search of old newspapers online revealed an explanation that took his breath away, as he explains to Gail Dixon

REMEMBERING LANARKSHIRE'S...