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

CONTRIBUTORS

SARAH'S TOP TIP • When someone ‘disappears’ from the records, the solution may be simple

Letters

NEWSPAPER REVELATIONS

Who Do You Think You Are?

What's On

Ancestry releases first batch of WW2 army service records

NEWS IN BRIEF

28,511 records transcribed on Transcription Tuesday

CAN YOU HELP?

Ancestry adds RNLI records

Findmypast overhauls its subscription packages

A GEORGIAN CHRISTMAS • Alan Crosby celebrates John Clare's verse about Christmas in the Georgian period

NO LAUGHING MATTER • Have you heard the one about the comedy legend who's deadly serious about the Second World War? Here Al Murray discusses his new book on Arnhem with Jonathan Wright

WHO WAS ZENO? • Meet a man who had many identities during his dramatic life

RESOURCES • Take your research further

EXPLORING THE CENSUS • Sarah Williams compares three subscription websites to find out which one is best for searching the census

ANCESTRY • This genealogy giant is resting on its laurels when it comes to its census collection, and has done little to improve functionality recently. We liked the mobile app and found the index generally good, but keyword and address searches are lacking.

FINDMYPAST • Findmypast is currently the only site to offer the 1921 census, although that exclusivity comes to an end in 2025. The website also has a useful address search and a much improved app. Most years now also include occupation as a keyword search.

IMAGE QUALITY • A number of pages were harder to read on some sites than others

THEGENEALOGIST • Our surprise winner, this site punches above its weight for the census. Searching is straightforward with plenty of flexibility and results that are easy to scroll through and filter. We especially loved the use of maps and the quality of the images.

‘MY CANADIAN RELATION FOUGHT FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS’ • Inspired by a Christmas letter from 1888, Megan Harrison began to research her 3x great grand aunt Harriet. She uncovered an early campaigner for women's rights and plenty of other surprises, she tells Claire Vaughan

RESOURCES • These resources helped Megan uncover her family history

LIFEBOATMEN RECORDS • Dr Simon Wills explains how to use a free collection of Royal National Lifeboat Institution records released online 200 years after its creation

EXPERT PICKS • Simon shares the three essential websites to research your RNLI relation

HENRY FREEMAN 1835-1904 • The story of this RNLI crew member marks a turning point in its history

PENSION AND GRATUITY REGISTER • This page from the Pension and Gratuity Register 2 (1920–1948) is freely available on Ancestry (ancestry.co.uk)

RESOURCES • Take your research further

SOUND AND FILM • Jonathan Scott picks out audiovisual resources that bring the past to life

EXPERT'S CHOICE • Jonathan Scott is the author of Into the Groove: The Story of Sound from Tin Foil to Vinyl (Bloomsbury Sigma, 2023)

GO FURTHER • Another eight sites you can't afford to miss

IRISH NATIONAL SCHOOL REGISTERS • Nicola Morris explains how to find your Irish ancestors’ school records

SCHOOL REGSTER, 1872 • This register of pupils at Laurel Hill Female National School in the parish of Currin, County...