Featured Stories
Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan
In recent years, remembrance events have increasingly included more women. The contribution of women to war service has been better represented at official ceremonies, as well as in the cultural sphere of books, newspapers and magazines, films, and television. SoG has a number of useful resources for researching women at war, including The WAAF at War Index on SoG Data Online. One of the most celebrated entries in the index is that of SEO operative, Noor Inayat Khan (1914-1944).
Arthur Dean, Coast Guard
Four months into the First World War, on 16 December 1914, the east coast of Yorkshire suffered the first domestic bombardment of the British mainland. This resulted in 86 civilian casualties and the loss of seven British soldiers. One of the casualties was a Whitby coastguard. Overall, nearly two thousand coastguards died during the war - most as a result of battles at sea. More can be discovered on these men using SoG Data Online in the Records of coastguards compiled by Eileen Stage. This is the account of the Scarborough raid by the town’s Chief Officer Coast Guard, Arthur Dean.
Francis Edward Ledwidge
Francis Ledwidge (1887-1917) was the only Irish poet represented in an Imperial War Museum exhibition of twelve prominent war poets, Anthem for Doomed Youth. Born in Slane, County Meath, Ledwidge enlisted in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in October 1914. He was killed in action at the Battle of Passchendaele in July 1917, and is listed in Ireland's Memorial Records 1914-1918, being the names of Irishmen who fell in the Great European War 1914-1918, compiled by the committee of the Irish National War Memorial (1923).
Upcoming talks and events
An Update on DNA Research: Expanding your Family Tree
Get the most from your autosomal DNA test and interpret and use your results for further research, with Mia Bennett, Michelle Leonard & Debbie Kennett.
We will cover working with DNA third-party tools, methods and techniques for research, but also look at privacy and consent, including law enforcement.
Baptists and their Records A Guide for Family Historians
Are you looking for ancestors who may have been Baptists? Join Claire Moores as she introduces us to the people and their records.
She gives us a brief history of the Baptist faith and explains how it fits into the national context. She includes some international family history sources but focuses on English ancestors.
Member's Annual Christmas (Online) Social SoG Members Only
Join us to celebrate Christmas and other religious traditions during the month of December - folklore, recipes and sayings which mark rural life.
Dr. Sophie Hollinshead gives a short talk exploring country lore past and present, please bring your own traditions for discussion. A virtual pub quiz with Else Churchill follows, get your thinking caps and Santa hats on!
The Gentleman's Magazine: Georgian Britain for Family and Local Historians
Julian Pooley opens the pages of the world’s first magazine – the Gentleman’s Magazine, a panorama of Georgian British history.
He explores the magazine’s value for family and local historians and uncovers hidden stories of Surrey people and the county's history throughout the Georgian period.
Explore our collections
Court Records
Our ancestors appeared in many different types of courts – criminal, civil and equity – either as plaintiffs or defendants, criminals or victims.
Parish registers
First introduced in 1538 the Parish registers of the Church of England record baptisms, marriages and burials.
Poor Law Records
Many of our ancestors lived precarious lives and if they grew old and inform could not work or fell ill or bore illegitimate children they may have become a burden on the community.
Apprenticeships
Evidence of apprenticeship is more likely in 18th century than at any other time from town freemen records, London guilds, parish pauper apprenticeships and the tax levied on apprentice indentures.
Find out more
About us
We all want to know where we’re from; to solve the mysteries of our past; to connect with people whose lives lead to ours; to feel as they felt; to wonder what we would have done in their place.
Our mission and vision
Our vision is a world in which everyone has convenient, affordable access to records, finding aids, knowledge and skills necessary to conduct authoritative research into family history.
We are moving!
We have now officially given notice to our landlords here at Charterhouse Buildings and are very excited for our next chapter and a place which will better suit your needs and ours.
Join today and become a member
As member you can make the most of our resources, access our experts and find a welcoming community of people interested in family history and genealogy.
We all have roots. Let’s find them together.
