How is Genealogy Growing?

GenealogyInTime Magazine has just released a study that looks at how the field of genealogy is growing on the internet. Entitled “Top Trends in Genealogy”, the study provides insight into the current state of genealogy.

The study was based on a quantitative analysis of traffic statistics to the top 100 genealogy websites. It answers such questions as:

• How fast is genealogy growing on the internet?
• What are the fastest growing genealogy websites?
• How widespread is genealogy growing on the internet?
• Which countries are experiencing the strongest internet growth in genealogy?
• Which sectors of genealogy are growing the fastest on the internet?
• How are free genealogy websites growing compared to paid genealogy websites?
• How effective are genealogy websites at getting inbound links.

Most studies and surveys of the field of genealogy are based on anecdotal evidence (asking who, what, when, where and why questions). The GenealogyInTime Magazine study provides a rare example of a genealogy survey based on hard statistics.

The study is entitled “Top Trends in Genealogy” and can be found at
www.genealogyintime.com/GenealogyResources/Articles/top trends in genealogy page 01.html

Publication of the Seven Pillars of Wisdom: The Art of One-Name Studies book

In April 2012 the Guild of One-Name Studies published "Seven Pillars of Wisdom: The Art of One-Name Studies" as a guide to the running of a one-name study. The book is a collection of helpful advice and information gathered from the Guild Wiki, and was published immediately before the Guild’s 2012 Conference in order to complement its "Seven Pillars" theme. Copies of this book are now available via the Guild website www.one-name.org/sales.html, with payment via PayPal or credit card online, or by cheque through the post.

This book aims to give its readers help, advice, and encouragement on the various aspects of a one-name study:

• Data collection
• Analysis
• Synthesis
• Publicising the study
• Responding to enquiries
• Publication of results
• Preserving the study

The Guild feels that it is impossible to prescribe the "right" way to carry out a one-name study. Much depends on the size of the study, the researcher's objectives in performing such a study, and also of course their resources in terms of time, skills, and equipment.

However, those members of the Guild of One-Name Studies who are indeed carrying out one-name studies themselves represent a fount of knowledge and experience. Many of them regularly and freely share their expertise with other members of the Guild, at Seminars, Conferences, on the Guild’s mailing list, and - especially - via the Wiki. The Wiki was set up to provide a repository for this combined wisdom, and with currently well over 150 pages contributed it is clear that it is meeting its objectives admirably.

This book attempts to bring together in a printed format the advice, information, and expertise contributed by these members to the Guild Wiki. In accordance with its printed format, it aims to present primarily the general advice given in the Wiki, rather than the very many Wiki pages giving links to sources, etc., which are not only more suited to an online format but also much more liable to frequent change.

Details of the Guild’s facilities can be found at: www.one-name.org/guildsvces.html - where you can find:

• more about undertaking a one-name study
• the benefits of joining the Guild of One-Name Studies, and the assistance members of the Guild can provide to anyone researching their family history on any of the 8,000 plus names currently being researched

Anne Shankland, the Editor of the Guild Wiki book, said today
"For some time Guild members have been asking for a book on how to do a one-name study. And what better than a book on one-name studies that knowledgeable Guild members have written themselves! My thanks to all the contributors to the Wiki, and I trust the book will be useful to those either running, or thinking of starting, a one-name study."

Fold3 opening War of 1812 images for free during June

On June 18, 1812, the United States declared war on Great Britain officially launching the War of 1812. In the 200 years since, it has become a forgotten war, perhaps best remembered by school children as when The Star-Spangled Banner was written. Yet, the War of 1812 was strategically important to the future of American diplomacy, a reinforced independence from Great Britain, and the country’s westward expansion.

Several events provoked President James Madison to request action from Congress to enter a war with one of the world’s most powerful nations, less than thirty years after the Revolutionary War ended. Uppermost was the unlawful impressment of American sailors into a British Navy eager to replenish its ranks during the lengthy Napoleonic Wars. Great Britain also restricted America’s right, as a neutral country, to trade with France.

On the home front, Americans were embracing the concept of “Manifest Destiny.” Migrations into the Northwest Territory provoked confrontations with Native American tribes. The British supported the rights of the Indians to maintain and defend their territories, but Americans were eager to push them westward and claim their land. The war is best remembered by Canada, a friend to both Indians and Great Britain, and on whose border many battles took place.

Fold3 observes the War of 1812 bicentennial with rich and revealing historical documents within the War of 1812 Collection. They include the War of 1812 Prize Cases from New York’s Southern District Court, Letters Received by the Adjutant General, and War of 1812 Service Records for Lake Erie and Mississippi, and, perhaps most revealing, the War of 1812 Pension Files. The pension files are digitized in color at the National Archives in Washington, DC, with funding provided by the Federation of Genealogical Societies’ Preserve the Pensions! Project. They are brought to Fold3 visitors at no charge.

Help us honor those who served in this highly important, yet overlooked event in U.S. history by exploring the War of 1812 Collection with its many stories of our fledgling nation’s second revolution.

Royal Household Staff Records 1660-1924 now online

ROYAL HOUSEHOLD STAFF RECORDS GO ONLINE FOR THE FIRST TIME

• Discover who served Britain’s Kings and Queens from King Charles II to King George V, at findmypast.co.uk
• ‘Chocolate Maker to the Queen’, ‘Keeper of the Lions in the Tower’ and ‘Moletaker’ among some of the most extraordinary roles

Have you ever wondered who works in a Royal Household, or whether you might have a connection to someone who served the Royal Family? In celebration of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, family history website findmypast.co.uk, in association with the Royal Archives, has today launched the Royal Household Staff Lists, a detailed collection made available online for the first time.

Previously only accessible at Windsor Castle by appointment, these rarely viewed records cover royal residences across the UK including Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and St. James’ Palace, and include 50,000 staff records from the reign of King Charles II to King George V between 1660 and 1924. With details such as name, occupation, age, length of service and salary, the records paint a vivid picture of life in a Royal court, revealing what it takes to run a Royal Household and the wide range of duties involved in serving the British Monarchy.

Debra Chatfield, family historian at findmypast.co.uk, commented: “To be able to view these records online for the first time is incredibly exciting - not only for people worldwide with an interest in the British Monarchy, but also for anyone wanting to confirm family rumours about connections to those who worked for the Royal Household! With such a broad range of trades and occupations spanning four centuries of Royal Household history, almost anyone could find they’re connected to those who served the Crown!”

Pages, physicians and the ‘Chocolate Maker to the Queen'
A reigning monarch typically had 1000 staff in the Royal Household. The biggest department was the Lord Chamberlain’s Department, which had on average 700 staff and was responsible for the ceremonial and social life of the Court. Traditionally, employees in this department included the ‘above stairs’ servants such as pages, craftsmen, chaplains, physicians, musicians, watermen and Yeomen of the Guard. There are also a number of most unusual occupations listed among the Royal Household staff:

Extraordinary Job Titles in the Royal Household*
1. Chocolate Maker to the Queen
2. Yeoman of the Mouth to Her Majesty Queen Mary in the Pantry
3. Necessary Woman to the Corridor and Entrance Hall
4. Keeper of the Lions in the Tower
5. Moletaker
6. Master of the Game of Cock Fighting
7. Groom of the Removing Wardrobe
8. Groom of the Stole
9. Strewer of Herbs
10. Laundress of the Body Linen

The records reveal charming details of life in the Royal Household. Queen Anne, for example, had such a penchant for barley cream and posset, according to records from 1702, that she engaged two women of the Bedchamber to make them and other ‘spoon meats’ for £60 per annum. Examples like this provide a fascinating snapshot into royal tastes centuries ago.

Inside the Royal Kitchen
In the run up to The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, it is also interesting to compare how the Royal Household prepared for previous Jubilee celebrations, including that of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee 115 years ago.

According to the records, Gabriel Tschumi was Master Chef to three monarchs: Queen Victoria, King Edward VII and King George V, having joined the Royal Household as a cook’s apprentice at the age of 16. For Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee banquet in 1897, 24 additional chefs were brought over from Paris to help with the cooking. What’s more, the younger apprentices in the kitchens attempted to grow their moustaches to resemble those of their French superiors!**

The Royal Family and their guests, including several crowned heads of Europe, dined on a banquet of Normandy sole, lamb chops, roast beef, quail and tongue, with pineapple fritters and meringue for dessert.***

Professor Robert Bucholz, renowned expert on officials of the Royal Household and Professor of History at Loyola University of Chicago, commented: “The court at Whitehall, St. James’s and Buckingham Palace was not just the seat of the most powerful government in the world; it was the political, social and cultural centre of the nation. Thus the records of Royal Household staff, preserved in the Royal Archives at Windsor and now made available online through findmypast.co.uk, are the record of their service to the British crown.

Bucholz continued: “Professional historians have long had access to these records, but now ordinary citizens from around the world have the opportunity to track down ancestors here. Indeed, even I – an American of German and Mexican descent – found a namesake: one George Buckholtz, livery pony boy, undoubtedly part of the German contingent serving at the later Hanoverian court.”

Debra Chatfield concluded: “People across the globe continue to be fascinated by the British Royal Family, as well as the relationship between ‘upstairs’ and ‘downstairs’ life. In the year of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, this is the perfect opportunity to explore your family history and discover whether you have an ancestor who worked for the Royal Household.”

The Royal Household Staff records can be searched for free at http://www.findmypast.co.uk/search/other-records/british-royal-archives/. Transcripts and scanned images of the original documents can be viewed with PayAsYouGo credits or a Full subscription.