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The death of an ancestor can be the key to unlocking generations of family history, but the evidence is often scattered across a surprising range of sources. Knowing where to look – and how those sources work together – can reveal ancestors you never knew existed, solve longstanding mysteries and bring family stories vividly to life.
In this practical overview, professional genealogist Nicola Johnson explores the wealth of records created after a death, from civil registration, burials, testaments, wills and administrations, probate and death duty registers to newspapers, memorials, inquests and many other valuable sources. Using real research examples, she’ll show how to combine evidence to uncover new information, overcome research challenges and make the most of every clue.
Suitable for all levels, this session covers the key sources for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, providing a practical roadmap for anyone researching British ancestors. It also sets the scene for our ‘In Memoriam’ season of specialist talks.
Content warning: This talk naturally includes discussion of deaths of our ancestors. Topic slides will provide advance notice of potentially sensitive subjects before they are discussed, allowing attendees to mute the session briefly if they wish.
Nicola Johnson is a professional genealogist, writer and speaker, and founder of All About Ancestors (allaboutancestors.com). Alongside general English family history research, she specialises in maritime and Merchant Navy, the Titanic and DNA. Nicola won the 2026 British Commission for Maritime History Masters Prize for her Titanic research and holds an MSc (Distinction) in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies (University of Strathclyde). Formerly a BBC Broadcast Journalist, Nicola now writes for 'Who Do You Think You Are?', 'Family Tree' and 'Discover Your Ancestors' magazines. She also gives engaging talks to societies, organisations and conferences in the UK and overseas.
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