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Welcome to the new website
Our new Learning Hub puts your genealogy journey at its heart. All of our talk recordings, guides, ebooks and stories now reside in one place, making it easy to search for whatever interests you.
You can filter on categories or use the search box and start learning to:
- Discover ‘new’ ancestors by learning about specialist or place-specific record collections to search.
- Hone your research skills, find elusive ancestors and solve brick walls.
- Get to know your ancestors better. What were their lives really like?
- And so much more…from brushing up your tech skills to simply curling up on the sofa with a hot drink and a fascinating family history story to read.
Eager for a little more detailed help? Watch our video guide here.
NextGEN Call for Presentations
Aged 16 to 35? Submit your proposals to present at NextGen, the Society of Genealogists and Family History Federation’s online conference to be held online on Sat 14 November 2026.
This year’s theme is “New Connections”. Topics of interest to younger genealogists are preferred.
Researching Ancestors in Suffolk - now in the Learning Hub.
Our latest county talk on researching ancestors in Suffolk can now be watched for free here in the Learning Hub.
Tips
Do you look up? It’s easy to overlook everyday historic features. When you’re out and about, take photos of unusual or forgotten objects (from boot scrapes to weather vanes or milestones). Later at home, review your photos and enjoy some research. You may uncover unexpected insights into local history and even connections to your own family story. And whilst you are out and about, don’t forget to look up and down!
From Pure and Free: The Surprising History of Britain’s Victorian Drinking Fountains (now in the Learning Hub)
MARCH EVENTS
At Wharf Road, London
Friday 13 and Saturday 14 March (at Wharf Road or Online)
Avoid the ‘bad luck’ of Friday 13th by turning it into a day of family history inspiration! On 13 March, explore your Quaker roots through expert talks, archival material, and the chance to trace the founding of the Quaker faith in London streets.
Then, on 14 March (perfectly timed just ahead of St Patrick’s Day) immerse yourself in the rich and fascinating story of the London Irish. Begin with a choice between a guided East London walk through neighbourhoods shaped by Irish dockworkers and communities, or a one-to-one advice surgery with expert Jill Williams. In the afternoon, enjoy engaging talks that reveal how Irish men and women helped shape London life across centuries, and learn how to trace them using key records, including the remarkable collections of the Irish Genealogical Research Society.
Whether you join us in person or online, these two special days offer expert insight and practical tools.
RootsTech 2026 Watch Parties
Exclusively for SoG members. Join your fellow genealogists at our online Watch Parties. Watch and discuss RootsTech talks from the comfort of your own home in real time.
Not a member yet? It’s not too late to join…
How does it work? Join us on Zoom about 15 minutes before the RootsTech talk begins to share your thoughts, watch the talk together and chat with like-minded people afterwards.
Celebrate your Welsh Ancestors on St Davids Day
Anyone with Welsh ancestry knows that it can be challenging. Luckily, we’ve got talks designed specifically to help you. Discovering your Welsh heritage is the perfect way to celebrate St Davids Day. Catch up on these in the new Learning Hub.
Eager to explore Welsh genealogy further? We’ll be dropping Non-Conformity in Welsh Ancestral Research with Gill Thomas into the Learning Hub soon. To keep up to date on all our talks, don’t forget to subscribe to our mailing list.
Schools
From rag schools to headmistresses, the Society of Genealogists, is celebrating it’s school record collections this month. As well as learning about our featured collections, you can build your research skills from home with our online talks. Explore engaging topics such as A Schoolgirl’s War, Free Antiquarian Resources on the Internet with Phil Isherwood, Schooling the Victorians with Maggie Gaffney, and Teachers: finding records beyond the census. Pay £10 per talk, or go Gold to watch them all (£15 per month or £150 per year), and gain exclusive access to the recordings. Plus, Gold members can enjoy access to all talks in the Learning Hub.
Exisiting member? You can upgrade to annual Gold within the members area by topping up for the rest of your membership year. Alternatively, purchase a month of Gold by emailing: membership@sog.org.uk.
Unexpected DNA Results
Uncover the truth behind your DNA results with this in-depth online course led by expert genetic genealogist Michelle Leonard on 28 March (14:00–20:30). Whether you’ve encountered surprising matches or want to be prepared for the unexpected, this full-day session will guide you through identifying, analysing, and making sense of DNA results that don’t quite fit your family tree. From close family surprises to more distant mysteries, you’ll gain practical tools, step-by-step techniques, and real-life case studies to help you confidently interpret your findings and break through research barriers. With a 20% discount for members, it’s an essential workshop for anyone using DNA to explore their ancestry.
SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT
This month, we’re delighted to feature Dai Davies of GenealCymru, who joins us in March. Dai joins us for From the Bards to Your Family Tree: Exploring the Welsh Literary Renaissance, bringing a fresh, creative perspective on how literary culture can deepen our understanding of the people in our family trees.
What got you into genealogy?
I wanted to preserve and build on my Grampie’s research.
Do you have any formal qualifications?
MA in Anthropology, with a speciality in social identity and migration.
Why the interest in poetry and literature?
My Grampie used to leave funny songs and rhymes on the answering machine. We have the “spark” for rhyme—and I’ve learned our ancestors did too.
Any famous (or notable) ancestors?
Rev. David Davis of Castellhywel, a schoolmaster, bard, and translator, and Dan Isaac Davies, an educator and defender of the Welsh language.
Favourite genealogy source?
Old wills, without question—though I’m very keen to get my hands on more diaries.
Best ancestral surname?
Davies… five times over!
What’s the biggest misconception about Welsh research?
That common names make it impossible to find our ancestors.
One-name study?
Every person with the given name Timothy in south-west Wales.
One-place study?
Cilgwyn Chapel, Llangybi, and any farm my ancestors occupied for multiple generations.
Most frustrating brick-wall ancestor?
David Thomas of Olwen, Lampeter (1728–1816). He appears in 74 records, but his family is still a mystery.
If you could ask one ancestor a question, who would it be?
My 4× great-grandmother, Esther Thomas of Dryslwynfach, Llandybïe. I’d ask about her relationship with the partner she had three children with.
Most distant ancestor researched?
Thomas Rydderch of Cellan (d. 1758), a yeoman who owned seven cows, one old mare, and twelve lambs at his death. His daughter married the “Historian of the Welsh Baptists.”
How would you best describe your ancestors?
Creative nerds—whether they were blacksmiths, carpenters, historians, educators, or poets.
LIBRARY NEWS
For the latest on what has been happening in our library and archives, see our latest Collections Update, including our current Featured Collections, a student work experience and news on collections and uploads to SoG Explore.
Featured Collection - Ancient Schools
You can now find our featured collections, and Collections Corner articles in the Learning Hub. Just tick the relevant categories. Here’s a sample of the latest posts.
A Small Selection of Small Collections
Organising the Garden School, Bogle, Savigny and ‘Unknown’ small collections
Thanks to library visitor Harvey Miller for his recent feedback:
“I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the premises. There is a great array of literature and source material gracing the shelves. The staff are extremely welcoming, and I look forward to visiting again in the future.”
VOLUNTEERING WITH US
Have you ever thought about volunteering with us?
We have projects designed for the meticulous. the curious, and the creative! From facilitating events, to transcribing Pedigree Rolls – there are plenty of opportunities to learn more about the world of genealogy while also sharing your expertise.
We have over 200 volunteers working from all over the world, and in-person opportunities working from our London-based Research Hub. Training is available for all our projects, and we have a dedicated volunteers’ forum where you can ask questions or have a chat.
So, whether you would like to learn more or would just like to make new friends, why not check out our volunteers page and get in touch?
MARCH BOOK OF THE MONTH
My Ancestors were English Presbyterians and Unitarians by Alan Ruston (2001) and My Ancestors were Congregationalists by David Clifford (Second edition 2000)
In My Ancestors were English Presbyterians and Unitarians, Ruston gives us a comprehensive guide to researching these two religious denominations. Beginning with a history of Presbyterians and Unitarians in England, the book then provides a list of locations for the family historian to use. Locations include England, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man and Ireland.
The usual cost of My Ancestors were English Presbyterians and Unitarians is £4.95 and is currently available to SoG members at the discounted price of £3.96 (£4.45 to non-members).
Gold Members can access the eBook from the Learning Hub here.
My Ancestors were Congregationalists is an essential guide to locating and understanding Congregationalist records. Parish registers of the Church of England are not the only source available to family historians for identifying their ancestors’ baptisms, marriages and burials. For those with Congregationalist ancestors, there are other records available.
David Clifford has included a detailed directory list of all Congregationalist chapels in England and Wales founded before 1850. Plus, there are details of what record offices and the major libraries hold.
The usual cost of My Ancestors were Congregationalists is £3.90 and is currently available to SoG members at the discounted price of £3.12 (£3.51 to non-members).
A £3.50 postal charge applies within the UK. These books plus the full range of titles published by the Society available from our bookshop through our website. Offer valid until 31 March 2026.
COMPETITION
Win both copies of March 2026’s discounted books. To enter, please answer the following question:
In what year did the English Parliament approve of the Solemn League and Covenant?
Please email your answer to competition@sog.org.uk by midnight GMT on 10 March 2026 with the heading ‘Genealogy Gazette Competition’. Please provide your full name, postal address, and telephone number. Only one entry per person. The winner will be notified by email.
The winner of February 2026’s discounted book, My Ancestor was a Bastard by Ruth Paley (2011), is Alan Harper.
The answer to ‘What was the name of the official parish documents through which a man agreed to pay child support (either a lump sum or weekly maintenance) for a baby born outside marriage, to stop the parish having to cover the costs’ was Bastardy Bonds.
COMMUNITY NEWS
The Museum of Jewish Heritage has launched its Collections Online, a new digital portal that provides free, ongoing public access to their permanent collection. Collections Online includes excerpts of daily life including photographs, passports, visas, oral histories, and even examples of propaganda. The launch of the digital portal is the result of several years of intensive and still ongoing work to digitise and catalogue the Museum’s permanent collection, which tells a multifaceted history of Jewish life before, during, and after the Holocaust.
Jewish ancestry? Discover our Jewish Collections. Read or watch various resources from our Learning Hub selected for you below:
York Civic Trust has launched a new heritage initiative in Acomb and Westfield to mark its 80th anniversary, aiming to capture stories and memories from communities often overlooked in the city’s historical narrative. Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project invites residents to share local memories, everyday places and buildings that shape neighbourhood identity, starting with a pop-up stall at Acomb Explore Library. A wider programme of walks, workshops and community events will run through the summer, with small grants available later this year for community-led heritage projects emerging from the work.
The Register of Qualified Genealogists (RQG) has announced its 2026 conference, which will take place at The Birmingham & Midland Institute in Birmingham (UK) on Saturday 25 April 2026. Open to members and non-members alike, the event welcomes genealogists, researchers, students, and related professionals. Under the theme Exploring the Past, Embracing the Future, the conference will bring together UK and international experts for a day of advanced discussion, professional development, and networking. Confirmed keynote speakers include Rebecca Probert, Sophie Kay, and Julia Laite.
📺 What’s On the Box?
The Assassination of Queen Victoria:
this documentary explores the extraordinary true story of Queen Victoria and the eight attempts on her life during her 63-year reign. From the first shocking attack in 1840 on Constitution Hill to a series of later threats, the programme reveals how danger followed the monarch despite the splendour of royal pageantry.
Victoria’s determination to remain visible to the public set a pattern that exposed her to repeated risk, making this a fascinating study of monarchy, public life, and security in the Victorian era.
A must-watch for anyone interested in 19th-century history and the human stories behind the crown. You can catch up on the show here.
Join the conversation!
Have you been watching something that’s sparked your interest in your Victorian ancestors? Share your recommendations and reflections with our community on our Facebook page — we always enjoy hearing from you.
Love the Victorians? We've got you covered...
THE LATEST DIGITAL COLLECTION NEWS
Ancestry has added:
- East Riding, Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812
- East Riding, Yorkshire, England, Church of England Burials, 1813-2000
- East Riding, Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1950
- East Riding, Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1925
FIBIS has added:
- Cemeteries, Madras, Trichinopoly: Trichinopoly Cemetery – Graves. Inscriptions from graves
- Cemeteries, Bengal, Dalhousie: Dalhousie Civil Cemetery, Himachal Pradesh. Inscriptions from graves
- Maritime, Passenger & Officer Lists: Passengers to and from Bombay and Suez 1838-1845
- Census, Enumeration Lists: Lahore 1947 – Census of European British subjects & foreigners
- Census, Enumeration Lists: Amritsar Dec 1946 – Jul 1947 – Census of European British subjects & foreigner
- Census, Enumeration Lists: Amritsar Dec 1946 – Jul 1947 – Census of European British subjects & foreigners
- Census, Enumeration Lists: Simla Dec 1946 – Jul 1947 – Census of European British subjects & foreigners
TheGenealogist has added
- large-scale 25-inch-to-the-mile historic Ordnance Survey maps (1890–1914) and a new LiDAR layer to MapExplorer
- Devon parish register records
- Ottery St. Mary 1601–1837
- Widecombe-in-the-Moor 1560–1837
- Colyton 1538–1837
- Exeter 1561–1837
- Halberton 1605–1837
- Hartland 1558–1837
- Branscombe 1539–1812
- Parracombe 1597–1836
