Unlock the Past blogs

Search For Henry Spencer Ends

Shauna Hicks — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 04:26:30 +0000

My partner Max's grandfather was a real mystery man. Unfortunately Max's father knew very little about his father so we only had vague family stories to follow.

What we did know was that Max's grandfather, Henry Spencer was from West Bromwich in Staffordshire and it was relatively easy to identify him and his parents and siblings in English census records and to trace them further back. Where we had a brick wall was how and when Henry came to Australia and where he died.

Types of History Poll

Rosemary Kopittke — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:30:11 +0000

Here are the results of our 21st Unlock the Past poll - What types of history are you involved in? One hundred and two people voted casting a total of 342 votes. Obviously the predominant interests of those responding was family history (98%) but there is a broad range of interest in other areas of history as well with local history (43.1%) and social history (30.4%) being the most popular.

History & Genealogy Expo Adelaide 2010 Evaluation

Alan Phillips — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 14:30:59 +0000

The first Unlock the Past History & Genealogy Expo was held in Adelaide on Friday 30 and Saturday 31 July 2010 at the West Adelaide Function Centre (Football Club), Richmond, close to the Adelaide CBD.

How committed are you to family/local history poll

Rosemary Kopittke — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:23:53 +0000

Here are the results of our 20th Unlock the Past poll - How committed are you to family and local history? Two hundred and fifty-six people voted casting a total of 273 votes.

Clearly most people taking part in this poll are very committed to researching their family and local history - over 70 percent of those responding.

History-Genealogy Magazines Poll

Rosemary Kopittke — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 03:14:47 +0000

Here are the results of our 19th Unlock the Past poll - What do you generally read in history/genealogy magazines? One hundred and sixty-eight people voted casting a total of 1605 votes.

Most of the article categories listed are read by more than 50 percent of readers (just a few exceptions).

Still Tracking Helen Carnegie/Ferguson/Chick

Shauna Hicks — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 03:22:27 +0000

My two previous blogs on my gg grandmother Helen Carnegie were on 28 November 2009 and 28 January 2010. When we left the story, I was waiting for an email from a Chick descendant who was going to give me some information on Helen's second husband Charles Wademore Chick.

Research and Heritage Tours Poll

Rosemary Kopittke — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 03:52:42 +0000

Here are the results of our 18th Unlock the Past poll - What kind of research or heritage tours would you consider joining? Seventy-eight people voted casting a total of 422 votes.

The most popular tour was a research tour of Ireland (45%) though all similar tours in Britain and the one to Salt Lake City had a good response. As well, there is good interest in doing special custom tours of ancestral places (21%).

Who Do You Think You Are Poll

Rosemary Kopittke — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 04:47:31 +0000

Here are the results of our 17th Unlock the Past poll - Which "Who Do You Think You Are" TV programs have you watched? Three hundred and nine people voted casting a total of 916 votes. The summary shows a great interest in the series - particularly the British and Australian episodes.

History Queensland Fair 23 May 2010 Review

Shauna Hicks — Mon, 24 May 2010 05:18:40 +0000

The 7^th History Queensland Biennial Family and Local History Fair was held in a new venue, the Donald Simpson Centre at Cleveland. Exhibitors were in two main rooms with a few smaller rooms adjacent plus there was a large lunch area and refreshments available onsite. There was also plenty of parking areas but it paid to arrive early as numbers attending were high and most people seemed to stay all day.

Major Events Poll

Rosemary Kopittke — Thu, 13 May 2010 23:07:39 +0000

Here are the results of our 16th Unlock the Past poll - What major events do you hope to attend? Seventy-six people voted casting a total of 216 votes. The summary shows a lot of interest in attending major events - more than 60 percent have indicated they will be attending the Find My Past Tour in May and the National Roadshow later in the year. Events which are regional (and hence not accessible to everyone who responded) still have recorded a fairly high level of interest.

Brick Wall Solutions - Searching for Smiths and Browns

Rosemary Kopittke — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 03:46:44 +0000

by Mary Geiger

When talking recently to a friend about searching on World Vital Records, I said that I never search for my main family lines of Smith and Brown as they always produce way too many results.

My grandfather Neil Smith was born in North Barnawartha, Victoria in 1879 and he, along with one brother whom I thought was his brother George, were the only ones to come to Queensland.

Subscription and PPV Sites Poll

Rosemary Kopittke — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:34:39 +0000

Here are the results of our 15th Unlock the Past poll - What subscription or pay per view online content sites do you use? 167 people voted casting a total of 603 votes. Ancestry clearly had the largest following but Find My Past - who operate Find My Past, 1911 Census, Ancestors on Board and Genes Reunited - attracted a large number of votes as well. Sites that are regional, such as ScotlandPeople, naturally attracted a smaller but still strong vote.

Free Online Content Poll

Rosemary Kopittke — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:32:32 +0000

Here are the results of our 14th Unlock the Past poll - What free online content do you use? 89 people voted casting a total of 678 votes.

How Did You Get Into History or Genealogy Poll

Rosemary Kopittke — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 06:19:00 +0000

Here are the results of our 13th Unlock the Past poll - How did you get into history or genealogy? 116 people voted indicating a huge range of things which triggered their initial interest - "other" scored the most votes.

The Accidental Finding of a Long Lost Relative

Aimee Engler — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:41:22 +0000

I’m sure most - if not all - people interested or acquainted with the field of genealogy have experienced that moment of surprise mixed with a bit of excitement when they discover that someone who they already know is related to them. With my interests lying in history, not genealogy, and my heritage still waiting for proper investigation, I had yet to experience such a classic moment. My attempts at discovering my family tree have been minimal at best and my knowledge shamefully limited of whence I came.

Brick Wall Solutions - the elusive Alfred Beeston

Rosemary Kopittke — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:35:56 +0000

The question I’ve heard repeatedly from English friends since 1992 is “What have you done with our Alfred?”

Whilst researching my own Beeston family who originated in Mugginton, Derbyshire then progressively moved to Fenny Bentley, Kniveton, and Hognaston (all in Derbyshire) before going to Heaton Norris (Lancashire

Genealogy Software Poll

Rosemary Kopittke — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:28:02 +0000

Here are the results of our 12th Unlock the Past poll - What genealogy software do you use? 226 people voted casting a total of 307 votes.

The usefulness of digitised records when researching

Aimee Engler — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:24:40 +0000

For the past 2 years I have been researching Lutheran history in South Australia and their response to Hitler. It’s a fascinating topic and one that’s never been looked at before so there’s not much information and only a small portion compiled.

What countries do you and your ancestors come from?

Rosemary Kopittke — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:50:37 +0000

Here are the results of our 11th Unlock the Past poll - What countries do you and your ancestors come from? 455 people voted casting a total of 1936 votes. All the countries mentioned under "other" have been extracted and included in the overall summary.

Brick Wall Solutions - Still Looking for James Henry Trevaskis (1839-?)

Shauna Hicks — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:38:57 +0000

In previous Brick Wall Solutions blogs, I have written about my success stories. This time I am writing about a brick wall that has yet to crumble. I certainly hope that someone reading this blog has the answer or clues that I can follow up on. Other family members, as well as myself, have tried many times over the last thirty plus years to solve it but without success.

My gg grandfather was James Henry Trevaskis born in St Hilary Cornwall in 1839.

Social Media Poll

Rosemary Kopittke — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:36:09 +0000

Here are the results of our 10th Unlock the Past poll - What online social media sites do you use? 101 people voted casting a total of 211 votes. Facebook was clearly the most popular.

Research Guides

Alan Phillips — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:18:10 +0000

Here are the results of our 9th Unlock the Past poll. 114 people voted, casting a total of 857 votes. A number of new guide books are well advanced and should start appearing from March this year onwards.

Brick Wall Solutions - The Search for Helen Carnegie Continues

Shauna Hicks — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:13:22 +0000

In my Brick Walls blog on 28 November 2009, I first wrote about my search for my gg grandmother Helen Carnegie. We left the story with my believing that Helen was an alcoholic prostitute who had probably died in an asylum. I had finally found a reference to her death under the name of Helen Chick and I was eagerly waiting to receive the death certificate.

Events of interest

Alan Phillips — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Here are the results of our 8th Unlock the Past poll. 142 people voted casting a total of 684 votes. It seems there is interest in events of all types. Most events will be seminars, fairs and conferences by societies and others, most of which Unlock the Past will support. However Unlock the Past will conduct some regional roadshows. In addition we have provisionally commited to 4 major events – expos in Adelaide and Sydney, a national roadshow and a history-genealogy cruise in early early 2011.

Brick Wall Solutions – Who was Charlotte Kopittke?

Eric Kopittke — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:17:28 +0000

When I started researching my family history seriously in the mid 1980s, I knew that what was recorded on birth, death and marriage certificates was correct.

My grandfather Gustav Kopittke arrived in Brisbane in 1876 from Germany via England accompanied by his parents, Daniel and Charlotte Kopittke, and his younger sister, Auguste. I knew from my father’s birth certificate that his father was born in Schwartow, Hinterpommern.