East Yorkshire
Family History Society

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Who Do We Think We Are? This Weekend, 4th July 2009, in Hull's Old Town. See below for details.

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Beverley Meeting - July 2009

Please note that this month's meeting will be held in the Longcroft Upper School, Burton Road, Beverley HU17 7EJ. This, we understand, is due to the school examinations timetable and we would like join the school in to apologising for any inconvenience this may cause.

Carol William - 12/06/2009

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Why Join The EYFHS?

Well, apart from the quarterly award-winning journal, apart from the extensive resource and research facilities in Hull and Scarborough, apart from the 4 meetings we hold each month* in Beverley, Bridlington, Hull and Scarborough, apart from the resource-packed members zone on this web site; you will also be helping to preserve our heritage for future generations. The EYFHS are very active in the community and have recently been involved in protecting a WW1 war memorial from possible destruction, guaranteeing the future of an amazing grade 2 listed building and recovering a famous Hull statue from industrial wasteland to a new home on a busy thoroughfare where it can be enjoyed by all. Did I mention the hundreds of publications we have produced for Family Historians? How about the multitude of free help desks we provide right across our region? I guess we could go on and on .... but not without your support.

Members' subscriptions are all that keep us going - that and the work of our many volunteers. There are no paid staff at the EYFHS; not one. For just £12 per year in the UK, or £16 per year overseas, you can help us continue our work and take advantage of our vast experience and resources. Without members, we are nothing. Join in today and we promise you real value for your money.

* No meetings in August or December at some venues. Please see our calendar for details.

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Who Do We Think We Are? - Saturday July 4th 2009

DO NOT MISS THIS:

This living history event provides fun for all ages. Building on the success of the BBC television programme 'Who Do You Think You Are?' the series of linked events allows young and old alike to discover more about how movement and identity have influenced the development of the region.

All events are free to attend and full accessible to all.

Inside the Holy Trinity Church people can meet some of the country's leading experts who have worked on the TV programme 'Who Do You Think You Are' to explore their own heritage. Whether using state of the art technology, learning about family history, exploring the history of the area from the rooftop of Holy Trinity Church, or handling interactive history from the Imperial War Museum in the North, this event looks set to inspire everyone to delve into the people, goods and ideas that have influenced who we think we are.

Outside children and adults in period costume will bring the historic centre of Hull alive in dance, music, and playing games from the days before health and safety controlled what we could and could not do at school. Free English-Heritage approved tour guides will be on hand to help you look at the people, buildings and events that influenced the way Hull evolved as the third largest port in Britain.

At Hull Museum's Hands on History Museum everyone will be encouraged to handle the past through a series of engaging and fun events by costumed characters and experts from the City's museums. Come and see costumed characters and learn about Victorian craft making.

Further information
For further information, please contact...

Sarah Carter
WISE
University of Hull
27 Oriel Chambers
High Street, Hull
HU1 1NE
T. 01482 305176

Alan B. 2nd June

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Pheasant Wood Burial Pits

In May 2008, after several years of painstaking research and investigation, five burial pits dating from the First World War were identified at Pheasant Wood, near Fromelles in northern France.  The pits, which have lain undisturbed for more than 90 years, are believed to contain the remains of between 250 and 400 British and Australian soldiers, buried behind German lines after the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916.

The British and Australian governments have asked the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to oversee the operation to recover the remains and to create a new military cemetery at Fromelles for their reburial.  The work begins in May 2009 and will be completed by July 2010. Find out more at: www.fromelles.org

Commonwealth War Graves Commission May 2009

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Convict transportation registers database

An online version of the British Convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database has been compiled from the British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm.  You can find details for over 123 000 of the estimated 160 000 convicts transported to Australia in the 18th and 19th centuries - names, term of years, transport ships and more. This could be an extremely useful resource for those with missing ancestors. A quick search for Samuel Turner returned 24 results, the following being number two on the results list;

Samuel Turner, one of 320 convicts transported on the John Barry, 02 April 1834. Sentence details: Convicted at Stafford Assizes for a term of life on 23 July 1833. 74258. Vessel: John Barry. Date of Departure: 02 April 1834. Place of Arrival: Van Diemen's Land. Source: Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 90, Class and Piece Number HO11/9, Page Number 325 (164)

The result also returns a link to further information which includes everyone on the same vessel, and a whole lot more besides. Once again, I found myself digressing for a couple of hours rather than getting on with my work!

Alan B. 5th May

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EYFHS is a Member of the Federation of Family History Societies and a Registered Charity, Number 519743.