Hertfordshire People - March 2016

I have just received the latest copy of Hertfordshire People, - The Quarterly Journal of the Hertfordshire Family History Society, and as always it is packed with information. Items I personally found particularly interesting were:
My Favourite First World War Relative told the story of C S M Herbert Henry Stone and is an interesting example of what you can find out about your soldier relatives.

What's New at HALS - I was most interested to see that some military service tribunal records had survived, and there some farm surveys relating to the First Worl Dar

Hertfordshire Firsts ...... described the origins of steeplechasing.

As I live in Tring I was thrilled by the article A Female Pauper Apprentice's Life at Tring Silk Mill and the article paints a bleak picture of the working conditions pauper girls were require to work under.

The Book Review section covers a number of interesting volumes and I am planning to purchase two relating to the canals and the First World War - and if I have time reviews will appear on my web site.

I have also noted some Dates for my Diary - included future Society Meetings and also some others. I don't think I will have time to go to Who do you think you are at Birmingham in April but will try and make the Buckinghamshire FHS Open Day at Aylesbury on 23rd July, as my mother's family tree has Aylesbury branches going back to about 1600.

They didn't have Page 3 girls 200 years ago but ...

Old News

In looking through old newspapers it is very easy to become distracted by a completely different story to the one you were researching.  "Glory1505" asked a question on Rootsweb about the possible existence of a press report relating to the trial of Joseph Saunders at Hertford in 1818.

I found a very brief mention in the Bury and Norwich Post squeezed between a long report (by the standard of early 19th century papers) on a breach of promise case in which the jilted lady was awarded £4000 and a seduction, where the mother of the seduced young girl was awarded £1000. The latter was followed by two brief reports of men being sentenced to death - at a time when public hangings were considered a great entertainment - with people flocking to watch the action.

So while modern newspapers are very much bigger that those of 200 years ago things haven't changed. The early editors undoubtedly selected stories about sex, money and violence because they were popular then - and helped to sell newspapers. 

POSTCRIPT: The case of Joseph Saunders, and two of the other criminals mentioned in the press report, are mentioned in Transported beyond the Sea (I have added detailed to the page on the press report) so there are almost certainly court record at HALS. If you live in or near Hertfordshire you may be interested to know that Ken Griffin, who wrote the book, will be talking on The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: A Story of Transportation at the Herts Family History Society meeting on April 27.

Hertfordshire People - December 2012

The December issue of Hertfordshire People has just arrived, and contains the usual list of goodies (which you will know about if you are already a member of the Herts Family History Society). For those who live near enough to attend the Society Meetings at Woolmer Green are:

December 16

Livery Companies of the City of London

Computer Group: On-line Maps for Family History

January 26

Hoo's Who 100 Years Ago: Luton Hoo Estate Workers c 1900.

February 23

All Roads Lead to Smithfield

And while I am mentioning dates don't forget the Who Do You Think You Are fair on 22-24 February, 2013

Hertfordshire People, September 2012 Issue

This is the Journal of the Hertfordshire Family History Society and has just arrived and I noted the following items - which might tempt you to become a member and get your own copy!

• To save postage there is an question about whether a pdf version of the Journal would be viable. Clearly this would be of particular interest to overseas members (and prospective members) as it would ensure quick delivery and greatly reduce postal cost.
• There is a competition (members only) for a piece "My Favourite Ancestor"
• Whats new at Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies (HALS) includes a list of interesting records that are now available in the online name search facility.
• There is a review of the book St Albans through Time
• There is an item about Aerofilms - a company whose air photographs are currently going online from 1919 to 1959 at www.britainfromabove.org.uk. Sounds very interesting and I will be reviewing the site here soon.
• There are articles on The Pattern family of Barley and the Cotton family of Hitchin

Future meetings (see Society Web Site for details):

Sept 29: Poverty & Madness from Stepney to Colney Hatch

Oct 27: Looking for Lillian (Correcting a Family Myth)

Nov 24: The Streets of London

Dec 15: Livery Companies of the City of London