Guardian Media has reported that the UK genealogy website Findmypast has signed a deal with UKTV – channel Yesterday.

The pay-TV broadcaster has struck the product placement deal with Brightsolid, the DC Thomson-owned company that is home to online genealogy tools including Find My Past and Genes Reunited, to launch a genealogy show on factual channel Yesterday.

 In UKTV’s biggest advertiser-funded programming deal to date, Brightsolid will pay for a new 10-part one-hour series called Find My Past. In return the company gets brand exposure in the titles, end credits and all marketing associated with the new series.

 Each week the show, which is being made by independent producer Lion Television, will use the findmypast.co.uk website to focus on a famous moment – such as Dunkirk or the Jack the Ripper attacks – to connect “three seemingly unrelated members of the public”.

 UKTV, which is jointly owned by the BBC and Virgin Media, will broadcast the show this winter on Freeview channel Yesterday.

 ”Findmypast.co.uk already has a strong commercial association with us as Yesterday’s main sponsor, so finding and developing a fresh genealogy TV format to co-fund has been a natural next step,” said Sally Quick, head of commercial partnerships at UKTV.

Much of the Society of Genealogists online data is also hosted on Findmypast so the Society is delighted that there will be another TV opporunity to focus on rich online  genealogy source materal.

for more information on the report on thisTV programme visit the Guardian Media website

with thanks to Chris M Paton and UK-TV press department for bringing this to our attention

Technorati Tags: family history, Find My Past, genealogy, Society of Genealogists

On the beautiful spring evening of 6^th May 2011 SoG members, staff, friends and guests attended the Anniversary Gala Dinner at the Royal Overseas League. The Society’s Patron HRH Prince Michael of Kent welcomed everyone and congratulated the Society on reaching its anniversary and, in addition, awarded the Society of Genealogists’ prestigious Prince Michael Award to Alex Graham of Wall to Wall Television.

The Prince Michael Award is made for distinguished and outstanding services to Genealogy.

It is not given lightly. Previous recipients have included The Family Record Centre, The Genealogical Society of Utah, Family Tree Magazine and Free BMD; all organizations that have joined the Society of Genealogists in broadening the appeal of genealogy.

Prince Michael said “ I am delighted to be here personally to present the award this evening to Alex Graham and his television production company Wall to Wall who make the popular BBC television series Who Do You Think You Are? Since it first appeared in 2004 the series has made a growing UK audience of some 5-6 million viewers aware that family history can be engaging and can reveal fascinating and often emotional stories. The show has in turn led a vast numbers of intrigued family historians to genealogy websites and to archives; encouraging them to go on their own genealogical adventure. Now the format has been extended to the Netherlands, Ireland and the United States. So this award is made to Alex Graham and Wall to Wall in appreciation of raising awareness of family history worldwide.”

The Society of Genealogists is the oldest genealogical organization in the country. Founded in 1911 it is the premier genealogical society and National Library and Education Centre for Family History

Prince Michael of Kent has been Patron of the Society of Genealogists since 2005, having formerly been its President from 1978.

Technorati Tags: genealogy, Society of Genealogists Centenary, Wall to Wall TV, Who Do You Think You Are?

Another slightly unusual source has been made available for family history 

I’m indebted to Michael Dunn who has sent a note to remind me that the marine news contained in Lloyd’s List for the period 1740-1837 has been indexed by the Guildhall Library, London. Michael has now scanned and made images of the  Lloyd’s List marine news notices to compliment the index and both the images and the link to the Guildhall Library’s index is available at www.1812privateers.org/Bibliography

Michael’s website www.1812privateers.org is intended to provide information on the War of 1812 and the Prisoners of War. American privateers added to the offensive capability of the United States. He draws on sources from the UK at TNA and in North America and the site is extremely interesting.

Lloyd’s List is a newspaper devoted to marine news and shipping movements; principally for the merchant shipping community but now a valuable source for anyone interested in maritime activity of the period. In particular it records the movements of ocean going vessels and marine news of casualties, ‘speakings’ and other events involving individual vessels..

This database has been compiled from copies of Lloyd’s List deposited at Guildhall Library by Lloyd’s of London as part of the Lloyd’s Marine Collection. The database is an index to the marine news section of Lloyd’s List for the period 1740 – 1837. Please note that only the news items are included; the ordinary shipping movements have not been indexed. The news items are remarkable and, as you can see from the example image below, packed with names of ships and their owners showing arrivals and sailings.

Note there are some omissions. The database excludes the years 1742, 1745, 1754, 1756, 1759 and 1778, for which Guildhall Library does not have copies of Lloyd’s List. In addition there are only the Old Style dates January 1 to March 24 for the years 1740, 1743 and 1746.

Technorati Tags: family history, genealogy, Lloyd' List, marine, Society of Genealogists

This new addition to the Society’s popular ‘Cemeteries & Burial Grounds’ walks, will take place on Friday, 7 October 2011 starting at 2pm. The walk will last approximately two hours and our group  will meet our walk leader, Alec Tritton, at Postman’s Park, behind St. Botolph Aldersgate. Book early as places are limited.

The walk MUST be pre-booked, price £10.00 (£8.00 SoG members). To book a space, visit our secure website or telephone the events department: 020 7553 3290. Do you have a question? email the events department

Technorati Tags: ancestor, burial, cemetery, family history, graveyard, parish, Society of Genealogists, walk

The Society of Genealogists has recently reprinted two of the most popular titles in its My Ancestors series. My Ancestor was a Merchant Seaman by Christopher and Michael Watts (£9.99), is recognised as an authoritative work on tracing ancestors who served as merchant seamen. Packed with information and advice on how to access merchant seaman records, this is a comprehensive guide for family historians and genealogists alike. My Ancestor was in the British Army (£10.99), by the same authors, provides similar guidance in tracing the records of British soldiers who served from around 1660 up to the Second World War. Both books are an invaluable addition to any family historian’s library and both are available now from the society’s bookshop, and online at www.sog.org.uk. As ever, members of the Society of Genealogists receive a 10% discount on our publications.