Today is the launch day for the British Newspaper Archive - www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. The archive will offer access to up to 4 million pages, 65 million stories at launch, fully searchable online, featuring more than 200 newspaper titles (mainly dating from the 19th century) from every part of the UK and Ireland.

It's free to search but you'll need to pay to access the content. A 12 month subscription costs £79.95 for unlimited access. The cost of 3000 credits, valid for 30 days, is £29.95 and 500 credits, valid for 2 days, is £6.95. The following table shows how many credits each type of content costs to view for both Package options.

Type of Scanned Page	Credit cost per page	30 Day Package Equivalent Cost per Page	2 Day Package Equivalent Cost per Page
Published over 107 years ago (B&W) Pages scanned from microfilm (B&W	5	£0.05	£0.07
Published over 107 years ago (colour scan)	10	£0.10	£0.14
Published within last 107 years	15	£0.15	£0.21

Be aware that UK citizens may already have free access to some of these publications through their local library membership. This doesn't mean you have to go to the library to view the material, you can do it online at home with your membership card.

[Why Tuesday's Tip? This phrase has been included in the title in order to take part in Blogging Prompts at Geneabloggers]

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

Family Tree section

• Added a few more notes for my 3 x great-grandparents, George Arnold (b. abt 1822) & Mary Bacon and also George and his second wife, Mary Ann Garlick.
• Updated notes for my 4 x great-grandparents, George Arnold (b. abt 1793) & Elizabeth Raynor/Rayner.
• Added further notes for Elizabeth's first husband, Thomas Avins.
• Added Thomas & Elizabeth's daughter, Mary Avins and Mary's daughter, Eglah Swinnerton Avins.
• Added my 5 x great-grandparents, John Raynor & Mary Wagstaff and also their children.
• Added James Alcock, husband of Ann Raynor, together with a few notes.
• Added my 5 x great-grandparents, George Arnold (b. abt 1755) & Jane Orton.

Relevant place names: Nuneaton, Ansley and Chilvers Coton, all in Warwickshire.

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

Today is American Thanksgiving Day, which has strong ties with Plymouth, England. Plymouth is home to the Mayflower Steps from where the Pilgrim Fathers left England aboard the Mayflower to cross the Atlantic Ocean to settle in North America on 6 September 1620.

To celebrate, two ceremonies were held to mark Thanksgiving Day this year, the Flag raising ceremony at the Guildhall and a Thanksgiving ceremony at the Mayflower Steps Memorial. The ceremonies were organised by American citizens living in Plymouth and were attended by the Lord Mayor and local Councillors.

I popped down to the Mayflower Steps and captured parts of the ceremony on my camera. Apologies for the sound quality of the video but it was quite a breezy day. You should be able to make out the sound of the seagulls squawking when the wreath was being layed and I particularly enjoyed the rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.


Read more about the Mayflower Steps in my previous post.

[Why Those Places Thursday? This phrase has been included in the title in order to take part in Blogging Prompts at Geneabloggers]

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

Series 2 of the American 'Who Do You Think You Are' TV show hit our screens last week and last night's episode featured the film star, Ashley Judd. Of course, I know this is old news to American readers but I thought it worth commenting on anyway.

The first part of the program featured an ancestor of Ashley's who was in the American Civil War but it was the second part which most fascinated me. Timed to coincide with Thanksgiving, the program unravelled the life of William Brewster, one of the Pilgrim Fathers who sailed to America on the Mayflower in 1620.

Ashley travelled to England and visited York, Cambridge and Boston before ending up at Plymouth in Devon. The final scene showed Ashley and her father standing at the Mayflower Steps Memorial on Plymouth's Barbican, a place I'm very familiar with, being a native of Plymouth (see my previous post).

The story was very interesting but I find, in general, the American show skips along at a far greater pace than the English version. There isn't so much time given to the celebrity's musings about what they've discovered so far. Generations are quickly pushed to one side as they rush towards the story they're featuring. I imagine the reason for this is because of the need to build in time to show adverts in the US whereas the BBC has the luxury of being able to dedicate a complete hour to each episode.

So in summary, a great subject for the second show in the US 2nd series but it left me wanting more.

For UK viewers who missed it, the program can be viewed on the BBC iPlayer until 14th December.

[Why Thanksgiving Thursday? This phrase has been included in the title in order to take part in Blogging Prompts at Geneabloggers]

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

Happy Thanksgiving from across the Pond!

Did you know the Pilgrim Fathers are not just remembered in the US but in Plymouth, England, too? Amongst the many references to the Mayflower and the Pilgrims here in Plymouth, the Mayflower Steps Memorial is located in the area known as the Barbican in one of the oldest parts of this city in the South West of England.

The actual steps from where the Pilgrims departed no longer exist. A granite block set in the pavement was the original memorial, although this was previously set in the roadway. A plaque commemorating the historic journey in 1620 was erected alongside in 1891 and the Doric portico was added in 1934. This in turn is flanked by the American and British flags.

Some of the Pilgrim Fathers spent their last night at the 16th century Island House where there is a plaque on the wall listing all the names of the passengers who sailed on the voyage.

Photographs of the Mayflower Memorial and Island House are available for immediate download in my online shop for £0.60, less than $1. Is your ancestor one of those named on the Island House Plaque? If so, I'd love to hear from you.

You can read more about Plymouth's Pilgrim heritage in my earlier post.

[Why Thanksgiving Thursday? This phrase has been included in the title in order to take part in Blogging Prompts at Geneabloggers]

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

Amongst the genealogy community I've read so much about the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner and I can see the merits in having such a useful little gadget. In fact, I'm sold on having one except, wait for it, you still can't get one in the UK.

I've been in touch with the manufacturer and their response was...

"Unfortunately, we do not yet distribute in UK. Of course we are actively investigating what that would take. It is a matter of both the distribution/support processes as well as regulatory approvals. Currently, even if you could have a friend in the US or Canada order and ship it to you, the warranty is not valid outside of the US."

I replied that I didn't mind about the warranty but didn't know anyone in the US who could help me get hold of a Flip-Pal but the reply was much the same.

How disappointing that after more than a year (perhaps longer) since launch they still haven't come up with a way of sending the Flip-Pal abroad. I can't believe it takes rocket science!

Ah well, I'll have to start looking around for an alternative so I can quickly and easily scan the numerous boxes and albums of photographs which I have in my possession. If anyone can suggest something similar that is available in the UK (not sure the hand-held ones are all that good), please could you let me know, either by leaving a comment or using my contact form.

[Why Sorting Saturday? This phrase has been included in the title in order to take part in Blogging Prompts at Geneabloggers]

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

I can't believe I've overlooked the television show, Find My Past. 4 of the 10 episodes have already been aired but I shall definitely be watching as from tomorrow (Thursday).

I imagine it takes a similar format to Who Do You Think You Are but with ordinary people. Each episode features three members of the public who are connected to each other through an event in history. This week will be about the Mutiny on the Bounty.

The program goes out on Thursdays at 9pm on the Yesterday Channel: Freeview channel 12, Sky 537 and Virgin Media 203. I understand that repeats are aired the next day.

14th NOVEMBER

1824 - Caroline Dando was born 187 years ago. She was the daughter of Nathaniel Dando, the elder, and his second wife, Caroline nee Hewitt.

1823 - one year before, Emma Rowlandson was born in Hadstock, Essex, but sadly, she died in 1826.

20th NOVEMBER

1893 - William Tyler died at Woodcroft, Tidenham, Gloucestershire, 118 years ago and was buried in St Mary & St Peter's Churchyard at Tidenham five days later. His headstone remains there today.

21st NOVEMBER

1930 - Brian W Dando was born in Teddington, Middlesex, but it is believed he died a few months later. He was the grandson of my great-great-grandfather, William Elbert Dando. Brian's birth announcement appeared in The Times as follow...

DANDO.-On Nov. 21, 1930, at Oketon, Hampton-road, Teddington, to SYBIL (nee Roylance), the wife of MALCOLM DANDO-a son. (F.M.S. papers, please copy.)

23rd NOVEMBER

1809 - my 5 x great-grandfather, John Dando, the younger, died in Bristol, 202 years ago. There is a grave and plaque in the cemetery at Rodborough Tabernacle commemorating John and his first wife, Ann Dando (nee Brothers), and six of their children. However, although John's name appears on the plaque in Rodborough, he was actually buried in New Yard, Broad Mead Baptist, Bristol, in Mr Shipway's grave where his second wife, Esther (previously Mrs Shipway), was also buried. The register shows...

1809 Novr 30th John Dando Interr'd in Mr. Shipway's Grave 10s 6d.


The Dando grave plaque at Rodborough, Gloucestershire
Click the image to see a larger version.
26th NOVEMBER

1940 - Alice Amies Sill (nee Dando), died in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, at the age of 82.

28th NOVEMBER

1822 - 189 years ago, Nathaniel Dando, the elder, & Caroline Hewitt, were married at Holy Trinity, Clapham Surrey. The Times announcement read as follows...

MARRIED.
On Thursday, the 28th inst., at Clapham church, by the Rev. Wm. Dealtry, B.D., F.R.S., rector, Mr. Nathaniel Dando, of Pennsbury, Clapham, and Cheapside, to Caroline, second daughter of the late John Hewitt, Esq, of Clapham common.

1791 - William Hall & Carolina Browning were married at Arlingham in Gloucestershire. After William died, Caroline/a married my 5 x great-grandfather, John Fryer.

1887 - the great-grandson of John Fryer, mentioned above, celebrated his marriage 124 years ago when John Augustine Fryer & Mary Ann Julia Girling wed in Chepstow, Monmouthshire.

29th NOVEMBER

1798 - Richard Fryer & Sarah Roberts were married by licence at Fretherne, Gloucestershire. Richard was the younger brother of my 5 x great-grandfather, John Fryer.

30th NOVEMBER

1726 - 285 years ago, John Ball & Hannah Pitcher, were married at Ross on Wye, Herefordshire. Hannah was the daughter of my 7 x great-grandparents, Arthur Pitcher and Ann (nee Ansley).

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

Gallery > Potpourri > War Memorabilia section

• As this is Remembrance Day, I've decided to add my grandfather's WWII medals to the gallery. William Hellyer Geake enlisted in the Royal Marines on 1st January 1941 and won the 1939-45 Star, the Burma Star, the Africa Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal. You can view his medals here.

Gallery > Places section

• A couple of years ago, I briefly visited the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire as various branches of my family came from there. I've recently confirmed my Pitcher ancestors were connected to the villages of Newland and Clearwell and so I've added some photographs to the gallery, which I took when I was there.

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

Post a tribute of remembrance at Ancestry's Facebook page and they'll donate £1 to the British Legion up to their target of £10,000.

I posted the following about my great-grandfather...

Pte Henry James Weaver 4732, my great-grandfather, killed by accident on 8th September 1916 whilst at the base in France. Buried at Merville.

See more about Henry on my website.

Ancestry.co.uk are offering a selection of their World War I records FOR FREE between 10th-13th November.

For 4 days you can access:

• British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920
• British Army WWI Pension Records 1914-1920
• British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920

3rd NOVEMBER

1767 - 244 years ago, my 5 x great-grandparents, John Dando & Ann Brothers, were married in Dursley, Gloucestershire, before moving to Rodborough on the outskirts of Stroud.

1898 - Georgina Emma May Hibbitt (nee Williams) was born 113 years ago.

4th NOVEMBER

1833 - William Tyler & Elizabeth James were married at Chepstow, Monmouthshire, which was the bride's parish. William was from Tidenham in Gloucestershire.

6th NOVEMBER

1838 - the marriage of Joseph Hart & Hannah Fryer took place in the Parish Church of St Thomas, Bristol. Hannah was the grand-daughter of my 5 x great-grandparents, John Fryer & Phoebe (nee Taysum), and Joseph was a mariner.

7th NOVEMBER

1808 - and there was yet another wedding when Charles Tyler & Mary Price tied the knot at St Mary & St Peter's Church, Tidenham, Glos., 203 years ago.


St Mary & St Peter's Church, Tidenham, Gloucestershire
9th NOVEMBER

1813 - my 3 x great-grandparents, Robert Free & Mary Adams, celebrated their marriage in St Botolph's Church, Hadstock, Essex, this day 198 years ago, their banns having been read in the previous May and June.

10th NOVEMBER

1761 - early November was certainly popular for weddings for exactly 250 years ago my 6 x great-grandparents, Richard Fryer & Mary Harvey, were married at Westbury on Severn in Gloucestershire.

1948 - William John Smale died 63 years ago.

12th NOVEMBER

1881 - Henry Richard Fryer & Mary Walters were married at Tidenham, Glos. Henry was a turner and Mary was a servant.

1903 - Mary Pockett (nee Fryer) died at the age of 50 and was buried in St Mary the Virgin's Churchyard at Fretherne, Glos.

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

Family Tree section

• Since the recent release of the Warwickshire parish records on Ancestry, I've discovered that my 4 x great-grandmother, Elizabeth Avins, was a widow when she married my 4 x great-grandfather, George Arnold the elder, therefore I've updated Elizabeth Avins to Elizabeth Rayner and added her first husband, Thomas Avins.
• Added a few more notes for my 3 x great-grandparents, George Arnold the younger & Mary Bacon, plus a copy of their signatures from the marriage register.
• Added my 8 x great-grandparents, Arthur (senior) and Ann Pitchard, after obtaining a copy of Arthur's will from the Gloucestershire Archives. Arthur was a yeoman who lived during the 17th century. For all we know, he may have fought in the English Civil War! I wonder which side he was on.
• Added the remainder of Arthur and Ann Pitchard's children and grandchildren, including James Pitchard and his daughter, Ann, Mary Pitchard and her husband, Robert Lock, Thomas Pitchard and his wife, Alice Powell, and children, William Pitchard and his wife, Mary Wanklin, and children, Ann Pitchard and her husband, James Worgan, and children and Sarah Pitchard and her husband, Walter Knowles, and children.

Relevant place names: Nuneaton in Warwickshire, Newland, Clearwell and Redbrook, all in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, Monmouth in Monmouthshire and Walford in Herefordshire.

Resources > Biographies section

• Added a biography page for Arthur Pitchard.

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

It's been 12 months since I started my blog (the main site has been going for about 4 years now) and in that time I've posted over 150 articles ranging from items from Mrs Beeton's Cookery Book, images from my grandpa's collection of slides, 'On This Day' in the history of my family, features on specific ancestors, a slection of genealogical links and tips, and more.

I don't have a favourite post but I like my 'Ancestors Corner' category most of all as it fleshes out some of the details of my forbears and, at times, allows me to indulge in my own thoughts and draw my own conclusions.

I'm not entirely certain what sort of following I have so if you'd like to say hi, please drop me a line in the comments section. I'd love to hear from you.

Here's looking forward to my next blogiversary!

[Note: All content on the Hibbitt Family History website and blog is copyrighted. Click here for conditions of use.]

If you have your own family tree website you might consider archiving it to a CD or DVD and handing it on to the next generation. After all, who's going to maintain your site after you've gone? The snag here though, is that there'll be a finite number of peope who'll be able to appreciate your efforts and that's only if they happen to share your interest. You could find your research destined for a dusty drawer or, worse still, put out with the rubbish.

In this digital age of readily available information, it seems logical that your site should remain on the internet for a wider audience to read and enjoy. So how do we do this?.....Read more »