March 2026
Inside this issue: Who Owns the Family History Story, Society News and Events, Highlight on Golfing Settlements
Inside this issue: Who Owns the Family History Story, Society News and Events, Highlight on Golfing Settlements
Australian visitor Joan Byrne travelled to Windsor to photograph a building designed by her great-grandfather, architect Patrick James Byrne, but discovered far more through the Berkshire Family History Society. With member Mike Bailey's assistance, she explored the lives of two ancestors: Patrick James Byrne, a distinguished Victorian architect who designed buildings including St Edward's Presbytery and the Royal Tapestry Works, and the Honourable Captain Samuel Scoltock, a Military Knight of Windsor. Joan's research journey took her into the archives of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, where she viewed attendance registers documenting Captain Scoltock's service as guardian of the Chapel. She toured the Military Knights' quarters where her ancestors lived and traced Patrick Byrne's professional career through local newspaper archives, revealing his work on public sanitation and housing for the poor. The visit brought to life the stories of her Victorian-era ancestors and their significant contributions to Windsor's architectural and military heritage.
Jenny Grant shares how she finally broke through a persistent genealogical brick wall surrounding John and Martha Street of Chulmleigh, Devon. At their marriage in Crediton in 1780, John had been living in Chulmleigh for at least six years as a gamekeeper, while Lincolnshire-born Martha lived with her guardian Sir Jacob Wolff. But John's origins remained a mystery for decades. The breakthrough came through examining an 1883 letter from her ancestor Charles Drew Street about a Chancery Court case and the Estate of William Wimpey. This led to discovering the Street v Bascombe court case of 1819, where John's children claimed to be next-of-kin to William Wimpey of Bratton Clovelly. Research revealed that John's mother was likely Sarah Pendar, making him first cousin to William Wimpey and connecting the family to Berkshire. Crucial evidence included parish registers from Lambourn Woodlands showing a John Streat baptized in 1741, and significantly, a burial entry describing Sarah as a "supposed wife" - suggesting John may have been illegitimate, which would have barred him from inheritance. This collaborative research with Peter Selley demonstrates how modern online resources can solve mysteries that stumped researchers for over 50 years.
West Berkshire Council maintains a comprehensive Historic Environment Record (HER) that serves as an invaluable resource for local and family history researchers. This database contains detailed information about buildings, monuments, sites and landscapes of archaeological and historic interest throughout West Berkshire, along with associated documentary sources including maps, books and unpublished reports. The HER is freely accessible through the Heritage Gateway online portal and the Council's interactive map. Beth Asbury, Assistant Archaeologist for HER and Outreach, manages this dynamic database which is constantly updated with new fieldwork and research findings. The Council's archaeology team welcomes contributions from local researchers and offers various public engagement activities including talks, exhibitions and social media updates. The team also works alongside the Portable Antiquities Scheme to record archaeological objects found by members of the public, making West Berkshire's heritage accessible to all.
Inside this issue: Ancestors with Disabilities - Campaigning Women - VJ Day Commemoration
An important message for our US customers - temporary suspension of orders for the USA due to the implementation of tariffs
Inside this issue: Highlight on Hungerford - US Social Security Number Applications part 2 - How a Berks FHS Event Can Reach Further Than Family History