New data validation capabilities for YourTrees
We’re happy to launch a series of reports that you can use to test the validity of the data you enter into YourTrees. Invalid or unlikely dates. Missing or multiple names, unknown gender and more …
Roll on January!
The 1921 Census is coming and you’re invited to hear about it directly from Findmypast in one of two talks hosted by Berkshire FHS
Introducing YourTrees!
Berkshire Family History Society introduces a new member service – YourTrees – to enable members to preserve their research and create a digital legacy Free for members
SmartSearch the 1939 Register
The Genealogist has provided some new and valuable search options for the 1939 Register. Using the combination of its unique […]
British Newspaper Archive – more Berkshire content
By mid-April there are over 42 million digitised pages in the British Newspaper Archive And besides titles from England, Scotland, […]
New on Findmypast
The Family History Federation has just added 3.4 million burial entries from the National Burial Index for England and Wales […]
Complete WWI pensions collection now published on Fold3
A landmark project to digitise all UK First World War pension records has been completed. The records are particularly precious […]
Marriage Data Downloads – Fourth Batch
As a reminder, we have developed data downloads to provide choice and flexibility in how you access data for Berkshire. […]
Series 12-17 of Who Do You Think You Are?
BBC iPlayer have launched the perfect treat for family historians during lockdown – series 12-17 of Who Do You Think […]
Data Downloads
You may not be able to visit the archives but we’re making our data sets more readily available. We’ve added […]
Archive Closures
As England once again goes into lockdown to try and contain the spread of Covid-19, archive repositories have announced that […]
Berkshire Echo
Hard on the heels of the last announcement about the Society of Genealogists, we have another new Journal Exchange arrangement […]
Member Interests are back!
After a brief sabbatical while we updated the website, Member Interests are back online. Collaborate with other members who are researching the same ancestors.
Peasemore, St Barnabas Parish Regsters
Peasemore, St Barnabas Parish Registers CD includes full transcriptions of Baptisms 1538-2006, Banns 1727-1948, Marriages 1540-2003 and Burials 1538-2007
Berkshire Electoral Registers – free access on Ancestry
The Berkshire Record Office and Ancestry have teamed up to give free access to Berkshire’s electoral registers, up to 1965, online FREE of charge
Berkshire Baptisms (3rd Edition)
Over 400,000 baptisms from 156 parish and non-parochial registers of the “old” Royal County of Berkshire. Update available for first and second editions
Wokingham Baptist, Methodist and Free Churches Burial Grounds Monumental Inscriptions CD
This CD lists the names of over 1600 people names and holds transcriptions of their monuments and memorials within both churches, the Baptist churchyard and joint Free Churches burial ground.
Bearwood, St. Catherine Monumental Inscriptions 1815 – 2019 CD
Bearwood, St. Catherine Monumental Inscriptions 1815 – 2019 CD lists the names of over 1,600 people, and holds transcriptions of their monuments and memorials within the church and churchyard. There are photographs of every extant monument and interactive plans to show the locations of the memorials.
Childrey, St Mary Parish Registers, 1558-1928 CD
Childrey, St Mary CD includes Baptisms 1558-1927, Banns 1755-1912, Marriages 1558-1928, Burials 1558-1883
Coronavirus Update
Latest: the society has taken the difficult decision to close The Centre for Heritage and Family History from Tuesday 17th March until further notice. This bulletin will be updated regularly.
Findmypast 2020 Members’ Discount Code
If you haven’t claimed your Berkshire FHS member’s discount on your Findmypast subscription, now’s the time to do so because the 2020 discount code is available.
Improvements to the Events Listings
You asked for quicker ways to find the events organised by your Branch and in response, we have introduced two new filters.
Tiny St Nicholas Church, Sulham, packed for the 2019 Remembrance Service
Tiny St Nicholas Church, Sulham, was packed for the 2019 Remembrance Service where special tribute was paid to Winifred Helen Burtenshaw. The congregation heard the Revd Heather Parbury describe Winifred’s life before the outbreak of war and her subsequent service and tragic death as a VAD.
Nearly 4,000 new pages from the Newbury Weekly News and General Advertiser added to the British Newspaper Archive
In the last week, nearly 4,000 new pages from the Newbury Weekly News and General Advertiser added to the British Newspaper Archive.
Look back over hundreds of years of Advertiser and Express history in new online archive
A new digital archive will allow people to delve into the pages of Maidenhead area local history, some going back more than 200 years.
150,000 Berkshire Records Added to FMP
Berkshire Family History Society has now completed another two massive uploads of over 150,000 baptism and marriage data to FMP. Keep an eye on Findmypast’s Friday announcements.
Kintbury St Mary Parish Registers CD
Kintbury St Mary CD includes Baptisms 1558-1953, Banns 1754-1932, Marriages 1557-1981, Burials 1558-1972.
WDYTYA – Episode 4 – Kate Winslet
Who Do You Think You Are? Episode Four features Berkshire’s Oscar winner, Kate Winslet BBC 1 9.00 pm 12th August
New Membership Year!
Berkshire Family History Society’s new membership year started 1st July 2019 (runs to 30th June 2020). Members enjoy savings on society publications, on event bookings and on subscriptions to online genealogy services.
News from the Berkshire Record Office
What new archives are now available at the BRO? What’s going on at the BRO? World War One Exhibition
Reading Register Office Moves
Many of you will be aware that the Register Office at Yeomanry House closed its doors for the last time at the end of November 2018. Since then the Register Office has relocated to Reading Civic Offices in Bridge Street, and been renamed Reading Registration Service. Marriages are now conducted in the Town Hall, with birth and death registrations taking place at the Register Office in the Civic Offices.
COPY CERTIFICATES TO COST MORE
The cost of buying a copy certificate from the GRO goes up from £9.25 to £11 on 16th February (PDF copies of […]
Berkshire War Memorials Edition 2
This updated version has added approx.150 more memorials including many Commonwealth war graves. Of the CD content 56% now has images including all the new memorials and many more of the Edition 1 entries. The disc provides a variety of finding aids. Edition: 2018
Berkshire Burials (12th Edition) CD
More than 900,000 transcriptions (not an index) – More than 270 churchyards, cemeteries, burial grounds and workhouses – 71,000 more entries than 11th Edition – Covers ALL of ‘old’ Berkshire – Updates available for ninth, 10th and 11th editions
Berkshire Marriages (4th Edition) CD
More than 900,000 transcriptions (not an index) – More than 270 churchyards, cemeteries, burial grounds and workhouses – 71,000 more entries than 11th Edition – Covers ALL of ‘old’ Berkshire – Updates available for ninth, 10th and 11th editions
Berkshire and the War (2nd Edition)
Images from the 39 parts of Berkshire and the War published by the Reading Standard in 1923. Nearly 12,000 names, over 700 civilian organisations together with many of the Army regiments,
Berkshire Probate Index
Index to the probate documents of the Archdeaconry of Berkshire. 39,000 probate records are included. It is easy to search or to browse.
Historical Atlas of Berkshire (2nd Edition)
74 articles on Berkshire’s history (and pre-history) from the Palaeolithic period to the twenty-first century, each accompanied by specially-drawn maps in full colour, and with numerous illustrations.
Berkshire Maps, Ordnance Survey Maps, First Edition, 1881-1887
6 inch to the mile scale, first edition OS maps of Berkshire, scanned from the set held at Berkshire Record Office
Berkshire Coroners’ Inquests, Index to, 1688-1926
It is generally thought that papers relating to Coroners’ Inquests have been lost. However, the Berkshire Record Office has evidence of over 10,000 inquests between 1688 and 1926 – all of which are indexed on this CD. Edition: 2009
Berkshire Overseers’ Papers
Records dating from before 1834 arranged by Poor Law Union. Includes all the volumes and a master index.