The Family Histories Podcast

In this sixth episode of Series Nine, host Andrew Martin meets genealogist Asad Khabibullin. He hears how Asad got hooked on family history, the challenges he has faced in tracing his ancestors from the Republic of Tatarstan, and his thoughts on how the genealogy community could become a more helpful place for new-starters.THE LIFE STORY - VALIT HALITOV Asad has chosen to tell the life story of his relative Valit Halitov who lived in the village of Olı Mäñgär in the Republic of Tatarstan. The village  was being oppressed by Russian authorities, and they had heard rumours that they were to be forced to convert to Christianity - something the local officials didn't deny. When a constable visited and was beaten, Valit was picked out as a perpetrator and beaten under the orders of the Russian Governor Nikolai Skariatin.Whilst Valit was beaten, he and the villagers raised a complaint against the Russian authorities, and surprisingly the Senate at St. Petersburg found that the Governor's punishment was too extreme and it was now he that was punished for his actions.THE BRICK WALL - HASAN-HUSAIN It's a brick wall also in Olı Mäñgär that has Asad stumped for clues. Asad is looking for information about his relative at the top of his tree Hasan-Husain who migrated from the Crimean Khanate.Problem is, there's a tree already, that was kept by the villagers, and the difference between them is that sometimes Hasan-Husain is one person, and sometimes the name is split because they're two brothers instead.Are Hasan-Husain one or two men?If you think that you can help Asad with a clue or research idea, then you can contact him via his Instagram page, or alternatively you can send us a message and we'll pass it right along.In the meantime, Asad is curious about Andrew's offer of help, can Andrew get it to work?- - -Episode CreditsAndrew Martin - Host and ProducerAsad Khabibullin - GuestSupport the showThank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review, or consider giving us a 'tip' to keep the show funded.

In this fifth episode of Series Nine, host Andrew Martin meets professional family historian, author, and former FamilySearch volunteer, Robin R. Foster and hears about how she got hooked on researching her family history, her drive to help people through online communities like Facebook and Substack, and how she found herself surrounded by sources when she joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.THE LIFE STORY - BEVERLEY VANCE Robin has chosen to tell the life story of her 2x Great Grandfather, Beverley Vance who was born into slavery circa 1832 in South Carolina, USA.While Robin and her mother were not initially searching for Beverley, they found him and his wife Matilda whilst researching her Great Grandfather (Beverley's son, Lafayette Vance) on the 1880 US Census for Cokesbury in Abbeville County, South Carolina.It was here that they were presented with their ancestors' names - Beverley and Matilda for the first time. Robin soon found herself on the research trail, and this led her back into Beverley's life in enslavement, his slave owner's name, and ultimately to reveal the identity of her 4x Great Grandfather - his slave master Samuel Vance!With the American Civil War and the abolition of slavery just a few years beforehand, Robin finds Beverley in 1868 where he testifies to a Senator about the way the Democrats treated him. THE BRICK WALL - MATILDA VANCEWhilst her name was discovered on that 1880 census alongside her husband Beverley, Matilda's origins are less clear. Robin knows that she was born as Matilda Dunlap circa 1841, but there are some questions to answer;Who were Matilda's parents?When did Matilda die (did she survive Beverley in 1899)?If you think you can help Robin with a clue or a research idea, then you can contact her via the email address she gives in the episode, or alternatively, you can send us a message and we'll pass it on to her.In the meantime, Robin accepts Andrew's offer of help, but will it help her to get the answers she needs?-  -  -Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerRobin R. Foster - GuestSupport the showThank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review, or consider giving us a 'tip' to keep the show funded.

In this fourth and mid-way episode of Season Nine, host Andrew Martin meets professional genealogist John Boeren and hears about how he got hooked on researching his Dutch ancestry, why he became a professional researcher, and how he ended up being awarded a Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau in 2018 for services to local history and genealogy.THE LIFE STORY - MAARTEN VAN LEEUWEN John has chosen to tell the life story of his 4x Great Grandfather, Maarten van Leeuwen, who was born in 1795 in a small village near Gouda (yes, as in the home of the cheese) in the Netherlands.When John finds references to a silver shield and medal awarded to Maarten in 1825, it sets him on a trail to discover why he was being called a 'hero' and of the Order of the Dutch Lion.Despite his service in the Napoleonic Wars as a gunner, this was not why he received his medal - that's down to his relationship with fire!THE BRICK WALL - JACOBUS HENDRIKX and JENNEKEN HEIJLIGER JANSSENJohn's looking for help to find the earliest ancestors in his Boeren line, except this is during a time where patronymics were being used... therefore 'Boeren' is not the name to find, and this makes it much harder for him. Whilst John knows the names of his brick wall ancestors - Jacobus (Jacob) and Jenneken (Joan), he can't find their marriage nor their baptisms. He can see their children being baptised in villages close to the border between Netherlands and Belgium during the 1660s, but there's no further clues to their identities.Can you help him with;Where were Jacobus Hendrickx and Jenneken Heijliger Janssen married?Where were Jacobus and Jenneken baptised?What were their fathers' patronymic surnames?If you think you can help John, then you can send him a message via his website or alternatively you can send us a message and we'll pass it on.In the meantime, John isn't quite sure what to make of Andrew's offer of help... but will it work?---Episode CreditsAndrew Martin - Host and ProducerJohn Boeren - GuestSupport the showThank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review, or consider giving us a 'tip' to keep the show funded.

In this third episode of Season Nine, host Andrew Martin meets Gary Stanley - a family historian who has researched his Romany roots. Andrew hears about Gary's research web project in which he documents all references in the UK and USA of Roma families, and he explains the challenges of researching relatives, the benefit of baptismal records and newspapers, and how he participated in a DNA test led by Professor Turi King.THE LIFE STORY - ELIZABETH NICHOLS Gary has chosen to tell the life story of one of his Romany relatives Elizabeth Nichols... and it is quite extraordinary!Elizabeth appeared to baptise a child, with the father noted as Antonio Nichols - a Portuguese sailor. Then Gary finds another baptism... then another... except the baptisms spread around the area, and sometimes the details are a little different. Sometimes Elizabeth's surname is Nichols, Nicholas, or Nicholson, sometimes it's Stivery or Twivey. Sometimes Antonio is deceased or at sea.This pattern intrigued Gary, and following the clues and an incredible amount of research, he has found around 600 baptisms during the 1830s! So many, that he even created a website to map them around England and Scotland.It's very clear that Elizabeth did not have 600 children, and the register entries note that sometimes the child is a new-born, or of a few years old. So, did Elizabeth have a few children that could span this age?The question is obviously; Why go to this much effort? Gary believes that in order for Elizabeth to receive parish relief (a monetary benefit paid by the church), the child had to be baptised. Given Elizabeth's Romany heritage, she moved around regularly, and therefore amassed 600 known baptisms for her children, in order to receive relief!  THE BRICK WALL - ELIZABETH NICHOLS Connecting directly to the Life Story that Gary has told, is his brick wall.Gary may well have found hundreds of baptisms for her children, but he's wanting to find out;Where was Elizabeth Nichols before the 1830sWhat became of Elizabeth Nichols after 1840s?If you think you have a research idea or clue to help Gary with his research, you can send him a message via his website, alternatively, you can send us a message and we'll pass it along to him.In the meantime, Andrew offers Gary some help, but will he be judged on his effort?- - -Episode CreditsAndrew Martin - Host and ProducerGary Stanley - GuestSupport the showThank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review, or consider giving us a 'tip' to keep the show funded.

Host Andrew Martin meets genealogist Helen Brooks for this second episode of Series Nine. Andrew hears how Helen's family history research got started by a button, the importance of writing everything down when your aunt tells stories, and her love of photographs. THE LIFE STORY - GERTRUDE LESTER / SISTER HELENE DU ST. SACRAMENT  Helen's choice of life story is her Great Aunt Gertrude Lester who later became a Catholic nun known as Sister Helene du St. Sacrament within the order Les Filles de la Sagesse.Helen uncovered a story of a woman's rise through her order and her work in Nyasaland (modern-day Malawi), right through to a tragic accident at Croydon Aerodrome on 25th January 1947 which would see Sister Helene make the ultimate sacrifice in a moment of bravery that saved a man's life.With the aerodrome demolished and the site covered in housing, residents in the 1970s are reported as having seen the nuns had return in a ghostly form…THE BRICK WALL - GEORGE WRIGHT Following directly on from her choice of Life Story, Helen has been researching the other people in the plane crash. She's managed to find information on all of them apart from the most significant one (to her) - the man that Sister Helene saved!He's known as George Wright, and in January 1947 he had been de-mobbed from wartime service. She doesn't know his age but assumes that he's in his 20's, but she does know from newspaper reports that he was catching a later flight to Johannesburg, South Africa to find work.Despite her searches, Helen does not know what became of him after the day of the crash.What happened to George Wright after 25th January 1947?Where did he go?If you think that you can help Helen with a research idea or clue, then you can find her on Bluesky, or alternatively you can send us a message and we'll pass it along to her.In the meantime, Andrew and Sándor's offer of help results in a dangerous and tricky manoeuvre...- - - Episode credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerHelen Brooks - GuestJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiSupport the showThank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review, or consider giving us a 'tip' to keep the show funded.

In this first episode of Season Nine of The Family Histories Podcast, host Andrew Martin meets Canadian genealogist Ron Williams whose family tree research resulted in him encountering a 57 year old mystery...  Understandably, Ron couldn't not investigate and in doing so, uncovered a fascinating story which he then turned it into a book.THE LIFE STORY - ALFRED VICTOR WILLIAMSRon has chosen to tell the fascinating story of his paternal Grandfather - Alfred Victor Williams - one that involves mystery and intrigue, and 57 missing years.The story sees Ron find just a few clues that hint towards some very different elements of his Grandfather's missing first 57 years - an affidavit, a school photograph of a son, and a letter. Why did Alfred spend years living under the alias Roy Hammond?Ron has turned Alfred's story into a book titled 'The Lost Fifty-Seven - A genealogical journey of discovery, deception, secrets and scandal' (2024).THE BRICK WALL - MARY WILLIAMS It's the identity of his 2x Great Grandmother - Mary Williams - that is causing Ron problems in his research. He knows that she was born in about 1831, and likely in Shropshire (or Salop as it was known back then). After finding a confusing 'Cumberland in Salop' reference, Ron has found further Salop references in her census entries after her marriage to George Williams.As Ron doesn't know the birth name of Mary, he's struggled to find the correct marriage, which he estimates was circa 1853, as the couple rapidly grow a family, starting with his Gt Grandfather in 1854.What was Mary Williams' pre-marriage surname?If you think you have a clue or a research idea, you can contact Ron at his website, or alternatively you can find him on Twitter and Bluesky. You can also send us a message, and we'll pass it on to him.In the meantime, Ron is fascinated by Andrew and Sándor's offer of help... but someone's clearly hungry....- - -Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerRon Williams - GuestJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiSupport the showThank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review, or consider giving us a 'tip' to keep the show funded.

We're back! It's time for Season Nine of The Family Histories Podcast.Your host - family historian Andrew Martin, will once again be joined by seven guests, for seven more fascinating life stories and of course a load of those pesky brick walls for you to help solve.As usual... as a 'thank you' treat, each guest is given a return trip back in time in Andrew's (shh: secret time) machine, all with the help of his assistant - the 19th century missing Hungarian poet and revolutionary, Sándor Petőfi. Join us right here for Season Nine, which begins on 6th May 2025.Find out more about the new series. Support the showThank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review, or consider giving us a 'tip' to keep the show funded.

For this special ninth episode of Series Eight, we're taking part in Podcasthon 2025 - an annual global event for podcasters to collectively raise awareness of charities they care about. With our guest, we've chosen to support the charity Mind, and you can hear more about their work and access support here: mind.org.uk. If you're outside the UK, you can find international support here.NOTE: This episode contains archaic terminology, and historic references to conditions and treatment methods of people with mental health issues, and refers to suicide. In this episode, host Andrew Martin is joined by Jane Hough - a genealogist, blogger, and former guest (see 'The Laundress' from Series One). He finds out how her research has progressed, her work with Few Forgotten Women, and her love of Wills and studying.THE LIFE STORY - LILIAN MAUDE EVANS For this part of the episode, Andrew and Jane are joined by Kathryn Burtinshaw - genealogist, genealogy tutor, and co-author of 'Lunatics, Imbeciles and Idiots - A History of Insanity in Nineteenth Century Britain & Ireland' (Pen and Sword, 2017). Jane tells the moving story of her Great Grandmother Lilian Maude Evans, who was found wandering the streets in distress, and was arrested. Given the choice of prison or the workhouse, she chose the latter.... and she ends up in a mental health institution. We turn to Kathryn to help us to understand the context of Maude's diagnosis and treatment.THE BRICK WALL - RICHARD and MARY HUTCHINSONThis time, Jane has chosen her 3x Great Grandparents Richard and Mary Hutchinson of Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, England.Jane has them on the 1841, 1851, and 1861 censuses in Huddersfield, but cannot find a sure match for their origins. They were both born in the 1790s and there's some Lancashire connections.If you think that you can offer her some help with a clue or research idea, then you can contact her at her website allthosebefore.org.uk or Bluesky account, or alternatively you can send us a message and we'll pass it on to her.Meanwhile, Jane knows how helpful Andrew can be... but will she take his offer a second time?- - - Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerJane Hough - GuestKathryn Burtinshaw - GuestSupport the showThank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review, or consider giving us a 'tip' to keep the show funded.

This is a short bonus episode, continuing on immediately after the cliffhanger at the end of 'The Nationalist' with Daniel Loftus. As Andrew realises he's not alone in the garage, they'll have to work together to fix a dangerous time travel paradox before it erases the podcast.Thank you once again for joining us for another series, and letting us have your ears. Whilst we're off making new episodes, why not check out our back catalogue with more than 60 guests! You can also sign up to our email list for the latest news (and occasional special offer).thank you,Andrew- - -Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerAndrew Martin - Andrew MartinJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiThis episode references:'The Tyrant' with Daniel Smith-Ramos'The Shoemaker' with Kelly Cornwell'The Rioter' with Andrew Martin'The Nationalist' with Daniel Loftus Thank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this final full episode of Series Eight, host Andrew Martin meets Irish genealogist, speaker, occasional podcaster, and Project Infant founder, Daniel Loftus. He asks Daniel how he got hooked on researching his family history, challenges he's faced with DNA testing and adoption, and why he's leading a project that brings Mother and Baby Homes in Ireland under the spotlight.If you'd like to volunteer for Project Infant, you can do so at: https://projectinfant.ie/volunteerTHE LIFE STORY - PATRICK WHELAN  Daniel has chosen to tell the life story of his Great Grandfather Patrick ‘Pax' Whelan, who was born to Patrick (known as ‘Patsy') and his wife Bridget in 1890 in the coastal town of Dungarvan, in County Waterford, Ireland. Sadly though, Bridget died when Pax was aged 8, and his youngest sister was just one month old.With tensions building in Ireland and in World War One, Pax's brother Michael enlisted in the British Army… but to Pax – who'd joined the local branch of the Irish Republican Army, this was unacceptable and the brothers ceased speaking for decades.Whilst Pax didn't really speak of his time in the Army, Daniel has managed to find sources in museums and archives that help tell the story of his Great Grandfather.THE BRICK WALL - PATRICK LAVIN and ANN BRENNAN  A vanishing act in the 20th Century is what is causing Daniel to collide with a Brick Wall – he's looking for information on Patrick Lavin (or Lavan) and wife Ann Brennan.Daniel doesn't know much about this couple, but he has found that Patrick was born circa 1854, and Mary Brennan circa 1861.The couple married in January 1882 and remained around the area of Kiltimagh, County Mayo, in Ireland, and had a family of six daughters between 1882 and 1893.However, Daniel is stuck with trying to find much about their parents. He knows Patrick's father was alive in 1882 and also called Patrick, but that Ann's father John had died.The last time Daniel has found Patrick and Ann in the records is on the 1911 census – and then they just vanish!Where did Patrick and Ann go after 1911?If you think that you have a research idea or clue that can help Daniel to overcome his brick wall, then you can find him via the links at his Carrd profile or drop him a message on Bluesky or Twitter. Alternatively, you can send us a message via our contact form and we'll pass your message on.In the meantime, Daniel accepts Andrew's offer of help, but will he agree to an important errand too?- - -Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerDaniel Loftus - GuestJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiThank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this episode of Series Eight, host Andrew meets Australian genealogist Jennifer Jones, who tells him about how she got hooked on researching family history, her motivation to blog her research, and her One-Place Study in Pembrokeshire, Wales.THE LIFE STORY - THOMAS WATERS Jennifer has chosen to tell the life story of Thomas Waters, her 2x Great Grandfather who was born in 1829 in the little village of Dunton in Bedfordshire, England, but in 1852 he emigrates to Australia. It has always baffled Jennifer quite why he did this, but it's been fascinating to speculate.Once out there, Thomas writes home to his family, and through a fortunate cache of letters being deposited in an archive, Jennifer has been able to read his words and can see that he really was homesick. It appears that he didn't necessarily want to move so far away, and that his family back home did not particularly want to write to him either.THE BRICK WALL - JAMES McEWAN It's a research dead end for a Captain James McEwan that causes Jennifer's Brick Wall. Unfortunately, his name also comes with variants, including McQueen.Jennifer has traced James back to his military career with the 33rd Regiment Foot in Jamaica, where he is a landowner and also unfortunately the owner of an enslaved person.Whilst Jennifer knows that he leaves Jamaica, and ends up in Australia in 1832 via a return to the UK, she doesn't know his origins. She knows he's born about 1796 and it's thought that there is a connection to Scotland, and perhaps his surname reflects this, but she is yet to find any evidence.If you think that you can help Jennifer with a research clue or idea, then you can send her a message at her Twitter or Bluesky account or via the email address she gives in the episode. Alternatively, you can send a message via our contact form and we'll pass it on to her.In the meantime, Andrew and Sándor offer Jennifer some help, but will she take it?- - - Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerJennifer Jones - GuestJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiFor more episodes on researching genealogy within Australia check out:'The Priest' with Jill Ball'The Shoemaker' with Kelly CornwellThank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this episode of Series Eight, host Andrew Martin meets professional genealogist Richard Holt. He finds out how Richard got hooked on family history, what made him turn professional, has he ever experienced 'imposter syndrome', and his efforts to access original Wills - and challenging a proposal by the UK Government's Ministry of Justice on the disposal of historic Wills. THE LIFE STORY - MATTHEW BUYRN (aka JOHN DUNMORE)  Richard has chosen to tell the life story of his 4x Great Grandfather Matthew Buyrn, who was born in Edmonton, Middlesex, England in 1793. However, throughout the records, another name for Matthew repeatedly emerges - John Dunmore. Why does he have two names? Matthew enlisted in the Royal Marines in 1812 (during the Napoleonic Wars) starting out at the Royal Marines Barracks at Chatham, Kent, before transferring to Plymouth. He then set sail with the Marines but by 1833 he was discharged to hospital due to suffering from what was described at the time as 'mania'. What follows is a series of events that would see him end up in prison, and as a man whose mental health was at a low.   THE BRICK WALL - RICHARD BROOKS  A puzzle in the village of Bledlow Ridge, Buckinghamshire, England has Richard scratching his head... and seeming half the village too.  His ancestor - Richard Books - was born circa 1740, but the location is not yet known. During his life this Richard built a house on common land, married and had lots of children... who in turn had lots of children too, but he was a poor man, with no Will, and no marked grave. Can you identify the birthplace or baptism location of Richard Brooks? If you think that you can help Richard with a research clue or idea, then you can contact him via his website, alternatively you can send us a message via our contact form and we'll pass it along to him.  Meanwhile.... Richard is curious of Andrew's offer of help, but can he get him to the right place? - - -Episode Credits: Andrew Martin - Host and Producer Richard Holt - Guest  Thank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

Hello folks,  I had such a lovely time recording our episode 'The Nightingale' with Danielle and Galeet Dardashti, that after having talked with them at length about the old tape cassette recordings of family conversations, celebrations, singing, and music that Danielle had found stashed in a box in their parents' basement, we decided it would be nice for you to hear some of those recordings for yourself!So, here's the full first episode of The Nightingale of Iran, aptly titled "The Time Machine" for you to listen to. You can find the rest of their series by searching wherever you enjoy your podcasts, or alternatively head over to www.nightingaleofiran.com.We'll be back, as usual, on 3rd December, with our next full episode of Series Eight - 'The Marine' with professional genealogist Richard Holt.Thank you for listening,Andrew  Thank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

Joining host Andrew Martin for this fourth episode of Series Eight is not one but two guests! We're delighted to welcome Emmy-winning journalist Danielle Dardashti and her musician and anthropologist sister Dr. Galeet Dardashti. Danielle and Galeet researched the history of their family in Iran via audio recordings they found at their parents' house, uncovering some fascinating insights into their father and grandfather's musical success. The episode highlights the importance of audio recordings in our research, particularly where the written documentation is both inaccessible for them, and lacking the raw emotion that can be captured in sound.THE LIFE STORY - YOUNES DARDASHTI Danielle and Galeet have chosen to tell the life story of their religious Jewish Grandfather - Younes Dardashti.Left an orphan as a child in Tehran, Iran, Younes went to live with his uncle who really didn't want him to sing - despite recognising his talents.However, it was during a power cut at a party that Younes decided to share his vocal talents - and in a case of right-place-right-time, he was heard - his voice in the darkness led to him being discovered by a popular Iranian singer and his path to becoming the 'Nightingale of Iran' was set and saw him earn many Muslim fans.His granddaughters have since turned his story into an award-winning podcast called The Nightingale Of Iran, which is rich in audio interviews, archive recordings, and beautiful singing.THE BRICK WALL - FARID DARDASHTIIt's a brick wall in 1960's Tehran that has Danielle and Galeet stumped.During the making of their podcast, and in conversations with relatives, friends, academics, and fans, they've heard so many references to their father - Farid Dardashti's teen idol career in early 1960's Iran. Despite the fond memories and beloved descriptions, they've yet to see any photographs, video recordings, or hear audio recordings of him during this time.Can you help find recordings of Farid Dardashti in Iran?If you think that you can help Danielle and Galeet with a research idea or a clue that might help turn their brick wall to dust, then you can reach out to them at The Nightingale of Iran website, alternatively, you can send us a message via our contact us page, and we'll pass it along to them.In the meantime, Andrew offers his help to Danielle and Galeet, but will it lead them to new clues worth checking out?- - - Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerDanielle Dardashti - GuestDr. Galeet Dardashti - GuestThank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

It's a special delivery in today's episode from Series Eight, as host Andrew Martin meets family history and military history researcher, champion eBayer, and postman, Adam Simpson-York. Andrew finds out how Adam got hooked on researching family history, how he has honed his research skills that enable him to buy family heirlooms on auction sites and then trace their living relatives, allowing him to reunite them with their descendants, and hears about his letters from a Queen.THE LIFE STORY - DAVID EDWARD ELLIS Adam has chosen to tell the story of his Great Grandfather David Edward Ellis, who was born in Shotton Colliery, Durham, England in 1907.David's father William was a coal miner, originally from Wales, and this was an occupation that was synonymous with the village of Shotton Colliery - David's brother worked in the mine, and David followed suit. At the time of David's marriage in 1929 in London, he's still noted as a coal miner.David later served in World War Two as a Driver in the Royal Army Service Corps' 18th Division Transport Company. He was captured and was forced to march with 7,000 men a distance of 290km during the wet season to Songkurai, Thailand, where he contracted cholera and died of this and tropical ulcers. His remains were exhumed and re-buried in Burma (now Myanmar).News of his death took a very long time to reach home, and whilst a lack of letters may have hinted towards his demise, the eventual news deeply affected his son for the rest of his life.THE BRICK WALL - THOMAS TYLER It's a research puzzle involving his wife's Great Grandfather Thomas Tyler that has Adam stuck for ideas. Adam knows when Thomas died, and when he married, but there's ambiguity surrounding his date of birth (circa 1910-1912), and there's also a family rumour that Thomas Tyler wasn't his real name, and a rumour that he was a minder for London gangster Jack 'The Hat' McVitie. Tantalising isn't it?Adam's mother-in-law is going to take a DNA test to try to help solve this, but can you help Adam to identify a birth record for him? Was he really 'Thomas Tyler' or was that a pseudonym to protect his real identity during or after a potential gangster involvement? Was his father, as stated in marriage records, also 'Thomas Tyler' or did he simply not know who his father was and made it up? Can you help solve this brick wall?If you think you can help Adam with a research clue or idea, then you can contact him via his Medals Going Home profiles on Facebook, Twitter, or BlueSky, or alternatively you can send us a message and we'll pass it along.Meanwhile, Adam has concerns that despite their offer of help, Andrew and Sándor won't be able to deliver him to the church on time...- - -Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerAdam Simpson-York - GuestJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiThank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

Andrew meets genealogist and Chair of the Register of Qualified Genealogists, Sylvia Valentine. He hears about how she got hooked on researching family history, her love of life-long learning and research, and her opinions on the terrifying workhouses!THE LIFE STORY - NAOMI HAWARTH Sylvia has chosen to tell the life story of her Gt Grandmother, Naomi Hawarth, who was born as a twin, but was the only one of the two to survive. She was not the only twin to her parents, or to outlive a twin sister. Fifteen years before Naomi's birth was that of Mary, who looked exactly like the twin of Naomi.Whilst twins are often observed as having similar lives, and family historians spot common behaviours in families, Sylvia's research has found that Naomi's siblings have carried many similar traits in education and music to their descendants.THE BRICK WALL - BERNARD BRAND FIEGEHEN It's one of Sylvia's husband's ancestors - Bernard Brand Fiegehen who appears working as a china man in City Road, London that has Sylvia facing a brick wall. Phonetically, that surname sounds like 'Fee-gun', and whilst that phonetic pronunciation might sound on face value like it has Irish origins, Sylvia has been stuck to find them.Sylvia has seen many online trees that have few or no sources for this man, but many point to him as being from Berlin in Germany. If you think that you can help Sylvia with a research clue or idea, then you can message her via the email address she gives in the episode or alternatively, you can send us a message and we'll pass it on to her.In the meantime, Sylvia isn't sure of the safety of Andrew's research idea, but will her leap of faith work out?....- - -Episode CreditsAndrew Martin - Host and ProducerSylvia Valentine - Guest Thank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this first episode of Series Eight of The Family Histories Podcast, host Andrew Martin meets author, family historian, and the host of the Italian Roots and Genealogy YouTube series and podcast - Bob Sorrentino, and finds out about his Italian-American roots, and his connections to Italian and the wider European nobility.THE LIFE STORY - ISABELLA D'ESTE We're off to the 15th Century to hear about one of Bob's ancestors - Isabella d'Este (born 1474 in Ferrara, Italy) was the wife of Francesco II Gonzaga - the Marquis of Mantua, Italy, and whilst her husband appeared to prefer going off to fight as a mercenary, Isabella found herself left in charge. Under her influence, she encouraged culture and art, and became one of the leading women in the Italian Renaissance. She also ensured that women could access education, and she herself is known to have amassed a collection of around 20,000 letters.She died in her 60's in 1539, and no doubt left an important legacy for both Italy and women.THE BRICK WALL - MARIA ANGELA DE RISO We're only stepping back to the 18th Century this time for Bob's brick wall, and this is his 4x Great Grandmother - Maria Angela De Riso. He knows that she was born circa 1750, likely in Carpinone, in western Molise, Italy, but her origins, and the identity of her parents remains unknown.Maria was an Italian Baroness by birth, but Bob cannot find information on the generation further back - did her parents buy their land and titles?Who were Maria's parents?Where did they come from before Maria's birth?If you think you can help Bob crack this brick wall with a clue or research idea, then you can contact him at his Facebook Group - Italian Roots and Genealogy, his YouTube channel, or alternatively, you can send us a message via our contact form, and we'll pass it along to him.In the meantime, while Bob is curious of Andrew's offer of help, will he get to his answer safely...- - - Episode CreditsAndrew Martin - Host and ProducerBob Sorrentino - GuestJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiThank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

Our Eighth Series is here! But, before the first full episode arrives on 5th November 2024, there's just enough time for Andrew to pop back to compare notes with an old friend...In this new series we'll meet a Marchioness, a Twin, a 'Nightingale', a Marine, a Nationalist, a Collier, and a homesick migrant.Read more about our new series.- - -Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerNicolas Balaguer - NostradamusThank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

It's our 50th guest episode! So, to celebrate this special milestone episode, host Andrew Martin decides to head to the Society of Genealogists to meet three guests taking part in the annual All About That Place event. However, he doesn't quite end up where he expected... All About That Place is a series of talks brought to us by the Society of Genealogists, supported by the Society of One-Place Studies, British Association for Local History and Genealogy Stories. You can join in with the All About That Place event, running from September 27, to October 6, 2024 online to find out all the details at https://www.subscribepage.com/allaboutthatplace THE INTERVIEW -  DR. ANGELA BUCKLEY Andrew meets crime, policing, forensics historian, and author Dr. Angela Buckley and finds out how she got hooked on researching family history and crime history. He hears how she finds and follows the criminals and detectives, and about her relative's own criminal activities! THE LIFE STORY - ERICA DOREEN FULLER with DR. NICK BARRATT Next, Andrew meets genealogist, author, Medievalist, and broadcaster (The House Detectives, Hidden House Histories, Who Do You Think You Are?) Dr. Nick Barratt and hears about his grandmother Erica Doreen Fuller who was born in 1911 in Belgium. He finds that she was sort-of informally fostered into care at a remote farm house in Norfolk, England... but as he found out, not all was quite as it seemed... THE BRICK WALL - JOSEPH QUIN with CHRISTINE PAYNE Andrew meets family and social historian Christine Payne - the winner of the All About That Place prize draw, and hears about her brick wall - her paternal Great Grandfather Joseph Quin who was born in 1840. In 1897, Joseph walks into Brixton Prison in London, and confesses to bigamy.. but what motivated him to do so - was he being blackmailed or did he want to face up to his crime?  Christine is also trying to find his date and place of death - as after his jail sentence he appears to go missing. If you think you can help Christine with a research clue or idea, then you can message her at the email address she gives within the episode, or alternatively you can send us a message and we'll pass it straight on to her. In the meantime, Andrew offers Christine some help, but he has a secret to reveal first...  - - - Episode Credits Andrew Martin - Host and Producer Dr. Angela Buckley - Guest Dr. Nick Barratt - Guest Christine Payne - Guest Else Churchill - Guest John Spike - Sándor Petőfi Thank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

This is a Series Seven Bonus Episode, following on immediately from the previous episode 'The Sailor' with Morag Peers.When two children inexplicably appear, host Andrew Martin and guest Morag Peers realise that the (shh: secret time) machine has moved time and location, and that they are now part of one of history's most baffling disappearances.- - -Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerMorag Peers - GuestGeorge Orchard - King Edward VGeorge Mills - Richard, Duke of YorkSend us a Text Message.Thank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this final full episode of Series Seven, host Andrew Martin meets Morag Peers - an award-winning professional genealogist who specialises in researching the lives of the people of Scotland. He hears how she got hooked on family history, how she ended up going professional, and her love of using passport records to trace family and world history.THE LIFE STORY - JOSEPH CLARKEMorag has chosen to tell the story of her 2x Great Uncle, Joseph Clarke. He was born in Kelton in 1846, into a family with long roots in the area. However, when the 1861 census arrives, he's just 14 years old and listed on a sloop ship named 'George and Jane' and apprenticed to a wool merchant.Morag traces Joseph's travels from Liverpool in England, to Chilé, Australia, China, and countless trips between these locations. Whilst his wanderlust takes him around the world and back, sadly it didn't last for long, and Joseph is taken ill on board the ship the Dundonald. Despite the help of the Captain, his illness continues to develop and he died. Morag has been able to view the Captain's log of the voyage, and discovered that the exact latitude and longitude has been recorded, and being far away from home, the location of his burial at sea is recorded too.  THE BRICK WALL - MARGARET LAUGHLAN  Morag is looking for help with her 2x Great Grandmother Margaret Laughlan who was born in 1841 in Girvan, Ayrshire, Scotland to two Irish immigrants. Unfortunately, her last name has been subject to many variants which hasn't helped in Morag's research. Morag knows that Margaret had two illegitimate daughters - Margaret and Agnes, but there is no clue to the father's name (or names), and Margaret senior remains living with her parents through the censuses.Unfortunately, DNA testing has not provided many matches at all, and so that leaves Morag wonderingWere Margaret junior and Agnes sisters or half sisters?Who was/were their father(s)?If you think that you can help Morag with a clue or a research idea, then you can contact her at her website www.glasgowgenealogy.co.uk or the email address she gives in the episode or alternatively, you can send us a message and we'll pass it straight on to her. In the meanwhile, Morag is fascinated by Andrew's offer of help, but neither of them are expecting it to be such a moving experience...- - -Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerMorag Peers - GuestSend us a Text Message.Thank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

Host Andrew Martin meets radio presenter and family historian, and host of the Extreme Genes radio show and podcast - Scott Fisher. He finds out how Scott got hooked on researching his family history, the lengths he goes to to solve genealogy puzzles, and how he ended up making his hit radio and podcast show. THE LIFE STORY - DONALD OLSEN  Scott has chosen to tell the life story of his maternal half-uncle Donald Olsen.Donald was one of several brothers who ended up serving in the Second World War, but it's a naval record that gave Scott a detailed account of Donald's time at sea in the Pacific Ocean. Whilst there, Donald experienced terrifying and harrowing events that would seemingly haunt him deeply until he decided to take his own life.THE BRICK WALL - JAMES STOCKS It's a Brick Wall in London, England, that has Scott stuck. Scott has managed to find a fantastically detailed description of James Stocks - right down to the state of his clothing, thanks to a detailed article in an old newspaper from 1818. Sadly, this article was published because James had abandoned his wife Catherine and their children.The article, and some US census records for the children (after they'd emigrated) state that he was from Scotland, but some also say he was from England.. so it's a little uncertain. This  is where Scott is stuck. Can you help?Where was James Stocks born?Where did James Stocks go in 1818?If you think you can help Scott with a clue or research idea, you can send him a message via our contact form and we'll send it straight to him.In the meantime, Scott is fascinated by Andrew's offer of help, but will it shine a light on things?- - -Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerScott Fisher - GuestJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiSend us a Text Message.Thank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In the fifth episode of Series Seven, host Andrew Martin meets anthropologist and Welsh professional genealogist, Dai Davies, and finds out how they got hooked on researching family history, the challenges of researching Welsh family history from afar, and their thoughts on how the genealogy community could become a better place.THE LIFE STORY - DAVID DAVIES Dai has chosen to tell the life story of their 8x Great Uncle, David Davies who was born in 1754 in a small parish near Lampeter in West Wales, and was the son of tenant farmers and Wesleyan Methodists. Dai was excited to discover this person in their tree, as David Davies was a highly influential educator, minister, and political poet in Wales during the 18th Century. He is known to have had a school in Castell Hywel, and was a minister at Llwynrhydowen Chapel. His work to translate English into Welsh for the newly literate communities, resulted in him even being described as 'improving into Welsh' on the popular poem by Thomas Gray - 'Elegy Written In A Country Churchyard'.  However, sometimes his political thoughts on the rapidly changing world around him, including the French Revolution, would cause controversy.THE BRICK WALL - DAVID THOMAS It's the family of Dai's 7x Great Grandfather David Thomas (brother-in-law of the above David Davies), that has them stuck for answers.Dai has found 76 records attributed to David Thomas, and knows about his life between 1757 and his death in 1816, Lampeter in Ceredigion, Wales, but Dai has found no trace of David Thomas' parents or siblings. Who were David Thomas' parents?Who were David Thomas' siblings?Where was David Thomas pre-1757? If you think that you can offer Dai a research clue or idea, then you can email them on the address they give in the episode, or find them at @GenealCymru at Twitter. Alternatively, you can send us a message and we'll pass it straight on.In the meanwhile, Dai has concerns about Andrew's offer of help... will this source be reliable?- - -Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerDai Davies - GuestJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiSend us a Text Message.Thank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this fourth episode of Series Seven, host Andrew Martin meets Anglo-Belgian professional genealogist, and country manager at MyHeritage - Marie Cappart, and finds out how she got addicted to researching her family history, what made her a 'DNA geek', and what it's like to work for MyHeritage. THE LIFE STORY - MARGUERITE NICHOLLSMarie has chosen to tell the life story of her Anglo-Belgian Great Aunt Marguerite Nicholls, who she discovered in her teenage years was missing from her family tree.Marie tells how Marguerite remained in Belgium with her Swedish husband as war broke out, rather than returning to the UK with her own family, and how she ended up saving the lives of British and Canadian airmen as a member of the Belgian Resistance.Whilst Marguerite's story comes to a sad ending, Marie is adamant that she takes her rightful place in her family tree, and that her memory and bravery is never forgotten in Belgium.THE BRICK WALL - CORNEILLE DE LESTREIt's a baptism record for her husband's ancestor Corneille de Lestre, somewhere in the mid-16th Century, that has Marie puzzled. Marie has been trying to locate Corneille's baptism for some time, but she lacks both an accurate year of birth and location. She has searched in the 1540s-1550s, and after viewing some work in an archive that had no cited sources, she has attempted to research its theories of the identity of Corneille's father and the travelling that person did. However, there's no tangible evidence emerging yet that connects Marie's husband to that person - so it's a mystery that leads her on a process of elimination. Can you help Marie discover;Where Corneille de Lestre (or le Lettre) was baptised?Who are Corneille's parents?If you think that you can help Marie with a research clue or idea, then you can either send her a message at her @histfamilles Twitter account, or send us a message and we'll pass it along to her.In the meantime, Marie is curious of Andrew's offer of help... but can you smell burning?- - -Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerMarie Cappart - GuestJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiSend us a Text Message.Thank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this third episode of Series Seven, host Andrew Martin meets professional genealogist, author, and host of The Filipino Genealogy Channel on YouTube - Todd Lucero Sales. Andrew hears how Todd got hooked on researching family history in the Philippines, the challenges of researching Filipino family history, the impact of hundreds of years of rule by Spain on records, and why he started his YouTube channel. THE LIFE STORY - FELICIANA MARIA CEBALLOS Todd has chosen to tell the story of his 4x Great Grandmother Feliciana Maria Ceballos who had two children with a old priest named Father Francisco Diaz in Argao, Cebu, Philippines.Family lore through the generations reached Todd with a story of Feliciana being so beautiful that she caught the attention of many priests travelling the area, but by using surviving records he's been able to verify the details and discover her life raising their children alone against a backdrop of stigma of being an un-married mother.Despite this stigma against her and the children, the church did appear to accept and provide for her and her descendants.THE BRICK WALL - MR TAN It's a research brick wall in his maternal tree that has Todd stuck - the identity of his Great Grandmother's father. Whilst he knows that he was Chinese (which is reflected in the percentage of Chinese DNA detected in his 23andMe test), Todd knows only the man's family name - Mr. Tan.Mr. Tan fathered Todd's Great Grandmother, and remained in Argao, Cebu Island, the Philippines to support his partner, until returning to his first family in China, and never being seen or heard from again.DNA tests have provided Todd with some results, and he thinks he may have come from the Fujian region of Southern China, but it's hard for him to isolate this branch. Researching in China and via China DNA results has proved to be difficult from outside the country.Can you help identify Mr Tan, who left China for Philippines circa 1882? If you think that you can help Todd with a research idea or a clue, you can contact him at the email address he gives in the episode or alternatively, you can send us a message and we'll pass it on to him.In the meantime, Andrew is keen to offer help, but will Todd get the answers needs?- - -Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerTodd Sales Lucero - GuestSend us a Text Message.Thank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this second episode of Series Seven, host Andrew Martin meets professional genealogist, author, lecturer, Fellow, and former Principal Family History Specialist of the National Archives - Dave Annal. Dave tells Andrew how he got hooked on researching his family, how he ended up working for the National Archives, his thoughts and hopes on where he sees the genealogy industry going next, and his love of Wills.THE LIFE STORY - MARGARET HOWLAND  Dave has chosen to tell the life story of his paternal Grandmother, Margaret Howland, who was born in Edinburgh in 1906 to an unmarried mother also named Margaret Howland.Whilst both Margarets were known to be hoarders, it seems that they both continued this behaviour when it came to the identity of Dave's Great Grandfather. However, one day, whilst on a walk to a cemetery, Margaret, then in her 80's, decided to reveal her father's identity... and the time she had shared with him.THE BRICK WALL - THOMAS FLYNN It's a research brick wall with Irish roots that is baffling Dave. Whilst Thomas Flynn and his wife Catherine have been found in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1851 and 1861, Dave is unable to find out about them before and after this date. Dave descends from one of the couple's sons, and he has that documented, but Thomas and Catherine - along with their marriage, births, baptism, and deaths, all remain a mystery.If you think that you can help Dave with a research idea or clue, then you can contact him at his Lifelines Research website, via his @lifelines_dave Twitter account, or via the email address he gives during the episode. Alternatively, you can send us a message and we'll pass it straight on to him.In the meantime, Dave is curious of Andrew's offer of help, but is he really ready for what's in store?...- - -Episode Credits: Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerDave Annal - GuestSend us a Text Message.Thank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this first episode of Series Seven, host Andrew Martin meets Jackie Kohnstamm - a lecturer, author, playwright, and family historian. Jackie tells Andrew how she got hooked on researching family histories after hearing stories with missing bits, and then finding letters. She tells him what motivated her to write her book 'The Memory Keeper: A Journey Into The Holocaust To Find My Family', and...THE LIFE STORY - CHARLOTTE RYCHWALSKI Jackie has chosen to tell the life story of her maternal aunt, Charlotte Rychwalski (known as 'Lotte').  It's clear from Jackie's description of Charlotte, that she has some very fond memories of her aunt being the daring, and fascinating relative who would bring excitement into the family home after the Second World War, but through the memories Charlotte shared, and a cache of letters, Jackie has been able to discover more about her life.  THE BRICK WALL - JUTTA TOWNSEND Jackie is looking for one of her maternal cousins - Jutta - the surviving descendant of a family that was sadly murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust. Jutta Rychwalski escaped from Germany on one of the Kindertransport trains.Jackie knows that Jutta was married at least once, perhaps twice, but her last husband was named Frederick Townsend, and they lived in the Wakefield area of Yorkshire. Jutta is known to have died in the Wakefield area in 2012 aged 87 years, having been predeceased by Frederick in 1982. The couple had a son named Steven in 1955, but he died in 1973.Jackie would like your help to discover more about her cousin's life.If you think you can help Jackie with a clue or research idea, then you can send us a message via our contact form, and we'll pass the message straight on to her.In the meantime, Jackie is fascinated by Andrew's offer of help, but can he get her to the church on time?- - -Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerJackie Kohnstamm - GuestSend us a Text Message.Thank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

The Family Histories Podcast is back for Series Seven!Once again, host Andrew Martin, and his 19th century assistant Sándor Petőfi, welcome seven more guests, each with a fascinating life story, and of course a pesky genealogy research 'brick wall' for listeners to try to solve.However, before they welcome their first guest, there's something in the garage that needs some maintenance.... from an expert.- - -Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host & ProducerEtienne Durandt - Charles BabbageJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiThank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

Previously, on The Family Histories Podcast......  As last week's guest James Danter is zapped back in time via the (shhh: secret time) machine without any glitches, all seems well for the series' final episode. However, Andrew is knocked unconscious after tripping over a cable and causing something heavy to fall on his head.... Who are the ghostly voices he can hear, and what do they want? Find out now in this bonus episode inspired by Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'...- - -Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerDerek Scurll - The Ghost of Brick Walls PastJ P Wright - The Ghost of Brick Walls PresentHaley Banks - The Ghost of Brick Walls FutureJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiThank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this final full episode of Series Six, host Andrew meets James Danter - a family historian who is also a professional archaeologist. Andrew learns about how he got into both of these areas, and how they overlap and help him with his research in both fields. He also asks James on his thoughts of how these two areas could work closer.THE LIFE STORY - DARCY FOWLER  James has chosen to tell the story of his wife's ancestor, Darcy Fowler (later known as D'arcy Fowler) who trained and worked as a solicitor. However, as James' research progressed he soon uncovered a story that led Darcy to move from the UK to America, and fighting as a loyalist in the American Revolution.THE BRICK WALL - GEORGE RICHARD CORDWELL  It's a First World War mystery that has James digging around for clues.His 2x Great Grandfather George Richard Cordwell, born in 1894, earned medals for his work in The Great War, and James has a photograph of him in his military uniform, but beyond this, he's been unable to find any conscription, army service records, medal cards, or discharge records. Somehow, he's missing.Which battalion was George in?Does a Cordwell surname variant hide the truth? If you think that you can help James with a research idea or a clue to turn that brick wall to dust, then you can contact him on his Twitter/X profile at @jdanter or alternatively, you can contact us and we'll send your message on to him.In the meantime, James is hoping to dig into some new clues in Andrew's garage, but will he strike gold, and will Andrew take a trip of his own?- - - Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerJames Danter - GuestThank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this Sixth episode of Series Six, host Andrew Martin meets family historian Teresa Vega and finds out how she got hooked on researching family history, how her background in anthropology has helped her research, her adventures with DNA testing to trace her Ramapough Lenape Nation ancestors, and her work on the Family Tree DNA Malagasy Roots project with TV's DNA Detective CeCe Moore.THE LIFE STORY - ANTONIA 'TUN' SNYDER Teresa has chosen to tell the life story of her 4x Great Grandmother, Antonia Snyder known as 'Tun', who was born circa 1790. Her mother's family had roots in Madagascar.Teresa found an 1815 advert in a New York newspaper for a runaway slave - Tun. Crucially, this gave Teresa the key to solving her father's identity. Having found him, she was able to find her mother and siblings too.Despite having been on the run from her enslaver, she does return to households of some of the big enslaver families in the area, where she is traded whilst having 13 children. She died in 1881. THE BRICK WALL - ROBERT HENRY FISHER It's a close-to-home brick wall for Teresa - her Gt Grandfather Robert Henry Fisher.  He was born circa 1898 but was legally declared dead in the 1930s after going missing.Whilst the death is not the point of interest, it's his origins that have spawned conflicting stories and theories - one tells of him being a descendant of Jewish traders in White Plains, New York, whilst others point to a Cuban connection. Despite her efforts to analyse the DNA for clues about Robert's family, fascinating gaps seem to hide the answer.Was Fisher/Fischer actually his surname?Who were his parents?Does he descend from the Dutch merchants?If you think that you have a clue or a research idea that could bring Teresa's brick wall crashing down, then you can contact her at the email address she gives in the episode, or alternatively, you can send us a message and we'll pass it straight on to her.In the meantime, Teresa is keen for Andrew's help, but will he be able to get her to the right place?- - -Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerTeresa Vega - GuestThank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this fifth episode of Series Six, host Andrew is joined by family history tutor Jackie Depelle. He finds out how she got interested in family history, how she became a full-time family history lecturer, her thoughts on how genealogists and academic researchers are working together, and how the genealogy industry could evolve in future.THE LIFE STORY - JOHN HAYHURST DAWSONJackie has chosen to tell the life story of John Hayhurst Dawson who was born in 1841 in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. Thankfully, his middle name (which was his mother's maiden surname) allows him to be identified easily, as his father and grandfather were also John Dawson. John Hayhurst Dawson went on to work in multiple roles within his community, including a Justice Of The Peace (a 'JP'), a businessman, held many layperson roles at his church, and was also the churchwarden.  This has enabled Jackie to amass an impressive collection of documents to his name. THE  B̶R̶I̶C̶K̶ ̶W̶A̶L̶L̶   STUMBLING BLOCK - THE DAWSON FAMILYRefuting the existence of 'brick walls', Jackie has a Dawson family 'stumbling block' that keeps her perplexed - where did the Dawson family come from?Jackie has been able to identify a brother to the oldest John Dawson (the grandfather of John Hayhurst Dawson), named William Dawson, but beyond this, she's stuck. The earliest deed on the family home is signed on 12th December 1820, but prior to this - she's stuck in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England.Where did the Dawson family come from before 1820?Where did John Dawson get the money to build his house?If you think you can help Jackie with a clue or a research idea, you can contact her via her website www.yourfairladies.co.uk or alternatively you can send us a message and we'll pass it on. In the meantime, Andrew's offer of help results in some unexpected practical advice from Jackie.... will he take it all on board?Thank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this fourth episode of Series Six, host Andrew meets family historian Sven Grewel, who has been tracing his German ancestry for many years and has since become a professional genealogist. He explains how he got hooked on researching his family history, and the challenges of researching in Germany - a country that has frequently changed its borders through history.THE LIFE STORY - JOHANN CARL MAX SABEL Sven has chosen to tell the life story of his 2x Great Grandfather Johan Carl Max Sabel who worked as a policeman in between the First and Second World Wars. This was a dangerous time, and unfortunately whilst delivering justice as a policeman, he is accused of a crime.He spends years fighting for his innocence against a backdrop of rising Nazism, which includes time in prison and a psychiatric clinic, as his crime gets bigger and evidence seems lacking. Something doesn't seem right!THE BRICK WALL - KARLSTADT RECORDS A puzzle in Karlstadt, Bavaria, Germany is causing Sven a headache, so it's time for us to try to help. Sven's research has been troubled by the destruction and burning of records that took place during The 30 Years' War that spread across what is mostly now Germany between 1618 and 1648. For many of his family branches, this is war causes his research to hit a dead end.One place in particular he would like to find records is the town of Karlstadt in Bavaria, but the records are either lost, mislaid, or destroyed. Sven is feeling lucky though, and hopes that a listener might just be able to help find some.If you think that you can offer Sven some help, then you can reach out to him directly at his website svengrewel.com. Alternatively, you can send us a message and we'll pass it straight on to him.In the meantime, Sven jumps at Andrew's offer of help but will he get the information he's hoping for? - - -Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerSven Grewel - GuestJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiThank you for listening! You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram. If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

Our third episode of Series Six sees host Andrew Martin meet professional genealogist Clare Kirk, and he'll be finding out how she got hooked on researching her family history, why she does it for other people, what she does for Friends of Friendless Churches, and her hopes for an unusual 18th Century record in Buckinghamshire that reveals who the local cake man, rat man, and pig poker were!THE LIFE STORY - HARRIET READClare has chosen her husband's relative Harriet Read - a 'cousin' of his grandfather. Family stories involving Harriet involved a nurse, the King, a silent movie star, a dancer, a private detective, a Baron, Joseph Merrick (known as 'the elephant man'), and a Royal pay-off to America. However, when these stories began to collide and conflict, it was time for Clare to delve into them to determine fact from rumour and to help her husband's family to learn exactly who Harriet was.THE BRICK WALL - THOMAS BOWEN MAULTBY It's a brick wall in West Ealing, London that has Clare stuck - her Great Grandmother's brother was Thomas Bowen Maultby, and whilst she knows that he was born in Newport Pagnell in 1867.Clare has been able to follow him through the census returns until 1881 when he appears as a ten year old. He then appears twice more - once, in 1915 named as a beneficiary in the Will of an aunt, and secondly as the person who seems to have lived in West Ealing, London when he purchased a plot at Hanwell Cemetery in London, where his mother was buried.If you think you have a clue or a research idea, then you can contact Clare at her website digupyourancestors.com or via her Twitter/X account @digupancestors, alternatively, you can send us a message and we'll pass it on to her.In the meantime, Clare has concerns about Andrew's help, but is she wise to be worried....?- - - Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerClare Kirk - GuestJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiThank you for listening!You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram.If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this second episode of Series Six, host Andrew Martin meets Rick Glanvill - a family historian, author, and tour guide, who is also the official historian of Chelsea Football Club. Andrew will be finding out how Rick got hooked on researching his family tree, how his work as a tour guide is affected by this, and how he ended up being the expert of a football club's history.THE LIFE STORY - WILLIAM URMSTON SEARLE GLANVILLE RICHARDS Rick has chosen to tell the life story of his third cousin, three times removed - William Urmston Searle Glanville Richards.William, like Rick, spent countless hours researching family history, but unlike Rick, William began taking on the rich and well-to-do Victorian clients for whom he would be paid to research and write up their family history, having already written up his own Glanville family.This all sounds impressive, but then Rick started to spot cracks in his research. Upon further analysis, he found a case of William taking a creative route to his family history work involving the defacing of records in the British Library and the Bodleian Library. This landed him in big trouble. THE BRICK WALL - ELLEN TAYLOR Rick needs your help to solve a mystery that's been causing him problems for years - he's trying to find his 3x Gt Grandmother, Ellen Taylor, who appears to have married Henry David Linsell...  However, Rick can't find their marriage, and she can't find a correct registered birth for Ellen either.He has a few theories of why he can't locate her; maybe Taylor was a surname from a previous marriage, maybe Ellen was a middle name, maybe Ellen or Eleanor wasn't her first name. Fascinatingly, there is a cousin noted at the time of Ellen's death in 1890, called Harriet Copping - but where does she fit in the tree? Was she a first cousin? A second cousin? Or not even Ellen's cousin but her husband's cousin instead?  All this remains a mystery.If you think that you can help Rick solve his brick wall with a research idea or clue, then you can send him a message via his Twitter account @RickGlanvill or via the email address he gives in the episode. Alternatively, you can send a message and we'll pass it straight on.In the meantime, Rick accepts Andrew and Sándor's offer of help, but will there be penalties? - - -  Episode Credits: Andrew Martin - Host and Producer Rick Glanvill - Guest John Spike - Sándor Petőfi Thank you for listening!You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram.If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

Series Six of The Family Histories Podcast begins with host Andrew Martin meeting family historian, storyteller, and author of 'Quilt Of Souls: A Memoir' - Phyllis Biffle Elmore. She explains what got her hooked on researching family history, the value of listening to our elders, and collecting oral histories.THE LIFE STORY - LULA HORN Phyllis has chosen to tell the life story of her grandmother Lula Horn, born in 1883 in Sandersville, Mississippi, USA, whom she met for the first time aged 4 when she was taken to live with her.Phyllis recalls how her grandmother made her feel welcome, which kickstarted an unbreakable bond over the telling of family history stories whilst making quilts from the clothes of ancestors. THE BRICK WALL - LULA HORN Returning to her beloved Grandmother, Lula Horn, Phyllis is keen to discover the descendants from Lula's aunts and uncles. Phyllis has explored DNA matches, but despite filtering out the DNA matches from other parts of her ancestors in GEDmatch, she's been left with a few matches that she's been unable to tie in to her research. Can you help?Who were Lula's parents?Are there modern descendants of Lula's aunts and uncles?Do you have matches against GEDmatch kit A331399?If you think that you can help Phyllis smash through her brick wall, or you can offer a clue or research idea, then you can contact her via the email she gives in the episode or at her website www.thequiltofsouls.com. Alternatively, you can send us a message and we'll pass it straight on to her.In the meantime, Phyllis is concerned about Andrew's offer of help... but will she find it useful?- - -Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerPhyllis Biffle Elmore - GuestJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiThank you for listening!You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram.If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

Series Six is ready! However, before we join our first guest, Andrew thinks there's just enough time to go out for some celebratory drinks... or perhaps shots - assuming no-one gets bard...Our first episode arrives on 7th November 2023 - see the full list of our forthcoming Series Six guests and episode schedule by checking out our Series Six page.- - -Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerRobert Neumark Jones - William ShakespeareJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiThank you for listening!You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram.If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

Previously on The Family Histories Podcast....Whilst trying to send the previous episode's guest Kelly Cornwell back in time, Andrew makes a mistake and suddenly finds himself in an alternate dimension where things are the same but also a little bit different. In this reality, the host of The Family Histories Podcast is author and historian Dr. Wanda Wyporska who has been waiting for her guest - Andrew!  In this Series Five bonus episode, Wanda hears how family historian Andrew Martin got hooked on researching his family tree, his love of family documents, his thoughts on what's next for the genealogy industry, and his work to catalogue and digitise the collection of the town archive of The Littleport Society.The Life Story - John Goltrip Andrew has chosen to tell the life story of his maternal 5x Great Grandfather John Goltrip who was born in 1771/1772 in Littleport, Cambridgeshire.By the time John and his wife Elizabeth are married and having children, the Napoleonic Wars are in full swing, then The Corn Law begins which raises inflation and causes the poorest to get even poorer with food prices rocketing, and then an Indonesian volcano erupts. Andrew explains how this combination of events culminates in his ancestor taking action as part of the Littleport Riots of 1816, and how John risked changing things forever. The Brick Wall - Mary Clarke It's a sense of revenge that makes Andrew so keen to solve this long-running brick wall. In 1841, his paternal 4x Great Grandmother Mary Clarke, by then Mary Bailey, was serving a 6 month prison sentence with hard labour in a gaol in Ipswich, Suffolk, England for the neglect and abuse of her step-children.Moving ahead a few years, and the family briefly reunites in Botesdale, Suffolk, before William dies and widowed Mary returns to the workhouse in Eye, Suffolk in 1881. This is the last trace of Mary, who by this time is about 70yrs old.  Having checked many burial, marriage, and death certificates, Andrew has not been able to finally kill off his nasty-piece-of-work.  What happened to Mary after the 1881 census?When did she die? If you think that you can help Andrew with a clue or a research idea, then you can contact him on Twitter at @FamilyTreeUK, or via his website. Alternatively you can head over to our website and we'll send your message on to him.In the meantime, Andrew is very enthusiastic towards Wanda's offer of help, which makes her suspicious of him...- - -Episode CreditsSeries Five, Episode Eight (Bonus)Dr. Wanda Wyporska - HostAndrew Martin - Guest and ProducerKelly Cornwell - GuestPhoebe Batteson-Brown - Jane AustenThank you for listening!You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram.If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this final episode of Series Five, host Andrew Martin meets professional genealogist Kelly Cornwell and hears about her love of researching family history, and how that led on to her going professional, as well as her work on an extremely niche One-Place Study.The Life Story - Rebecca Monksfield Kelly has chosen to tell the life story of her 5x Great Aunt Rebecca Monksfield of Shoreditch, London, who, like her mother, worked for a shoe factory. However, a chance search in newspapers followed by a search on the Old Bailey Online site, revealed that Rebecca was seemingly not been the model employee. She was charged with the theft and sale of many stolen pairs of shoes. She was found guilty and her punishment was given as transportation for 7 years. So, as a teenager, she was taken from London and sent to Tasmania, Australia. Despite still serving her sentence, Rebecca continued to to test, bend, and break rules in her new country - some of which Kelly seems to admire her for!The Brick Wall - Rebecca Monksfield Kelly is annoyed that she can't find Rebecca Monksfield in Hobart, Tasmania after 1836, and so it's her later life that she has chosen to ask for your help with. Despite help from the Tasmanian archives, and numerous other sites including Trove, she can't find a death or a marriage.What happened to Rebecca Monksfield after 1836?Did she die, or did she change her name to start a new life?Did she marry?Did she travel home or move somewhere else?If you think you can help Kelly with a clue or a research idea, then you can email her on the address she gives in the episode, or you can contact her via her website, her Twitter, of Facebook page. Alternatively, you can send us a message via our contact form, and we'll pass that on.In the meantime, Kelly jumps at the chance of some help from Andrew, but something very strange is about to happen... - - - Episode Credits:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerKelly Cornwell - GuestDaniel Loftus - Guest  Thank you for listening!You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram.If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

NOTE: This episode contains discussion on the topics of eugenics, suicide, and abuse. Please consider others when listening aloud. In this sixth episode of Series Five - The Cousin, host Andrew meets Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, and now family history author John Erickson. Andrew will be finding out about how John's 30 years in journalism has helped him with researching his family, how his mother surprised him with news of her younger brother, and how the life of his Grandmother has affected him. The Life Story - Carolyn Phillips John has chosen to tell the story of his cousin Carolyn Phillips who, despite a lot of painful memories of her traumatic loss of her father, brother, and sister, was able to help him establish facts and write his book When Mortals Play God. The Brick Wall - Patricia and Robert Anderson Anderson is a rather common surname in the USA, and so this brick wall has been hanging around for quite some time. John wasn't able to discover much about his cousins, but he does know that they were the children of Raymond Anderson (b. 1925) who served active military service as a young man in World War Two.  John thinks that both Patricia and Robert would have been born in the 1940s, and in at least the 1980s, they were living in Minnesota, USA... but that's it! This is a real needle in a haystack, but if you think that you have a research idea or clue that can help John's brick wall to come tumbling down, then you can send him a message via our Contact Form and we'll pass it on to him. Meanwhile, John is unsure about the safety of Andrew's offer of help... and what IS that noise? - - - Episode Credits: Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerJohn Erickson - GuestJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiSupport is available to those who are affected by abuse, and suicide, or if you are feeling suicidal. You can find your local support lines and resources here: https://findahelpline.com/ Thank you for listening!You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram.If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

Andrew is joined by professional genealogist Fiona Brooker for this fifth episode of Series Five. Andrew finds out how she researches family history in Scotland and England from New Zealand, as well as the challenges of researching within New Zealand and its privacy laws. She reveals how she got hooked on family history, and also shares her thoughts on how our modern lives will be researched in future.THE LIFE STORY - THOMAS URQUHART Fiona has decided to tell the life story of her Great Grandfather, Thomas Urquhart, who was born in Aberdeen in 1882. Thomas starts off as a mason but joins the Police Force in 1907, and through detailed staff records she's able to trace his career until he resigns in 1924. With his wife Ann, and their seven children, he embarks on a journey to a fresh new start in New Zealand... but his journey take a tragic turn before they even arrived.THE BRICK WALL - JANE RICHARDSON It's a woman in New Zealand that's causing Fiona a headache - her ancestor Jane Richardson, but whilst Jane's later life is known, it's her origins that remain a mystery.Her marriage records suggest that she was born circa 1833, and other records suggest she was born in Glasgow, Scotland, but sadly, her parents are documented only as 'Richardson' and 'Richardson'. Not very helpful!Can you help Fiona discover;Who were Jane's parents?Do Jane's children's names follow the Scottish Naming Pattern - offering hints of their ancestors' identities?When did Jane arrive in New Zealand? Was she with her parents, or alone?If you think you can help Fiona with a research clue or idea, then you can contact her at her MemoriesInTime.co.nz website or alternatively, you can send her a message via our website and we'll pass it on to her.In the meantime, Andrew is surprised at just how keen Fiona is to accept his help...- - -Episode CreditsSeries Five, Episode Five:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerFiona Brooker - GuestThank you for listening!You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram.If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this fourth episode of Series Five, host Andrew meets family historian, blogger, and Family Tree Magazine columnist Paul Chiddicks. He tells Andrew how he got into family history, about his Old Palace School Bombing project, and shares his ideas for some genealogy-themed Lego sets.The Life Story - William Wootton Paul has chosen to tell the life story of his maternal Great Grandfather William Tom Wootton, who was born in 1863 in Kentish Town, London. Paul describes him as an 'entrepreneur' although others might describe him as a 'chancer' given some of his actions.William had 7 children with his first wife Elizabeth Compton, but the final child saw Elizabeth die in childbirth. William re-married to an Emily Dodd, and they added a further 9 children to their family - and as you might expect - this came at a price! William worked as a lead glazier on some of England's most impressive architecture, but his determination to keep a roof over his family's head led him to take on a number of other jobs to make ends meet, including Punch and Judy shows, busking and there's even a family rumour about a sale of some well known East End songs.The Brick Wall - Samuel Chiddicks  It's a brick wall that's been standing for 30 years that is asking for help with, and it's one that he has tried to crack time and time again.Paul knows that Samuel Chiddicks was buried in South Fambridge in Essex, England, in 1816, with a given age of 55 years old, which in turn gives an approximate birth year of 1761.He is believed to have married a Mary Turner in 1787 in South Fambridge, but he is known to have married Ann Beard in 1794.Paul has undertaken an autosomal test with Ancestry, and a Y-DNA test with Family Tree DNA, and this has given him some Chiddicks matches in the USA and Northern Ireland, that all lead back to County Tyrone and County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland... but how?Where was Samuel Chiddicks born?Who were his parents?Is Northern Ireland in his Chiddicks ancestry? If you think that you can help Paul with his brick wall, you can contact him via his website chiddicksfamilytree.com or you can find him on Twitter @chiddickstree. Alternatively, you can send us a message via our website and we'll pass it on to him.Meanwhile, Paul is cautious of Andrew's offer of help, but maybe he has a good reason to be...- - -Episode CreditsSeries Five, Episode Four:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerPaul Chiddicks - GuestJohn Spike - Sándor Petőfi.Thank you for listening!You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram.If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this third episode of Series Five - The Missionary - host Andrew meets family historian Kim Brengle and hears how she got hooked on tracing her family history, and how she manages to trace her nomadic relatives.The Life Story - Daniel and Emily OliverKim has chosen to share the life story of her Great Grandparents Daniel and Emily Oliver, and this is one that sees Daniel leave his agricultural labouring life in Caithness, Scotland, and Emily leaving her Quaker family in Yorkshire, to both independently end up living and working in the mountains near Beirut in Lebanon. Here, they married, raised a family, and set up a school and an orphanage, the legacy of which still lives on today in the memories their community.The Brick Wall - Juliaetta HarringtonKim's 2x Great Grandmother Juliaetta Harrington/Herrington (later Stephenson) is causing her a headache. Born in 1841 in Michigan, USA, Kim knows about Juliaetta's life - which lasted just 38yrs until her death in 1879. The puzzle here is the identity of Juliaetta's parents.Despite lots of close-ish DNA matches, Kim has not been able to piece together the evidence to identify how these matches and her known ancestry are connected.Can you help Kim identify Juliaetta's parents?If you think you can help Kim with a clue or research idea, then you can make contact with her via her website at generationsofnomads.com or alternatively, you can head over to our website to read this episode's show notes and send her a message - we'll pass it straight on.In the meantime, Kim is curious of Andrew and Sándor's offer of help, but what could possibly go wrong?---Episode CreditsSeries Five, Episode ThreeAndrew Martin - Host and ProducerKim Brengle - GuestJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiThank you for listening!You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram.If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this second episode of Series Five - The Righteous - host Andrew meets Slovak professional genealogist, and host of the Slovak Ancestry Podcast, Michal Razus. Andrew finds out how Michal got into researching family history, the challenges of researching in Slovakia, and finds out about his work to assist people with citizenship.The Life Story - Michal Razus Michal has chosen his 2x Great Grandfather also named Michal Razus as his relative to tell the life story of. This Michal was born in 1908, and lived in Czechoslovakia (as it was back then). Amidst World War Two, Michal, who worked as a cabinet maker, took in, fed, and employed a young Jewish man in carpentry - thus helping to save him from the on-coming Nazi forces and the Holocaust.Years later, and after Michal's death in 1985, Michal the younger's family had been unaware of their ancestor's act until contact was made from a man in the USA. That man had been the young Jewish man who'd been taken in, and he came with news that he was being posthumously honoured with the Righteous Among the Nations award by the State of Israel.The Brick Wall - Juraj FrankoIt's a 2x Gt Grandfather, born in Chmelovec, Slovakia in 1890, that is causing Michal a headache.However, it's not the Slovak part that's the problem - Michal has traced his ancestor Juraj Franko to 150W, 104 Street, Manhattan, New York, USA on 25th April 1942, and that's where his trail ends.What happened to Juraj after this date?Did he stay in Manhattan, or did he travel elsewhere?If you think that you can help Michal with a clue or a research idea that might help him solve his brick wall, then you can make contact him via the email address he gives in the episode. Alternatively, you can head to our website where you'll find this episode's show notes, and be able to send a message which we'll pass straight on to him.In the meantime, Michal is intrigued by Andrew's offer of help - but will he stick to the rules?---Episode CreditsSeries Five, Episode TwoAndrew Martin - Host and ProducerMichal Razus - GuestThank you for listening!You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram.If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this first episode of Series Five of The Family Histories Podcast, host Andrew Martin meets genealogist Jenni Phillips, and finds out how she got hooked on family history, why she can't get enough of studying genealogy, her love of family and local history societies, and the lengths she goes to to research house history.The Life Story - John Spring Jenni has chosen to tell the life story of her 7x Gt Grandfather John Spring of West Cholderton in Wiltshire, England. John was a carpenter, baptised in West Cholderton in 1730 to a carpenter and parish clerk Thomas Spring and his wife Mary.  John would go on to inherit his father's carpentry business, and he also inherited a number of thatched cottages... with an  unexpected tenant - a British Army veteran of the American War of Independence - Sir William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe! How did this Viscount end up in a Wiltshire carpenter's cottage? Jenni had to find out.The Brick Wall - David Davies It's a birth and parental puzzle that's been bugging Jenni for a while now, so she's asking for your help to demolish her brick wall.David Davies is Jenni's 4x Great Grandfather, and she has traced him to New Street, Swansea, Wales during the mid 19th century's censuses. However, his place of birth is not consistent - sometimes Swansea, sometimes Carmarthenshire. Records point to him having been born between 1797 and 1801, but Jenni has found a lot of David Davies candidates in both Swansea and Carmarthenshire as it's quite a common name.Can you help her find out; Who David Davies' parents were?When and where was he born?Is there a baptism entry for him?If you think you can help Jenni with a research idea or a clue, then you can contact her via Twitter at @JenniPh, or alternatively you can send us a message and we'll pass it on.In the meantime, Jenni can't believe her luck when Andrew offers his help, but was it a wise choice?---Episode CreditsSeries Five, Episode One:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerJenni Phillips - GuestJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiThank you for listening!You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram.If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

The Family Histories Podcast returns for its fifth series on 2nd May 2023, but before episode one arrives, there's just enough time for a spot of tea... in 1811... with Jane Austen!Host Andrew Martin returns for Series Five, along with seven more genealogy addicted guests, seven more fascinating life stories, and seven more annoying family history research brick walls that will need your help to demolish them. Of course, there's also a secret time machine in the garage, but we know you won't tell anyone else about that, right?Series Five begins on 2nd May 2023, and is available from wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe now to make sure you don't miss an episode!Meet the Series Five guests!- - - Episode Credits Series Five, Trailer Andrew Martin:  Host and ProducerPhoebe Batteson-Brown: Jane AustenThank you for listening!You can sign up to our email newsletter for the latest and behind the scenes news. You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram.If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

Previously.... on The Family Histories Podcast:Computer has given host Andrew and guest Simon Last a stark warning and now they find themselves in immediate danger... but from what, and who can save them?This is the Series Four bonus episode, following on from the cliff-hanger of episode seven - 'The Reunited'.- - -Episode CreditsSeries Four, Episode Eight (Bonus)Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerSimon Last - GuestCourtney Dunn - ComputerJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiShow notes and more at: familyhistoriespodcast.comThank you for listening!You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram.If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this final episode of Series Four, host Andrew meets professional genealogist and author Simon Last. Andrew will find out about Simon's love of War Memorials, his work with the Western Front Association and the Commonwealth Graves War Commission, why he turned professional, and his love for collecting postcards. The Life Story - Tadeusz Bialosiewicz Simon tells the story of his grandfather, Tadeusz Bialosiewicz of Poland, whom he discovered over 20 years ago, after Simon was researching his mother's adoption in 1949. With a desire to track Tadeusz's family down, he used his research skills to locate a Bialosiewicz overseas that very swiftly led to him picking up the phone and discovering that he was actually talking to his biological Grandfather. What follows is a wonderful story of reunion, as Simon and his mother welcome Tadeusz and his family in both England and Poland.The Brick Wall - Edith Rosa Sinclair We're now on the trail of Simon's Great Grandmother, Edith Rosa Sinclair, who has proven difficult to research, not just because her age seems to be wrong by about 10 years, but because documents give her father different names.Whilst Rosa appears to have been born on 5th November 1881 (confirmed by a birth certificate and her 1939 Register entry). Her mother is noted as Clara Martha Boys, and her father is noted as William Henry Sinclair - lamp maker. Her sister Alice's father is noted as William Henry Poulett - 'a gentleman'. By the time Edith marries in 1915, her father is noted as 'deceased' and as Edward Sinclair - commercial clerk.DNA has yet to yield any matches for this branch, so Simon is stuck with this brick wall for now.Can you help Simon work out who Edith's real father was?If you think that you can help Simon with a clue or research idea to help break down his brick wall, then you can contact him on Twitter at @CharnwoodGenie , at his Charnwood Genealogy website, or via the email address he mentions in the episode. Alternatively, you can send him a message via our contact form and we'll pass it on to him.In the meantime, Simon accepts Andrew's offer of help, but there's an unexpected warning...- - -Episode CreditsSeries Four, Episode Seven:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerSimon Last - GuestCourtney Dunn - ComputerShow notes and more at: familyhistoriespodcast.com Thank you for listening!You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram.If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this sixth episode of Series Four, Andrew meets Irish professional genealogist Claire Bradley. He'll be finding out how she got hooked on family history, the impact of the Irish Civil War on her family history research, how she's teaching genealogists, and her time as a genealogist in control of the national @Ireland twitter account.The Life Story - Michael JoyceClaire has chosen her 2x Great Grandfather, Michael Joyce who was born in Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland, in 1851.Michael was both a Mayor of Limerick, and a Member of Parliament (MP) in the UK Government.His journey to politics was quite eventful, seeing him survive four shipwrecks, and another one involving a torpedo during later life, but he remained dedicated to the people he served almost until his death in 1941. The Brick Wall - Thomas Reilly It's a brick wall that's seemingly in Cork, Ireland, that's giving Claire a headache.She's looking for the marriage and earlier life of a Thomas Reilly, who married Elizabeth Murphy. The challenge is that those two surnames are very common in Ireland, and she has already manually gone through all the Thomas Reilly's that she can find, leaving her with just two men, neither of whom she can prove are her Thomas Reilly.Where was Thomas Reilly really from, and where did he marry Elizabeth Murphy? If you think that you can help Claire with a clue or research idea, then you can contact her directly at her twitter account (@CBGenealogy), her Facebook Page, or her website. Alternatively, you can send a message via our contact form, and we'll pass it on to her.In the meantime, Claire accepts Andrew's offer, but will he really able to help her?- - -Episode Credits Series Four, Episode Six:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerClaire Bradley - GuestShow notes and more at: familyhistoriespodcast.comThank you for listening!You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram.If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this episode from Series Four, host Andrew Martin meets author and former journalist Paul Roberts to find out how he got hooked on researching his family's history. He'll find out how Paul's early research skills helped his work as a journalist, and how he managed to write a book about 30 men who fought in the First World War.Life Story - Sam Roberts  Paul has chosen to share the life story of his 1st Cousin, 2x Removed, Sam Roberts. Sam was born in 1895 in Teignmouth, Devon, England, and he joined the Devonshire Regiment when The Great War broke out. He soon found himself on the front lines, and along with most of the regiment, was shot by enemy forces as they went 'over the top' into No Man's Land. By a stroke of luck, Sam survived, despite being shot in the chest. This earned him the nickname 'Lucky Sam'. After a long recovery period, Sam returned as a Corporal to the trenches of The Somme, and sadly it was here that his luck would run out.The Brick Wall - James Arscott and Eliza Mitchell  We're on the trail of a retired Battle of Trafalgar veteran James Arscott who dies in Teignmouth, Devon in 1816. Despite knowing his date of death, Paul has been unable to locate his burial location.In addition, in James' Will, a ring is bequeathed to an Eliza Mitchell who 'hailed from Teignmouth'... but her identity remains a mystery.  Can you help?If you think you can help Paul with a research idea or clue, then you can contact him at his website, or alternatively head over to our contact form, and we'll pass your message on to him.In the meanwhile, Andrew offers Paul some help, but he's not quite sure it's genuine...- - -Episode Credits -Series Four, Episode Four: Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerPaul Roberts - GuestJohn Spike - Sándor PetőfiShow notes and more at familyhistoriespodcast.comThank you for listening!You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram.If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.

In this fourth episode of Series Four, host Andrew Martin meets Canadian professional genealogist and author, Janice Nickerson, who specialises her research into the families and history of Upper Canada, the Hudson Bay Company, and crime and punishment. Andrew will be finding out how she got hooked on family history, the value of court records, the challenges of researching in Canada, and the how she gets non-genealogists and children interested in family history.Life Story - Emma Bell Chant Janice has chosen to tell the life story of her Great Grandmother, Emma Bell Chant, whom she never met. Janice had been told that Emma was quite a formidable and stern woman, but her true personality flows from the pages of a collection of letters loaned to her by an aunt. Emma, who was born in 1873, married and had 11 children, somehow found the time to care for her family whilst doing neighbours laundry, reading classics, and helping to push political boundaries for Canadian women.  The series of consecutive letters which span the period of 1918 to 1924 show the warmth, the humour, and the motherly advice given to one of her sons. The Brick Wall - John George Carter A family story has kept Janice stumped relating to her grandfather, John George Carter. John was born in 1900, and the story goes that he had a semi-professional hockey career. John, who was known as 'Jack', but also went by the name 'Nick' Carter in his hockey circles, is in Canada in 1921 and 1928, but is seen crossing the border from Canada into the USA in September 1924. Janice has heard that he may have gone to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to play hockey, but evidence is not forthcoming.It is during the period of 1924 and 1928, that John (or 'Jack' or 'Nick') is believed to have received a head injury during a game and he vanished, but was found a while later, far from the game with amnesia. Janice has found no evidence for this incident, which surely would have attracted some newspaper, police, or medical attention. So, did John George Carter (aka 'Jack' and 'Nick' Carter) have a professional hockey career, and did he really have a period of amnesia that caused him to go missing? Can you help? If you think you can help, you can email Janice at the email address she gives in the episode, or make contact with her via her Upper Canada Genealogy Facebook page. Alternatively, you can also head over to our website and send her a message via our contact form.In the meantime, Janice is keen to accept Andrew's offer of help, but she has a few questions first... - - - -Episode Credits:Series Four, Episode Four:Andrew Martin - Host and ProducerJanice Nickerson - GuestShow notes and more at familyhistoriespodcast.comThank you for listening!You can find us on Twitter @FamilyHistPod, Facebook, or Instagram.If you liked this episode please subscribe for free, or leave a rating or review.