We have a bumper collection of courses coming up in June, including two BRAND NEW courses. Click on the links below to find out more:

Your Military Ancestors
Apprenticeship Records
So You Think You Know FamilySearch – A Guided Tour
Researching Your Welsh Ancestors
NEW Critical Thinking Approaches for Genealogy
NEW Researching Scottish Ancestral Crisis
Employment Records
Demystifying DNA for Family Historians

Your Military Ancestors

Tutor: Simon Fowler
Start date: 5th June 2023
Course length: 4 weeks
LAST FEW PLACES

This course is part of our Intermediate Certificate in Genealogy programme but can also be taken in isolation by anyone wanting to learn more about how to get the most out of military records. The course guides students through sources at The National Archives, at local archives and military museums, and an increasing number of online resources. In particular we will consider the service records for both officers and other ranks that can provide vital genealogical facts and a wealth of helpful detail that can take your research back into the 18th century and help reveal the life of your military ancestors.

Lesson Headings:

• British Army pre-1914
• Royal Navy pre-1914
• The two World Wars
• Online resources

Apprenticeship Records

Tutor: Richard Holt 
Start date: 5th June 2023
Course length: 4 weeks
LAST FEW PLACES

The practice of apprenticing young men to learn a trade is first recorded in twelfth and thirteenth century London. It gradually spread to many other towns and cities, and became subject to regulation. Provision for apprenticeship was also made under the Poor Laws. Parish overseers could bind children as young as six or seven to serve as apprentices until they were adults.

This course will familiarise you with apprenticeship records, and will explain how to find them. It will also give you a basic understanding of what being an apprentice meant in the period covered.

Previous students said: Very informative, clear lesson notes and good questions in the chat sessions that made me think about how I was interpreting the notes and facilitated learning.

So You Think You Know FamilySearch – A Guided Tour

Tutor: Barbara Baker
Start date: 5th June 2023
Course length: 4 weeks

This aptly titled course reflects the fact that many of us use the FamilySearch website on a regular basis. However, with such a vast collection of historical document images, transcriptions, educational resources and a global family tree there is bound to be something new for everyone.

This course guides you through the ‘highways and byways’ of FamilySearch.org, offers tips about searching data and using the helps, and brings you to the point where you can say that you really know the FamilySearch website.

Lesson Headings:

• Introduction to FamilySearch and FamilySearch.org
• Exploring British and Irish data and resources at FamiySearch.org
• The British and Irish collection at the Family History Library
• The FamilySearch Family Tree and What’s New

Researching Your Welsh Ancestors

Tutor: Eilir Daniels
Start date: 5th June 2023
Course length: 5 weeks

Wales is unique and Welsh research is different. Despite the fact that, by and large, Wales used the same legal and bureaucratic framework as England, the country’s social, linguistic, cultural and religious fabric mean that a different kind of approach is necessary. The context of research is vitally important and there are difficulties, even for those who have a good level of knowledge and experience with family history research.

Aimed at those who have some knowledge of family history research in England, this course considers the aspects of family history research in Wales which are different to that of England. For example, you will learn how linguistic, social and cultural factors shaped the day-to-day life of your ancestors and how they coloured the historical documents you will be consulting. You will also have the chance to study how Welsh nonconformity could affect your own research as well as where to locate and how to get the most out of specific Welsh sources and Welsh repositories. There is now a good range of sources for Welsh research on the Web and this course includes lots of advice on finding and using online information and data.

Previous students said: I have learnt so much in just 5 weeks and I have used the information taught to find more details about my ancestors. I am so happy I have found Pharos Tutors!

NEW Critical Thinking Approaches for Genealogy

Tutor: Sophie Kay
Start date: 5th June 2023
Course length: 4 weeks
BOOKING FAST

In this course the family history research process is examined from start to finish, seeing how critical thinking has a role to play at every turn. Historical evidence is placed centre-stage and a range of analysis techniques are used to guide towards a considered, thorough research narrative. Subjects covered include the Perspective Pyramid for researching at different scales (e.g. individual, family, branch), the Negative Space approach for analysing research gaps, the Timebinding method for reconciling the different stages of an ancestor’s life, and the topping-and-tailing strategy for use with migratory ancestors.

This is combined with core skills such as developing research questions and performing effective searches and hands-on experience of the Genealogical Proof Standard.

Lesson Headings:

• Scaffolding: Skills for initiating and planning your family history.
• Building Blocks: Logical approaches to effective searching and research progression.
• Mortar: Engaging critical thinking methods for problem solving and brick walls.
• Vantage Point: Perspectives and techniques to ensure continued onward development of your research skills.

NEW Researching Scottish Ancestral Crisis

Tutor: Chris Paton
Start date: 12th June 2023
Course length: 5 weeks
BOOKING FAST

Many of our Scottish ancestors had to overcome great adversity on occasions to simply make it through the day. Illness, death, bigamy, abandonment, accidents, eviction, victimhood, ethnic cleansing, and so much more. And whenever such crises emerged, somebody was usually close to hand with a quill and ink to bear witness. In so doing, a great documentary legacy was created that can greatly help us to understand the true lives of our forebears, and the struggles that led to who we became today.

This course will reveal the many areas of Scottish ancestral hardship that have been documented over the last few centuries, and explore how to access the relevant records. It follows on from two previous Pharos courses, Scottish Research Online, which explores websites offering some of the more basic records for Scottish research, and Scotland 1750: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, which takes students to more advanced records found offline and online, and which flags up the importance of using catalogues. Although not compulsory, it is recommended that both courses are completed prior to studying Researching Scottish Ancestral Crisis.

Lesson Headings:

• Law and Order
• Family Events and Relationships
• Poverty and Debt
• Medical Issues
• The State and the People

Employment Records

Tutor: Alec Tritton
Start date: 15th June 2023
Course length: 5 weeks
LAST FEW PLACES

Many documents uncovered during our research indicate an occupation, perhaps several, in which our ancestor was employed. Many will have followed their father’s trade or occupation, and their children will have followed them. Others will have broken away, perhaps from the land and headed for the town to learn new skills and enter a different trade. Those more fortunate, at least financially or by birth, may have been destined for one of the professions.

Records of employment will vary from the scant to the copious; much depends on the occupation. This 5 week course examines what is likely to be found in official and unofficial sources and where and how the information can be used as further insights into the lives and times of our ancestors.

Lesson Headings:

• The Professions
• Merchant Seamen and Coastguard
• Government employees
• Town folk
• Country folk

Previous students said: This was a wide-ranging and very interesting and challenging course with a huge amount of information given. There is much to re-investigate for the future. The tutor gave some excellent advice in his assessment which I will follow in future work.

Demystifying DNA for Family Historians

Tutor: Karen Cummings 
Start date: 19th June 2023
Course length: 5 weeks

This introduction to DNA testing starts at the beginning, providing you with the tools to understand and demystify DNA testing for use in your own research. You will be guided through what to consider before testing, the different types of DNA, who can test and which test is the most appropriate in different circumstances. You will learn about how DNA is passed down the generations and why this is important and how much you really can rely on ‘ethnicity estimates’. You will work with examples of real data and have the opportunity to work through techniques with your own results (if you have tested already). At the end of the course you will have a toolbox of techniques to interpret your DNA matches with increased confidence.

Previous students said: Karen is an excellent tutor, explaining everything clearly. The course notes are full of information with links to websites, books etc that will be useful in the future.

Karen ‘demystified’ the science-speak and with the clear notes and charts, I now feel I have a good understanding of the area.

As a complete novice who has not done a test I feel that this course gave me a good understanding of the types of DNA, how they are inherited and how the results can be used. I really enjoyed it.

That’s all for this month, plenty there to keep you busy!

We have some great courses coming for you in the next month, including the brand new course: Understanding Title Deeds, from Susan Moore.

Understanding Title Deeds

* COURSE OF THE MONTH*

Tutor: Susan Moore
Start date: 1st March 2023
Course length: 4 weeks

Title Deeds, documenting the ownership of land and property, are to be found in almost all record repositories, whether they be from a solicitors collection, a large family estate collection, individual documents from a variety of sources, or part of the National Archives. This course, suitable for both family and local historians, aims to introduce the records in a practical way, to enable researchers to find them, to understand the different types of deeds, and, crucially, to be able to interpret them.

As with so many apparently impenetrable records, there are short cuts and clues and hints to eliciting the information from them. Family history information can include details of marriages, relationships and the social circle of friends amongst whom people moved. Local history and house history information can include detailed descriptions of land, with names of tenants, acreages, land use, and neighbouring plots of land and houses.

This course is part of our Advanced Certificate programme but can also be taken in isolation.

Susan Moore has taught a combined title deeds and Chancery record course for Pharos for many years, but this year we decided we needed to give you more, dedicating a full four weeks to these important records. A separate course Family Feuds – how to find and interpret Chancery court records, follows in April.

Before the Modern Census – Name-rich sources
from 1690 to 1837

Tutor: Else Churchill 
Start date: 7th March 2023
Course length: 4 weeks

LAST FEW PLACES AVAILABLE

The course considers the records to consult before the census records of names, ages, birthplaces and the household address of a family. Attention is paid to a variety of lists which reveal where someone lived at a particular time. Over four lessons you will learn about the introduction of newspapers, the earliest efforts at census taking, and what other records are considered to be useful census substitutes. Census substitutes are often quite local in scope and purpose. Many will be explained and advice will be given on how to search for local lists. You will come away with an understanding of how to make the most of census substitutes, some new online search skills, and an ability to assess and access these sources.

Lesson Headings:

• Different world, different sources
• The first enumerations, 1801 – 1831
• Landowners, Traders and Freemen
• Census substitutes and name-rich lists

Previous students said: “A very interesting course positively loaded with information… A very knowledgable and helpful tutor.”

Practicalities of a One Name Study

Tutor: Julie Goucher
Start date: 7th March 2023
Course length: 5 weeks (4 lessons)

The course is designed to enable students to explore the practical steps of maintaining and developing their one-name study through a variety of media and to give some context to the various considerations they will need to explore.

It is expected that students for this course will already have a one-name study or surname study registered, or will have identified a surname to register and begin working upon.

Lesson Headings:

• Week 1: Understanding and making the best use of spreadsheets in your study
• Week 2: Genealogical Software, what to consider
• Week 3: (Reading week)
• Week 4: Online Trees and other software
• Week 5: The next steps: Preservation and Sharing

Are You Sitting Comfortably? Writing and Telling Your Family History

Tutor: Janet Few
Start date: 13th March 2023
Course length: 5 weeks

This hugely popular course from Janet Few begins with advice on making decisions about what to write about, what to include and how to make some order out of the potential chaos of information. It goes on to discover the historical context and look at adding interest into your story with background about what was happening nationally and locally and how this might have affected your ancestors. The course also looks at how knowledge about occupations can bring an ancestor to life and how and why social history helps you to make sense of it all and can frame your story. Finally, in week five, you will discover how to add photos and other illustrations as well as learn about options for publishing.

This course is about acquiring skills that will help you to present your family history in a coherent and interesting way.

If you wish to receive feedback on your writing, there is the option to submit a piece of writing of up to 3,000 words for marking. You will have at least six weeks after the course finishes, before this needs to be sent to the tutor.

Previous students said: “The course has provided me with everything I could possibly need (and more) to sort out my main goals of prioritising family history, research, recording and writing up the stories during the coming year and beyond. I now know the way ahead and am very much looking forward to putting my plans into action.”

That’s all for this month, happy studying!

We have two brand new tutor-led courses for you this month, brought to you by Chris Paton and Sophie Kay.

The first of our new courses looks at Scottish research from the perspective of ancestors in crisis:

Researching Scottish Ancestral Crisis

As in our own lives, many of our Scottish ancestors had to overcome great adversity on occasions to simply make it through the day. Illness, death, bigamy, abandonment, accidents, eviction, victimhood, ethnic cleansing, and so much more – a dramatic range of experiences across a series of lifetimes. And whenever such crises emerged, somebody was usually close to hand with a quill and ink to bear witness. In so doing, a great documentary legacy was created that can greatly help us to understand the true lives of our forebears, and the struggles that led to who we became today.

This course will reveal the many areas of Scottish ancestral hardship that have been documented over the last few centuries, and explore how to access the relevant records. It follows on from two previous Pharos courses, Scottish Research Online, which explores websites offering some of the more basic records for Scottish research, and Scotland 1750: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, which takes students to more advanced records found offline and online, and which flags up the importance of using catalogues. Although not compulsory, it is recommended that both courses are completed prior to studying Researching Scottish Ancestral Crisis.

Researching Scottish Ancestral Crisis is Booking NOW.

Our second brand new course comes from Sophie Kay and looks at a number of critical thinking approaches.

Critical Thinking Approaches for Genealogy

Some of you may have seen Sophie speak on one of her critical thinking approaches already: the Negative Space approach. In this course the family history research process is examined from start to finish, seeing how critical thinking has a role to play at every turn. Historical evidence is placed centre-stage and a range of analysis techniques are used to guide towards a considered, thorough research narrative.

Subjects covered include the Perspective Pyramid for researching at different scales (e.g. individual, family, branch), the Negative Space approach for analysing research gaps, the timebinding method for reconciling the different stages of an ancestors life, and the topping-and-tailing strategy for use with migratory ancestors. This is combined with core skills such as developing research questions and performing effective searches and hands-on experience of the Genealogical Proof Standard.

Critical Thinking Approaches for Genealogy is Booking NOW.

And in case you missed it:

Elusive Ancestors: Migration within the British Isles

Announced earlier this month in our newsletter is a brand new course on migration in the British Isles, written and taught by Janet Few.

As family historians, we all encounter elusive family members. They appear as if from nowhere or they disappear without trace, leaving no death or burial record. Then there are those who vanish from view for decades, only to re-emerge later. Often the problem is created because an individual has changed their location. This course suggests strategies that you can use to try to track down ancestors who moved within the British Isles.

The course will begin by investigating the reasons why people of the past changed their location, touching on some of the theories of migration, and look at many of the occupations which often led to a move. In the second part of the course students will consider the benefits of studying the extended family and others in the neighbourhood when trying to track down an elusive ancestor. In addition, each lesson will have a focus on tracking down a different type of record.

Elusive Ancestors: Migration within the British Isles is also Booking NOW.

We are delighted to announce the launch of our two-part beginners’ Foundations of Family History course for research in England and Wales. This is an Anytime course, so there is no fixed start date, you simply work through the material at your own pace.

When you embark on your family history journey there can be a lot to take in, with so many different records available, how do you know where to start? Developing an understanding of the records you work with increases your ability to get the most from them. Just as important is methodology and technique, how to most effectively build a family tree in which you can be confident.

This two-part course will introduce you to the four fundamental genealogical sources in England and Wales: records of civil registration (birth marriage death certificates), census records, parish registers and wills and probate records, and start you off with some good methods and techniques that you can continue to apply as you progress your family tree further. The topics covered in the two parts of this course are as follows:

Foundations of Family History Part 1 – Getting Started

• Lesson 1 – Gathering information and interviewing relatives
• Lesson 2 – Storing your family history research (including software options)
• Lesson 3 – Civil Registration (birth, marriage and death certificates)
• Lesson 4 – The census records
• Lesson 5 – Building your tree with confidence

Foundations of Family History Part 2 – Next Steps

• Lesson 1 – Introduction to parish registers
• Lesson 2 – Deaths, burials and obituaries
• Lesson 3 – Getting started with wills and probate records
• Lesson 4 – Problem solving

Starting with an Anytime course gives you a feel for how Pharos course materials are presented, without the need to set aside fixed times for tutorials or complete work by particular date. Anytime courses are made up of a number of ‘lessons’, where one week is about equivalent to the amount of material we would teach on a tutor-led course in one week, but you can set your own pace. Each ‘lesson’ includes exercises for students to work through, websites to visit and search techniques to try out, so there is plenty of ‘doing’ as well as reading.

You can read more about how different Pharos Tutors courses work here: How Courses Work.

You can read more about the new courses here:
Foundations of Family History Part 1 – Getting Started
Foundations of Family History Part 2 – Next Steps

LAUNCH OFFER: We are offering students who buy Part 1 and Part 2 of this course as a single purchase a £10 voucher off their next Pharos Tutors course*.

* voucher will be sent out within a few days of purchase

We’re having a Black Friday Sale!

From Friday 25th November to Monday 28th November inclusive use code FRIDAY15 to get 15% of ANY of our courses!* That’s right, ALL of our courses are included in the sale.

Don’t know where to start?  Here’s our list of courses coming in January:

Advanced Military Research – 20th Century Conflict (325)

This course examines in detail records available for Twentieth Century conflict, the two world wars, the Boer War, the Korean War and other conflicts, including records for men who undertook National Service or were in the Home Guard.

Discovering more about your Agricultural Labouring Ancestors (242)

This online course helps to set ag labs in a broader context and suggests sources that will reveal more about the lives of those rural ancestors and the farms on which they worked. The focus is on British farming from 1700-1950.

Introduction to One-Name Studies (901)

A one-name study is an exciting journey into your surname’s past. This introduction to one-name studies, written in association with the Guild of One-Name Studies, includes the history of surnames, what a one-name study is, and how to get started.

So You Think You Know FamilySearch – A Guided Tour (206)

Discover what you don’t know about English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh resources on the FamilySearch website. This course guides you through the website, offering tips about searching data, browsing formerly inaccessible records and using help.

Tracing Living Relatives (255)

This course guides you through the main sources for locating people, how and where to access relevant records, how to prove straightforward family connections, outlines how to present your findings and gives advice on how best to approach potential beneficiaries.

Apprenticeship Records (281)

Apprenticeship, both as a private arrangement and under the Poor Laws, generated records which can provide invaluable information for tracing family history. This course will guide you through apprenticeship records and explain how to find them.

Building on a Solid Foundation – Genealogy methods and techniques (204)

This genealogy methods and techniques course will build confidence in your family tree, with a walk through technique, research notes and useful research tools, such as research logs, timelines, source analysis and building a weight of evidence.

Introduction to Medieval Genealogy (501)

This course provides an overview of medieval genealogy, concentrating on the most accessible sources, giving contextual background to medieval society and the nature of medieval records; how they were put together, and their limitations.

Researching Online for Advanced Genealogists (480)

This course examines the main types of online resources which are useful in carrying out research in English and Welsh family history and aims to improve your search skills, so that you can be more confident with your search results.

17th Century Sources (382)

For genealogists the 17th century presents new challenges. This course will provide students with an understanding of the problems likely to be encountered in this period, record interpretation, analysis and planning and how to find documents.

Employment Records (380)

Many documents indicate occupations in which our ancestors were employed. This course examines what is likely to be found in official and unofficial sources and how information can be used to provide further insights into the lives of our ancestors.

Want to know more about how Pharos Tutors courses work? Read our handy guide.

* Only one discount code per transaction. Offer applies from Friday 25th November to Monday 28th November inclusive only (UK time zones). Offer only applies to course dates on the website with places available during the period of the sale.

The nights are drawing in, the weather is getting cooler (well, at least in here in the UK). What better time to be thinking about taking an online course and working on your family history or local history project.

We have some great courses coming up to help you:

17th Century Sources (382)
Nonconformity – Its Records and History 1600 – 1950 (280)
Your Military Ancestors (224)
Manorial Records for Family and Local Historians (401)
Advanced One-Name Studies (902)
In Sickness and in Death – researching the ill-health and death of your ancestors (240)
Victorian and Edwardian Education and Childhood 1820 to 1920 (251)
Mapping Strategies for Family Historians (343)

* COURSE OF THE MONTH *

Victorian and Edwardian Education and Childhood 1820 to 1920 (251)

Tutor: Linda Newey
Start date: 7th November 2022
Course length: 4 weeks

School records can be a great way to find out more about the community in which your ancestors lived. Some of the records you might find for educational establishments are: School Board minutes, log books, accounts, punishment books, admission registers, lists of pupils, photographs, timetables and staff appointments.

Here are some examples of the riches you can find in school log books, taken from the log books for the Infant School, Girls School and Boys School in Sawston, Cambridgeshire:

07 Apr 1887 “Sidney Barker went home on Wednesday morning because he was afraid to pass the master’s dog, thereby losing his attendance.”

27 Jul 1888 “… Holiday given on account of the annual pea picking.”

07 Apr 1891 “The Infant School work could be done much better if the lessons were relieved by a (?) hour or 20 minutes recreation, both morning & afternoon, in a playground. Parents naturally object to 3 hours brain work, without any interval for young children. …”

06 Sep 1893 “Sent Alfred Chapman, Hubert Osborne and Harry Holden home at 2 o’clock to be washed. The parents of the two former boys sent impertinent messages and refused to send the children back again.”

05 Sep 1904 “… Edward Patterson and Cyril Cowling have been successful in gaining County Council Scholarships (Minor) and will proceed to the County School.”

Our course, Victorian and Edwardian Childhood and Education 1820s to 1920s, builds upon education records to consider childhood as a whole. The course explores childhood and education throughout the Victorian and Edwardian eras in England and Wales. It starts by considering the definition of childhood and the various social status influences on the childhood experience, such as wealth, gender and the differences between urban and rural living. You will learn about the influence of philanthropic and charitable organisations, that brought about social change by Acts of Parliament, laws and legislation, all of which ultimately led to improvements in the childhood experience and the provision of education for all. 
By the end of this course, you will know how to locate a wide range of records related not only to education, but many other organisations associated with childhood, and be able to apply this to your own family history research.

17th Century Sources (382)

Tutor: Stuart Raymond  
Start date: 26th October 2022
Course length: 4 weeks

For genealogists the 17th century presents new challenges. These are not discouraging – if anything, challenges add interest and enthusiasm to research. Historically it is a fascinating period, and genealogically some familiar records continue to be used so the research is not with entirely new material.

This course will provide students with a broad understanding of the problems encountered when researching in 17th century records. They will be able to locate indexes and finding aids, document copies and transcripts, and original records. In addition, they will appreciate the research value and practical application of the information found. The course gives significant emphasis to local and regional differences within records as well as to historical context.

Nonconformity – Its Records and History 1600 – 1950 (280)

Tutor: Alec Tritton
Start date: 27th October 2022
Course length: 4 weeks
* FULLY BOOKED but booking now for April 2023 *

Your Military Ancestors (224)

Tutor: Simon Fowler 
Start date: 31dt October 2022
Course length: 4 weeks
* FULLY BOOKED but booking now for June 2023 *

Manorial Records for Family and Local Historians (401)

Tutor: Caroline Adams
Start date: 31st October 2022
Course length: 5 weeks
* Under NEW Instruction *

The manorial system was a framework for people’s lives in England and Wales for hundreds of years, enduring well into the 19th century in some areas, and not finally abolished until the 20th century. Manorial records can be used to locate people within a community and to set them in their social and economic context. This course examines the place of the manor in the legal and social system, the records created by the manor, and changes that occurred through the centuries.

You will read court rolls, look at court books and learn about property transactions, surveys, maps, accounts and even people’s wills that may not be recorded elsewhere. You will be taught to search for and locate manorial records with confidence and understand how to use them to solve genealogical problems.

Lesson Headings:
* History and development of the manorial system
* People and their roles
* Records of the Manor Courts
* Farming the estate – Surveys, Maps and Rentals
* Demise of the manorial system

Advanced One-Name Studies (902)

Tutor: Julie Goucher
Start date: 1st November 2022
Course length: 6 weeks (5 lessons)

This course is the third of three courses regarding One-Name Studies and builds on the initial learning from the Introduction to One-Name Studies (901) course and the Practicalities of a One-Name Study (903) course. Take one-name study skills to new levels. Whatever drew you into the investigation of a surname you are now deeply immersed in gathering and analysing data. You have mastered the practical aspects of managing your project and are eager to turn your discoveries into something of lasting value.

Lesson Headings:
* The One-Name Study theory and practice
* Interdisciplinary studies – Acquiring the right skill set
* Surname case studies – Learning from others
* Synthesis – More than family history
* Spread the Word – Get Published

In Sickness and in Death – researching the ill-health and death of your ancestors (240)

Tutor: Janet Few
Start date: 7th November 2022
Course length: 5 weeks
* BOOKING FAST *

One thing that all but our most recent ancestors have in common is that they are dead. The health problems and deaths of our ancestors are an integral part of our family’s history. This five week course will help you to set your ancestors’ lives in context by looking at the illnesses, disabilities and diseases that brought about their deaths or had an effect on their well-being. We shall discover a variety of records that might provide information about ill-health or causes of death for specific ancestors, or about prevalent threats to health in the past. The causes, symptoms and treatment of various illnesses will be investigated and significant medical developments of the last 400 years will be explored.

This is a very popular course so book soon to avoid disappointment.

Mapping Strategies for Family Historians (343)

Tutor: Sophie Kay
Start date: 7th November 2022
Course length: 4 weeks
* FULLY BOOKED for November 2022 and February 2023 *
Keep an eye on the website for new dates or email us to be added to the waiting list.

That’s all for this month, happy studying!

Those of you who receive the Pharos Newsletter will know that we have had a new tutor join us this month. Richard Holt is joining us to tutor out Apprenticeship Records course. This course, part of our Intermediate Certificate programme, starts in September and there are only a handful of places remaining. We have some other great courses coming up in August and September too:

Researching in Archives for Advanced Genealogists
Progressing Your Irish Research Online
First Steps to a One-Place Study
Wills and Administrations; the riches of probate records
Organizing Your Genealogy
Building on a Solid Foundation – Genealogy methods and techniques
Apprenticeship Records
Old Handwriting for Family Historians
Practicalities of a One Name Study

Researching in Archives for Advanced Genealogists

* COURSE OF THE MONTH *

Tutor: Simon Fowler
Start date: 12th September 2022
Course length: 4 weeks

This course is part of our Family History Skills and Strategies Advanced Certificate programme but can also be taken in isolation by anyone wanting to learn more about how to get the most out of archives.

With such a small proportion of records available online, the serious researcher must make use of all repositories available to them. In order to have the greatest chance of success the researcher should understand how records are kept and how they are most effectively accessed.

In this course you will learn about the record-keeping framework in England and Wales and be introduced to the cataloguing process and the way archives are arranged and described. You will learn where to find national, local and specialist collections, recognise which repository or archives is the most likely custodian, and how to plan your research day in the archives to make the best use of your time. You will also be introduced to conservation and access issues for fragile documents and get practice finding the documents you are looking for.

Note: Whilst this course prepares you for your next visit to archives the course itself can be taken completely online.

Progressing Your Irish Research Online

Tutor: Chris Paton 
Start date: 19th August 2022
Course length: 5 weeks

There is a common belief that if you have Irish ancestors then you should give up hope of finding out about them, because ‘nothing survived the fire’, referring to the destruction of Ireland’s Public Record Office during the Civil War in 1922. The overall aim of this course is to point out that this is a nonsense, and that the glass is half full and not empty. Whilst there are certainly challenges to be overcome, a great deal can still be accomplished with the many resources now rapidly finding their way online.

This course will describe the many state created records and church records that can be used to research your Irish ancestry. It will provide a context to understand why they were created, and by whom and point out exactly where to find them online, and how to use them effectively.

Lesson Headings:
* Understanding Ireland’s boundaries, key repositories and platforms
* The vital records of Church and State
* Documenting the people: Irish censuses and substitutes
* Valuation records and inheritance
* The Decade of Centenaries

First Steps to a One-Place Study

Tutor: Janet Few
Start date: 24th August 2022
Course length: 5 weeks

One-place studies are a fascinating blend of local and family history. They are frequently undertaken by family historians wanting to create a context for their ancestors. Through a one-place study, you can investigate the friends, neighbours and associates with whom your family may have interacted and you can begin to understand the community in which they lived.

This course is designed for those who are just starting on their one-place journey and for more experienced one-placers who would like guidance or inspiration, or who are seeking a more organised approach to their study. It will also be suitable for those who may not want to undertake a full-blown one-place study but who wish to investigate an ancestral area in more detail.

Lesson Headings:
* Choosing and Discovering your Place and its People
* Data Collection 1 – Using more Common Sources (oral testimony, diaries and memoirs; photographs; vital records of birth, marriage and death; gravestones, newspapers, directories and gazetteers, censuses)
* Data Collection 2 – Further Sources (tax lists, records of land ownership, records of education and occupation, records relating to the movement of people, records of local government)
* Connecting and Analysing your Data
* Putting your Findings in Context and Publicising your Study

Partnership offer: Students on our First Steps to a One-Place Study course, who are not already members, may claim free membership of the Society for One-Place Studies for their first year (details in the lesson notes). Existing members of the Society can claim a discount on the Pharos One Place Studies course (see member benefits section of their website).

Wills and Administrations; the riches of probate records

Tutor: Linda Newey
Start date: 5th September 2022
Course length: 4 weeks
* FULLY BOOKED but booking now for February 2023 *

Organizing Your Genealogy

Tutor: Barbara Baker
Start date: 5th September 2022
Course length: 3 weeks

As you research your family history, you collect information, charts, copies of records, notes, lists of sources searched, etc. Whether you are just starting your research or whether you have been at it a while, it is important to be organized and have a record keeping system. It should be easy to file and store information when you get it, and to find it long afterward. Good organization and record keeping will help you assess what you have, what you have learned, and what you need to learn. This three-week course is designed to help you get organized, stay organized and be ready for research online and on location by developing good record-keeping habits.

Lesson Headings:
* Record Keeping Fundamentals
* Setting Up Your System on Computer
* Sources, Sources, Sources!

Building on a Solid Foundation – Genealogy methods and techniques

Tutor: Karen Cummings
Start date: 12th September 2022
Course length: 4 weeks
* FULLY BOOKED but booking now for January 2023 *

Apprenticeship Records

Tutor: Richard Holt
Start date: 13th September 2022
Course length: 4 weeks
* LAST FEW PLACES *

Apprenticeship generated a range of records, most of which provide invaluable information for tracing family history.

The practice of apprenticing young men to learn a trade is first recorded in twelfth and thirteenth century London. It gradually spread to many other towns and cities, and became subject to regulation. The Statute of Artificers 1563 required all tradesmen to serve an apprenticeship of at least seven years before they could trade.

Provision for apprenticeship was also made under the Poor Laws. Parish overseers could bind children as young as six or seven to serve as apprentices until they were adults. Such bindings were supposed to ensure that children were taken care of at little cost to the parish.

This course will familiarise you with apprenticeship records, and will explain how to find them. It will also give you a basic understanding of what being an apprentice meant in the period covered.

Lesson Headings:
* What was an Apprentice?
* Reading & Interpreting Apprenticeship Indentures
* Documents dependant on Apprenticeship Indentures
* Pauper Apprentices

This course is part of our Family History Skills and Strategies Intermediate Certificate programme but can also be taken in isolation by anyone wanting to learn more about these fascinating records.

Old Handwriting for Family Historians

Tutor: Susan Moore 
Start date: 12th September 2022
Course length: 4 weeks

Does reading old documents have you pulling out your hair? Old handwriting, or palaeography, often presents challenges for local and family historians. There is nothing more frustrating than finding a document that you are sure is relevant, but which you cannot read.

This course takes a practical approach to reading and transcribing old handwriting, starting with the records of the 19th century and moving backwards in time. Students will be given the opportunity to examine handwriting styles and develop an understanding of how handwriting developed over the centuries. The course will then focus on Secretary Hand, a commonly used form during the Tudor and Stuart period. Historians will come across Secretary Hand in many types of documents such as parish registers, wills and inventories. The course aims to equip students with their own set of steps to being able to read, and successfully transcribe, the handwriting in old documents, enabling them to read documents which at first sight might appear to be written using a different alphabet.

This course is part of our Family History Skills and Strategies Advanced Certificate programme but can also be taken in isolation.

Practicalities of a One Name Study

Tutor: Julie Goucher
Start date: 27th September 2022
Course length: 5 weeks

The course is designed to enable students to explore the practical steps of maintaining and developing their one-name study through a variety of media and to give some context to the various considerations they will need to explore.

Topics covered:
* Understanding and making the best use of spreadsheets in your study
* Genealogical Software, what to consider
* Online Trees and other software
* The next steps: Preservation and Sharing

That’s all for this month, happy studying!

We have a bumper selection of courses coming up next month, including our brand new course on heraldry, Scottish and European research and a focus on research in the 20th century.

Unlocking Heraldry for Family Historians

Tutor: Richard Baker
Start date: 11th July 2022
Course length: 4 weeks

* COURSE OF THE MONTH*

This brand new course on heraldry comes from renowned heraldry expert, Dr Richard Baker. Heraldry was originally a means of personal identification in a world that was largely illiterate, by means of easily recognisable designs which we know as coats of arms. The hereditary character of coats of arms means that the subject is inextricably linked to genealogy and family history.

This course begins with an introduction to heraldry and the terminology. We will look at different types of coats of arms, and examine how they are being used for personal, civic and corporate identity. We will examine the components of an achievement of arms and the language of heraldry and you will learn to blazon simple coats of arms.

In the second half of the course, we will move onto ways in which coats of arms are combined in families, how to begin to identify an unknown coat of arms and where to dig for more genealogical information.

By the end of this course students should be able to:

* Describe a coat of arms in the language of heraldry or draw a coat of arms from a description
* Understand the different methods of marshalling arms
* Identify marks of difference on a coat of arms and be aware of their meaning
* Implement strategies to identify the bearer of a coat of arms

Scottish Research Online

Tutor: Chris Paton
Start date: 4th July 2022
Course length: 5 weeks

Scotland was one of the first countries to digitise its major family history records collections for accessibility online, and continues to this day to use such resources to promote a worldwide interest in family history for those with Caledonian connections.

In the first of our two courses on Scottish research, Chris Paton will lead you through the major websites and record types that you will encounter in your research, and how to analyse the results.

Lesson Headings:

* Understanding Scotlands People, FindmyPast, Family Search, Ancestry, and FreeCen
* Essential Maps and Gazetteers
* Civil Registration and Census Research
* Searching in Church of Scotland Registers
* Scottish Wills and Inventories
* Take It From Here

A previous student said: “Excellent tuition from Chris Paton; very good course materials; well-paced; excellent value for money. I very much liked the opportunity to work at my own pace.”

Discovering Your British Family and Local Community in the early 20th Century

Tutor: Janet Few
Start date: 11th July 2022
Course length: 5 weeks

Family historians often neglect the twentieth century as being not really history but there is plenty to be discovered about individuals and the communities in which they lived between 1900 and 1945. Twentieth century research brings with it the difficulties of larger and more mobile populations as well as records that are closed to view. This course sets out to provide advice for finding out about our more recent ancestors and the places in which they lived.

The course is all about examining more recent family members in the context of their community and their time. It is ideal for anyone aiming to tell their story in more detail. The course is not just about individuals but also about the communities in which they lived, so local historians and those conducting one-place studies should also find inspiration from these five weeks of study. This year has seen the addition of the 1921 census to the researchers’ toolkit and the course includes a new section about how you can get the most out of the 1921 census.

Researching Ancestors in Continental Europe (750)

Tutor: Julie Goucher
Start date: 12th July 2022
Course length: 5 weeks

Europe is a complex Continent, spanning more than 50 modern Countries. Europe has seen a huge amount of change, forced religious changes, border changes, war, mass displacement and much more. This course is about creating a solid foundation to research in continental Europe.

The course explores the standard resources across Europe, key websites, reading material and much more, providing the building blocks for robust and solid foundation research in Europe. We will consider the reasons for migration in the context of historical events. We will also look the culture that the migrants brought with them from their native land, keeping those links alive and also look at the impact of war and displacement and Europeans beyond Continental Europe.

Each student will receive a set of European Country information sheets with core material for genealogical research meaning that students complete the course with the knowledge and core information to research further.

Before the Modern Census – Name-rich sources from 1690 to 1837

Tutor: Else Churchill
Start date: 26th July 2022
Course length: 4 weeks
FULLY BOOKED

That’s all for this month, happy studying!

We have lots and lots of great courses coming up for you to choose from in the next month.

Still to come, in May:

Introduction to One-Name Studies

Tutor: Julie Goucher
Start date: 31st May 2022
Course length: 5 weeks

A one-name study is an exciting new journey into your surname’s past. It involves the collection of all the occurrences of a surname. This course is an introduction to one-name studies, written with the guidance of the Guild of One-Name Studies and is suitable for all genealogists who have woken up to the knowledge that they have an interesting and unusual surname.

Lesson Headings:
* About One-Name Studies
* Surnames and their History
* Core Records you will need and Information gathering
* Analysing and making sense of your data
* Practical aspects of running your own One-Name Study

and, coming in June:

Your Military Ancestors

Tutor: Simon Fowler 
Start date: 6th June 2022
Course length: 4 weeks
COURSE FULL but booking now for October 2022

Victorian Crime and Punishment – Courts, police and prisons

Tutor: Dave Annal
Start date: 6th June 2022
Course length: 5 weeks
FULLY BOOKED

So You Think You Know FamilySearch – A Guided Tour

Tutor: Barbara Baker
Start date: 6th June 2022
Course length: 4 weeks

Since its beginning in 1998, FamilySearch.org has been a leading family history website on the Internet. The website provides access to many of the records, indexes and resources available at the Family History Library, which has one of the largest collections of published, microfilmed and digitized British and Irish records in the world. In recent years technological advances have made it possible for you to search and browse formerly inaccessible records, check geography and boundaries and obtain research advice anywhere, anytime. This course guides you through the highways and byways of FamilySearch.org, offers tips about searching data and using the helps, and brings you to the point where you can say that you really know the FamilySearch website.

Researching Your Welsh Ancestors

Tutor: Eilir Daniels  
Start date: 6th June 2022
Course length: 5 weeks

Wales is unique and Welsh research is different. The course is aimed at those who have some basic knowledge of family history research in England and deals with those particular aspects of family history research in Wales which are different to that of England. Despite the fact that, by and large, Wales used the same legal and bureaucratic framework as England, the country’s social, linguistic, cultural and religious fabric mean that a different kind of approach is necessary. The context of research is vitally important and there are difficulties, even for those who have a good level of knowledge and experience with family history research.

Lesson Headings:
* Key differences between Welsh & English research
* The Welsh language, place names and surnames
* Nonconformity in Wales
* Occupations, migration and emigration
* Sources and records specific to Wales

Demystifying DNA for Family Historians

Tutor: Karen Cummings
Start date: 13th June 2022
Course length: 5 weeks

DNA testing is becoming an increasingly popular tool in genealogical research and has the potential to solve mysteries and brick walls, where other records do not survive. The more its popularity rises and the number tested increases, the greater the chance of success. However, with so many tests available and so many companies to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start.

This course starts at the beginning, providing you with the tools to understand and demystify DNA testing for use in your own research. You will be guided through what to consider before testing, the different types of DNA, who can test and which test is the most appropriate in different circumstances. You will learn about how DNA is passed down the generations and why this is important, what haplogroups are, and how much you really can rely on ethnicity estimates.

You will work with examples of real data and have the opportunity to work through techniques with your own results (if appropriate). At the end of the course you will have a toolbox of techniques to interpret your DNA matches with increased confidence.

The course is suitable both for absolute beginners and those who have taken a test and are beginning to decipher their results.

Students said:
“Karen ‘demystified’ the science-speak and with the clear notes and charts, I now feel I have a good understanding of the area.”
“It has been a fascinating insight into a large, complex and growing area of genealogical research”

Employment Records

Tutor: Alec Tritton
Start date: 16th June 2022
Course length: 5 weeks LAST FEW PLACES

Records of employment can do two things; reveal important facts for furthering the genealogical information about a family and provide vivid details of the way your ancestors lived. Records of employment will vary from the scant to the copious; much depends on the occupation. This 5 week course examines what is likely to be found in official and unofficial sources and where and how the information can be used as further insights into the lives and times of our ancestors.

Lesson Headings:
* The Professions
* Merchant Seamen and Coastguard
* Government employees
* Town folk
* Country folk

That’s all for this month, happy studying!

Our courses starting in May will appeal to a wide variety of interests: Scottish research, title deeds and Chancery records, one-name studies and the road to professional genealogy.

Scotland 1750-1850 – Beyond the Old Parish Registers

Tutor: Chris Paton
Start date: 9th May 2022
Course length: 5 weeks 

This is an intermediate course in Scottish family history and assumes students have some experience with research in the Old Parish Registers (OPRs) of the Church of Scotland and in using major websites for Scottish research.

The course discusses sources that fill the gap when the OPRs are uninformative or missing; for example, records of parish and town administration, occupations, land transfer and taxation.

Deeds and Disputes

Tutor: Susan Moore
Start date: 9th May 2022
Course length: 6 weeks (5 lessons with a reading week)

Title deeds and the records of the equity courts, such as Chancery, are often neglected sources for family history, because they are considered “too hard”. In this course they are brought to life by Susan Moore, the recognised expert on Chancery records and a published author on the subject.

As this course is part of our Advanced programme good palaeographical skills for the periods covered are assumed. A knowledge of Latin, while helpful for some title deeds, is not essential.

Professional Genealogist – Become one, become a better one

Tutor: Karen Cummings 
Start date: 16th May 2022
Course length: 4 weeks

Do you have ambition to become a professional genealogist? Have you already started taking on clients but are looking for guidance or want to check you have thought of everything? Whether you are already researching for clients or planning to do so, this 4 week professional genealogist course guides you through the professional skills that form the foundation for success.

This course was developed in association with the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA), the professional body for genealogists in England and Wales.

Introduction to One-Name Studies

Tutor: Julie Goucher
Start date: 31st May 2022
Course length: 5 weeks

A one-name study is an exciting new journey into your surname’s past. It involves the collection of all the occurrences of a surname. This course is an introduction to one-name studies, written with the guidance of the Guild of One-Name Studies and is suitable for all genealogists who have woken up to the knowledge that they have an interesting and unusual surname.

Lesson Headings:
* About One-Name Studies
* Surnames and their History
* Core Records you will need and Information gathering
* Analysing and making sense of your data
* Practical aspects of running your own One-Name Study

That’s all for this month, happy studying!