The Family History Companion: Fast-forward your family history search, by Mark Pearsall, is like a cross between a dictionary and and encyclopedia. Published by the National Archives (British), this pocket-sized guide provides an a to z listing of hundreds of family history terms, entities, and resources. Written for both beginners and practiced researchers, this guide carries a wealth of information useful to any genealogist seeking their English ancestry.
Some terms are listed with a brief description, like a dictionary entry. Other entries, however, contain more information, reading more like an encyclopedia entry. For example, the entry for the Royal Navy runs nearly five pages, and contains information on the following important subtopics:
- the Naval Biographical Database
- Ratings
- Ships’ pay books
- Ships’ musters
- Continuous service
- Registers of Seamen’s Service
- Commissioned officers
- Warrant officers
Inserted throughout the book are breakout pages containing short essays and advice on numerous subtopics, written by experts at The National Archives (British). Some of the titles include:
- Tackling the census by David Annal
- Hearth Tax by Peter Seaman
- Searching Parish Registers by Mark Pearsall
- and more…
Entries in the book, for which known sources are available, are listed with those source locations. For example, Chatham Chest: “Established in 1851, a fund for sailors hurt or wounded in the war…Ledgers recording payments covering various dates from 1653 to 1799 are in TNA series ADM82.” A list of abbreviations is provided at the beginning of the text to help readers identify these sources. This little book offers the collective knowledge of experts from the National Archives. Their knowledge is published in an easy to read fashion with insights a plenty for all levels of family historians researching their British ancestors.
Contents
Picture acknowledgements
Introduction: A Companion for the 21st century
A note on the text
A–Z Entries
Useful addresses and websites
Order a copy of The Family History Companion: Fast-forward your family history search from Family Roots Publishing; Item #: TNA05, Price: $7.84.