Who Do You Think You Are?

Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine not only explores the stories behind the popular BBC genealogy TV series, but also helps you uncover your own roots. Each issue is packed with practical advice to help you track down family history archives and get the most out of online resources, alongside features on what life was like in the past and the historic events that affected our ancestors.

Welcome

CONTRIBUTORS

SARAH'S TOP TIP • Read parish register entries with care, they may reveal more than you expect

A VERY CRUEL CHILDHOOD

Letters

Who Do You Think You Are?

What's On

Ancestry adds parish records from Suffolk

NEWS IN BRIEF

TheGenealogist releases more than 330,000 will and probate records

CAN YOU HELP?

Museum Data Service receives new funding

Surname dictionary goes free

Scottish adoption charity fined for shredding ‘irreplaceable’ records

REMEMBERING THE RAILWAY • Alan Crosby explains the dramatic impact that trains have had on his relations’ lives

THE REIGN OF THE RAILWAY • As National Rail celebrates Railway 200, the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, Dr Mike Esbester tells the story of the industry, and explains how to research the career of a railway worker

British Rail in numbers

RAILWAY MILESTONES • Some of the most important events in the history of Britain's railways

WALTER BRIDGER 1852-1930 • Like many men of his era, Walter worked for over 50 years for the same railway company

9 CRUCIAL RECORDS • Mike recommends these sources for researching railway relations

RESOURCES • Take your research further

UNCOVERING ARISTOCRATIC RELATIONS • Joanne Penn shares her insider knowledge of how genealogists prove – or disprove – family legends of aristocratic links

WHICH DNA TEST – AND WHICH TESTER? • Joanne explains how to use DNA testing to prove your connection to an aristocratic family

THE HOWARD SURNAME Y-DNA PROJECT • Joanne is looking for UK volunteers to help with a FamilyTreeDNA surname project

‘MY FAMILY TREE IS FULL OF SCANDAL’ • Gemma Duggan spent the Covid-19 lockdowns investigating her Wilson ancestors’ misdemeanours and her grandfather's missing siblings. She also uncovered a murder attempt, says Claire Vaughan

RESOURCES • These resources helped Gemma research her family's lives

CHANCERY COURT RECORDS • Susan Moore shares her tips for making the most of these crucial documents at The National Archives

HOW TO FIND CHANCERY RECORDS • Susan explains how to locate Chancery records at The National Archives using its catalogue Discovery (discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk)

BILL OF COMPLAINT, 1709 • Elias Ellis wanted a large share of his late wife's estate, which had been taken over by the executors. This record is held by The National Archives (nationalarchives.gov.uk)

SIR DEREK JACOBI • When the thespian researched his tree on WDYTYA? a vital record of a case at the Chancery Court shed light on his French ancestry

RESOURCES • Take your research further

PUBS AND BREWERIES • Jonathan Scott steps behind the bar to explore websites for finding brewers and publicans

EXPERT'S CHOICE • Sam Cullen is the author of London's Lost Pubs (Pen & Sword, 2025)

GO FURTHER • More sites that you can't afford to miss

ESTABLISHMENT BOOK, 1925 • This establishment book is held by The Royal Mail Archive at The Postal Museum in London (POST 59/157), and available digitally on Ancestry (ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/62454)

POST OFFICE ESTABLISHMENT BOOKS • The Postal Museum's Susannah Coster explains how to use this valuable digital collection to research your Post Office...