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Miscellaneous Interest

Family History Books

Miscellaneous Interest

A Dictionary of Medical & Related Terms for the Family Historian

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Joan Grundy has forty years' experience as a midwife and practice nurse. During thirty of these years, she has researched her own family history and has been involved with several family history societies. Her dictionary is designed to help fellow family historians to understand medical terms that appear in parish registers, on death certificates, and other 18th and 19th century sources.

The observations of early medical men were particularly thorough as they tried to determine the cause of diseases. They listed every symptom the patients described and compared them with their colleagues' cases. However, despite being very good at recognising symptoms they had litlle understanding of the causes and had relatively few effective treatments to offer.

For many of the diseases described in this dictionary, Joan has given an outline of the symptoms and sometimes gory ailments of our ancestors. Flesh is put on the bones of our forebears and provides an insight into their lives, social conditions and deaths.

A Dictionary of Old Trades, Titles and Occupations
Colin Waters' excellent dictionary explains the function of nearly 4000 old trades, titles and occupations, and contains over 70 illustrations.
Price: £12.99

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An introduction to... Occupations; a preliminary list
By Joyce Culling
Published by the FFHS

Price: £3.95

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Crime & Criminals of Victorian London

In this fascinating exploration of the seedy underside of Victorian London, Adrian Gray provides a rich picture of the variety of criminal activity in the city. The familiar Dickensian themes of grisly murders and ragged street urchins are joined by other dramatic cases, which show patterns of crime and illustrate the causes and effects of changes in criminal law. The author shows how both pure greed and genuine mental illness were responsible for unpleasant cases - such as the murder of an elderly aristocrat in his bed or the poisoning of a series of 'working girls'. The author covers the whole spectrum of theft, from the spectacular - including train robberies and the infamous garrotting gangs - to the mundane - such as petty thieving by servants. Other chapters focus on less publicised topics, including prosecution for possession of obscene material and the widespread rioting that typified popular politics. Changes in the law are charted, showing how new offences were created from old customs, and how the law was updated to deal with modern problems such as motor cars. In a book that covers the complete range of crime, the reader will meet many colourful characters including Courvoisier, a murderous butler. With many gruesome details and excellent illustrations, this book will appeal to London and Victorian historians as well as the macabre-minded.
Price: £12.99

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Current Publications on Microfiche by Member Societies
Compiled by John Perkins, this fifth edition lists all known microfiche of records published by English and Welsh Family History Societies, and their costs
Published by the FFHS. 264 pages

Price: £3.00

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Dating Nineteenth Century Photographs

The photograph was and is a staggering invention. It brought our ancestors face-to-face with themselves, and it brings us face-to-face with them. Not surprisingly, therefore, photographs form an important and treasured part of many a family archive. Whether they come in a full set of albums or survive as a battered handful of pictures, they provide a window through which we can gain a glimpse of our own past. But the view through the window is not always clear, and thie aim of this small book is to help bring it into focus. More precisely, the intention is to help with the understanding, identification, and dating of Victorian photographs.

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Dating Twentieth Century Photographs

Despite having been easy to take, 20th-century photographs are not always easy to date. The vast majority of family pictures from the Victorian era were taken in a studio, where backcloths, props and furniture often gave valuable pointers towards one decade or another. But studio pictures no longer dominated the photographic scene in the 20th century, wjere more and more people took their own photos both inside and outdoors. A stretch of beach or an expanse of grass generally yields up less indication of date than a painted backcloth or a studio balustrade. This volume surveys technical developments, and cosiders dating from the point of view of both artefact and image, using a selection of illustrations and dating charts.
Price: £6.50

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Family History - Cultures and Faiths
Explore how the lives of your ancestors were shaped by traditions of cultures and faiths and how communities maintained and celebrated their beliefs. Full of practical advice for all levels of experience, the book offers solutions for common problems and advice on how to find out more. It also explores how and where communities maintained their beliefs, from celebrations and festivals to religious buildings and schools.

Price: £7.99

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Family History in the Genes
Thousands of family historians around the world have used DNA testing to extend their family tree and the scope of their research. This clear, concise and up-to-the-minute guide shows what genetics can do for anyone in search of their ancestors, including linking people with the same surname, unravelling clan relationships and exploring the genetic profile of individuals, locations and regions. It offers practical advice on the DNA tests available including the y-chromosome, mitochondrial and ancestry tests (the latter was used by Colin Jackson in ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’), helping you to choose the right test and use the results effectively.

Price: £7.99

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Family Photographs & How to Date Them
Using a collection of old photographs from different eras, Jayne Shrimpton demonstrates the techniques of using costume and background to identify their date.
Price: £12.99

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Family Skeletons

Exploring the lives of our disreputable ancestors
Did you know that until 1823 suicides were buried at crossroads to prevent them returning to haunt the living? Or that until the Contagious Diseases Act was repealed in 1886, women in naval ports who were suspected of prostitution could be medically examined by force?
Most families have a skeleton. You may have already discovered yours via the grapevine or your own research. Or you may simply be intrigued by the dark side of our past. This popular history explores the behaviour of our disreputable ancestors from the unfortunate to the criminal, and introduces a host of colourful characters including 17th century witches, 18th century 'mollies' and Victorian baby farmers. Thematically arranged by skeleton, the text also describes how society punished and provided for its 'offenders' - as well as the changing attitudes that could ultimately bring acceptance.

Price: £19.99

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Greater London Cemeteries and Crematoria
For a number of reasons, locating the last resting place of a resident of the Greater London area is not as easy as it may seem. This little book, originally compiled by Patricia S Wolfston and revised by Cliff Webb, as well as explaining the reasons for the problem, lists alphabetically, the addresses, of some 200 sites along with their postal addresses, the starting dates of their registers and whether or not personal searches can be made in the registers
Published by the Society of Genealogists.

Price: £4.95

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History’s Midwives
A delightful and unusual book by Joan E Grundy. Beside giving an excellent overview of the profession, Joan lists more than 40 pages of names of midwife nominations from Yorkshire between 1662 and 1732
Published by the FFHS 136 pages

Price: £6.95

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How Heavy, How Much and How Long?
Weights, money and measurements used by our ancestors were, in most cases, very different than the ones we use today. Read Colin Chapman’s fascinating explanations about their development
A Chapman Cameo publication

Price: £5.00

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Index to Parishes in Phillimore’s Marriages
Like Boyd’s, Phillimore’s Marriage Index can be a valuable index source, but unfortunately, neither cover all the counties of Britain. This small guide compiled by the late Margaret Bryant Rosier tells us what areas are covered.
Published by ABM Publishing Ltd

Price: £2.50

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Medieval Genealogy
Many people consider themselves lucky to be able to trace their ancestors for more than a few generations back in time. However, as genealogical information becomes more organised and accessible, an increasing number of people find that they are able to go back not just a few generations but back to Tudor times and earlier. Until now there has been nothing to help the amateur genealogist research records before 1600 AD. Yet there is an enormous wealth of information from earlier than this just waiting to be accessed. Medieval Genealogy provides a clear and comprehensive account to the records available and the techniques needed to find and understand them.
Price: £25.00

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Photography for Family historians
Robert Pols explains how to take and archive the family pictures
Published by the FFHS. 92 pages

Price: £1.00

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Succeeding in Family History
John Titford gives us helpful hints and time saving tips
Countryside Books. 112 pages

Price: £7.95

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Theatrical London

THis absorbing book takes the reader from Tudor times to the present, describing the personalities, productions and buildings which have made London's theatre so important in world drama.
Price: £17.95

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The Dictionary of Genealogy
In his day, Terrick Fitzhugh was one of the most respected genealogical researchers in Britain. This work reflects his great knowledge of the subject, it goes into great detail explaining the meaning of hundreds of words and subjects we are likely to encounter. The present edition, the fifth has been updated by Sue Lumas, another esteemed person on the genealogical scene
A&C Black. 302 pages hardback
Price: £24.99

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The Book of Trades or Library of Useful Arts: Volume I
32 different trades are described in this reprint of Vol I of a 19c book. Those of Wool-comber, Spinner, Waterman, Basket maker, Hat-maker, Jeweller, Bricklayer, Carpenter, Cooper, Stone-mason, Sawyer, Smith, Ship-wright, Mariner, Currier, Apothecary, Baker, Straw Hat-maker, Soap-boiler, Plumber, Dyer, Potter, Type-founder, Coach-maker, Tallow Chandler, Gardener, Hair-dresser, Comb-maker, Lace-maker, Milliner, Feather-worker, Gold-beater
Wiltshire Family History Society

Price: £3.00

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The Book of Trades or Library of Useful Arts: Volume II
36 different trades are described in this reprint of Vol II of a 19c book. Those of Paviour, Turner, Brush-maker, Trunk-maker, Wheelwright, Iron-founder, Copper-plate Printer, Painter, Engraver, Statuary, Brewer, Cutler, Merchant, Brick-maker, Rope-maker, Weaver, Stocking Weaver, Carpet Weaver, Ladies Dress-maker, Pin-maker, Needle-maker, Wire drawer, Paper-maker, Printer, Bookbinder, Calico-printer, Tin-plate Worker, Brazier, Button-maker, Cabinet-maker, Sadler, Glass-blower, Cork-cutter, Watch-maker
Wiltshire Family History Society

Price: £3.00

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The Book of Trades or Library of Useful Arts: Volume III
14 different trades are described in this reprint of Vol III of a 19c book. Those of Attorney; Bleacher; Bookseller; Confectioner; Chemist; Distiller; Gun maker; Linen Draper; Looking-Glass Maker; Machinist; Musical Instrument Maker; Optician; Pewterer; and Tanner
Wiltshire Family History Society

Price: £3.00

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The Family Historian’s Pocket Dictionary.
Lists and defines terms the family historian is likely to come across
Compiled by Stuart Raymond
Published by FFHS 263 pages

Price: £6.95

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Using Criminal Records
A National Archives pocket guide to family history

Price: £3.99

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What Does it Mean?
Words in Wills and inventories deeds and documents
A McLaughlin Guide

Price: £3.00

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Words from Wills and Other Probate Records
Stuart Raymond’s A to Z listings and meanings of words found in these valuable documents
Published by the FFHS 114 pages

Price: £8.50

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Workhouse

Workhouses in Britain cast terrifying shadows over ordinary lives, especially after the New Poor Law Act of 1834 laid down that ‘going indoors’ should be the main form of poor relief available. This popular history explores the reality behind the legend, drawing on personal stories such as that of the anonymous ‘Indoor Pauper’, investigations and reports, contemporary ballads and even graffiti to bring the institution vividly to life. Tales of individual workhouses, from all parts of the country, are interwoven with rarely seen documents and images from the National Archives as well as a wealth of local sources
Price: £9.99

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Miscellaneous Interest

A Dictionary of Medical & Related Terms for the Family Historian

Price: £5.75