Surnames
The Name Game
November 23, 2019
As part of the preparations for a forthcoming village booklet on Burghclere I did a search through the HRO CALM Index for any relevant details. I found what appeared to be an interesting marriage license. – read more…
Headley village booklet now available
September 14, 2019
Headley, (VB104) is a large parish reduced in size by the creation of Grayshott in 1901, the creation of Whitehill civil parish in 1929 and the creation of Bordon ecclesiastical parish in 2002. Headley is 4 miles north of Liphook and 8 miles south of Farnham – read more…
Home Guard Names in the Hampshire Record Office
March 1, 2019
Did anyone in your family serve in the Home Guard during WWII? They may be included in the number of members in the Hampshire Home Guard who have been mentioned in the HRO catalogue and either appear in documents and photographs. Check out the table below. – read more…
RIP Private Herbert Frank French
December 14, 2018
Herbert Frank FRENCH was born on 21st April 1884 at 11 Hyde Close in Winchester, the illegitimate son of Emily. On 18th January 1908 he married Sarah Ann (Annie) BIGNELL in Meonstoke and then settled in the village to raise their daughters Emily and Ivy. Herbert was initially in the Territorial Army then when WWI […] – read more…
Benefits of the Wills Beneficiary Index (WBI)
July 31, 2018
Wills can be a wonderful source of information for family historians. The WBI, centred on Hampshire, contains the names of people that have been extracted by volunteers from many of the wills that are held in the HRO. – read more…
Poor Law Union Gazette – 2
July 14, 2018
Another interesting entry appeared in the Poor Law Union Gazette on 25 April 1857 naming Lewis POSNER, formerly of Southampton, who the Southampton Union would like to get their hands on. – read more…
Don’t Always Believe It Update
April 19, 2018
Duplicate entries in parish registers Resulting from an enquiry recently received in the Research Center a very good example of duplicate entries in registers was found in Nutley and Preston Candover. – read more…
Hardship Cases in a Portsmouth Court – Correction
June 26, 2017
HGS member David Hall has kindly pointed out an error in the original post I added to the website in October 2014. I had incorrectly stated that William Jeremiah ATRILL married Elizabeth GRIFFITHS on 2 July 1808. These details are correct but the William in the court case was a labourer who married Elizabeth THOMPSON in Alverstoke […] – read more…
Will of John Biggnall of Kingston
May 19, 2017
Can an early will help with family trees John Biggnall The early registers for both Portsmouth parishes have disappeared. Later 17 Century registers are not always complete. Trying to trace early families on Portsea Island can be difficult but early wills may help. John BIGGNALL of Kingston wrote his will on 8 February 1684/5 and […] – read more…
Inquest verdict of Visitation of God
January 27, 2017
Term used in a coroner’s verdict to explain an unexplained death Hampshire inquests The Hampshire coroner’s records were all destroyed which means that no official records exist. The best remaining source is from local newspaper reports though not every inquest and verdict was reported. When reported the content varied from very brief to quite detailed. Examples of […] – read more…
Hampshire Centenarian
November 12, 2016
Born in Meonstoke in 1916 and shortly to celebrate her 100th birthday Edith Cavell SMITH Edith a twin was born on 17 November 1916 in Meonstoke and was baptized there in St Andrew’s church on 14 January 1917. Her twin brother was Lloyd George. They were named after the WWI nurse Edith CAVELL and Prime […] – read more…
Harmony Hall later Queenwood College
October 23, 2016
Two unique educational establishments in East Tytherley Harmony Hall In 1839 Sir Francis GOLDSMID leased land at East Tytherley to socialist reformer Robert OWEN. His aim was to create a pioneering project in community living. The house he built could accommodate 700 but never reached this number. Harmony Hall was one of several similar places […] – read more…
Uncle Tom of Portsmouth
October 7, 2016
Looking through old bits and pieces can prove rewarding Gordon Brine Many older HGS members will remember my husband Gordon BRINE who unfortunately died on 8 May 2007. As often happens at these times documents, photos and other memorabilia get put away. These tend to become forgotten over the years. Sorting through some of Gordon’s […] – read more…
Fordingbridge rabies death
September 30, 2016
Fordingbridge boy dies from rabies The Hampshire Telegraph published on 17 July 1826 reported the death of James HASKEL. On 18 June he was attacked by a rabid dog. The bites around the face were so severe that treatment was difficult. At that time treatment for rabies was very limited. The surgeon Mr. BUDD from Fordingbridge […] – read more…
Help from Memorial Inscriptions
August 30, 2016
Why look at memorial inscriptions?
Often overlooked are details on memorial inscriptions. These can provide information not found elsewhere. – read more…
West Meon infanticide 1830
November 10, 2015
On 28 January 1830 Frances MARCH aged 32 drowned her infant child Amelia and then herself. The drowning occured in a tub of water usually used as a foot-bath. Her husband Lancelot Foquett March and mother-in-law Mary March were absent at the time. – read more…
Portsmouth police gas explosion in 1855
December 13, 2014
This account of an explosion in a Portsmouth dockyard police station in 1855 should serve as a cautionary tale of the dangers of mixing gas with a naked flame. – read more…
Destitute woman transported by Portsmouth court – 1810
January 13, 2014
This destitute Portsmouth woman stole and sold a coat and was punished with seven years transportation. – read more…
Family Tragedy in 19th Century East Tisted
July 16, 2013
See how HGS resources were used to research the EAMES family of East Tisted who were affected by a series of tragic events that began in 1810. – read more…
Quarter Sessions Court Report 1817
June 6, 2013
Online newspaper articles can be a valuable research tool that when linked with HGS indexes can provide remarkable details. – read more…
Death of farmer Budd Hampshire – 1800
May 23, 2013
Yeoman farmer of Medstead, William Budd met an untimely death when thrown from his horse. Reported in an old Hampshire newspaper in 1800, there is a puzzle about his death and burial date. – read more…
Old newspaper articles and research
May 22, 2013
Snippets from old newspaper articles can add interesting detail to your family history project. HGS researcher Roy Montgomery shares a story he unpicked connecting Hampshire and the Anglo Boer War. – read more…
The Internet Library of Early Journals
May 10, 2013
Researching family history means having to explore many avenues, one useful free resource is the Internet Library of Early Journals – read more…
The Curtis Museum, Alton – a local resource
May 9, 2013
Local history museums can be a great resource for those researching their family history. The Curtis Museum in Alton Hampshire has some interesting topic material on local places and people. – read more…
A Hampshire Divorce in 1890
March 21, 2013
Unravel the family history behind the story of some of the characters in this Hampshire divorce case from 1890 Fareham. – read more…
Harry Selfridge and Highcliffe
February 28, 2013
The Selfridge family had a very interesting connection to the county of Hampshire that family historians will find intriguing. – read more…
Family history memorial in Steep church
February 14, 2013
For family historians, church memorial plaques can be a fascinating resource. In the church of All Saints Steep this memorial makes a compelling read – read more…
What’s in a ‘Hampshire’ Name?
February 14, 2013
Family history research hangs on being able to follow a surname back through time. Take the opportunity to explore the origins of Hampshire surnames using the Hampshire baptism, marriage and burial indexes. – read more…
Useful Research Source Material: Auction Sale Notices
January 19, 2013
Hampshire family historians shouldn’t overlook little used source documents such as this one of an Auction sale, advertised in the Portsmouth Telegraph. Details and surnames abound for the family historian – read more…
A 1900 Case of Accidental Death in Haslar Creek
January 19, 2013
Reports of coroner’s inquests appear in local newspapers and are a great resource for your Hampshire family history research. This inquest includes the surname Coffin and Sait, do they appear in your Hampshire family history tree? – read more…