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HGS Family History Groups

We meet monthly to discuss the opportunity to share, learn, exchange ideas and information, as well as to help us each further explore our family history projects. Why not come along and see for yourself? 

• You can attend meetings of any of our 14 active groups. All groups meet in the evening with the exception of the Afternoon Group – see page via Groups Menu for details.
• Visit their pages via the Groups Menu to see their monthly programme of talks, news and articles.  Contact a Group Organiser using the form at the bottom of each Group’s page.
• Come and meet like-minded people. HGS Group Meetings are free to members and prospective members.
• They are a good way to gain some new insights on how to further explore your family history.
• Whether you are a beginner or an expert, with a family from within or outside of Hampshire, you will always be welcome and find someone who has something new and interesting to share.

HGS Group Locations

Click on a pin for the address and directions.

 

HGS Family History Group and Society Events for the next 3 months

• July 3, 2017 - Portsmouth Group: Members' Evening - Finding what your ancestors did for a living, and what this means today.
• July 3, 2017 - Romsey Group: A Brief Introduction to Heraldry – Malcolm Heathcote

  Although Heraldry does not have a great impact on family history, it is a subject of general interest and is a much wider subject than many people realise. Most people have some awareness of heraldry but their knowledge tends to be very limited, usually focusing only on “coats of arms”, and is often erroneous. Family historians should find the subject interesting, if not immediately relevant, especially as Malcolm includes a little local interest in this talk.

• July 10, 2017 - Ringwood Group: Open Mornings at The Meeting House: Monday July 10th - Saturday 22nd July

  Displays from members of HGS Ringwood will be exhibited. Members will be on hand to help visitors with their family history research. Access to several websites will be available. Hours are 10am-12 noon except Wednesdays which will be 10am - 2:30pm

• July 10, 2017 - Alton Group: Members’ Evening: Problems and Successes
• July 11, 2017 - Fair Oak Group: A History of Hampshire Through Ten Objects - Tony Cross
• July 12, 2017 - Gosport Group: Ancestors from Victorian London – Geoff and Jane Piper
• July 13, 2017 - Fareham Group: History & Development of the Fire Service – Alan House
• July 13, 2017 - Andover Group: Writing your Family History - Chris Lightfoot
• July 13, 2017 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: Harlots, Dung & Glory - Andrew Negus, Historian and Blue Badge Guide

  A history of the Port from early times to Nelson’s times.

• July 17, 2017 - Southampton Group: Carlton Crescent & Rockstone Place - Jake Simpkin
• July 19, 2017 - Ringwood Group: Open Evening at The Meeting House

  Displays from members of HGS Ringwood will be exhibited. Members will be on hand to help visitors with their family history research. Access to several websites will be available.

• July 26, 2017 - Basingstoke Group: Members’ Presentations: My Ancestor told fibs!

  They certainly did, didn’t they! Come and tell us what untruths you uncovered.

• August 7, 2017 - Romsey Group: *** No meeting ***
• August 8, 2017 - Fair Oak Group: Guided Walk of West End - Eric Reed
• August 9, 2017 - Gosport Group: *** No meeting
• August 10, 2017 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: Members' Social Event - Winchester Military Museums

  This is a DAYTIME visit. Meeting time and place to follow - please check back!

• August 10, 2017 - Fareham Group: Members' Evening - Genealogy Problem Solving

  A chance to ask other members for tips on how to break down those brick walls and to share their knowledge.

• August 16, 2017 - Ringwood Group: Skittles Night – Members only
• August 21, 2017 - Southampton Group: Members' Evening – To be Arranged
• August 23, 2017 - Basingstoke Group: Sold, Separated or Divorced - Ian Waller

  Throughout history marriages have always broken down having a significant effect on the family. Not everyone divorced but there are records recording desertion, wife sale, separation and divorce some of which needed an Act of Parliament.

• September 4, 2017 - Romsey Group: War Horse & Other Animals- Tony Babb

  This is an insight into the role of animals involved in the Great War using many pictures and actual recordings by men who were there. Whatever animal you love you should find them here and others that are truly surprising. For those of a sensitive nature, please note that there are NO pictures shown of dead animals.

• September 12, 2017 - Fair Oak Group: Don’t Believe Everything You’re Told! - Jane Fox
• September 13, 2017 - Gosport Group: Gosport Masonic Roll of Honour – Steve Frost
• September 14, 2017 - Fareham Group: Speaker to be announced - please check back!
• September 14, 2017 - Andover Group: Twentieth Century Research - Ian Waller
• September 14, 2017 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: Napoleonic Prisoner of War Work: some Hampshire connections - Tony Cross, former Curator of the Curtis Museum, Alton

  In the latter part of the 1700's and the early 1800's, Britain and France were at war. Prisoners were taken by both sides. Tony will talk about the legacy left by some of those French prisoners who spent their time in Hampshire.

• September 18, 2017 - Southampton Group: What’s in a name...? - Cheryl Butler
• September 20, 2017 - Afternoon Group: Pilgrim Fathers - Dennis Boylen

  The English separatists wanted to practice their religion in their own way, free from Crown, Church and legal system and found such freedom in Cape Cod. Dennis traces the journey of the Pilgrim Fathers from England to their arrival in America - to many, this is the beginning of America.

• September 20, 2017 - Ringwood Group: History of the Royal Marines – G A Gelder, Lt Col Royal Marines (Ret'd)
• September 27, 2017 - Basingstoke Group: Employment Records - Colin Moretti

  Colin will discuss possible ways to discover what our ancestors did for a living then outline information that might be found for a range of occupations, including some of the more difficult ones. For those of our forebears who were in rural trades or employed by small businesses in towns and cities it will not be possible to find detailed records (these are quite rare) but in many cases it is still possible to better understand what their job entailed.

• October 2, 2017 - Andover Group: HGS at Andover Library

  The HGS Andover Group will have a display at Andover Library and also be available at the Library Help Point to answer questions and assist people with their Family History research.

• October 2, 2017 - Portsmouth Group: 'The brickwall of missing deaths' - Simon Wills

  The people who just disappear in your family tree. What happened to them and how can you find them?

• October 2, 2017 - Romsey Group: Members' Evening – To be Arranged
• October 10, 2017 - Fair Oak Group: Members’ Evening
• October 12, 2017 - Fareham Group: Women Artists of the Great War – Jane Fox