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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

• August 24, 2017 - Fareham Group: Members' Evening - Genealogy Problem Solving *** Note change of date to FOURTH Thursday ***

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

• September 4, 2017 - Portsmouth Group: Southwick Priory - Harvey Griffiths
• September 4, 2017 - Romsey Group: Amazing Animals of WW1 - 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 - 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: Manorial Records - Colin Moretti
• 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.

• September 28, 2017 - Fareham Group: Lest we Forget - Geoff Watts
• 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 11, 2017 - Gosport 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 12, 2017 - Andover Group: A Journey in Search of Convict Ancestors - Judy Davies
• October 12, 2017 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: Members' Evening - Family Secrets

  The things we tried to hide of illegitimacy, adoption, divorce, bigamy, insanity, an adopted child’s origins

• October 16, 2017 - Southampton Group: The Tragic Life of Ellen Wren - Andy Skinner
• October 18, 2017 - Afternoon Group: Members’ Presentations: My Immigrant / Emigrant Ancestor

  Do you have family that came here from overseas or left Britain to start life in another country? With the many records now available online, they’re easier to find. Our members will talk about their findings.

• October 18, 2017 - Ringwood Group: Riots, Randies and women not their wives – Chris and Judy Rouse
• October 25, 2017 - Basingstoke Group: Members’ Show & Tell: My Heirloom

  We all have precious family items passed down through the generations. Take a few minutes to tell the group about your special object.

• October 26, 2017 - Fareham Group: Women Artists of the Great War – Jane Fox
• November 6, 2017 - Portsmouth Group: On the trail of Portsmouth Children's Adventure Writer Percy F Westerman - Nigel Gossop
• November 6, 2017 - Romsey Group: Lifting the lid of the Parish Chest – Ann Mckenzie

  This talk covers all the main records that were stored within parish chests. It describes them and, to help extend your research, explains where to find today those that have survived.

• November 8, 2017 - Gosport Group: Harry Tate’s Navy – Tony Betts
• November 9, 2017 - Andover Group: Members’ Evening: A focus on 2017
• November 9, 2017 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: Tales from the Register Office - Lucinda Thursfield, a retired Superintendent Registrar for Hampshire

  The history of registration, the creation of the General Register Office with personal humorous experiences she has encountered.

• November 14, 2017 - Fair Oak Group: 'Taking the Flounce' – Jane Austen & Southampton - Cheryl Butler
• November 15, 2017 - Ringwood Group: Verwood Heathland Heritage Pictures Presentation – Pam Reeks
• November 20, 2017 - Southampton Group: Southampton & Risborough: train ferry history - John Fish
• November 22, 2017 - Basingstoke Group: Our Christmas Function
• November 23, 2017 - Fareham Group: Members' Evening - Five Minute Pitch on Research

  A chance for members to share their knowledge of a little known or specialist website or resource to others in the group.

• December 4, 2017 - Portsmouth Group: Christmas quiz and buffet!
• December 4, 2017 - Romsey Group: Christmas Get Together