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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 13 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.

Why go to a HGS Group meeting?

If you are curious, then check out this article https://www.hgs-familyhistory.com/2018/03/why-go-to-an-hgs-group-meeting/

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 20, 2018 - Southampton Group: Animals in WW1 - Tony Babb
• August 22, 2018 - Basingstoke Group: Pre 1841 census sources - Speaker: Ian Waller

  Throughout history officialdom has created lists of people on a regular basis. The pre 1841 census returns, Posse Comitatus, tax lists, rate books, etc. which have existed since time immemorial identify our ancestors in specific places and are a great help in locating family events. This talk looks at a variety of records available to find you ancestors.

• August 23, 2018 - Fareham Group: Members’ Evening: What did your ancestor do?

  A follow up to last month's meeting on employment records. Did they help you find more information? Any interesting occupations found?

• September 3, 2018 - Portsmouth Group: Writing your Family History - Chris Lightfoot

  Tips and advice on how to start developing stories based on your family history research.

• September 10, 2018 - Romsey Group: Members’ Evening - My Indispensable Book + HGS Bookstall (Note: this is the second Monday of the month)

  Members are asked to bring along a book which they have found useful or indispensable in their research and tell the Group why they wouldn’t be without it. In connection with this theme, Chris Pavey will be bringing along the HGS Bookstall and Members will have the opportunity to browse and buy.

• September 10, 2018 - Alton Group: Members’ Evening: Problems and Successes
• September 11, 2018 - Fair Oak Group: How I Traced My German Ancestors - Paul Pinhorne
• September 12, 2018 - Gosport Group: Priddy’s People – Daniel Ball
• September 13, 2018 - Andover Group: Breaking down Brickwalls - Ian Waller
• September 13, 2018 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: Portsmouth: Harlots, Dung & Glory - Andrew Negus, Historian and Blue Badge Guide

  Our second instalment of a history of the Port from early times to Nelson’s times.

• September 14, 2018 - New Milton & Christchurch Group: Broadlands - Phoebe Merrick

  The occupants of this famous Romsey house over the centuries.

• September 17, 2018 - Southampton Group: Stroppy Women! Women who shaped the history of Southampton - Cheryl Butler

  History has, by and large, been written by men, but women have still found a way of insinuating themselves, hiding in documents, being visible and invisible at the same time. And usually it is the difficult women, the bossy women, the unquiet women, the stroppy women who really manage to make a mark. This is the story of the remarkable women who helped shaped Southampton's history and national history.

• September 19, 2018 - Ringwood Group: Causes of Death – Simon Wills
• September 26, 2018 - Basingstoke Group: Members’ Presentations / Discussions - Anything you like!

  Any subject, any ancestor, any item, any question.

• September 27, 2018 - Fareham Group: Winchester: Bishops, buildings and bones - Andrew Negus

  The first in a 4-part series of talks on Winchester. Covering the period BC through 1100, we shall see how and why the city grew from a collection of Iron Age huts into the splendid capital of England.

• October 1, 2018 - Portsmouth 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. In November 2020, America will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Pilgrim Fathers. To many, this is the beginning of America.

• October 1, 2018 - Romsey Group: Messages from the Front – Margaret Braddock

  Margaret has a collection of over 3,500 postcards from the First World War. She has made a selection which illustrates heroism, humour and everyday activities experienced both in the trenches and on the Home Front. During her presentation she will share her research concerning some of the recipients and senders.

• October 8, 2018 - Alton Group: Researching a House - Jane Hurst
• October 9, 2018 - Fair Oak Group: Members’ Evening
• October 10, 2018 - Gosport Group: Members’ Evening
• October 11, 2018 - Andover Group: Members’ Evening
• October 11, 2018 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: Members’ Evening - What did you find in the newspapers?

  Revealing lives of our ancestors and a glimpse at national and local events through the lens of the community.

• October 12, 2018 - New Milton & Christchurch Group: Smuggling in Christchurch: fact or fiction - Mike Andrews

  Probably a mixture of both.

• October 15, 2018 - Southampton Group: French P.O.W s in Hampshire - Paul Chamberlain

  During the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, Hampshire was home to many thousands of prisoners taken on land and sea. Paul examines how and where these men were held; who administered them; what their lives in captivity were like; and how and when they were released.

• October 17, 2018 - Ringwood Group: Strangers and Aliens - Cheryl Butler
• October 24, 2018 - Basingstoke Group: Getting the best from The National Archives & its Website - Simon Fowler

  The National Archives website is a key resource for family historians but it can be hard to make head or tail of it. This evening’s talk will show you how to get the best from the website and Discovery catalogue. The session should reveal new sources at Kew for you to explore for that elusive ancestor.

• October 25, 2018 - Fareham Group: The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) to 1918 - Tony Babb

  The kite, the balloon and the airplane played major roles in the early history of the RNAS but so did the armoured car, the armoured column, bombing, air defence of the UK and even tanks.

• November 5, 2018 - Portsmouth Group: Members' Evening - A family story using tips from our September talk on 'Writing your Family History'

  Have ago at writing up a story on one of your ancestors using the tips and advice learned from our September speaker, Chris Lightfoot

• November 5, 2018 - Romsey Group: Family Legends - Kay Lovell

  How many of us have grown up hearing a family story or two? How many of us have been able to confirm the truth? How many of us have had to admit there was no truth at all? In her talk, Kay refers to such stories in her own family history, and explains how most of them did indeed turn out to be true! She explains how she has been able to add detail to some of them and also includes further stories that she has unearthed during her research.

• November 8, 2018 - Andover Group: Memories of a Guernsey Deportee - Mike Martel
• November 8, 2018 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: How Life Changed Forever in 1914 - Anne Carter – A Federation of Family History Societies’ speaker

  A talk about how we lived and how we reacted.

• November 9, 2018 - New Milton & Christchurch Group: Where did that name come from? - John Heighes

  Surnames, trade names and places.

• November 12, 2018 - Alton Group: Don’t Believe Everything You’re Told - Jane Fox
• November 13, 2018 - Fair Oak Group: The Story of Itchen Ferry Village - Cheryl Butler
• November 14, 2018 - Gosport Group: Online Newspapers – Colin Moretti