Unfortunately, our scheduled speaker is unwell.  However, we're pleased to announce that David Cufley has generously agreed to step in at short notice to deliver a talk on Trade and Occupation Sources. This engaging presentation is sure to appeal to a broad audience, featuring fascinating examples from a range of trades, including brickmaking,...

 Keep an eye on your letterbox - the June edition of the Society Journal is on its way!  As always, it's packed with captivating stories and insightful articles. This issue features intriguing contributions from our members, including 'Travels With My Family History Research', 'Passed Down the Generations' and 'A Bromley Stray in Hereford...

Regeneration Team in Bromley Council want your feedback regarding the Crofton Roman Villa.  See link on members home page for details

The society eNewsletter is now on the website please read it as it contains important information regarding the future of the society

The 5th July discussion zoom 'Migration' session went on till 12.40 and ranged from the 20 min presentation that was recorded to other topics:- Occupations and how did people know there were jobs to go to. Word of mouth, Newspapers, trade links, parish correspondence. Religion and its prosecution forcing people to leave their native area to safer p...

The Really Useful Bulletine No 34 June 2023 has a fascinating article 'When the Saints go marching in' by Ian Waller on the Mormons and the emigration of their British Church members. Predominately the British and Scandinavians migrants were among the 65,000 early church members who travelled across America to finally settle in Salt Lake City. The ...

The society now has 25 recorded talks and 49 recorded workshop videos which members can view at anytime. A wide variety of subjects are covered on family research why not have a look to see what could help your research. You can find them on our website under RESOURCES / Zoom Talk or Zoom Workshops

As we were closing the DNA discussion Zoom meeting today (16-8-2023) a number of members asked about NPEs (Non parental events) to be discussed not only as a DNA subject but also within the normal family history research. David mentioned the article in the Journal Vol 16 No 2 page 77-78 which is available on the web site in the MOA. There is also a...

The cataloguing group of volunteers know as the Cadre have been hard at work and the new catalogues have been updated. Check the Library page and the list of catalogues available for the stock of books, microfiche, pictures and postcards. If your ancestor was found outside Kent look at our Strays Index for people who were born in Kent but have been...

 This session in addition to the normal for those wanting to discuss particular aspects of DNA research Laura will be showing how you can group your DNA Matches to represent your four grandparent lines. This may help you target which of your DNA Matches might help you understand a particular branch of your tree. Maybe this could provide a clue...

Due to unforeseen circumstances the planned discussion on Migration due on 5th April has had to be changed to an open discussion. Ann will now lead a general discussion on any family history subject the attendees want to raise. So bring your research queries and gain from the experience of other members. The Migration session is now planned for the...

 The question asked at discussion group meetings answered on the 18th Jan at 19.30 to 21.30 hrs. A Workshop showing and explaining about recording your family History on a family tree. This workshop will cover both family trees and pedigree charts with other formats a family historian can use to record their research. A good starting point for...

The index to all our journals are now available and includes the latest issue December 2022 Vol 16 No 4. See web page https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/community/nwkfhs-quarterly-back-journals/about-our-quarterly-back-journals which allows you to do a word search to find if your family or subject of interest has been published in an article....

After the Cataloguing Cadre finished their session before Christmas they had brought the master book catalogue up to date. 263 Pages listing 5502 books and maps in the catalogue. All the latest donations have now been entered and you can see or download the catalogue from https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/resources/library-catalogues. M...

The paper publications of the 1851 Census produced by the Society in the 1990s have now been digitally converted and are now available on our web site. The Introductions and street indexes are available on the public pages https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/resources/data-sets/1851-census-index. The Names indexes are available to members after the...

 If you have not heard about the Family History Federations free 'Really Useful Bulletin' then take a look at the latest edition. Among the articles are two that you might find interesting. Most family historians will have used one of Jeremy Gibson's guides. Jeremy died on the 28th October 2022 and an appreciation by Colin Chapman one of ...

We have now added or updated the Introductions, Streets Index and Name indexes to the 1851 Census page resources. Bromley does not have a Street Index but the others Dartford, Deptford, Greenwich and Lewisham do.  The introductions should be compulsory reading for family historians interested in these local census areas. These indexes were pub...

We are sorry but this workshop has been cancelled. If you want to attend it, it is being run again on the 12th July 2023. However, if there is sufficient demand contact workshop.booking@nwkfhs.org.uk and ask if it can be run earlier. If there is another subject that you want to have featured in a workshop or if you want research advice it can be do...

Have you found details of your family that are a total mystery? Do you believe we are all related to Royalty? Is there a place named after an ancestor? Just a few mysteries that crop up in family history research A Mystery Workshop with David Cufley. Please log in from 7.15 pm for the 7.30 pm start. 

The Surnames interest list has been updated with more names tonight (3-12-2022).. If you are a member of the Society and would like your surname interests added to these web pages, please download the Interests Submission Form (see button link on https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/resources/members-interests/instruction-page). Complete all details and eithe...

The vast majority of the defibrillators near Joydens Wood are not available 24/7/365 and have restrictions placed upon their use. This will have a dramatic effect possibly fatally on a person if they have a heart attack and there is a delay in accessing a defibrillator. Barry and Liz have already obtained permission from KCC Library and the KCC Est...

Downloaded the Surname, Subject and Place members interests to the web site today. All three interests are up to date as the December 2022 Journal. If you are a member of the Society and would like your surname interests added to these web pages, please download the Interests Submission Form (see button link on https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/resources/m...

The Society part of the new Really Useful Show being run by the Family History Federation has produced a new Promo Video. You can viw it before the show by going to the home page and on the Member Benefits banner is a link called "Who we are video". You can also view the video by using the 'about' menu and the 'Promo Video' link. We hope you enjoy ...

The promotional video prepared for the Really Useful Show being held on the 11th and 12 November by the Family History Federation is available on our home page under the Benefits banner.  Have a view and see what good value £10 annual membership gives you. If you join now your membership will run until 31st december 2023. Our thanks go to...

The Family History Federation Really Useful Bulletin 25: September 2022 has an article about North West Kent FHS. It is really worth reading. If you don't subscribe to the Federation Bulletin then you can subscribe or read a copy at https://www.familyhistoryfederation.com/resources-newsletter It will also help to keep you up to date with what's hap...

We would like to stress that the Society belongs to you the members and that this gives you an excellent opportunity to have a say in its management. Sign in and go to the web page https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/agm-voting#. Want to know who is running your Society see the CVs of all the candidates that was included in the September Journal.&n...

The Society belongs to the members and this gives you an excellent opportunity to have a say in its management. Sign in and go to the web page https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/agm-voting#. The September Journal had the CVs of all the candidates so you know who was running the Society for you. 

We would like to stress that the Society belongs to the members and that this gives them an excellent opportunity to have a say in its management. Sign in and go to the web page https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/agm-voting#. Know who you are voting for see the CVs of all the candidates which was included in the September Journal. 

You can take a horse to water but you cannot make him drink. It's the same for asking you to vote for your Society Committee. Sign in and go to the web page https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/agm-voting# Don't forget the Society belongs to you the members and that this gives you an excellent opportunity to have a say in its management. A CV of all the candi...

Please don't forget to vote for our Society Committee who run the Society for you and the other members. This is an excellent opportunity to have a say in its management. Sign in and go to the web page https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/agm-voting# Going to the Sevenoaks meeting tomorrow why not take your voting form and give it to Jim Murchie and save the ...

As a member of our great Society the AGM voting gives you the chance to support our Society Committee and an excellent opportunity to have your say in its management. Sign in and go to the web page https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/agm-voting# Going to the Dartford meeting on the 1st October why not take your voting form and give it to Jim Murchie and save...

If you are a member of our great Society don't to forget to vote for its officers before the 14th October. Sign in and go to the web page https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/agm-voting# Don't forget the Society belongs to you the members and that this gives you an excellent opportunity to have a say in its management. A CV of all the candidates was included ...

Fear not, is the postal strike delaying your September Journal? Members can read their journal on line at https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/volume-16  One benefit of the MOA (members only area) is that your Journal copy is available online anytime of the day or night..  On holiday and need something to read, Have a look at some back edi...

The three members interests 'Surname', 'Subject' and 'Place' have been updated today. If you are a member then you can submit your interests and perhaps link up with another member to solve your mutual family, place or subject interests. To have your details added to our web site send them to members.interest@nwkfhs.org.uk with your name and m...

Don't forget that the advice at the BDBW workshops can help everyone. So come and hear how we try to solve the 'brick walls' that other members have encountered. Having the chance to discuss the research problems we all encounter may help you solve your 'brick wall' Email workshop.booking@nwkfhs.org.uk to request the link to join us on th...

You will have received your September Journal and know its time to vote for the management committee of the Society. These are all Volunteers who give of their time to organise and make the Society work. Please support them. Please take the time to vote either by Post or digitally. It only takes a few minutes. The closing date is the 14 Octobe...

Do you have the thought that you have seen an article in NWKFHS Journal but don't know when? Did you realise all the back journals for not only NWKFHS but also Tonbridge Wells FHS are on the web site in the MOA. There is also an easy to use search facility to find the article you want. Use the 'Community' menu and click on 'Quarterly and Back Journ...

Have you found your ancestors among these prominent families from Dartford? Phil Taylor one of our members has written a series of articles on these Dartford people. If you want a short article on your ancestor and have not written it and submitted it to our Journal perhaps this is where it could be lodged so they will not be forgotten. See how Phi...

Have you ever purchased a certificate only to discover it is not of your family and does not add to your family tree? Members who have certificates that they don't want have donated them to the Library. These certificates are on the Library open shelves under the IDLocation reference BGR0023 in three volumes. We have listed all these certifica...

The Strays' Index was an inititive by the FFHS back in the pre-2000 years. NWKFHS slips have sat in our library unused since Audrey Rainer stopped being the Strays Co-ordinator. When we were clearing out the cupboards a few months ago the strays were unearthed and it was decided that the slips should be indexed into a digital database. Strays are r...

Do you want to know what is in the Society library? You can go to the Society Library page and there is a button to take you to the Master Catalogue that has been updated on 9th August 2022. There is also a page that gives all the resources in the library, not only the Master Catalogue but also:- Stray Birth Certificates Stray Marriage Certificates...

Please note the workshop starts at 2.30 pm (14.30 hrs) and NOT at 10.30 am. Sorry for the misunderstanding. To book a place in this workshop contact workshop.booking@nwkfhs.org.uk. If you cannot attend this workshop but would like it re-run please contact the workshop coordinator to ask if it can be run on another day at perhaps another time. All w...

You will know by now that tonight we had a problem with members signing onto the talk. The problem appears to be a change and update by Zoom a couple of days ago. It now appears that unless you have the FREE 'Basic' licence or better on your computer you will have problems joining the meeting whether you use the link or you use the ID and passcode....

Bring your research talents and know how to our 'People' and 'Place' Workshop on the 3rd August 2022. Ray Fordham left a number of documents and databases to the Society that he had rescued from the Royal Arsenal Woolwich when it closed. Among the files are WW2 lists of names without source or exact date, but they give addresses within the Arsenal ...

 Ray Fordham worked at the RAW when it closed and among the documents and photographs that were being thrown away he saved some of those that related to local history and family history. He had over his retirement been recording the details into a number of databases, some of which are already on our web site. Now the Society has been given th...

The Federation have issued the latest Really Useful Buletin full of Really Useful sources and advice. Robin McConnell gives us 'Tracing your family history with the whole family' Shropshire FHS explain the advantages of Zoom and how it changed their Society. The Beresford (ONS) Family Society gathering held in May 2022. Dorset FHS follows NWKFHS an...

If you have been waiting for the update to the names indexes then today is your day. We are still recovering these indexes but the latest introduction notes and surname index have been added in the MOA (members only area) Enjoy the work of our 1990s Census team. 

During the recent Society Library cataloguing exercise we have found an old Strays slip index (2002). We are trying to get it digitalized for the use of members. We anticipate it may contain over 7000 entries when completed. WHAT IS A STRAY? A stray is a recorded event in which a person is described in the record as being from, or connected with, a...

1851 Census is most important, as it was the first census to give the birth place of one's ancestors. NWKFHS created surname indexes in the 1980s and 1990s when there were no commercial subscription online data providers. While these indexes do not include all the schedule data, they are a finding aid using the piece number with folio number of the...

tinFree bulletin produced by the Family History Federation which provides lead articles on different aspects of family history research. The latest edition No 20 April 2022 features School Records. To subscribe to the RUBulletin go to the federation's web site at https://www.familyhistoryfederation.com/resources-newsletter North West Kent Family Hi...

The two exercises undertaken at the 23 March workshop have been recorded and are now available on the MOA. The first exercise covering the Barnett family of Tunbridge Wells and Devon connections with Coast guards is on the MOA area for members to catch up and learn about possible research source that could help find the true place of birth George B...

David Cufley has granted us permission to record his presentation. It is now on the MOA area for members to catch up and learn about Trade and Occupation sources and how they can assist with our family history research by suggesting documents and photographs that are in the archives and record offices. One of the Trade Union sources that has c...

Walter Eves has granted us permission to record his presentation. It is now on the MOA area for members to catch up and learn about Flickr and how it can assist with our family history research by holding documents and photographs that are not in the archives. 

Flickr is a document and photo sharing and hosting service that can be a gold mine for family historians. NWKFHS has had a presence on Flickr since 2009 and Walter Eves one of our Vice Presidents will be leading a workshop on Wednesday 13 April at 10.30 am. He will explain the documents and photographs we have and how they can add to your family hi...

The intriguing title spotted when a member checked out the day's weather recently. Following the Met Office archives links to view the historic rainfall data for many parts of the UK and, at a local level, was data for Welling, Bexleyheath, Kent, in many of the years of Queen Victoria's reign. In 1861, these were collected by Henry Septimus Hyde Wo...

Its the 1st April and its not a joke when you lose access to the MOA (members only area). No longer can you access the databases, indexes, back journals and the video recordings of the talks and workshops. Whats the solution? Pay your £10 subscription and all will be well again. 

The Parish Chest workshop run on the 16th March's recording is now available on the resources menu to members. If you missed the workshop and want to learn about the records available in the Parish Chest watch the recording. If you would like the Workshop run again so you can benefit from the Q & A session after the presentation email...

Be aware if you have not renewed your membership for 2022 you will lose your access to the members only area (MOA) in the next 14 days. Membership is only £10 per year and in our opinion very good value. Membership is cheaper than a meal out. An advantage is that you can sit at home and not wear a mask to avoid  Covid-19

The Video recordings from the two Medieval Records Workshops are now available online. Sign in to the MOA and go too the Workshop videos to see our archive of recordings including the latest Medieval Records Workshops. 

Updated fully searchable tables of Members Interests have been loaded. These tables are for Surname Interests, Subject Interests and Places Interests. You can also see the latest in the March Journal which came out at the beginning of the month.

NWKFHS was represented on this session of Rootstech by our President David Cufley. Despite a number of technical problems experienced the panel of representatives from five family history societies were able to explain the advantages of joining a Family History Society (FHS). If you could not see the original session and want to its now available o...

Over the years members have donated BMD certificates that they obtained only to discover they are not of their family.  These have been collected at the library in three volumes on the open shelves at BGR0023.  The index to these volumes under the Birth, Marriage and Death headings are available as PDF files to download under the buttons ...

"Did you know that there was a murder in your house?" These words were uttered to me by a cousin. He was wrong, but not by much!In 1956 mum, dad, my sister and I moved into Leahurst Road in Lewisham. Back in 1942 the body of an 11 year old girl was discovered under the floorboards of the housenext door. Much wartime crime, including murder, went un...

A family? ( My family? Your family?)But not The family, or the family of man or even such nebulous bodies as the Commonwealth family. The Oxford English Dictionary defines family as, amongst others, "The body of persons who live in one house or under one head, including parents, children, servants etc. (1545)" (Contentious I know, but who wouldn't ...

The Family History Federation has organised a panel of Angela Malin, David Cufley Hillary Blanford, Ian Waller and Malcolm Austin at Rootstech 2022. These representatives of some UK family history Societies will explain the benefits of joining a UK family history Society. They will be able to advise how their and other Societies can help your resea...

Evacustes. You know how a name can lodge in your mind? As part of a NWKFHS writing workshop, I researched Frankwell, Shrewsbury, Shropshire especially the work of artist Evacustes Phipson. He was a prolific British topographical watercolourist in the 1890s and throughout the opening decades of the twentieth century but I couldn't find any that info...

Searchable Journal contents index is available for you to check if your family or a subject has been previously published. The index is now up to date; December 2021; Volume 15 No 12. Our Journal has been published since 1978 and all its editions are online for you to search. Anyone can check the index out. If you want to read any pa...

The Microfiche and microfilm catalogue has been updated after the catalogue session on the 21 January 2022. Our thanks go to the Cataloguing Cadre . There are now 157 pages to the catalogue covering 3155 items. When you consider the GRO index in two large cabinets covers 48 entries you will realise how many fiche and films are included in our ...

Handouts available for researching merchant navy relatives following a talk by Penny Allen at Dartford meeting on the 4th September 2021 Click HERE for link 

The Society has a Scottish Interest Group (SIG) that discusses aspects of researching their ancestors that were born, lived married or died in Scotland. At the last Zoom meeting on the 12th January, we discussed the highland clearances and the families that were affected by them. This raised a question about the timeline for this period of tho...

The Mid January 2022 Society Newsletter is now available on the website click HERE

The Editor is seeking new articles for future issues of NWKFHS Journal. Celebrate your research, challenge readers to solve your brickwalls, share the story of an inherited object or explain about some aspect of our area especially to distant members. Send your article to editor@nwkfhs.org.uk, as a Word file or in the body of your email, Target 300...

Where is a parish located.? The question that we all ask during our research. For many years we have used 'Great Britain, Atlas and Index of Parish Registers' to standardise parish name spellings. It means indexes are all of the same 'parish' field. If you want to map your family using GENMAP when the index database is loaded it gets accepted easil...

 Submit your brickwall by 12th January 2022 if you have booked to attend this workshop. If you are only attending to learn about how to solve research queries then make sure you have booked to get the Zoom link. Contact workshop.booking@nwkfhs.org.uk.

 The Society has a number of second-hand books, both reference and indexes that may be able to help your research. Have a look at the list on the web site https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/resources/library-catalogues which covers part of our surplus stock. If you want any of these books make a donation and come to the library to pick them up.

There are now 32 (31-12-2021) video recordings of Zoom worshops and Talks. Did you miss one? Do you want to see it? Do you want to see one for advice to breakdown your brick wall? Then go to the members only area to see all the available recordings.. 

At this morning's DNA discussion group, Zoom meeting (22-12-2021) the question was asked about illegitimacy. We were talking about Adam Rutherford's book, 'A Brief History of Everyone who ever lived'. On page 175 when AR is discussing the research for Richard III DNA matches he mentions 'false paternity' (NPE) as 2% out of hundred people were ...

Look on the 'Resources' menu for the latest recordings of Zoom workshops that have been added to the site. The page link is https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/resources/all-other/zoom-talk-videos-2 If you have missed any workshops or talks, all the recordings are available to members on our web site. If you cannot find the subject you want help wi...

 We have updated the Microfiche and Microfilm catalogue so you can see the extent of fiche and films available at the Library. Look at nwkfhs.org.uk/resources/library-catalogues. All the catalogues are in seachable pdf format. The main catalogue of books and maps is also available online at the same address and can be accessed by selecting the...

From 30 November 2021 in line with governmwent instructions ALL members and visitors who attend Face to Face meetings of the Society are asked to wear masks. 

The Society has now submitted over 300,000 burials to Find My Past (FMP) for the National Burial Index. These are burials from our area but the site has other Family History Societies submissions. You can also find details on our web pages such as Ladywell and Brockley  Cemetery.

On the calendar there is a zoom meeting booked for next Tuesday 23rd  November 2021. The talk is by Chris McCooey on Scandals of Kent and Sussex, Sensational, Salacious and Sad, Including HG Wells, Noel Coward, grave robbers and prison hulks. The host will open the zoom at 7pm for members to join, the talk starts at 7.30.&n...

The Really Useful Show  booth for NWKFHS was manned by 7 volunteers who were there to help and answer questions  from the vistors to the show. A glitch with the software running the show meant all the Family History Society booths were effected. Some people did not get to ask their questions of our volunteers. If you were one of...

The volunteers enjoyed meeting and greeting the visitors to our booth in the Exhibition Hall of the Show. They will be available again from 10am to 6 pm on Saturday 13th November. So if you have a question on North West Kent FHS area of Kent come and talk to us. 

Family History Federation's REALLY USEFUL Family History Show 12-13 November 2021 The Exhibition Hall is FREE to access on Friday night Lots of interesting Booths. Come and have a chat with NWKFHS There is something for everyone Just go to fhf-reallyuseful.com and join us on Friday from 6pm - 10pm Talk to a Family Hist...

We have updated the home page today and you will see changes to the Web site in the coming months. If you have any ideas for its future developement write to the us. 

The library will open to members who book an appointment by telephoning the Librarian Janet Rose on 01322 384836. Let Janet know what Wednesday you want to attend and the time of the 2 hour slot you would prefer. If you need help then explain it to Janet so she can arrange for the right volunteer to be in attendance.  The Book collection catal...

Only 24 hours to vote The postal voting for the AGM of Society Trustees and the changes to the constitution following Covid-19 pandemic ends on the 14th October. Please vote now either using the form in the Journal or digitally on this web site https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/agm-voting Your vote is important and may make a difference. 

The members interests for Surname, Subjects and Places have been updated 12-10-2021 

The postal voting for the AGM of Society Trustees and the changes to the constitution following Covid-19 pandemic ends on the 14th October at Midnight. Please vote now either using the form in the Journal or digitally on this web site https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/agm-voting Your vote is important and will make a difference.  PLEASE ACT NOW

  We are grateful to John Hanson and Jackie Depelle to allow their talks to be recorded and put on our Members Only area. This is for a limited period permission only They will be available from the 15th to 30 October 2021.

The National Burial Index (NBI) project was initiated and produced by the then Federation of Family History Societies; now known as Family History Federation; and their Associates. The aim was that a researcher could look for, and hopefully find, that elusive ancestor in any part of England and Wales. This information meant that the researcher coul...

The talk explained the value of using wills, perhaps the most useful resource after certificates. A member has written to express her thanks for Jackie Depelle's talk on wills. She has been inspired to order a few wills already, with more to follow. She wanted to add some information that may be useful to others. She said if you sear...

  On the 19th October Lady Teviot will be talking about the 'Parish Chest' what it is and what it contains. It's a valuable source to use in conjunction with parish registers and shows how people lived, including overseers accounts, settlement and removal orders.

The postal voting for the AGM of Society Trustees and the changes to the constitution following Covid-19 pandemic ends on the 14th October at Midnight. Please vote now either using the form in the Journal or digitally on this web site https://www.nwkfhs.org.uk/agm-voting Your vote is important and may make a difference. 

1921 CensusThe 1st October Newsletter is out and you can link to it above in the main banner heading. News of Face-to-Face meetings and their talks, Zoom talks, workshops and discussion groups that you really should not miss. Plus, news of the 1921 census coming in early 2022. 

The editor's team needs a volunteer to help with the emails and their attachments submitted by authors and society taskholders for inclusion in the Journal. If you can use emails and open their attachments received from members and can pass them on to others in the Editorial team please email Chair@nwkfhs.org.uk. This is a new role on the Editorial...

Mike Weeks is leading a Coffee Morning open discussion about family history, the Society and the family history world in general. Got any burning questions or queries come and ask Mike. For the zoom link email workshop.booking@nwkfhs.org.uk

A Talk by Amy Moffat, the Learning & Outreach Officer at the Museum about the history of hospital and its associated sites, the archives and patient records was recently given to the Society. The archives date back to the 1500s and the records of patients for Bethlem from 1670s to 1920s. The patient records are indexed by name on the Findmypast...

  14th September at 7.00 pm the Society presents the zoom talk by Jackie Depelle a family history tutor and speaker. The talk explains the value of using wills, perhaps the most useful resource after certificates & censuses. It is a personal insight into relationships & possessions. Find indexes & associated records. Jack...

'Germans in WW1 London and their experiences. Have your European ancestors changed their surname was it because they were German and had been iving in London for many years. What is the backgound to these families? Join the workshop and find out.

 The Library Catalogue has been updated with the books donated by deceased members families. The catalogue is on this web site and available to view by all family historians. Although the Library is closed at present due to Covid-19 restrictions we have managed to catalogue these books. They will make an interesting day for the volunteers when...

Natalie is a full-time professional genealogist, educator and tour guide and am a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG).A native of County Antrim, her company Roots Revealed is based in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The talk examines the history and origins of Irish surnames.If you don't know where in Ireland yo...

This session covers a range of sources, many of them under-used, which help to shed light on the working lives of our rural British ancestors. Help with those elusive Ag Labs. https://thehistoryinterpreter.wordpress.com/ 

John has been researching family history for nearly 40 years and is a member of the Guild of One-Name studies. A former trustee of the Society of Genealogists for 14 years and has served on many other family history committees.Has lectured on and taught family history for nearly 20 years including at Who Do You Think You Are. This lecture will expl...

Thursday 17 June 7pm for 7.30 - Donna Rutherford DNA (Part 2)- "So you had your DNA results now what? Making the most of your DNA results."Some of you will know that, due to technical difficulties at our end, Donna's part 1 talk started an hour late. Similar difficulties have prevented us uploading the recorded talk to our website for those who mis...

The Society needs a Chairman or Chairwoman to lead us into this changing world of Family History. Out trustees form a friendly and close knit team, but now need a leader to direct and organise them and the Society. It is not essential to be part of the current organisation as we are fortunate in having members who can help and advise as one takes o...

Wanted volunteers to help with the Society web site as part of a team. You need to be fairly computer competent, able to use MS Office and work with pdf files but this does not need specialist web site skills. The role is as easy managing your own computer, emails and writing up your family history. We have excellent web site designers who are ther...

onIf you have taken an awe inspiring photograph that has a connection with our area or family history research send it to chairman@nwkfhs.org.uk to be entered in the 2022 Calendar competition. 

The administration of the web site has been started today and will be done progressively over the next week. If you have lost access to the MOA make sure you renewed your membership for 2021. It should have been done on the 1st January.  

Join North West Kent Family History Society to ask about our area and the people that lived in it. Our experts are available on the chat line to welcome you and answer your questions. You can come to our stand using the following link https://www.fhf-reallyuseful.com/north-west-kent-family-history-society 

Email request of the Library. The owner of www.Ghostsigns.co.uk contacted the library saying he was writing a book about London's 'ghost' signs and plans to include the one attached, photographed here by my co-author Roy Reed (see below). It is causing something of a headache in terms of dating and referencing of the history which I wondered if you...

Email request of the Library. I was wondering if you could help point me in the right direction to find some information. My step dad and I were walking in beside a stream which ran down the hillside towards Birling. The stream was crossed by two footbridges about a metre wide and three metres long from one bank to the other. One of the bridges was...

Enquiry of the Library, 24 February 2021. I am assisting my brother, Dean Storckmann, with some research into his family history. His Grandfather was held at the Prisoner of War Camp in Swanscombe and went on to marry a local girl. It was known as Ministry of Works Camp, No154, Swanscombe Street, Swanscombe, German working camp. The site is now hou...

An open meeting for family historians to talk and ask about researching family history. Mike our Vice Chairman will co-host the session to moderate the discussions. The idea is everyone is muted and when they want to speak, they can use the 'raise hand' digital button and Mike can call them to speak. This unmuting can be done using the space bar. A...

 At Wednesday 10-2-2021 workshop one of the exercises to make connections was to compare birthdates of the participants. The calculation to figure out the probability of finding two people with the same birth date in a given group says that the 50% probability requires a group of approx. 23 people. For 100% probability the group needs to be be...

The original speaker for Thursday evening, at the last moment, is unavailable.  The talk now will be 'Where will we be without Vincent, Keyes, Pam and Mayhew?' The talk will be a journey through London using four authors of Local and Family History sources. The presenter will be the Society President David Cufley. See the 'Home'...

At Wednesday 3rd February's discussion group Victor told of a new activity when you are exercising by walking your local area. Its 'I spy Lucy Boxes', which are street furniture used to house electrical terminals for tramways, electrical street light terminals or as electrical junction boxes. The older boxes are of cast iron. You can...

At the discussion group yesterday (Wednesday 3 February) it was mentioned that the same address was mentioned in the parishn registers for a number of entries for both parties to the same marriages. The address quoted was 101 Gosterwood Street, Deptford. Using street view it was seen this building was a small Victorian Terrace house ...

The Society has been asked by members to provide a recording of the workshops and presentations so that they can be viewed at their convenience. Rather than have to alter their diaries. While the recording will miss the Q & A session it does make them more accessible to our overseas members who live in different time zones. See the members only...

One of our members has contacted the Library to tell us of the success she has had researching her Indian ancestors using the familysearch.org web site. You may need to register on the site, but it is free. The Indian collections include:- India, Death and Burials 1719-1948. India, Births and Baptisms 1786-1947. India, Marriages 1792-1948. By click...

        At Joanna Friel's presentation to the Society on Saturday 16th January 2020 entitled "Chislehurst Characters" in the Q and A session she was asked about Pascall's brickfield on Red Hill now White Horse Hill and if the bricks were used locally. Joanna responded that the brickfield was owned by the Pascalls but an earlier ...

The subject of trade and occuaption sources is vast. David  has previously done the workshop based on the themes 'Family History' and 'One Places'. Now he has prepared one on Rural Life and agricultural trades. While there is some overlap it does use other records.  The guidance notes and the flow diagram on this web s...

On Saturday 5th December the record for the distance a member who attended one of our Zoom meetings was broken. Last month the record had been held by a member from Scotland. On the 2nd December this record was broken by a member who attended one of our Workshops from Vancouver, Canada. The distance to Joydens Wood was 4,718 miles. This r...

The members interest's three pages, Surnames, Subject and Place, are now updated (6 December 2020) and include all the new entries that  were listed in the December 2020 Journal that was published on the 1st December 2020. If you want to add your interests or update your current listing use the submission form on this web site or ema...

Part 1: A look at some online sites with medieval records and information on 2nd December. Followed by Part 2 the use of early Manorial records to overlap the start of parish registers post 1538, a case study of methodology on 9th December. Contact Workshop.booking@nwkfhs.org.uk. 

Handouts for the Trade Sources talk are available on the FHF-RU Show item of the Events menu. All are pdf files that can be downloaded

Imogen Corrigan was due to be presented this talk at our Dartford Branch, The Science & Technology College, Heath Lane, Dartford DA1 2LY. Now Imogen has agreed to do the presentation using 'Zoom' contact the Society to get details and codes. The first 100 members will get access via Zoom to the presentation. 

FHF REALLY USEFUL Family History Show will include 24 FREE Quality Talks, Exclusive Goody Bag, Specialist Vendors, Special Show Offers, Records & Books, Expert Help & Advice, Family History Societies, PLUS Much More … See https://www.familyhistoryfederation.com/ for more details. NWKFHS will be available to give advice during the day a...

In normal circumstances the trustees get the opportunity to talk to members, learn of their interests and of their life experiences. Without the face to face contact this is not possible. If you have an interest or life experience you would like to share with the Society and help with its organisation PLEASE contact chairman@nwkfhs.org.uk 

Three new zoom workshops have been organised Drawing Charts and diagrams by hand as a research tool. 11 November 2020. Thinking outside the Box. This is an exploration of sources both inside and outside the box. 25 November 2020. A discussion group on a theme chosen by the participants. 16 December 2020 Contact workshop.booking@nwkfhs.org.uk t...

The 2020 AGM was cancelled in April due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Now we are holding a postal and digital voting AGM. You can vote online by selecting the 'Voting' button on the members page. PLEASE VOTE NOW.  

The 2020 AGM was cancelled in April due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Now we are holding a postal and digital voting AGM. You can vote online by selecting the 'Voting' button on the members page. PLEASE VOTE NOW.  

The 'Error's Lies and misinformation' part 1 and part 2 zoom workshops will be run on consecutive Wednesdays. Email workshop.booking@nwkfhs to ask to join either or both workshops. Regular face to face workshops were run before the coronavirus shut down. Now we hope to run zoom workshops to make up for the learning experience and help the Society c...

Send your request for a workshop to help your research on any subject and we will try to get one of our expert researchers to lead a workshop.  Email workshop.booking@nwkfhs to ask to join a zoom workshop and tell us what subject you want to be covered. Regular face to face workshops were run before the coronavirus shut down. Now we hope to ru...

Last Wednesday 9th September we held the first zoom Discussion Group meeting on 'Breaking down Brickwalls'. The session dealt with five members queries and the main theme was Irish ancestors. A recording of the session is available, as are the guidance charts that were used. Email workshop.booking@nwkfhs to ask to join a zoom discussion group and t...

To attend this workshop email workshop.booking@nwkfhs.org.uk to obtain an invitation code. Workshop is being held on 14th October from 11.00am to 12.30pm A workshop discussing errors in Official Records and Commercial Search Engines and how to try and spot them. Case studies will be used as part of the discussions Do you believe what your ancestors...

To attend this workshop email workshop.booking@nwkfhs.org.uk to obtain an invitation code. Workshop is being held on 7th October from 11.00am to 12.30pm A workshop discussing errors in Official Records and Commercial Search Engines and how to try and spot them. Case studies will be used as part of the discussions Do you believe what your ancestors ...

The zoom discussion group starts on Wednesday 9th September from 14.00 to 15.30 or longer if required. Members who wish to attend should email workshop.booking@nwkfhs.org.uk to ask for an invitation code. Member who wish to attend should send details of their 'brickwall' so that the moderator can prepare source data pages beforehand ...

The Society is very pleased to announce workshops and discussion group meetings are available to members. Contact workshop.booking@nwkfhs.org.uk with the subject you want for the workshop you wish to attend. If you want to be part of a discussion group then let let us know the topic you wish to discuss. If you are an out of area member or an overse...

The Society is pleased to announce the 2021 Calendars are now available through the Eshop. Order your copies now for an early Christmas present for members of your family, so they know by the highlighted dates what meetings you are attending; Corona Virus regulations permitting. Keep well and safe. 

The editor Pauline asked 'have you had a look at the September issue of the Journal? Members can read it on-line now and many will also receive their paper copy in early September. Subscription to the Society is only £10 pa and includes in the benefits of four quarterly copies of the Journal. Pauline, the editor commented "It has been remarkab...

News for all members that use Zoom we have now run our first workshop (13 August 2020). The trial went well and we hope to be announcing soon the dates and times to all members of other workshops. We need your ideas of what workshops should be the first to be run. We would also like you to say what times and the day of the week&...

 Query from a member 9th August 2020. Is there anyone that can give me a little advice please? I have recently received a death certificate for a 2-month-old boy, it was registered in Croydon 1936. Under the name and surname he was shown as, David Bailey Hopkins otherwise Williams. The surname being researched is Hopkins. Never come up with a ...

Query 18 July 2020 I wonder if you can help me please. In my family tree there is a Samuel Levens born Croydon 1753, died 1843 Beckenham. I have found on the internet (ancestry.co.uk) an article with the headline: Luxury bakers that served up a treat for the fat cats of the past, which I have been told relate to this person. However, it is very poo...

 18 July 2020 It was with shock we learnt from one of our Canadian members that she had been charged $45CD for a certificate. She said a GRO certificate will cost me $45CD for only one certificate plus it will take 2 months to arrive by snail mail. Call me cheap but that price is exorbitant and the delivery archaic. We investigated and respond...

 Query and Answers to further queries following Orpington Institute request. 1) You discovered "Two patients online who died at Orpington Institute. Obray, John Robert, Born 1872 in Sheerness, Kent, England, Died Jun 27 1939 and Alice Mary Maude Louise LOPEZ was born about 1862 in Jamaica, Died on 8 Dec 1937…". Where did you find the...

Query 11 July 2020 I've recently been doing some work on my family tree. Unfortunately I don't have many people to talk to about it so I have got information off the Census's etc but no other information. Most of my dad's family lived in Stone in Dartford and were all labourers. Basically, I wondered if you could suggest where I could look for more...

A number of members have asked recently what to do with their old Journals. The Library replied The library has a full set of Journals for access of members who like paper copies. We do not have the space and facilities to store duplicate copies of Journals and books. The web site has a full set of journals online available for members to read and ...

Query 8 July 2020 From Canada, the writer said they were not sure if anyone is monitoring this email during the pandemic but thought they would try. I've come across a great aunt who apparently died at the Orpington Institute in Orpington, Bromley, Kent in 1937. I can't find any reference to the Orpington Institute online and with libraries closed ...

Query. 25 June 2020. I've found out that my ancestors were married at "the Independent" Chapel in Bromley on 25 July 1860. I was wondering if there was any information or parish registers that the NWKHS has on the Independent Chapel. My family seem to have been quite religious and non-conformists (not really sure what that means) and Annie and Fred...

16th June 2020 Stoneham Brage Builders of the River Thames 1797-1881 A description of three generations of our barge-building ancestors Audrey E Cirillo's book on the Stoneham and Ivimy families was produced as a self-publication in 2002. She writes in the forward that 'she had written the following narrative not only for my satisfaction but also a...

9th June 2020 The Society Library has been donated a number of postcards and photos of old Crockenhill, inherited from Agnes Abdey (nee Luxford). She worked for many years at the village stores for the Kingsnorth family. We are interested in these photographs as the Society Library has a photograph collection of pictures that have been donated. The...

Query 4th June 2020. I am wondering if you might be able to give me some assistance in my family history research. I am trying to find the baptism of my gt-gt-grandfather Thomas Pound whose entry in the family bible states that he was born on 5th February 1813 and christened in Chatham, but no specific date for that is given. They were a Navy famil...

Query 4 June 2020 Query from Albany, Western Australia. Two members of my family, Aunts Mabel Elsie Wheeler and Beatrice Nial are buried in Bexley. My Grandfather, William Fogarty, could be William Seymour also died in the area around 1948. The two aunts went to his funeral, they were living at 73 and 51 Rowley Avenue Sidcup at the time, we have he...

Due to an unfortunate sequence of events that were out of our hands, we have had to change the date of our September meeting from Saturday 22nd to Saturday 15th. The venue is the Methodist Church as usual. Meryl Catty will still able to visit us, but we have had to change the title of the talk, as Maureen Binks will be on holiday on the 15th. Meryl...

Guest speaker Peter Calver of Lost Cousins Our meeting on Saturday 3 March was cancelled as the venue, Dartford Science and Technology College, had been closed due to snowfall. It was hoped to hold the meeting this Saturday 10 March as the speaker, Peter Calver, of LostCousins is available. BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE COLLEGE HAS TOLD US THAT THE HALL IS...