Genealogy Chat

I didn't really like family ties that much

Also don't forget the BBC4 programme at 10pm called 'Family Ties' that is related to this series. Not sure if BBC4 is only available on Cable, Sky and Freeview. I've missed a few of those ones as I forgot. I saw last week's one which was about adoption and found it very interesting and moving.

Thank you so much for the reminder, i missed last weeks ermm probably because i was working on here and other sites.

thanks for nudging I would have forgotten

there is a dvd for the first series but it isn't the broadcast version its like best bits and extras

Like Victoria, I'm jealous! I found the book from the first series and bought that, but I'd love to see the programme itself. Does anyone know if BBC have plans to release it on DVD, like so many of their porgrammes? Or is there an official 100 year wait until they do that (LOL!)? Sue (in NZ)

It should be good tonight, however i'm annoyed that there are only 2episodes left after this week!

Oh my God i thought today was tuesday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Horatia Ann

Jonathan Did you know that the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society is doing a big research into migration of Dorset people? There are many that moved from the Dorset villages into Hampshire, particularly Portsmouth and Southampton for obvious reasons, and yes there would have been movement from Dorset to the more Industrial areas in the Midlands and North of England for the same reasons given in the Programme 'Who Do you Think You Are'. Dorset was an agricultural area, very depressed. This is what made the Tolpuddle Martyrs so famous. If you do not belong to this society and you have many Dorset connections you may find it worth your while to join. Cost is £12 per year and you get their very good magazine ' The Greenwood Tree' four times a year as well as help on this Dorset Migration with input from you as well. Janet

It was certainly interesting to see his interest grow as time went by,i actually think that a lot of that was to do with having photographs,it seemed to make the people 'real' as well as making for an easier to watch tv programme. Who knows,all those canal books my ex used to have never mentioned any migration journeys,but i might have seen photo's of his rellies somewhere in a book. My ex had her tree done by her daughter,and throughout all the books there are many pictures of her rellies,as for me i can't find any anywhere.

I saw three or four of the 2004 series while I was visiting England (Amanda Redman was one of the ones I saw) - and I am envious as h*ll of you lot. This is NOT the sort of programme likely to be 'picked up' by Australian television stations (mainly I would think, because most of the principals aren't known here). It MIGHT be shown on pay teevee - but since I don't have it..... Maybe I should ask someone to video if for me... Now THAT's a darned fine idea!! I might just do that. Victoria (the transplanted Pom)

At least Paxo demonstrated that he was touchy, if not feely. The new series has got off to a great start, and it's certainly teaching an old dog new tricks. I'd heard of pauper children being packed off to work in the mills, and adult paupers going to Canada, but not of adults being sent to the manufacturing towns. Paxman clearly had access to Ancestry on his laptop, but the obvious advantages that the local studies library had over Ancestry were the maps, the local knowledge - and the opportunity for him to park his car where his ancestors had lived! If the future episodes are as good, I'll be staying in on Wed nights for the next few weeks

Thoroughly enjoyed the programme. Jeremy get well involved with his ancestors didn't he? He's a bit like Darth Vader. There IS a good man in there! (Tee-Hee) I thought he was just as upset about his relative who had her poor relief stopped as the ones who died of TB. Some people might be put off of family history after this programme. They might think we are all depressives!!! (Tee-Hee) Cheers, Horatia

Not ashamed to admit. I too shed a tear with Jeremy, in fact several times over during the course of the programme.... 'tho not suprised as I seem to spend alot of my research time 'crying' over my Ancestors. What I did find interesting is that Jeremy (armed with a laptop and obvious access to Scotland People and the 1901) had to visit a Record Office for the English 1871 et al for Bradford. Call me cynical but is it that the BBC do not want to be seen to advertise? The info would have been easily available on Ancestry and alot cheaper than traveling (with a camera crew ect) to Bradford......But, I guess, it wouldn't have made such an interesting telly programme. My other 'moan' is the Scottish Record Office that came up with his 'Janitor' Ancestors records....The programme inferred that he asked for details and a researcher was 'personally' available to find those obscure school records. Any of us would spend ages finding the references and then hours/days reading the records to find the relevant info. I may sound negative....But I did enjoy the prog tonight and I will be watching next week. Chris

Personally, I think these sorts of programmes are wonderful. The more people who feel inspired to start researching the more chance I have of running into them and finding long lost lines. Might help with some of my brickwalls too!

Poor Old Jeremy. I never thought I would see that man reduced to tears. It was the best I've seen so far too. He started out so pompous but was genuinely humbled at the end; I quite warmed to him. I know myself how this research can affect you, I have laughed and cried at what I have found myself. I have a 3x great grandfather who was 'given 20 shillings to take himself and two of his children to London'. This was from a workhouse in Suffolk. I wonder if he made his way to Bradford? I am descended from one of the two left behind. Kat....on the trail again...some hopes - but you never know where you'll end up in this game.

Yes, I thought it was very good too. I liked all the stuff about the social conditions of the time which really brought the whole story to life. It also demonstrated very clearly just how this family history thing grabs you - you start of thinking that this is just a vaguely interesting academic excercise, and end up really caring about what happened to the people, driven to discover what their lives were like and how they lived and died. Poor old Jeremy Paxman - we could have warned him beforehand what it would do to him (but he probably wouldn't have believed us!) Did anyone watch the programme that followed it on BBC4? That was quite interesting too - I loved the bit when she was presented with 4 certificates all at once and she said it was like confetti, she usually only got one a year! Tina

I have just found a message board on the bbc website related to genealogy questions however it is not very well laid out. Will I be deleted for this?

A great program and very informative as usual. Jeremy Paxman gave the impression of not caring at the beginning and what a turn up to see him physically moved by what he found out. It made me shed the odd tear and also gave me an appreciation of what my ancestors lives were like living in their one room on low incomes with so many children. As Jeremy said - we don't know that we have been born. A humbling experience and what a woman his great grandmother was to pull herself out of the poverty that she knew in Glasgow to end up in Canada. I have the TV booked for next weeks episode. Helen

Well, I thought that was the best one they had ever had. Much much better than last series.