"Digging for Essex Roots: Resources for Family History in Essex"

[Susan48]

The Society of Genealogists are offering a half-day course on this topic at their premises in London on Saturday 14 February 10:30-13:00. I signed up for it yesterday and there were still plenty of places left. The speaker is Allyson Lewis from the Essex Record Office.

 

[peter]

Unfortunately I can't be there (as it's my wedding anniversary), so could you please post details in the More Essex Resources forum of anything that isn't already listed on the Essex Resources page? Thanks!

 

[Susan48]

Unfortunately I can't be there (as it's my wedding anniversary), so could you please post details in the More Essex Resources forum of anything that isn't already listed on the Essex Resources page? Thanks!

Will do, Peter. And happy anniversary!

 

[Susan48]

The course was very well attended - i.e. full! and Allyson Lewis gave an excellent presentation of resources held both at the Essex Record Office in Cheltenham and further afield. Most are already listed here on the Essex Resources page. Allyson promised to send everyone a list of resources by email in due course, so watch this space for further details.

The point that stayed with me was the way the boundaries of Essex changed as London expanded into the ancient county. So for example the County Boroughs of West Ham, East Ham, and Southend on Sea were formed in 1889, 1906 and 1912 respectively, followed by 5 Metropolitan Boroughs in 1965, with the Metropolitan Boroughs all making different provision for archive services. So even if your ancestors stayed in the same place for generations the records relating to that place could well have ended up in several different archives.

Allyson also gave us a demonstration of the ERO's online catalogue SEAX, with images of some of the original documents available to view online, including the unexpected "Essex Poaching Prevention Society Minute Book".

This was my first visit to the Society of Genealogists premises, and I shall definitely go again - there's the whole library to explore.

 

[peter]

Thanks, Susan - much appreciated.

 

[Susan48]

I have now received a list of useful web addresses from the Society of Genealogists relating to Essex. Most are already available on the forum under Essex resources, but there are a couple of Community Archives that might be of interest: Canvey Community Archive and SEECA - South East Essex Community Archive network
For those with ancestors who worked at the Bata shoe factory at East Tilbury on the Essex Marshes there is the Bata Reminiscence and Resource Centre

 

[peter]

Bata shoe factory

I wore Bata shoes when I was a boy - they offered free replacements if they wore out in the first year, and funnily enough mine always did.

 

[Susan48]

I wore Bata shoes when I was a boy - they offered free replacements if they wore out in the first year, and funnily enough mine always did.

Perhaps your family, like mine, didn't have a car so as children we walked more. I'd still rather walk than use the car if it's a manageable distance. Or perhaps you were just hard on shoes - my brother wore his out so quickly that my mother bought him Tuf shoes - anyone remember those?

 

[peter]

Perhaps your family, like mine, didn't have a car so as children we walked more. I'd still rather walk than use the car if it's a manageable distance. Or perhaps you were just hard on shoes - my brother wore his out so quickly that my mother bought him Tuf shoes - anyone remember those?

Yes, I think I had those later on. In fact, thinking about it, it might have been the Tuf shoes that came with the guarantee.

We didn't have a family car until I was about 14, and even then I never got a lift anywhere - I had to walk or cycle. The only time I got to ride in the car was when we were on a family outing, and of course at that age I'd try to avoid doing anything that involved family.

 

[Susan48]

it might have been the Tuf shoes that came with the guarantee.

Yes, I'm sure it was, which was why my mother liked them for my brother. As far as appearance was concerned I suppose they were an earlier and less trendy version of Doc Martens.

 

[Susan48]

After several years of dithering I finally sent a request to the Essex Record Office for a digital copy of a Settlement Certificate for Colchester in 1721 relating to a possible direct ancestor. The image came today and I am over the moon because it has broken down a major brick wall!!! The certificate names not just the man, but his wife - which confirms a marriage - and their son - the vital hitherto missing link. I can't tell you how thrilled I am By the way, the digital image service from the ERO is excellent as you can play around with the images once they're downloaded, and the cost is very modest.