Devon Family History Society

@devonfhs.bsky.social is launching an appeal to buy a propery for our Tree House Research Centre Find out more and how you can donate at the link below www.devonfhs.org.uk/ourstories/

Thursday - box gazing, bag stuffing - thanks sponsors, cake making, 2 tours - photos to follow and eating - 14 people from 4 countries at this gathering. Today the fun really starts. Safe travels to all our delegates.

With thanks to Devon FHS @devonfhs.bsky.social for the invitation and to Pharos Tutors @pharostutors.bsky.social for sponsoring my talk. Two great organisations helping lots of people.

Our conference goers are already gathering - safe journeys everyone. Today is about packing 150 bags with conference goodies for delegates each worth £50 thanks to generous sponsors.

How I arrived on Blue Sky

Looking forward to this year's AGM followed by a presentation from Judy Russell aka The Legal Genealogist @legalgen.bsky.social

The Devon Family History Society's objects are to promote the study of genealogy and history, especially of Devon families and places,. www.familyhistoryfederation.com/societies-de...

Time to announce our final speaker for our October conference. More news and announcements coming soon. See the website for full details www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co...

@thegenealogist.bsky.social releases the Lloyd George Domesday Survey for #Devon, featuring more than 352,000 people and organisations across over 2,500 square miles of historic maps Read the blog 👉 www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarti...

Thanks to @helentovey.bsky.social of @familytreeplus.bsky.social for a brilliant and inspiring talk yesterday. Family Tree Magazine and Family Tree Plus are one of the sponsors of our October conference.

#DNA discussion on Zoom tonight - suitable for all levels. Come and ask questions and share your experiences and/or expertise

The Association of Genealogist and Researchers in Archives (AGRA) @agragenealogy.bsky.social have joined our list of conference sponsors. Find out more about them here www.agra.org.uk

Another new speaker announcement. We are excited to reveal that local author and folklore expert @traceynormanauthor.bsky.social will be joining us in October to speak about Devon's Forgotten Witches www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co...

On March 21st Helen Shields @helenshields.bsky.social will present an online workshop on #OnePlaceStudies as part of a series of workshops celebrating the 50th birthday of Devon #FamilyHistory Society @devonfhs.bsky.social. Open to non-members and just £5 – book your place! #OnePlaceWednesday

Note there is a correction to the advertised date and link for Ian Porter's talk The real Mr Selfridge and the History of Shopping which is FRIDAY 16th January 7.30pm. All those on the list for links have been emailed. Apologies for our error.

Another #SpeakerSaturday spotlight, yes, I know it is Sunday, featuring Margaret Roberts & Dave Day. Their presentation, 'A Victorian Aquatic Family: the Beckwiths in conversation' is a little different. Still a few spaces left if for the conference www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co...

#SpeakerSaturday time to spotlight another of our conference speakers Mark Bayley from @thegenealogist.bsky.social TheGenealogist are sponsoring 3 presentations, including 2 from Mark. Still a few places left for 9-11 October's conference in beautiful Devon www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co...

Libraries are a key resource for family historians. There is an ongoing consultation re: proposals to drastically cut Devon Libraries opening hours. No need to live in Devon to make your views known just have visited or contacted a Devon library. devonlibraries.commonplace.is/en-GB/propos...

Another #SpeakerSaturday and this week it is Sue Swalwell in the spotlight. Sue’s presentation will be Five Girls in the Attic: glimpses of the childhood of the five female caretakers of the family archive. Still a few conference places left www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co...

Old family photographs are a vital part of genealogy. They not only show us our ancestors’ faces but also preserve social history, clothing, and context. Find out how to organise, preserve, store, date and identify these precious pictures with our in-depth guide. Link in comments

Looking for something to do in January?

This #SpeakerSaturday we are spotlight Mia Bennett @miagen.bsky.social . Mia is a professional genealogist specialising in DNA and a well-known speaker. Her presentation title is still to be announced but is being sponsored by @thegenealogist.bsky.social

My Elusive Ancestors @pharostutors.bsky.social online course starts Monday, still room for more - Come and find those pesky mobile ancestors. Sledge-hammer at the ready to break down #genealogy brick walls www.pharostutors.com/elusive-ance... #familyhistory

This #SpeakerSaturday we are highlighting Pamela Vass who will be speaking at next year's conference on Reason or Rebellion? Women’s Campaign for the Vote in Devon. Just 20 rooms and 15 day delegate places left www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co...

#SpeakerSaturday and we are highlighting @joesaunders1.bsky.social @pharostutors.bsky.social are sponsoring Joe's presentation 'Migration and early modern England'. Remaining conference places are limited, pay a deposit now to secure a place www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co...

To commemorate Remembrance Sunday, @thegenealogist.bsky.social has released 1,090,293 new Casualty List Records from The First World War, covering the period 8th April 1918 to 4th March 1919, completing their coverage of the War Office Casualty Lists. These are available to Diamond subscribers.

I'm running this beginners' and slow starters #FamilyHistory Course starting next week - still a few spaces suitable for those with English/Welsh ancestry www.devonfhs.org.uk/product/trac... Stage 2 in the New Year

It is still Saturday somewhere in the world so this week's #SpeakerSaturday features local author Liz Shakespeare who will give the Peter Christie Memorial Lecture 'From Exploration to Illumination: using local history to tell stories of the past' Book now www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co...

Still a few places left on our stage 1 online #FamilyHistory course held on 8 & 22 November. Suitable for all those at or near the start of their #genealogy journey (not just in Devon) Details www.devonfhs.org.uk/product/trac... Tell your friends.

This week's #SpeakerSaturday features Australian genealogist Helen Smith whose presentation at next year's conference will be 'Convicts' Voyages to Freedom'. Still a few places left www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co...

#SpeakerSaturday again featuring @thepatientgenie.bsky.social Michelle's presentation will be Celebrating Cousins: a case study in DNA and she will also be part of a DNA panel. Less than a year to go book for the conference at www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co... #Genealogy #FamilyHistory

Today at 2pm UK time with @sogorg.bsky.social Free online event Researching in Devon, including a slot about what DFHS can do for you portal.sog.org.uk/Event/view/1...

This week's #SpeakerSaturday (on Sunday) features genetic genealogist Donna Rutherford, whose topic will be 'Plymouth to New Plymouth: Exploring Settler DNA Connections' Less than a year to go 😀 www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co...

Coming up on Monday 13 October Free online event about #FamilyHistory research in Devon portal.sog.org.uk/Event/view/1...

On this day next year over 100 people will be gathering in Bideford for our 50th birthday conference. There is still room for you to join them. www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co... #FamilyHistory #Genealogy

Another #SpeakerSaturday. We were sad that Todd Gray was unable to give his talk to us today. This time next year he will be addressing us at our conference in a specially written talk 'The perils of Devon's History' over the last 50 years. Places filling fast. www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co...

Due to unavoidable and unexpected circumstances, Todd Gray is unable to give the talk after the AGM today. Janet Few will step in and at 3pm her talk will be 'Fallen Women or Vulnerable Girls?' In the week of International Day of the Girl, this seems particularly appropriate.

#Conference news. With over a year to go we have over 100 delegates booked - just 25 rooms & 20 day delegate places left. Early bird price for day delegates & double/twin rooms will removed in the next few days. Pay your deposit now to avoid disappointment. www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co...

Time for another #SpeakerSaturday featuring Helen Shields aka Auntie Kate who will be telling tales of her life in a Devon village and this stories of her husbands. www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co...

A steady stream of enquiries here at Bridgerule Local History Day - our magic wands seem to be working today with plenty of delighted visitors.

On this #SpeakerSaturday we feature @researchdogsbody.bsky.social & Prof Dave Day with 'A Victorian Aquatic Family: the Beckwiths in conversation' - a presentation with a difference. Join us 9-11 October 2026. 100 attendees who have already booked can't be wrong. www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co...

This week's #SpeakerSaturday we feature Mark Bayley from @thegenealogist.bsky.social who will be giving two talks at our conference 9-11 October 2026. Bookings filling up fast www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co...

If you are on the mailing list to receive the monthly meeting link emails, it should be in your inbox now. Not yet on this list? See www.devonfhs.org.uk/meetings/ for details.

Time for another Speaker Saturday and another new speaker to announce. Sue's presentation will be 'Five Girls in the Attic: glimpses of the childhood of the five female caretakers of the family archive' Full details of the conference can be found at www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co...

On this speaker Saturday we are pleased to announce that @miagen.bsky.social will be joining our speaker team at the conference 9-11 October 2026. Her talk is being sponsored by @thegenealogist.bsky.social. Head across and book now www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co... #FamilyHistory #Genealogy

Looking forward to our popular Bricks Walls zoom session tonight - we've taught you all to solve your own too well - they are getting harder but we can give some suggestions and pointers.

Delighted to report headway into discovering the pre-marriage life of my paternal great-great-grandmother. I located her marriage record at @devonfhs.bsky.social and am currently disentangling her 1881 and 1891 Censuses. As to the 'three birthplaces' issue, I'm zeroing in on a winner. #AncestryHour

After a couple of weeks' break it is time for another Speaker Saturday. We look forward to Pamela Vass talking to us at our residential #FamilyHistoryConference in October about women's campaign for suffrage in Devon www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-fhs-co...

Waiting for the start #FamilyHistory #Face2Face