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Wednesday, April 7, 2021

F is for ...The Family Historian's Enquire within

 I've been researching my family history for over thirty years. Along this genealogy journey I have been supported by hundreds of books, many of which I have listed on my Librarything page. 

During the 2021 #AtoZChallenge I will be writing about two of my passions, books and family history. I'll be taking a trip down memory lane and revisiting some of those books that have enriched my genealogy experience.



I find it interesting that many Australian researchers with ancestors from the UK and Ireland adopt, as bibles, works on methodology written by Americans for American markets. I tend to look to the Old Countries to buy howto and reference books from experts who live in those areas.

In my personal library I have several books on methodology that are written by British, Scottish and Irish experts. One reference book I refer to regularly is The Family Historian's Enquire within by English genealogist, Janet Few. In her introduction Janet refers to this book as a "Help desk" and this is how I use it. I could use Google to find some of the answers contained in Janet's book but the advantage of this work is that is an authoritative source. Janet knows what she is talking about. 

Arranged in alphabetical order this book gives explanations of  a few words up to a couple of pages for terms we may come across in our research. The 6th edition which I have on my shelves contains much relevant information. I purchased my copy of this book from The Society of Genealogists on a visit to London. It is one of a few Few books on my shelves.

If you don't know about Abraham Men, Feoffees or Water-Gavils this book may be for you.

3 comments:

  1. I too use books written by experts in the field locally, though on occasions the experts may be in different countries. One of the things I like about ebooks is that I can get overseas books without astronomical postage costs. Either that or to order them through the Book Depository. Sadly this one isn’t available either of these ways.

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  2. I was despairing because this post had no commments, thanks Pauleen for stepping up.

    I get distressed when I see genies from Australia racing to buy books from the big name genies in the US when there are equally good or even better experts in England and Ireland writing on their local topics.

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  3. Thanks Jill, the only exception I’d note is the experts from the US who’ve written extensively on the Irish Famine...not to the exclusion of a irish researchers of course, but to say they definitely merit reading.

    It seems completely illogical not to go to the source of expertise of those who know places and records first hand.

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