Fifty-Plus News - Genealogy

Genealogy
with David W Weatherill

New family history resources

Over the past several months more and more resources have become available to assist with your family history research. If you get the chance you can check with the GSV, local family history group or your local library to see what is now available. The following is a brief list of new materials.
Magazine
One new monthly magazine to come onto the market is an English publication, Your Family History, which has a genealogical CD attached to each edition and is found in most newsagents. Have a look at it and see if it interests you. Currently Edition 10, April 2004, is available.
Cemetery database
The Necropolis Cemetery Trust responsible for Springvale, Melbourne and St Kilda Cemeteries has now added its burial data in a searchable database on its web page. At the moment only Springvale and St Kilda Cemetery burials are available, but it is hoped that the Melbourne Cemetery burials will become available in the near future. You can search the database from their web page at www.necropolis.com.au/ and then click on the ‘Deceased Enquiries’ option in the left-hand box. You will need to decide if you want to search either Springvale or St Kilda or both cemeteries by checking the boxes at the top of the Search page. If you find their database of value write to the Necropolis Cemetery Trust at Springvale asking them to consider adding the Melbourne Cemetery burials to their database. The Cemetery Trust is seeking feedback from users to see if there is an interest in adding the Melbourne Cemetery Records.
Books
Three new/updated Australian books by Cora Nun of the Heraldry & Genealogy Society of Canberra Inc are well worthwhile as either great reading for help with your research or to purchase. All are under $20 each and available from the GSV. Or you could ask your local library if they have copies or are willing to purchase them. I would recommend, however, that they are worth owning your own copy.
• Family History for Beginners and Beyond has been updated again and is a great reference. Edited by Cora Nun, the book has 15 chapters starting with ‘Where Do I Begin?’ and including ‘Using A Computer For Family History’, through a number of Australia topics – Land Records, Probate, Immigration, etc – and then moving overseas looking at Scottish, Irish, England, Wales, Channel Islands and the Isle Of Mann research.
• Web Sites for Genealogists, likewise updated since 1997 with the current edition published this year, is an excellent reference both as a starting point and for on-going research in using the Internet as a source to assist your research. Cora has written this book using an alphabetical listing of topics including sections such as Adoption, Census Records, Online Journals, Mailing Lists, and listings for many countries with 109 topics overall and a detailed index.
• Convict Records in Australia is a new publication that came out last year and like the Web Sites book is presented as an alphabetical listing of topics covering most topics that are part of convict research. These include – Absconders, Female Convicts, Deane Index, Goal Records, Machine Breakers, Research Kits, Trial records, etc. At the end of the book is a listing of web sites and addresses to obtain further information on convicts, as well as a detailed index.
One other book published by Cora Nun a few years ago and still available is also a great reference: Family Research Manager provides information on the collection, record keeping and storage of your research. Managing your research and the different methods and forms for record keeping is an important part of family history work and should not be ignored.
Good luck with your research. If you do have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. You can contact me either by email at dww@tpg.com.au or phone or write to me care of The Genealogical Society of Victoria Inc, Level 6, 179 Queen Street, Melbourne 3000, phone 9670 7033.