Dave Annal Lifelines Research
@davelifelines.bsky.social
Family historian, lecturer, author. Former Principal Family History Specialist at The National Archives. Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. 42 years in the business. Loves a good map. #Genealogy #FamilyHistory
https://lifelinesresearch.co.uk/
https://lifelinesresearch.co.uk/
Reposted by Dave Annal Lifelines Research
Brick wall in your pre-1800 research? Try the courts.
Explore wills, disputes, debts, scandals and more in English Courts of Law before 1800 for Genealogists: 5-week online course with expert tutors @elsesoggenealogist.bsky.social & Dan Gosling.
3 Feb–3 Mar 2026
portal.sog.org.uk/Event/view/1...
Explore wills, disputes, debts, scandals and more in English Courts of Law before 1800 for Genealogists: 5-week online course with expert tutors @elsesoggenealogist.bsky.social & Dan Gosling.
3 Feb–3 Mar 2026
portal.sog.org.uk/Event/view/1...
January 17, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Brick wall in your pre-1800 research? Try the courts.
Explore wills, disputes, debts, scandals and more in English Courts of Law before 1800 for Genealogists: 5-week online course with expert tutors @elsesoggenealogist.bsky.social & Dan Gosling.
3 Feb–3 Mar 2026
portal.sog.org.uk/Event/view/1...
Explore wills, disputes, debts, scandals and more in English Courts of Law before 1800 for Genealogists: 5-week online course with expert tutors @elsesoggenealogist.bsky.social & Dan Gosling.
3 Feb–3 Mar 2026
portal.sog.org.uk/Event/view/1...
Just before I down tools on what has been a particularly busy (and, I'm pleased to say, productive) week, I thought I'd leave you with these details from the stunningly beautiful, hand-coloured, 1843 tithe map of Feering in Essex.
There's an almost Tolkien-esque quality to them. Or is that just me?
There's an almost Tolkien-esque quality to them. Or is that just me?
January 16, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Just before I down tools on what has been a particularly busy (and, I'm pleased to say, productive) week, I thought I'd leave you with these details from the stunningly beautiful, hand-coloured, 1843 tithe map of Feering in Essex.
There's an almost Tolkien-esque quality to them. Or is that just me?
There's an almost Tolkien-esque quality to them. Or is that just me?
This is the signature of John Heard of Braintree, Essex on his will, written on 19 October 1732. He must have been pretty close to death as just seven days later, he was six feet under...
January 13, 2026 at 4:53 PM
This is the signature of John Heard of Braintree, Essex on his will, written on 19 October 1732. He must have been pretty close to death as just seven days later, he was six feet under...
Let's face it, when you're researching a family and you discover that the direct ancestor was born around 1820 in Ireland, your heart sinks a little. The prospect of getting a line back to the 16th century is somewhat dead in the water. And then you discover that the person's father was in the army!
dwight schrute from the office is wearing glasses and a suit and tie .
ALT: dwight schrute from the office is wearing glasses and a suit and tie .
media.tenor.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Let's face it, when you're researching a family and you discover that the direct ancestor was born around 1820 in Ireland, your heart sinks a little. The prospect of getting a line back to the 16th century is somewhat dead in the water. And then you discover that the person's father was in the army!
Did you know that there was formerly a small part of the county of Kent, on the *north* bank of the River Thames?
Two detached parts of the parish of Woolwich (the area is still known as North Woolwich) were subsumed into Greater London in 1965.
#MappyMonday @natlibscot.bsky.social
Two detached parts of the parish of Woolwich (the area is still known as North Woolwich) were subsumed into Greater London in 1965.
#MappyMonday @natlibscot.bsky.social
January 12, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Did you know that there was formerly a small part of the county of Kent, on the *north* bank of the River Thames?
Two detached parts of the parish of Woolwich (the area is still known as North Woolwich) were subsumed into Greater London in 1965.
#MappyMonday @natlibscot.bsky.social
Two detached parts of the parish of Woolwich (the area is still known as North Woolwich) were subsumed into Greater London in 1965.
#MappyMonday @natlibscot.bsky.social
In 1936 my paternal grandparents moved into a brand new house in Carrick Knowe to the west of Edinburgh. The house was part of a new development and these two maps from 1932 and 1938 illustrate the impact of the new estate on the landscape.
#MyFamilyHistory52Maps
#2 6" maps Edinburgh Sheet III.SW
#MyFamilyHistory52Maps
#2 6" maps Edinburgh Sheet III.SW
January 12, 2026 at 9:41 AM
In 1936 my paternal grandparents moved into a brand new house in Carrick Knowe to the west of Edinburgh. The house was part of a new development and these two maps from 1932 and 1938 illustrate the impact of the new estate on the landscape.
#MyFamilyHistory52Maps
#2 6" maps Edinburgh Sheet III.SW
#MyFamilyHistory52Maps
#2 6" maps Edinburgh Sheet III.SW
While giving my talk on Crime & Punishment last night it occurred to me what a great source the witness statements found in the Quarter Sessions records are for the voices of 'ordinary' people. It's not often you get to hear them, particularly when it comes to 19th Century working class women.
January 9, 2026 at 9:41 AM
While giving my talk on Crime & Punishment last night it occurred to me what a great source the witness statements found in the Quarter Sessions records are for the voices of 'ordinary' people. It's not often you get to hear them, particularly when it comes to 19th Century working class women.
A busy start to the year. Yesterday I wrote a piece for @familytreeplus.bsky.social and today I'm preparing for my first talk of 2026. I'm proud to be delivering the opening session of the @sogorg.bsky.social course on Crime and Punishment portal.sog.org.uk/Event/view/1...
It's not too late to book
It's not too late to book
January 8, 2026 at 10:36 AM
A busy start to the year. Yesterday I wrote a piece for @familytreeplus.bsky.social and today I'm preparing for my first talk of 2026. I'm proud to be delivering the opening session of the @sogorg.bsky.social course on Crime and Punishment portal.sog.org.uk/Event/view/1...
It's not too late to book
It's not too late to book
I’m in the library for my first writing day of 2026. My target is 1800 words for @familytreeplus.bsky.social by the end of the day, for the April instalment of the Family Tree Academy…
#AmWriting
#AmWriting
January 7, 2026 at 10:43 AM
I’m in the library for my first writing day of 2026. My target is 1800 words for @familytreeplus.bsky.social by the end of the day, for the April instalment of the Family Tree Academy…
#AmWriting
#AmWriting
A relatively rare example of a marriage licence being granted to the prospective bride rather than the groom, possibly because the groom was a mariner and away at sea although the couple married two days later.
Interesting also that Sarah's bondsman was a 'John Doe' - so she was on her own in this!
Interesting also that Sarah's bondsman was a 'John Doe' - so she was on her own in this!
January 6, 2026 at 5:07 PM
A relatively rare example of a marriage licence being granted to the prospective bride rather than the groom, possibly because the groom was a mariner and away at sea although the couple married two days later.
Interesting also that Sarah's bondsman was a 'John Doe' - so she was on her own in this!
Interesting also that Sarah's bondsman was a 'John Doe' - so she was on her own in this!
To mark my birthday, here's where I spent my first few days on this planet back in 1961... the Elsie Inglis Maternity Hospital in Edinburgh.
January 6, 2026 at 2:11 PM
To mark my birthday, here's where I spent my first few days on this planet back in 1961... the Elsie Inglis Maternity Hospital in Edinburgh.
One of my proudest achievements of 2025.
In the first picture is a bundle of documents as it appeared when I collected it from the document counter.
The second picture is the same bundle of documents after I'd opened it up, looked at the documents I was after and put it all back together...
In the first picture is a bundle of documents as it appeared when I collected it from the document counter.
The second picture is the same bundle of documents after I'd opened it up, looked at the documents I was after and put it all back together...
January 5, 2026 at 5:40 PM
One of my proudest achievements of 2025.
In the first picture is a bundle of documents as it appeared when I collected it from the document counter.
The second picture is the same bundle of documents after I'd opened it up, looked at the documents I was after and put it all back together...
In the first picture is a bundle of documents as it appeared when I collected it from the document counter.
The second picture is the same bundle of documents after I'd opened it up, looked at the documents I was after and put it all back together...
A new project for 2026 #MyFamilyHistory52Maps
#1 Map of the Bushey Hall Estate, Hertfordshire, 1685
This is what the place I live looked like nearly 350 years ago. The future site of my house is towards the top of the map, by the right hand row of trees.
Bushey Hall has long since gone...
#1 Map of the Bushey Hall Estate, Hertfordshire, 1685
This is what the place I live looked like nearly 350 years ago. The future site of my house is towards the top of the map, by the right hand row of trees.
Bushey Hall has long since gone...
![Held At: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Title: Manuscript map (in two parts) of the Bushey Hall Estate, property of Sir Robert Marsham A Survey & Ground Plot of a certain Parcell of Land called Bushy Hall Lying and being in the Parish of Bushy in the county of Hertfordshire being a Parcel of the Possessions of Sir Robert Marsham Measured and thus Drawn in the Year 1685 and Containes a r p [No surveyor]
Description: Unspecified acreage in North West Bushey, East of River Colne and North West of Bushey Hall. Fieldnames; names of adjacent landowners. Acreages; trees; line of river; lines of views to Bushey and to watford Church. Field boundaries outlined in green. Compass rose. The map has a very ornate Scale, Cartouche, and border (on two sides only) featuring cherubs with various surveying instruments, monkeys, squirrels, peacocks, and foliage, but all are pre-engraved with colouring and details of map in title added by hand. Underneath the scale the name of the engraver is given as Gulielms Beng. The northern-most part of the map has been roughly cut off and is missing. Size 32x22 Inches, Scale 24.8 Inches to 1 Mile
Date: 1685](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:fje5wwjffepvxog772kaptxp/bafkreifnra6cxsep45lk5xgdvnxa33fmgddp5t7vypdxrjj6txdgvt6kay@jpeg)
January 5, 2026 at 1:04 PM
A new project for 2026 #MyFamilyHistory52Maps
#1 Map of the Bushey Hall Estate, Hertfordshire, 1685
This is what the place I live looked like nearly 350 years ago. The future site of my house is towards the top of the map, by the right hand row of trees.
Bushey Hall has long since gone...
#1 Map of the Bushey Hall Estate, Hertfordshire, 1685
This is what the place I live looked like nearly 350 years ago. The future site of my house is towards the top of the map, by the right hand row of trees.
Bushey Hall has long since gone...
A belated Happy New Year from me and this festive-looking Redwing. Photo taken at Summer Leys Nature Reserve, Northamptonshire, 31 December 2026.
January 3, 2026 at 11:05 PM
A belated Happy New Year from me and this festive-looking Redwing. Photo taken at Summer Leys Nature Reserve, Northamptonshire, 31 December 2026.
As a young woman, my granny worked for Boots in Edinburgh. In 1919, she (and, presumably, other Boots employees) received this Christmas card from Jesse and Lady Boot.
Thankfully, my granny was the sort of person who kept things like this…
Thankfully, my granny was the sort of person who kept things like this…
December 25, 2025 at 9:06 AM
As a young woman, my granny worked for Boots in Edinburgh. In 1919, she (and, presumably, other Boots employees) received this Christmas card from Jesse and Lady Boot.
Thankfully, my granny was the sort of person who kept things like this…
Thankfully, my granny was the sort of person who kept things like this…
Out of Office: ON
Email Inbox: EMPTY
Christmas Festivities: COMMENCED
Hope you all have a great one!
Email Inbox: EMPTY
Christmas Festivities: COMMENCED
Hope you all have a great one!
December 24, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Out of Office: ON
Email Inbox: EMPTY
Christmas Festivities: COMMENCED
Hope you all have a great one!
Email Inbox: EMPTY
Christmas Festivities: COMMENCED
Hope you all have a great one!
It's perhaps not the most extensive pedigree but if they were your ancestors you'd love to have this little part of the tree confirmed.
I couldn't resist looking for the three marriages which were marked as 'not registered' two of the three, thanks to the wonders of the internet are now findable!
I couldn't resist looking for the three marriages which were marked as 'not registered' two of the three, thanks to the wonders of the internet are now findable!
December 24, 2025 at 3:57 PM
It's perhaps not the most extensive pedigree but if they were your ancestors you'd love to have this little part of the tree confirmed.
I couldn't resist looking for the three marriages which were marked as 'not registered' two of the three, thanks to the wonders of the internet are now findable!
I couldn't resist looking for the three marriages which were marked as 'not registered' two of the three, thanks to the wonders of the internet are now findable!
I defy any self-respecting family historian to spot this in a bundle of Chancery documents and not to have a quick peek - even though it has absolutely nothing to do with the case you're working on!
"Pedigree of the Heirs at law of Jeremiah Ives deceased"
I guess you want to see what I found...
"Pedigree of the Heirs at law of Jeremiah Ives deceased"
I guess you want to see what I found...
December 24, 2025 at 10:22 AM
I defy any self-respecting family historian to spot this in a bundle of Chancery documents and not to have a quick peek - even though it has absolutely nothing to do with the case you're working on!
"Pedigree of the Heirs at law of Jeremiah Ives deceased"
I guess you want to see what I found...
"Pedigree of the Heirs at law of Jeremiah Ives deceased"
I guess you want to see what I found...
Reposted by Dave Annal Lifelines Research
I am so excited to show you the cover for my new book, Genealogy Methods and Techniques - A Practical Guide to Research, due for publication Feb-Mar 2026 but available for pre-order now.
www.professionalfamilyhistory.co.uk/writing-on-g...
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory #Methodology #PublishedAuthor
www.professionalfamilyhistory.co.uk/writing-on-g...
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory #Methodology #PublishedAuthor
December 23, 2025 at 2:14 PM
I am so excited to show you the cover for my new book, Genealogy Methods and Techniques - A Practical Guide to Research, due for publication Feb-Mar 2026 but available for pre-order now.
www.professionalfamilyhistory.co.uk/writing-on-g...
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory #Methodology #PublishedAuthor
www.professionalfamilyhistory.co.uk/writing-on-g...
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory #Methodology #PublishedAuthor
December 23, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Most Orcadians are clear about one thing. You can call their homeland 'Orkney' or 'the Orkney Islands' but NEVER 'The Orkneys'.
Quite what they would make of early 18th century cartographer Herman Moll's use of the term 'Orkneyshire' I really wouldn't like to say... 😱
#MapMonday #MappyMonday
Quite what they would make of early 18th century cartographer Herman Moll's use of the term 'Orkneyshire' I really wouldn't like to say... 😱
#MapMonday #MappyMonday
December 22, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Most Orcadians are clear about one thing. You can call their homeland 'Orkney' or 'the Orkney Islands' but NEVER 'The Orkneys'.
Quite what they would make of early 18th century cartographer Herman Moll's use of the term 'Orkneyshire' I really wouldn't like to say... 😱
#MapMonday #MappyMonday
Quite what they would make of early 18th century cartographer Herman Moll's use of the term 'Orkneyshire' I really wouldn't like to say... 😱
#MapMonday #MappyMonday
Very disappointing…
I was hoping for a Nintendo Switch but it was just a bunch of old documents!
I was hoping for a Nintendo Switch but it was just a bunch of old documents!
December 20, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Very disappointing…
I was hoping for a Nintendo Switch but it was just a bunch of old documents!
I was hoping for a Nintendo Switch but it was just a bunch of old documents!
It’s Christmas! 🎅
December 20, 2025 at 11:45 AM
It’s Christmas! 🎅
A bright start to a rare Saturday visit to Kew…
December 20, 2025 at 9:20 AM
A bright start to a rare Saturday visit to Kew…
James Bond: Licence To Marry... 💒
December 18, 2025 at 1:24 PM
James Bond: Licence To Marry... 💒