Root and Branch June 2009

The contents of the June 2009 issue are:

Regular Features

• West Surrey Family History Society Information/Root and Branch: Here's information about membership categories and guidelines for submitting articles to the quarterly journal.
• Editorial: Sheila Brown shares the exciting news that past requests for assistance in issues of the Journal have met with success. She also reminds readers of what a terrific resource we have in The National Archives, Kew. On a recent visit, she and her husband found another long-lost relation.
• Chairman's Letter: If you'd like to volunteer, Sue Turner would like to talk with you. There are several opportunities available for those interested in sharing their talents and time with the Society.
• From the Secretary: Ann Sargeant captures highlights of the West Surrey Family History Society Bookstall's day at the annual “Who do you think you are?” event. She also reminds new members that they are welcome to register their surname interests - an important advantage of membership.
• Members' Interests: This list could represent the research breakthrough that you have been seeking. If any of the following names are on your family tree, you will want to further check Root and Branch for whom to contact for more information: ALLEN, ANDERSON, ANDREWS, BAKER, BARNES, BARTLEY, BATSONE, BAXTER, BAYLIS, BERRY, BERRYMAN, , BICKNELL, BISHOP, BOOKER, BOOKHAM, BOOTH, BOTHWELL, BROADRICK, BRODERICK, CARPENTER, CASSIDY, CATTMER, CHAPMAN, CHUBB, CHURCHILL, CHUTTER, CLARK, COLLINS, CONSTABLE, COPPARD, COPPER, COTTINGTON, CRANHAM, CUNNINGTON, CURLING, DARK, DARLEY, DEACON, DEGUISE, DENYER, DIGANCE, DUFFY, EDWARDS, ELESLEY, ELGAR, ELLESLEY, ELSLEY, EVISON, FARNFIELD, FARRINGTON, FINCH, FISHER, FREEMAN, FRIDAY, GARNI/ENER, GARDNER, GATES, GILHOOLY, GODDARD, GOFF, GOLDSBROUGH, GREEN, GREENWAY, GUISE, GUY, HALL, HAMBLETON, HAMILTON, HAMMOND, HAYWARD, HEDGER, HELPS, HEMMINGS, HIERON, HODGE, HOLDEN, HOLMAN, HOOK, HOOPER, HUGHES, HULBERT, HYLAND, JAMES, JONES, KIMBLE, KNIGHT, LAMPARD, LEE, LEWIS, LILLIOTT, LOVE, LUCEY, LUFF, LYONS, MANVILLE, MASCALL, MAYNARD, MCGOWAN, MCNIFF, MILLS, MITCHELL, MORRI/ELL, MOSS, MOTH, MULLARCHY, OFFORD, PAICE, PARSONS, PEACOCK, PENFOLD, PRATT, PULLEN, QUICK, RAVENHILL, REDFARN, REEDER, RICHARDS, ROCKALL, SAYERS, SEAL, SHIRLEY, SKERRITT, SKINNER, SMART, STEDAN, STEDDY, STEDMAN, STEN(N)ING, STEVENS, STEYNING, STONER, STRUTT, TAULK, TAYLOR, THOMAS, TOLKES, TOOKE, TRODD, VIGAR, WARD, WESTON, WHITE, WILLIAMS, WILLOUGHBY, WILSEA, WINDSOR
• Letters: Interesting topics range from the offer of returning Emily TICKNER'S photograph and postcard albums to the rightful owner; success in using the Wandsworth list of baptisms and in finding a good home for the glass plates described in the last journal; and advice on storing old photographs is sought.
• Aid & Assistance: The Society's Help Register connects those looking for local research assistance with those who are willing to provide it. An Essex member offers lookups in the 1841 Sussex census and the 1891 Surrey census.
• Help Wanted: 1. Do you recognize the Surrey place names of Binsfield or Binefield? 2. Can you help a London writer who is seeking first hand, personal accounts for a new book on the Second World War?
• Computer Corner: Jeanne Bunting offers tips for identifying the dwellings of ancestors, notes the importance of digitized records, talks about what's up at Microsoft and gives a candid description of netbooks.
• News from the Centres: What's on at Camberley, Farnham, Guildford, Walton-On-Thames and Woking.
• Future Meetings at the Society: Here's the list of upcoming Society meetings for June, July and September, highlighted by a trip to The National Archives Kew on Saturday, 26, September.
• Diary of Events around the UK: There's lots of fascinating activities planned from June through September. Don't miss out!

Articles

• At the Lightbox: A special display, which was set up to mark the centenary of the Territorial Army, is reviewed.
• Census Returns for Ockham and Wisley 1841-1901: The Woking U3A Genealogy Group has transcribed the 1841 census for those villages.
• The Bell Bible: Sue JOHNSTONE nee BELL reports that through a Genes Reunited match, she learned more about her paternal great-grandfather's younger sister from entries in her bible.
• Research Report: Cliff Webb provides an update on the good progress being made toward adding to the parish register collections of baptisms not in the IGI, marriages and burials.
• Unraveling the SPONGs of Chobham and Windlesham 1790-1820: Written by Graham Caldwell, this is a continuation of a look at that family's tree. Other surnames of interest include BUSH, HAMPTON and HOWARD.
• Open Day 2009 Update: Anne Welch lays out plans for another exciting Open Day that will include:- an interesting series of talks - one of which will offer guidance on searching the 1911 census; providing electronic look-ups; and specialists who will date old photos and offer information on army research. Volunteers are needed so here's a chance to make yourself useful and have some fun too!
• News from Surrey Heritage: Julian Pooley shares the news that the Surrey History Centre has earned a four-star rating by The National Archives, and recaps outreach activities in the last few months. He also recaps new accessions.
• World War One Records Discovered in Geneva An amazing find.
• Whatever happened to Julia BUSS? Peter DALY takes a look at the demise of Julia BUSS, a 35-year-old woman in the Chertsey Union Workhouse in Ottershaw in 1885.
• Book Reviews: Railway Ancestors, A Guide to the Staff Records of the Railway Companies of England and Wales 1822-1947 by David T. Hawkings sounds like a fascinating book for anyone who has ancestors with a railways background. Be sure to read this well done book review by Phillip ARNOLD.
• Surrey Place Index: Here's a thorough list of place names that have been mentioned in the last two Volumes of Root and Branch.
• A Snippet: Dominic Harper offers an intriguing description of the death of Henry PULLEN from the burial register from Banstead Surry.
• Researching a Tragic Story: Jenny MUKERJI provides an update on Alice Jane DE SOUZA and her son, Charles Francis, who drowned in a pond in Willey Copse, Farnham in 1912.
• Wandsworth Baptisms: Transcriptions, Part Two of some of the entries that can be found in CD15 "Surrey Baptisms not in the IGI", see Publications – continued from the March 2009 issue of Root and Branch.
• West Surrey Family History Society Minutes of the 34th Annual General Meeting: To learn more about how the Society operates, read about the business addressed at the 2008 meeting.