Family Tree Plus

Time spent deciding which family history subscription website (or websites) you need will help you save money and maximise your search time. Read our hand guide for pointers to consider when choosing which family history websites you need to subscribe to. 🔗👇

Time spent deciding which family history subscription website you need will help you save money & maximise your search time. Read on for pointers to consider when choosing which website to subscribe to. https://f.mtr.cool/hcjbbabkqu

Join us 11 March, as Prof. Tom Licence tells the story of the Bayeux Tapestry. Book your spot today 👇🔗.

Sign up to Family Tree Plus and get access to this webinar and more every month

Join us 11 March, as Prof. Tom Licence tells the story of the Bayeux Tapestry. Book your spot today 👇🔗

Join the webinar: https://f.mtr.cool/opirproobk

Or sign up for Family Tree Plus: https://f.mtr.cool/gcwiaryxmu

🌍 RootsTech 2026 starts soon!

It’s the biggest celebration of family history in the world, and we’re joining in with some very special offers for family historians: https://f.mtr.cool/qzdcvnlwec

#RootsTech #RootsTech2026 #SLC #FamilyHistory

In this week's podcast - Helen talks about the value of Family History Societies, and Nathan realises that not all the facts about his 3x great-grandparents were stacking up. Where had his research taken a wrong turn? https://f.mtr.cool/rgkalgpjle

As organised and meticulous as I think I am with research, my working notes are absolute chaos! Of course I'll be writing them up neatly in my research log 🤔😅 Does anyone else suffer from this ailment? - Nathan

Check out our handy guide on how generative AI can be used by family historians to speed things up, brainstorm ideas, and free us up for more analysis and interpretation. https://f.mtr.cool/gqjtwhufww

Our DNA guru, Karen Evans, has a wealth of great advice for sharpening your DNA skills. If you want to go further and really make the most of your results, why not sign up for her DNA Discoveries webinar, starting next week. https://f.mtr.cool/jrnucplylh

👊🧱 Beat your brickwalls! Track conflicting information instead of ignoring it.
Create a note listing every conflicting birth date/place and which record it came from. Patterns usually emerge that point to the most reliable source.

Got a genealogy plan… or just a growing pile of “I’ll look that up later”? 😅

Missed Helen’s brilliant webinar on creating a focused family history plan? No worries! Family Tree Plus members can watch it anytime - plus get access to 100s of inspiring family history videos 🌳✨

On this week's podcast, Nathan reaches a big milestone - finding the final missing 3x great-grandparent 🎉 But is that 32nd name really his? 🌳 Plus, Helen gives us an update on her ‘out and down’ project. Listen to the full episode here: https://f.mtr.cool/kolnettieq

When researching Scottish ancestors, always note parish names - not just towns. Most early Scottish records are organised by parish, not modern geography – in fact many of the records of baptism, marriage and burial are nicknamed the OPRs (The Old Parochial Registers).

📣 Have you taken a DNA test yet? What did you make of the results? 🧬

According to our survey, only 20% of family historians feel confident using their DNA results.

👉 See the insights here: https://f.mtr.cool/iwlttmrmjk

🌳💡 Tree Tip Tuesday! Look for Electoral Records between Census years
Records of those eligible to vote can confirm residence, age eligibility, and even death windows when other records are missing.

In the 1680s, hundreds of Scots left Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Montrose to settle in New Jersey, part of a politically backed bid to secure Scotland’s stake in America.
 
Now, a new website, East Jersey Bound, reveals their stories: https://f.mtr.cool/yrytzygjcz

Are you one of the millions of people around the world with Welsh roots? Discover the best Welsh genealogy records with Family Tree's family history guide. https://f.mtr.cool/sfumkhwcxd

👊🧱 Beat Your Brickwalls - Search the Same Event in Different Jurisdictions
Births, marriages, and deaths near a border may be recorded in a neighbouring jurisdiction. Always check adjacent parishes and counties.

Before the 1700s, Scots often changed surnames every generation. Donald MacIan → Angus MacDonald.

Why it matters: If your Scottish line seems to vanish, try searching by first name + location, not surname alone. Brick wall? Try tracing fathers, not last names.

This week on the podcast, cohosts Nathan & Helen share smart ways to manage your Ancestry tree your way 🌳 From handling hints and merging duplicates to making sure living relatives stay private - plus more practical tips to keep your tree tidy! https://f.mtr.cool/sahmkzoajf

Tomorrow night! Our friends at History Scotland host a fascinating webinar on Vikings in the Hebrides. Professor Niall Sharples explores the archaeological evidence of Viking incursions along Scotland’s western seaboard. https://f.mtr.cool/tenyejefja

Join us at 12:30 today (GMT) for our February Family Tree DNA Club webinar, at which Karen Evans will be tutoring us in some key dos and don’ts for using DNA for family history. Sign up here: https://f.mtr.cool/ziowmztiym

Look for Multiple Death Records.
Some ancestors have more than one death record (for instance, a death certificate, a burial register entry, a headstone, probate records). Comparing them can reveal conflicting - and revealing - details about family connections, addresses & more.

Find out how passenger lists can help you find ancestors who travelled to the UK from overseas, or left Britain for a new life. Our handy guide will help you trace your ancestors on the move. https://f.mtr.cool/vqzqrfguyo

Join us for the February Family Tree DNA Club webinar, at which Karen Evans will be tutoring us in some key dos and don’ts for using DNA for family history. https://f.mtr.cool/uocvbffuux

Find the missing links - Study the Witnesses, Informants, and Bondsmen
Names on marriage bonds, deeds, and death certificates are rarely random. Researching them often reveals relatives or long-term associates.

Scottish parish records date back to the 1500s, centuries before civil registration. Baptism, marriage, and burial records can extend your family tree far earlier than expected.

🌳🎧 On this week's podcast cohosts Nathan and Helen chat about Nate’s on-going project to find all his 3x great-grandparents, and Helen reflects on the value of revisiting your research... https://f.mtr.cool/fpcupvjoux

The Highland Clearances forced thousands of Scots off ancestral land in the 18th–19th centuries. A sudden move to Canada, the U.S., or Australia may not have been a choice. Read up on the history of Scotland and gain valuable contextual information about your ancestors.

🌳💡 Tree Tip Tuesday! Search for women by first name + spouse only
For married women with unknown maiden names, search records using only their first name and husband’s name. This can surface marriage or probate records that indexed her differently.