British Ancestry - Articles

Articles

BUCKET-SHOP HERALDRY
"YOUR OWN COAT OF ARMS"
YOUR VERY OWN CREST
How many times have you seen such an advertisement and perhaps been tempted to pay a comparatively small sum to acquire a shield supposedly of the insignia of your family?
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5 March 2008    More...

RESEARCH SERVICES
Research Services: The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies is supported by the leading team of professional qualifies genealogists and heraldists in the world. Their services are at your command. Contact them www.achievements.co.uk 01227 462618
9 October 2007    More...

ACHIEVEMENTS 1957-2007
Profile With a wide and varied experience of studying British ancestry in the UK, throughout Europe and overseas over more than 60 years, Cecil Humphery-Smith has achieved much in the world of heraldry, genealogy and related studies continuing to educate and lead the field. Here is some outline of his career. Have you asked someone to write down your achievements yet?
click on www.ihgs.ac.uk
7 October 2007    More...

COURSES -COURSES - COURSES
Since the 1940's, I have been giving lectures and teaching at courses in heraldry and genealogy. With the foundation of The School of Family History in 1957 and of The Institute of heraldic and genealogical Studies in Canterbury in 1961, this work has continued to bring the knowledge and love of family history studies in reach of everyone. The Institute's efforts have been emulated all over the world but it still continues its original role in education. The current programme is high class and exciting, aimed at leading participators to work towards worthwhile qualifications.
Places on the course are filling fast so if you do wish to attend, it is advised that you book (registrar@ihgs.ac.uk) as soon as possible.
Cecil Humphery-Smith, OBE, FSA, Principal contact principal@ihgs.ac.uk
3 October 2007    More...

BOOKS and MANUSCRIPTS
Due to the accumulation of duplicate material in my personal collection, I am offering some original manuscripts and some printed books in good condition for sale to the highest bid received in any 24 hour period as I shall determine. CONTACT ME FOR BOOKLIST ON info@britishancestry.org
15 September 2007    More...

EVIDENCE
WARNING
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or
principal@ihgs.ac.uk
"Yes, I have all the evidence," she wrote. "I got it off the Internet."
So, that was that. She was right and I was wrong, she argued.
There is a serious cause of trouble for family history research on the Internet. What a wonderful source it is; but most people see it as a free means of obtaining everything they wanted to know about their ancestries. Only with knowledge of how it is compiled can they appreciate the hazards of misusing it. Be warned of the reliability of sources. www.achievements.co.uk supports the work of the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies through a team of trained experts who know how to reach the facts.
12 September 2007    More...

HERALDRY
Many a family has an illustration of a coat of arms painted and in a frame, engraved on silver, a bookplate or signet ring, or in some other form. A good number of these will have been granted officially, others may be invented, but some have simply been misappropriated because of similarity of surname. Here is a fascinating example.
contact principal@ihgs.ac.uk
1 September 2007    More...

MORE HERALDRY FOR GENEALOGISTS
Continuing to study coats of arms and what they have to tell us brings the symbolism into use to identify families into perspective. Its historical origins and development may interest readers. The fuller story and accompanying pedigree for this article appear in FAMILY HISTORY.
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1 August 2007    More...

PRINCES
Controversy still rages over the fate of the "Princes in the Tower, Edward V and the prince Richard
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29 July 2007    More...

RESEARCHING AND FINDING YOUR ANCESTRY ----.
RESEARCH HAZARDS. This is a collection of notes to guide you in locating sources and advise you in your research work.
It is amazing how many people communicate with me, having been assured that all they want to know about their ancestry is on the Internet. So they have drawn up a full family tree. Again and again, I find, that they have been right to be doubtful of the results. How many times do I have to repeat the words of W.H.Whitmore, "Do not insult your true progenitors with false claims to others." DOES ANYBODY LISTEN? contact principal@ihgs.ac.uk
7 July 2007    More...

YOUR QUESTIONS
YOUR QUESTIONS
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You are the amateur, professional, or perhaps casual genealogist: you came to this site because you had some question that you wanted to ask. That must surely be true. Well, with more than fifty years experience, I am here to help you. Please use the question box under CONTACTS
25 June 2007    More...

Pedigrees and Arms collected by Thomas Willement (1786-1880)
Willement's Arms, Quarterings and Pedigrees - 1818
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Thomas Willement Esquire, FSA, of Davington Priory in Kent was a heraldic illuminator on vellum by special appointment. He carried out his work, not only for the Heralds' College, but also for His Royal Highness The Prince Regent, and for His Serene Highness The Hereditary Prince of Hesse Hombourg. His London address was 25 Green Street, Gosvenor Square.
21 June 2007    More...

Ancestry Tracing and the Internet
There is a belief that seems to be increasing amongst those interested in tracing their ancestries that everything can be found on the Internet. In fact, this is not only erroneous, but leads to particular hazards in research. contact principal@ihgs.ac.uk
WEB-SITE GENEALOGY IS BAD FOR THE HEALTH OF YOUR PEDIGREE - DO NOT LET THAT STATEMENT PUT YOU OFF - BUT JUST REMEMBER THAT THE SOURCES AND RESOURCES ON INTERNET SITES CAN BE INCOMPLETE, INACCURATE AND OFTEN UNRELIABLE. IT IS A CAPITAL SIN IN GENEALOGY TO INSULT YOUR TRUE PROGENTITORS WITH FALSE CLAIMS TO OTHERS AND THERE IS NO POINT AT ALL IN PRODUCING A PEDIGREE SHOWING YOUR ASCENT TO UNRELATED INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY NOT EVEN BE RELATED TO EACH OTHER. LET THE EXPERTS ASSIST YOU, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES OR PROBLEMS, DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT 00-44 - (0)1227 462618, 768664 OR LOOK AT www.ihgs.ac.uk AND TALK THEM OVER WITH A QUALIFIED MEMBER OF THE RESEARCH TEAM. THERE ARE NO OBLIGATIONS
2 June 2007    More...

RIGHT ROYAL BASTARDS
Back in the 1970's I wrote a series of illustrated articles for The Coat of Arms using this title. Material that I unearthed in those days was shared with Peter Beauclerk-Dewar and Roger Powell for their book for which I permitted my copyright in that title to be used. Since then, inevitably, others have jumped on the bandwagon, but clearly require some correcton as they confuse two Plantagenet families.
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5 May 2007    More...

William R. Joyce - - - R.I.P
The Honorable William R. Joyce, Jr, JD, FRGS, KM, KCHS
18 May 1921-17 April 2007
William Joyce played a prominent part, fifty years ago, in the foundation of the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies in Canterbury. He was an eminent lawyer, a philanthropist and a member of the Order of Malta.
18 April 2007    More...

HERALD PAINTERS
A recent enquirer has questioned the legitimacy of "herald painters". She has been told by the officer in waiting at The College of Arms that "they" have no record of these sources of heraldry. What are the facts?
8 November 2006    More...

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE ?
While tracing the male lineage can most certainly lead to discovery of family characteristics, how do you discover your family history? -and who you really are? ARE YOU BEING MISLED BY SEARCHING ON INTERNET? Do you need advice? Then contact info@britishancestry.org
17 October 2006    More...

1066 and ALL THAT - and my ancestors?
October 17th 1066 allegedly brought the career of Harold to an end and a beginning of the Norman dynasty. But within a few centuries, it became clear that the Normans did not win on the planes below Senlac hill, North of Hastings on that day.
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14 October 2006    More...

History of Noble British Families
History of Noble British Families Illustratrated by their Armorial Bearings, Portraits, Monuments, Seals etc., by H. Drummond (2 vols, 1846)now available on CD-Rom.
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1 August 2006    More...

ORDERS OF CHIVALRY
How often are you asked if you would like to become a knight or a lord; what can you trust. Here is some advice and an example.
contact principal@ihgs.ac.uk
27 July 2006    More...