Researching Your Hampshire Ancestors

Gill Thomas
Mar 14, 2025
208 views
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SyllabusSyllabus
SyllabusSyllabus

About this webinar

The county of Hampshire covers over 1 million acres, bordered to the south by the English Channel and includes the Isle of Wight. As one might expect the ancestral roots of the county are widely represented by agricultural workers, but it also has a strong maritime history. This includes not only coastguards, fishermen, and latterly Merchant Navy seafarers, but also the Royal Navy with its Portsmouth dockyard, now home to Nelsons's flagship HMS Victory. Join Gill for a user's guide to online and offline resources, including local archive collections, a guide to boundary changes, and where to search for missing ancestors. Our aim is research enlightenment.

About the speaker

Gill Thomas is the current Chair of AGRA (the Association of Genealogists & Researchers in Archives) covering England and Wales. She is a History graduate (University College Cardiff) and holds a ...
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Key points and insights

This webinar, part of the England County Research Series, offers valuable insights into researching ancestry in Hampshire, a county with a rich and complex history. Gill Thomas, the speaker, delves into the county's unique characteristics, shaped by its strategic importance, maritime history, and agricultural roots. The presentation provides essential information for genealogists seeking to navigate Hampshire's records and understand the historical context that influenced their ancestors' lives.
  • The webinar emphasizes the importance of understanding Hampshire's changing boundaries and registration districts, as these shifts can significantly impact where records are located. Researchers are advised to be aware of these changes to ensure they are searching in the correct locations.
  • The discussion of ecclesiastical parishes and non-conformist worship highlights the diversity of religious practices in Hampshire. It underscores the need for researchers to explore various record sources beyond the Church of England, as non-conformist records can be crucial for locating ancestors who did not adhere to the state religion.
  • The webinar also delves into Hampshire's unique geographical and historical features, such as the New Forest and the Isle of Wight, which have significantly influenced the lives of the people who lived there. The discussion of the New Forest provides insights into the lives of commoners and their rights, while the section on the Isle of Wight details the availability of early parish registers.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of Hampshire's genealogical resources and historical context, watch the full webinar and explore the additional resources mentioned in the syllabus.

Comments (23)

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  1. WV
    Webinar Viewer
    10 months ago

    Very good.. lots of this will come into play later after I get to entering some ancestors from one of the family's I am adding to my tree. Already have a few ancetors that are in my tree (X-wife's side, Mainly here dad's lineages)..

  2. WV
    Webinar Viewer
    10 months ago

    Syllabus not as complete as some, but good talk.

  3. WV
    Webinar Viewer
    10 months ago

    Really helpful! Wish the series could include a session on Somerset and Bristol!

  4. WV
    Webinar Viewer
    10 months ago

    Thanks for the opportunity to join the webinar. Gill provided helpful historical information to assit with family research about forebears from Vernham Dean.

  5. WV
    Webinar Viewer
    10 months ago

    Super, super excellent. Well done.

  6. WV
    Webinar Viewer
    10 months ago

    v interesting

  7. WV
    Webinar Viewer
    10 months ago

    appreciate the clarity / speed of speaker

  8. WV
    Webinar Viewer
    10 months ago

    Good overview

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