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Life on the land
Most of us will have discovered at last one agricultural labourer in our family tree, but traditionally they have been quite hard to research. In this article Jen Newby investigates the life they would have led, and finds out what records are available to help you find out more about your ag lab ancestors
What is Britain?
For centuries the UK has been split up into a series of smaller counties, parishes, boroughs and administrative districts. But if you don’t know where the boundaries of each of these lay, it can be difficult to know where to look for your ancestors in the records. Here, Maggie Loughran explains how to get to grips with a complex system
A Portal on the Parish
In this article, Colin Ellson discusses the 18th and 19th century phenomenon of ‘squarsons’. A combination of ‘squire’ and ‘parson’, they were wealthier than the majority of their Anglican clergy counterparts, but played an important job in many local parishes. Here, we take a look through their old diaries to find out what they reveal about the vagaries of village life
ALSO
Family History Stocking Fillers
If you need some inspiration for what to get the genealogist in your family, look no further than this guide!
Christmas in Palestine
Frances Green flicks through the letters of a young soldier serving in the Middle East sent to his mother at Christmas in 1939
New Beginnings
Melody Amsel-Arieli investigates the history and the records of Ellis Island, one of the main immigration ports of New York City
A Beginner’s Guide to Australian Family History
Jeremy Palmer provides an introduction on the subject of tracing your ancestors Down Under 
Scouting for Girls
Kath Garner looks back at the influential role Olave Baden-Powell played in the Girlguiding movement
A Day at London’s Probate Registry
Sarah Warwick rummages through wills at this archive in the Capital
Local Focus: Shropshire FHS
This month Ben Palfreyman is told of some intriguing family connections at this family history society in the Midlands
Website review
We take a look at the UKBMD website on its tenth anniversary