Last Friday was a computer evening. We looked at three subjects:

1. A quick look at the new page on this site called Rugby Research (see under Links) which has information on finding Records in the area.

2. We explored the Warwickshire records on Ancestry, which can now be searched by name.

3. Started an ongoing computer evening project.
Someone had sugested that it would be useful to demonstrate the steps of researching an ancestor on the computer.
We picked a Rugby address at random and looked up that address in the 1901 census.
The person living there turned out to be an Alfred Thomas Rainbow - a surname which is still found Rugby.
We looked the family up on several censuses and entered the information into a Family History program.
At the next meeting on 30th November, we will try and find out more using civil registration records.
If you missed the meeting you can find more information in the members area.

Please don't start researching this family (unless it's yours of course!) - we want to follow this research together

Several months ago a large amount of records from Warwickshire Record Office appeared on Ancestry.
Described as Warwickshire, England, Occupational and Quarter Session Records, 1662-1866, they consist of records generated by the Quarter Sessions and are mainly of the 17th and 18th Centuries. They include records of the Hearth Tax and other Taxes for Hair Powder and Gamekeeper; Lists of Jurors and Freeholders, Freemasons and Boat Owners.
These records have now been indexed, so you can search for your ancestor without wading through hundreds of pages.
Remember, though that these records are handwritten so use a bit of creative searching if you can’t find what you are looking for.
You can read a Blog about Hair Powder records by Rob Eyre, Archivist at the WRO here
and you can search the records here

Reminder

Do you have an article for the next issue of Kith and Kin?
Please send it to the Editor before the 15th Oct (next Monday)

For those who might be interested in a famous Rugby person.

"A new film telling the tale of Sir Frank Whittle has been released to coincide with the 70th anniversary of his pioneering flight in America. "Whittle-the Jet Pioneer" made by Nicholas Jones combines footage filmed in Rugby with archive film from the era.

The Members Interests page is now live.
More names will be added as members join
If you are a member, please check your names are correct - please report any errors to the webmaster.