Who Do You Think You Are?

Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine not only explores the stories behind the popular BBC genealogy TV series, but also helps you uncover your own roots. Each issue is packed with practical advice to help you track down family history archives and get the most out of online resources, alongside features on what life was like in the past and the historic events that affected our ancestors.

Welcome

CONTRIBUTORS

SARAH’S TOP TIP • Avoid ChatGPT’s ‘hallucinations’ with Alaric’s tip in our ‘Letters’ section

THE ROMA HOLOCAUST

Letters

Who Do You Think You Are?

What’s On

US biotechnology company to purchase 23andMe • Rosemary Collins reports on the latest data releases and genealogy news

NEWS IN BRIEF

MP calls for TNA to publish 1942 report into the Hull Blitz

CAN YOU HELP?

Online Local Heritage Hub helps people ‘explore hidden histories’

Ancestry adds over one million Post Office records

NLS adds historic maps to free site

POWERING THROUGH • Alan Crosby celebrates a group of women who were all born in the 19th century

JOIN THE AI REVOLUTION • Debbie Kennett explains how AI is transforming genealogy, and how you can take advantage of the most popular free online tools

WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY • This ongoing project demonstrates how AI tools are being used to transcribe historic records

HOW TO GENERATE AN IMAGE WITH CHATGPT • Debbie explains how to create a realistic-looking picture to illustrate your research using ChatGPT (chatgpt.com)

HOW TO ASK AI A QUESTION • Get the best results when prompting an AI tool

4 AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT NOW • Debbie recommends these tools if you want to generate text or images, or transcribe records… plus four alternative options

RESOURCES • Take your research further

WHAT’S IN A NAME • It makes perfect sense that family historians tend to focus on surnames. But forenames can also reveal essential information about your family, says Sarah Williams

‘MY RELATIVES INCLUDE ROYALTY, SOLDIERS AND CLAN CHIEFTAINS’ • From Victorian Glasgow to the English Civil War, and ancient clan chieftains to the royal family, Jim Robson’s tree stretches the length of the British Isles says Claire Vaughan

RESOURCES • These resources helped Jim uncover his family history

18TH-CENTURY PARISH REGISTERS • Paul Blake explains the complex history of parish registration in England and Wales, and how to find records from the 1700s

EXPERT PICKS • Paul recommends these three websites to help you track down your forebears’ parish registers

GEORGE ROSE 1744–1818 • The fascinating life of the politician who revolutionised parish registration

DADE REGISTER, 1791 • This register is held by the Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York and is on Ancestry (ancestry.co.uk)

RESOURCES • Take your research further

THE IRISH FAMINE • Jonathan Scott shares online resources to research kin who were affected by the Famine

EXPERT’S CHOICE • Nicola Morris is an Irish genealogist, director of Timeline Research (timeline.ie) and a regular contributor to the WDYTYA? series

GO FURTHER • Eight more websites if you have Irish roots

EXTRACTED DECREE, 1847 • This decree from Dumfries Sheriff Court is held by National Records of Scotland (nrscotland.gov.uk) and available digitally from Scottish Indexes (scottishindexes.com)

SHERIFF COURT PATERNITY RECORDS • Scottish Indexes’ Emma Maxwell, who appears in Diane Morgan’s episode of WDYTYA?, shares her tips for using these important resources

RESOURCES • Take your research further

How can I find John Rafferty in Irish records? • Our team of...