Dave Annal Lifelines Research
@davelifelines.bsky.social
Family historian, lecturer, author. Former Principal Family History Specialist at The National Archives. Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. 41 years in the business. Loves a good map. #Genealogy #FamilyHistory
https://lifelinesresearch.co.uk/
https://lifelinesresearch.co.uk/
I've often come across references to Whitefield's Chapel or Tabernacle in Tottenham Court Road in the course of my professional research but I'd never been aware before that there was a family connection. My 4xGt Uncle & Aunt, Joseph & Elizabeth TRUMAN were buried there in 1798 & 1789 respectively.
November 25, 2025 at 2:19 PM
I've often come across references to Whitefield's Chapel or Tabernacle in Tottenham Court Road in the course of my professional research but I'd never been aware before that there was a family connection. My 4xGt Uncle & Aunt, Joseph & Elizabeth TRUMAN were buried there in 1798 & 1789 respectively.
A new discovery from the weekend. My 4xGt Uncle, Joseph Truman, moved to London from Lacock in Wiltshire around 1770. He eventually settled in Marylebone where he died in 1798. I now know exactly where he lived - at 10 Ogle Court, highlighted on this detail from Horwood's 1792-99 map. #MapMonday
November 24, 2025 at 2:37 PM
A new discovery from the weekend. My 4xGt Uncle, Joseph Truman, moved to London from Lacock in Wiltshire around 1770. He eventually settled in Marylebone where he died in 1798. I now know exactly where he lived - at 10 Ogle Court, highlighted on this detail from Horwood's 1792-99 map. #MapMonday
Today, I'm going to do a bit of research on a part of my own family. John Joseph Lawson (my 2nd cousin 4x removed) is one of my most fascinating relatives. He and his father, James, were successively the Printers of The Times and in 1839, he was imprisoned for publishing libellous material. 1/2
November 23, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Today, I'm going to do a bit of research on a part of my own family. John Joseph Lawson (my 2nd cousin 4x removed) is one of my most fascinating relatives. He and his father, James, were successively the Printers of The Times and in 1839, he was imprisoned for publishing libellous material. 1/2
Not a bad way to spend a cold and blustery winter afternoon.
I'm live on Zoom at 14.30 speaking to the Hertfordshire Family History Society - which is less than an hour away. So, I suppose I should stir my stumps...
I'm live on Zoom at 14.30 speaking to the Hertfordshire Family History Society - which is less than an hour away. So, I suppose I should stir my stumps...
November 22, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Not a bad way to spend a cold and blustery winter afternoon.
I'm live on Zoom at 14.30 speaking to the Hertfordshire Family History Society - which is less than an hour away. So, I suppose I should stir my stumps...
I'm live on Zoom at 14.30 speaking to the Hertfordshire Family History Society - which is less than an hour away. So, I suppose I should stir my stumps...
One of the people I'm researching for a client at the moment served in the Royal Navy between 1803 and 1814 and one of the ships he served on was HMS Canopus. I already knew that Jane Austen's brother, Francis, was the Captain of the ship but it was nice to find his signature on the muster rolls!
November 20, 2025 at 11:36 AM
One of the people I'm researching for a client at the moment served in the Royal Navy between 1803 and 1814 and one of the ships he served on was HMS Canopus. I already knew that Jane Austen's brother, Francis, was the Captain of the ship but it was nice to find his signature on the muster rolls!
Reposted by Dave Annal Lifelines Research
Celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday with the Society of Genealogists this December.
Talks on Jane’s life, family, and legacy from leading genealogy experts.
Book now: www.sog.org.uk/events
Talks on Jane’s life, family, and legacy from leading genealogy experts.
Book now: www.sog.org.uk/events
November 19, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday with the Society of Genealogists this December.
Talks on Jane’s life, family, and legacy from leading genealogy experts.
Book now: www.sog.org.uk/events
Talks on Jane’s life, family, and legacy from leading genealogy experts.
Book now: www.sog.org.uk/events
I've spent the morning sorting through 681 document images from yesterday's trip to @nationalarchives.gov.uk.web.brid.gy
I think I need a break...
I think I need a break...
November 19, 2025 at 1:06 PM
I've spent the morning sorting through 681 document images from yesterday's trip to @nationalarchives.gov.uk.web.brid.gy
I think I need a break...
I think I need a break...
Good morning to my fellow Scots.
How you are all feeling this fine morning...? 🏴⚽🏴⚽🏴🥳
How you are all feeling this fine morning...? 🏴⚽🏴⚽🏴🥳
November 19, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Good morning to my fellow Scots.
How you are all feeling this fine morning...? 🏴⚽🏴⚽🏴🥳
How you are all feeling this fine morning...? 🏴⚽🏴⚽🏴🥳
I’ve read some wonderful books this year but this might just about be the best!
Anna Keay’s fascinating guide to the English Republic (1649-1660) as seen through the eyes of those who experienced it.
Anna Keay’s fascinating guide to the English Republic (1649-1660) as seen through the eyes of those who experienced it.
November 17, 2025 at 9:40 AM
I’ve read some wonderful books this year but this might just about be the best!
Anna Keay’s fascinating guide to the English Republic (1649-1660) as seen through the eyes of those who experienced it.
Anna Keay’s fascinating guide to the English Republic (1649-1660) as seen through the eyes of those who experienced it.
A few years ago, I discovered that my 3x Gt Grandmother’s sister, Ann Port, had died in Germany ca. 1823. Yesterday I found a record of her death in Wetter an der Ruhr and I’ve spent several fascinating hours today falling deeper and deeper into a rabbit hole… 🇩🇪
a cartoon of alice from alice in wonderland says the rabbit hole deepens .
ALT: a cartoon of alice from alice in wonderland says the rabbit hole deepens .
media.tenor.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:26 PM
A few years ago, I discovered that my 3x Gt Grandmother’s sister, Ann Port, had died in Germany ca. 1823. Yesterday I found a record of her death in Wetter an der Ruhr and I’ve spent several fascinating hours today falling deeper and deeper into a rabbit hole… 🇩🇪
I’m back down south after an emotional few days up in Edinburgh. My 92-year old dad is moving into a care home today and it all feels like the end of an era…
November 14, 2025 at 8:39 AM
I’m back down south after an emotional few days up in Edinburgh. My 92-year old dad is moving into a care home today and it all feels like the end of an era…
Having just read a refence to a marriage taking place at "St
Pancras’ Old Church in 1854" in an otherwise excellent article about a case of bigamy, I thought it might be worth revisiting my blog about the St Pancras churches.
It's easy; the 'old' church is (kind of) the newer of the two...
Pancras’ Old Church in 1854" in an otherwise excellent article about a case of bigamy, I thought it might be worth revisiting my blog about the St Pancras churches.
It's easy; the 'old' church is (kind of) the newer of the two...
You Don’t Know What You’ve Got…
I realise that I’m running the risk of sounding like a broken record here but it seems like there’s always something else to say when it comes to assessing the work of the major commercial genealog…
lifelinesresearch.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Having just read a refence to a marriage taking place at "St
Pancras’ Old Church in 1854" in an otherwise excellent article about a case of bigamy, I thought it might be worth revisiting my blog about the St Pancras churches.
It's easy; the 'old' church is (kind of) the newer of the two...
Pancras’ Old Church in 1854" in an otherwise excellent article about a case of bigamy, I thought it might be worth revisiting my blog about the St Pancras churches.
It's easy; the 'old' church is (kind of) the newer of the two...
I am so fortunate to come from a family of hoarders - both my dad's side of the family and my mum's were reluctant to throw anything away. Which is why I was able to find this in a box of my dad's. It's a letter from a garage acknowledging my dad's order for his first car, a brand new Ford Popular!
November 12, 2025 at 2:47 PM
I am so fortunate to come from a family of hoarders - both my dad's side of the family and my mum's were reluctant to throw anything away. Which is why I was able to find this in a box of my dad's. It's a letter from a garage acknowledging my dad's order for his first car, a brand new Ford Popular!
Reposted by Dave Annal Lifelines Research
Season Ten is here, and we start with 'The Seaman' with Dr. Wanda Wyporska
familyhistoriespodcast.com/2025/11/11/s... #podcast #genealogy #ancestry #FamilyHistory
familyhistoriespodcast.com/2025/11/11/s... #podcast #genealogy #ancestry #FamilyHistory
S10EP01 - 'The Seaman' with Dr. Wanda Wyporska - The Family Histories Podcast
Host Andrew Martin meets Dr. Wanda Wyporska, and hears about her seafaring Gt. Grandfather, and they ask for help to find a couple from Barbados
familyhistoriespodcast.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Season Ten is here, and we start with 'The Seaman' with Dr. Wanda Wyporska
familyhistoriespodcast.com/2025/11/11/s... #podcast #genealogy #ancestry #FamilyHistory
familyhistoriespodcast.com/2025/11/11/s... #podcast #genealogy #ancestry #FamilyHistory
In 1939, when my mum was 11 years old, she won the 'Dux Medal' at her school, the 'Normal Practising Primary School' or 'Orwell Normal'. Her achivement was reported in the Edinburgh Evening News on 13 July 1939. And while sorting out a few things at my dad's house today, guess what I came across...?
November 11, 2025 at 5:17 PM
In 1939, when my mum was 11 years old, she won the 'Dux Medal' at her school, the 'Normal Practising Primary School' or 'Orwell Normal'. Her achivement was reported in the Edinburgh Evening News on 13 July 1939. And while sorting out a few things at my dad's house today, guess what I came across...?
I’m up in Edinburgh for a few days and it seems appropriate to post a link to a piece I wrote a few years ago about my Edinburgh-born great uncle, Samuel Christie Annal who spent the last few months of his short life fighting in the Myanmar jungle.
#LestWeForget #Remembrance2025
#LestWeForget #Remembrance2025
Remembered Always
Two years ago, I set myself the challenge of writing about an ancestor who died in military conflict, with the aim of publishing a Remembrance Day blog post to mark their life. In November 2022, I …
lifelinesresearch.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 7:26 AM
I’m up in Edinburgh for a few days and it seems appropriate to post a link to a piece I wrote a few years ago about my Edinburgh-born great uncle, Samuel Christie Annal who spent the last few months of his short life fighting in the Myanmar jungle.
#LestWeForget #Remembrance2025
#LestWeForget #Remembrance2025
10,000 words and counting...! 🥳
I think that's as good a place as any to stop for the day...
#AmWriting
I think that's as good a place as any to stop for the day...
#AmWriting
November 5, 2025 at 6:12 PM
10,000 words and counting...! 🥳
I think that's as good a place as any to stop for the day...
#AmWriting
I think that's as good a place as any to stop for the day...
#AmWriting
It's taken me a while to arrive at this conclusion, but I now firmly believe that the only way to finish this book is to get on with it.
So that's what I'm doing today...
#AmWriting
So that's what I'm doing today...
#AmWriting
November 5, 2025 at 10:17 AM
It's taken me a while to arrive at this conclusion, but I now firmly believe that the only way to finish this book is to get on with it.
So that's what I'm doing today...
#AmWriting
So that's what I'm doing today...
#AmWriting
I'll be heading up the A41 in a couple of hours' time to speak to the good folk of the Aston Clinton U3A.
I'm giving them my talk on using newspapers to bring our ancestors to life.
It all starts at 2pm...
I'm giving them my talk on using newspapers to bring our ancestors to life.
It all starts at 2pm...
November 4, 2025 at 10:50 AM
I'll be heading up the A41 in a couple of hours' time to speak to the good folk of the Aston Clinton U3A.
I'm giving them my talk on using newspapers to bring our ancestors to life.
It all starts at 2pm...
I'm giving them my talk on using newspapers to bring our ancestors to life.
It all starts at 2pm...
Just to clear everything up, the person I'm researching was born in Holwell, which was in Bedfordshire but was transferred to Hertfordshire in 1897.
As a young man he moved to St Thomas Chapel which was in the Bedfordshire parish of Meppershall but was administratively part of Hertfordshire...
1/2
As a young man he moved to St Thomas Chapel which was in the Bedfordshire parish of Meppershall but was administratively part of Hertfordshire...
1/2
November 3, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Just to clear everything up, the person I'm researching was born in Holwell, which was in Bedfordshire but was transferred to Hertfordshire in 1897.
As a young man he moved to St Thomas Chapel which was in the Bedfordshire parish of Meppershall but was administratively part of Hertfordshire...
1/2
As a young man he moved to St Thomas Chapel which was in the Bedfordshire parish of Meppershall but was administratively part of Hertfordshire...
1/2
County boundaries weren't always as neat as we'd like them to be. The area around Meppershall in Bedfordshire was particularly complicated giving rise to this cartographical equivalent of a shrug of the shoulders:
HARTFORD SHIRE intermixed with BEDFORD SHIRE
The Limits uncertain
#MappyMonday
HARTFORD SHIRE intermixed with BEDFORD SHIRE
The Limits uncertain
#MappyMonday
November 3, 2025 at 9:48 AM
County boundaries weren't always as neat as we'd like them to be. The area around Meppershall in Bedfordshire was particularly complicated giving rise to this cartographical equivalent of a shrug of the shoulders:
HARTFORD SHIRE intermixed with BEDFORD SHIRE
The Limits uncertain
#MappyMonday
HARTFORD SHIRE intermixed with BEDFORD SHIRE
The Limits uncertain
#MappyMonday
Just about to head off to Dartford for my talk at the @nwkfhs.bsky.social AGM this afternoon.
I'm on stage at 14.15. The M25 seems to be clear. What can possibly go wrong...?
I'm on stage at 14.15. The M25 seems to be clear. What can possibly go wrong...?
November 1, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Just about to head off to Dartford for my talk at the @nwkfhs.bsky.social AGM this afternoon.
I'm on stage at 14.15. The M25 seems to be clear. What can possibly go wrong...?
I'm on stage at 14.15. The M25 seems to be clear. What can possibly go wrong...?
It’s one of those confusing days for me today.
First up, I’ve got a football session for Under 5 & Under 6 girls at 10am.
Then, I’m off to Dartford to present my talk on the impact of illegitimacy on family history research at the AGM of the North West Kent FHS at 2.15pm.
First up, I’ve got a football session for Under 5 & Under 6 girls at 10am.
Then, I’m off to Dartford to present my talk on the impact of illegitimacy on family history research at the AGM of the North West Kent FHS at 2.15pm.
November 1, 2025 at 9:25 AM
It’s one of those confusing days for me today.
First up, I’ve got a football session for Under 5 & Under 6 girls at 10am.
Then, I’m off to Dartford to present my talk on the impact of illegitimacy on family history research at the AGM of the North West Kent FHS at 2.15pm.
First up, I’ve got a football session for Under 5 & Under 6 girls at 10am.
Then, I’m off to Dartford to present my talk on the impact of illegitimacy on family history research at the AGM of the North West Kent FHS at 2.15pm.
#31DaysOfGraves Day#31 Memento Mori
Seven years ago today I spent a fascinating hour or so wandering around Abercorn Kirkyard in West Lothian looking at all the Memento Mori gravestones.
Here are a few of the best...
Seven years ago today I spent a fascinating hour or so wandering around Abercorn Kirkyard in West Lothian looking at all the Memento Mori gravestones.
Here are a few of the best...
October 31, 2025 at 12:42 PM
#31DaysOfGraves Day#31 Memento Mori
Seven years ago today I spent a fascinating hour or so wandering around Abercorn Kirkyard in West Lothian looking at all the Memento Mori gravestones.
Here are a few of the best...
Seven years ago today I spent a fascinating hour or so wandering around Abercorn Kirkyard in West Lothian looking at all the Memento Mori gravestones.
Here are a few of the best...
Well it is #Halloween today, so why shouldn't she get married 14 years after she died...? 🧟🧟♂️🧟♀️👻
October 31, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Well it is #Halloween today, so why shouldn't she get married 14 years after she died...? 🧟🧟♂️🧟♀️👻