Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 26/09/2026📍Sarehole Mill, Birmingham. There has been a mill here since 1542, with the present building dating largely from the 18th C. J.R.R. Tolkien grew up just across the road and explored the mill and countryside, which later helped inspire the landscapes of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. 101
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Currently rewatching #Bridgerton for the [insert embarrassingly large number here]th time, which seems as good an excuse as any to reshare this. I know it’s historically inaccurate. I simply do not care. Historians are allowed to have fun. And Benedict Bridgerton exists ☕️regencyrelatives.co.ukConfessions of a Family Historian: Why I Love Bridgerton AnywayI should probably begin with a confession: I am a Bridgerton fan. This fact will surprise absolutely nobody who knows me. My friends have reached the point where any mention of Bridgerton is often … 031
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 21/09/2026I thought I'd finished researching my #ancestor King Charles. Then I found a prison sentence, a fatal accident, some questionable family relationships and possibly another King Charles. Back to Frampton-on-Severn for a royal reprise. 👑 Read the latest investigation #familyhistory #genealogyregencyrelatives.co.ukKing Charles: A Royal RepriseIn revisiting the life of my fifth great-grandfather, King Charles, a Gloucestershire labourer, I uncovered significant details about his family and life challenges. Key findings include his impris… 150
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Hello #familyhistory friends. I have taken some time away from #genealogy for personal reasons, but I am slowly starting to creep my way back into the records. Another #mugshot discovered today... 6M hard labour for larceny in Apr 1874. Digging deeper into this one... 3280
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 02/09/2026After dragging the family around Gloucestershire and Warwickshire in pursuit of dead relatives, I’m back from my #genealogy road trip. Did I find the graves I was looking for? No. Did I accidentally acquire another person to investigate? Obviously.regencyrelatives.co.ukThe Genealogy Road Trip: Results from the (Literal) FieldA couple of weeks ago, I wrote about my plans to take the family on a genealogy road trip. My husband had a week off work, the children were still on their summer holidays, and rather than disappea… 150
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 30/08/2026Have spent the week on a #FamilyHistory road trip, mainly to see if I can find final resting places, but also to see where they lived, their communities and the paths the may have trod 150 years ago... #RoadTrip #Ancestry 140
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 24/08/2026Dragging the family on an #Ancestry road trip this week, looking for the final resting places of my Regency Relatives in Gloucester and Warwick. Anyone else spent their summer hunting dead relatives? Any success? #Genealogy #FamilyHistory #Ancestry 240
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 06/08/2026Greetings #GenHour friends! A question... have any of you continued to research someone you have long since discovered is not your ancestor, just because they had an interesting life? #familyhistory #genealogy 691
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 05/08/2026Every family historian hopes to find a photograph of an ancestor. I did. It just wasn't where I expected. My latest article introduces Harriet Watts, and the discovery that has sent me down my latest historical rabbit hole. #FamilyHistory #Genealogy regencyrelatives.co.uk/2026/08/05/t...regencyrelatives.co.ukThe Harriet Watts Investigation: Part OnePeople often ask me whether I’ve uncovered any family secrets whilst researching my ancestors. The answer is yes. Not the sort of secrets that television programmes promise, with aristocratic… 081
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 03/08/2026This desk has witnessed more rabbit holes than I care to admit. Every Regency Relatives article starts here, usually with one question, and ends with twenty more. #FamilyHistory #Genealogy regencyrelatives.co.uk 070
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 03/08/2026If you've hit a brick wall, have conflicting evidence, or simply don't know where to look next, I offer evidence-based #genealogy research to help move your #familyhistory forwards. From quick ancestor snapshots to in-depth research, every project is led by the evidence.regencyrelatives.co.ukResearch ServicesNeed help uncovering an ancestor, solving a family history puzzle, or bringing a forgotten life back into focus? I offer bespoke genealogy research and ancestor profiles, combining historical recor… 021
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 03/08/2026Most family historians know where to look for soldiers, sailors and apprentices. But what if your ancestor worked for the Excise? After researching my own exciseman at Kew, I've written the guide I wish I'd had. #FamilyHistory #Genealogyregencyrelatives.co.ukNavigating Excise Records: A Beginner’s GuideDiscovering an exciseman in your family tree is both exciting and slightly intimidating. Unlike agricultural labourers or blacksmiths, excise officers generated thousands of pages of official paper… 0104
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 02/08/2026Yesterday at TNA, a handful of Excise records helped join together pieces of John Hardwicke's life I'd been collecting for weeks. Still plenty of gaps, but the picture is finally starting to make sense. Part 3 of the Curious Domestic Arrangements of John Hardwicke... #familyhistory #genealogyregencyrelatives.co.ukThe Curious Domestic Arrangements of John Hardwicke c.1755 – c.1826 (Part Three)The search for my 4th great grandmother Elizabeth Harris has gradually evolved from what appeared to be an entirely ordinary piece of family history research into something resembling a Regency det… 041
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 01/08/2026Back on the train to Kew. Today's mission is John Hardwicke (again). I'm hoping somewhere in the Excise records there's another piece of the puzzle waiting to be found. If history has taught me anything, I'll probably leave with three new questions instead. #FamilyHistory #Genealogy 1100
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 27/07/2026"I'll just check one thing..." Famous last words in #FamilyHistory. My latest article is about why some of the best discoveries begin when we stop searching for people and start searching for places. It's also a thank you to the volunteers who make those discoveries possible. #Genealogyregencyrelatives.co.ukThe Family History Resources We Don’t Talk About EnoughI have spent the last few weeks immersed in a family history mystery that has reminded me why I find this hobby endlessly fascinating. It has everything I enjoy: conflicting evidence, unexpected tw… 192
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 21/07/2026I completely forgot about #AncestryHour tonight while trying to crack my latest #FamilyHistory case. Two possible ancestors. One has to go. Time to eliminate one from my enquiries... Actual footage of me this evening. 👇 1120
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 18/07/2026Every #FamilyHistory article starts life as something much messier. Notes. Questions. Dead ends. Contradictory evidence. A few educated guesses (hopefully corrected later). I've shared a behind-the-scenes look at how I used an #EvidenceMatrix to organise one investigation. #genealogyregencyrelatives.co.ukBehind the Research: Revisiting John Hardwicke through an Evidence MatrixWhen I published The Curious Domestic Arrangements of John Hardwicke, readers were introduced to a man who sits at the centre of one of my current family history investigations. By the time I finis… 0103
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 16/07/2026Apologies for being AWOL. The day job has been staging a hostile takeover, so my evenings have involved little more than negotiating with the sofa. #FamilyHistory resumes soon. Next: how I used my #EvidenceMatrix to unravel the life of my Wiltshire ancestor, John Hardwicke. Coming soon! #genealogy 090
Reposted by Lisa | Regency RelativesBuckinghamshire Archives @bucksarchives.bsky.social · 14/07/2026Who doesn't love a bit of gossip? 321165330
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 12/07/2026A glorious weekend solo camping in the #NewForest, including a visit to #BucklersHard, an important 18th C. shipbuilding community, where HMS Agamemnon - reportedly Nelson's favourite ship - was built from 1777 and launched in 1781. 020
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 07/07/2026Yesterday's trip to see #LukeThompson in #WhiteRabbitRedRabbit left me with an unexpected question: have people always travelled extraordinary distances to see their favourite actors? My latest article explores the answer. #Regency #History #Theatreregencyrelatives.co.ukWhat Waiting Outside a Stage Door Taught Me About Regency CelebrityA few weeks ago I wrote an article about why historians are perfectly entitled to enjoy Bridgerton. It seemed to strike a chord with quite a few people, perhaps because so many of us feel we have t… 030
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 02/07/2026Yesterday I posted that the evidence matrix would be available next week... Apparently I underestimated my own enthusiasm 😂 The article is now live, along with a FREE evidence matrix to help you organise your research, compare evidence, and keep your research moving. #familyhistory #genealogyregencyrelatives.co.ukHow I Use My Evidence Matrix (and Why I’ve Designed It This Way)The article shares insights on employing an evidence matrix in family history research, emphasising critical evaluation of records, organisation of findings, and the importance of questioning evide… 5115
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 02/07/2026I'm gradually turning the way I approach #familyhistory research into a series of articles. The latest looks at why I use an evidence matrix to organise my research and why it's one of the most valuable tools I have. Next week, I'll share the template I actually use as a free download. #Genealogyregencyrelatives.co.ukWhy Every Family Historian Should Keep an Evidence MatrixFamily historians can enhance their research by creating an evidence matrix, which helps organise findings, track sources, evaluate reliability, and formulate research questions. 0150
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 30/06/2026Hello everyone joining #AncestryHour! This week, I've mainly been focussing on revisiting an ancestor who may or may not be an ancestor. Keeping an open mind and thinking outside the box for finding elusive baptism and burial records... What's been on your to do list this week? 490
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 28/06/2026Well, that's a lovely surprise. 200 followers on Bluesky. Thank you all for making this such a friendly place to share my enthusiasm for family history and social history 😊 030
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 28/06/2026I've been falling down another historical rabbit hole... This time: the mysterious causes of death that appear in our ancestors' records, and what they really meant. 📖 New article below. #familyhistory #genealogyregencyrelatives.co.ukWhen the Register Says “Fever”: Understanding Illness in Family History RecordsOne of the most frustrating aspects of researching our ancestors is how little surviving records sometimes tell us. We spend hours uncovering baptisms, marriages and burials, yet when illness enter… 160
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 27/06/2026I've realised over the past few years that I spend far less time looking for new records than I do trying to understand the ones I've already found. That shift has completely changed the way I approach family history, so I've written about it in my latest article 👇 #familyhistory #genealogyregencyrelatives.co.ukWhat Family Historians Can Learn from Professional HistoriansOne of the biggest misconceptions about history is that historians spend their lives memorising dates and collecting facts. In reality, facts are only the starting point. Historians are interested … 42811
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 26/06/2026Morning coffee under the parasol, with chilled music and #familyhistory sleuthing. Is this the perfect morning? #genealogy 2120
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 25/06/2026Maybe of interest to #GenHour friends 👇 010
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 25/06/2026This may be helpful to my fellow #GenHour fans 😃 021
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 25/06/2026A little late for #GenHour this week. Just wanted to wave hello to all 👋 This week, I've been following up on my trip to The National Archives and trying to get to the bottom of who the father of my 5 x GGM really was - and trying to ignore the little green leaves that are very wrong! 150
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 23/06/2026Complaining about the weather is a long-standing British tradition. Regency Britons had plenty to complain about too. From heatwaves and droughts to freezing winters, failed harvests and the Year Without a Summer, weather shaped everyday life in ways that are easy to overlook today. #genealogyregencyrelatives.co.ukHeatwaves, Frost Fairs and Failed Harvests: Weather in Regency BritainThe Regency period’s weather profoundly impacted agriculture, food security, and social dynamics, illustrating the historical significance of climate. 072
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 22/06/2026I appreciate this is a niche topic. Most people don't spend their free time wondering about eighteenth-century tax officials. If you've found an exciseman in your family tree, or are curious about one of Regency Britain's least popular occupations, this article is for you. #genealogyregencyrelatives.co.ukThe Excisemen: the Regency officials no-one wanted to meetA few weeks ago, I introduced you to my ancestor, John Hardwicke, a man whose family arrangements proved considerably more complicated than his occupation. While trying to untangle the various wive… 010
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 20/06/2026Organising all those sticky notes and scraps of paper on your #familyhistory desk today? Why not head to the RR website and give the *FREE* resources a go? #genealogy #chaos 000
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 19/06/2026I travelled to Kew to answer three questions about an ancestor. I came home with one possible lead, two unanswered questions, several photographs of 18th Century tax records, and another archive visit booked. A fairly typical day in family history. #familyhistory #genealogyregencyrelatives.co.ukThe Curious Domestic Arrangements of John Hardwicke - Part TwoAn Adventure at The National Archives This week I made my first visit to The National Archives at Kew. My mission was straightforward enough. I wanted to find out when my ancestor John Hardwicke jo… 080
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 19/06/2026Morning all. I'm heading to @natarchivestrust.bsky.social at Kew today to look at tax records from 1785. I realise this may be a niche enthusiasm, but if old records and forgotten stories make you smile too, then you'll understand exactly why I'm looking forward to it. #familyhistory #genealogy 391
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 18/06/2026Think the cost of living crisis is a modern problem? Regency families paid taxes on windows, soap, candles and beer while navigating war, rising prices and economic uncertainty. Perhaps our ancestors were not so different after all. 📖 New post on RR 👇 #familyhistory #genealogy #socialhistoryregencyrelatives.co.ukThe Regency Cost of Living CrisisFamily historians sometimes have a habit of making assumptions based on occupations. A labourer sounds poor. A farmer sounds comfortable. A shopkeeper sounds respectable. Yet occupations tell us re… 062
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 17/06/2026As someone who spends far too much time researching the real Regency period, I am occasionally asked how I can possibly enjoy #Bridgerton. The answer is quite simple: historians are allowed to have fun. Also, Benedict Bridgerton. New post below ☕️ #FamilyHistory #Genealogy #RegencyEraregencyrelatives.co.ukConfessions of a Family Historian: Why I Love Bridgerton AnywayI should probably begin with a confession: I am a Bridgerton fan. This fact will surprise absolutely nobody who knows me. My friends have reached the point where any mention of Bridgerton is often … 020
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 17/06/2026The name matches. The age is close enough. There are 37 online trees that agree. What could possibly go wrong? My latest article explores the most dangerous phrase in family history: "That looks about right." ☕👇 #familyhistory #genealogyregencyrelatives.co.ukThe Family Historian's Most Dangerous Phrase: "That Looks About Right"Family historians are a curious group of people. We spend our spare time examining centuries-old records, debating whether a smudge on a parish register is a letter “n” or a letter R… 1144
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 16/06/2026Genealogists: "I shall carefully follow the evidence wherever it leads." The evidence: Baptised in Birmingham. Married in Hampshire. Census says born in Gloucestershire. Died in Somerset. Buried in Wiltshire. Military records suggest Plymouth. Excellent. That narrows it down to England. 080
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 16/06/2026Most #familyhistory problems can be solved with patience, persistence, and a vat of tea. For the rest, I offer #genealogy research services designed to uncover the stories behind the records. 📜 Ancestor Snapshots 📖 Ancestor Stories 🔎 Brick Wall Research regencyrelatives.co.uk/research-servicesregencyrelatives.co.ukResearch ServicesNeed help uncovering an ancestor, solving a family history puzzle, or bringing a forgotten life back into focus? I offer bespoke genealogy research and ancestor profiles, combining historical recor… 130
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 14/06/2026Researching my family tree often reminds me that ordinary lives can tell extraordinary stories. My 5x great-grandfather, Francis Anderton, went from tenant farmer to milkman, and endured more than his fair share of hardship along the way. ☕ Story below. #familyhistory #genealogyregencyrelatives.co.ukFrom Tenant Farmer to Milkman: The Life of Francis AndertonBuried within the parish registers of Burton Dassett is a story that begins with sheep farming, village life and a large Warwickshire family, before unfolding into something far more complicated. W… 181
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 14/06/2026Have your census findings somehow ended up spread across three notebooks, several browser tabs, and a scrap of paper whose origin remains a mystery? I've created a *FREE* Census Tracker to help keep everything in one place. Click below to get your copy...👇 #familyhistory #genealogyregencyrelatives.co.ukA Most Useful Collection of Research ResourcesA growing collection of worksheets, planners, guides and tools designed to help family historians organise their research and tackle those inevitable brick walls. Family history rarely progresses i… 1112
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 13/06/2026Want to be a guest author on Regency Relatives? I share articles on local and social history, ancestors living in Regency times, and research guides to help others on their #familyhistory quests. If these topics align with your interests, get in touch - hello@regencyrelatives.co.uk #genealogy 002
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 12/06/2026Next week, I'm visiting @natarchivestrust.bsky.social in Kew to review some records from the Regency period to try and dismantle one of the brick walls I've had for a while. What trips have you been on in the name of ##familyhistory research? 010
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 12/06/2026Does your #familyhistory research consist of 17 browser tabs, 2 contradictory census entries, and a growing suspicion that your ancestor is actively avoiding discovery? I've created an Ancestor Case File workbook to help bring order to the chaos. Click below to get your *FREE* copy... #genealogyregencyrelatives.co.ukA Most Useful Collection of Research ResourcesA growing collection of worksheets, planners, guides and tools designed to help family historians organise their research and tackle those inevitable brick walls. Family history rarely progresses i… 162
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 11/06/2026Ooh, there's a #GenHour on Thursday nights?? I missed it this week! Will follow along next week. #genealogy #ancestry #familyhistory 060
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 10/06/2026Found an ancestor in 47 online trees. Fabulous. 46 copied from the other one. The original one cites: "Trust me, bro. No cap". #familyhistory #ancestry #genealogy 1151
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 10/06/2026Thinking of starting your family tree? Excellent. You'll begin by looking for a grandparent. Three weeks later you'll be emailing an archive about an illegitimate child born in 1785 and arguing with an enumerator who has been dead since 1841. A beginner's guide to #familyhistory websites 👇regencyrelatives.co.ukBeyond the Hint Leaves: Choosing Family History Resources as a BeginnerOne of the questions I am asked most frequently by people beginning their family history journey is deceptively straightforward: which family history subscription should I choose? It is usually ask… 3131
Lisa | Regency Relatives @regencyrelatives.bsky.social · 09/06/2026Ok. One more post before retiring for the evening. #Genealogy peeps, do any of you have any information on whether there was a place in Devon called Oldworthy, or Old Worthy? This place of birth features in the 1851 census for my ancestor Elizabeth (?Harris) Felton... 1/2 111