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The SDFHS Blog

Kellaway coat of arms in Sherborne Abbey

Posted on 8th January 2014

SDFHS member Warwick Kellaway of Hamilton, New Zealand, has been researching his family history for many years The name Kellaway/Kelleway/Kelloway/Kelway/Callaway/Calloway/Calway/Callow/Kellow, and the other variants seen today, is reasonably considered to derive from the village of Caillouet, in Eure, northern France The first dated record of the family name in England has been accepted to be that of Philip de Chailewai in the 1165 Gloucester Pipe Rolls holding land in Wiltshire, probably... more

Your Journal needs you!

Posted on 7th January 2014

Bob Barber, the Editor of the Society's Journal The Greenwood Tree needs your help: Have you made any New Year resolutions Why not make it a priority to put pen to paper and write up some aspect of your family history research The Greenwood Tree is your journal and can only continue if members send material for publication Publishing your research gives it exposure to a wide audience and can often answer questions or help to make contacts with others interested in the same area In August... more

Seasons Greetings

Posted on 24th December 2013

Best wishes for Christmas from the Somerset & Dorset Family History Society Many thanks to all who have followed us here since we set this blog up just a few months ago - we really have appreciated your support and feedback and hope you will stay with us in 2014 when we will have many more interesting news items and reports to help you keep in touch with what we are... more

Family History Centre Christmas Lunch

Posted on 15th December 2013

On 11 December many of the Society's Research Centre Volunteers, together with members of the SDFHS Executive Committee and our President, gathered at the award-winning Eastbury Hotel in Sherborne for our Christmas lunch Patricia... more

Basic sources for tracing World War II soldiers

Posted on 13th December 2013

The SDFHS Military Advisor, Col Iain Swinnerton, summarises basic sources for tracing British soldiers who served in the Second World War (Note: the details below apply equally to women) Service Records All records of post-1920 servicemen are confidential and remain with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) They are available free of charge to the man himself However, in recognition of the duty of care owed to the family of the deceased subject, for a period of 25 years following the date of death... more

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