Ancestry Magazine

Judy Ward’s interest in her family history began when a friend from work told her about the collections of records that are available online. Genealogy-minded family members shared interesting family facts and stories with Judy, and many of her cousins shared their own well-researched pedigrees with her. After developing her family tree for two years, she felt ready for a trip to England to pursue her ancestors there. Judy’s Thayer line traces back to a small community in Gloucestershire, England, called Thornbury, and she wanted to visit the town to see what she could learn about her heritage.

Then Judy entered a sweepstakes held by Ancestry.com and won a trip to visit her ancestral homeland. So she and her husband prepared for a trip to England, the place many of her ancestors called home.

Ancestral Sites in Thornbury
While in Thornbury, Judy visited the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, which was established in the twelfth century. Judy’s ancestors lived in Thornbury from the fifteenth to seventeenth century, and many were buried in the church’s cemetery. As may be expected when looking for such old gravestones, Judy found that many of her ancestors’ grave markers had deteriorated beyond recognition and had been removed from the cemetery years ago. Nevertheless, Judy enjoyed wandering around the cemetery and getting a feel for her ancestors’ burial place.

Thornbury Museum was another destination that piqued Judy’s interest. She spent a few hours looking at all of the museum’s offerings. Though Thornbury is a small town of about 15,000 residents, it is home to Thornbury Castle, which was built in the sixteenth century. Judy visited the castle, which was refurbished about 200 years ago and is now considered one of the most luxurious hotels in England. As Judy traveled in England, she was impress ed by the British people with whom she came in contact. Their appreciation for the centuries of history that resides in their country was evident.

Touring London
During her trip, Judy also took the opportunity of seeing the famous sights in London. She spent an informative day at the Tower of London, and took numerous pictures there. A tour of Westminster Abbey was the perfect complement to the other sites Judy took in. Buckingham and Kensington Palaces were two other places of interest for Judy and her husband. They also had tea at the Orangery, which used to be the winter greenhouse for Kensington Palace. Patrons now enjoy the meals that are served at the Orangery under the direction of famous restaurateur Pru Leith.

The Aftermath
Judy says that her trip “will leave a lasting impression.” Now that she has researched overseas, she tells her friends, “You really need to go!” Judy is not the only person who feels the impact of the trip. Her husband, who was not particularly interested in genealogy before, says that his interest has been piqued by their England experience.

Judy continues to make family history research plans. She has located and would like to purchase three books about the Thayers of Gloucestershire. Additionally, she is excited to explore more of Europe, particularly Scotland. Because Judy has never met the cousins with whom she corresponds online, she hopes that one day she can also attend her family’s annual reunion in Massachusetts. And of course, Judy says she’d love to go back to England.

Tips for Overseas Research
• Find as much information as possible before you leave home. Judy found the LDS Family History Center near her hometown particularly helpful as she was preparing for her research trip.
• Before you leave home, contact the repositories at which you plan to do research. Search online for additional libraries and points of interest near your destination. Be sure that they are open during the time you will be visiting. Be familiar with the resources they have to offer.
• Document everything you can before you leave. Having things organized will make each piece of information much easier to access when you are on the move.
• Be prepared for any weather. Judy left for England expecting a reprieve from the hot Southern California summer, but she was surprised when England was sunny and warm.
• Take along an address book that lists all of the family names you will be researching. Include birth date, death date, burial place, and any other useful information. Judy found it much easier to carry than her bulky files, and she knew she had all the information she needed.
• Look both ways when you cross the street! If you’re in a country like England, where cars drive on the left side of the road, be particularly careful to look to your right.
• Bring sturdy shoes and be physically prepared for all of the walking you will do. Meandering through a cemetery can take a toll on ill-prepared feet.
• Take some time to sightsee. Chances are that this may be your only opportunity to visit the area. Find out if you can buy some sort of pass that will admit you to a number of the tourist attractions you want to take in.
• Before you leave, decide how you will travel from place to place. Though Judy enjoyed driving in the quieter areas of England, she and her husband did not venture behind the wheel while in London. They opted to use the public transportation system instead.