NEWPORT BRANCH TALKS, 2025 May 27

American Cousins by Derek Fielding

Between 1880 and 1914, USA and Canada both encouraged immigration, particularly from the British Isles. This was because they are very large countries with, at the time, relatively small populations and they needed manpower to farm their lands and man their factories. As a result many of us now have relations in North America- the descendants of these original immigrants- and may well wish to know more about them and even contact them.

Those familiar with tracking family history at home in Britain will find the North American systems very different and so the speaker will outline the differences and how it is possible to identify and maybe locate distant cousins.

When he had completed his survey he then told a personal story- a family tragedy- which he had managed to compile through the internet and contact with individuals in Canada through the internet. He used this to show what could be achieved in North America without ever visiting there.