Old newspaper archives online.

[maddys52]

Couldn't agree more. I love searching through old newspapers, amazing the details of our ancestors' lives that can be discovered. In my family there are a few birth, marriage and death notices which have provided more detail than just the certificates, a few court appearances, sad cases of domestic violence, and I love that my ggg grandmother won a prize for having the neatest cottage in her village.

As well as those already mentioned, British Library Newspapers is a great resource - free access from home through my Australian National library card, I'm sure many other libraries offer similar access. 

[Deirdre784]

Couldn't agree more. I love searching through old newspapers, amazing the details of our ancestors' lives that can be discovered. In my family there are a few birth, marriage and death notices which have provided more detail than just the certificates, a few court appearances, sad cases of domestic violence, and I love that my ggg grandmother won a prize for having the neatest cottage in her village.

As well as those already mentioned, British Library Newspapers is a great resource - free access from home through my Australian National library card, I'm sure many other libraries offer similar access. 

Is this the British Newspaper Archive, or something else?

[maddys52]

No, different to British Newspaper Archive. The British Library Newspapers are part of the Gale Primary Sources database. I can't really upload a link as it is probably different depending on your own library - as I mentioned, I access through the Australian National Library eresources, (also NSW State Library).

[Deirdre784]

Ok thanks, i have a local library membership so will try through them. Have found a lot of great stuff recently through FindMyPast but there are gaps so interested to look elsewhere. Thanks

[oldfashionedgirl]

I subscribed to The British Newspaper Archive during lockdown when I was further researching my Victorian house.

I had previously gathered quite a lot of information from the title deeds, census, valuation rolls and BMDs.

The newspaper archives gave me more info into the everyday happenings in the house and street - robberies, servants wanted, lost dog, items for sale and a letter to the editor of the Scotsman newspaper re the war.

Also a wedding of the niece of the owner which I picked up in the intimations and hadn’t previously found as the woman in question had never lived here.

All fascinating stuff and a great window into the past

[frostyknight]

Very useful links there, thanks for posting.

[Dundee]

My ancestor Elizabeth Packard died in February 1842 in Glemham Suffolk, aged 102, and her obituary is given in papers as far away as Liverpool.

She rated a mention in Australia as well.

In the 103d year, Mrs. Packard, North Glenham, Suffolk, leaving 8 children, 48 grandchildren, 148 great-grandchildren, and 14 great great-grand children. — Total, 218.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2557270

Debra 

[coombs]

My ancestor Elizabeth Packard died in February 1842 in Glemham Suffolk, aged 102, and her obituary is given in papers as far away as Liverpool.

She rated a mention in Australia as well.

In the 103d year, Mrs. Packard, North Glenham, Suffolk, leaving 8 children, 48 grandchildren, 148 great-grandchildren, and 14 great great-grand children. — Total, 218.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2557270

Debra 

Wow, she got a mention Down Under.

Thanks Erato and others for the links.

I do agree that newspaper records can give details on your ancestors not found in certs or on census records. It can list siblings and cousins or even an ancestor of your ancestor.

[Erato]

I have found well over 1000 newspaper articles which mention an ancestor.  Many of them are pretty inconsequential - they hosted a bridge party, were summoned for jury duty, hit into a double play in a high school baseball game.  But even those can be useful because they provide evidence of where an ancestor was living in the years between censuses.

Aside from the insignificant notes, there are births, marriages, divorces, deaths, obituaries, probate, high school and college graduations, family reunions, law suits, property sales, agricultural information, house fires, natural disasters, accidents, crimes, letters to the editor and miscellaneous oddities.