When researching family history, we rely on well-known sources like birth, marriage, and death/burial records (BMDs and BMBs), censuses, probate records, and documents preserved by family members. These are invaluable, but are you exploring the full range of resources available?
Digitized newspapers and city directories have more recently become key research tools. However, other publications also offer unique insights into your ancestors’ lives. Are you making the most of them?
For instance, MyHeritage offers several specialized databases that can greatly expand your research, such as the “Historical Books – Index of Authors and People Mentioned, 1811-2003” with 494,146,925 entries, “Authors of Scholarly Articles” with 276,246,210 entries, and “Inventors of Historical Patents” with 258,995,128 entries.
I recently explored the patent database using the surname Allcroft, which is connected by marriage to my family line. Walter Lacey Allcroft, the son of businessman, philanthropist, and Member of Parliament John Derby Allcroft, was an engineer who registered seven patents. One of his patents, titled “Motor Road Vehicles,” pertains to steering mechanisms for vehicles with short swivelling axles and includes methods for preventing axle binding on pivots. The axle socket is conical at both ends, with vulcanized fibre bushes inserted into it.
While these technical descriptions may not seem particularly exciting, they offer valuable insights into Walter’s career and interests during a productive period of his life. Additionally, he is mentioned 18 times in the Historical Books database, providing further context for his achievements and contributions.
Exploring such resources can uncover fascinating details about your ancestors’ lives, offering a richer, more comprehensive understanding of their world.
The British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa’s 2024 conference. Teaghlach Gaelach: a Celebration of Irish Family History will be held virtually on 
