Events from location : Zoom[View Map][Get Directions]

The DNA Group focuses on the growing role of genetic testing in genealogy, allowing participants to exchange results, tips, and advice on interpreting DNA data.

The Group, led by Diane Kuster, meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 7:30pm.

Zooming in on Family History is a wide-ranging chatty session where members can come along to ask for help with their research, brickwall or questions relating to using the online databases such as Ancestry and FindMyPast. Discussions also cover research techniques and problem-solving strategies, an excellent place for newcomers to family history to ask questions and learn the basics of tracing their ancestry.  Maybe you live outside Cheshire and want to dive into the rich history of the county or explore how local events, records, and geographic changes could  inform their family research.  The Group, which meets on the fourth Wednesday of month at 7:30pm is led by Margaret Roberts and Sheila Jones.

The October FHSC Cheshire Research Buddies topic of the month is Northwich and surrounding area  - Do you have ancestors in the area, or are you researching a local family and want some help, perhaps on the other hand you live in the locality and could offer help with photographing gravestones or buildings. This is the chance for members to help each other, I'm sure there are many members out there with knowledge of the area that they could share. 

You will need to register to attend, to do so please click on the 'Register [Individual]' above on the left and process,  you will receive an email confirmation and the zoom links/meeting protocol will be forwarded the morning of the meeting.

If you run into any difficulties with this then please contact Margaret Roberts on 

NOTE that registration closes at 10am on the morning of the meeting and the zoom links will be forwarded once registration is closed

The Historical Newspapers Group, which meets on the first Friday of the month at 2pm and is led by Margaret Roberts, explores the use of old newspapers in family history research. Hints and tips on using the newspapers online, how to get the best out of your searches and sharing stories of successes, and failures are a mainstay of the group.

Teachers : Finding Records beyond the census with Valerie Brenton.

Training records, archival sources to bring these lives into sharper focus

The Windows PC Discussion Group, previously known as the Computer Club , meets regularly at 7.30pm on the second Wednesday of each month - on Zoom. 

Its key objectives are to:

• Provide a forum where computer-using members can exchange views
• Keep ourselves up-to-date with the latest genealogical software and techniques
• Present alternative programs and computing methods
• Discuss computer administration and good-practice
• Untangle and learn to use new databases

Informality is the order of the day and members are actively encouraged to bring along their current technical problems. Chances are that somebody will have an answer, but if not we have been known to spend big chunks of the meeting finding out!

Meetings and topics are seldom pre-arranged very far ahead.  Our general practice is to discuss new websites, members’ own current problems, or generally educating members on getting the best from their computers. We are here to help and learn from each other!  The proposed subject of each meeting is usually announced the week before, by email to the group members .

The Group is led by a small committee and meetings are 'chaired' by a committee member each month. 

The MAC Users Discussion Group meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 19:30pm. The group is led by John Reed and is the perfect place to discuss any issues or share your hints and tips and learn from other members about all things MAC related. Thinking of swapping to a MAC  then there is no better way to find out more.

Family History Through the Eyes of Great Novelists! Have you ever wondered what the great novelists of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries can teach us about our ancestors?

Join us as Dave Annal takes a fascinating exploration of family history hidden within the pages of some of Britain's best-loved novels. Drawing on the works of authors including Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy, George Eliot, Emily Brontë, and Wilkie Collins, Dave reveals how fiction can provide remarkable insights into the lives, experiences, and challenges faced by our ancestors. Using extracts covering subjects such as family relationships, birth, baptism, marriage, work, education, travel, and family research, Dave demonstrates how novelists can help us understand the social realities behind the records we use every day. Along the way, we encounter family trees, agricultural labourers, Victorian city streets, and even a Dickens character who could be described as one of the earliest family historians.

The talk concludes with a piece of advice from Great Expectations that every genealogist should remember: "Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There is no better rule." Whether you are a lover of classic literature, an enthusiastic family historian, or simply curious about how fiction can illuminate the past, this promises to be a thought-provoking and enjoyable presentation.

This event is also open to non-members, with fee of £5. Registration opens on 1^st November when the red ‘Register [Individual]’ button will show on the top left of this page, just click on that button, you will also receive an email confirmation. Non-members will be required to create a free FHSC account and complete the payment details. Registration will close on 16th November.

The zoom links/meeting protocol will be forwarded to all registrants the day before the talk.

If you run into any difficulties with this, then please contact us on the dedicated seminar email address – The Seminar series is co-ordinated by Margaret Spate, Jean Laidlaw and Margaret Roberts and ALL correspondence, queries etc should be sent to the dedicated email address.

PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT RECORD SEMINAR TALKS

The Family Historian Users Group provides support and tips for using Family Historian software. Led by Peter Rowley members are welcome to chat about their experiences of using the software and to discuss any problems etc that other members of the group may be able to help out with

The DNA Group focuses on the growing role of genetic testing in genealogy, allowing participants to exchange results, tips, and advice on interpreting DNA data.

The Group, led by Diane Kuster, meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 7:30pm.

Zooming in on Family History is a wide-ranging chatty session where members can come along to ask for help with their research, brickwall or questions relating to using the online databases such as Ancestry and FindMyPast. Discussions also cover research techniques and problem-solving strategies, an excellent place for newcomers to family history to ask questions and learn the basics of tracing their ancestry.  Maybe you live outside Cheshire and want to dive into the rich history of the county or explore how local events, records, and geographic changes could  inform their family research.  The Group, which meets on the fourth Wednesday of month at 7:30pm is led by Margaret Roberts and Sheila Jones.

The Family Tree Maker Users Discussion group meets on the fourth Thursday of every second month at 7:30pm via Zoom.

The group is led by Tony Cox and covers all aspects of using Family Tree Maker, so this is the place for asking any questions or sharing tips on how to use the programme

To be included in the emailing list to receive the zoom link for these meetings please return to the Homepage of the website, scroll down the left-hand menu and click on Discussion Groups, then click on 'Subscribe' for this or any other Discussion Group you would like to attend.

The Historical Newspapers Group, which meets on the first Friday of the month at 2pm and is led by Margaret Roberts, explores the use of old newspapers in family history research. Hints and tips on using the newspapers online, how to get the best out of your searches and sharing stories of successes, and failures are a mainstay of the group.

The Windows PC Discussion Group, previously known as the Computer Club , meets regularly at 7.30pm on the second Wednesday of each month - on Zoom. 

Its key objectives are to:

• Provide a forum where computer-using members can exchange views
• Keep ourselves up-to-date with the latest genealogical software and techniques
• Present alternative programs and computing methods
• Discuss computer administration and good-practice
• Untangle and learn to use new databases

Informality is the order of the day and members are actively encouraged to bring along their current technical problems. Chances are that somebody will have an answer, but if not we have been known to spend big chunks of the meeting finding out!

Meetings and topics are seldom pre-arranged very far ahead.  Our general practice is to discuss new websites, members’ own current problems, or generally educating members on getting the best from their computers. We are here to help and learn from each other!  The proposed subject of each meeting is usually announced the week before, by email to the group members .

The Group is led by a small committee and meetings are 'chaired' by a committee member each month. 

The MAC Users Discussion Group meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 19:30pm. The group is led by John Reed and is the perfect place to discuss any issues or share your hints and tips and learn from other members about all things MAC related. Thinking of swapping to a MAC  then there is no better way to find out more.

Join us for our annual FHSC Christmas Quiz, a relaxed and enjoyable evening packed with festive cheer, friendly competition, and the occasional genealogical challenge!

Whether you're a seasoned family historian, a quiz enthusiast, or simply looking for a fun way to spend an evening with fellow members, there's something for everyone. Don't worry if you don't know all the answers, the quiz is all about taking part, sharing a few laughs, and enjoying the company of friends old and new.

As in previous years, we'll be using Zoom breakout rooms, giving everyone the chance to work together in small teams. It's a wonderful way to meet fellow members from across Cheshire and beyond, combine your knowledge, and enjoy plenty of conversation along the way. Many members tell us that the team discussions are just as much fun as the quiz itself!

We'll be mixing Christmas trivia, family history questions, general knowledge, and a few surprises along the way. Teams will be organised on the night, so all you need to do is join us and we'll take care of the rest.

So put on your favourite Christmas jumper, pour yourself a seasonal drink, and join us for what has become one of the highlights of the FHSC calendar.

Good company, plenty of laughs, a chance to make new friends, and absolutely no homework required!

This event is for FHSC members only. Registration opens on 1^st December when the red ‘Register [Individual]’ button will show on the top left of this page, just click on that button, you will also receive an email confirmation. Registration will close on 14th December.

The zoom links/meeting protocol will be forwarded to all registrants the day before the talk.

If you run into any difficulties with this, then please contact us on the dedicated seminar email address – The Seminar series is co-ordinated by Margaret Spate, Jean Laidlaw and Margaret Roberts and ALL correspondence, queries etc should be sent to the dedicated email address.

The Family Historian Users Group provides support and tips for using Family Historian software. Led by Peter Rowley members are welcome to chat about their experiences of using the software and to discuss any problems etc that other members of the group may be able to help out with