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Many Jersey families can trace their ancestors back to emigrants from Normandy or Brittany, and this weekend they will have the chance to learn more about their roots.
After the inaugural event last year, Jersey Heritage are back with another French connection festival.
It started on Friday and runs until 16:00 today.
This event will include free talks, tours, and workshops, all to educate the public about their heritage.
Pictured: French professional genealogist Sophie Boudarel, who will be giving tips on how to trace French ancestors and talking about migration from France to Jersey.
Archive staff will also be giving talks about how you can research ‘house history’, how to look after your family archives, and make the best use of the online catalog, as well as giving general tours to show the ‘treasures of the Archive.’
La Motte Street and Grosvenor Street will be the subject of the popular ‘What’s Her Street’s Story?’ talk, sponsored by Walkers.
Georgina La Maistre of the Channel Islands family history society will be in charge of the Jèrriais workshop and a talk, and she will be focusing on the story of Dr Lilian Grandin, who was Jersey’s first female doctor.
The Jersey Archive Helpdesk Area and Reading Rooms will be open throughout the weekend, giving visitors a chance to put into action the information they will have heard during the talks.
Pictured: an old registration card, dating back form 1876, shows how far back into our heritage we can go.
Stuart Nicolle, Jersey Heritage Senior Archivist, said: “We’re thrilled about the return of the Family History Festival. Our inaugural event last year was a fantastic success with almost 400 people coming to talks over the course of the weekend. We’re hoping this year’s event will be just as successful.”
“We’re also delighted that Sophie has agreed to be our guest speaker. As an expert in French genealogy, she will be able to advise people who are struggling to trace their French family, and who want to know more about the Island’s links to its neighbour on the Continent. The Festival programme is jam-packed with interesting and engaging talks and speakers, and we hope that people will take the opportunity to come to the Jersey Archive and find out more.”
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