FIBIS News Feed

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Picures of East Indiamen

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:54:00 EST

These images are kindly authorized by the National Maritime Museum for display on the FIBIS web-site. Click here to find out more

FIBIS Members' Interests March Update

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:27:00 EST

The Members' Interests section has had it's monthly update. There are now 3709 interests listed.

Bidadari Cemetery in Singapore

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:18:00 EST

The Bidadari cemetery was opened in 1908 and closed in 1972. The graves include those of Merchant Seamen who worked for the ex-Blue Funnel/Glen Line, Straits Steamship, CP Ships and many other companies.

In 2003 the Singapore Government closed the Bidadari Cemetery in Singapore so that it could be re-developed. The process involved the exhumation and cremation of those laid to rest there.

Graves were exhumed and the remains cremated. The ashes are retained in individual urns at a Singapore government columbarium awaiting collection or instructions from the next-of-kin. The ashes will be scattered at sea between 24-29 March 2008.

Next-of-kin who wish to claim cremated remains need to contact Mr Yeo Eng Chuan of the Housing and Development Board before 17 March 2008 on (++65) 6490 3053 or email yec2@hdb.gov.sg . Please note that Singapore time is GMT +8).

Brief religious rites will be performed before the scattering by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore and the National Council of Churches at Mount Vernon Service Hall 1, Upper Alijunied Road, Singapore 367878 at 9am on 24 March 2008.

FIBIS Members' Interests February Update

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:08:00 EST

The Members' Interests section has had it's monthly update. There are now 3576 interests listed.

FIBIS Members' Interests January Update

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 12:06:00 EST

The Members' Interests section has had it's monthly update. There are now 3447 interests listed.

Selected South Indian Cemeteries

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:51:00 EST

Large numbers of records in this section have been supplied by Martin Krieger of the University of Greifswald in Germany. He is studying the architecture and sculpture of European gravestones in Southern India and has most graciously agreed to transcribe and photograph many details for FIBIS.

To date the data include transcriptions and details from:

Balasore – Dinamardinga
Cochin, St. Francis
Kotagiri
Madras, St. Mary
Madras, St. Mary’s ‘New’ Cemetery
Madras, St. Mary (Guava Garden)
Nagapattinam – Karikop
Ootacamund, St Stephen

The significant numbers of photographs are an additional resource available to researchers and frequently include legible details of their inscriptions.

Note: References are included to other publications which give details of the more ancient gravestones. Foremost among these is Cotton. This relates to: “List of Inscriptions on Tombs or Monuments in Madras possessing Historical of Archaeological Interest” by Julian James Cotton, C.S. Government Press, Madras, 1905.

FIBIS Members' Interests December Update

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 07:29:00 EST

The Members' Interests section has had it's monthly update. There are now 3422 interests listed.

Annual General Meeting and Autumn Lecture Meeting 2008

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 07:39:00 EST

Saturday, 15th November 2008 at 1.00 for 1.30 p.m. at The Friends House , 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ in Rooms 7+8+9 (near Euston Station) FIBIS Meetings are free-of-charge (apart from a small nominal charge for tea and biscuits) and all interested are welcome to attend provided that they notify FIBIS as indicated below. There will be two talks:

1. 'The lure of Indigo - and how the Hills family of East Bengal won three VCs.' By Miles Macnair. Miles' ancestor was one of the largest indigo planters in East Bengal (at Neechindapur, now in Bangladesh) with 11 factories and employing up to 60,000 ryots! Miles is a FIBIS Member

2. To be Announced

2008 Spring Open Meeting

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 07:40:00 EST

Saturday, 17th May 2008 at 1.00 for 1.30 p.m. at The Friends House , 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ in Rooms 7+8+9 (near Euston Station) FIBIS Meetings are free-of-charge (apart from a small nominal charge for tea and biscuits) and all interested are welcome to attend provided that they notify FIBIS as indicated below. There will be two talks:

1. "It is with extreme regret..." East India Company Ships that failed to reach their destination By Andrea Cordani, of the Family Research Centre and FIBIS Member Andrea has researched the stories behind the wrecks of ‘East Indiamen' over a number of years and is preparing a book on the subject.

2. “Researching the Archives of Freemasonry in British India” By Susan Snell, Archivist and Records Manager, Library and Museum of Freemasonry at Freemason's Hall.

Susan has requested those with questions about Freemason ancestors in India, of whatever ethnic origin, to submit them beforehand to Fibis-Chairman@fibis.org so that she may try to research them beforehand and present her results at the meeting. Her kind offer extends, in particular to those who have pictures of ancestors in their regalia and who wish this to be interpreted. Naturally, if we receive too many of these, we shall need to be selective and attempt to balance interest and ‘first-come-first-served'

Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE 2008

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 07:30:00 EST

FIBIS will take part in the Annual History Show on Friday 4th, Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th May 2008 at Earl's Court Exhibition Hall in West London.

We shall do our best to answer any question that visitors may have on their ancestors who served in British India.

Details of our stand number, etc. will be publishes as soon as available to us.

FiBiWiKi Update

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:07:00 EST

The FiBiWiKi has had quite alot of information added recently, so if you haven't visited it lately it might be worth a visit. We are also looking for people to contribute to the wiki, so please feel free to add material or if you would rather someone else add it for you please contact the webmaster.

What is FiBiWiKi?

The FiBiWiKi is being developed for the purpose of providing supplementary data on British India as a background to the lives of our ancestors who lived and served there.

The FiBiWiKi is designed such that the data contained may be edited, added to or corrected by anyone who feels competent to do so. It is based upon the principles established by the designers of Wikipedia�

In particular, the FiBiWiKi contains background data contained under the major headings BMD records, locations, occupations and historical incidents. To start a general search in the FiBiWiKi, or browse its content, click here

Please enjoy your search!

FIBIS Members Interests November Update

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:03:51 EST

The Members Interests have been updated. There are now 3382 interests listed.

Occupations

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 08:39:48 EST

Cathy Day has added several pages on research advice for various occupations in the FiBiWiKi. The section now includes the following occupations:

Bandmaster
Bengal Pilot
Service
Conductors
Doctor
Indian Civil Service
Indigo Plantation J
Jute Growing
Missionary
Railway worker
Sailor Soldier

Non-British Ancestors In India

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:13:16 EST

Cathy Day has been busy in the FiBiWiKi and has added a section on researching Non-British ancestors in India. Those covered are:

Armenian
Danish
Dutch
French
Indian
Jewish
Portuguese

FIBIS Members Interests October Update

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:07:28 EST

The FIBIS Members Interests pages have been updated in the Members Area. There are now 3439 interests listed!

Jute Growing

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 11:25:38 EST

A List of Jute Mills in India has been added to the wiki by Cathy Day

Researching Jewish Family History in India

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 11:21:46 EST

There were three main communities of Jews in India : the Bene Israel (near Bombay), the "Black Jews" of Cochin and the "White Jews" from Iraq. The Virtual Jewish History Tour has a summary of the History of Jews in India online. Visit http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=Jewish to read more of this article contributed by Cathy Day

FIBIS Members Interests September Update

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 06:42:41 EST

The FIBIS Members Interests pages have been updated in the Members Area. There are now 3460 interests listed!

Royal Regiments

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 10:17:41 EST

Royal Regiments are those which were under the command of H.M. Government in London (from Horse Guards). These regiments are often called H.M. Regiment .... for example H.M. 63rd Foot or H.M. Regiment of Foot. Most of the Royal Regiments (both infantry and cavalry) served in India at some time. Cathy Day has allowed us to tranfer all her regimental histories from her website to include with the regimental histories already in the FIBIwiki. There are now 27 Royal Regimental histories for people to view.

FIBIS Members Interests

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 07:43:13 EST

The FIBIS Members Interests have now been updated.

Devon Family History Conference

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 10:19:24 EST

FIBIS will have a stand this autumn at the DFHS A.G.M. & Conference on the 6th October 2006 at St. Loye's College, Exeter. For futher details visit the DFHS website

West Surrey FHS Open Day and Family History Fair

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 10:17:25 EST

FIBIS will have a stand st the WSFHS Open Day and Family History Fair at the Kingfield Centre, Woking, Surrey GU22 9BA on Saturday, 3rd November 2007 10am-4.30pm. For futher details visit the WSFHS website.

Map: Click here

'Researching Armies in British India' at the Society of Genealogists on Wednesday, 19th Sep at 2pm.

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 06:58:37 EST

Our Chairman, Peter Bailey, is running a half day course on 'Researching Armies in British India' at the Society of Genealogists on Wednesday, 19th Sep at 2pm. The cost will be £15 (£12 to S of G members) but for this you will in effect get three talks, one each on EIC Armies, Indian Army and the British Army in India. FIBIS books will be available for sale at the meeting. To book, please write, enclosing an SAE, to the Society of Genealogists, 14 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, London, EC1M 7BA or telephone 020 7553 3290 or email events@sog.org.uk Publications Orderline. Advance booking with payment is required.

Getting to the Society

Tube: Barbican, Farringdon, Old Street, Angel

Rail: - Farringdon

Bus: - 4, 55, 56, 153 and 243

Parking - with difficulty!

Map: Click here

2007Autumn Open Meeting

fibis-webmaster@fibis.org — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 10:50:45 EST

The 2007‘Autumn Open Meeting' will be held held at The Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ (near Euston Station) at 1.30 p.m. on Saturday, 20th October 2007. The programme will include lectures on:

1. "Dundee & India: Roots, Rivalry and Interdependence in the Jute Trade". By Caroline Brown of the University of Dundee.

2. " Alternative ways to ones Indian roots" By Nick Balmer, Family History Researcher. Nick Balmer uses landscape archaeology, local legends and alternative sources of information to illustrate how he has researched his families involvement in Kerala, the Coromandel Coast, Bombay and Bengal between 1711 and 1870.

The Meeting is open and free-of-charge to all interested to attend (a charge of £3.50 will be made for tea, coffee and biscuits) but attendance will be limited to the first 100 people notifying their intention to attend to: Lawrie Butler.