ANCESTRAL SERVICES Ancestral links between England and the US are accentuated as the world marks the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s journey and the 75th anniversary of D-Day. This guide to ancestral tourism contains resources, tips and contacts to help American descendants of English emigrants explore their roots and discover a more personal connection to England. ANCESTRAL SERVICES RECORD OFFICES EVENTS AND ANNIVERSARIES SPECIALIST TOUR GUIDES FIT AND GROUP TOURS DESTINATION INFORMATION ANCESTRAL SERVICES Top Tip Ancestral tourism is tipped as a hot travel trend The content in this guide is for 2019 and beyond. A glance through the TV bookable product and useful information to enable tour listings, packed with programmes such as Who Do operators to develop themed tours. The content from this You Think You Are? and Finding Your Roots, shows guide can be used to build how much interest there is in this topic; in fact, customised itineraries for groups and FITs. genealogy is reported to be the second biggest Tour guides are also featured. hobby in the United States. There’s nothing more With 59 million Americans memorable than hearing stories visit the final resting place of kin classing themselves as English from a local guide, who can who supported the Allied efforts, Americans - and several globally often unlock places, stories and or see for themselves the rugged significant anniversaries on the insights your customers may cliffs, sweeping bays and tiny horizon - there has never been a otherwise miss. Specialist tour fishing villages that would have better time to book an ancestral guides ensure a memorable trip; been familiar to the Cornish tin tour of England. volunteers in churches, villages miners who migrated to the New World centuries ago. and historic sites will bring the England’s destinations experience to life. Visitors will are planning a raft of This guide to ancestral tourism in be assured of a warm welcome commemorations and tours to England highlights hundreds of and experience of the real mark the 75th anniversary of engaging ways for US visitors to Boston Stump (Puritans) England. D-Day in 2019 and the 400th connect with their ancestors and anniversary of the Mayflower’s discover their ancestral homeland historic trans-Atlantic journey in Useful Resources in an authentic, meaningful way. 2020. Millions of Americans can Book a bespoke tour of places take this opportunity to explore linked to your forebears, schedule This is one in a series of trade and experience their ancestral an appointment with a specialist Essex Record Office guides. roots; to take a trip back in time, archivist, follow a costumed guide see the same skies, breathe the through streets walked by Jane ‘US Connections’ highlights same air and watch the same seas Austen, Harry Potter or Poldark, the cultural and historical as their intrepid forebears. follow the same paths marched connections between England by US servicemen on D-Day, and Did you know there are 35 and the US. Other guides in the walk through rooms that have million descendants of the series are: been preserved to commemorate Mayflower pilgrims? Bring their a globally important moment in stories to life as you help your • Old Stories of the New World time. • Origins of Faith clients track the journeys of the • United Allies pilgrims, their hometowns and As a destination, England is the Mayflower’s last ports of call. already crammed with world- To support your own marketing Many airfields used by USAAF class heritage and attractions, of the US Connections themes pilots who brought home GI ancient buildings and beautiful and destinations, an online brides during World War II are countryside but it takes on image and film gallery is now complemented by moving a deeper level of meaning available for you to use at no memorials, museums and public when there’s a more personal cost. englandimages.isebox.net archives. Ancestral tourists can connection to explore too. 1. According to Lonely Planet’s Top Travel Trends for 2019. 2. CBS News, June 2016 New Street, Plymouth 2 | Ancestral Services | US Connections US Connections | Ancestral Services | 3 FIND OUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BEFORE DEPARTURE Genealogy is the second-most popular hobby in the United States so it’s likely your client will already have done their research. Ancestral societies and subscription websites dedicated to helping people trace their family tree have millions of members; 1 ancestry.com and myheritage.com are two examples. But it may well be worth highlighting a number of free national resources in England and the United States so your client can be extra thorough before they depart. See page 36 for more details. HOW TO LOCAL KNOWLEDGE GOES A LONG WAY Having a contact in England could make or break your client’s trip. Whether that’s a researcher who can locate a specific grave or name on a memorial plaque in advance, or a tour guide with years of experience leading bespoke ancestral tours, a local contact can flesh out any existing research, help save 2 time on your clients’ trips and deal with any curveballs that on-the-ground research might throw. You’ll find contact details for ancestral tour specialists and archivists throughout this guide. PLAN AN GO ARMED WITH SPECIFIC QUESTIONS Your client’s trip is a chance to solve any mysteries that online research in the United States can’t unravel. What seems obscure in the United States might become obvious when in England. Advise your client to jot down their burning questions 3 (as well as the straightforward ones) as a checklist to run through at the end of any tours or experiences, so they won’t forget to ask them in the excitement of any new discoveries. ANCESTRAL DON’T TRAVEL WITH ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS Instead, advise your client to pack copies of all the documents they think might be useful on their trip. This way your client won’t run the risk of losing any precious papers, and can leave copies with any archivists or researchers who TOUR OF 4 might be able to help them delve deeper into their ancestors’ lives – leaving them with more time to explore England. BE PREPARED TO BE COMPLETELY THROWN BY WHAT’S UNCOVERED Your client’s investigations might not go the way they hope or expect. Their English ENGLAND ancestry could include rogues or royals so prepare them for the possibility that what they discover may differ somewhat from their expectations. Regardless, England is a 5 wonderful country to explore so if the trail runs cold they can find solace in England’s countryside, cities and coast. 4 | Ancestral Services | US Connections US Connections | Ancestral Services | 5 BRISTOL FOR OFFICAL DESTINATION AND TOURIST INFORMATION SEE: VISITBRISTOL.CO.UK ST MARY REDCLIFFE CHURCH BERKELEY CASTLE THE MATTHEW GETTING HERE The American Chapel in this beautiful Built in the 11th century, this stunning The Matthew is a modern gothic parish church is the final resting red-stone castle has been home to reconstruction of the ship that carried Bristol is 120 miles west of London, in southwest England. place of Sir William Penn, father of the aristocratic Berkeley family for John Cabot and his crew across the From London, Bristol is 1 hour 40 mins by rail or 2 hours by road. Pennsylvania’s founder. John Cabot’s nearly 900 years. Berkeley Castle has ocean to Newfoundland in 1497. Climb presence looms large here, too: a captivating history, which visitors aboard for free and learn the secrets the chapel’s beautiful stained-glass are encouraged to experience through of Cabot’s epic voyage. Scheduled and windows depict Cabot’s discovery a complimentary guided tour. The charter tours are available. The vibrant port city of Bristol has far-reaching American connections. It was the departure point of North America, and visitors can Berkeley family has always had strong examine the whale bone he returned ties with the US: in fact, the first ever matthew.co.uk of John Cabot’s 15th-century voyage on the Matthew, bound for Newfoundland; 21st-century with. There’s also a bronze monument Thanksgiving was held in Virginia to the daughter of Richard Ameryck, in 1619 to give thanks for the safe visitors can take a tour in a modern replica. In 1619, Berkeley Company ship the Margaret left who (legend has it) inspired Cabot to arrival of the Margaret – the Berkeley name the new land across the Atlantic. Company ship. Tours of the castle with for the shores of America, landing at Jamestown and triggering the first Thanksgiving. Many Charles Berkeley can be pre-booked. stmaryredcliffe.co.uk centuries later, Clifton College was the headquarters of the entire US Army in Britain during berkeley-castle.com World War II. BRUNEL’S SS GREAT BRITAIN M-SHED MUSEUM BRISTOL CATHEDRAL Take a thrilling trip into the 19th century From ancient city to a centre of A place of worship since the 12th ANCESTRAL SERVICES DID YOU with the magnificently restored SS contemporary innovation, M Shed century, Bristol’s beautiful and Great Britain, currently residing in tells the story of Bristol in fascinating ancient cathedral is now a vibrant KNOW? Bristol Harbour. The masterpiece of detail. Located on the harbourside, centre of community and culture. Bristol Archives Brunel Institute at Brunel’s SS famous British engineer Isambard this unique museum is divided into Great Britain Its unique architecture positions the Archives of the city of Bristol, Kingdom Brunel, this extraordinary four sections – People, Place, Life, and building as one of the world’s finest surrounding areas, as well as the Access objects and expert help Bristol-born Archie Leach ship was the first iron steamer in the Working Exhibits – each capturing ‘hall churches’.