Putting it into practice Challenge

Chart your research course

Draw up a list of all the records that David has mentioned, then set yourself a challenge to search for an example of as many of these records as you can online, to familiarise yourself with the databases and with the sorts of records available to help you trace your Royal Naval ancestors.

David Annal has been involved in the family history world for nearly 40 years and is a former principal family history specialist at The National Archives. He is an experienced lecturer and the author of a number of best-selling family history books, including Easy Family History and (with Peter Christian) Census: The Family Historian’s Guide. David now runs his own family history research business, Lifelines Research.

If you have ideas for subjects or research skills that you would like to see covered on the Family Tree Academy pages, please email helen.t@family-tree.co.uk and we would be very interested to hear from you.