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It’s no secret that David Dickinson served time in jail. But there were secrets in his family tree. David was adopted and had thought he had come from Barnados – the truth was different.
David’s research uncovers a family history that includes a privately arranged adoption, adultery and a tragic tale from Armenia. His natural mother gave him up to her hairdresser friend, unable to keep him for fear of bringing shame on the family.
In an amazing coincidence, Hrant Gulessarian, his natural grandfather, was in the clothing trade, just like David later came to be. Naturalisation records take David back to his roots in the Ottoman Empire and Constantinople. His quest ends in Psamatia where he discovers records of the family tree.
If you are researching relatives from overseas start your investigation with your immediate family. They may still remember the journey to Britain, or point you towards relatives who still live in the country of origin.
Researching your ancestry may, like David’s story, involve plenty of travel. This may be necessary as far more information is passed on through oral tradition, and less in written form.
The National Archives does not hold locally created records of Turkey so you will not find birth, marriage death or census records here.
The National Archives holds Home Office records of naturalisation for the period 1801-1987. Find out more.
The National Archives also holds passenger lists for ships arriving in British ports from outside Europe, so you may find details of your ancestors recorded here. For more information see our online leaflet. To get the most out of the records you would have to have an idea of when they arrived in Britain, which port they landed at, and preferably the name of the ship they travelled on. The records cover the period 1878-1888, and 1890-1960.
Business records may also survive, but they can be difficult to track down because they are records created by private companies. You may find the National Register of Archives helpful. Follow this link to learn more.
Immigrants and Aliens 2nd edition - A guide to sources on UK immigration and citizenship