History of Straits Settlement (Penang) and our family’s connection – with Karen de Bruyne

The August 2024 webinar was from Karen de Bruyne.

The webinar shared a brief history of Penang (Prince of Wales Island) and Karen’s family connection, with the sources used to uncover the story and learn about their lives. A challenge was finding sources where traditional ones don’t exist. Other countries mentioned are Scotland and Malaysia, and likely to be of interest to both members and non-members as there is very little research done in the area.

About the speaker

Karen been researching her family (including husband’s multinational family) for over 20 years, and her research now extends to all 5 continents. She manages 11 DNA tests for members of our family on all the platforms, (including Y DNA and Mt DNA – not that these have been of any help!) and have solved many a stubborn brick wall with the help of DNA cousins.

Karen completed the certificate in 2019 and decided to take a break for a few years whilst dealing with some family matters. I also achieved “British India Ancestors” with The National Institute of Genealogical Studies, and have taken various Pharos courses. I am an associate of AGRA and a member of APG. Karen is a volunteer for the Society of Genealogists, hosting and co-hosting online talks and am the events coordinator and executive committee member of the London Westminster and Middlesex Family History Society. Karen’s areas of interest are London, British India and its wider diaspora especially Malaya (A.K.A. Prince of Wales Island, Straits Settlement etc. ) Thailand, Singapore, Burma and Ceylon. Karen is on the approved researcher list at The British Library Asia and Africa Reading room – had to take a test!  Karen is also a Guild member with the registered study of Pinchbeck.

The recording will be available to the public until 1 October 2024 after which it will become a members only recording.

Resources Guide – straits-settlement-family-history-research-sources-aug-2024