My talks explore English family and social history, Titanic and maritime stories, and transported convicts, for family history societies, archives, conferences, and community groups of all kinds. They can be delivered in person (location permitting) or online via Zoom. Sessions are fully research-led, richly illustrated, and designed to engage audiences of all ages, with fresh perspectives, fascinating case studies, and practical insights for family historians.
Everyone thinks they know the story of the Titanic, but family legends and popular accounts often collapse under scrutiny.
In this engaging talk, professional genealogist Nicola Johnson takes audiences beyond the headlines and into the archives, examining passenger lists, crew records, newspapers, inquiry reports, and Titanic Relief Fund files to test long-held assumptions.
Through fascinating real-life case studies and modern tools such as DNA and the 1921 Census, she uncovers how myths began, why they endured, and what the records really reveal. A fresh, never-before-seen perspective that will astonish, intrigue, and spark lively discussion – perfect for history and community groups of all kinds.
Animals were part of life aboard the Titanic, from pampered pedigree dogs to working cats below deck.
In this engaging talk, Nicola Johnson uncovers little known and surprising stories of the Titanic’s animals, alongside those from other ships, from historic vessels like the Mary Rose to more recent liners, revealing what they show about class and everyday life at sea. Who was allowed to bring a pet, and what became of them when disaster struck? Which animals secured places in the lifeboats, even as human lives were lost?
Drawing on passenger records and eyewitness accounts, this is a fresh, never-before-heard perspective on the Titanic, bound to be popular among the animal lovers in your group.
Step below decks to discover the untold story of Titanic’s firemen, trimmers, and greasers – the men who toiled in blistering heat to power the great liner on her doomed maiden voyage. This talk brings to life their gruelling work, the danger and stigma of life beneath the boilers, and the bravery many showed on the night of the sinking.
Drawing on crew records, census returns, and the Titanic Relief Fund, Nicola Johnson revives these forgotten men and their families, offering a vivid, human perspective on the real lives behind the legend. Nicola has explored this topic for Who Do You Think You Are? magazine, and this engaging session is a must-see for anyone fascinated by Titanic, maritime history, or the untold stories of courage and survival.
Female pirates who fought alongside men, Victorian girls who disguised themselves as cabin boys to follow their lovers, stewardesses aboard the Titanic, wartime nurses sailing through mined waters under enemy fire, and the WRNS ‘Wrens’ keeping Britain’s fleets afloat in two world wars. For three centuries, women went to sea, risking life and reputation, defying convention, and shaping maritime history in ways that have largely been forgotten.
In this captivating talk, Nicola Johnson brings their stories to life, exploring the courage, ingenuity, and determination of women who chose the ocean when society told them to stay ashore. From the daring exploits of pirates to the quiet heroism of naval service, from life below deck to the chaos of sinking ships and wartime convoys, audiences will discover a hidden world of adventure, love, and resilience on the waves. This is a journey through the human side of maritime history, revealing women whose lives and deeds deserve to be remembered and celebrated.
When the S.S. Stella sailed from Southampton in 1899 and smashed into rocks off the Channel Islands, up to 100 lives were lost in a tragedy that foreshadowed Titanic’s disaster just 13 years later. Dubbed “the Titanic of the English Channel,” the Stella has since faded from memory. In this gripping talk, Nicola Johnson uses family history research to uncover the stories of the drowned crew and their bereaved families – and asks the haunting question: had these lessons been heeded, could the Titanic tragedy have been avoided?
Discover the remarkable story of a ten-year-old girl who was sentenced to death – but instead was transported to Australia for life, eventually becoming the mother of a family whose descendants number in the millions today. In this compelling talk, Nicola Johnson, who has researched transported convicts for Who Do You Think You Are?, explores Britain and Ireland’s convicts between 1787 and 1868, bringing to life the extraordinary journeys of men, women, and children whose fates were shaped by crime, punishment, and the harsh realities of 18th- and 19th-century society.
Learn how to trace your own transported ancestors through trial papers, prison and hulk registers, convict ship records, petitions, surgeon’s journals, and Australian archives, while uncovering the social history of convict life: the brutal conditions on transport ships, daily routines and hierarchies in the hulks, life and work in the colonies, and how families coped with absence and loss back home. Extraordinary personal stories – including children, women, and families caught up in the system – reveal the resilience, courage, and humanity behind the records.
“Excellent…her talk generated considerable interest and debate, and was greatly enjoyed by all.”
If your society or conference is looking for engaging family history talks – online or in person – please get in touch to discuss your requirements.
