A local history group are set to revisit a seminar from twenty years ago using modern technology.

The West Dorset Group of the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society (SDFHS) will be meeting for a study day on Saturday, June 9.

Members will listen to expert speakers, exchange ideas and stories, and discover more about a trend which began with west country pilgrims boarding a ship carrying settlers in 1630.

Twenty years ago, the group organised the 'Dorset and the New World' seminar in Lyme Regis, which saw more than 250 people attend.

David Underdown, author of 'Fire from Heaven' was the key-note speaker, and the event saw the group embark on a Dorset migration project from 2000 until 2007, which looked mainly at people leaving the county in the 1800s moving within the UK or overseas.

Many of the poorest migrants were part of assisted passage schemes to Australia and New Zealand.

With more overseas records coming online, there has been a resurgence of interest in migration and the West Dorset Group decided to hold a one day special on the subject: 'Historic Migration from the West Country- A Study Revisited 20 Years on'.

The group will be hosting guest speakers Janet Few and Lucille Campey, both specialists in migration.

Group member Jane Ferentzi-Sheppard found out about some of these migrations by chance.

Keith Moores, the managing director of Moores Biscuits in Morcombelake said to Jane in 1987: "Jane, you know about all these people who went to Adams New York?"

Jane said no, after which Keith told her how his uncle had visited them in the 1930s.

Jane said: "This got me thinking, and after contact a local newspaper in Jefferson Co. New York, several descendants contacted me.

"It soon became clear that the migration to Jefferson County was not just from the early 20th century, but went back much further, way back to the 1830s."

From Jane's research, she was able to find that dairy farmers West Dorset exchanged this county for Jefferson County in the USA.

After completing the research, Keith was able to meet his American cousin at the seminar nearly twenty years ago, and Jane hopes the next meeting can unearth more family trees.

Jane said: "There is still time to register for the study.

"Visitors are most welcome, do come along and see how migration affected the lives of people in the West Country.

"Let us know if you have a story to tell."

The meeting will take place at Loders Village Hall on Saturday, June 9 from 9.30am until 5pm.

Pre-registration is essential, with entry costing £5 for group members and £8 for visitors.

There will also be exhibitions, bookstalls and a raffle.

For more details or to book, contact Jane Ferentzi-Sheppard on jferentzi@aol.com