| If
you wish to research your family tree there are many books that can help.
'How
to Research Your Family History' by J.Watkinson and 'Introducing Family History' by Stuart A Raymond are good starting
points to put you on your ancestors' trail.
S&N Genealogy Supplies has a wide range of books, charts and research aids available in the Books section of their website. (Call 01722 716121 for a FREE genealogy catalogue).
If you are beginning your research it is wise to find
as much from all living relatives, perhaps recording their recollections
on tape or video. To record and organise the information about your ancestors
choose a family history program. To record and organise the information about your ancestors choose a family history program. Roots Magic UK Edition has a 6-million-name database and includes an 1898 atlas. Computers are now an essential part of research and a great aid to publishing the results.
Resource CDs cover Highwaymen, Smugglers to Landed
Gentry. The more essential CDs give you access to Parish Records (1565-1930)
and the UK Census (1841-1901). Online indexes give access to Birth Marriage
and Death registration records from 1837 to 2005. See www.BMDindex.co.uk.
There are many monthly magazines which will help you
find out more available from major stores such as W.H.Smiths. Family
Tree magazine gives comprehensive information about this
fascinating hobby. It covers everything from historical social conditions
to methods of researching. You can publish your research interests and
read the 6 page dedicated computer section. Other good magazines are 'Your
Family Tree', 'Family History Monthly', 'Practical Family History' and
'Ancestors'.
The www.BritishDataArchive.com site publishes a wide range of unique
census material from 1841 to 1901.
www.TheGenealogist.co.uk has online census indexes and transcripts, parish records, wills, directories, non-conformist records, and much more.
To search birth, marriage and death indexes as well as information on ordering certificates, see www.bmdindex.co.uk.
How to Begin:
First you need to talk to all your living relatives to gather as much information as you can from them about your grandparents and great-grandparents. You also need to gather any documents from them - this could include certificates, photo albums, diaries, newspapaer cuttings, letters, or even a family bible.
Put together the basic genealogical facts about the people you have found out about - this includes birth date/place, marriage date/place, and if deceased, death date/place. Also, don't forget about family legends - although these are not necessarily true, it is useful to note them down incase you discover something interesting surrounding them.
Now you should be all set to begin your research using either online research sites, or CD-ROMs containing the data you are interested in. You can also learn more about tracing your family history at www.British-Family-History.co.uk.
Other points of contact:
Family Tree Magazine
subscriptions: 61 Great Whyte, Ramsey, Huntingdon, Cambs PE17
1HL. Tel 01487 814050. Please mention S&N when ordering.
Australian Family Tree Magazine subscriptions: The
Library of Australian History, 17 Mitchell Street, North Sydney 2059 $80.82
per annum surface mail. USA - Mrs F. Rand, 1062 North Buhach
Road, Merced, CA 95340 $49.17 per annum.
S&N and British Data Archive have
been digitising
a vast amount of records (UK Census, Parish Records, Criminal Registers,
etc.) previously only available as
fiche and publishing them on CD. You can find those in the
Data CDs section of their website. Tel 01722 716121.
The General Register Office has records of Births, Marriages and deaths from 1837.
These are indexed
and copies of certificates can be ordered. Prior to this date you will need
to research the local Parish
records of baptisms, marriages and burials. These are normally
held in the County archives.
The National Archives
have Census records from 1841
to 1901 and have microfiche of some wills.
In the UK there are several places to find further
information:
The Church of Latter Day Saints have compiled indexes
to baptisms and marriages on both CDROM and microfiche.
The International
Genealogical Index or IGI is available at various centres throughout
the UK.
The Family Record Centre, Myddelton
House, Myddelton Place, Finsbury. ONS section (Births, Marriages and Deaths
from 1837) PRO (Census material and wills).
The Society of Genealogists, 14 Charterhouse
Buildings, Goswell Road, London, EC1M 7BA has a large library of research
material including pedigrees.
The Federation of Family History Societies
can point you to a local UK group, The Administrator, c/o The Benson
Room, Birmingham and Midland Institute, Margaret St, Birmingham B3 3BS.
LDS Centres The Church of Latter Day Saints, centres throughout the UK,
Hyde Park FHC, 64-68 Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2PA. Tel
0171 589 8561. |