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The Hunt Is On

So you are hunting for those elusive ancestors.  You have spoken to your relatives and got all the information you can muster from them.  All the paperwork you own is in its own box and you need to progress farther back in time.  So where to turn!

Click on the images to get a better look.  They are very basic, not entirely accurate and the people are 100% fictitious.  But it does show you what you can expect to find on these certificates.

British Records:

Census Returns

Census returns started in Britain in 1801 but it wasn't until 1841 that reasonable details were added to them.  They can be viewed for free at the Public Record Office, Family History Centres.  Local censuses can be viewed in local history libraries and Family History Societies.  FreeCen is moving along slowly and only certain areas are accessible but its always worth a look.  The 1901 UK Census from the PRO, is online and at Service Centres throughout the UK now.  If you're in the UK or Australia buy a voucher.  Whereas a credit card session (£5.00 per session) runs out after 48 hours a voucher session lasts 6 months or until you've spent £5.00, which ever comes first.  Voucher Suppliers.

Civil Records

Or to put it another way:  Births, Marriages & Deaths.  If the ancestors you're looking for lived in England or Wales you may be able to find a reference to them through FreeBMD in the left column.  (Again volunteers are welcome).

Death Certificates

Of all the Civil Records, Death Certificates probably hold the least valuable information that will help you  track your ancestors backwards in time.  Before 1866 the age and place of death aren't shown and as a general rule they don't tell you where your ancestor is buried.  The 'informant' or 'qualification' may give you another family member and they may tell you if the deceased was married, widow etc.

Marriage Certificates

Marriage Certificates show the date of the marriage, the county, church, both fathers full names etc.  Before 1855 the ages of the couple was simply "full" for over 21 and "minor" for under.

Birth Certificates

Birth Certificates shows the mothers maiden name, considered the most important piece of information on the certificate, it can make finding her parents a lot easier.

Indexes for Births, Marriages and deaths for England and Wales from 1837 onwards and Census records from 1841 can be found at the Family Records Centre.  Indeed just about everything you could ever need is held here.  

The Family Records Centre
1 Myddelton Street
Islington
London   EC1R 1UW

Telephone: 020 83925300
International: 44 20 83925300

We have added UK Parish Locator under Free Software in the left column.  It can locate parishes and those surrounding it.  Calculate distances between parishes etc.