U3A Genealogy

June 2013

Welcome• Welcome• Blog update, have a look at:• http://rodneysgenealogyblog.blogspot.co.uk/• Stuff from me • Father Joe Walsh• Stuff from you!

Rodney may be moving

• Family reasons• Head back closer to kids and grandkids• House is now on the market• Finish as President of the Rotary Club of

Rushden at the end of June• Implications for this Group........• Any volunteers as Group Leader?

Write downWhat you know

Talk toRelatives

Look atFamily

Records

Plan yourResearch

DiscoverWhat sources

available

Keep effectiverecords

BirthsMarriages

DeathsCensuses

ParishRecords

Delve intoAncestors

lives

Othersources

Wills

START

YourInformation

Find itYourself

Known Relatives Information

Ask them

New relatives Information

Genes Reunited

BMDInformation

CensusInformation

ParishRegisters

Information

Other SourcesOf

Information

CENSUSES

CIVIL BMDRECORDS

About 1840

PARISHRECORDS

GENES REUNITED

GENUKI , FHS, GOONS, ETC

GOOGLE, ROOTSWEB and OTHER LISTS

Ancestry.co.ukLDS 1881

Findmypast.com

FreeBMDAncestry

Findmypast.comUKBMD

Local BMDsites

LDS Microfiche

LDS Family Search

Northampton Family History Centre

• We are happy to tell you that we will still be open during the summer months, though with a restricted timetable.

• From July 29th we will be open on Tuesday evenings 7-9 pm and on Wednesdays 10-4 pm. We should resume normal opening hours after September 1st

• Subject to staff availability we also welcome groups who would like to come on other days of the week.

• For any group bookings please contact Pete and Moira Dodkins on 01604 587630 or email us at

• petedodkins@gmail.com

• Pete & Moira Dodkins, Family History Centre Directors.

Scottish Valuation Rolls for 1895

• Scotlandspeople have just launched these new records, comprising 2,095,707 indexed names and 75,565 digital images, which cover every kind of building, structure or dwelling that was assessed in 1895 as having a rateable value, andprovide a fascinating picture of Scottish society during the late Victorian era

• http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/Content/FAQs/index.aspx?2139

Scottish Valuation Rolls

Census Research

• Frustratingly, we often encounter problems when searching for ancestors in census returns. The family cannot be found at the expected location, or there are too many possible candidates of the same name to be sure you have the correct family.

• These tips and information from Jenny Jones of discover your ancestors.co.uk

Census Research .. Family not found at the expected location

• Check all known information including the last address given in BMD or burial records. Has this information been accurately transcribed online?

• Use more than one data website – the information can differ.

• Use trade directories or electoral registers at record offices.• Try to locate the family in earlier and later censuses. Have

they moved around between censuses? Perhaps the children have been born in various places – did the head of household have an itinerant occupation?

Census Research .. Family not found at the expected location

• Search institutions, e.g. hospitals, workhouses, prisons, asylums in surrounding counties as well as the expected one..

• If in one census and not subsequent ones, consider death records, remarriage of a spouse, emigration, and even transportations.

• Always be aware of errors and omissions in transcription.• Search at a record office if possible – some may have

surname indexes or extra information not available on internet sites.

Census Research .. Family not found at the expected location

• When using the data sites, use variant spellings for forename and surname – even try forename only or wildcards for surname.

• If still not found, broaden the search to include surrounding parishes, even adjacent counties, as county borders frequently changed.

• Use children’s names to try to locate the family – a child’s unusual first name can often lead to results.

• Try finding siblings, too: this might reveal more family members.

Census Research .. Where there is more than one possibility

• Go back to basics – check all known information, eliminating all but the strongest possibilities.

• Try to find each possible family in other censuses, baptism and burial records or BMD certificates, in order to eliminate them.

Census Surname Distribution Spratling surname example

BMD searching.....births• Certificates of birth, marriage or death are a mainstay of

genealogy, providing essential details to aid research.• Obtaining these certificates is fairly straightforward once the

correct entry is found in indexes compiled by the GRO since July 1837.

• Sometimes, however, the entry you are seeking cannot be found – perhaps the surname has been incorrectly transcribed, or an entry is not found in the expected year, or the registration district is different from the expected birthplace.

• These tips and information from Jenny Jones of discover your ancestors.co.uk

If you can’t find a birth......

• Clues to the birth year/date may be gleaned from baptism, death/ burial records, marriage certificates, censuses etc.

• Try all variants – Worton could be indexed under Warton/ Wharton/ Werton/ Wooton/ Morton etc. Remember that a person may have used a nickname but would be registered under his correct name.

• Births are indexed by registration date, not birth date (a birth on 22 March registered on 8 April will appear in April-June quarter). Late registrations were common, despite fines imposed. Search up to three years either side of the expected year.

If you can’t find a birth......• Perhaps the birth was never registered – many believed

baptismal records were sufficient. Try baptismal registers for all likely areas.

• A child born before the parents’ marriage or where the father was absent may be registered under the mother’s maiden name.

• Children were registered as ‘male’ or ‘female’ when a name had not been selected before registration.

• Births abroad can be traced via e.g. www.thegenealogist.co.uk.

• Try local newspaper archives for birth announcements – while brief, they can provide vital information.

If you can’t find a birth......

• Use family history forums e.g. www.thegenealogist.co.uk/forums/index.php – someone may have the information you seek, but always check the information is proven.

• School records often give a child’s age – try your local county record office.

• Try surrounding registration districts – check out www.genuki.org.uk and follow links.

• Common names may be troublesome. Ask advice from the local superintendent registrar; ask them to check all possible candidates, giving as much detail as possible.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghXERt9QSIA

• http://www.kilfiancrosskin.com/kilfian-baptisms.php

I found this......

http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/localities.britisles.ireland.may.general/224.822.1/mb.ashx

Finally.........

• Any other Brick Walls for the Group to look at?

• Anything that you would like us to look at in future meetings?

• Anything else you would like to say?