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WHERE DO I SEARCH FOR MY ANCESTORS?

Welcome to this section, where I hope to be able to help you in giving you some information as to where you can search various records that are helpful in finding your ancestors.

Join the Library, History Groups and use the Internet. There are many Mailing Lists on the internet which you will find very helpful, I truly recommend you joining the ones that are appropriate to your research, as the people on these lists are ever so helpful, and will offer all the help they can to get results for your research, I have placed many links to these, and many more helpful sites, where you can start your research, at the end of this article, It is very important that you always write down, make notes or keep a log on your computer of all the information that you have found in your research, dates, names, places etc, I know I have already stated this, but it is so important.

Most libraries have a genealogy or family history section. If you are not sure ask the librarian they will assist you in finding that area of the library. Go from the books to microfiche or to microfilm. If you haven't used a microfiche or microfilm reader/printer you might want to get the librarian to assist you. You can also have copies made from most of the readers in the library, you will also find that many libraries have the St. Catherine's Index on film or microfiche, from these you can trace the required information needed to order Birth/Marriage and Death certificates.

Never go to a research facility, such as the library, without a list of specific tasks.  These items should be as specific as possible. If the exact dates of any vital events are unknown, then estimate them from other records or information,  (Such as when searching for a Marriage, if the date is not known, then I usually start the search a couple of years before when the first child was born in the marriage) These dates and approximate locations will help focus your search.

The civil registration system, parish registers and census returns are the three main research sources for genealogists. Civil registration commenced in July 1837. Each of these are available, in some capacity, online and is easily accessible. One of the greatest myths about the Internet is that everything is free. While there are many valuable free resources online, some of the best resources are not.

You should be prepared to invest some money in genealogy.

Also monumental inscriptions can supplement information obtained from parish registers. Gravestones are subject to the ravages of the British weather but many are still legible and a church or chapel often contains monumental inscriptions. Churches and graveyards are worth visiting since the monumental inscriptions may offer details of births and deaths of previously unknown family members.

Here are a few useful links for you, please visit and use them,

and I am sure that your family tree will soon start growing.

 www.GenesReunited.co.uk

This is a great site that now has over 7 million members, you can also Search over 500 million names. It is a brilliant place to start your Family Tree and also make contact with others who are researching the same family names as you are.

Well worth a visit.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~maillist   - Mailing Lists

Try to join a mailing list for the county that your relatives came from, and send a posting explaining that you are new to genealogy, and write down what you have (names, dates etc), also state that you would like to hear from any one who happens to be researching the same names, also read the postings, as this will give you an idea of what you can ask, etc.

RootsWeb Surname List
A list or registry of over 1 million surnames from around the world, the RootsWeb Surname List (RSL) is a must-visit. Associated with each surname are dates, locations, and contact information for the person who submitted the surname. You can search this list by surname and location, and limit searches to recent additions. You can also add your own surnames to this list for free.  

http://www.genuki.org.uk/indexes/SurnamesLists.html

There is a page listing all the UK and Ireland counties which you can use to find out whether there is a Surnames List (i.e. list of who is researching what names, where) for  a given county.

Birth, Marriage and Death Indexes 1837-2004

http://www.familysearch.org/ 

Great site for much Free researching, here you can search the British 1881 census, Canadian 1881 census and also the United States 1880 census. 

You can also search the International Genealogical Index. 

From the home page, click on the Search button, them choose the selection from the left hand border, to search the section you require.

I have found so much information on some of our ancestors families from searching the 1881 Census here, and once you find a family household, you can view the neighbours, which can be interesting, as sometimes you can find other relatives that lived in the same street.

 Search over 500 million names at Genes Reunited.co.uk

The 1901 census is also available online at the official site http://www.1901census.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.html.  

(The index is free, everything else is pay per view.)    

The 1911 Census is now available Online

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~hughwallis/ 

  Another great Free site where you can search the IGI Batch Numbers 

British Isles and North America

http://www.lancashirebmd.org.uk/  

http://www.1837online.com/Trace2web/ 

This is a Pay Per View Site

This site provides a record of all the BMD indexes in England and Wales since 1837 and up to 2002. Records for British nationals overseas from 1761 to 1994 may also be found here, especially useful for those tracing ancestors in the military who died in the two world wars. These records include regimental registers and returns from army chaplains. 

This is a pay per view site and the charge goes down according the number of images you wish to view.

http://www.cyndislist.com/

www.worldgenweb.org

The WorldGenWeb Project is a non-profit, volunteer based organization dedicated to providing genealogical and historical records and resources for world-wide access!

You will want to begin your search by exploring the Regional and Country Websites that make up the WorldGenWeb Project.  Each website contains important resource and reference information that will help you trace your family history.

All of our country websites maintain a system for submitting surname queries.  Many also have country or county specific email lists that are FREE and open to anyone interested in the region.  

Please note that all the information supplied on ‘Our Ward Family Website’ is for the purpose of 

private study and research only and may NOT be used for commercial purposes.

Website Created & Maintained by Peter Ward