Genealogy Chat

Right – time to show what a dimwit I am, and that I really don’t know what I’m doing at all!!!!! I have managed to trace my ancestors back to ggg grandparents on most lines of both my mother and fathers sides of my tree. I have been really careful to verify and triple check everything I have found and have (or have ordered) every cert that is relevant. The problem that I have now encountered is that the next pieces of the puzzle are before 1837 – I know that this means parish records but that’s where I get confused. I don’t live in any of the areas that my ancestors come from, and because of six day a week work commitments, I am unable to travel very far to record offices etc. So my questions are:- 1) if I joined my local family history society are they likely to have access to records in the other areas of the country that I am interested in – or would I be better off joining one further away in an ‘area of interest’? 2) I have an LDS centre in my town, would they be able to get – or do they have – copies of the relevant parish records that I want? 3) should my local records office or main library be able to order in copies of the registers that I need? I really think I need someone who has been doing this a long time to ‘hold my hand’ for a bit on this – I really feel like the ‘new girl at school’ at the moment and I’m not sure which way to go next. Any helpful tips or advice gratefully received. Trudy

I am getting to the same point in mine I got some dates from Familysearch IGI I will watch this space to see what else you get. some people on here do go to parshes like Layla does London under heading rainy day in Guildhall (city of London) on the Records office page. Jeanette

Hi Jeanette - glad it's not just me - I'm normally pretty level headed and organised, but this is now getting me stumped. Trudy

Hi I am not an authority on what to do and where to go but what I have done is first look on family search IGI, you have the gggt ancestor's names, see if you can see their baptism on there or marriage of your ancestors. Once you get a place go to the batches IGI Batches, if you go into County, example Devon, all the churches in Devon would come up you search the entries and find the entries. If you find an entry that you think maybe your family click on the number at the bottom and then put parents name in box on the right but no name in the left hand box on the IGI page and it should show you any children born to that couple. Some of these children you may find in the very first census. You can put the area in search and see if there is an online parish clerk, email and ask for any info on your family. I have found them very helpful. You maybe lucky and get more information on your family without leaving your pc. Good Luck Irene. ps Ask again if I have not made it clear enough for you.

I'm at the same point on most of my tree. From what I understand, LDS can order any parish records you want, for a small fee. Not sure about the FHS or library. I know my library has local parish records, and if it's a large/main one has them for the local area too.

Irene & Tracy Thank you very much - I have managed to find some info on IGI but didn't really know what to do with it before. Thanks Trudy

Hi Irene - can't seem to get into 'counties' so am a bit stuck on this - have found baptism records and the batch number - where am I going wrong? Trudy

If you go to the very top of the page where the Batches are on the left you will see Counties, click on that then a list of the counties comes up. If you cannot find it let me know the area and I will send you address so you can get into site. Irene

I am the secretary of my local family history society. I know I and most of the committee are always more than happy to search the local parish records for our members. Our society does have the fiche for the local PR's too. I think it is better to get in touch with the society in the area where your ancestors lived but also your local society should be of help to you with general questions abotu family history research - of course so is this site! Jane

I have not done this but I did notice on a previous request re Parish Records that you can buy the film from the records office and look at it at your own library by using their machine. Also Vikki put an address on who sell parish records in cd form. I have it in favorites but cannot think of it off the top of my head. Genfair??????Irene

Do try Genfair, to see what's available. As for the IGI, that is a useful pointer, but be wary about their films. The example quoted, of Devon, will be virtually all handwritten transcripts, rather than original registers. Where the records have been fiched, the local records office sometimes will sell copies. Another alternative, if you live in the London area is the Society of Genealogists. Their library holds a huge collection of parish registers in microform.

Hi Trudy, There is lots out there, have a look at Genuki for the area you are interested in and it will tell you what is available for that area. You can also go to the relevant FHS to see if they do lookups. I am a co-ordinator for a Welsh lookup exchange where volunteers do lookups on material they hold, there are other lookup exchanges so take a look at them as well. Rootsweb mailing lists are also a good resource, I am a member of 3 and get lots of info from them. Good luck in your search. Jean.

I've ordered films for OPR's and 1841 - 1861 census from the LDS to view at the local LDS FHC. As I'm researching in Scotland and no hope of getting there its very useful. On your first visit to the LDS FHC there probably won't be a lot to research as they tend to only having local records and the BDM fiches but it will give you a feel for the place. They also have free access to Ancestry for an hour (if its not been booked up). However when you go you can tell them whereabouts you are researching and they will help you with ordering films/fiches. It usually takes about 2 weeks for them to come and costs £2.20 per film plus 50p postage to have access to for about 4 weeks. You have to pay upfront and they phone you when they arrive and book you in. You can also look on the LDS site and see what's available - the film I was looking at today was already online but it was useful to see the original. Look at the Hugh Wallis as well. Occasionally you might find records in the drawer that relate to the area you're interested in or in my case another person was also researching the same village/town. Saw her today and she's also interested in the Edinburgh census I've ordered - so we can share.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions - I will work my way through them this evening. Trudy

Hi Irene - now I really am a dimwit! - I can't see what you're looking at on IGI at all - help!!!!! Trudy

Hi Yes do try Genfair. I have had copies of a few parish registers etc off there and they are good value and a great help. Good luck hope they have something you are looking for. Germaine

After reading Sammy's thread further up, thank you to everyone for bothering to reply to me and I will check back for replies, but I have to sign off shortly for the day and will check again tomorrow. Trudy