FAMILY HISTORY

WHICH FACTS DO I FOLLOW FIRST?

YOU CAN GO IN ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS BUT, FOR EXAMPLE, YOUR GREAT GRANDMOTHER’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE SHOULD TELL YOU HER PARENTS’ NAMES AND ADDRESS, THE FATHER’S OCCUPATION AND MOTHER’S MAIDEN NAME – USING THIS INFORMATION, YOU CAN THEN LOOK FOR THEM LIVING TOGETHER ON THE CENSUS AND SEE IF YOU CAN FIND THEIR MARRIAGE IN THE GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE INDEX. IF YOU ORDER A COPY OF THE MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE FROM GRO.GOV.UK, THAT WILL TELL YOU THE BRIDE AND GROOM’S FATHERS’ NAMES AND OCCUPATIONS, AND SO YOU’VE ADDED ANOTHER GENERATION TO YOUR FAMILY TREE. THEIR CAREERS MAY PROVIDE CLUES TOO – THERE’S LOTS OF INFORMATION ONLINE NOW ABOUT MERCHANT SEAMEN, FOR EXAMPLE. THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES HAS SUBJECT-

CAN I PAY SOMEONE TO HELP ME?

The National Archives has a list of freelance genealogists it has vetted. There are also directories of professionals at the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (agra.org.uk) and the Association of Professional Genealogists (apgen.org). Rates vary enormously, but expect to pay £20-£40 per hour. SPECIFIC RESEARCH GUIDES TO POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

HOW DO I START ADDING COLOUR?

THE NATIONALARCHIVES.GOV.UK IS A GOVERNMENT-RUN ARCHIVE THAT

HOLDS OVER 1,000 YEARS OF HISTORY.

IT HAS OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS ON EVERYTHING FROM TOWNS AND CITIES, PLANS AND SURVEYS, TO WORKHOUSE RECORDS, MEDICAL HISTORIES, COURTS, POLICE, WARS, INDUSTRY AND EDUCATION. IT’S FREE BUT NOT EVERYTHING IS DIGITALISED YET. FOR A FEE, IT WILL SEND YOU PHOTOCOPIES OF THE RECORDS YOU

WANT, AND HAS A FASCINATING COLLECTION.

I’VE HIT A BRICK WALL… NOW WHAT?

IF YOU REALLY GET STUCK, ANCESTRY.CO.UK AND THEGENEALOGIST.CO.UK NOW

OFFER DNA TESTING TO ESTABLISH YOUR ETHNICITY AND EXACTLY WHERE YOU COME FROM. ORDER THEIR KIT (£79 AND £54 RESPECTIVELY), SPIT SALIVA INTO A TEST TUBE AND YOUR DNA WILL BE ANALYSED AGAINST 700,000 MARKERS. YOUR RESULTS CAN BE COMPARED WITH OTHER WEBSITE MEMBERS WHO HAVE HAD DNA TESTS TO CHECK IF YOU’RE RELATED. NOT READY FOR THE DNA TEST QUITE YET? THE SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS (SOG.ORG.UK) ALSO OFFERS A FREE TELEPHONE HELPLINE: 020 7490 8911 TO HELP WITH MORE LEADS.

DIG INTO YOUR ANCESTOR’S MILITARY PAST

THE COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION CASUALTY LISTS ARE AT CWGC.ORG TOGETHER WITH WORLD WAR II PRISONERS OF WAR RECORDS. SERVICE RECORDS AREN’T OPEN TO THE PUBLIC BUT YOU CAN APPLY FOR THEM AT VETERANS-UK. INFO. THE £30 FEE IS WAIVED FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES. ALSO LOOK AT FORCES-WARRECORDS.CO.UK AND THE IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUMS SITE AT IWM.ORG.UK

ANY SKELETONS IN THE CUPBOARD?

FINDMYPAST.CO.UK ALLOWS YOU TO SEARCH 2.5 MILLION CRIME RECORDS DATING BETWEEN 1770 AND 1934. DOCUMENTS INCLUDE PRISONER MUGSHOTS, COURT PAPERS AND APPEAL LETTERS AND EVEN

THE ADDRESSES OF SPOUSES AND CHILDREN, PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS INCLUDING COLOUR OF HAIR, EYE COLOUR AND DISTINGUISHING FEATURES SUCH AS POCK MARKS AND

SCARS. THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AT KEW HOLDS LISTS OF ALL INDIVIDUALS HELD IN PRISON, WHETHER THEY WERE AWAITING

TRIAL OR HAD BEEN CONVICTED.