8 excellent 18th century records on Ancestry
The Georgian era is dramatic for so many reasons, from the stern attitude to crime, to the all-pervasive political and religious penalties of the time, and the ramifications of the burgeoning British Empire. Here we explore a few of the many valuable and evocative collections on Ancestry that will help you trace your family in the 1700s
1. West Yorkshire, England, Select Land Tax Records
Approaching a total of 4 million records, this is a treasure trove collection for those with ancestors from the locality. The records name owners and occupiers, by parish, and year, making for comprehensive coverage of all households during the period.
Datepsan: 1704-1932
Number of records: 3,899,907 www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/5108/
2. UK, Regimental Registers of Service
Find details of records held in The National Archives, Kew (WO 25/266–558, 632–634, 677–683, 686–688, 3913–3914, 5411-5516) for soldiers and officers who served with their regiments in Canada. Datepsan: 1756-1900
Number of records: 467,838 www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/3253/
2. U.S., Directory of Scottish Settlers in North America
Discover information about people of Scottish descent who travelled to North America or the Caribbean during this period. The collection has been compiled from diverse records such as passenger manifests, land grant documents, wills, personal papers and gravestones. Datepsan: 1625-1825
Number of records: 26,157 www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/62215/
4. UK, Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices’ Indentures
This collection contains registers of the money received for the payment of tax on an apprentice’s indenture.the tax may have been paid long after the apprenticeship ended, so you may find it useful to expand your search parameters. Datepsan: 1710-1811 Number of records: 1,045,652 www.ancestry.co.uk/search/ collections/1851/
5. Ireland, Catholic Qualification and Convert Rolls
Find details of name, occupation and place, as well as conversion (from the Catholic faith) or qualification (the date on which, alternatively to converting, someone made an oath of allegiance to the monarch). Such measures as conversion and swearing an oath of allegiance were undertaken to try to mitigate the penalties which Roman Catholics (and other Nonconformists) endured during this period.
Datepsan: 1701-1845
Number of records: 32,134 https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/62057/
6. UK, Prison Commission Records
Registers of prisoners, visitors’ books, photograph albums, minute books, journals, assizes and quarter sessions calendars are the sources of the records in this collection, which cover prisons located in England, Wales, Gibraltar and some ship prisons too. Datepsan: 1770-1951
Number of records: 1,089,129 https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/ collections/61810/
7. Caribbean, English Settlers in Barbados
A collection comprising records of baptisms, marriages, wills and administrations for Barbados. Many people first settled in Barbados before moving on to the mainland and settling in Virginia, Georgia, Carolina and other colonies. Datepsan: 1637-1800
Number of records: 175,178 https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/ collections/61463/
8. London, England, King’s Bench and Fleet Prison Discharge Books and Prisoner Lists, 1734-1862
Until the 1860s people could be imprisoned for their debt, often incurring lengthy stays until their debts were cleared. Explore the records of both prisons, which come from a diverse range of sources – account books, entry books, entry and discharge books and more.
Datepsan: 1734-1862
Number of records: 32,198 https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/ collections/9158/