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Family History Resources
The Family Records Centre, Myddleton Street, London (nearest tube Angel) holds indexes for Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1837 to present on the Ground Floor. Look up the surname of the person you are interested in ordering a certificate for around the date when you think the event occurred. Most indexes are arranged into Quarters of years (March, June, September and December) depending on when the event was Registered. If for example someone was born at the end of March it is more likely that they will appear in the June Quarter as there is usually a delay before the birth is registered. Certificates cost £7 and take four days to come through, but you can have them sent to your home. Births after about 1950 require more information to be known about the person, and you may be asked for proof of who you are. On the First Floor are Census and other records. There is Intranet access to records which would cost if accessed from elsewhere. An A3 laser printer is available to help in deciphering Census records. To use this a rehachargeable copy card needs to be purchased. Staff are very helpful in explaining the procedures for doing various things, nothing is too much trouble (well, apart from doing your research for you).
The Society of Genealogists, Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road (Barbican tube) has a large repository of useful material too vast to mention here. Those who have exhausted the Censuses will want to look here for fresh leads in places such as Parish records, Poll Books, Monumental Inscriptions, and in the newsletters of the Family History Societies in the area of the country you are interested in. The SoG Catalog can be viewed in advance to plan out your visit - a good idea as the libraries here can be overwhelming if you haven't a clear focus. What you can take into the libraries is understandably restrictive - no pens, bags, overcoats. There is a locker room and a place to have a snack.
The British Library, Euston Road (Euston, Kings Cross, St Pancras stations) has a useful amount of material of interest to the family historian. As a starting point their holding of Electoral Registers, though not by any means complete, is worth looking into. But don't plan on a short visit. On your first visit you will need to apply for a Reader Ticket which involves filling out an application form, and an interview where the rules and regs are spelt out to you, and your photo is taken for the Id card. You will need to take a proof of your address, and a proof of signature. If the material you require is on microfilm you will need to wait about an hour before it is available for view. Printed materials can take up to half a working day to be delivered to the Reading Room if stored off-site.
The Newspaper Library, Colindale (turn right out of Colindale tube) is another useful place to find out further information about for example, the death of an ancestor. Security here is strict too, and again, expect to wait for materials to be delivered to your desk having ordered them.
I've seen links for Parish Chest many times on the web, but there is no substitute for meeting the people who run an organisation to see how enthusiastic and knowledgeable they are about the products advertised. This opportunity for me to meet them arose at Bracknell, see their site for future events they will be attending.
Louis Kessler's website lists many useful genealogy links
Genealogy and Family History Internet Web Directory - comprehensive resource.
Barbara Dixon's Certificate Tutorials give a good insight into the importance of each tiny piece of information that is contained on the Birth Marriage and Death certificates.
Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet
Free genealogy sites directory on Seniority, add your URL - add your genealogy link for free
QWEAS have given Precision Genealogical Tools a 4-star rating.
Page Last Modified: 19 November, 2006 9:28
© Ken Moorhouse 2005