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Research in Other Countries => Other Countries => Other Countries - Resources => Topic started by: Berlin-Bob on Wednesday 19 January 05 12:32 GMT (UK)

Title: Link: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Berlin-Bob on Wednesday 19 January 05 12:32 GMT (UK)
This topic will list some resource which you can use for searching for ancestors from British India.

You may need to know, or ask, Why were the ancestors in India ??


Please do not put requests on this topic.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FIBIS -  Families In British India Society:  http://www.fibis.org   (http://www.fibis.org)

at http://search.fibis.org (http://search.fibis.org) you can search their database of transcribed records (BMD, military, etc, etc)

see the full list here: http://search.fibis.org/what_s_on_this_site.html (http://search.fibis.org/what_s_on_this_site.html)

Lots of information here, including a searchable database.
Quote
The data presented here have been contributed by a number of hardworking and enthusiastic individuals and a small army of ‘FIBIS Volunteers’.  The data are very largely taken from sources within the British Library’s India Office Records Section (IOR) to whom thanks are also due for authority to publish them here.
Title: Re: Link: Ancestors in British India
Post by: Berlin-Bob on Wednesday 23 February 05 08:47 GMT (UK)
This might help, too:

Moving Here  http://www.movinghere.org.uk (http://www.movinghere.org.uk)

in particular: http://www.movinghere.org.uk/galleries/roots/asian/angloindians/angloindians.htm (http://www.movinghere.org.uk/galleries/roots/asian/angloindians/angloindians.htm)

and any other references to South Asia
Title: Re: INDIA: Links for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Berlin-Bob on Thursday 25 May 06 09:49 BST (UK)
I found a clue to one of my family mysteries in this very useful site:  however any other useful sites would be appreciated.

Archive link http://web.archive.org/web/20050912230923/http://members.ozemail.com.au/~clday/ (http://web.archive.org/web/20050912230923/http://members.ozemail.com.au/~clday/)
Title: Re: INDIA: Links for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Berlin-Bob on Thursday 06 July 06 07:31 BST (UK)
more info here:

Topic: British Army in India, 1810-1820
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,148756.0.html

Topic: Birth in India
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,156280.0.html

Have you tried 1837 online? it's free to search but pay to view but it does have these overseas records: GRO Army death indices (1881-1955) and the GRO Army Chaplain's Birth indices (1796-1880).

http://www.1837online.com/Trace2web/OverseasStartSearchServlet

Mick :)

Colonial armies — forces raised in other countries and such records are usually in the country where the forces were raised, except the Indian Army, for which many records are held at the

India Office Library,
197 Blackfriars Road,
London Se1 8NG.
Title: Re: INDIA: Links for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Berlin-Bob on Sunday 04 November 07 11:37 GMT (UK)
Topic: Online & Searchable - The India Office Records at British Library
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,265978.0.html
Hello all, unable to sleep & trawling the web, I came across this searchable website for 'The India Office Records' at the British Library.  Haven't seen any reference to this on Rootschat, so here's the link.  The following information in qoutes is direct from the British Library website.

http://indiafamily.bl.uk/UI/Home.aspx

"Use this website to search: 300,000 births, baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials in the India Office Records

biographical notes from a variety of sources for mainly British and European people in India c.1600-1949.

for people in other countries connected with the history of the British in India

About tells you what is and is not in this index.

Dictionary explains abbreviations, references and unusual terms

The India Office Records is the custodian of the archives of
East India Company (1600-1858)
Board of Control (1784-1858)
India Office (1858-1947)
Burma Office (1937-1948 )

The India Office Records’ collections contain much information of great interest to family historians, mainly relating to European and Eurasian people.

There are biographical sources for official and non-official inhabitants of the many overseas areas where the East India Company and India Office had influence, and also for home staff based in Britain The records include details for

civil servants
military personnel
mariners
medical staff
chaplains
railway workers
law officers
non-official inhabitants such as merchants and planters, free mariners, and missionaries.

The main British Library website includes details of all India Office Records, not just those of interest to family historians".


As a non-military person, I found the dictionary particularly useful, as it explains what units / regiments the abbreviations used refer to.

I'm not sure, but maybe some of the records could tie in nicely with Kevwood's offer of searching the 'Indian Mutiny Rolls', perhaps Kev could let us know.  Enjoy & good luck.  Regards, TonyR.
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Berlin-Bob on Sunday 04 November 07 14:49 GMT (UK)
British India Family History
http://valmayukuk.tripod.com (http://valmayukuk.tripod.com)

includes many interesting "data" pages,

e.g.  Census information:
http://valmayukuk.tripod.com/id32.html (http://valmayukuk.tripod.com/id32.html)
including
1851 Bombay Census
"Returns Of Europeans Residing in Districts Under the Bombay Presidency on 30 March 1851"
http://valmayukuk.tripod.com/1851bombaycensus (http://valmayukuk.tripod.com/1851bombaycensus)

OIOC Baptisms, Marriage and Burials
http://valmayukuk.tripod.com/id10.html (http://valmayukuk.tripod.com/id10.html)

Passenger lists
http://valmayukuk.tripod.com/id38.html (http://valmayukuk.tripod.com/id38.html)

Bengal Civil Service Gradation List 1869
http://valmayukuk.tripod.com/id41.html (http://valmayukuk.tripod.com/id41.html)

etc, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Indian Cemeteries
Quote
Preserving the memory of historic cemeteries in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Burma
http://www.indian-cemeteries.org (http://www.indian-cemeteries.org)

Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Berlin-Bob on Thursday 03 January 08 11:18 GMT (UK)
This book sounds like a useful resource:

Topic: INDIA: "Last Children of The Raj"
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,80883.0.html

Bob
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Berlin-Bob on Saturday 03 May 08 08:51 BST (UK)
The Department of Asia Pacific & Africa Collections at the British Library is the place to find out about those things .... they have in their collections I think about 70% of the Ecclesiastical Returns .... good place for you to go Keith .... you'd love it !!  :D some searches can be done on line .... or try FIBIS !!

http://www.bl.uk (http://www.bl.uk)



Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Berlin-Bob on Sunday 18 May 08 08:31 BST (UK)
The new FamilySearchWiki site has some links (most of the links above), and also some addresses for archives in India.

https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/India

This site is on-going, so it's worth checking it regularly to see what's been added.

Bob
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Berlin-Bob on Friday 30 May 08 18:36 BST (UK)

http://www.indian-cemeteries.org/regiment_index.asp

Annie  :)
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Berlin-Bob on Friday 30 May 08 18:44 BST (UK)
The new FamilySearchWiki site has some links (most of the links above), and also some addresses for archives in India.

https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/India

This site is on-going, so it's worth checking it regularly to see what's been added.

Bob


This page has just had a major update.

Apart from a link to
Pages for India (https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Category:India)
on the right hand side there is a now list of topics with links to pages on

* Archives and Libraries
* Biography
* Cemeteries
* Census
* Church Directories
* Church History
* Church Records
* Civil Registration
* Court Records
* Directories
* Emigration and Immigration
* Gazetteers
* Genealogy
* Historical Geography
* History
* Land and Property
* Language and Languages
* Maps
* Military Records
* Names Personal
* Naturalization and Citizenship
* Newspapers
* Occupations
* Periodicals
* Probate Records
* Schools
* Societies
* Taxation


Updated: 08.11.2009
Looks like they've changed the page formats.  Please see:
Topic: New resource from Familysearch: research in other countries, Reply #6
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,259450.msg2836203.html#msg2836203
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Christopher on Monday 02 June 08 09:34 BST (UK)
India Office Records: Family History Sources
http://www.bl.uk/index.shtml (http://www.bl.uk/index.shtml)
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Berlin-Bob on Friday 27 February 09 11:50 GMT (UK)
It looks like they've moved it to a new "shelf" :)

This could be it:

India Office Records: Family History Sources
http://www.bl.uk/index.shtml (http://www.bl.uk/index.shtml)

Bob
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Berlin-Bob on Saturday 04 April 09 08:02 BST (UK)

Indian Civil Service Lists:

The New Army List Militia List, and Indian Civil Service List 1879
http://books.google.ca/books?id=PwAOAAAAQAAJ

The New Army List Militia List, and Indian Civil Service List 1880
http://books.google.ca/books?id=UP8NAAAAQAAJ

The New Army List Militia List, and Indian Civil Service List 1881
http://books.google.ca/books?id=Xe8NAAAAQAAJ

Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Tom Piper on Sunday 10 May 09 15:32 BST (UK)
Can I add this source as well:

Allen's Indian Mail, and Register of Intelligence for British and Foreign India, China and all parts of the East.

http://books.google.co.nz/books?q=editions:OCLC12933469&id=wbUOAAAAQAAJ&sou

There are volumes for   1845, 1846, 1847, 1848, 1849, 1850, 1851, 1852, 1856, all searchable, very addictive.

Tom
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: J.S on Wednesday 13 May 09 05:40 BST (UK)
Thanks for that. I shall investigatge.  John
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: gene-genie on Monday 13 July 09 12:04 BST (UK)
British Library  India Office - Family History:

http://indiafamily.bl.uk/UI/
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: J.S on Wednesday 15 July 09 07:11 BST (UK)
Thank you - appreciate the help.  John
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: louisemccrea on Wednesday 19 August 09 18:00 BST (UK)
http://www.burialsinindia.net/

Hi I hope this link is of some use it has a burial search for some of the cemetery's in Calcutta where lots of Anglo/India ancestors were buried.

Louise :D
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: J.S on Saturday 05 September 09 08:29 BST (UK)
Nice of you to respond. Thank you.
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: still_looking on Sunday 10 January 10 22:39 GMT (UK)
this volume of parliamentary papers includes those who received pensions while working for the East India company 1793-1833

http://books.google.com/books?id=y0gSAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: MUMMYG on Saturday 27 February 10 22:19 GMT (UK)
Another few sites  for Burials in India, that last link by LouiseMcCrea is broken.

http://www.bacsa.org.uk/

http://www.indian-cemeteries.org/introduction.asp

On that last one, if you get no result check the Strays illegibles and unknowns. It can also be searched by Regiment.
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Lynntony on Sunday 01 August 10 18:33 BST (UK)
A couple more useful links

Koi-hai Directory
A lively newsletter for mainly tea people and planters who served in north-east India and Assam, and they do carry articles about graves on tea estates.
http://www.koi-hai.com

Kabristan Archives
Inscriptions from Indian and Sri Lankan graveyards.
http://kabristan.org.uk/

For those who had ancestors attending one of India's many "hill schools", or for those amongst us who were fortunate enough to attend, I can highly recommend "Under the Old School Topee" by Hazel Innes Craig. As far as I'm aware it's still available via Amazon.

Tony
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Lynntony on Thursday 25 November 10 12:30 GMT (UK)
For those of you who wonder what India was like for your ancestors there are some wonderfully evocative photos at the following -

http://oldindianphotos.blogspot.com/

Tony
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: MUMMYG on Thursday 25 November 10 14:44 GMT (UK)
Thanks for posting that link, its absolutely brilliant, especially this section about the Indian Mutiny...

http://oldindianphotos.blogspot.com/search/label/1850s

Cheers!

Gill
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Redroger on Thursday 25 November 10 14:48 GMT (UK)
Certainly an interesting, and potentially very useful site.
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Berlin-Bob on Monday 28 March 11 09:51 BST (UK)
The new FamilySearchWiki site has some links (most of the links above), and also some addresses for archives in India.

https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/India

This site is on-going, so it's worth checking it regularly to see what's been added.

Bob


Just a reminder:  this site is still growing so keep checking :)

https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/India

at the bottom of the page is a "Category" link which lists all wiki.familysearch pages on India:
https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Category:India
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Redroger on Monday 28 March 11 16:22 BST (UK)
Very useful Bob, thanks.
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Lynntony on Tuesday 29 March 11 23:40 BST (UK)
Another site with evocative pictures of India from the late 19th and early 20th century
http://www.imagesofasia.com/html/india/

Tony
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Lynntony on Monday 13 June 11 17:00 BST (UK)
A couple of sites regarding tea planting in Ceylon found by ShaunJ.  Fascinating history of the old planters. There's also a forum where anyone with Ceylon tea planters amongst their ancestors can leave messages/queries to help with their research.

http://www.historyofceylontea.com/Fe_Browse/fergusons-directories.asp
http://www.historyofceylontea.com/

Tony

Added 17 March 2012 Both of these links seem to have gone down. It may still be worth checking again sometime in the future.

27 Sept 2012 The first link is now showing as "Site under construction" but it does seem as though the second link is now up and running again.
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Lynntony on Sunday 04 September 11 21:52 BST (UK)


Another useful site for researchers courtesy of tina morana


http://indiafamily.bl.uk/UI/Home.aspx  (http://indiafamily.bl.uk/UI/Home.aspx)
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Redroger on Monday 05 September 11 18:00 BST (UK)
Thanks, BL readers' ticket just expired and don't know when I shall get to renew it.
Title: Re: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Lynntony on Saturday 18 August 12 14:44 BST (UK)
Another site that I've come across recently. Some interesting stories and, usefully, a contact address for those seeking details of BMDs in Ceylon.

http://valmayukuk.tripod.com/index.html

Tony
Title: Re: Link: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Valmay Young on Friday 11 July 14 20:04 BST (UK)
Fibiwiki is an extremely useful website that tells you where to find practically everything to do with British India research. It not only contains guides to help you with your research, but also lists various sources, and general background information about the culture, society and history of India during the period from 1600 to 1947.
http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php/Main_Page (http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php/Main_Page)
Title: Re: Link: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
Post by: Seaton Smithy on Tuesday 10 January 17 20:43 GMT (UK)
I don't think this one has been listed before.

It is on a pay site, but the engagement notice for the marriage I was researching came up free in a Google search so you may be lucky.

"The Colonies and India" newspaper:

http://newspaperarchive.com/uk/middlesex/london/colonies-and-india/1892/05-07/page-01?tag=albert+carstairs&rtserp=tags/?pf=albert&pl=carstairs&psb=dateasc