Author Topic: *** Tips on Getting Started ***  (Read 34752 times)

Offline Kazza

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*** Tips on Getting Started ***
« on: Wednesday 04 February 04 01:53 GMT (UK) »
Tips for the Novice
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A lot of the queries in this forum take the form of "Can anyone give me some tips on getting started in Family History Research......" type questions.  

We love to answer your questions but to avoid duplication of effort I have extracted some answers which will give good general information.

The best tip of course is: Ask a Rootschatter,  they are happy to help.   :D

A good place to start is FreeBMD,  as the name suggests a free site with the index of Births,  Marriages and Deaths in the UK.  Not all of the records are on there yet,  but you may get something to help.

http://www.freebmd.rootsweb.com/

Your next port of call could be the Family Search site that has census and other information and is also free:

http://www.familysearch.org/

The GENUKI site is the best site for information about how to start it all off:

http://www.genuki.org.uk/

Kazza.
Welsh Lass
Surname interests:
Clementsten, Hobson, Hole, Marden, O'Clements, Pitten, Sharland, Vickery (Vicary), Williams.

Area Interests:
Cardiff, Bampton, Bideford, Crediton, Wollaston, Somerset, Tidenham, Norway, Australia to Bristol.

Offline Boongie Pam

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Re:Any tips on getting started
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 18 April 04 16:07 BST (UK) »
There are some good sites with tutorials on how to get started.  You've done the first and most important step - speak to people.

Restrictions on newer records mean that to use online or public domain resources you have to know who you are looking for in at least 1901.  Did your grandparents parents live then?

Here's 2 good starting point articles:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/familyhistory/

http://www.familyrecords.gov.uk/default.htm

Both have excellent guides for the UK.

I've only being doing my family tree since August last year and I started with 2 names provided by my nana before she died both were on the 1901 and one on the 1881 - from this point I now have about 500 individuals and I've broken the 1700 barrier on one line.  This has been done very cheaply using the library and online resource.  

The golden rules are:-

Get as much info from your relatives as possible, drag the old photos out sit and reminisce.  Sometimes there are blockers or red herrings.  People don't always want to talk - tact needs to be used, talk about places rather than people.

Keep a note of EVERYTHING never dismiss anything, you may forget a connection later on.  Often old family friends, marriage witnesses etc turn out to be related.

Work backwards if you have an unusual name to follow that can make it easier but beware of the Smiths & Jones.

I hope you enjoy it and best of luck.  My dad was the same by the way - not interested but when I showed him the online census he couldn't get enough.

All the best,
Pam
 ;D

UK Census info. Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
~~~~~~~~~~~

Dumfrieshire: Fallen, Fallon, Carruthers, Scott, Farish, Aitchison, Green, Ryecroft, Thomson, Stewart
Midlothian: Linn/d, Aitken, Martin
North Wales: Robins(on), Hughes, Parry, Jones
Cumberland: Lowther, Young, Steward, Miller
Somerset: Palmer, Cork, Greedy, Clothier

Online intermittently!

Offline Kazza

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Re:Any tips on getting started
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 22 April 04 04:25 BST (UK) »
RootsChatters,

This reply from Boongie Pam is excellent advice to the complete novice.

SO,  I am going to add the following advice of my own and Sticky it up for future reference for beginners.


The best thing to do in this site is take a look around first.  Here is my guided tour:

1.  Look around the Beginners Forum.  Explore the Beginner's links gathered together at the top of the board.  Read a few of the topics,  these are some useful ones:
http://www.rootschat.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=47;action=display;threadid=2973
http://www.rootschat.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=47;action=display;threadid=2538
http://www.rootschat.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=47;action=display;threadid=2181

2.  Look around the Census and Resource Discussion Forum.   Explore some of the links given at the top of the board and read some of the topics.  There are some fascinating stories there and some heartening sucess stories.

3.  Explore the Common Room.  Get an idea of the range of questions asked, and the answers given.

4. Explore the Specialist boards
This is the place you will find some of the more specialist information
such as advice on Armed Forces and Military Records or Professions and Occupations

5.  Look at the relevant Country and County forums.  If you know what areas you are interested in you will find some more links to help you here.

6.  Ask questions,  lots of them.  This is the key on Rootschat,  there are lots of friendly people who are just waiting to help you  ;D.  We were all beginners once,  and everyone knows what it is to find themselves stuck at a Brick Wall.

Lastly,  have fun,  and good luck.   ;)

Kazza.
Welsh Lass
Surname interests:
Clementsten, Hobson, Hole, Marden, O'Clements, Pitten, Sharland, Vickery (Vicary), Williams.

Area Interests:
Cardiff, Bampton, Bideford, Crediton, Wollaston, Somerset, Tidenham, Norway, Australia to Bristol.

Offline moscan

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Irish Records
« Reply #3 on: Monday 03 May 04 21:56 BST (UK) »
Accessing Irish Records


Where to Start: - for the Republic of Ireland: -

In Irish records all births marriages and deaths from 1864 - Present are available in the General Registrars office here in Dublin.

The General Register Office is located at: -
Joyce House,
8 – 11 Lombard Street,
Dublin 2
Ireland


Before this date one is dependent on accessing Church records.  Depending on the county you are researching, there are books available to guide one through the resources available.


1.   Tracing your Dublin Ancestors 
2.   Tracing your  Cork Ancestors
3.   Tracing your Mayo Ancestors
4.   Tracing your Donegal Ancestors
5.   Tracing your Kerry Ancestors
6.   Irish Church Records
7.   Longford and it’s People


All the above Publications are available from    FLYLEAF PRESS
                        4 Spencer Villas,
                        Glenageary,
                        Co. Dublin.
                        Ireland

      E-mail address: -    Flyleaf[AT]indigo.ie



The National Archives: -
Bishop Street,
Dublin 8,
Ireland.

   
The Census details for 1901 and 1911 are available from the National Archives office but they don’t do searches - one must go and plough throughout the different indexes and hope to get lucky.


Other holdings available at the National Archives are
Wills and Administrations
Griffiths Valuations
Tithe Applotments
Government Official Papers.

http://www.nationalarchives.ie


The National Library
Kildare Street
Dublin 2
Ireland


http://www.nli.ie 


Has microfiche available of most of the registers of the Roman Catholic Churches in Ireland. Newspapers, directories and other publications.
Land Commission index, Journals and estate papers.

Costs:
The cost for searches in the Register of B/M/D – is Euro 1.50 for a 5-year search and Euro 15 for total access to all of the indexes per day.

To get copies of a birth/marriage/death cert. you can get a photocopy on site for Euro1.50 per copy and Euro 6.50 for a full copy (which can be acquired on the day or posted to you later.

The National Archives are free but you have to get a reader’s card, which can be issued at the door.

The same applies for the National Library


Other Sources: -

Some of the Shipping/Passenger lists for the immigration Ships of the 17th and 18th Century are available mainly in the North of Ireland, through the: -
 
Ulster American Folk Park,
Castletown,
Omagh,
Co. Tyrone BT78 5 QY
 Northern Ireland





Irish World
www.iol.ie/irishworld


Ulster Historical Foundation
www.uhf.org.uk

www.local.ie

Irish Genealogy – an umbrella organisation for genealogical services in the ROI and Northern Ireland

www.irshgenealogy.ie

Irish Family History Foundation

www.irish-roots.net

Ulster Historical Foundation

www.ancestryireland.co.uk

Cobh Genealogical Project

www.cork.anglican.org

Genealogical Society of Ireland

www.gensocireland.org

General Register Office (Northern Ireland)

www.groni.gov.uk

General Register Office (Irish Republic)

Www.groireland.ie

Public Record office of Northern Ireland

www.proni.gov.uk


National Archives of Ireland

www.nationalarchives.ie


National Library of Ireland

www.nli.ie


Coastguards of Yesteryear - Coastguards around the Irish coastline between the 18th and early 20th centuries, as well as births, deaths, census information,

http://www.coastguardsofyesteryear.org/index.html


Church of Ireland – the Representative Church Body Library - they hold the surviving registers from 830 parishes in the Irish Republic


www.ireland.anglican.org




I have also in my possession a number of leaflets from P.R.O.N.I (Public Record Office of Northern Ireland)

Any of which I can photocopy for anyone who needs it.

I hope that you find this helpful and if you think that I can help you further please get in touch


Best Wishes

Mo
All census look up transcriptions are Crown Copyright<br /><br />Researching: - Freear, Walker, Aston, Scanlan, Courtney, Lowth, O’Sulivan, McDonnell, Condon, McMahon, McKay, Brock, Gourlay, Busby<br /><br />Locations: - March in Cambridgeshire, Banbury in Oxfordshire, Mileham in Norfolk, Worcester, Evesham, Claines in Worcestershire, Birmingham. Dublin, Cork, Fermanagh in Ireland.  Glasgow, Stirling in Scotland


Offline chiefsub68

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Re: *** Tips on Getting Started ***
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 06 October 04 22:22 BST (UK) »
This week's Radio Times (the BBC listings mag in the UK) has a four page pull-out showing you how to get started, the best sites etc, which accompanies the new genealogy series starting next week.

Will
:: Williams - Newborough and Conway
:: Bramhill/Bramhall/Brammall - Liverpool
:: Prossor - Ireland, Portsmouth, Southampton, Manchester and Liverpool
:: Unwin - Liverpool
:: Baker - Portsmouth
:: Elvidge - Notts
:: Albrow - Leeds, Manchester, London, Suffolk
:: Hudson - Leeds
:: Hoggarth - N.Yorks

Offline Geoff of Devon

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Re: *** Tips on Getting Started ***
« Reply #5 on: Friday 29 October 04 14:56 BST (UK) »
Personal Messages

Lots of people seem to struggle sending Personal Messages (PM) when they first start, I know I did!

Here's how to do it:
Click the brown "xx messages" at top right of screen.
Click the bluish/grey "new msg" icon.
Click the grey box next to the brown "Find members"
Type in say "yyyy" and click "Search"
After it has found yyyy's address, click the brown "yyyy" and it should address the mail to that person.
Type away....

Enjoy,  :D
Geoff.
All lookups are crown copyright

Offline moscan

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Re: *** Tips on Getting Started ***
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 31 October 04 02:15 GMT (UK) »
Irish Records


I have attached a pdf file that was produced by the National Library of Ireland which researchers with an interest in Irish records may find useful to read.

Best wishes

mo
All census look up transcriptions are Crown Copyright<br /><br />Researching: - Freear, Walker, Aston, Scanlan, Courtney, Lowth, O’Sulivan, McDonnell, Condon, McMahon, McKay, Brock, Gourlay, Busby<br /><br />Locations: - March in Cambridgeshire, Banbury in Oxfordshire, Mileham in Norfolk, Worcester, Evesham, Claines in Worcestershire, Birmingham. Dublin, Cork, Fermanagh in Ireland.  Glasgow, Stirling in Scotland

Offline JacquiY

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Re: *** Tips on Getting Started ***
« Reply #7 on: Tuesday 15 February 05 22:29 GMT (UK) »
Hi, I'd just like to say what a great help all of this information has been!   I consider myself a beginner still - although I have managed to get back to early 1800's with my maternal line!  The other 3 branches lead me to Ireland so the information, Moscan, was particularly useful.  Cheers, Jax
WHELAN - DUBLIN
COWLEY - DUBLIN
O'DEA - TIPPERARY?
FLYNN - TIPPERARY?
HUGHES - STAFFORDSHIRE
TINGLE - STAFFORDSHIRE
MEIGH - STAFFORDSHIRE
WILLIAMS - STAFFORDSHIRE/GLOUCESTER
GREAVES - LEICESTERSHIRE

Offline Jed59

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Re: *** Tips on Getting Started ***
« Reply #8 on: Friday 15 December 06 17:43 GMT (UK) »
And don't forget the chatroom..we are a friendly bunch and always ready to help....if the conversation doesnt seem to have much to do with genealogy thats cos no[one wants a look up or anything..it will switch back if you ask for help.
If youve never been in a chatroom dont worry...just type what you want to say at the bottom of the page..we were all new once.